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STATUE  OF  WIEHITR  FJSK  SANDERS 


A HISTORY 

'I 

OF 

MONTANA 


BY 

HELEN  FITZGERALD  SANDERS 


VOLUME  II 


ILLUSTRATED 


THE  LEWIS  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 

(Not  Incorporated) 

CHICAGO  AND  NEW'YORK 

oo 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


Wilbur  Fisk  Sanders.  (By  Judge  Henry  N. 
Blake.)  It  is  fitting  that  a review  of  the  services  of 
Wilbur  Fisk  Sanders,  a pioneer  and  builder  of  Mon- 
tana, should  appear  upon  the  pages  of  this  volume. 
The  important  task  of  the  writer  is  difficult,  not  from  a 
lack  of  material,  but  from  an  abundance,  and  injustice 
may  be  done  to  the  subject  by  errors  of  omission. _ 

Mr.  Sanders  was  a son  of  Ira  Sanders,  a native  of 
Rhode  Island,  and  Freedom  (Edgerton)  Sanders,  a 
daughter  of  Connecticut.  He  was  born  May  2,  1834, 
in  Leon,  Cattaraugus  county.  New  York.  His  father 
was  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and 
the  infant  was  named  Wilbur  Fisk,  as  a devout  tribute 
of  esteem  to  a renowned  champion  of  the  faith  in  New 
England.  He  attended  the  Sunday  School  and  through 
his  religous  training  and  marvelous  memory  his  mind 
retained  manifold  te.xts  and  hymns,  and  few  clergymen 
and  no  layman  could  quote  more.  He  was  a diligent 
pupil  in  the  public  schools  and  was  a teacher  before 
he  attained  the  age  of  twenty  years. 

Mr.  Sanders  removed  in  1854  to  Akron,  Ohio,  the 
residence  of  his  uncle,  Hon.  Sidney  Edgerton.  He 
continued  his  labor  as  an  instructor  of  youth  and 
studied  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1856,  and 
was  a partner  of  Mr.  Edgerton  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession. 

He  was  married  October  27,  1858,  to  Miss  Harriet 
P.  Fenn  of  Tallm.adge,  Ohio,  a daugnter  of  Joseph 
Fenn  and  Nancy  (Carruthers)  Fenn. 

Mr.  Edgerton  was  elected  a representative  in  Con- 
gress in  1858  and  re-elected  in  i860.  While  he  was 
absent  in  Washington  during  his  first  term  Mr.  San- 
ders acquired  a valuable  experience  in  transacting  the 
business  of  the  firm.  The  bombardment  of  Fort 
Sumter  resounded  throughout  the  land  in  April,  1861, 
and  the  law  office  was  closed  in  the  tumult  of  arms. 
Mr.  Sanders  was  among  the  first  who  obeyed  the 
patriotic  appeal  for  men  to  defend  and  preserve  the 
American  Union.  His  zeal  and  energy  were  successful 
in  recruiting  and  organizing  a battery  of  artillery  and 
a company  of  infantry.  He  received  a commission  as 
lieutenant  in  the  battery,  but  was  transferred  in  Octo- 
ber, 1861,  to  the  Sixty-Fourth  Regiment,  Ohio  Volun- 
teers, infantry,  commanded  by  Colonel  James  W.  For- 
syth, by  whom  he  was  appointed  adjutant.  He  partici- 
pated in  the  battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing  and  other 
engagements  and  afterwards,  when  Colonel  Forsyth  was 
commanding  a brigade,  acted  as  assistant  adjutant-gen- 
eral and  assisted  in  the  construction  of  works  for  the 
protection  of  railroads  south  of  Nashville.  He  was 
compelled  by  physical  disability  to  resign  his  com- 
mission August  10,  1862,  and  with  an  honorable  dis- 
charge returned  with  reluctance  to  his  home  in  Akron. 

The  career  of  many  persons  is  often  changed  by  the 
occurrence  of  events  over  which  they  e.xercise  no  con- 
trol, and  thus  was  the  destinv  of  Mr.  Sanders  deter- 
voi.  n— 1 

851 


mined.  Mr.  Edgerton  occupied  a conspicuous  rank  in 
Congress  and  was  appointed  by  President  Lincoln 
chief  justice  of  the  supreme  court  of  Idaho,  when 
this  territory  was  organized.  The  governor  of  Idaho 
was  clothed  with  the  power  of  defining  the  judicial 
districts  and  assigning  the  judges  to  them.  It  may  be 
observed  in  a general  way  that  the  part  of  Montana 
east  of  the  main  ridge  of  the  Rocky  mountains  was 
embraced  within  the  boundaries  of  Idaho  and  com- 
prised the  third  district.  Governor  Wallace  assigned 
the  chief  justice  to  this  district,  which  was  undesirable. 

The  urgent  invitation  of  Mr.  Edgerion  to  “go  West” 
was  accepted  by  Mr.  Sanders,  and  the  long  journey 
from  Akron  to  Idaho  was  commenced  June  i,  1^3.  In 
the  party  were  Mr.  Edgerton  and  wife  and  four  chil- 
dren, and  Miss  Darling,  a niece,  and  Mr.  Henry  Tilden, 
a nephew  of  IMr.  Edgerton,  Mr.  Sanders  and  wife  and 
two  children.  Miss  Gear,  now  Mrs.  Henry  C.  Harrison 
of  Harrison.  Montana,  and  ^Messrs.  Gridley,  Booth  and 
Chipman.  They  proceeded  by  rail  to  St.  Joseph,  Mis- 
souri, and  thence  by  boat  to  Omaha,  Nebraska,  where 
they  “outfitted,”  a term  rarely  used  in  these  days. 
They  started  for  the  unknown  country  and  within  a 
brief  period  were  beyond  the  frontier  of  that  year 
and  pursued  slowly  a tedious  course  with  six  cows  and 
four  wagons,  drawn  by  oxen.  When  we  look  at  the 
modern  map  on  which  has  been  marked  a network  of 
railroads,  it  is  hard  to  believe  that  the  other  route  was 
upon  the  water  via  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  the  Isthmus  of 
Panama,  the  Pacific  ocean  and  the  Columbia  river. 

The  Indians  were  upon  the  warpath  and  the  trip  was 
never  free  from  danger  and  hardship.  One  of  the 
teams  was  seized  by  them,  but  recaptured  immediately, 
and  Mr.  Sanders  forcibly  took  the  whip  from  the  savage 
driver.  Deep  rivers  were  forded  and  high  mountains 
were  crossed  in  following  the  perilous  roadway  via 
the  South  pass  and  Snake  river.  On  the  one  hundred 
and  tenth  day,  September  18.  1863,  the  weary  home- 
seekers  arrived  at  the  mining  camp  of  Bannack,-  on 
Grasshopper  creek.  Lewiston,  the  capital  of  Idaho, 
was  the  objective  point,  and  Mrs.  Plassman,  in  a sketch 
of  her  father,  says:  “News  of  the  recent  gold  discov- 

eries at  Bannack,  together  with  the  fact  that  the  season 
was  somewhat  advanced,  brought  about  the  decision 
to  go  north  from  Snake  river.”  Vol.  3,  Contributions 
to  Historical  Society,  p.  336. 

Little  was  known  of  the  mountain  ranges  west  of 
Bannack,  and  Mr.  Edgerton  intended,  after  the  enjoy- 
ment of  a short  rest,  to  travel  to  Lewiston,  hundreds 
of  miles  away,  but  the  fates  decided  against  his  pur- 
pose. This  was  a fortunate  epoch  in  the  history  of 
Montana  and  life  of -Mr.  Sanders. 

The  abnormal  conditions  prevailing  in  this  vast 
domain  must  be  noticed.  The  first  legislative  assembly 
of  Idaho  convened  December  7,  1863,  and  adjourned 
February  4,  1864,  and  the  statutes  were  not  published 


852 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


until  1865.  Theorists  have  dreamed  of  a happy  country 
blessed  without  the  reign  of  law,  but  this  is  the  only 
segment  of  the  globe  where  the  experiment  was  wit- 
nessed. There  were  no  national  or  territorial  courts 
for  the  trial  of  controversies  or  persons  accused  of 
crime.  There  were  no  officers  who  possessed  the  legal 
authority  to  do  any  act,  and  Air.  Edgerton  did  not  find 
any  one  before  whom  he  could  take  his  official  oath 
as  chief  justice.  The  people  as  a whole  were  citizens 
of  the  republic,  who  had  lived  in  the  states  where  their 
rights  were  protected,  and  met  the  remarkable  exigen- 
cies of  the  times  with  practical  remedies.  Voluntary 
organizations  sometimes  inflicted  punishment  for 
offenses  after  a speedy  trial  of  the  criminal,  and  doubt- 
less substantial  justice  was  done.  The  miner's  court 
was  a tribunal,  presided  over  by  a judge,  so-called, 
who  had  been  elected  by  the  residents  of  a mining 
district,  and  the  juries  varied  in  number.  An  appeal 
could  be  taken  to  a meeting,  from  which  none  were 
excluded,  that  was  usually  held  on  Sunday,  and  its 
verdict  was  conclusive.  The  proceedings  were  based 
on  the  free  consent  of  the  governed  and  the  judgments 
were  executed  by  persons  who  assumed  all  the  func- 
tions of  a rightful  official.  Lawyers  were  permitted 
under  some  restrictions  to  appear  for  parties  whose 
interests  were  to  be  adjusted  in  this  irregular  mode, 
and  Mr.  Sanders  at  the  hearing  of  his  first  case  gained 
a reputation  for  eloquence  and  ability  and  won  a 
respectable  clientage.  His  residence  and  primitive  office 
were  at  Bannack,  but  the  discovery  and  development 
of  the  rich  placers  of  Alder  Gulch  occasioned  conflicts 
respecting  claims  and  demands  for  his  professional 
services  in  that  locality.  He  removed  to  Virginia  City 
February  6,  1864,  and  thus  within  five  months  after 
the  sojourn  at  Bannack,  Air.  Sanders  was  a leader  of 
his  fellow-citizens  in  eastern  Idaho. 

An  awful  chapter  in  the  building  of  Alontana  must 
be  read  to  illustrate  one  phase  in  the  character  of  this 
pioneer.  During  this  eventful  period,  when  the  miners 
were  prospecting  for  gold,  murders  and  robberies  were 
perpetrated  almost  daily  by  an  organization  of  assassins 
who  defied  with  audacity  the  moral  element.  Their 
chief  was  Flenry  Plummer,  who  had  been  elected  sheriff 
of  the  settlements  within  what  are  the  counties  of 
Beaverhead  and  A'ladison,  and  his  deputies  were  mem- 
bers of  his  band.  This  election  did  not  have  the 
sanction  of  law,  hut  its  validity  was  not  questioned,  and 
the  gravity  of  the  situation  can  be  readily  understood. 
It  was  a serious  problem  to  solve,  whether  it  were 
possible  to  destroy  these  formidable  pirates  without  the 
aid  of  the  strong  arm  of  the  government.  These  out- 
laws in  number  and  record  of  unlawful  deeds  were 
never  surpassed  in  any  section  of  the  United  States. 
But  at  last  the  crisis  came,  and  the  decisive  combat 
between  the  good  and  the  bad  was  fought. 

George  Ives,  who  ranked  next  to  Plummer  in  the 
enormities  of  his  villainies,  added  to  his  list  of  mur- 
ders the  name  of  Nicholas  Tbalt,  a German.  He  was 
arrested  by  citizens  of  Nevada,  and  a graphic  descrip- 
tion of  his  trial  has  been  written  by  Dimsdale,  Lang- 
ford, AIcClure  and  other  authors,  but  the  attention  of 
the  reader  will  be  directed  to  the  conduct  of  Air.  San- 
ders on  this  momentous  occasion.  In  December  1863. 
Ives  sat  in  a wagon  in  a street  of  Nevada,  surrounded 
by  hundreds  of  armed  men,  mostly  miners,  who  were 
to  render  a final  vote  on  every  question.  An  advisory 
jury  of  twenty-four  persons  had  been  selected  from 
the  districts  of  Nevada  and  Junction,  who  were  to  act 
in  the  first  instance  and  return  a verdict.  The  defend- 
ant had  bold  and  desperate  friends  in  the  motley  crowd 
and  was  assisted  by  able  attorneys.  Air.  Sanders  was 
the  principal  counsel  for  the  prosecution  and  performed 
his  great  work  with  the  highest  honors.  Let  others 
tell  the  wonderful  story. 

Professor  Thomas  J.  Dimsdale  wrote : “The  hero 

of  that  hour  of  trial  was  avowedly  W.  F.  Sanders.  Not 


a desperado  present  but  would  have  felt  honored  by 
becoming  his  murderer,  and  yet,  fearless  as  a lion,  he 
stood  there  confronting  and  defying  the  malice  of  his- 
armed  adversaries.  The  citizens  of  Alontana,  many 
of  them  his  bitter  political  opponents,  recollect  his 
actions  with  gratitude  and  kindly  feeling. 

The  Vigilantes  uf  Montana,  p.  93. 

Bishop  Tuttle  wrote:  “And  no  braver  act,  followed 

by  tremendous  consequences  for  good,  was  ever  done 
than  that  of  Colonel  W.  F.  Sanders,  when  in  the  moon- 
light of  December  21st,  1863,  after  the  miners’  jury  had 
given  their  verdict,  he  mounted  a wagon  and  moved 
that  George  Ives  be  forthwith  hanged  by  the  neck  until 
he  was  dead.  It  was  the  supreme  critical  moment. 
Scores  and  hundreds  of 'bold  and  reckless  men  in  the 
crowd  were  ready  to  organize  a rescue,  and  equally 
ready  to  shoot  the  man  in  the  wagon,  had  they  not 
been  dazed  by  Sanders’  fearless  promptitude.”  Remi- 
niscences of  a Missionary  Bishop,  p.  123. 

Hon.  N.  P.  Langford  wrote : “The  highest  praise 

is  due  to  Colonel  Sanders  for  fearlessness  and  energy 
he  displayed  in  the  conduct  of  this  trial ; for  it  fur- 
nished an  e.xample  which  was  not  lost  upon  the  law 
and  order  men  in  all  their  subsequent  efforts  to  rid  the 
Territory  of  the  ruffians.”  Vigilante  Days  and  Ways,. 
Vol.  2,  p.  76. 

Hon.  A.  K.  IVIcCIure  wrote : “The  young  advocate 

who  thus  braved  defiant  crime  in  the  very  citadel  of 
its  power,  and  hurled  back  the  fearful  tide  of  disorder, 
was  Colonel  Sanders,  and  he  is  today  beloved  by  every 
good  citizen  and  hated  by  every  wrongdoer  for  his. 
sublime  heroism  in  behalf  of  the  right.”  Three  Thou- 
sand Miles  Through  the  Rocky  Mountains,  p.  394. 

After  the  execution  of  Ives,  December  21,  1863,  there 
was  a thorough  organization  of  the  Vigilantes  and  the 
doom  of  the  road  agents  was  sealed  in  blood.!.  Air. 
Sanders  returned  to  Bannack,  another  era  dawned  and: 
eastern  Idaho  was  truly  saved. 

A meeting  was  held  in  Bannack  in  October,  1863,  tO' 
discuss  the  policy  of  establishing  another  territory, 
and  Air.  Sanders  was  a member  of  the  committee  to 
obtain  the  cooperation  of  the  people  of  Alder  Gulch.. 
The  mission  was  successful,  funds  were  raised  to  defray 
the  e,xpenses,  and  Air.  Edgerton  was  sent  to  Washing- 
ton in  January,  1864,  to  present  the  matter  to  Congress.. 
The  result  of  these  efforts  was  the  organization  of  the 
Territory  of  Alontana,  Alay  26,  1864,  and  Air.  Edgertoir 
returned  as  Governor. 

The  election  of  a delegate  to  the  house  of  repre- 
sentatives was  held  October  24,  1864.  and  Air.  Sanders 
was  the  choice  of  the  LTnion,  or  Republican  party.  He 
made  a gallant  canvass,  engaged  in  a joint  debate  with 
Hon.  Samuel  AIcLean,  the  Democratic  candidate,  and 
achieved  a brilliant  reputation  as  a political  speaker.  It 
was  the  first  test  of  the  views  of  the  citizens  on  public 
affairs,  but  the  majority  were  opposed  to  the  adminis- 
tration of  President  Lincoln  and  Air.  Sanders  was 
defeated. 

The  first  legislative  assembly  convened  December- 
12,  1864,  at  Bannack.  A joint  resolution,  approved 
February  6,  1865,  was  passed  appointing  Alessrs.  Aliller, 
Sanders  and  Stapleton  commissioners  to  codify  the 
laws  of  the  territory.  A measure  of  importance  to 
all  was  entitled,  “An  Act  to  Incorporate  the  Historical 
Society  of  Alontana,”  and  approved  February  2,  1865. 
The  first  meeting  of  the  corporators  was  held  Feb- 
ruary 25,  1865,  at  Virginia  City,  and  Air.  Sanders  was 
elected  president  pro  tern.  The  permanent  organization 
was  effected  Alarch  25.  1865,  and  Air.  Sanders  was 
elected  president  and  discharged  its  duties  during  the 
succeeding  years  until  February  i,  1890,  when  he  re- 
signed. His  interest  in  this  society  never  abated,  and 
he  cheerfully  devoted  his  valuable  time  to  its  objects 
and  carried  on  an  extensive  correspondence  in  its  be- 
half. In  gleaning  fields  for  historic  materials,  he  found' 
everywhere 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


853 


“Tongues  in  trees,  books  in  the  running  brooks,  ser- 
mons in  stones,”  and  to  him  each  stream  and  mountain 
“could  a tale  unfold”  in  our  annals. 

A feeling  of  unrest  was  manifest  among  the  Indian 
tribes  of  Montana  in  1865,  and  Mr.  Sanders  received 
from  Governor  Edgerton  a commission  as  colonel  of 
the  militia,  a military  title  by  which  he  was  afterwards 
known. 

Colonel  Sanders  affiliated  with  the  Masons  in  Ohio, 
and  upon  the  receipt  of  a charter  joined  a lodge  in 
Virginia  City.  He  filled  the  office  of  grand  secretary 
of  the  Grand  lodge  from  1866  to  1868,  when  he  was 
elected  grand  master.  The  addresses  which  he  deliv- 
ered as  the  representative  of  his  brethren  were  notable 
features  of  the  exercises  on  public  occasions. 

Colonel  Sanders  was  again  called  on  in  1867  to  bear 
aloft  the  standard  of  the  Republican  party.  Before  the 
advent  of  railroads,  the  canvass  for  the  trust  of  dele- 
gate was  conducted  from  camp  to  camp,  hundreds  of 
miles  were  traveled  in  wagons  or  on  horseback,  and 
discomforts  of  all  kinds  were  endured.  He  was  imbued 
with  the  fervor  of  the  faithful  missionaries  of  old  and 
fearless  in  declaring  his  sentiments  regarding  the  affairs 
of  the  country.  We  confess  that  he  was  lacking  in  the 
qualities  of  an  adroit  politician,  and  was  as  guileless 
as  a child  in  controlling  the  mechanism  of  American 
politics.  In  common  parlance  he  “called  a spade  a 
spade,”  and  uttered  his  opinions  on  all  subjects  with 
rnoral  courage  and  regardless  of  the  consequences  to 
himself  or  his  cause.  He  entered  the  lists  single- 
handed  in  this  and  later  congressional  campaigns  in 
Montana,  and  was  commonly  called  the  “Republican 
War  Horse,”  or  “Old  War  Horse.”  He  was  also 
nominated  for  delegate  in  1880  and  1886,  but  Montana 
continued  to  be  anti-Republican  in  its  partisanship. 

Colonel  Sanders  was  a delegate  to  the  National 
Republican  Conventions  in  1868,  1872,  1876  and  1884, 
and  through  his  untiring  labors  the  right  of  the  repre- 
sentatives of  the  territories  to  vote,  for  some  time 
denied,  was  upheld. 

The  tide  of  population  was  flowing  northward,  and 
in  September,  1868,  his  residence  was  fixed  in  Helena. 

In  1872,  1874,  1876  and  1878  Colonel  Sanders  was 
elected  by  the  voters  of  Lewis  and  Clark  county  a 
member  of  the  house  of  representatives  of  the  legis- 
lative assembly_  of  Montana.  He  brought  to  the  per- 
formance of  his  official  tasks  a profound  knowledge 
of  law  and,_  above  all,  an  earnest  purpose.  He  served 
with  the  minority,  but  his  influence  in  shaping  legisla- 
tion was  second  to  none,  and  his  record  as  a law- 
maker was  without  a flaw. 

Colonel  Sanders  was  the  president  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  the  Montana  Wesleyan  University  from 
1889  until  his  death.  He  sought  with  characteristic 
zeal  to  foster  this  institution  and  advance  the  cause 
of  higher  education.  He  also  acted  as  school  trustee 
of  the  district  including  Helena. 

The  admission  of  Montana  into  the  Union  was  fol- 
lowed by  dual  legislatures,  and  Colonel  Sanders  was 
elected  by  the  Republican  body  United  States  senator 
and  given  his  seat  in  1890.  It  would  be  a gross  abuse 
of  the  privilege  of  the  writer  to  make  any  further 
statement.  His  term  expired  March  4,  1893,  and  he 
retired  to  private  life  with  the  esteem  and  confidence 
of  his  distinguished  colleagues. 

It  is  needless  to  remark  that  the  activities  of  Senator 
Sanders  did  not  cease  at  any  time.  He  attended,  when 
possible,  all  the  meetings  of  the  Society  of  Montana 
Pioneers,  and  served  as  corresponding  secretary  in  1884 
and  1885  and  as  president  in  1888. 

The  public  library  of  Helena  was  strengthened  by 
his  intelligent  action,  and  he  was  a member  of  its 
board  of  trustees  when  he  passed  on. 

Senator  Sanders  was  a member  of  the  bar  of  the 
Territory  and  State  of  Montana  and  the  United  States. 
He  was  a strong  advocate  of  the  codification  of  the 


statutes  and  every  measure  that  savored  of  reform  in 
procedure  or  the  courts.  He  was  president  oi  the 
Montana  Bar  Association  in  1885,  upon  its  organization. 

Senator  Sanders  was  a charter  member  of  William 
English  Post,  Department  of  Montana,  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic.  He  was  unanimously  elected  March 
28,  1905,  department  commander,  and  with  the  com- 
position of  the  patriotic  order  for  the  observance  of 
Memorial  Day  finished  his  course. 

The  legislative  assembly  passed  a law,  approved 
February  7,  1905,  creating  the  county  of  Sanders  to 
show  its  appreciation  of  his  services  to  the  people  of 
Montana. 

On  July  7,  1905,  the  brave  soldier,  sterling  pioneer, 
grand  orator  and  wise  lawgiver  fell  asleep  in  his  home 
in  Helena.  He  was  survived  by  his  widow  and  three 
sons,  James  U.,  Wilbur  F.  and  Louis  P.  Sanders. 

Senator  Sanders  was  a leader  at  the  bar  and  upwards 
of  forty  years  his  resonant  voice,  with  a melodious 
cadence,  was  heard  by  delighted  audiences  in  every 
hamlet  of  Montana.  It  might  be  Memorial  Day  or 
the  Fourth  of  July,  a gathering  of  army  comrades 
or  pioneers,  the  exhibition  of  a school  or  the  com- 
mencement of  a university,  a meeting  for  the  location 
or  the  construction  of  a railway,  the  laying  of  the 
corner-stone  of  a church  or  Masonic  temple,  the  com- 
memorative rites  of  an  old-timer  or  the  executive  of 
the  United  States,  an  assemblage  of  the  bar,  or  a 
banquet,  the  miners’  court,  the  justice  court,  or  the 
supreme  court.  He  was  ever  aggressive  and  independ- 
ent, and  his  battle  cry  in  the  heat  of  the  strife  was 
“No  quarter.”  In  his  mind  all  things  were  upon  the 
same  plane,  and  he  showed  the  same  intense  spirit  in 
a ward  primary  to  nominate  an  alderman,  or  a national 
convention  to  choose  a candidate  for  president  of  the 
republic. 

Let  us  dwell  on  a trait  all,  especially  students,  should 
emulate.  The  favorite  abode  of  Senator  Sanders  was 
his  library;  his  reading  embraced  the  best  authors  of 
England  and  America;  knowledge  was  his  treasure 
house;  his  memory  of  everything  was  wonderful;  and 
his  vocabulary  was  unsurpassed  by  any  person  in  the 
state.  His  style  was  unique,  the  meaning  of  every 
sentence  was  clear,  and  his  ideas  and  illustrations  were 
clothed  in  felicitous  phrases.  He  handled  the  keen 
weapons  of  logic  and  satire  with  dexterity. 

Hon.  William  Scallon,  who  prepared  the  obituary  of 
Senator  Sanders  for  the  American  Bar  Association, 
wrote:  “He  was  noted  for  his  mastery  of  the  English 
language  and  for  his  eloquence,  his  power  of  invective, 
wit  and  sarcasm.  His  keenness  of  intellect  and  his 
powers  of  speech  called  forth  from  Robert  G.  Ingersoll, 
to  whom  he  was  opposed  on  the  trial  of  a noted  case, 
the  remark  that  ‘Sanders  was  the  keenest  blade  he  had 
ever  crossed.’  ” Proceedings,  Vol.  XXVIII. , p.  859. 

He  studied  diligently  the  meaning  of  words  and  the 
rules  of  grammar  and  rhetoric,  and  the  sentences  in 
a letter  on  a common  topic  were  framed  as  correctly  as 
a document  of  the  highest  concern.  In  oral  arguments 
and  informal  talks  he  sought  likewise  to  be  exact  in 
the  use  of  terms  and  state  his  propositions  with  pre- 
cision. He  was  not  content  with  his  erudition  in  this 
regard,  but  consulted  often  treatises  and  lexicons  to 
improve  his  diction  and  strengthen  his  intellectual 
forces,  and  the  lesson  taught  by  this  illustrious  exem- 
plar should  be  remembered. 

The  observation  of  Cicero  in  the  essay  on  the 
Republic  is  worthy  of  repetition : “Nor,  indeed,  is  there 
anything  in  which  human  virtue  can  more  closely  re- 
semble the  divine  powers,  than  in  establishing  new 
states,  or  in  preserving  those  already  established.”  It 
was  the  rare  distinction  of  Senator  Sanders  to  illustrate 
both  attributes  of  this  exalted  character.  He  was  a 
soldier  in  a regiment  of  Ohio  volunteers,  recruited  in 
1861  for  the  salvation  of  our  Union,  and  a master 
workman  in  building  the  strong  foundations  of  our 


S54 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


state.  The  Roman  orator  justly  lavished  his  wealth 
of  speech  upon  achievements  of  this  grandeur. 

The  last  sad  rites  for  the  departed  were  witnessed 
at  the  Auditorium  in  Helena  on  the  .Monday  following 
his  demise.  From  the  bar  and  press,  from  the  pulpit 
and  societies  proud  of  his  membership,  and  from  the 
people  in  every  part  of  .Montana  came  messages  of 
sympathy  and  gratitude.  In  Forest  Vale  cemetery 
Wilbur  Fisk  Sanders  rests  in  peace. 

“O  good  gray  head  which  all  men  knew, 

O Iron  nerve  to  true  occasion  true, 

()  fall'll  at  length  that  tower  of  strength 

That  stood  four-square  to  all  the  winds  that  blew! 

William  .\ndrews  Clark.  Futile  were  the  attempts 
to  e-xpress  within  these  circumscribe  limitations  of  a 
sketch  of  this  order  all  that  Hon.  William  Clark  has 
meant  to  .Montana,  and  all  that  the  great  Commonwealth 
has  meant  to  him  during  the  long  years  within  which 
the  state  has  been  virtually  reclaimed  from  unsubdued 
wilds  and  fastnesses,  of  valley  and  mountain,  to  become 
one  of  the  splendid  Commonwealths  of  our  vast  national 
domain.  .\  pioneer  of  pioneers,  a man  of  courage  and 
ambition,  a man  of  initiative  power  and  of  great  con- 
structive ability,  a citizen  loyal  and  progressive  in  all 
things.  Senator  Clark  has  been  a dominating  force  in 
the  civic  and  industrial  development  and  upbuilding  of 
.Montana,  and  for  all  time  will  the  state  owe  him  a debt 
of  gratitude  and  honor — a debt  which  becomes  the  more 
a matter  of  recognition  and  appreciation  as  the  long 
years  have  thrown  the  works  and  achievements  of  Sen- 
ator Clark  into  clear  definition  against  the  screen  of 
time. 

His  has  been  a life  conspicuous  for  the  magnitude  and 
variety  of  its  achievements,  and  not  only  has  he  been 
a distinguished  figure  in  the  history  of  the  territory  and 
state  of  Montana,  but  his  influence  has  also  transcended 
such  local  environs  to  permeate  the  national  life. 

It  is  not  easy  to  describe  adequately  a man  who  is 
as  distinct  in  character  and  who  has  accomplished  so 
much  in  the  world  as  has  Senator  Clark,  and  the  neces- 
sary limitations  of  this  article  are  such  as  to  permit 
only  a glance  at  the  individuality  and  achievements 
of  the  man.  .Much  that  he  has  done  as  a man  of  great 
affairs  and  as  a citizen  of  utmost  loyalty  and  generous 
liberality  has  become  a very  part  of  the  history  of  the 
State  and  Nation,  and  other  publications  of  more  spe- 
cific order  have  made  adequate  record  concerning  his 
activities,  on  which  score  the  sketch  at  hand  may  well 
be  offered  as  a mere  epitome  of  the  career  of  its  honored 
subj  ect. 

William  Andrews  Clark,  former  United  States  Sen- 
ator from  Montana,  claims  the  old  Keystone  State  of  the 
Ibiion  as  the  place  of  his  nativity,  and_  is  a scion  of 
families  whose  names  have  long  been  identified  with 
the  annals  of  .\merican  history.  He  was  born  near 
Connellsville.  Fayette  county,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  8th 
of  January,  1839,  and  is  a son  of  John  and  Mary  (An- 
drews) Clark,  both  of  whom  were  likewise  natives  of 
that  county. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  Senator  Clark,  likewise 
bore  the  name  of  John,  and  was  born  in  County  Tyrone, 
Ireland,  whence  he  came  to  America  soon  after  the  close 
of  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  and  established  his  home 
in  Pennsylvania. 

The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Reed,  and  she  was 
a resident  of  Chester  county,  Pennsylvania,  at  the  time 
of  their  marriage,  her  parents  having  emigrated  to 
.\merica  from  the  North  of  Ireland.  William  and  Sarah 
.Andrews,  the  maternal  grandparents  of  him  whose  name 
initiates  this  review,  were  likewise  from  County  Ty- 
rone, Ireland,  and  they  settled  in  Western  Pennsylvania 
in  the  latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  century.  The  maiden 
name  of  Mrs.  Sarah  Andrews  was  Kithcart,  and  con- 
cerning the  family  genealogy,  the  following  data  have 


been  given;  "She  was  a descendant  of  the  Cathcart 
family,  who  were  originally  Huguenots,  and  the  name 
was  changed  to  Kithcart  by  an  error  made  by  a Reg- 
istrar in  the  transfer  of  a tract  of  land.  The  Cathcart 
family  removed  from  France  to  Scotland  to  escape  the 
religious  persecutions  incidental  to  the  revocation  of  the 
Edict  of  Nantes,  and  religious  difficulties  later  prompted 
their  removal  to  the  North  of  Ireland.  Subsequently, 
representatives  of  this  ancient  family  immigrated  to 
America,  where  different  branches  settled  in  New  York, 
and  Pennsylvania.”  Both  the  Clark  and  Andrews  fam- 
ilies had  their  origin  in  Scotland  in  the  thirteenth  cen- 
tury and  members  of  both  families  moved  to  the  North 
of  Ireland  during  the  seventeenth  century,  and  from 
there  came  to  the  United  States  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
eighteenth  century.  In  all  lines  the  ancestors  of  Senator 
Clark  have  been  of  the  staunchest  Protestant  Faith,  and 
his  parents  were  most  zealous  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  in  which  his  father  was  an  Elder  for 
forty  years  prior  to  his  death.  John  and  Mary  (An- 
drews) Clark  were  reared  and  educated  in  Western 
Pennsylvania,  where  their  marriage  was  solemnized  and 
where  they  continued  to  reside  until  the  year  1856,  when 
they  moved  to  the  West,  and  numbered  themse.ves 
among  the  pioneers  of  Van  Buren  county,  Iowa,  where 
they  procured  a considerable  tract  of  land  and  developed 
a productive  farm.  John  Clark  was  a man  of  superior 
intellectual  power  and  impregnable  integrity,  so  that 
he  naturally  became  an  influence  in  the  pioneer  com- 
munity, the  while  he  contributed  his  quota  to  the  civic 
and  material  development  of  the  Hawkeye  State.  He 
continued  to  reside  in  Van  Buren  county,  Iowa,  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  the  year  1873,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-six  years,  and  his  noble  wife  passed  the 
closing  years  of  her  life  at  Los  Angeles,  California, 
where  she  was  summoned  to  her  eternal  rest  in  1904, 
at  the  venerable  age  of  a little  over  ninety  years. 

Most  gracious  are  the  memories  which  Senator  Clark 
associates  with  his  honored  parents,  and  the  filial  rever- 
ence in  which  he  holds  their  names  shows  his  apprecia- 
tion of  the  finer  ideals  of  life,  even  as  the  same  has 
been  significantly  manifested  in  many  other  ways  during 
the  long  years  of  his  really  wonderful  career  of  activ- 
ity in  connection  with  affairs  of  the  broadest  scope  and 
importance.  Concerning  the  earlier  days  of  the  life 
history  of  Senator  Clark,  the  present  writer  has  pre- 
viously written  an  estimate,  and  from  the  same  may  thus 
be  consistently  drawn  data  here  presented,  without 
formal  indications  of  quotation,  and  with  such  para- 
phrase as  may  seem  appropriate. 

The  old  homestead  farm  of  his  parents,  in  Fayette 
county,  Pennsylvania,  gave  the  environment  and  influ- 
ences under  which  the  future  United  States  Senator 
from  Montana  was  reared  as  a boy  and  a youth.  He 
early  learned  the  lessons  of  practical  and  consecutive 
industry,  through  the  assistance  which  he  rendered  in 
connection  with  the  work  on  the  farm,  and  his  rudi- 
mentary education  was  secured  in  the  common  schools 
of  his  native  state,  his  attendance  in  the  same  having 
been  during  the  winter  terms  only,  when  his  services 
were  not  in  requisition  on  the  farm. 

With  characteristic  prescience  of  the  value  of  educa- 
tion, the  ambitious  youth  was  not  to  be  satisfied  with 
merely  rudimentary  training,  and  thus  it  may  be  re- 
corded that  when  fourteen  years  of  age  he  entered 
Laurel  Hill  Academy,  in  which  he  laid  the  foundation 
for  a really  liberal  education  along  academic  lines. 

William  A.  Clark  was  seventeen  years  of  age  at  the 
time  of  accompanying  his  parents  on  their  emigration 
to  Iowa  in  the  year  1856,  and  during  the  first  years 
he  gave  effective  aid  in  improving  and  tilling  the  r.iw 
prairie  farm.  During  the  winter  of  the  first  and  secontl 
years  he  resided  in  Van  Buren  county,  Iowa,  he  taught 
two  terms  of  district  school  and  thus  gained  honors  as 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  pedagogic  profession  in  the 
Hawkeye  State.  Thereafter,  he  attended  an  academy 


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HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


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at  Birmingham,  Iowa,  for  one  term,  and  later  he  was  for 
two  years  a student  in  the  academic  and  also  the  law 
department  of  the  Iowa  Weslyan  University  at  Mount 
Pleasant.  To  the  fact  that  he  did  not  find  it  expedient 
to  engage  in  the  practice  of  law  it  is  due  that  the  broad 
and  masterful  career  of  a man  of  affairs  in  the  Western 
World  was  not  subverted.  In  1859-60,  Mr.  Clark  was 
engaged  in  teaching  in  the  public  schools  of  Cooper  and 
Pettis  counties  in  the  state  of  ^lissouri,  and  in  1862,  he 
drove  a team  of  cattle  across  the  plains  to  South  Park, 
Colorado,  in  which  state  he  gained  his  initial  experience 
in  connection  with  the  great  industry  of  which  he  was 
destined  to  become  one  of  the  leading  and  most  success- 
ful exponents  in  America.  During  the  first  winter,  he 
worked  in  the  quartz  mines  at  Central  City,  where  he 
gained  knowledge  and  experience  that  afterwards  served 
him  to  good  purpose  in  his  extensive  mining  operations 
in  Montana,  where  he  was  one  of  the  pioneers  in  this  line, 
as  well  as  elsewhere  in  the  Western  States.  In  1863,  the 
news  of  gold  discoveries  at  Bannack,  then  in  the  Eastern 
part  of  the  territory  of  Idaho,  which  was  afterwards  an- 
nexed to  the  state  of  Montana,  reached  Colorado,  and 
Mr.  Clark  was  among  the  first  to  set  forth  for  this  new 
El  Dorado.  After  sixt)^-five  days’  travel  with  an  ox- 
team  in  company  with  three  others,  he  arrived  at  Ban- 
nack, just  in  time  to  join  a stampede  to  a new  district  on 
Horse  Prairie  Creek.  There,  he  secured  a placer  gold 
claim,  which  he  worked  during  that  summer  and  also  the 
following  season.  He  netted  about  $2,000  from  his  oper- 
ations the  first  summer,  and  thus  formed  the  nucleus 
of  the  immense  fortune  which  he  later  accumulated  in 
connection  with  mining  operations  in  Montana. 

The  ensuing  five  years  in  the  career  of  Mr.  Clark  may 
be  rapidly  surveyed’,  although  the  period  was  made  one 
of  push  and  enterprise  characteristic  of  the  man.  After 
two  years’  experience  in  placer  mining,  he  took  the 
advantage  of  the  opportunities  presented  for  trade  and 
business,  and  in  less  than  half  a decade  he  was  at  the 
head  of  one  of  the  largest  wholesale  mercantile  estab- 
lishments in  the  territory,  the  same  having  been  built 
up  from  the  smallest  of  beginnings.  His  first  venture 
was  to  bring  a load  of  provisions  which  he  purchased 
at  Salt  Lake  City,  in  the  winter  of  1863-4,  and  for  these 
necessaries  he  found  a ready  demand  at  amazing  prices 
in  the  mining-camps  in  Montana.  The  next  winter, 
after  the  close  of  the  mining-season,  this  experiment 
was  repeated  on  a larger  scale,  and  at  Virginia  City, 
then  the  centre  of  mining  activities,  he  found  the  best 
market.  In  the  spring  of  1865,  he  opened  a general 
merchandise  establishment  at  Blackfoot  City,  then  a 
new  and  bustling  mining-camp,  on  the  western  slope  of 
the  Rocky  Mountains.  In  the  autumn  of  the  same  year 
he  sold  out  his  store  at  that  place,  and,  having  noticed 
that  the  markets  were  bare  of  tobacco,  which  was  deemed 
then  one  of  the  necessities  in  a miner’s  life,  he  went  on 
horseback  to  Boise,  Idaho,  where  he  purchased  several 
thousand  pounds  of  this  commodity  at  a cost  of  a dollar 
and  a half  per  pound.  He  purchased  a wagon  and  span 
of  horses,  and  the  future  Senator  drove,  in  the  month  of 
December  when  the  weather  was  extremely  cold,  with 
his  precious  cargo,  to  Helena,  Montana,  where  he  sold 
out  his  stock  at  the  rate  of  five  and  six  dollars  per 
pound  to  ready  and  appreciative  purchasers.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1866,  Mr.  Clark  joined  a stampede  to  a new  min- 
ing district  on  Elk  Creek,  some  fifty  miles  west  of 
Blackfoot,  where  he  established  another  store,  and  did 
a large  and  profitable  business.  In  the  autumn  of  that 
year,  he  disposed  of  his  stock  and  business  in  Elk  Creek, 
and  made  a trip  to  San  Francisco,  via  Portland.  Oregon. 
His  route  lay  over  the  Mullan  Pass,  across  the  Coeur 
d’Alene  Mountains ; thence  to  Walla  Walla,  Washing- 
ton territory,  and  thence  to  Wallula,  the  head  of  navi- 
gation on  the  Columbia  river,  at  which  point  he  took 
passage  on  a small  steam-boat  to  The  Dalles,  Oregon, 
where  there  was  a transfer  by  rail  a short  distance  below 
the  rapids,  when  another  boat  was  taken  to  the  city  of 


Portland,  then  quite  a small  town,  but  now  a city  of 
large  dimensions.  From  Portland  he  took  passage  on 
a steamship  to  San  Francisco,  where,  after  a sojourn  of 
some  days,  he  visited  the  principal  towns  in  Central 
California,  and  at  Marysville  took  passage  on  a stage- 
coach through  Northern  California  and  Oregon  to 
Portland,  at  which  point  he  purchased  a stock  of  goods 
which  were  shipped  to  JMontana  and  which  he  after- 
wards soon  disposed  of  at  a fair  profit. 

Few  have  more  lived  up  to  the  full  tension  of  the 
pioneer  effort  in  the  history  of  Montana,  and  few  have 
shown  greater  initiative  and  versatility  in  progressive 
and  various  business  enterprises. 

In  October,  1866,  Mr.  Clark  made  a trip  to  the  East 
by  way  of  old  Fort  Benton,  the  head  of  navigation  on 
the  Missouri  river,  going  by  “Mackinaw”  boat  to  Sioux 
City,  Iowa,  the  voyage  occupying  thirty-five  days.  After 
visiting  his  parents  at  his  old  home  in  Eastern  Iowa,  and 
the  principal  cities  in  the  East  and  South,  Mr.  Clark 
returned  to  Montana  in  the  Spring  of  1867,  and  he  is 
next  heard  of  as  a mail  contractor  on  the  star  route 
between  Missoula  and  Walla  Walla,  a distance  of  four 
hundred  miles,  and  this  venture  was  made  successful  as 
had  been  his  prior  undertakings.  His  next  move  was  in 
the  direction  of  a wider  field  of  business  activity. 

In  the  autumn  of  1868,  iMr.  Clark  made  a trip  to  New 
York  City,  traveling  by  stage-coach  to  Green  River, 
Wyoming,  which  at  that  time  was  the  western  terminus 
of  the  United  Pacific  Railroad,  where  he  formed  a co- 
partnership with  Mr.  Robert  W.  Donnell  for  the  purpose 
of  engaging  in  the  wholesale  mercantile  trade  and  bank- 
ing business,  in  Montana  territory,  a connection  that 
resulted  in  the  founding  of  one  of  the  strongest  business 
firms  of  that  period  in  the  history  of  Montana.  They 
shipped  a large  stock  of  general  merchandise  by  way 
of  the  Missouri  river  to  Fort  Benton,  and  established  in 
the  Spring  of  1869  a wholesale  business  at  Helena.  In 
1870,  the  headquarters  of  the  enterprise  were  trans- 
ferred to  Deer  Lodge,  where  the  business  was  consoli- 
dated with  that  previously  established  at  that  point  by 
iMr.  Donnell.  At  this  time,  IMr.  Samuel  E.  Larabie  was 
admitted  to  partnership  under  the  firm  name  of  Donnell, 
Clark  and  Larabie,  and  the  concern  built  up  a gigantic 
and  successful  business.  When  this  enterprise  was 
sold,  the  firm  gave  its  attention  to  the  banking  business, 
in  which  important  line  of  enterprise  it  conducted  suc- 
cessful operations,  both  at  Deer  Lodge  and  Butte,  the 
latter  place  having  at  that  time  been  known  as  Butte 
City.  In  May,  18^84,  Messrs.  Clark  and  Larabie  pur- 
chased the  interests  of  Mr.  Donnell  in  their  Montana 
business,  and  subsequently  Mr.  Clark  and  his  brother, 
James  Ross  Clark,  assumed  full  ownership  of  the  Butte 
Bank,  after  the  former  had  disposed  of  his  interests  at 
Deer  Lodge.  The  banking  house  of  W.  A.  Clark  & 
Brother  is  still  in  existence,  and  has  become  one  of  the 
strongest  banking  institutions  of  the  West,  with  a busi- 
ness centered  in  the  Montana  metropolis. 

It  is,  however,  in  his  mining  investments,  and  in  the 
operation  of  vast  mills.and  smelters  for  the  treatment 
of  basic  ores  that  Mr.  Clark  has  gained  his  phenomenal 
success  and  become  known  as  one  of  the  greatest  mining 
men  of  the  nation  and  of  the  world,  the  while  he  has 
contributed  through  his  activities  in  these  lines  a greater 
quota  to  the  development  and  progress  of  Montana  than 
has  any  other  one  person  of  the  period.  The  quartz  mine 
prospects  in  the  vicinity  of  Butte  first  attracted  the 
attention  of  Senator  Clark.  In  the  years  1872-73,  he 
purchased,  in  whole  or  in  part,  the  Colusa,  Original. 
Mountain  Chief,  Gambetta,  and  other  mines,  nearly  all 
of  which  later  proved  to  be  exceedingly  rich  producers. 
A marked  characteristic  in  the  career  of  Mr.  Clark  is, 
that  he  has  never  entered  upon  a project  without  fortify- 
ing himself  thoroughly  by  the  fullest  available  informa- 
tion pertaining  thereto.  This  wise  policy  has  been  an 
unmistakable  power  in  furthering  his  success,  and  was 
significantly  shown  at  the  time  when  he  initiated  his 


856 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


mining  operations,  although  his  attitude  and  actions 
aroused  not  a little  scepticism  on  the  part  of  the  pioneer 
and  practical  mining  men  of  the  territory  when  he  de- 
cided to  pass  the  winter  of  1872-3  at  the  School  of 
Mines  at  Columbia  University  in  New  York  City.  There, 
he  took  a course  of  practical  assaying  and  analysis,  with 
a general  outline  of  mineralogy  and  metallurgy,  and  the 
information  thus  gained  proved  of  inestimable  value  to 
him  in  his  future  and  great  mining  operations.  He  has 
never  been  a "plunger,”  in  any  of  his  ventures,  and  his 
success  in  the  domain  of  mining  industry  has  been  the 
result  of  careftil  investigation  and  consideration  of  every 
prospect  and  project  with  which  he  has  identified  him- 
self, and  in  connection  with  which  he  has  made  a repu- 
tation that  extends  beyond  our  national  boundaries. 
Through  the  linancial  interposition  of  Mr.  Clark,  one  of 
the  first  stamp  mills  of  Butte,  the  "Old  Dexter,”  was 
completed  and  placed  in  operation  in  the  winter  of 
1876-7.  The  first  smelter  of  importance  in  the  city  was 
erected  by  the  Colorado  and  Montana  Mining  and 
Smelting  Comi)any,  which  was  organized  by  Mr.  Clark 
in  connection  with  Senator  Hill  and  Professor  Pearce, 
of  Denver,  Colorado,  and  was  one  of  the  leading  enter- 
prises of  the  kind  in  the  Montana  metropolis,  Mr. 
Clark  being  Vice-President  and  one  of  the  largest  stock- 
holders of  the  corporation.  Tn  1880,  he  organized  the 
Moulton  Alining  Company,  which  forthwith  erected  the 
Moulton  Mill,  upon  a mine  by  that  name  which  he  had 
located  several  years  before.  Tins  company  built  a com- 
plete dry-crushing  and  chloridizing  mill  of  forty  stamps, 
a three-compartment  shaft  was  sunk,  and  modern  pump- 
ing and  hoisting  works  were  installed,  the  property 
having  been  thoroughly  explored  at  a cost  of  about  $500,- 
000,  including  the  mill.  This  mine  and  mill  were  in 
successful  operation  for  many  years,  and  until  the  de- 
cline in  the  price  of  silver  rendered  the  business  no  longer 
profitable.  Mr.  Clark  and  bis  son,  Charles  W.  Clark, 
owned  the  Butte  Reduction  Works,  and  were  the  inter- 
ested principals  in  the  Colusa  Parrot  Alining  and  Smelt- 
ing Company,  and  controlled  several  other  silver  and 
copper  mines  in  the  Butte  district.  Besides  his  interests 
in  these  corporations,  A-Ir.  Clark  has  large  individual 
holdings  in  the  mines,  which  are  being  successfully  ope- 
rated, affording  employment  to  a large  number  of  men. 
In  connection  with  his  son,  W.  A.  Clark,  Jr.,  they  are  now 
constructing  a large  concentrating  jjlant  for  the  treat- 
ment of  ores  from  the  Elm  Orlu  Aline,  near  Butte, 
which  has  proven  to  be  one  of  the  largest  zinc  and  cop- 
per mines  in  the  world,  the  ores  containing,  in  addi- 
tion, considerable  silver  and  a small  quantity  of  gold. 
'I  bis  mine  they  have  been  developing  for  several  years, 
and  have  reached  a depth  of  1,500  feet.  Air.  Clark  also 
owns  valuable  mining  properties  in  the  States  of  Utah, 
Idaho,  and  Arizona,  and  amongst  the  most  important 
of  these  is  that  of  the  United  Verde  Copper  Company, 
in  Arizona,  of  which  he  is  virtually  the  sole  owner,  and 
which  has  lieen  one  of  the  wonders  of  the  mining 
world.  It  is  probably  the  richest  and  most  extensive 
copper  mine  in  the  world,  and  the  facilities  for  the 
treatment  of  its  ores  are  of  the  best  modern  type,  includ- 
ing immense  smelting  and  refining  plant.  He  is  now 
constructing  a new  smelting-plant  at  the  new  town  of 
Clarkdale  on  the  Verde  river,  six  miles  from  Jerome, 
where  the  mines  are  situated,  at  a cost  of  several  million 
ddllars,  which  when  completed  will  be  one  of  the  largest 
and  most  up-to-date  plants  in  the  world.  In  connection 
with  this  mine  he  built  the  United  Verde  and  Pacific 
Railroad,  which,  although  only  26  miles  in  length,  is  a 
marvel  of  engineering  skill.  He  also  advanced  the  funds 
to  build  the  new  road  from  a point  on  the  Santa  Fe 
Railroad  System,  forty  miles  in  length,  extending  to 
the  new  town  of  Clarkdale,  where  the  new  plant  is  beins 
built. 

Air.  Clark  now  holds  monetary  and  industrial  inter- 
ests across  the  entire  continent,  from  the  Atlantic  to 
the  Pacific  Ocean,  and  he  has  large  interests  in  addi- 


tion to  those  already  mentioned,  including  properties  in 
Colorado  and  New  Mexico,  comprising  coal-mines,  and 
also  owns  a large  granite  quarry  at  North  Jay,  in  the 
State  of  A'laine.  He  owns  and  controls  the  Butte  Miner, 
which  has  one  of  the  largest  and  best  equipped  offices  in 
the  entire  West.  In  California,  he  has,  in  connection 
with  his  brother,  J.  Ross  Clark,  a large  sugar-planta- 
tion with  one  of  the  largest  sugar  manufactories  in  the 
West,  this  enterprise  being  conducted-  under  the  title 
of  the  Los  Alamitos  Sugar  Company.  At  Elizabethport, 
New  Jersey,  he  is  the  principal  owner  of  the  Waclark 
Wire  Works,  one  of  the  most  extensive  industrial  enter- 
prises of  the  kind  in  the  United  States,  and  at  Alt. 
Vernon,  near  New  York,  he  owns  and  operates  what  is 
probably  the  largest  and  most  artistic  manufactory  of 
bronze  in  the  country,  the  same  being  conducted  under 
the  title  of  the  Henry  Bonnard  Bronze  Company.  He 
has  large  and  valuable  real-estate  investments  in  Mon- 
tana, New  York,  and  the  District  of  Columbia,  notable 
among  which  is  his  magnificent  mansion  in  New  York 
City,  one  of  the  finest  private  residences  in  the  entire 
world,  which  was  completed  by  him  in  1910.  In  this 
splendid  home  is  installed  one  of  the  largest  and  most 
admirably-selected  art  collections  in  the  world,  and  the 
entire  building,  superb  in  all  appointments,  with  its  un- 
excelled artistic  wood-carving  and  marble-work,  and 
other  artistic  decorations,  with  its  superb  collection  of 
pictures,  tapestries,  Persian  carpets  of  the  sixteenth 
century,  statues,  faience,  antique  and  priceless  stained- 
glass  windows,  and  other  objects,  indicate  the  cultivated 
tastes  of  the  owner  and  of  his  gracious  wife.  Neverthe- 
less, Afr.  Clark  claims  Butte,  Montana,  where  he  has 
lived  the  greater  part  of  his  life,  as  his  permanent  home. 
Another  of  the  really  great  projects  of  Senator  Clark 
was  the  construction  of  the  railroad  from  San  Pedro 
harbor  and  Los  Angeles,  California,  to  Salt  Lake  City, 
Utah,  of  which  he  is  president.  This  great  railroad  in- 
volving a mileage,  including  branch  lines  of  over  1,000 
miles,  was  built  by  Mr.  Clark  in  connection  with  the 
Union  Pacific  Railroad  Company  jointly,  and  without 
tlie  sale  of  a single  bond  or  of  a single  share  of  stock, 
which  is  unprecedented  in  the  history  of  railroad  con- 
struction. Soon  after  its  construction,  it  suffered  a 
wash-out  of  about  eighty  miles  in  extent,  in  what  is 
called  the  Rainbow  Canon,  which  necessitated  an  addi- 
tional outlay  of  about  $5,000,000,  which  was  promptly 
furnished,  and  a high  and  safe  line  was  completed  with- 
in a few  months.  This  was  a calamity  probably  without 
parallel  in  the  world’s  record  of  railway  construction. 
This  railway  is  now  doing  a large  and  profitable  busi- 
ness. Air.  Clark  also  owns  a great  amount  of  stock, 
bonds  and  other  securities  of  some  of  the  leading  East- 
ern and  Trans-Continental  Railroad  lines,  and  has  con- 
cerned himself  with  all  manner  of  industrial  and  finan- 
cial enterprises,  which  have  felt  the  impetus  of  his  con- 
structive and  executive  power,  as  well  as  of  his  immense 
capitalistic  resources. 

Long  maintaining  his  home  in  the  city  of  Butte, 
where  he  began  mining  operations  in  1872,  and  where 
he  established  his  residence  in  1878,  Senator  Clark  has 
ever  shown  the  deepest  sympathy  in  all  that  has  touched 
the  general  well-being  of  the  Montana  metropolis,  as 
well  as  the  State  at  large.  Public-spirited  in  the  highest 
degree,  he  has  given  generously  of  his  time,  ability  and 
means,  to  the  furtherance  of  enterprises  and  measures 
which  have  signally  concerned  the  development  and  up- 
building of  the  “Treasure  State.”  The  first  water-works 
system,  and  the  first  electric  lighting  plant,  in  Butte, 
were  established  by  him,  and  he  is  now  the  sole  owner 
of  the  electric  street-railway  lines  in  the  city,  as  well  as 
those  extending  to  the  neighboring  suburbs.  Many 
other  local  and  state  industrial  enterprises  have  received 
his  earnest  and  liberal  cooperation,  and  it  may  be  said, 
without  fear  of  legitimate  contradiction,  that  no  one 
citizen  of  Alontana  has  done  as  much  as  he  in  the  for- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


857 


warding  of  civic  and  material  progress  within  the 
borders  of  this  great  Commonwealth. 

In  the  counties  of  Missoula  and  Ravalli,  in  Western 
Montana,  he  purchased,  years  ago,  large  tracts  of  tim- 
ber-land on  both  sides  of  the  big  Blackfoot  river,  for 
forty  miles,  as  well  as  Nine  Mile  creek,  at  jMilltown,  six 
miles  from  Missoula,  he  built  a dam  in  the  Missoula 
river,  and  installed  a large  water-power  plant,  and  con- 
structed a saw-mill  of  ver}-  large  capacity,  as  well  as  a 
finishing-plant.  At  Missoula,  he  built  a flour-mill  and 
a street  railway  eighteen  miles  in  extent,  and  also  owns 
the  water-system  and  electric-light  system  at  that  place. 
He  also  extended  an  electric  pole-line  to  Hamilton,  sixty 
miles  from  Missoula,  at  which  point  he  also  owns  the 
«lectric-light  and  water  systems,  and  now  furnishes  elec- 
tric light  and  power  to  all  the  intervening  towns  in  the 
Bitter  Root  Valley. 

One  of  the  noble  contributions  made  to  Butte  by 
Senator  Clark  is  the  Paul  Clark  Home,  named  in  honor 
of  his  son,  who  died  at  sixteen  years  of  age  while  pre- 
paring to  enter  Yale  University.  This  institution  _ was 
built  by  him,  and  endowed  in  perpetuity,  and  furnishes 
a home  for  orphan  and  half-orphan  children,  where 
they  enjoy  all  the  comforts  and  advantages  of  home 
life.  It  has  a capacity  for  one  hundred  children.  It  is 
incorporated  with  a Board  consisting  of  five  Directors, 
three  of  whom  are  women,  and  Mrs.  J.  M.  White,  a lady 
who  has  been  noted  for  giving  her  attention  for  man}' 
years  to  charitable  work,  is  President  of  the  Home. 
Two  other  ladies,  Mrs.  Burton  and  Mrs.  Moore,  very 
magnanimously  devote  a large  portion  of  their  time  to 
the  interest  and  welfare  of  the  institution.  The  male 
members  of  the  Board  are  business  men  who  look  after 
the  financial  and  business  interests  of  the  Home,  and 
altogether  it  constitutes  a very  happy  family,  that  is 
productive  of  much  good  in  the  great  mining  metropolis. 

As  a perpetual  memorial  in  honor  of  his  mother,  who 
was  noted  for  her  acts  of  charity  during  her  life,  Mr. 
Clark  conceived  the  project  of  erecting  a home  for  girls 
who  are  obliged  to  work  for  a living,  in  order  that  they 
might  be  provided  with  all  the  substantial  comforts  and 
advantages  of  a quiet  home  at  actual  cost  for  food  and 
attendance,  without  considering  the  outlays  of  the  in- 
vestments for  the  building  and  its  equipment,  or  for  the 
management  thereof.  A large  structure  in  the  style  of 
the  French  Renaissance  was  planned  about  two  years  ago, 
and  was  completed  and  furnished  in  February  last  at  a 
cost  of  about  $400,000.  The  building  is  prominently 
located  on  Loma  Drive,  in  Los  Angeles,  California,  one 
of  the  highest  points  in  the  city.  It  is  four  stories  high, 
with  a basement,  and  was  built  absolutely  fire-proof.  The 
building  is  remarkable  for  its  completeness  in  every  par- 
ticular. It  contains  about  two  hundred  rooms,  and  ample 
dimensions,  with  additional  room  for  closets  and  ward- 
robes, and  ample  baths  were  established  on  every  floor. 
It  is  furnished  throughout  with  elegant  and  durable 
equipment.  There  is  a large  dining  room,  with  a seating- 
capacity  for  two  hundred,  on  the  first  floor.  Also,  on 
this  floor,  are  reception-rooms,  two  large  parlors,  a com- 
modious library,  and  an  auditorium,  with  a seating- 
capacity  for  four  hundred  people.  In  the  basement,  there 
is  a large  bowling-alley  and  gymnasium.  The  surround- 
ing grounds  are  beautifully  planted,  and  equipped  with 
basket-ball  and  tennis  courts.  The  total  cost  of  living 
for  each  girl  ranges  from  $4  to  $6.50  per  week,  every- 
thing included,  and  the  establishment  is  admirably  man- 
aged by  a special  executive  committee  of  the  Young 
Women’s  Christian  Association.  In  February,  1913,  at 
which  time  there  was  a large  assembly  of  the  people  of 
Los  Angeles,  Mr.  Clark  delivered  an  address,  and  also 
a deed  conveying  the  entire  property  to  the  Young 
Women’s  Association,  with  the  condition  expressed  that 
it  should  be  maintained  in  perpetuity  by  said  Association, 
to  carry  out  the  purposes  of  the  donor,  and  should  bear 
the  name  of  “The  Mary  Andrews  Clark  Home."  Within 
a few  days  thereafter,  the  entire  capacity  of  the  building 


was  occupied  by  200  girls,  and  there  were  a large  num- 
ber of  applicants  that  could  not  be,  for  the  time  being, 
accommodated. 

To  Senator  Clark,  Butte  owes  the  creation  of  the 
beautiful  neighbouring  park  and  pleasure-ground  known 
as  Columbia  Gardens,  which  were  established  by  him 
about  twelve  years  ago,  and  which  he  has  continually 
enlarged  and  improved,  at  great  expense.  With  zealous 
personal  care,  he  transformed  this  idyllic  mountain 
fastness  into  a magnificent  pleasure  resort  for  all  classes 
and  conditions  of  citizens,  and  particularly  for  children, 
and  the  same  constitutes  an  enduring  monument  to  his 
generosity  and  civic  pride.  It  is  but  due  to  him  that  a 
brief  description  of  this  resort  be  entered  in  this  con- 
nection, and  the  following  data  are  taken  from  an  article 
previously  published,  with  slight  elimination  and  para- 
phrase ; — 

Since  1901,  a pleasure  resort  of  the  very  first  class 
has  been  accessible  to  the  people  of  Butte.  Across  the 
valley,  and  three  miles  East  of  the  city,  one  of  the  num- 
erous canons  common  to  the  Rocky  iMountains  has  been 
utilized  for  this  purpose.  It  has  been  preserved  almost 
as  nature  made  it,  with  additions  only  of  such  character 
as  would  enhance  its  inviting  rusticity.  The  groves  of 
the  little,  picturesque  valley  have  been  extended  by  the 
additional  planting  of  several  thousand  trees  each  year. 
As  the  water  from  the  springs  and  melting  snows  high 
up  the  mountain  side  start  upon  their  downward  course 
they  join  with  others  coming  from  different  directions, 
and  long  before  the  bed  of  the  canon  is  reached,  a de- 
lightful stream  babbles  along  over  a pebbly  bottom,  and 
gurgles  over  an  occasional  rock  into  inviting  pools. 
Luxuriant  foliage  fringes  the  banks  of  these  tributary 
streams  long  ere  their  confluence  in  the  more  level  sweep 
below,  and  as  they  emerge  into  one,  a perfect  Eden  of 
green  is  massed  about  them.  Willows  and  alders,  with 
here  and  there  a lonely  pine,  have  formed  inviting  bowers 
and  cosy  nooks.  Here,  Nature  has  been  aided  in  pro- 
viding for  the  comfort  and  entertainment  of  man  by  the 
supplementing  of  rustic  seats,  the  creation  of  shaded 
parks,  the  construction  of  little  bridges,  and  endless  paths 
and  other  embellishments.  A great  pavilion  occupies 
a commanding  position  in  the  centre  of  the  grounds. 
Within  its  walls  are  cafes,  banquet-rooms,  smoking- 
rooms,  refreshment-booths  of  all  kinds,  and  a dance  floor 
of  gigantic  proportions,  upon  which  2,000  people  may 
dance  at  a time,  with  balconies  for  guests  and  orchestra. 
Surrounding  the  whole  structure  are  broad  promenade 
verandas,  and  an  open  band-stand.  The  landscape-gar- 
dener has  given  help  in  completing  the  scene,  by  creating 
attractive  flower-beds  and  parterres,  the  erection  of 
charming  pagodas,  and  the  creation  of  a delightful  lake, 
on  which  .glide  many  boats  at  the  will  of  the  pleasure- 
seekers.  There  is  also  established  large  green-houses, 
where  thousands  of  flowers,  comprising  all  the  various 
varieties,  are  grown,  throughout  the  winter  season.  Also, 
a fish  hatchery  has  been  provided  for  the  inspection  and 
enjoyment  of  pleasure-seekers.  The  resort  contains  also 
a collection  of  wild  animals,  consisting  generally  of  those 
found  in  the  Rocky  Mountain  regions,  as  well  as  a large 
collection  of  birds  of  beautiful  plumage,  all  of  which  is 
particularly  interesting  to  children.  This  resort  is  pecul- 
iarly charming  by  reason  of  the  fact  that  the  citizens  of 
Butte  are  there  brought  into  close  communion  with 
Nature,  not  only  the  thousands  of  people  belonging  to 
the  laboring-classes,  but  also  those  of  higher  estate,  have 
been  quick  to  accept  and  enjoy  the  privileges  of  this 
bountifully-endowed  mountain  retreat,  so  gratuitously 
thrown  open  to  them,  at  no  further  cost  than  car-fare. 
The  gardens  are  under  the  control  of  the  Butte  Electric 
Railway  Company,  but  Senator  Clark  is  entitled  to  the 
honor  of  having  provided  so  necessary  a public  institu- 
tion. As  President  and  owner  of  the  Railway  Company, 
he  was  the  instigator  of  the  plan  for  providing  the  Colum- 
bia Gardens,  which  are  accounted  to  be  the  greatest  pub- 
lic play-grounds  in  the  country,  and  he  has  been  the 


858 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


generous  and  enthusiastic  patron  of  the  enterprise  from 
its  inception.  The  Gardens  are  provided  witli  electric 
light,  fire,  sewerage,  and  water-systems.  1 he  affection 
which  Mr.  Clark  has  ever  shown  for  children  has  been 
signally  e.xemplificd  in  connection  with  these  Gardens, 
and  on  May  8th  of  each  year,  and  every  Thursday  fol- 
lowing, and  during  the  entire  summer  school-vacation, 
lie  provides  at  his  individual  expense  for  the  entertairi- 
ment  of  the  children  of  Hutte  and  its  vicinity  at  this 
beautiful  resort.  I'ree  transportation  is  given  on  special 
trains  over  his  own  electric  lines,  as  well  as  from  the  sur- 
rounding country  towns,  and  at  the  gardens,  the  little 
ones'  find  endless  sources  of  entertainment. 

d'he  grounds  are  furnished  with  all  sorts  of  equipment, 
such  as  swings,  slides,  roller-coasters,  teeters,  giant 
strides,  and  so  forth.  On  these  days,  there  arc  present 
6,000  to  10,000  chiblren,  who  enjoy  his  hospitality.  To 
see  these  children  at  the  Gardens,  well  dressed  and  well- 
beh.ived,  most  of  them  the  children  of  miners,  is  one 
of  the  most  beautiful  sights  to  be  seen  in  the  world. 

In  no  one  direction  docs  Mr.  Clark  find  greater  pleas- 
ure or  satisfaction  than  in  aiding  or  contributing  to  the 
happiness  of  children,  who  ever  appeal  to  the  kindly  in- 
stinct of  his  heart. 

-All  that  has  bceti  accomplished  by  Air.  Clark  in  the 
handling  of  business  affairs  of  the  broadest  scope  and 
importance,  could  not  be  told  in  a volume,  and  it  may 
well  be  said  that  he  stands  as  an  admirable  type  of  the 
world's  productive  workers.  But  not  thus  has  been  taken 
the  full  measure  of  the  man,  for  in  the  midst  of  the 
manifold  exactments  of  bis  great  industrial  and  financial 
interests,  he  has  not  denied  to  the  State  and  Nation 
services  of  high  order, — services  which  Time  is  proving 
to  have  been  of  greater  value  than  were  shown  by  con- 
temporary estimates.  To  one  who  has  achieved  so 
much  iti  the  world  of  practical  affairs,  there  must  have 
come  a natural  broadening  in  mental  powers,  intellectual 
capacity,  and  general  appreciation  of  the  duties  of  citi- 
zenship. Senator  Clark  has  manifested  a high  stamp 
of  civic  stewardship,  is  admirably  fortified  in  his  opinions 
touching  matters  of  governmental  and  economic  polity, 
and  his  loyalty  as  a citizen  and  as  a stalwart  supporter 
of  the  cause  of  the  Democratic  Party  cannot  be  impugned, 
the  while  popular  appreciation  of  his  public  service  must 
continue,  cumulative  with  the  passing  of  years. 

In  1876,  Governor  Potts  appointed  Air.  Clark  official 
orator  to  represent  the  Territory  of  Alontana  at  the  Cen- 
tennial Exposition,  in  Philadelphia,  and  the  brilliant 
address  which  he  there  delivered  did  much  to  attract  at- 
tention to  the  magnificent  natural  resources  of  the  terri- 
tory for  which  he  appeared  as  sponsor.  In  1877,  A'lr. 
Clark  was  elected  Grand  Alaster  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
Ancient  Free  & Accepted  Alasons  of  Alontana,  and  in  the 
same  year  he  was  one  of  the  first  to  respond  to  the  call 
of  Governor  Potts  for  volunteers  to  repel  the  invasion 
of  the  Nez  Perce  Indians.  He  received  commission  as 
major  of  the  Butte  Battalion  and  led  this  gallant  organi- 
zation to  the  front  against  Chief  Joseph,  one  of  the 
greatest  Indian  military  leaders  the  country  has  known. 
In  1884,  Mr.  Clark  represented  Silver  Bow  county  as 
delegate  to  the  first  State  Constitutional  Convention  of 
Montana,  and  he  had  the  distinction  of  being  made  presi- 
dent of  the  convention,  in  which  he  made  an  admirable 
record  as  a presiding  officer  and  parliamentarian  as  well 
as  a citizen  of  the  most  aggressive  loyalty  and  public 
spirit.  In  1884,  he  was  appointed  by  President  Arthur 
to  represent  Alontana  as  a commissioner  to  the  World’s 
Industrial  & Cotton  Exposition,  in  the  city  of  New 
Orleans,  and  there  he  again  rendered  valuable  service  to 
the  state  of  his  adoption. 


In  politics  Senator  Clark  is  primarily  and  emphatically 
a Democrat,  and  his  leadership  in  the  party  ranks  in  the 
West  has  been  creditable  to  the  state  which  he  has  repre- 
sented as  well  as  to  himself  as  a broad-minded  and 
patriotic  citizen.  The  compass  of  this  article  renders 
possible  only  the  briefest  review  of  his  political  career, 
the  record  of  the  greater  part  of  which  has  become  a 
very  part  of  national  history.  In  1888,  he  was  nominated 
by  his  party  as  delegate  from  Alontana  Territory  to  Con- 
gress, and  after  a most  brilliant  and  spirited  canvass  he 
was  defeated,  owing  to  treachery  within  the  party  ranks. 
At  the  time  of  the  second  constitutional  convention,  in 
1889,  when  Alontana  was  finally  admitted  to  the  Union, 
Air.  Clark  was  elected  president  of  the  convention,  in 
which  position  he  rendered  most  effective  service  of 
entirely  non-partisan  order. 

To  Mr.  Clark’s  senatorial  aspirations  national  interest 
attaches.  Upon  the  first  legislative  assembly  of  the  new 
state,  convened  in  Helena  in  January,  1890,  devolved  the 
duty  of  electing  two  United  States  senators  to  represent 
the  new  commonwealth.  Political  misunderstanding  re- 
sulted in  the  election  of  two  sets  of  senators,  following 
the  organization  of  two  distinctive  houses  or  representa- 
tives. The  Democrats  elected  William  A.  Clark  and 
Alartin  Alaginnis,  and  the  Republicans  chose  Wilbur  F. 
Sanders  and  Thomas  C.  Power.  Air.  Clark  received  the 
unanimous  vote  of  his  party  both  in  caucus  and  in  the 
joint  session  of  the  two  houses  of  the  legislature.  All 
four  presented  their  claims  to  the  United  States  Senate, 
and,  as  the  Republicans  were  in  a majority,  in  that  body, 
the  issue  did  not  remain  long  in  doubt,  Messrs.  Sanders 
and  Power  having  been  recognized  as  the  duly  elected 
representatives  of  Alontana  in  the  Federal  Senate.  It  is 
a matter  of  record  that  on  this  occasion  Air.  Clark  re- 
ceived from  his  party  in  the  state  the  highest  honor  in 
its  gift,  and  he  is  as  proud  of  this  distinction  to  this  day 
as  he  would  have  been  to  enjoy  the  full  honors  of  what 
he  regards  as  just  and  legal  election. 

In  1893  occurred  Air.  Clark’s  second  contest  for  the 
office  of  United  States  Senator.  The  legislature  con- 
vened at  Flelena  to  elect  a successor  to  Colonel  Sanders. 
Three  Populist  members  held  the  balance  of  power. 
Again  the  caucus  nomination  was  given  to  Mr.  Clark, 
but  a contingent  of  the  Democratic  members  refused 
either  to  participate  in  the  caucus  or  to  abide  by  its  action. 
During  the  entire  legislative  session  of  sixty  days,  the 
senatorial  contest  continued,  and  at  the  last  joint  session 
the  gavel  fell  with  no  election.  During  several  ballots 
Air.  Clark  came  within  two  votes  of  an  election,  having 
received  the  support  of  one  Populist  and  several  Repub- 
licans in  addition  to  the  twenty-six  Democrats  whose 
fealty  had  continued  without  interruption.  Mr.  Clark 
headed  the  Montana  delegation  to  the  Democratic 
national  convention  of  1892,  in  Chicago,  and  during  the 
ensuing  national  administration  he  wielded  due  power 
in  connection  with  federal  affairs  in  Montana. 

During  the  legislative  session  in  1898,  Air.  Clark  was 
again  a candidate  for  the  United  States  Senate,  and  was 
again  elected.  On  his  application  for  permission  to  take 
his  seat,  partisan  politics  again  intervened,  and  at  the 
request  of  the  Republican  majority  in  the  Senate,  the 
question  of  his  seating  was  held  in  abeyance.  In  the 
meanwhile  he  resigned  his  office,  to  which  he  had  been 
elected,  and  he  was  thereupon  appointed,  by  Lieutenant 
Governor  Spriggs  to  fill  the  vacancy,  but  he  never  pre- 
sented himself  to  take  the  oath  of  office.  This  term,  how- 
ever, could  continue  only  until  the  next  meeting  of  the 
legislature,  1901,  and  at  this  assembly  Mr.  Clark  was  for 
a third  time  elected  to  the  position  he  so  honorably 
sought  and  to  which  he  was  most  eminently  entitled.  Of 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


859 


his  service  in  the  United  States  Senate  it  is  not  necessary 
to  give  details  in  this  article,  for  his  record  has  become 
a very  part  of  the  history  of  that  body  and  one  which 
redounds  to  his  credit  and  honor. 

Fidelity  has  been  one  of  the  dominating  traits  in  the 
character  of  Senator  Clark,  and  with  the  passing  of  time 
has  come  a fuller  appreciation  of  the  sacrifices  he  has 
made  and  the  exalted  service  he  has  given  in  behalf  of 
the  state  to  the  development  of  which  he  has  contributed 
in  prodigious  measure.  He  has  merited  every  confidence 
reposed  in  him,  and  has  been  true  to  every  trust,  whether 
great  or  small.  The  city  of  Helena  is  indebted  to  him 
for  the  location  of  the  state  capital  within  its  borders.  In 
1894,  the  permanent  seat  of  government  was  to  be  estab- 
lished, after  a contest  which  had  left  Helena  and  Ana- 
conda as  the  sole  competitors.  Temporarily  Helena  was 
the  capital  city,  but  the  choice  of  the  powerful  Anaconda 
Company  was  Anaconda,  whose  star  seemed  much  in 
the  ascendancy.  The  Helena  forces  were  without  leader- 
ship or  proper  organization.  In  this  connection,  it  should 
be  noted  that  the  residence  of  Senator  Clark  was  in  sight 
of  the  Anaconda  mines  and  that  there  were  many  large 
inducements  for  him  to  throw  his  influence  in  favor  of 
Anaconda.  But  conditions  appealed  to  his  sense  of 
justice,  and  he  accordingly  became  the  aggressive  cham- 
pion of  the  cause  of  Helena.  Through  the  columns  of 
the  Butte  Miner  he  made  his  position  known,  without 
reference  to  political  or  personal  ambition,  and  from  that 
time  forward  he  was  the  recognized  leader  of  the  Helena 
forces.  He  eloquently  urged  the  claims  of  Helena  on  the 
stump  and  contributed  liberally  to  the  campaign  fund. 
Concerning  his  efforts  in  this  connection,  the  following 
spirited  account  has  been  given  and  is  well  worthy  of 
perpetuation  in  this  review : 

“Never,  in  the  history  of  this  or  any  other  state,  was 
a battle  more  intense  and  exciting;  never  did  the  people 
more  keenly  feel  that  their  rights  and  liberaties  were 
at  stake ; and  never  did  a citizen  receive  a greater  or 
more  spontaneous  ovation  than  that  which  Mr.  Clark 
enjoyed  when,  after  having  unquestionably  snatched 
victory  from  defeat,  the  people  of  the  state  gathered  in 
thousands  at  Helena  to  do  him  honor.  The  citizens  bore 
him  on  their  shoulders  from  his  train,  placed  him  in  a 
carriage,  and  then,  detaching  the  horses,  took  their 
places  at  the  pole  and  triumphantly  hauled  the  vehicle 
to  the  city  as  a victor’s  chariot.  It  was  a battle  never  to 
be  forgotten,  and  the  unprecedented  expressions  of 
gratitude  which  were  showered  upon  Mr.  Clark  formed 
a climax  such  as  rarely  rewards  the  efforts  of  man.  It 
was  a victory  which  easily  gave  Mr.  Clark  rank  as  the 
leading  citizen  of  the  state  and  as  one  of  the  most  com- 
manding figures  of  the  West." 

Senator  Clark  is  still  making  histor}q  and  it  is  uni- 
formly conceded  that  he  has  played  no  unimportant 
part  in  national  affairs.  That  he  is  entitled  to  a place  in 
the  first  rank  of  the  brave,  determined  and  energetic  men 
of  the  great  West  will  be  readily  admitted,  and  his  career 
offers  both  lesson  and  inspiration.  As  a good  citizen, 
patriotic,  broad-minded.  Senator  Clark  has  thousands  of 
warm  personal  friends,  regardless  of  political  lines  or 
social  gradations.  With  many  of  them  he  has  mingled 
as  a pioneer,  and  had  experience  in  connection  with  con- 
ditions and  influences  of  the  formative  period  in  the 
history  of  a great  commonwealth.  To  many  he  has  given 
a helping  hand  and  a cheering  word  of  encouragement. 
His  heart  has  been  attuned  to  sympathy  and  tolerance, 
and  those  who  know  him  best  are  they  who  will  most 
earnestly  attest  to  this.  His  has  been  a wonderful  suc- 
cess in  temporal  affairs,  but  the  generous,  kindly  heart 


of  the  man  has  shown  itself  above  all  and  over  all  his 
activities,  with  the  result  that  he  merits  the  high  regard 
in  which  he  is  held  in  the  state  of  which  he  has  been 
essentially  one  of  the  founders  and  builders.  He  still 
passes  considerable  time  each  year  in  Montana,  and  he 
is  proud  of  the  state  and  of  her  sterling  citizens,  glad 
of  the  part  which  he  has  been  able  to  take  in  her  develop- 
ment and  upbuilding,  and  appreciative  of  the  esteem 
which  he  has  won  through  the  long  years  of  association 
with  this  favored  commonwealth. 

Reverting  briefly  to  the  political  career  of  Senator  Clark, 
it  may  be  said  that  at  the  opening  of  the  state  campaign 
in  igoo  it  was  at  once  evident  that  his  candidacy  for  the 
United  States  Senate  was  to  be  the  principal  issue.  Cer- 
tain well-known  and  strong  corporate  interests  threw 
large  sums  of  money  into  the  state,  ostensibly  for  the 
defeat  of  the  Democratic  state  ticket,  but  in  reality  to 
defeat  his  senatorial  aspiration.  Newspapers  were  es- 
tablished, and  others  founded,  enlarged  and  improved. 
In  the  equipping  of  these  extensive  plants,  and  for  their 
editorial  supervision,  immense  sums  were  expended,  the 
while  there  was  established  in  Butte  an  extensive  art 
plant,  apparently  for  the  sole  purpose  of  supplying  poli- 
tical caricature  directed  against  him.  His  personality 
was  the  target  for  every  possible  projectile  to  be  thrown 
by  his  powerful  antagonists,  but  they  found  in  him  a 
foeman  more  than  worthy  of  their  steel,  and  the  result 
of  the  election  was  a sweeping  Democratic  victory’ — a 
most  flattering  vindication  of  Mr.  Clark  in  connection 
with  the  action  of  the  United  States  Senate  following 
his  election  to  that  body  in  1898.  The  election  of  Mr. 
Clark  was  practically  settled  on  the  night  of  November 
6,  1900,  when  the  votes  were  counted  throughout  the 
state.  On  the  7th  of  January,  1901,  the  Montana  legis- 
lature assembled.  Until  the  15th,  at  which  time  the 
formal  ballot  w’as  taken,  each  house  voting  separately, 
the  senatorial  question  w’as  the  absorbing  topic.  On 
January  15th,  at  noon,  the  first  ballot  was  taken.  The 
result  showed  a clear  majority  of  two  for  Senator  Clark,, 
after  the  distribution  of  a number  of  complimentary  bal- 
lots to  other  persons.  The  legislature  then  adjourned. 
On  the  next  ballot,  at  noon  of  the  following  day.  Senator 
Clark  received  the  solid  vote  of  his  party,  fifty-seven  to 
thirty-six,  in  both  houses,  for  the  long  term,  this  being 
seven  more  than  necessary  for  his  election  as  successor 
of  the  late  Senator  Thomas  H.  Carter.  This  w’as  as  com- 
plete a vindication  as  was  ever  accorded  anywhere  to  any 
man,  and  it  remains  a source  of  profound  gratification  to 
Senator  Clark.  He  entered  upon  his  official  duties  as 
-senator  on  the  4th  of  March.  1901,  and  by  his  demo';atic 
and  affable  manner,  his  familiarity  with  state  and  national 
issues,  and  his  ability  as  a dialectician  and  orator,  he 
added  materially  to  his  prestige  as  one  of  the  national 
leaders  of  the  Democratic  Party.  He  retired  from  the 
senate  on  the  4th  March,  1907,  and  though  he  has  now 
passed  the  psalmist's  span  of  three  score  years  and  ten, 
the  years  rest  lightly  upon  him,  and  he  has  the  vitality 
and  alertness  of  a man  many  years  his  junior.  He  main- 
tains a close  personal  supervision  of  his  vast  interests, 
and  shows  no  diminution  of  his  marvellous  business 
pow’ers,  his  mental  and  physical  strength,  being  the  re- 
sult of  right  living  and  of  constant  touch  w’ith  the 
activities  of  life. 

From  many  other  pleasing  and  consistent  estimates 
the  one  here  presented  is  considered  worthy  or  reproduc- 
tion : — 

“Mr.  Clark,  though  an  unusually  active  man  in  the 
supervising  of  his  great  and  diversified  interests,  has 
found  tim.e  for  the  gratification  of  various  other  dominat- 


860 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


ing  instincts — artistic,  scholastic,  social  and  political 
activities  having-  their  (|uota  of  time  and  thought.  He  is 
a gentleman  almost  delicate  in  appearance,  refined  and 
cultured,  capable  of  versatile  conversation  on  subjects 
(if  wide  range.  Whether  as  a humble  wage-earner,  as  a 
man  of  growing  means  and  larger  ideas,  or  as  a giant 
in  the  mining  world,  he  has  ever  been  the  same  frank, 
courteous  gentleman,  easy  of  approach,  considerate  of 
the  feelings  of  others,  and  always  ready  to  lend  his  gen- 
erotis  aid  and  kindl_\-  counsel  in  connection  with  move- 
ments which  promised  good  for  the  state  or  the  people 
thereof." 

Iti  .March,  1869,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Sena- 
tor Clark  to  Miss  Kate  L.  StaufYer,  a most  gracious  and 
accomplished  young  woman,  whose  home,  at  the  time, 
was  in  Conticllsville,  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Clark  and  this 
young  lady  were  school  children  together  in  their  child- 
hood years.  On  their  wedding-day,  the  young  couple  set 
forth  for  their  home  in  the  territory  of  Montana,  going 
by  rail  to  the  western  terminus  of  the  Union  Pacific 
Railroad  Company,  which  was  then  near  Ogden,  Utah, 
b'rom  this  point,  they  went  by  stage-coach,  which  required 
five  days’  constant  travel  day  and  night.  They  arrived  at 
Helena,  which  was  to  be  their  home  for  a time,  and  on 
the  25th  day  of  January  of  the  following  year,  their  first 
child  was  born — Mary  Joaquina  Clark.  After  their  re- 
moval to  Deer  Lodge,  four  other  children  were  born  to 
them,  and  their  youngest  child,  Francis  Paul,  was  born 
in  the  year  t88o,  in  the  city  of  Paris,  France,  where  the 
family  resided  during  three  years,  in  order  that  the 
children  might  receive  educational  training  in  the  French 
language,  as  they  did  later  in  Germany,  where  they 
passed  two  years  in  the  city  of  Dresden,  Sa.xony.  During 
these  five  years.  Senator  Clark  passed  his  winters  in 
Europe,  and  he  and  his  family  travelled  extensively  there, 
besides  visiting  portions  of  Asia  and  .A.frica.  Mary,  the 
eldest  of  the  children,  is  now  the  wife  of  Charles  Potter 
Kling,  a representative  lawyer  of  New  York  City;  the 
eldest  son,  Charles  Walker,  was  graduated  in  Yale  Uni- 
versity, where  he  also  took  a course  in  mineralogy,  and 
metallurgy,  in  the  year  1893,  and  he  now  resides  in  San 
Mateo,  California,  but  is  closely  associated  with  his 
father  in  extensive  mining  interests.  He  married  Miss 
Katherine  Roberts,  of  Helena,  Montana,  who  died  a few 
years  afterwards,  and,  in  the  year  following  her  death, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Celia  Tobin,  of  San  Francisco. 
Katherine  L.  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  Lewis  R.  Morris,  who  is 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  New  York. 
Jessie,  twin-sister  of  Katherine  L.,  died  at  Deer  Lodge 
in  .April,  18S8,  at  the  age  of  three  years.  William  .A., 
Junior,  graduated  in  the  Law  Department  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Virginia,  and  practiced  his  profession  for 
several  years  in  Alontana,  but  is  now  engaged  in  ex- 
tensive mining  operations  in  association  with  his  father. 
He  is  now  a resident  of  Los  .Angeles,  California.  He 
married  Aliss  Mabel  Foster,  of  Butte,  who  died  soon 
after  the  birth  of  their  first  child,  William  A.  Clark, 
Third,  and  several  years  afterwards  he  was  married  to 
Mrs.  .Alice  Aledin,  of  Sacramento,  California.  Francis 
Paul,  youngest  of  the  children,  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
years.  Reference  has  herein  above  been  niade  to  him, 
and  the  memorial  constructed  to  perpetuate  his  memory. 
I he  devoted  wife  and  mother,  Mrs.  Katherine  L. 
(Stauffer)  Clark,  was  summoned  to  the  life  eternal  in 
New  A'ork  City,  on  the  19th  day  of  October,  1893,  having 
only  a few  days  previously  been  infected  with  the  deadly 
germs  of  typhoid  fever,  at  the  International  Exhibition 
at  Chicago.  Her  memory  is  revered  by  all  who  came 
within  the  sphere  of  her  gracious  and  gentle  influence. 


On  the  2ist  day  of  May,  1901,  Senator  Clark  contracted 
a second  marriage,  having  then  been  united  to  Miss  Anna 
E.  Lachapelle,  whose  parents,  of  Canadian  origin,  lived 
for  many  years  at  Butte,  Montana.  Her  father,  an  able 
physician,  with  a very  promising  future,  while  yet  a 
young  man,  died  of  heart-disease,  and  Senator  Clark,  a 
warm  friend  of  the  family,  recognizing  the  remarkable 
talent  of  the  daughter  for  music,  sent  her  to  Paris  to  be 
educated.  She  was  a pupil  of  the  great  harpist  Hassel- 
mans,  at  the  Conservatoire  of  Music,  at  Paris,  for  several 
years,  and  acquired  wonderful  proficiency  on  the  harp. 
To  them  has  been  born  two  children,  Wilhehnina 
-Andree,  in  1902,  and  Huguette  Marcelle,  in  1906.  Both 
of  these  children  have  inherited  the  musical  ability  of  the 
mother,  and  having  lived  abroad  until  recently,  have 
acquired  a knowledge  of  the  French  and  other  languages, 
and  have  recently  learnt  the  English  language. 

The  above  is  a brief  record  of  some  of  the  most  im- 
portant events  and  achievements  in  the  active  life  of  a 
notable  Montana  pioneer. 

Hon.  Lee  Mantle.  The  name  of  Hon.  Lee  Mantle, 
of  Butte,  Montana,  former  United  States  senator  from 
this  state,  has  been  inseparably  identified  with  the  his- 
tory of  Montana  from  early  territorial  times,  and 
through  the  days  to  come  there  will  be  accorded  him 
a tribute  of  honor  as  a man  of  dominant  force  and 
integrity,  and  as  one  who  has  contributed  in  no  small 
measure  to  the  progress  and  prosperity  of  the  state, 
more  especially  with  that  rock-ribbed  part  which  is 
rich  beyond  compare  with  its  wea'th  of  hidden  min- 
erals. 

Lee  Alantle  was  born  in  the  great  manufacturing 
city  of  Birmingham,  England,  December  13,  1853,  and 
is  a son  of  Joseph  Mantle,  who  died  shortly  before 
his  birth,  and  his  wife,  Mary  Susan  (Patrick)  Man- 
tle, who  had  si.x  other  children.  To  be  left  a widow 
with  narrow  means  and  seven  young  childi  m to  rear 
alone  was  a future  heavy  with  responsibility  nd  only 
a woman  of  unusual  force  of  character  ana  innate 
courage  could  have  so  calmly  and  resolutely  a.-'-epted 
conditions  and  through  resourcefulness  and  expedients 
known  only  to  herself  have  guided  the  little  flock 
through  the  ten  succeding  years.  Their  future  became 
her  main  thought  and  it  was  in  the  hope  of  finding  a 
wider  field  of  opportunity  for  them  that  she  severed 
old  ties  and  embarked  with  them  for  America.  The 
long  voyage  was  safely  accomplished,  and  the  still 
longer  journey  from  New  York  to  Salt  Lake  City, 
Utah,  and  there  she  remained  for  some  years,  finding 
not  only  work  for  her  children,  but  also  employment 
for  herself.  But  in  compensation  for  the  hardships 
she  then  endured,  the  time  came  later  when  life  was 
not  only  made  easy  for  her,  but  when  every  comfort 
was  hers,  and  in  closing  her  record  it  is  not  out  of 
place  to  refer  feelingly  to  the  devotion  of  her  youngest 
son.  Early  in  life  he  willingly  assumed  every  responsi- 
bility in  her  behalf  and  as  long  as  she  lived  his  first 
thought  and  greatest  care  was  for  her  happiness,  and 
in  his  later  achievements  it  was  to  her  he  carried  his 
laurels.  In  the  beautiful  residence  he  erected  at  Butte, 
Montana,  he  installed  this  beloved  mother  as  the  head 
of  his  home,  and  here  it  was  his  delight  to  anticipate 
her  every  wish.  Together  they  lived  in  the  closest 
affection,  and  when,  in  old  age,  she  passed  peacefully 
away  in  February,  igoi,  at  the  age  of  eighty-nine  years, 
this  devoted  son  was  at  her  bedside,  tenderly  minister- 
ing to  her  the  last,  the  busy  world  of  affairs,  upon 
which  he  had  made  his  impress,  entirely  forgotten. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


861 


During  the  first  two  years  after  reaching  Salt  Lake 
City,  Lee  Mantle  worked  at  herding  cattle  for  his  board 
and  clothes,  and  during  the  two  following  years  he 
felt  himself  fortunate  in  not  only  receiving  food  and 
raiment  for  his  labor,  but  also  a salary  amounting 
to  fifty  dollars  annually.  He  thus  reached  his  sixteenth 
j'ear,  strong,  sturdy  and  ambitious,  typical  of  the  devel- 
opment which  came  later.  About  this  time  he  secured 
work  on  the  L^nion  Pacific  Railway,  hauling  ties  for 
this  great  transportation  line  that  was  then  being  con- 
structed in  L^tah  to  Promontory  Point,  where  on  ilay  lo, 
1869.  it  joined  the  Central  Pacific  Line,  and  where  from 
his  team  of  mules  he  saw  the  meeting  of  the  first  trains 
from  the  east  and  the  west  and  the  distinguished  guests 
who  were  brought  from  the  Atlantic  and  the  Pacific  to 
witness  the  historic  event  of  the  driving  of  the  last  spike. 
On  the  completion  of  the  railroad,  finding  no  employ- 
ment at  home,  he  decided  to  go  to  Malad  City,  Idaho, 
and  although  the  place  was  one  hundred  and  twenty 
miles  away,  he  had  such  supreme  faith  in  his  own 
capacity  and  such  determination  to  advance  his  for- 
tunes, that  he  packed  his  possessions  and  started  wuth 
them  on  his  back,  walking  the  entire  distance. 

When,  footsore  and  weary,  he  reached  IMalad  City, 
Idaho,  he  entered  the  employ  of  Hon.  B.  F.  White, 
who  subsequently  became  governor  of  ^Montana,  and 
was  engaged  as  a teamster  hauling  salt  by  ox  team 
from  Mr.  Wliite's  salt  works  in  eastern  Idaho  to 
Boise  City,  Idaho,  and  to  Virginia  City,  Montana,  re- 
maining in  Governor  White's  employ  two  seasons. 
The  acquaintance  thus  begun  in  the  relation  of  em- 
ployer and  employe  between  the  ragged  and  almost 
barefooted  boy  and  the  .governor  to  be,  ripened  later 
into  a close  friendship  which  has  lasted  unbroken  for 
more  than  forty  years. 

A pleasant,  winning  manner  even  then  enabled  him 
to  make  friends  readily,  and  it  was  while  spending 
the  second  winter  in  Malad,  waiting  for  the  season 
to  open,  that  he  became  acquainted  with  the  telegraph 
operator  there,  W.  N.  Shilling.  At  that  time  neither 
the  names  nor  the  personalities  of  either  Mr.  Mantle 
or  Mr.  Shilling  were  of  much  interest  to  anyone  out- 
side their  own  families,  but  the  time  came  when  j\Ir, 
Shilling  became  a factor  in  the  financial  world  at 
Ogden,  Utah,  and  Mr.  Mantle’s  name  carried  weight 
in  the  greatest  legislative  body  in  the  world.  Having 
nothing  else  to  do,  the  youth  concluded  it  would  be 
a wise  measure  to  learn  the  art  of  telegraphy  from  his 
new  friend,  while  the  latter  was  glad  to  teach  him 
in  payment  for  having  the  line  along  his  route  kept 
in  order  during  the  winter  season.  Mr.  Mantle  was 
an  apt  pupil  and  rapidly  acquired  a knowledge  of  the 
work,  faithfully  living  up  to  his  bargain  to  keep  the 
telegraph  line  in  good  condition.  So  well  had  his 
work  been  done  that  in  the  spring  he  was  tendered 
the  position,  and  gladly  accepted  it,  of  general  re- 
pairer on  the  main  lines  of  the  Western  Union  Tele- 
graph Company  between  Ogden  and  Green  River, 
along  the  Union  Pacific  Railway.  In  1872  he  was 

appointed  telegraph  operator  at  Pleasant  Valley,  Ida- 
ho, just  across  the  Montana  line,  on  the  old  overland 
stage  line,  where  he  remained  five  years,  becoming 
station  agent,  postmaster  and  part  owner  of  the  toll- 
road.  It  was  during  this  period  and  in  this  isolated 
spot  that  he  first  found  an  opportunity  for  reading, 
which  he  eagerly  improved,  and  it  was  here  also  that 
he  first  met  many  of  the  most  famous  of  the  early 
Montana  pioneers  on  their  stage  journeys  to  and  from 
the  east.  In  1877  he  came  to  Butte  and  opened  the 


express  office  of  Wells,  Fargo  & Company,  and 
within  two  years  he  was  also  in  charge  of  the  first 
telegraph  office  in  the  city,  and  also  established  the 
first  fire  insurance  agency.  Subsequent!}-,  in  partner- 
ship with  William  Owsley,  who  later  was  elected 
mayor  of  this  city,  he  embarked  in  the  livery  business, 
and  in  looking  after  the  interests  of  this  enterprise, 
built  up  his  somewhat  shattered  health. 

Mr.  Mantle  was  one  of  the  earliest  agitators  for  the 
incorporation  of  Butte  as  a city,  and  when  this  meas- 
ure was  brought  about,  in  the  face  of  violent  opposi- 
tion, was  elected  a member  of  its  first  board  of  aider- 
men.  The  principles  and  policies  of  the  Republican 
party  had  appealed  to  him  when  manhood  dawned, 
and  after  the  organization  of  Butte  as  a city,  he  was 
the  first  to  formulate  a plan  and  put  it  into  execu- 
tion for  the  establishment  of  a daily  Republican  news- 
paper here,  and  thus  came  about  the  founding  of  the 
Daily  Inter-Mountain,  which  he  managed  and  directed 
for  twenty  years,  eventually  becoming  its  sole  owner. 

Although  already  a factor  in  local  politics,  it  was 
not  until  1882  that  he  came  prominently  before  the 
public  and  was  elected  a member  of  the  lower  house 
of  the  territorial  legislature,  and  two  years  later  he 
was  chosen  as  a delegate  to  the  Republican  national 
convention,  instructed  for  George  F.  Edmunds,  while 
his  colleague.  Col.  Wilbur  F.  Sanders,  was  for 
Hon.  James  G.  Blaine.  In  the  autumn  of  1884  IMr. 
iMantle  was  a second  time  nominated  for  the  legisla- 
ture, but  was  defeated,  although  by  a small  vote, 
from  an  honorable  cause,  having  refused  to  pledge 
himself  against  interfering  with  the  gambling  inter- 
ests. His  popularity  at  this  time  was  such  that  in 
1885,  when  Governor  Crosby  became  assistant  post- 
master-general in  tbe  cabinet  of  President  Arthur, 
there  was  great  pressure  brought  to  bear  to  have  Mr. 
Mantle  appointed  to.  fill  the  vacancy,  but  in  the  mean- 
while a sectional  feeling  had  been  aroused  between 
the  eastern  and  western  parts  of  the  then  territory, 
and  a citizen  of  New  York  state  was  appointed.  In 
1886  Mr.  Mantle  once  more  returned  to  the  legisla- 
ture. where  he  worked  to  secure  a sound  registration 
law.  together  with  numerous  other  reformatory  enact- 
ments. In  the  next  year  some  very  important  issues 
came  up  in  public  life  and  Mr.  Mantle,  through  his 
vigorous  fight  in  favor  of  just  laws,  came  still  again 
prominentl}"  before  the  people  of  jMontana.  It  is  not 
difficult  to  recall  the  efforts  made  by  the  Northern 
Pacific  Railroad  in  1887  to  secure  from  the  govern- 
ment of  the  United  States  patents  to  immense  tracts 
of  valuable  mineral  land  in  Montana  which  the  com- 
pany claimed  under  its  land  grant,  and  of  the  natural 
indignation  of  the  people  at  large  over  this  attempt. 
A mass  convention  was  held  at  Helena  and  the  Mon- 
tana Mineral  Land  Association  was  organized  to  pro- 
tect the  public  interests.  Mr.  Mantle  was  chosen 
permanent  president  of  this  body  and  it  was  largely 
through  his  determined  efforts,  aided  by  other  patriotic 
Montanians,  that  the  issuing  of  patents  was  suspended 
and  the  matter  brought  before  congress  and  remedial 
legislation  secured  which  resulted  in  saving  vast  areas 
of  valuable  mineral  lands  to  tbe  people. 

Once  more  returned  to  the  general  assembly  in  1888, 
Mr.  -Mantle  was  accorded  the  signal  honor  of  being 
elected  speaker,  and  during  that  last  territorial  legis- 
lature many  important  measures  came  before  the  house 
and  invaluable  laws  were  passed,  included  in  these 
being  one  for  a registration  of  voters,  another  provid- 
ing for  the  Australian  system  of  balloting,  a mechan- 


862 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


ic’s  lien  law  and  the  mine  inspection  law.  In  the  fall 
of  1888  Mr.  Mantle  placed  Hon.  Thomas  H.  Carter 
in  nomination  at  the  territorial  convention  for  delegate 
in  congress  and  was  conspicuous  in  the  campaign 
which  resulted  in  Mr.  Carter's  election.  In  1^9 
Montana  became  a state  and  in  the  legislative  session 
following  Mr.  Alantle  became  a candidate  for  the 
United  States  senate,  but  was  defeated  by  Hon.  Thomas 
C.  Power,  who  won  the  nomination  in  the  caucus 
by  two  votes.  Mr.  Power  had  been  the  Republican 
candidate  for  governor  and  was  defeated.  Mr.  IMan- 
tle  kept  in  harness,  however,  and  was  continually  at 
work  for  the  success  of  his  party  without  regard  to 
his  own  personal  advancement,  frequently  serving  as 
chairman  of  state  conventions  and  delegate  to  national 
conventions,  being  chosen  three  times  chairman  of  the 
state  Republican  central  committee,  each  time  lead- 
ing the  party  to  success.  In  1892  Butte  honored  Mr. 
Mantle  by  electing  him  mayor  of  the  city  by  a great 
majority.  His  administration  of  municipal  affairs 
marked  a new  era  for  Butte,  and  many  general  im- 
provements were  brought  to  a successful  conclusion. 
The  present  fine  public  library  is  an  example. 

In  1893  came  the  well  remembered  deadlock  over 
the  election  of  a United  States  senator.  In  the  Repub- 
lican caucus  former  Senator  Wilbur  F.  Sanders  was 
nominated  for  a second  term  over  Mr.  Mantle  by 
just  one  vote  and  after  three  weeks  of  fruitless  ballot- 
ing his  name  was  withdrawn,  Mr.  Mantle  receiving 
‘he  vote  of  his  party  until  the  session  closed  without 
an  election.  When  Senator  Sanders’  term  of  office 
expired,  Mr.  iMantle  was  appointed  by  Governor  Rich- 
ards to  fill  the  vacancy;  the  senate,  however,  refused 
to  seat  him  on  purely  technical  constitutional  grounds. 
For  two  years  the  seat  remained  vacant.  The  next 
legislature,  being  Republican,  at  once  elected  Mr.  Man- 
tle United  States  senator.  For  this  high  position  Mr. 
Mantle  was  well  equipped,  possessing  ability,  dignity, 
poise  and  strength,  and  he  took  his  place  in  the  great- 
est deliberative  body  in  the  world,  not  as  a neophyte, 
but  as  a seasoned  statesman  who  had  already  won 
public  honors  and  knew  how  to  wear  them.  In  the 
senate  of  the  United  States,  as  elsewhere,  his  sturdy 
integrity,  his  firm  convictions  of  right  and  justice,  his 
pure  patriotism  and  personal  independence,  won  for 
him  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  senate  and  gave 
weight  to  his  opinions.  While  called  on  to  consider 
matters  of  the  gravest  moment  to  this  country  at  large, 
he  never  forgot  the  needs  of  his  own  state  and  its 
people,  holding  himself  ever  ready  to  stand  up  in 
defense  of  their  rights. 

As  a public  speaker  Mr.  iMantle  has  always  been 
popular  and  effective,  his  services  in  this  particular 
being  always  greatly  in  demand,  and  especially  so  dur- 
ing political  campaigns. 

During  his  senatorial  term  he  served  on  numerous 
important  committees  and  was  also  appointed  a mem- 
ber of  the  National  Industrial  Commission,  composed 
of  men  representing  various  shades  of  political  thought, 
the  object  being  to  make  a thorough  examination  into 
the  labor  and  other  economic  questions  in  the  United 
States,  a final  report  being  then  made  to  congress. 
The  term,  of  this  committee  extended  three  years  be- 
yond his  senatorial  term,  and  when  the  latter  expired, 
on  account  of  the  pressure  of  private  concerns,  he 
felt  obliged  to  retire  from  the  commission.  When 
he  returned  to  Montana  he  found  his  friends  still 
active  in  his  behalf  and  in  the  legislative  session  of 
1901  he  was  again  caucus  nominee  of  the  Republican 


party.  The  legislature,  however,  was  Democratic,  and 
Mr.  jMantle  was  not  elected. 

In  the  political  campaign  of  1905  Mr.  Mantle  was 
again  a candidate  for  the  United  States  senate.  His 
own  county  of  Silver  Bow,  which  was  always  regarded 
as  a stronghold  of  Democracy,  elected  eleven  of  the 
twelve  candidates  for  the  legislature,  who  were 
pledged  by  the  Republican  convention  which  nomi- 
nated them  to  give  him  their  loyal  support.  Public 
sentiment  was  largely  in  his  favor  and  when  the  polls 
closed  on  election  day  there  seemed  no  doubt  but 
that  he  had  won  the  coveted  honor  throughout  the 
state.  However,  powerful  influences  were  opposed  to 
him  and  sought  his  defeat  which  was  finally  accom- 
plished by  unfair  and  dishonorable  means ; means 
which  were  exposed  and  made  public  during  the  ex- 
citing presidential  campaign  for  delegates  to  the 
national  Republican  convention  in  1912  over  the  sig- 
nature of  a well  known  state  senator  from  western 
Montana  who  had  led  the  fight  in  behalf  of  his  oppon- 
ent. 

In  1903,  the  Montana  legislature  having  failed  to 
make  an  appropriation  to  enable  the  state  to  be  repre- 
sented at  the  great  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition  to 
be  held  at  St.  Louis,  Governor  J.  K.  Toole  appointed 
a committee  of  fifteen  prominent  citizens  to  secure 
funds  by  private  subscription.  This  committtee  met 
and  elected  Mr.  Mantle  chairman  and  resolved  that 
in  order  to  clothe  it  with  the  proper  dignity  and  author- 
ity, the  commission  should  be  created  by  the  legis- 
lature and  the  expense  borne  by  the  state.  Mr.  Mantle 
succeeded  in  bringing  the  legislature  together  (extra 
session)  under  an  agreement  that  the  members  would 
serve  without  compensation.  A law,  framed  by  him, 
was  immediately  passed  creating  a commission  of  fif- 
teen members  to  be  known  as  the  “Montana  World’s 
Fair  Commission"  and  the  sum  of  $50,000  appropriated. 
The  commission  elected  him  its  president  and  chair- 
man of  its  executive  committee  and  gave  him  full  con- 
trol and  direction  of  its  affairs.  Other  plans  were  set 
afloat  and  additional  funds  secured,  with  the  result 
that  the  state  was  magnificently  represented  at  this, 
the  greatest  exposition  ever  witnessed,  as  well  as  at 
the  Portland,  Oregon,  Exposition,  the  following  year. 
The  members  of  this  commission  refused  to  take  a dol- 
lar for  their  time,  trouble  or  personal  expenses,  and 
with  their  final  report  to  the  governor  of  the  state 
turned  back  into  the  state  treasury  over  $800  of  un- 
expended funds. 

Nothing,  perhaps,  could  more  forcibly  emphasize  the 
sterling  character  Mr.  Mantle  has  built  for  himself 
among  the  people  of  this  commonwealth  than  the  fact 
that  after  more  than  a third  of  a century  of  active 
participation  in  the  stress  and  strife  of  partisan  politi- 
cal warfare,  with  all  its  fierce  rivalries  and  jealousies ; 
after  having  often  been  subjected  to  the  heat  and  glare 
of  hostile  criticism  which  ever  follows  the  successful 
man  in  public  life,  and  after  all  the  competitions 
and  conflicts  of  interest,  unavoidable  in  the  rush  and 
clash  of  the  business  world,  no  man  in  Montana  today 
stands  higher  in  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his 
fellow  citizens  than  he.  Go  where  you  will  in  his 
home  state  and  you  will  hear  men  speak  of  him  only 
in  terms  of  praise  and  commendation,  both  for  his 
recognized  abilities  and  for  his  high  personal  character. 

In  common  with  a very  large  majority  of  successful 
Americans  who  have  risen  to  prominence  in  any 
branch  of  worthy  human  effort.  Mr.  Mantle  was 
denied  the  advantage  of  an  education  in  his  earlv 


I..4I 


Vi 


»r 


1-9 

■.’t- 


J- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


863 


youth  and  was  necessarily  compelled  to  supply  this 
deficiency  as  best  he  could  with  the  limited  opportu- 
nities and  under  the  adverse  conditions  which  sur- 
rounded him  in  later  years.  However,  his  untiring 
industry  and  perseverance,  combined  with  natural  abil- 
ities of  a high  order,  enabled  him  to  overcome  to  a 
most  creditable  degree  these  disadvantages,  so  much 
so,  indeed,  that  many  of  his  public  addresses  have 
commanded  approval  and  admiration,  both  for  their 
eloquence  and  their  subject  matter.  His  maiden 
speech  in  the  United  States  senate  was  a forceful  and 
convincing  defense  of  the  people  of  the  west,  among 
whom  his  life  has  been  passed,  against  the  unjust 
aspersions  of  some  of  the  press  and  the  people  of  the 
east,  including  the  then  president  of  the  United  States. 
This  speech  was  universally  complimented  and  en- 
dorsed by  the  press  and  the  people  of  the  west.  An- 
other address  of  Mr.  Mantle’s  most  highly  commended 
upon  every  hand  was  the  one  delivered  at  the  memo- 
rial services  held  in  honor  of  the  late  Senator  Thomas 
H.  Carter  at  Helena.  It  was  an  earnest,  eloquent  and 
sincere  tribute  to  the  splendid  character  and  great  life 
work  of  his  former  colleague  and  friend.  By  much 
of  the  editorial  comment  it  was  pronounced  a classic 
and  worthy  of  preservation  in  the  historical  archives 
of  the  state. 

Aside  from  his  more  than  thirty  years  of  continu- 
ous activity  in  affairs  political  and  in  public  life, 
Mr.  Mantle  has  been  a very  busy  man,  having  numer- 
ous interests  running  in  many  directions.  For  twenty 
years  he  managed  and  directed  the  business  and  poli- 
cies of  his  paper,  the  Daily  Inter -Mountain,  until  he 
sold  it  in  igoi.  He  has  ever  been  regarded  as  a pub- 
lic spirited  citizen  wielding  a strong  influence  and 
taking  an  active  interest  in  all  that  pertained  to  the 
welfare  of  his  home  city  and  state,  and  ever  ready  to 
extend  sympathy  and  encouragement  to  those  who,  like 
himself,  found  the  earlier  stages  of  life’s  journey  fllled 
with  obstacles  well  nigh  insurmountable. 

Mr.  Mantle’s  host  of  friends  all  over  the  state  are 
at  this  writing  (June,  1912)  urging  him  to  again  enter 
the  contest  for  United  States  senator  in  the  coming 
campaign,  and  should  he  do  so  there  are  thousands 
who  will  strive  earnestly  to  correct  the  grave  injustice 
done  him  five  years  ago  by  methods  shameful  in  their 
character. 

Mr.  Mantle  still  retains  his  home  in  Butte,  where  he 
has  resided  for  thirty-five  years.  He  enjoys  good 
health  and  is  actively  concerned  in  all  life’s  duties  and 
responsibilities.  He  is  social  and  agreeable  by  nature, 
a welcome  guest  on  all  occasions  and  enjoys  the  con- 
fidence and  good  will  of  a host  of  friends  in  every 
section  of  the  Treasure  state.  Fraternally  he  is  asso- 
ciated with  the  Masons,  the  Odd  Fellows,  the  Elks  and 
the  Knights  of  Pythias,  having  been  the  first  grand 
chancellor  of  the  latter  organization  in  Montana. 

Thomas  C.  Witherspoon-,  M.  D.  Engaged  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession  in  the  city  of  Butte,  the 
metropolis  of  Montana,  Dr.  Witherspoon  holds  secure 
prestige  as  one  of  the  distinguished  physicians  and  sur- 
geons of  this  state  and  is  also  a citizen  of  prominence 
and  influence, — broad  minded,  loyal  and  progressive  in 
his  civic  attitude.  He  is  a scion  in  the  agnatic  line  of 
stanch  Scotch  ancestry  and  a representative  of  one  of 
the  old  and  patrician  families  of  the  south,  where  the 
original  representative  of  the  name  settled  about  two 
centuries  ago,  upon  his  immigration  from  the  north  of 
Ireland,  in  which  section  the  family  was  established  up- 


on removing  from  Scotland  in  the  seventeenth  century, 
on  account  of  religious  persecutions.  The  sterling 
ancestor  of  Dr.  Witherspoon  finally  removed  from  his 
original  location  in  South  Carolina  to  Tennessee,  and 
his  cousin,  John  Witherspoon,  was  a signer  of  that  im- 
mortal document,  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 
They  were  Scotch  Presbyterians  of  the  strictest  type, 
and  from  the  time  of  the  historic  character,  John  Knox, 
the  family  has  given  in  the  various  generations  many 
representatives  to  the  ministerial  and  medical  pro- 
fessions. William  Conner,  maternal  grandfather  of  Dr. 
Witherspoon,  was  of  stanch  Irish  lineage  and  was  an 
early  settler  in  Mississippi,  where  was  solemnized  his 
marriage  to  a daughter  of  Dr.  John  Gustin.  The  grand- 
mother was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  was  a child  at 
the  time  when  the  family  removed  to  Mississippi,  the 
journey  being  made  by  carriage  to  St.  Louis  and  thence 
on  a raft  down  the  Mississippi  river  to  Natchez,  Mis- 
sissippi, where  she  was  reared  and  educated  and  where 
she  was  wedded  to  William  Conner.  The  Gustin  family 
is  of  French  lineage,  and  Dr.  James  Gustin  was  one  of 
the  prominent  pioneer  physicians  of  the  state  of  Con- 
necticut. Dr.  Witherspoon  has  records  that  give  data 
concerning  the  maternal  ancestry  as  far  back  as 
Robert  Bruce,  from  whom  he  is  a lineal  descendent.  It 
may  also  be  noted  at  this  juncture  that  the  Doctor  has 
in  his  possession  a highly  prized  family  heirloom,  the 
same  being  a family  bible  issued  in  the  tenth  century 
and  written  in  an  abbreviated  Latin  text.  It  was  writ- 
ten by  a Catholic  monk  who  resided  in  Cornwall,  Eng- 
land, and  who  devoted  forty  years  to  the  preparation 
of  this  most  interesting  and  valuable  volume. 

Dr.  Thomas  Casey  Witherspoon  was  born  in  the  city 
of  Natchez,  Mississippi,  on  the  25th  of  Majq  1868,  and 
is  a son  of  Thomas  Casey  Witherspoon,  Sr.,  and  Mary 
A.  D.  (Conner)  Witherspoon,  the  former  a native  of 
Alabama  and  the  latter  of  Mississippi.  Prior  to  the 
Civil  war  the  family  was  one  of  wealth  and  prominence 
in  Mississippi,  but  it  suffered  to  the  full  the  vicissitudes 
incidental  to  that  great  conflict,  and  its  fortune  was 
swept  away.  The  father  of  the  Doctor  was  a prosperous 
planter  and  cotton  broker  in  Mississippi  and  continued 
to  be  identified  with  the  cotton  business  until  his  final 
retirement.  Now  venerable  in  years,  he  resides  in  the 
city  of  Los  Angeles,  California.  They  are  folk  of  gentle 
breeding  and  most  gracious  characteristics,  and  they 
have  ever  held  secure  place  in  the  affectionate  regard  for 
those  who  have  come  within  the  immediate  sphere  of 
their  influence.  They  hold  membership  in  the  Presby- 
terian church  and  the  father  has  ever  been  a stanch 
Democrat  in  his  political  allegiance.  Of  the  four  chil- 
dren, the  two  daughters  died  in  early  childhood,  and  the 
younger  of  the  two  sons,  William  Conner  Witherspoon, 
is  now  engaged  in  the  wholesale  tea,  coffee  and  spice 
business  in  the  city  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri. 

The  early  educational  discipline  of  Dr.  Witherspoon 
was  obtained  in  private  schools  in  his  native  city,  and 
when  he  was  about  eleven  years  of  age  the  family  re- 
moved to  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  where  he  availed  himself 
of  the  advantages  of  the  public  schools,  including  the 
high  school  in  which  he  was  graduated.  He  next  en- 
tered the  St.  Louis  College  of  Pharmacy,  in  which  he 
was  graduated  in  1887.  This  technical  training  spurred 
his  ambition  to  prepare  himself  for  the  medical  profes- 
sion, and  he  accordingly  was  matriculated  in  the  Mis- 
souri Medical  College,  in  which  excellent  institution  he 
was  graduated  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1889,  from 
which  he  received  his  well  earned  degree  of  Doctor 
of  Medicine.  In  all  examinations  during  his  prosecu- 


864 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


tion  of  the  course  in  the  medical  college  he  received  a 
uniform  award  of  one  hundred  per  cent, — an  excep- 
tional and  enviable  record  which  showed  not  only  his 
fine  powers  of  assimilation,  but  also  his  earnest  applica- 
tion to  his  studies  and  other  incidental  work.  In  recog- 
nition of  this  precedence  the  faculty  of  the  college  pre- 
sented him  with  a fine  gold  medal,  appropriately  in- 
scribed. He  was  the  fourth  person  to  receive  that  dis- 
tinction with  the  existence  of  the  college,  which  had  at 
that  time  covered  a period  of  fifty-six  years.  He  has 
reason  to  feel  proud  of  the  honor  thus  accorded  to  him, 
and  his  work  in  the  college  has  typified  that  which  he  has 
accomplished  in  the  practical  activities  of  his  profession, 
of  which  he  has  become  a distinguished  representative, 
and  in  which  he  has  gained  repute  as  a man  of  excep- 
tional intellectual  and  technical  attainments. 

For  several  months  after  his  graduation.  Dr.  Wither- 
spoon served  as  interne  in  the  city  hospital  of  St.  Louis 
and  in  this  connection  he  gained  varied  and  valuable 
clinical  experience. 

In  the  winter  of  1889  Dr.  Withersnoon  came  to  Mon- 
tana and  established  his  residence  in  the  city  of  Butte, 
and  after  being  engaged  in  practice  in  an  individual  way 
for  several  months  he  formed  a professional  partnership 
with  Dr.  Charles  F.  Cooper,  with  whom  he  continued 
to  be  associated  for  one  year,  at  the  expiration  of  which 
the  alliance  was  severed,  on  account  of  the  impaired 
health  of  Dr.  Coopel",  who  went  to  the  Hawaiian  islands 
to  recuperate  his  energies.  Thereafter  Dr.  Witherspoon 
conducted  an  individual  practice  and  also  a private  hos- 
pital until  November,  1893,  when  he  returned  to  St. 
Louis,  Missouri,  whither  he  had  been  summoned  on  ac- 
count of  the  death  of  his  wife’s  mother.  He  was  en- 
gaged in  practice  in  that  city  until  November,  1896,  and 
within  that  period  he  served  as  assistant  to  the  chair 
of  anatomy  in  his  alma  mater,  the  Missouri  Medical 
College.  In  the  winter  of  1894  he  was  appointed  pro- 
fessor of  G.  U.  surgery  in  the  Marion  Sims  Medical 
College,  and  in  the  following  year  he  was  the  incum- 
hent  of  the  chair  of  physiology  and  clinical  surgery  in 
this  institution. 

In  November,  1906,  Dr.  Witherspoon  returned  to 
Butte,  where  he  has  since  been  continuously  associated 
with  Dr.  H.  D.  Kister  in  a general  practice,  which  has 
become  one  of  broad  and  representative  scope.  In 
.-\pril,  1907,  he  also  formed  a business  and  professional 
alliance  with  Drs.  T.  J.  Murray,  and  Donald  Campbell, 
and  they  are  associated  in  the  conducting  of  the  Mur- 
ray hospital,  a private  institution  which  is  known  as 
one  of  the  best  in  the  state,  the  same  having  the  most 
modern  equipment  and  most  attractive  of  appointments 
and  being  a valuable  acquisition  to  the  hospital  facilities 
of  the  Montana  metropolis.  The  hospital  is  conducted 
by  a corporation  formed  for  the  purpose,  and  of  the 
same  Dr.  Murray  is  president;  Dr.  Campbell,  vice  presi- 
dent ; Mr.  A.  L.  Patterson,  secretary  and  treasurer ; and 
Dr.  Witherspoon,  chief  surgeon.  Dr  Witherspoon  did 
effective  po.st-graduate  work  in  the  Missouri  Medical 
College  in  the  winters  of  1893  and  1894.  In  1897  he 
was  appointed  professor  of  operative  and  clinical  sur- 
gery in  the  Marion  Sims  Medical  College,  with  which 
he  had  previously  been  identified,  as  already  noted 
in  this  context.  About  this  time  Beaumont  Medi- 
cal College  was  consolidated  with  the  Marion  Sims 
College,  and  in  1900  the  combined  institutions  became 
affiliated  with  St.  Louis  University  at  the  medical 
department  of  the  same.  Eight  months  of  that  year 
were  passed  by  Dr.  Witherspoon  in  study  and  re- 
search in  the  leading  hospitals  and  medical  colleges  of 
Vienna  and  Berlin.  In  1905  he  again  went  abroad  for 


further  advanced  post-graduate  work,  and  each  year 
visits  the  leading  medical  institutions  of  the  eastern 
states  for  the  purpose  of  doing  research  work  in  various 
professional  lines.  Since  1897  he  has  given  speciafi  at- 
tention to  the  surgical  branch  of  his  profession  and  he 
is  known  as  one  of  the  most  skilled  surgeons  in  Mon- 
tana, with  many  fine  operations,  both  major  and  minor 
to  his  credit.  ’ 

Dr.  Witherspoon  is  a member  of  the  alumni  associa- 
Missouri  Medical  College,  and  also  that  of 
the  City  Hospital  of  St.  Louis.  He  holds  membership  in 
the  St.  Louis  Medical  Society,  the  Silver  Bow  County 
Medical  Society,  the  Montana  State  Medical  Society  and 
the  American  Medical  Association.  He  is  also  identified 
with  the  Western  Surgical  & Gynecological  Society,  the 
Southern  Surgical  and  Gynecological  Society  and’  the 
Tri-State  Medical  Society  (Iowa,  Illinois  and  Missouri) 
and  is  a life  member  of  the  Anglo-American  Medical 
Association  of  Berlin,  Germany,  in  which  he  was  the 
fifteenth  American  physician  to  be  thus  honored.  He  is 
also  a member  of  the  American  Association  of  Anato- 
mists, and  is  at  the  present  time  (1912)  president  of  the 
Montana  State  Medical  Society,  of  which  he  seryed  as 
vice  president  in  1911.  He  is  chief  medical  examiner 
for  the  National  Life  Insurance  Company  in  Montana, 
and  in  his  home  city  is  a popular  member  of  the  follow- 
ing named  and  representative  organizations : The  Sil- 
ver Bow  Club,  the  Country  Club,  the  Red  Rock  Club, 
the  Bonita  Club,  and  the  University  Club.  He  is  spec- 
ially fond  of  fishing  and  hunting  and  finds  his  chief  di- 
version and  recreation  in  indulgence  in  these  attractive 
sports.  I hough  he  has  never  had  any  desire  to  enter 
the  arena  of  practical  politics,  as  he  considers  his  pro- 
fession worthy  of  his  unqualified  allegiance.  Dr.  Wither- 
spoon is  essentially  progressive  and  loyal,  although  non- 
partisan as  a citizen. 

On  the  2nd  of  October,  1890,  Dr.  Witherspoon  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Nina  H.  Butler,  who  was 
born  at  Dermopolis,  Alabama,  and  is  a daughter  of 
Wallace  C.  Butler,  now  a resident  of  St.  Louis,  and  a 
native  of  Missouri.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Witherspoon  have 
two  children : Thomas,  Casey,  III,  who  was  born  on 
the  2ist  of  May,  1893,  and  Evelyn  B.  W.,  born  on  the 
5th  of  September,  1897. 

Senator  T.  J.  Walsh.  In  the  choice  of  T.  J.  Walsh 
as  junior  United  States  senator,  Montana  contributed 
one  of  its  ablest  lawyers  and  public  men  to  the  honors 
and  activities  of  the  larger  sphere  of  national  govern- 
ment. The  campaign  of  Mr.  Walsh  for  the  place  in 
the  United  States  senate,  with  all  its  attendant  results 
in  state  politics,  is  still  fresh  in  the  minds  of  Montana 
citizens,  and  affords  one  of  the  most  interesting  and 
refreshing  chapters  of  state  political  history.  As  a 
member  of  the  senate  of  the  United  States,  Mr.  Walsh, 
by  reason  of  his  profound  abilities,  his  progressive  atti- 
tude, and  his  thorough  training  in  political  life,  is  cer- 
tain to  become  one  of  the  strongest  individual  factors 
during  the  present  national  administration. 

Senators  Walsh  entered  politics,  in  a personal  sense, 
only  a few  years  ago,  but  for  more  than  twenty  years 
has  been  prominent  as  a lawyer  in  Montana  and  the 
Northwest.  He  was  born  in  Wisconsin  in  June,  1859, 
and  began  life  as  a school  teacher — an  occupation  which 
has  afforded  the  training  and  preparation  for  a great 
many  other  men  eminent  in  political  and  public  life. 
He  closed  his  educational  work  as  principal  of  the 
high  school  at  Sturgeon  Bay,  Wisconsin.  While  teach- 
ing he  followed  a rigid  course  of  private  study,  and 
when  twenty-two  years  of  age  was  awarded  a life  cer- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


865 


tificate  after  an  examination  covering  all  the  branches 
included  in  the  usual  college  course.  He  began  his  law 
studies  in  the  office  of  James  Anderson,  at  Manitowoc, 
Wisconsin,  and  in  1884  was  graduated  LL.  B.  from 
the  university  of  that  state.  He  began  the  practice  of 
his  profession  at  Redfield,  South  Dakota,  in  partnership 
with  his  brother  Henry  C.  Walsh. 

In  1890  Mr.  Walsh  moved  to  Helena,  Montana, 
where  he  developed  a business  of  such  proportions  that 
in  1907  he  divided  its  responsibilities  with  Col.  C.  B. 
Nolan,  a former  attorney  general  of  the  state.  , The 
firm  of  Walsh  & Nolan  was  one  of  the  most  prominent 
and  successful  legal  combinations  in  the  West  at  the 
time  of  Mr.  Walsh’s  election  to  the  senate.  Senator 
Walsh  is  identified  with  a number  of  land  and  livestock 
companies  in  business  in  Montana,  and  also  has  inter- 
ests in  timber  lands  and  mines. 

Senator  Walsh  resolutely  refused  to  become  a can- 
didate for  any  political  office  until  his  success  in  busi- 
ness and  professional  life  had  been  firmly  established. 
However,  there  was  never  a time  since  his  youth  when 
public  affairs  did  not  claim  his  earnest  thought  and 
public  questions  his  close  study.  He  was  one  of  Mon- 
tana’s delegates  to  the  national  Democratic  convention 
at  Denver,  in  1908,  and  again  at  Baltimore,  in  1912, 
serving  in  each  instance  on  the  platform  committee 
and  on  the  sub-committee  to  which  was  delegated  the 
actual  work  of  preparing  the  party's  declaration  of 
principles.  He  was  a candidate  for  Congress  in  1906, 
but  the  Roosevelt  sentiment  was  strong  enough  to  hold 
for  his  opponent,  Charles  N.  Pray,  about  the  normal 
Republican  majority,  and  he  was  beaten.  However, 

at  that  time  he  became  a potential  candidate  for  the 
honors  of  the  United  States  senatorship,  and  he  led  the 
fight  in  1910  against  Senator  Thomas  H.  Carter,  then 
one  of  the  leaders  in  the  party  in  the  upper  branch  of 
congress.  So  vigorous  was  his  campaign  that,  although 
the  Republican  candidate  for  congressman  was  elected 
by  about  five  thousand  votes,  the  people  returned  to 
a Democratic  legislature  with  a majority  of  seven  votes. 
Had  the  usual  caucus  been  held  and  matters  taken  their 
ordinary  course,  Mr.  Walsh  would  have  been  elected 
senator  on  the  first  day  of  the  joint  session.  However, 
powerful  supporters  of  Senator  Carter  from  beyond 
the  state,  including  the  Amalgamated  Copper  Company, 
were  able  to  dissuade  enough  Democrats  from  partici- 
pating in  a caucus  to  defeat  the  assembling  of  one.  A 
deadlock  ensued,  which  lasted  throughout  the  entire 
session.  The  same  interests  which  used  their  power  to 
circumvent  united  action  through  a caucus  had  pre- 
viously prevented  the  state  convention  from  naming  a 
senatorial  candidate  lest  he  should  be  the  nominee. 
Though  two-thirds  of  the  Democratic  members  of  the 
assembly  were  favorable  to  the  candidacy  of  Mr.  Walsh, 
the  minority  was  able  to  prevent  his  election.  His  sup- 
porters remained  firm  until  the  very  last  day  of  the 
session,  when,  after  fruitlessly  balloting  for  more  than 
seven  hours,  the  assembly  chose  Judge  Henry  L.  Myers. 

For  several  years  Mr.  Walsh  had  persistently  advo- 
cated a primary  election  law  in  Montana.  Popular 
demand  for  such  a law  exerted  a powerful  pressure 
upon  the  legislature  about  the  time  of  the  senatorial 
deadlock  just  mentioned.  To  appease  this  popular  de- 
mand, the  legislature  enacted  a makeshift  law,  designed 
for  the  express  purpose  of  thwarting  the  will  of  the 
people.  It  authorized  the  state  party  conventions  to 
nominate  candidates  for  the  office  of  United  States 
senator.  It  further  provided  that  each  candidate  for 
the  legislature  might,  if  he  saw  fit,  file  an  official  state- 
ment, designated  in  the  law  as  Statement  No.  i,  to 
the  effect  that  if  elected  he  would  vote  for  the  candi- 


date receiving  the  highest  number  of  votes  at  the  o-en- 
eral  election.  In  this  way  the  authors  of  the  law  helped 
to  again  accomplish  the  defeat  of  Mr.  Walsh,  relyino- 
upon  their  power  and  influence  to  prevent  the  state  con”^ 
vention  from  naming  him  as  its  preferential  candidate 
These  calculations  failed,  for  when  the  state  convention 
psembled  more  than  half  the  delegates  were  bound  by 
instructions  from  the  county  conventions  favoring  him. 
In  this  situation  no  one  was  proposed  against  him  and 
he  was  nominated  by  acclamation.  In  the  general  elec- 
tion of  1912,  Mr.  Walsh  received  the  highest  vote  cast 
for  any  candidate  on  the  ticket,  and  led  the  senatorial 
candidate  of  the  Republican  party,  Henry  C.  Smith,  by 
about  ten  thousand  votes,  and  Senator  Joseph  ’ M 
Dixon,  the  Progressive  candidate,  by  about  six  thou- 
sand. The  sentiment  in  favor  of  the  election  of  sena- 
tors by  direct  vote  of  the  people  being  particularly 
strong  in  Montana,  in  view  of  the  repeated  scandals 
that  had  attended  the  choice  under  the  old  system,  every 
newly  elected  member  of  the  assembly,  save  one,  was 
bound  by  Statement  No.  i.  One-half  of  the  upper 
house,  however,  having  been  elected  before  the  enact- 
ment of  the  law  providing  for  such  a pledge,  were  un- 
constrained except  by  the  moral  force  of  the  vote 
indicating  the  popular  choice.  However,  the  Democrats 
secured  a clear  majority  in  each  house,  and  when  the 
vote  was  taken  every  member  of  the  assembly,  includ- 
Democrats,  Progressives  and  Republicans,  and  one 
Socialist,  responded  in  favor  of  Mr.  Walsh. 

As  this  article  is  published  before  Mr.  Walsh  begins 
his  actual  career  as  senator,  it  is  of  course  impossible 
to  indicate  the  exact  lines  of  his  position  as  a member 
of  the  upper  branch  of  congress  with  regard  to  the 
public  questions  pressing  for  solution.  However,  it  is 
noteworthy  that  Mr.  Walsh  has  devoted  much  of  his 
time  during  the  last  ten  years  to  the  study  of  public 
questions,  and  has  formed  his  conclusions  upon  the 
basis  of  original  research.  He  does  not  submit  his 
judgment  to  that  of  others  unless  he  is  well  fortified 
by  opinions  of  his  own.  In  1911,  Senator  Walsh  de- 
livered before  the  Washington  State  Bar  Association 
a monograph  on  the  recall  of  judges,  an  article  which 
was  printed  as  a public  document  and  widely  read. 
He  has  made  a special  study  of  railroad  rates  and 
regulations.  He  holds  well  defined  views  on  ques- 
tions of  particular  interest  to  the  W’est,  and  his  course 
will  be  watched  with  special  interest  in  his  attitude 
with  regard  to  the  activities  of  the  government  con- 
cerning the  disposition  of  the  public  land.  He  has 
always  favored  the  pursuit  of  a policy  that  would  make 
the  public  lands  of  this  country  as  attractive  to  set- 
tlers and  as  inviting  to  capital  as  any  the  Canadian 
government  has  to  offer.  He  favors  development  of 
the  hydro-electric  power  sites  on  the  public  domain, 
with  proper  safeguards  against  monopoly,  and  at  the 
same  time  he  is  opposed  to  the  leasing  system,  pro- 
posed by  many  students  of  the  question,  since  he 
believes  that  the  rents  derived  by  the  government  from 
such  a source  would  in  the  end  simply  be  a tax  on  the 
people  of  the  locality  in  which  the  power  is  used. 

Senator' Walsh  is  a man  of  splendid  earnestness  and 
of  incorruptible  integrity.  For  this  reason  the  people 
of  Montana  may  feel  that  their  own  interests,  as  well 
as  those  of  the  nation,  are  entrusted  wisely,  so  far  as 
he  has  control  over  them.  As  affording  some  addi- 
tional information  concerning  his  ability  and  his  atti- 
tude towards  larger  public  affairs,  there  may  be  re- 
called some  of  his  prominent  activities  as  a lawyer 
within  recent  years.  As  counsel  in  a suit  prosecuted 
in  that  state  several  years  ago,  Mr.  Walsh  is  credited 


86(3 


illSTORY  OF  MONTANA 


witli  liaviiig'  dealt  a vital  blow  to  trusts  organized 
under  the  New  Jersey  laws.  The  articles  of  the  cor- 
poration involved  and  its  by-laws  were  framed  so  as 
to  deny  the  minority  stockholders  an  opportunity  to 
inspect  the  corporation  books.  Only  by  consent  of  the 
board  of  directors,  or  by  a vote  of  the  stockholders  in 
regular  session,  could  the  books  be  inspected.  Mr. 
Walsh  contended,  and  succeeded  in  establishing,  that 
this  was  in  contravention  of  the  spirit  of  the  New 
Jersey  law,  which,  although  not  expressly  so  providing, 
he  insisted  gave  to  every  stockholder  tlie  right  at  all 
reasonable  times  to  inspect  the  books. 

.'\bout  the  same  time  Mr.  Walsh  was  special  counsel 
for  the  government  in  a case  which  restored  to  the 
public  domain  in  Montana  coal  lands  worth  several 
hundred  thousand  dollars.  Valuable  as  was  the  de- 
cision in  this  case  to  :Uontana,  it  was  more  important 
as  oi)ening  a wav  by  which  the  government  has  since 
been  able  to  secure  the  restoration  of  thousands  of 
acres  of  valuable  lands  elsewhere.  The  Northern 
Pacific  had  acquired  the  IMontana  coal  land  in  lieu  of 
worthless  land  relinquished  by  it  in  the  iMount  Rainier 
National  Park,  under  an  act  of  congress  permitting 
the  selection  of  agricultural  lands  in  lieu  of  those  sur- 
rendered. It  asserted,  however,  that  by  reason  of  the 
peculiar  wording  of  the  act  the  classification  made  by 
the  surveyor  was  a final  determination  of  its  character, 
'file  question  had  been  passed  upon  previously  by  the 
general  land  office  and  by  Secretary  of  the  Interior. 
Mr.  Hitchcock,  who  had  sustained  the  contention  of 
the  railroad  that  the  classification  itself  was  conclusive 
evidence  of  the  character  of  the  land,  and  that  the 
determination  so  made  could  not  be  overturned  The 
view  taken  by  Mr.  W'alsh  was  sustained  and  the  patents 
to  the  railroad  company  annulled. 

Mrs.  Wffilsh  is  prominent  in  club  affairs  of  the  state 
and  has  been  the  president  of  the  Montana  Federation 
of  W^’ornen’s  Clubs.  She  has  always  taken  an  active 
interest  in  various  civic  organizations  in  Helena  and 
in  humanitarian  work.  Mr.  and  Mrs,  Walsh  have  one 
daughter,  who  is  a graduate  of  Vassal  College. 

Gottfried  R.  M.  Stritzel.  About  twenty  years  ago  a 
young  German  about  eighteen  years  old,  came  to  Amer- 
ica, a stranger,  without  capital  and  on  application  for 
work  to  the  office  of  the  German  Consul  at  Montreal, 
received  same  in  the  capacity  of  water  boy  at  ninety 
cents  a day  in  the  McLaughlin  Lumber  Co.’s  yard  at 
Arnprior,  Ontario,  Canada. 

Industry,  the  ability  to  adapt  himself  to  circumstances, 
good  business  judgment  and  enterprise  have  since  made 
this  German-American  a wealthy  and  influential  citi- 
zen and  today  iMr.  G.  R.  M.  Stritzel  is  one  of  the 
wealthy  residents  of  northwest  Montana  and  controls 
a large  share  of  the  commercial  enterprise  of  the  town 
of  Poison,  which  has  been  his  home  since  1908,  the 
year  before  this  reservation  was  opened  to  settlement. 
Mr.  G.  R.  M.  Stritzel.  who  was  the  third  of  six  children, 
born  in  Blindgallen,  East  Prussia,  Germany,  on  August 
9,  1875,  attended  the  German  Gymnasium  School  until 
he  was  fourteen  years  and  seven  months  old /and  then 
began  an  apprenticeship  in  a very  large  mercantile  estab- 
lishment, at  which  he  served  four  years.  At  the  end 
of  that  time  he  set  out  for  the  new  world,  having  dur- 
ing this  period  of  time  gathered  very  valuable  experi- 
ence, but  leaving  without  friends,  influence  and  capital, 
and  also  having  a rather  inadequate  knowledge  cf  the 
language  spoken  in  America  he  arrived  at  Montreal  on 
June  19,  1893,  and  began  at  Arnprior,  Ontario,  Canada, 
his  practical  career  in  the  manner  above  described,  in 


the  fall  of  this  year,  after  having  (out  of  these  little 
wages)  saved  enough  for  the  expenses  of  the  trip,  . || 
he  went  west  and  obtained  a position  as  hardware  j 
clerk  in  the  general  merchandise  business  of  Schultz 
and  Hansen  at  Gretna,  in  southern  Manitoba  and  in 
the  summer  of  1897  with  a capital  of  $230.00  estab- 
lished at  Gnadenthal,  a village  close  to  Gretna,  a mer-  | 
chandise  business  of  his  own.  He  continued  in  busi- 
ness in  Manitoba  until  1904,  when  he  sold  out  and  ‘ 
moved  to  Saskatchewan,  starting  another  business  f 
known  under  the  firm  name  of  the  Watson  Lumber  and  [ 
Trading  Co.  in  the  then  new  town  of  Watson,  on  the 
C.  N.  Ry.  main  line,  while  there  he  held  some  public  i 
offices,  such  as  notary  public,  etc.,  in  connection  with 
business,  and  in  the  fall  of  this  year  (1904)  Mr.  Peter  O ' 
Spaberg,  then  a very  ambitious  young  rancher,  ! 
whose  able  qualities  as  a business  man  are  excellent’ 
entered  his  employ  and  has  ever  since  been  with  the 
firm,  until  it  sold  out  and  is  at  this  date  associated  with 
him  in  his  business  enterprises  at  Poison. 

In  July^  19.  Mr.  Stritzel  transferred  his  residence 
and  principal  activities  to  Montana  and  established  at 
Poison  the  Stritzel-Spaberg  Lumber  Company.  This 
company  incorporated  with  a paid  up  capital  then  of  ! 
$15,000  has  the  most  _ extensive  lumber  trade  in  this  | 
part  of  the  state,  and  is  one  of  the  leading  concerns  in 
the  commercial  enterprises  of  Poison.  Mr.  Stritzel  is 
president  and  general  manager,  and  Mr.  Spaberg  is  | 
vice-president,  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  company.  : 

Mr.  Stritzel  is  vice-president  of  the  Security  State 
Bank  at  Poison,  vice-president  of  the  Flathead  Power 
and  Traction  Company,  a stockholder  in  the  Montana 
Fire  Insurance  Company,  and  has  extensive  real  estate 
holdings  in  Poison  and  in  Canada.  He  is  a member  of 
the  executive  committee  of  the  Poison  Chamber  of 
Commerce  and  belongs  to  the  German  Lutheran  church. 

In  political  affairs  he  is  considered  Democratic. 

Mr.  Stritzel  has  the  finest  residence  in  Poison,  built 
at  a cost  of  fourteen  thousand  dollars,  a modern  and 
attractive  home.  He  was  married  in  Dresden  church, 
near  Langdon,  North  Dakota,  March  15,  1898,  to  Miss’ 
Lena  Schnell,  a daughter  of  Frank  Schnell,  who  is  now  li 
a resident  of  Claresholm  in  South  Alberta,  Canada.  | 

They  are  the  parents  of  four  children  all  born  in 
Canada  and  named  as  follows : Clara,  Albert,  Helen 
and  Florence. 

The  following  few  items  are  taken  out  of  the  history  i 
of  Mr.  Strhzel’s  ancestors:  Mr.  Stritzel’s  great-great- 
great-grandfather,  Johann  Friedrich  Stritzel,  a noble- 
man, was  born  April  15,  1668,  in  Kaltwangen,  East 
Prussia;  his  wife,  Christine,  was  the  daughter  of  a 
Swedish  count,  who  at  the  same  time  was  a command- 
ing general  in  the  army  and  he  died  under  Karl  XII  in 
1698  during  the  war  with  Poland. 

The  son  of  this  couple,  Johann  Friedrich,  the  great- 
great-grandfather,  was  born  on  December  10,  1716.  He 
married  Louise  von  Troshen,  and  their  son  Friederich  ' 
Stritzel,  great-grandfather  of  Gottfried  R.  M.  Stritzel 
was  born  January  10,  1767.  He  was  a Black  Hussar  i 

and  took  a very  active  part  in  the  Polish  war  in  1793.  i 

On  October  10,  1798,  he  married  Maria  Bartsch  and 
became  manager  of  the  two  domains : Alsnienen  and  ' 

Wolmen,  belonging  to  the  Count  of  Eulenburg,  with  ; 

headquarters  at  Schoenbruch.  Here  he  died  December 
10,  1822.  Gottfried  Stritzel,  the  youngest  of  his  three 
children  was  born  April  15,  1812.  He  served  in  the 
Kaiser-Alexander  regiment  in  Berlin  and  when  he  left 
the  militia  became  an  art  gardener  and  followed  this 
profession  practically  until  his  death,  which  occurred 


‘ - 

Iv 


't 


riy  'j=L.yl 


'IBuylan  Jr  CH.rc 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


867 


on  July  3,  1898,  the  memorial  day,  when  his  son  Fried- 
rich (the  father  of  our  subject,  Gottfried  R.  M.  Strit- 
zel)  was  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Koeniggraetz,  Aus- 
tria. 

Friedrich  Stritzel,  who  was  one  of  a family  of  six 
children,  was  born  April  28,  1843,  in  Linkehn'en,  East 
Prussia.  On  October  i,  1862,  he  joined  the  8th  Com- 
pany 5th  East  Prussia  Grenadier  Regiment  No.  41, 
and  retired  as  underofficer  in  the  Landwehr  on  Octo- 
ber I,  1865.  On  the  15th  of  February,  1866,  he  joined 
the  3d  Company  of  the  2d  East  Prussia  Grenadier  Regi- 
ment No.  3 and  fought  in  the  battles  of  Trautenau, 
Koeniggraetz  and  Tabitschau.  In  1871  after  coming 
out  of  the  war  as  an  invalid  he  received  a commission 
as  controlleur  in  the  customs  office  at  Blindgallen  in 
which  town  his  son  (Jottfried  R.  M.  Stritzel  was  born. 
After  several  advancements  Friedrich  Stritzel  rose  to 
the  rank  as  the  superior  of  the  customs  office  in  Kl. 
Kallweitschen  and  later  in  the  town  of  Heilsberg.  For 
serving  the  German  Crown  and  Fatherland  in  these  dif- 
ferent ways  for  about  thirty-five  years  he  now  receives 
since  October  i,  1900,  a very  substantial  Government 
pension.  His  wife  whose  maiden  name  was  Anna  Kab- 
bacher  (a  Salzburgerin)  died  on  March  22,  1884  (Em- 
peror William  Ps  birthday).  Of  this  marriage  there 
were  six  children,  four  of  whom  are  still  living:  Fried- 
erich,  Bertha,  Gottfried  R.  M.  and  Amanda. 

Nelson  Story.  The  amassing  of  a great  fortune  may 
be  the  end  and  aim  of  many  a man’s  life,  but  to  gather 
wealth  through  business  ability  and  to  distribute  it 
wisely  and  well,  has  been  the  ambition  of  such  men  as 
Nelson  Story,  who  is  credited  with  one  of  the  largest 
individual  fortunes  in  the  state  of  Montana.  Few  men 
have  impressed  themselves  more  conspicuously  on  the 
business  development  of  this  state  and  his  influence  has 
also  been  notable  in  the  founding  and  fostering  of  enter- 
prises devoted  to  high  ideals  along  the  lines  of  educa- 
tion and  good  citizenship.  The  life  of  every  prominent 
and  successful  man  of  the  West  has  been  more  or  less 
adventurous,  and  that  of  Mr.  Story  has  been  no  excep- 
tion. He  was  born  in  1838,  in  Meigs  county,  Ohio,  and 
is  a son  of  Ira  and  Hannah  (Gile)  Story.  The  first 
record  of  the  Story  family  in  New  England  that  has 
been  preserved,  relates  that  one  William  Story  came 
to  the  colonies  in  1637,  from  England,  and  gained  per- 
mission to  erect  and  operate  a sawmill.  Ira  Story  was 
a son  of  John  and  Priscilla  (Choate)  Story,  the  former 
a son  of  John  and  Hannah  Story,  a grandson  of  Deacon 
Seth  Story  and  a great-grandson  of  William  the  settler. 
Ira  Story  and  his  wife  were  both  born  in  New  Hamp- 
shire and  both  died  in  Meigs  county,  Ohio,  the  former 
when  aged  fifty-six  years  and  the  latter  at  the  age  of 
fifty-four  years.  Their  family  consisted  of  four  children. 

Nelson  Story  grew  up  with  the  advantages  that  accrue 
to  a boy  who  has  to  toil  in  the  open  air,  this  giving 
encouragement,  perhaps,  to  an  energetic  habit  of  life 
that  has  attended  Mr.  Story  throughout  his  career.  Dur- 
ing this  period  on  the  home  farm  he  attended  the  dis- 
trict schools  and  in  order  to  secure  further  educational 
training,  taught  school  one  term  to  provide  for  the 
same.  He  attended  Ohio  State  University  at  Athens, 
Ohio,  for  about  two  years.  When  his  father  died  he 
w’as  thrown  entirely  upon  his  own  resources  and  con- 
tinued school  teaching  until  he  had  secured  sufficient 
capital  to  enable  him  to  reach  the  West,  toward  which 
section  he  had  long  been  directing  his  thoughts.  In  a 
busy  life  like  that  of  Mr.  Story  it  would  require  a volume 
to  justly  place  before  the  reader  every  step  in  his  busi- 
ness progress  and  to  closely  follow  the  young  school 


teacher  until  fortune  began  to  smile  on  his  efforts  and 
he  began  to  feel  sure_  that  his  judgment  had  led  him 
anght  in  directing  his  steps  beyond  the  Mississippi 
river. 

_ In  the  early  days  of  freighting  between  the  Missouri 
river  and  the  Rocky  mountains.  Nelson  Story  took  part, 
and  the  vivid  tales  of  the  adventures  of  that  life  still 
possess  a magic  charm  for  the  ears  of  the  younger  gen- 
eration._ In  the  course  of  time  Mr.  Story  made  invest- 
ments in  California  and  the  territories,  his  excellent 
business  judgment  leading  to  many  profitable  purchases, 
and  he  personally  engaged  in  placer  mining  in  IMontana 
as  well  as  in  other  sections  near  and  remote.  While  his 
mining  interests  increased,  he  engaged  also  in  lumber- 
ing and  acquired  large  bodies  of  land  and  went  exten- 
sively into  the  stock  business.  In  1892,  when  he  sold 
13,000  head  of  cattle  from  his  ranch,  it  was  believed  to 
be  one  of  the  largest  transactions  in  live  stock  that  had 
ever  been  recorded  in  northwest  ranching.  Finance  has 
also  claimed  his  attention  and  he  has  been  president  and 
the  largest  stockholder  in  the  Gallatin  Valley  National 
Bank  at  Bozeman,  IMontana,  which  city  claims  him  as  a 
resident.  In  addition  to  erecting  here  one  of  the  most 
palatial  private  residences  along  the  Northern  Pacific 
Railroad  west  of  St.  Paul,  IMinnesota,  he  has  built  busi- 
ness blocks  along  the  leading  streets,  has  improved  much 
real  estate  and  has  contributed  many  thousands  of  dol- 
lars to  churches  and  schools  and  to  assist  both  public 
and  private  enterprises  from  which  he,  personally,  reaps 
but  little  reward,  but  these  contribute  to  the  general 
welfare. 

j\Ir.  Story  was  married  in  early  manhood  to  IMiss 
Ellen  Trent,  and  seven  children  were  born  to  them,  the 
four,  survivors  being:  Rose,  who  is  married  and  the 

mother  of  three  sons  and  one  daughter;  Nelson,  Jr.,  who 
married  and  has  one  son  and  one  daughter ; Thomas  B., 
whose  family  also  consists  of  a son  and  daughter ; and 
Walter  P.,  who  is  a graduate  of  Shattuck  College,  Fari- 
bault, ^Minnesota.  IMr.  and  IMrs.  Story  have  given  their 
children  exceptional  educational  as  well  as  social  advan- 
tages. In  addition  to  the  beautiful  summer  home  at 
Bozeman,  Mr.  Story  and  family  have  an  equally  attrac- 
tive one  for  the  winter  at  Los  Angeles,  California.  The 
family  attend  the  Episcopal  church.  Politically  Mr. 
Story  has  always  been  a Republican.  Personally  IMr. 
Story  is  kind,  genial  and  approachable  and'  those  who 
have  known  him  for  more  than  a quarter  of  a century 
see  no  change  in  his  manner  with  a change  in  his  for- 
tunes. Fie  was  hearty  and  hospitable  in  his  pioneer  log 
cabin  and  he  is  equally  so  to  the  deserving  in  his  stately 
homes.  The  cut  of  his  visitor's  coat  does  not  bother 
him — it’s  the  honest  man  beneath  it  that  he  welcomes. 
His  life  has  been  such  that  fidelity  and  honesty  have 
assumed  value  to  him  and  he  is  able  to  discern  true  man- 
liness under  a forbidding  guise.  He  may  tell  of  experi- 
ences in  the  past  which  revealed  the  same  to  him  on 
many  occasions  and  of  times  of  danger  and  excitement, 
of  combkts  with  Indians  and  struggles  with  breakers  of 
law  and  order,  but  through  it  all  the  listener  will  recog- 
nize the  underlying  sense  of  justice,  the  wise  judgment 
and  the  honesty  of  purpose.  In  the  retrospect  Mr.  Story 
can  look  with  pardonable  pride  over  his  man}-  honor- 
able achievements  and  can  surely  take  pleasure  in  the 
great  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  by  his  fellow  citizens. 

Story  of  the  Man  who  Hung  George  Ives 

The  hanging  of  George  Ives  in  1863,  was  one  of  the 
most  exciting  events  which  stirred  the  new  country  of 
that  day.  Nelson  Story,  Sr.,  of  Bozeman,  is  the  man 


868 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


who  took  the  place  of  the  over-awed  sheriff  and  carried 
out  the  stern  edicts  of  the  law,  and  he  it  is  who  tells 
the  following  story,  taken  from  the  Republican  Courier 
of  February  i6,  1909 : 

(By  Nelson  Story,  Sr.) 

‘‘Much  has  already  been  written  concerning  events  of 
the  early  days  of  Montana  and  although  the  general  field 
has  been  pretty  thoroughly  covered  and  the  events  very 
correctly  narrated,  there  are  still  many  thrilling  inci- 
dents which  occurred  but  have  never  been  in  print. 

“Doctor  Beams,  Mr.  N.  P.  Langford,  and  others,  have 
given  interesting  facts  in  their  accounts  of  the  settle- 
ment of  eastern  Idaho,  the  discovery  of  gold,  and  the 
formation  of  vigilance  committees,  etc. 

“The  writer  was  a resident  of  Summit,  Alder  Gulch, 
in  the  summer  of  1863,  occupied  in  the  packing  of  sup- 
plies and  selling  them  to  the  miners  of  the  gulch.  About 
the  first  of  December,  1863,  a man  appeared  in  Summit. 
Pie  had  come  from  the  Bitter  Root  valley  with  a wagon- 
load of  potatoes  to  the  Nevada,  or  Lower  Town,  some 
two  miles  below  Virginia  City,  which  he  wished  to  sell. 

“I  bought  the  potatoes,  went  the  following  day  with 
my  pack  outfit,  consisting  of  about  fourteen  Mexican 
boros,  to  the  Lower  Town,  where  I arrived  about  the 
middle  of  the  afternoon.  After  depositing  my  pack 
outfit  in  a hay  corral  I procured  my  dinner  and  then 
went  to  about  the  center  of  the  town,  then  consisting 
of  a row  of  one-story  log  buildings  upon  either  side  of 
the  one  street  for  a distance,  parallel  with  Alder  Gulch, 
of  a quarter  of  a mile. 

“Plere  the  trial  of  Geo.  Ives  was  in  progress.  He 
was  being  tried  for  the  killing  of  a German  by  the 
name  of  Nicholas  Tabault,  in  the  Stinkingwater  valley, 
near  the  ranch  of  Rogert  Dempsey. 

“The  jury  consisted  of  twenty-four  members.  Colonel 
Sanders  was  prosecutor,  Robert  Hereford  acting  sheriff. 
The  trial  took  place  in  the  open,  out  of  doors,  in  front 
of  log  buildings,  on  the  west  side  of- the  street.  Benches 
and  logs  served  as  seats;  a wagon  body  for  the  judge’s 
stand.  Guarding  this  honorable  court  some  hundred 
men,  with  guns  in  their  hands,  stood  and  sat  in  a circle 
around  the  prisoner  and  jury. 

“About  five  o’clock  the  jury  retired  to  a nearby  cabin. 
They  were  out  but  a short  time.  It  was  fast  growing 
dark.  As  they  took  their  seats  again  upon  the  jury 
bench,  Col.  W.  F.  Sanders  immediately  stepped  forth 
upon  a bench  and  in  a clear  tone  of  voice  announced 
the  decision  of  the  jury — which  was  ‘guilty’ — twenty- 
three  deciding  in  the  affirmative — one  dissenting. 

“Sanders  spoke  for  a few  minutes  about  as  follows ; 
‘The  dissenting  juror  is  one  of  the  road  agents,  beyond 
all  reasonable  doubt,’  and  advised  hanging  the  prisoner, 
Ives,  immediately.  He  further  said  that  a move  would 
be  made  to  rescue  the  prisoner ; that  there  were  many 
lawless  people  there  and  more  were  assembling. 

“At  this  time  a crowd  of  spectators  numbering  several 
thousand  had  gathered  and  before  this  gathering  the 
attorney  defending  the  prisoner  asked  that  Ives  might 
have  time  to  fix  up  his  business  affairs,  which  was  con- 
sented to.  This  took  up  about  one  hour  and  by  the  time 
he  had  finished,  darkness  had  set  in  upon  us.  it  being 
about  seven  o’clock. 

“The  air  was  filled  with  apprenhension  and  upon  hear- 
ing Sander’s  speech  and_  warning  of  rescue,  the  writer, 
being  fully  equipped  with  pistol  and  carbine,  stepped 
forth  into  the  guard  without  being  invited,  for  all  the 
guard  were  made  up  of  volunteers.  Hereford  ordered  a 
hollow  square  to  be  made  around  the  prisoner,  marched 
us  with  the  prisoner  up  the  road  to  the  east  some  two 
hundred  yards,  then  side  stepped  us  to  the  west  into  a 
vacant  space  about  twenty  feet  square,  and  between  two 
one-story  log  buildings.  Two  logs  were  extended  across 
from  one  building  to  the  other  forming  ridge-poles. 
From  about  the  center  of  these  logs  was  suspended  a 


rope  with  noose  affixed  and  a large  dry  goods  box  for 
a drop. 

“We  formed  in  rank  upon  either  side  of  the  open 
space  facing  outward  to  keep  the  crowd  from  invading 
the  inclosure.  The  adjoining  buildings  were  soon  cov- 
ered with  people.  Hereford  put  Ives  upon  the  box  im- 
mediately with  his  hands  pinioned  behind  him,  facing 
east.  The  writer  stood  about  in  the  center  of  the  line 
on  the  west.  At  my  left  shoulder  stood  Benjamin  Eze- 
kiel, a boarding  house  keeper  for  miners  in  Summit. 
Upon  my  right  stood  a boy  not  over  twenty-one.  Some 
one  of  the  guard  asked  Ives  if  he  killed  the  Dutchman. 
‘No,  I did  not,’  he  answered.  ‘Who  did?’  was  asked. 
‘Alex.  Carter,’  he  replied. 

“Sheriff  Hereford  then  got  upon  the  big  box,  adjusted 
the  noose  around  Ives’  neck,  while  upon  the  east  build- 
ing and  directly  over  Hereford’s  head,  a rescuing  party 
made  up  of  a number  of  men,  stood  with  their  revolvers 
in  their  hands  making  threats. 

“One  fellow  said  that  he  would  shoot  the  rope  off. 
Another  that  he  would  shoot  Hereford.  One  man 
stepped  out  upon  the  two  logs  as  if  to  carry  out  his 
threat.  Hereford  jumped  down  from  the  box,  dodged 
under  the  projecting  gable  end  of  the  east  building  from 
where  he  shouted,  ‘What  do  you  say  boys,  shall  we  hang 
him?’  No  one  responded. 

“I  took  Ezekiel  by  the  right  shoulder,  gave  him  the 
order  to  take  hold  of  the  box  upon  which  Ives  stood. 
Quick  as  thought  we  took  the  box  from  under  Ives  and 
down  he  came  with  a crash  into  the  rope.  Ezekiel  and 
I stepped  back  to  our  places,  our  guns  in  our  hands 
cocked,  ready  for  action. 

“The  crowd  threw  themselves  upon  the  ground,  fall- 
ing over  each  other  as  they  came  down,  for  they  feared 
the  guns  of  the  guard  who  were  now  much  excited. 
A shot,  purposely  or  accidentally  fired,  would  have 
caused  the  guard  to  shoot  into  the  crowd,  although  in 
the  darkness  they  could  not  have  distinguished  friend 
from  foe.  It  was  so  dark  that  only  well  known  acquaint- 
ances could  with  difficulty  apprehend  each  other  close  by. 

“The  would-be  assassins  upon  the  roof  of  the  east 
cabin  quickly  disappeared.  The  crowd  melted  away.  .A 
doctor  was  brought  in  who  pronounced  Ives  dead.  When 
Ives,  the  day  before,  was  arrested  near  the  ranch  of 
Robert  Dempsey,  Dempsey  and  a tall  cadaverous  look- 
ing man  carrying  the  name  of  Long  John,  were  arrested 
as  participants.  They  were  put  under  guard  in  a cabin 
adjoining  the  place  where  court  proceedings  were  being 
held  to  try  Ives. 

“There  were  several  log  fires  burning.  Our  guard  re- 
traced their  steps  to  these  fires.  The  rough  element, 
those  dissatisfied  with  the  hanging  of  Ives,  were  doing 
some  loud  talking.  An  old  lawyer  filled  with  booze  was 
leading  in  denunciations  of  the  hanging.  We  took  him 
and  put  him  in  the  improvised  jail  with  Dempsey  and 
Long  John. 

“About  ten  o'clock,  one  Bill  Hunter,  who  ran  a saloon 
situated  on  the  west  side  of  the  street  some  two  hundred 
yards  below  our  camp  fires  (said  saloon  was  noted  as 
being  the  headquarters  for  the  road  agents),  came  out 
of  his  front  door  with  hat  and  coat  off  and  in  a loud 
voice  denounced  the  stranglers  who  had  hung  Geo.  Ives. 

“With  one  Impulse  to  put  him  in  with  Dempsey  and 
Long  John,  a dozen  of  us  started  to  arrest  him — we 
were  on  the  double  quick  and  got  almost  upon  him 
before  he  saw  us.  Charles  Brown  was  in  the  lead,  I 
was  next.  Brown  carried  a double  barreled  shot  gun 
and  I a carbine  (an  army  affair)  which  loaded  at  the 
breech  with  fixed  ammunition  and  a large  hat  cap  upon 
a tube. 

“Hunter  sprang  for  the  door  of  his  saloon — Brown 
grabbing  to  get  hold  of  him  and  I bringing  up  behind 
Brown  in  order  to  assist  in  case  of  a catch.  Into  the 
saloon  through  the  northwest  corner  of  the  building  (a 
log  one-story  affair  somewhat  spacious  in  size)  we  went. 

The  bar  was  in  the  southeast  corner  of  the  building. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


869 


the  stove  in  about  the  center  of  the  room.  There  was  a 
door  in  the  southwest  corner  of  this  room  leading  to  an 
adjoining  apartment.  This  door  opened  outward  and 
Hunter  made  for  it  with  Brown  reaching  for  him.  As 
' Hunter  and  Brown  passed  the  west  end  of  the  bar  coun- 

ter, out  jumped  a man,  the  bar  keeper,  his  hat  and  coat 
off,  with  a big  revolver  in  his  hand  pressed  close  to 
Brown’s  back.  I gave  him  a vigorous  thrust  with  my 
carbine  which  brought  him  to  a right  about  face  looking 
into  the  muzzle  of  my  gun.  I ordered  him  to  give  up 
the  pistol.  He  held  up  both  hands.  As  I reached  to 
take  the  pistol  my  carbine  slipped  in  my  left  hand  and 
being  at  full  cock  my  little  finger  displaced  the  hat  cap. 
I then  drew  my  revolver.  A bystander  took  the  pistol 
from  hi.3  hand. 

“Brown  pursued  Hunter  to  the  back  door  and  Hunter, 
after  passing  through,  slammed  the  door  back  against 
Brown.  Brown,  with  one  thrust  of  his  double  barreled 
gun  knocked  the  door  from  its  hinges  into  the  next 
room  where  there  was  no  light.  Brown  did  not  pursue 
further  but  turned  to  see  the  bar  keeper  give  up  his 
pistol. 

“No  less  than  one  hundred  people  were  in  the  saloon 
at  the  time,  many  of  whom  were  road  agents.  Brown 
and  I kept  our  guns  presented  at  the  crowd  as  we 
backed  to  the  door  which  had  been  closed  behind  us. 
Brown  opened  the  door  as  both  my  hands  were  full  (a 
gun  in  one  and  a pistol  in  the  other)  then  we  stepped 
out.  Our  companions  had  balked  at  the  door  and  did  not 
come  into  the  saloon. 


“We  were  obliged  to  return  to  the  camp  fires  without 
our  prisoner,  but  very  thankful  to  return  with  whole 
bodies  for  one  slip  or  mistake  or  the  least  bit  of  hesita- 
tion on  our  part  would  have  brought  many  pistols  to 
bear  upon  us.  We  were  the  aggressors  ready  to  shoot 
at  the  first  demonstration. 


“Alexander  Carter,  who  killed  the  Dutchman,  and  four 
others,  road  agents,  left  for  Deer  Lodge  that  night. 
They  were  all  hung  before  spring.  Bill  Hunter  was 
hung  that  winter  near  Manhattan,  in  Gallatin  valley. 

“The  next  day  after  the  execution  of  Ives,  Robert 
Dempsey  and  Long  John  were  examined  by  the  court, 
found  innocent  of  any  wrong  doing  and  released.  Demp- 
sey had  an  Indian  woman  and  family  and  had  been  in 
the  country  some  years.  I^png  John  possessed  an  In- 
dian woman  and  little  else  m this  world’s  goods.  Sher- 
iff Robert  Hereford  was  then  upwards  of  fifty  years  of 
age.  I do  not  now  recall  to  mind  the  judge  who  tried 
the  case  against  Ives,  or  the  attorney  who  defended 
him. 

“At  the  break  of  day  the  following  morning  after  the 
hanging,  I was  packing  my  potatoes  for  the  Summit, 
some  ten  miles  away,  over  a trail  where  one  boro  fol- 
lowed another  in  single  file.  These  events  occurred  be- 
fore vigilance  committees  had  been  formed. 

“Charles  Brown  was  a portly  young  German,  about 
twenty-seven  years  of  age,  lived  in  Miles  City  where  he 
kept  a livery  for  many  years  after.  He  died  in  Klon- 
dike some  seven  years  ago. 

“Benjamin  Ezekiel  was  a man  of  about  thirty  years 
of  age  at  that  time.  He  merchandized  in  Helena  for 
years  after  and  died  there. 

“Of  the  hundred  or  more  people  in  Bill  Hunter’s  sa- 
loon the  night  that  Ives  was  hung  those  living  will  rec- 
ollect the  attempt  to  arrest  Hunter. 

“I  do  not  think  Hereford  ever  knew  who  took  the 
box  from  under  Ives  while  he  (Hereford)  was  in  such 
fear  of  his  life  that  he  had  lost  control  of  himself. 

“After  eastern  Idaho  had  been  erected  from  Montana, 
the  first  legislature  at  Bannack  voted  Hereford  five  hun- 
dred dollars  for  services  rendered  in  hanging  Geo.  Ives. 

“Ives  would  have  been  rescued  in  less  than  ten  sec- 
onds if  the  large  dry  goods  box  had  not  been  removed 
as  it  was  in  the  moment  of  excitement  and  indecision 
of  the  sheriff.” 


Ronald  Higgins  is  striving  under  a cloud  that  it  is 
difficult  to  dissipate  or  overshadow;  the  cloud  of  be- 
ing merely  his  father’s  son  when  that  father  was  one 
of  the  biggest  men  of  his  time  in  the  land  where  he  was 
best  known.  Christopher  P.  Higgins  was  a native  son 
of  Irish  soil  and  brought  with  him  to  this  land  the 
daring  and  optimism  of  his  countrymen.  Leaving 
Ireland  shortly  after  the  great  famine  of  forty-nine 
and  fifty,  he  immigrated  to  this  country  when  only  a lad 
of  eighteen.  His  fearlessness  and  love  of  adventure 
drove  him  almost  at  once  to  the  west.  In  1855  he  came 
to  Montana  and  entered  the  army  that  he  might  join 
in  the  campaigns  against  the  Indians.  When  the  In- 
dians began  to  realize  the  strength  of  their  pale-faced 
brothers  and  the  Great  Father  at  Washington  and  re- 
turn to  their  peaceful  lives,  Mr.  Higgins  became  one  of 
the  first  white  men  to  settle  in  their  midst.  He  estab- 
lished the  first  trading  post  in  the  Bitter  Root  valley. 
It  was  situated  on  a point  six  miles  from  what  is  now 
Missoula  and  later  was  moved  to  the  present  town 
site.  Mr.  Christopher  Higgins  was  thus  the  actual 
founder  of  the  thriving  city  of  Alissoula.  He  first  laid 
out  what  is  now  known  as  the  C.  P.  Higgins  addition 
and  later,  as  the  town  grew  in  population,  he  drew 
much  of  the  chart  of  the  present  city.  Naturally,  he 
was  one  of  the  largest  landholders.  His  interests  grew 
with  those  of  the  great  northwest  until  he  became  a 
man  of  large  affairs.  He  established  the  first  banking 
house  in  his  home  city,  the  one  which  is  now  the  First 
National  Bank.  Later,  he  established  and  conducted 
in_  his  own  name  the  C.  P.  Higgins  Western  Bank  of 
IMissoula.  Not  that  the  banking  business  occupied  the 
entire  time  and  energy  of  Captain  Higgins.  It  was  to 
him  only  one  of  his  many  and  varied  interests.  His 
mercantile  interests  were  large  and  growing  larger  and 
he  was  admitted  to  be  one  of  the  cattle  kings  of  the 
west. 

These  heavy  responsibilities  proved  too  much  even 
for  his  Irish  courage  and  ambition.  He  died  in  1889, 
in  the  vigor  of  his  manhood.  His  fifty-five  years  of  con- 
tinual accomplishment  have  erected  to  him  a monument 
of  deeds  that  will  make  his  name  remembered  so  long 
as  Missoula  is  a city  and  Montana  a freedom-loving 
state  proud  of  her  pioneers  and  their  deeds  of  prowess. 

Captain  Higgins  had  won  in  marriage  Julia  P.  Hall, 
a native  daughter  of  the  vast  northwest,  born  at  Fort 
Hall,  Idaho.  To  them  were  born  seven  sons  and  two 
daughters,  three  sons  and  one  daughter  of  whom  are 
still  living.  Francis  G.  Higgins  former  lieutenant- 
governor  of  Montana  being  his  oldest  son. 

Ronald  Higgins  was  born  in  Missoula,  September  10, 
1884.  He  seems  to  have  received  from  the  father  whom 
he  was  scarcely  permitted  to  know  a heritage  more 
important  than  cattle  and  lands,  an  indefatigable  energy 
and  a desire  to  make  good  in  his  own  name. 

After  completing  the  elementary  course  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Missoula,  he  was  sent  to  Philip  E.xeter 
Academy,  of  Exeter,  New  Hampshire  where  he  grad- 
uated in_i904.  The  following  autumn  he  entered  Prince- 
ton University  where  he  remained  for  two  years  a 
student  in  the  regular  collegiate  course.  While  in 
Princeton,  he  became  a member  of  the  Cannon  Club, 
living  in  the  chapter  house  and  enjoying  all  sides  of 
university  life. 

^Having  chosen  the  law  for  his  profession,  Mr  Hig- 
gins decided  to  take  his  legal  training  in  the  State 
University  of  Michigan,  believing  the  Ann  Arbor 
law  school  to  be  equal  if  not  superior  to  schools  of  its 
kind  in  the  universities  further  east.  At  least,  it  is 
better  equipped  to  meet  the  needs  of  the  man  who  in- 
tends to  pursue  his  practice  in  the  west.  In  1909  he 
completed  his  legal  studies,  returned  to  Montana,  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  and  located  in  his  home  city,  Mis- 
soula. While  at  the  University  of  Michigan  he  be- 
came a member  of  the  Chi  Psi  fraternity. 

Already  his  name  stands  for  more  than  that  of  a rich 


870 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


man’s  son.  He  is  active  in  the  Republican  politics  of 
the  state,  a clever  campaigner,  and  a speaker  much  to 
he  desired.  At  the  general  election  in  1910  he  was 
given  a seat  in  the  legislature — the  twelfth  legislative 
assembly  of  the  state  of  Montana,  being  the  only  Re- 
publican elected  from  his  county.  This  fall  (1912)  he 
was  re-elected  a member  of  the  legislature.  In  his  polit- 
ical life  he  has  shown  himself  to  be  a thoroughly  sane 
progressive  Republican. 

He  is  a member  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Elks,  being  at  the  present  time  exalted  ruler 
of  Hell  Gate  Lodge  No.  383,  and  a young  attorney  of 
unusual  promise.  As  yet  he  has  resisted  the  claims  of 
matrimony. 

Christopher  Power  Higgins,  the  father  of  Ronald 
Higgins,  was  born  in  Ireland  on  the  sixteenth  day  of 
March,  1830.  His  parents  were  Christopher  and  Mary 
Higgins,  themselves  natives  of  the  Emerald  Isle. 

When  eighteen  years  of  age  he  came  to  the  United 
States  and  went  immediately  to  the  west.  That  he 
might  defend  his  new-found  home  against  the  enemies 
from  within  as  well  as  from  without,  he  enlisted  in 
the  regular  army.  After  five  years  of  active  service  in 
the  dragoons,  he  joined  Governor  Stephens,  the  famous 
Indian  fighter  of  the  northwest.  With  him  he  helped 
in  the  orisinal  survey  of  the  Northern  Pacific.  He 
was  with  him  in  fifty-five,  when  the  treaty  was  drawn 
u])  with  the  Nez  Perce  Indians.  This  was  the  treaty 
which  led  to  the  final  peace  covenant  with  the  Flat 
Pleads  and  the  Pend  d’Oreilles.  The  following  season 
the  party  went  to  Fort  Benton,  where  they  negotiated 
with  the  Blackfoots.  This  done,  their  labors  among  the 
red  men  seemed  ended  and  the  little  company  disbanded 
at  Olympia,  Washington. 

In  recognition  of  his  services,  Mr.  Higgins  was  soon 
given  the  commission  of  captain  in  the  army  and 
ordered  to  carry  on  his  work  of  subduing  the  Indians. 
Until  1856,  he  remained  in  this  branch  of  the  service, 
when  he  was  assigned  to  the  quartermaster's  depart- 
ment. For  four  years  more  he  served  his  country,  two 
years  of  the  time  acting  as  government  agent  at  Walla 
Walla. 

In  i860  he  resumed  his  life  as  a civilian  and  purchased 
Mr.  Isaac's  interest  in  the  mercantile  business  of 
Wooden  & Isaacs,  at  Walla  Walla.  Loading  his 
share  of  the  merchandise  on  the  backs  of  seventy-five 
pack  animals,  he  went  through  Hell  Gate  canyon  and 
set  up  in  business  for  himself  in  the  little  city  of  Mis- 
soula. Plerc,  for  the  remainder  of  his  life,  he  devoted 
himself  to  the  upbuildin.g  of  the  town  and  here  his  son, 
Ronald,  was  born.  In  sixty-five,  he  erected  one  of  the 
first  lumher  mills  of  the  vicinity  and  in  seventy  he 
built  the  block  that  is  still  known  as  the  “old  Higgins 
wooden  block.”  In  seventy,  also,  he  engaged  in  the 
banking  business  and  later,  when  his  bank  merged  with 
the  First  National,  he  was  chosen  as  president  of  the 
corporation.  In  1889,  he  erected  the  new  Higgins 
block  an.'l  was  arranging  to  open  a new  bank  on  the 
ground  floor  when  he  was  called  from  his  life  of  active 
service. 

Mr.  Higgins  had  been  extensively  interested  in  the 
raising  of  cattle  and  horses  as  well  as  in  various  mining 
properties.  He  left  a large  estate  consisting  of  property 
in  Portland  and  Seattle  as  well  as  considerable  real 
estate  in  and  about  Missoula.  . 

Fr.xnk  pi.  Woody.  Not  the  mere  quest  for  adven- 
ture animated  those  strongest  and  best  of  the  pioneers 
who  came  to  Montana  fully  half  a century  ago,  but, 
on  the  contrary,  these  men  who  represented  the  ele- 
ment of  citizenship  through  which  has  been  developed 
and  built  up  this  great  commonwealth,  were  prompted 
by  laudable  ambition,  by  definite  purpose  and  to  conquer 
opposing  forces.  Theirs  was  the  spirit  of  the  empire 
builder,  and  in  the  perspective  of  years  none  can  deny 


the  magnitude  and  value  of  their  achievement,  though 
to  the  younger  generation  of  the  present  day  the  story 
of  their  trials,  hardships  and  perils  reads  like  a romance 
of  pure  fiction.  Montana  must  ever  owe  a debt  of 
honor  and  gratitude  to  such  pioneers,  for  they  were  the 
ones  who  laid  broad  and  deep  the  foundations  on  which 
has  been  reared  the  magnificent  superstructure  of  a 
great  and  opulent  commonwealth.  Among  the  pioneers 
of  this  type  still  living  in  Montana  is  Judge  Frank  H. 
Woody,  of  Missoula,  the  judicial  center  of  the  county 
of  the  same  name.  He  ran  the  full  gamut  of  experi- 
ences in  connection  with  life  on  the  western  frontier, 
and  few  can  offer  more  varied  and  interesting  rem- 
iniscences concerning  conditions  and  influences  of 
the  early  days.  With  the  exception  of  an  interim  of 
about  three  years  he  has  continuously  maintained  his 
home  in  Montana  since  1856,  and  he  has  witnessed  and 
been  an  influential  factor  in  the  development  of  the 
state  along  both  civic  and  material  lines.  More  than 
a half-century  of  residence  in  Montana,  has  made  him 
an  authority  in  regard  to  the  details  of  transition,  mak- 
ing the  advancement  from  the  condition  of  the  wild  and 
untrannneled  frontier  to  the  present  epoch  of  most 
advanced  social  and  industrial  prosperity.  He  has  long 
been  numbered  among  the  representative  members  of 
the  bar  of  Montana,  has  served  in  various  offices  of 
public  trust,  including  that  of  district  judge  in  Missoula 
county,  and  his  life  has  been  ordered  upon  the  highest 
plane  of  integrity  and  honor,  so  that  he  has  been  ac- 
corded the  fullest  measure  of  popular  confidence  and 
esteem  in  the  state  which  has  long  been  his  home,  and 
in  which  he  is  essentially  a representative  citizen,  as 
well  as  a distinguished  pioneer.  Ever  loyal  to  the  best 
and  highest  interests  of  his  adopted  state,  he  has  gen- 
erously aided  in  her  struggles  and  in  her  triumphant 
progress, — a man  to  whom  it  is  specially  gratifying  to 
accord  recognition  in  this  history  of  Montana.  He  is 
engaged  in  the  active  practice  of  his  profession  in  Mis- 
soula and  is  one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  bar 
of  this  section  of  the  state. 

Judge  Woody  was  born  in  Chatham  county.  North 
Carolina,  on  the  loth  of  December,  1833,  and  is  a son 
of  Robert  and  Pyrene  (Hargrave)  Woody,  both  of 
whom  passed  their  entire  lives  in  that  state  and  both 
of  whom  were  representatives  of  sterling  families 
founded  in  the  South  in  the  colonial  era  of  our  national 
history.  The  Woody  family  was  of  the  staunch  old 
stock  representing  the  Society  of  Friends  in  the  early 
history  of  North  Carolina.  The  father  was  a man  of 
ability  and  steadfast  character  and  his  active  career  was 
devoted  principally  to  agricultural  pursuits,  in  connec- 
tion with  which  he  gained  prosperity  but  not  wealth. 

On  the  old  homestead  plantation  Judge  Woody  was 
reared  to  adult  age,  and  in  the  meanwhile  his  educa- 
tional advantages  were  limited.  He  attended  school 
in  a somewhat  irregular  and  desultory  way  until  he  had 
attained  to  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  when  he  realized 
his  most  insistent  ambition  at  the  time,  as  he  was 
enabled  to  continue  his  higher  academic  studies.  For 
one  year  he  was  a student  in  the  New  Garden  Board- 
ing School,  an  institution  which  was  maintained  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Society  of  Friends  and  which  was 
the  nucleus  of  the  present  Guilford  College.  After 
leaving  this  institution  Judge  Woody  devoted  a year 
to  teaching  school  in  the  eastern  part  of  his  native 
state,  and  then,  in  1853,  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years, 
he  went  to  Indiana,  in  which  state  he  taught  one  year 
in  the  public  schools  of  Parke  and  Fountain  counties, 
the  while  he  was  enabled  to  continue  his  own  studies 
in  another  Quaker  institution. 

Actuated  by  the  advice,  before  it  was  given,  of 
Horace  Greeley,  to  “go  west  and  grow  up  with  the 
country,”  in  1855  Judge  Woody  made  his  way  to  Kan- 
sas, where  he  joined  a freighting  train  of  wagons  that 
was  starting  on  the  long  and  perilous  journey  across 
the  plains  to  Salt  Lake  City.  At  Fort  Laramie,  Wyom- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


87i 


ing,  Judge  Woody  left  this  train  and  joined  a party 
of  immigrants  en  route  to  Washington  territory.  He 
proceeded  as  far  as  the  Sweetwater  river,  where  he 
was  taken  ill  and  compelled  to  remain  a few  days. 
He  then  fell  in  with  a party  of  Mormons,  whom  he 
accompanied  to  Salt  Lake  City,  where  he  arrived  on 
the  15th  of  August,  1855.  Although  ill  and  almost 
destitute,  his  proud  spirit  and  resolute  purpose  were 
unshaken,  and  after  a period  of  one  year’s  residence  in 
Utah,  he  joined  a party  that  was  setting  forth  for  the 
Flathead  country,  to  trade  with  the  Indians.  About 
the  middle  of  October,  1856,  he  arrived  at  Hellgate 
river,  near  the  present  site  of  the  city  of  iMissoula, 
Montana,  and  he  remained  in  the  Bitter  Root  and 
Missoula  valleys  until  the  early  part  of  November, 
1857,  when  he  started  on  a venturesome  trip  to  Fort 
Walla  Walla,  Washington,  near  the  site  of  the  present 
city  of  Walla  Walla.  There  he  remained  until  the 
summer  of  i860,  when  he  returned  to  Montana,  where 
he  has  maintained  his  home  during  the  long  interven- 
ing years.  Concerning  this  memorable  journey  Judge 
Woody  has  written  a most  graphic  and  interesting 
account,  the  same  having  been  published  in  the  Mis- 
soulian  of  Sunday,  December  15,  1912.  Within  the 
compass  of  a review  of  this  order  it  is  of  course  im- 
possible to  reproduce  or  even  canvass  in  detail  the 
record  given,  but  a few  quotations  may  be  given,  as 
indicative  of  the  conditions  of  the  time: 

“In  the  fall  of  the  year  1857  I found  myself  in  the 
Flathead  Indian  country,  then  in  the  Territory  of  Wash- 
ington, where  I had  drifted  with  some  Mormon  Indian 
traders  in  October,  1856.  At  that  time  there  were  in 
that  country  no  white  people  except  a few  traders,  a 
small  Catholic  mission,  and  a small  Indian  agency, 
near  the  mouth  of  the  Jocko  river,  this  being  occupied 
by  a white  man  named  Henry  G.  Miller  and  his  wife, 
Minnie  Miller,  who  was  the  first  white  woman  ever 
in  the  present  state  of  Montana,  and  the  only  one  then 
in  that  country.  During  the  intervening  time  I had 
led  somewhat  of  a vagabond  life,  doing  a little  work 
for  one  or  two  of  the  Indian  traders,  and  hunting,  fish- 
ing and  trapping  with  the  Indians  and  half-breeds.  Late 
in  the  fall  of  1857  I became  tired  of  my  isolation  from 
the  white  settlements  and  became  quite  anxious  to  mix 
again  with  people  of  my  own  race  and  color ; but  how 
to  do  so  was  a serious  question.  The  nearest  place 
inhabited  by  white  people  was  Fort  Walla  Walla,  in 
the  Walla  Walla  valley,  about  five  hundred  miles  west 
of  the  place  where  I was  then  living,  and  the  country 
intervening  was  inhabited  by  different  tribes  of  Indians, 
many  of  them  being  anything  but  friendly  to  the  whites, 
and  some  of  them  being  in  a state  of  actual  hostility.* 

“In  the  early  fall  of  1857.  two  men  who  had  come 
into  the  Flathead  country  and  who  had  been  at  Fort 
Walla  Walla,  gave  me  a glowing  account  of  the  country^ 
and  this  made  me  more  anxious  to  go  there,  but  how 
to  reach  this  land  of  promise  was  difficult  to  determine. 
About  the  first  of  November  I had  occasion  to  visit 
the  Catholic  mission  at  St.  Ignatius,  some  thirty-eight 
miles  north  of  the  place  where  I was  then  stopping, 
and  while  there  I met  a lay  brother  of  the  Coeur 
d’Alene  mission.  He  was  a good-natured  old  Irish- 
man, named  McGeen,  and  he  told  me  that  he  was  going 
to  start  from  St.  Ignatius  on  a certain  day  within  the 
next  week,  and  would  take  a short  trail  to  the  mouth 
of  the  St.  Regis  de  Borgia  river,  where  it  joined  the 
Bitterroot  or  Missoula  river,  and  that  if  I wanted  to 
go  to  Fort  Walla  Walla  and  would  meet  him  on  the 
day  named,  I could  travel  with  him  and  his  half-breeds 
to  the  Coeur  d’Alene  mission,  this  being  on  my  direct 
route  to  Fort  Walla  Walla. 

"When  the  time  came  to  make  the  start  it  did  not 
take  a great  while  to  make  the  necessary  arrangements. 
I had  two  riding  horses.  On  one  of  them  I put  a pack- 

*From  this  hoint  on,  the  narrative  of  Judge  Woody  will  be  abridged, 
vith  minor  paraphrase. 


saddle,  placed  my  small  belongings,  consisting  of  a 
single  pair  of  blankets,  a small  quantity  of  bread  and 
dried  buffalo  meat,  a small  flour  sack  containing  two- 
extra  shirts,  a few  old  letters  and  keepsakes  from  my 
distant  home,  a copy  of  Milton’s  Paradise  Lost,  and  a 
few  et  ceteras  with  which  to  pay  Indians  for  ferriage, 
etc.  Upon  arriving  at  the  place  where  I was  to  meet 
Brother  McGeen  it  became  apparent  that  some  mistake 
had  been  made  as  to  the  time  of  our  starting,  and  that 
he  had  started  one  day  earlier  than  he  had  intended, 
or  I one  day  too  late,  for  we  failed  to  meet  at  the  desig- 
nated point.  I could  see  the  remains  of  his  camp  fire  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  but  not  a man  or  horse 
was  in  sight.’’ 

The  foregoing  account  shows  the  preparations  made 
by  Judge  Woody  for  his  hazardous  trip,  and,  after  due 
deliberation,  he  made  the  dangerous  ford  of  the  Mis- 
soula river  and  on  the  following  day  overtook  the  Mc- 
Geen party,  with  which  he  proceeded  until  they  reached 
tKe  Coeur  d’Alene  mission,  where  the  future  jurist  was 
received  with  utmost  hospitality,  and  where  he  remained 
a few  days  for  rest  and  for  recruiting  himself  for  the 
remainder  and  most  dangerous  part  of  his  journey. 
He  employed  a Coeur  d’Alene  Indian  as  guide,  giving 
to  him  one  of  his  horses  in  recompense  for  service  thus 
to  be  rendered.  Upon  arriving  at  the  foot  of  Coeur 
d’Alene  lake  this  guide  declined  to  go  farther,  but 
procured  another  of  the  tribe  to  continue  the  journey. 
Under  the  new  guidance  Judge  Woody  proceeded  down 
the  Spokane  river  two  or  three  miles  and  then  forded 
the  stream.  They  camped  the  first  night  with  a party 
of  Coeur  d’Alene  Indians  and  the  second  night  the 
Indian  guide  deserted,  while  his  companion  was  sleep- 
ing. Through  a wild  and  dangerous  country,  of  which 
he  had  no  definite  knowledge.  Judge  Woody  made  his 
way  alone  and  finally  reached  the  Snake  river.  He 
finally  reached  a camp  of  Nez  Perces  Indians  and  en- 
deavored to  prevail  upon  them  to  ferry  him  across  the 
turbulent  river.  This  they  refused  to  do,  and  a serious 
dilemma  now  confronted  the  weary  traveler.  From 
this  point  is  given,  with  but  slight  change,  the  account 
as  written  by  Judge  Woody  himself. 

“I  soon  made  up  my  mind  to  take  a desperate  chance 
and  attempt  to  cross  the  river.  I noticed  that  there 
was  considerable  driftwood  on  the  banks  of  the  river, 
and  at  that  point  there  was  very  little  current  in  the 
stream.  As  I had  two  hair  ropes  with  me  I determined 
to  get  two  large  sticks  of  driftwood  and  last  them 
together  so  as  to  make  a raft,  turn  my  horse  loose 
and  make  him  swim,  and  attempt  to  cross  on  my  raft, — 
a decidedly  dangerous  and  desperate  undertaking. 
While  looking  for  a good  place  to  make  the  attempt, 
I came  on  two  Indian  boys  with  a large  canoe,  gather- 
ing driftwood  on  the  banks  of  the  stream.  From  the 
fact  that  their  hair  was  cut  short  I knew  them  to  be 
slaves,  as  this  was  a distinguishing  mark,  and  I rode 
to  them  and  asked  them  to  put  me  over  the  river, 
for  which  service  I offered  them  some  Indian  goods 
which  I had  brought  with  me,  to  trade  for  ferriage  and 
provisions.  I showed  them  the  goods  and  offered  them 
all  I had  if  they  would  put  me  over.  At  first  they 
absolutely  refused,  but  after  consultation  between  them- 
selves they  responded  finally  to  the  lure  and  made  signs 
that  they  would  take  me  across.  They  took  my  saddle 
and  little  pack  off  of  my  horse  and  put  them  in  the 
canoe,  then  told  me  to  enter  the  boat,  after  which  we 
started  across,  leading  my  horse,  which  swam  behind 
the  canoe.  In  a few  minutes  we  were  over,  and  a hap- 
pier tenderfoot  you  never  saw.  I saddled  up  and 
started  without  any  trail,  and  when  I climbed  to  the 
top  of  the  hill  I looked  down  the  river  and  saw  an 
Indian  camp  about  three  or  four  miles  below  the  point 
where  I had  crossed. 

“I  traveled  all  that  day  in  the  direction,  as  I sup- 
posed, of  Fort  Walla  Walla,  and  over  a high,  grass- 
covered  country,  devoid  of  trees,  streams  or  trails;  and 


872 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


at  night  I camped  at  a spring  that  I found  in  the  hills. 
The  next  morning  the  country  was  covered  with  a very 
heavy  fog,  which  continued  nearly  all  the  day.  After 
traveling  some  distance  I fell  into  a large  Indian  trail, 
and  later  in  the  day  I saw,  through  the  fog,  the  tops 
of  trees,  afer  which  I soon  came  to  a stream  of  water. 
'I'his  I have  since  learned  was  the  Touchet  river.  Here 
1 stopped  and  let  my  horse  rest  and  feed,  the  while 
1 ate  the  rest  of  my  provisions.  I then  resumed  my 
journey,  still  following  the  Indian  trail,  and_  finally  I 
noticed  a place  where  someone  had  been  cutting  grass 
and,  going  a little  further,  I discerned  wagon  tracks, 
so  that  1 knew  I was  near  the  promised  land, — and 
a happier  mortal  never  lived.  Upon  discovering  some- 
what later,  two  soldiers  herding  dragoon  horses  I felt 
that  my  troubles  were  over,  as  well  as  my  fears  for  my 
personal  safety.  1 was  informed  by  these  soldiers  that 
the  fort  was  about  two  miles  distant.  I rode  on  and 
soon  came  in  sight  of  the  dragoon  encampment.  As  I 
crossed  Mill  creek,  just  above  the  sutler’s  store,  I 
met  Col.  William  Craig,  Henry  G.  Miller  and  William 
Scott.  I presented  to  Colonel  Craig  a letter  of  intro- 
duction that  had  been  given  to  me  by  Henri  M.  Chase, 
and  he  directed  me  to  his  house,  about  one  mile  distant, 
telling  me  to  go  there  and  stop  and  that  he  would 
soon  be  home.  I went  to  the  house,  turned  out  my 
horse  and  prepared  to  take  a rest,  as  I was  nearly  tired 
out,  and  that  night  I had  the  first  square  meal  for  many 
days,  with  the  result  that  I did  full  justice  to  the  same. 
This  ended  one  of  the  most  venturesome  and  dangerous 
journeys  ever  taken  by  a young  tenderfoot.” 

As  already  noted.  Judge  Woody  returned  to  Mon- 
tana in  i860,  and  during  the  first  decade  of  his  residence 
in  the  territory  he  worked  at  such  employment  as  could 
be  obtained.  He  was  identified  with  freighting,  mining, 
buying  and  selling  merchandise,  etc.,  and  his  ability  and 
energy  soon  gained  such  objective  recognition  that  he 
was  drawn  into  politics.  In  1866  a vacancy  occurred 
in  the  office  of  the  clerk  and  recorder  of  Missoula 
county  and  he  was  appointed  to  serve  the  unexpired 
term.  At  the  succeeding  election  he  was  formally  elected 
to  this  dual  office,  by  an  almost  unanimous  vote,  and 
thereafter  he  served  almost  continuously ' until  1880, 
when  he  positively  refused  to  continue  longer  in  office. 
During  his  tenure  of  the  position  of  county  clerk  and 
recorder,  that  office  was  combined  with  that  of  pro- 
bate judge,  and  Judge  Woody  was  thus  virtually  the 
incumbent  of  two  offices  at  the  same  time,  besides  which 
he  was  for  eight  years  deputy  clerk  of  the  Second 
judicial  district  court  of  Missoula  county. 

His  tenure  of  the  official  positions  noted  brought 
Judge  Woody  closely  in  touch  with  legal  affairs  and 
court  procedures,  and  he  became,  through  such  experi- 
ence and  well  directed  study,  so  well  informed  in  the 
minutiae  of  the  science  of  jurisprudence,  that  in  1877 
he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  the  territory,  upon  ex- 
amination before  the  supreme  court.  Bringing  to  his 
profession  an  earnest  zeal,  a well  trained  mind  and  inde- 
fatigable industry,  his  success  was  assured  from  the 
start,  and  he  rapidly  forged  his  way  to  the  front,  with 
the  result  that  he  gained  prestige  as  one  of  the  able 
and  representative  members  of  the  bar  of  the  great 
Northwest. 

In  1869  Judge  Woody  was  chosen  to  represent  Mis- 
soula and  Deer  Lodge  counties  in  the  territorial  legis- 
lature, but  as  doubt  was  expressed  as  to  the  legality 
of  the  ensuing  session  of  the  legislature,  he  did  not 
attend  the  same.  In  i8g2_  he  was  the  Democratic 
nominee  for  the  office  of  district  judge  of  the  fourth 
judicial  district,  and  was  elected  by  a gratifying  plu- 
rality. In  i8g6  he  was  re-elected  to  the  same  office,  of 
which  he  thus  continued  the  incumbent  for  eight  years. 
While  serving  on  the  bench  he  made  an  admirable 
record,  with  clear  apprehension  of  the  legal  principles 
involved  in  the  causes  presented  for  his  adjudication, 
the  while  he  labored  with  a deep  sense  of  stewardship 


to  conserve  equity  and  justice,  so  that  few  of  his  de- 
cisions met  with  reversal  by  courts  of  higher  juris- 
diction. Of  more  recent  years  Judge  Woody  has  devoted 
his  time  and  attention  to  the  general  practice  of  law, 
and  he  not  only  controls  a substantial  and  representa- 
tive practice  but  is  also  known  to  be  as  active,  alert 
and  _ enthusiastic  as  his  younger  confreres  at  the  bar. 
Genial,  considerate  and  sympathetic,  he  has  a wide 
circle ^ of  friends  in  Montana,  and  he  is  honored  alike 
for  his  sterling  character,  and  his  worthy  achievement. 

In  the  year  1871  was  solemnized  the  marriage  at 
Missoula,  of  Judge  Woody  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Country- 
man, who  was  born  in  California,  and  who  is  a daugh- 
ter of  Horace  and  Elizabeth  Countryman,  her  parents 
having  been  residents  of  Montana  at  the  time  of  their 
death.  Judge  and  Mrs.  Woody  have  three  children, 
Frank,  Alice  M.  and  Flora  P.  The  only  son  is  now 
numbered  among  the  representative  practitioners  of  law 
in  the  city  of  Missoula,  and  is  a member  of  the  law  firm 
of  Woody  & Woody  of  Missoula,  said  firm  consisting 
of  father  and  son. 

Of  the  three  children,  Frank,  the  son,  is  married 
and  resides  in  Missoula.  The  daughter  Alice  M.  is  un- 
married and^  resides  with  her  father  and  mother  in 
Missoula.  The  youngest  daughter.  Flora  P.,  was  mar- 
ried on  December  10,  1909,  to  Lieut.  Davis  C.  Ander- 
son, of  the  Sixth  United  States  Infantry.  A few  days 
after  the  wedding,  the  Sixth  Infantry  Regiment  was 
ordered  to  the  Philippine  Islands,  and  remained  in  the 
islands  until  the  summer  of  1912,  when  they  returned 
to  the  United  States.  During  their  term  in  the  islands. 
Lieutenant  Anderson  was  promoted  to  a captaincy  and 
assigned  to  the  Ninth  Infantry,  and  is  now  stationed 
at  Fort  Thomas,  Ky.,  opposite  Cincinnati. 

Fred  E.  Albrecht.  In  Mr.  Albrecht  Montana  has 
another  of  the  sons  of  her  pioneers  who  is  making  a 
name  and  a place  for  himself  in  the  commercial  world. 
He  is  the  son  of  Charles  Albrecht,  a native  of  Ger- 
many, and  of  Emma  Boehler  Albrecht,  of  Davenport, 
Iowa.  Her  father  came  to  America  from  Germany  and 
founded  the  American  branch  of  the  family  in  the  days 
when  Iowa  was  a sparsely  settled  region.  Charles 
Albrecht  came  to  Montana  in  the  ’60s  and  set  up  in 
business  in  Helena.  He  was  by  trade  a boot  and  shoe 
maker,  and  he  was  one  of  the  earliest  merchants  in 
that  line  in  the  city.  When  the  call  for  soldiers  came 
from  President  Lincoln  he  responded  to  the  need  of 
his  adopted  country  and  went  to  the  front  as  a private. 
He  came  out  of  the  service  a lieutenant,  and  resumed 
his  business  as  a civilian.  _ After  coming  to  Montana 
he  made  some  investments  in  different  mining  projects, 
but  these  never  yielded  him  any  considerable  returns. 
In  his  shoe  business,  however,  he  was  successful,  and 
he  continued  to  carry  on  his  establishment  to  the  time 
of  his  death.  Mr.  Albrecht  was  a member  of  the  An- 
cient Order  of  United  Workmen,  and  he  also  main- 
tained his  connection  with  the  Civil  War  Veterans, 
being  a member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 
His  death  occurred  at  Helena  in  1889,  on  the  twelfth 
of  November.  His  wife  and  two  sons  survive  him, 
Charles  Albrecht  and  Fred,  who  make  their  home  with 
their  mother  at  409  Dearborn  avenue. 

Fred  Albrecht  was  just  eight  years  of  age  at  the 
time  of  his  father’s  death,  as  he  was  born  on  Novem- 
ber 7,  1881,  in  the  city  of  Helena.  He  attended  the 
schools  of  the  city  both  in  the  grades  and  the  high 
school  until  he  was  fifteen.  When  he  went  to  work  it 
was  for  the  R.  G.  Dun  Mercantile  Agency,  with  whom 
he  was  associated  for  three  and  a half  years.  Mr. 
Albrecht  gave  up  his  position  with  the  Agency  to  enter 
the  mercantile  field,  and  for  the  next  ten  years  was 
identified  with  various  enterprises  in  that  line.  On 
March  17,  1910,  he  again  entered  the  employ  of  the 
Dun  Agency  in  the  capacity  of  traveling  reporter.  Less 
than  two  years  later,  on  December  12,  1912,  the  com- 


In  His  Seventy-Eighth  Year, 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


873 


pany  tendered  him  the  position  of  manager  of  the 
Helena  branch  of  their  organization,  and  he  is  now- 
filling  this  office.  There  are  but  two  branches  in  the 
state,  so  that  the  w^ork  of  this  office  is  heavy  and  im- 
portant. Its  responsibilities  are  such  as  Mr.  Albrecht 
is  well  adapted  to  discharge,  as  he  has  in  addition 
to  his  executive  ability  and  capacity  for  detail  a prac- 
tical acquaintance  with  conditions  and  experience  in 
operations  in  the  mercantile  business. 

Mr.  Albrecht  is  a member  of  the  Episcopal  church, 
to  which  his  brother  belongs  as  well.  He  holds  mem- 
bership in  the  Helena  Commercial  Club  and  in  the  social 
organizations  is  one  of  the  Helena  Lambs’  Club. 
Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  the  Elks.  He  is  a 
Republican,  but  onlv  as  an  individual,  not  participat- 
ing in  the  activities  of  the  local  organization.  The 
leisure  which  he  does  not  spend  in  the  open  is  apt  to 
be  given  to  reading,  as  he  is  fond  of  literature  and  freely 
indulges  his  taste  for  books. 

Granville  Stuart.  Although  virtually  a resident  of 
what  is  now  Montana  since  1857,  Granville  Stuart 
claims  only  a prospector’s  interest  in  the  state  previous 
to  i860.  Just  when  his  actual  citizenship  begun  is  a 
matter  of  little  moment.  The  thing  of  vast  importance 
to  the  state  of  Montana  is  that  he  did  actually  become 
a citizen,  and  as  such  has  given  to  his  adopted  state 
the  best  of  all  he  possessed.  Ambition,  courage,  per- 
severance, brilliance,  and  every  other  admirable  trait 
so  prominent  in  him, — all  have  gone  into  the  melting 
pot  of  the  future  of  a great  commonwealth,  and  the 
benefits  that  have  accrued  to  that  state  as  a direct  re- 
sult of  his  life  and  labor  thus  far  can  never  be  rightly 
estimated. 

Granville  Stuart  was  born  in  Clarksburg,  Virginia, 
now  West  Virginia,  on  August  27,  1834,  and  is  the 
son  of  Robert  and  Nancy  (Currence)  Stuart.  The 
family  is  of  Scottish  origin,  coming  from  Scotland  in 
the  early  history  of  the  Atlantic  states  and  being  iden- 
tified with  the  development  of  Virginia  until  1837,  at 
which  time  Robert  Stuart  removed  to  Illinois.  In  1838 
we  find  the  family  settled  in  Muscatine  county,  Iowa, 
and  in  that  state  Granville  Stuart  received  his  early 
education,  attending  school  diligently  until  1848.  Sub- 
sequently he  assisted  on  the  homestead  farm  and  in 
the  Heath  store  at  West  Liberty  village.  In  1849  Robert 
Stuart  visited  California  remaining  there  until  the  win- 
ter of  1851,  when  he  returned  to  his  Iowa  home.  In 
May,  1852,  he  set  out  on  his  second  trip  overland  to 
California,  accompanied  by  his  two  sons,  James  and 
Granville.  The  younger  Stuarts  remained  in  Califor- 
nia until  1857,  when  they  came  to  Montana,  then  known 
as  Washington  Territory,  and  settled  in  Deer  Lodge 
valley,  about  three  miles  north  of  the  present  village 
of  Pioneer  at  the  mouth  of  Gold  creek.  In  company  with 
his  brother,  James  Stuart,  and  Rezin  Anderson,  Thomas 
Adams,  Fred  H.  Burr  and  John  W.  Powell,  Granville 
Stuart  did  the  first  prospecting  and  mining  for  gold 
in  Montana  on  Gold  creek,  near  Pioneer,  between  1858 
and  1862,  and  it  was  their  operations  in  that  period 
which  caused  the  veritable  stampede  which  settled  this 
portion  of  the  country.  In  1867  James  Stuart  visited 
his  Iowa  home,  returning  to  Deer  Lodge  in  the  same 
year,  where  he  remained  until  1870.  Then  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  post  of  physician  at  the  Fort  Peck  agency, 
holding  that  position  until  his  death,  which  came  as  a 
result  of  cancer,  on  September  30,  1873.  His  body  was 
removed  to  Deer  Lodge  where  interment  took  place. 
In  1863  Granville  Stuart  removed  to  Alder  Gulch  just 
following  its  discovery,  and  there  he  with  his  brother 
James,  since  deceased,  entered  the  mercantile  business. 
They  continued  in  business  until  September  of  1865, 
when  they  sold  the  business  to  Messrs.  Gorham  and 
Patten.  In  that  same  fall,  the  brothers  entered  in 
business  in  Deer  Lodge,  conducting  a heavy  trade  from 
then  until  1873,  Granville  Stuart,  however,  being  the 


sole  proprietor  for  the  last  three  years  in  which  the 
business  was  conducted,  having  bought  the  interest  of 
his  brother  James  in  1870.  It  is  here  worthy  of  men- 
tion that  the  opening  up  and  settling  of  the  country 
between  the  years  of  1863  and  1873  was  due  principally 
to  the  activities  of  Granville  Stuart  and  his  party  of 
prospectors,  and  to  the  letters  which  he  wrote  to  Thomas 
Stuart  at  Black  Hawk,  Colorado,  but  now  of  Deer 
Lodge,  setting  forth  the  wonders  of  the  then  wholly 
undeveloped  country,  but  which  his  prophetic  mind 
recognize  for  what  it  later  proved  to  be, — the  Treasure 
state  of  the  Union. 

In  1873  Mr.  Stuart  gave  over  his  mercantile  interests 
wholly  because  of  the  state  of  his  health,  and  engaged 
in  the  more  primitive  labor  of  mining,  principally  as  a 
means  to  recover  his  former  health  and  strength.  In 
1876,  after  three  years  of  roughing  it,  he  removed  to 
Helena  where  he  became  a stockholder  in  the  First 
National  Bank,  taking  the  position  of  bookkeeper  in 
that  institution,  one  of  the  pioneer  banking  houses  of 
that  section.  The  confining  nature  of  the  work  de- 
pleted his  strength  to  such  an  alarming  extent  that 
after  three  years  he  gave  up  his  position  and  engaged  in 
the  cattle  business,  being  associated  with  S.  T.  Hauser 
of  the  First  National  Bank  and  A.  J.  Davis,  the  mil- 
lionaire miner  of  Butte.  Since  that  time  jMr.  Stuart  was 
controller  and  manager  of  that  extensive  business,  until 
1888,  which  has  grown  apace  since  its  inception.  The 
business  was  launched  with  a capital  stock  of  $150,000, 
doing  a business  of  $40,000  per  annum,  and  in  July, 
1883,  the  value  of  the  investment  had  increased  to 
$400,000,  as  evidenced  at  that  time  by  the  sale  of  a 
two-thirds  interest  in  the  property  to  Conrad  Kohrs 
for  $266,667,  which  represented  the  share  of  ilessrs. 
Davis  and  Hauser.  In  spite  of  his  close  attention  to 
business,  necessitated  by  the  demands  of  such  an  in- 
dustrjq  Mr.  Stuart  has  been  able  to  give  some  time  to 
matters  pertaining  to  governmental  affairs.  He  was 
a member  of  the  territorial  council  in  1872,  of  the 
house  in  1875  and  1879,  also  the  extra  sessions  of  that 
year  in  July,  and  he  was  president  of  the  council  in 
1883,  being  elected  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  of  which 
party  he  has  always  been  an  earnest  adherent.  At  the 
present  time  he  is  librarian  of  the  Butte  Public  Library. 

Perhaps  the  greatest  work  i\Ir.  Stuart  did  for  his 
adopted  state  was  in  his  early  life  in  these  parts,  when 
he  wrote  the  book.  “Montana  As  It  Is a splendid 
work  dealing  with  the  geographic  and  climatic  condi- 
tions of  the  territory  now-  know-n  as  Montana.  Of  Mr. 
Stuart  and  his  book,  the  Butte  Miner  of  November  19, 
1911,  has  to  say  in  part:  “Though  Montana  numbers 
her  boosters  by  the  thousands  and  hundreds  of  thou- 
sands, the  daddy  of  them  all  is  City  Librarian  Granville 
Stuart,  who  is  the  author  of  the  first  book  ever  written 
on  the  resources  and  wonderful  possibilities  of  what  is 
now  the  Treasure  state.  It  was  penned  nearly  half  a 
century  ago,  and  woven  around  the  book  is  a story  of 
coincidences  which  found  its  equal  but  recently._  It 
is  a tale  illustrative  of  just  what  a little  world  this  is 
and  of  the  freakish  pranks  fate  sometimes  plays. 

“The  story  involves  one  Edwin  E.  Purple,  a New 
Yorker,  wdth  whom  Mr.  Stuart  became  very  intimate 
in  the  early  sixties,  when  they  made  a census  of  the 
state.  They  were  living  at  Bannack  Cit}-,  the  _ first 
mining  towm  in  Montana,  when  the  census  idea  siezed 
them.  During  their  compilation  of  the  name  of  every 
resident  of  the  territory  they  became  fast  friends. 
This  w-as  in  the  spring  of  1863  and  about  one  year  later 
Mr.  Stuart  commenced  his  book,  originally  intended 
for  a dictionary  of  the  Snake  Indian  language  and 
Chinook  jargon,  with  comprehensive  explanatory  notes, 
but  later  developed  into  a splendid  w-ork,  dealing  with 
the  topography,  geography,  resources  and  climate  of 
the  territory  now  embraced  in  the  state  of  IMontana. 
It  was  given  the  title  ‘Montana  As  It  Is.’  Fifteen 
hundred  copies  of  the  book  were  printed  by  C.  S. 


874 


H'lSTORY  OF  MONTANA 


Wcstcott  & Company,  printers,  79  John  street.  New 
York  City,  in  1S65.  They  cost  the  author  $1500.00. 
Before  delivery  was  made  the  publishing  house  burned 
down  and  only  400  copies  were  saved.  Later  all  of 
these  were  taken  by  Hon.  James  Tufts,  ex-territorial 
governor,  who  expressed  a desire  to  superintend  their 
distribution  with  a view  to  encouraging  emigration 
to  this  state.  The  ex-governor  sent  Stuart  one  hun- 
dred copies,  addressing  them  to  Deer  Lodge,  where 
he  was  then  in  business  with  Judge  Dance.  The  books 
were  sent  from  St.  Joseph,  Alissouri,  by  an  ox  train 
bringing  the  equipment  for  a quartz  mill  in  this  state. 
The  first  winter  the  train  wintered  at  Laramie,  Wyo- 
ming, proceeding  on  in  the  spring,  and  arriving  at 
Deer  Lodge  before  the  following  winter,  about  two 
years  after  the  books  were  sent  from  New  York. 
During  the  winter  at  Laramie  snow  had  blown  in  on 
the  books  so  that  when  they  arrived  at  Deer  Lodge 
they  were  rotten  and  in  such  shape  that  for  the  greater 
part  they  were  worthless.  Such  as  could  be  saved 
were  distributed  among  the  author’s  friends.  As  to 
what  disposition  was  ever  made  of  the  other  three 
hundred  copies  remaining,  Mr.  Stuart  has  never 
learned.  A few  of  them,  however,  must  have  been 
sold,  for  a few  years  later  one  of  them  was  purchased 
by  the  author  for  $2.50  from  an  eastern  book  dealer. 
This  copy  has  been  in  the  Butte  library  for  several 
years. 

“In  1866  Purple  returned  to  the  east,  tiring  of  the 
hardships  of  the  west  apparently,  for  he  never  returned. 
On  April  3,  1870,  he  wrote  to  Mr.  Stuart  asking  for 
information  as  to  where  he  could  secure  a copy  of  his 
book,  and  on  April  27th,  Mr.  Stuart  replied.  He  said 
'Yours  of  the  ninth  instant  arrived  last  mail.  It  gave 
me  great  pleasure  to  hear  from  you  and  find  you  had 
not  forgotten  the  poor  devils  you  left  in  the  wilder- 
ness. The  book,  "Montana  As  It  Is,’’  was  pub- 
lished by  C.  S.  Westcott  & Co.,  79  John  street.  New 
York  City.  I do  not  know  where  you  would  be  most 
likely  to  find  a copy  in  the  city  if  they  have  none. 
Hon.  James  Tufts,  our  ex-governor,  had  charge  of 
some  three  hundred  or  four  hundred  copies  in  New 
York  City.  What  he  did  with  them  I never  knew 
as  I never  got  a cent  for  them.  He  is  still  in  the  ter- 
ritory at  Virginia  City,  I believe,  and  by  writing  to 
him  he  may  know  where  you  can  procure  a copy. 
James  Reese,  Judge  Dance,  and  myself,  are  still  rough- 
ing it  here  and  all  send  respects.  I shall  be  glad  to 
hear  from  you  at  any  time  and  will  respond.’ 

“Mr  Stuart  never  heard  again  from  Purple,  con- 
sequently wrote  him  but  the  one  time.  Whether  or 
not  he  ever  procured  a copy  of  the  book  he  did  not 
learn  until  more  than  forty-one  years  later.  The  sequel 
of  the  story  commences  some  time  in  1902,  when  Mr. 
Stuart,  in  looking  over  a catalog  of  books  issued 
by  Francis  B.  Harper,  found  a copy  of  ‘Montana  As 
It  Is,’  by  Granville  Stuart,  advertised  for  sale,  to- 
gether with  an  autograph  letter  from  the  author. 
Anxious  to  secure  a copy  of  the  hook  and  curious  to 
learn  to  whom  he  had  written  the  letter,  Mr.  Stuart 
forwarded  the  $10  asked  for  the  book  and  letter  with 
instructions  to  send  it  to  him.  By  return  mail  he  re- 
ceived word  that  the  book  had  been  sold  before  the 
order  arrived.  About  three  months  ago  a catalog  of 
second  hand  books  was  received  at  the  library  from 
a collector  of  books  in  Nashville,  Tennessee.  In  that 
Mr.  Stuart  again  found  trace  of  tlie  book.  It,  together 
with  an  autograph  letter  from  the  author,  was  adver- 
tised for  sale  for  $20.  He  immediately  sent  for  it, 
and  shortly  afterward  received  a copy  of  the  book, 
beautifully  bound.  The  collector  explained  that  he 
had  taken  a fancy  to  the  book  and  sent  it  to  England 
to  be  bound.  Between  the  cover  and  the  first  page 
of  the  book  i\Ir.  Stuart  found  the  autograph  letter 
from  the  author  which  had  been  advertised  by  both 
dealers.  It  was  his  letter  to  Purple  written  April  27, 


1870.  It  was  in  the  same  yellow  envelope  with  the 
quaint  little  three-cent  stamp  of  that  date  in  the  right 
hand  corner,  and  was  just  as  it  had  been  written, 
bearing  a notation  on  the  back  indicating  that  it  had 
been  received  May  to,  1870.  Purple  had  apparently 
secured  a copy  of  the  book  and  placed  the  letter  inside. 
Later,  it  seems,  he  must  have  noticed  a newspaper 
article  reproducing  a letter  written  by  Mr.  Stuart  to 
the  Indian  peace  commissioner  at  St.  Louis  and  pre- 
served it,  for  this  also  was  in  the  envelope.  Just 
how  the  book  came  into  the  possession  of  the  New 
York  dealer  and  then  migrated  to  Nashville,  thence 
to  England  and  back  can  only  be  conjectured. 

“The  book  written  by  Mr.  Stuart  is  of  much  his- 
torical value,  in  that  it  is  a perfect  pen  picture  of  the 
territory  now  embraced  in  the  state  of  Montana.  In 
the  preface,  written  at  Virginia  City,  January  31,  1865, 
the  author  says : 'It  was  originally  my  intention  to 
have  given  a general  discription  of  the  form,  climate, 
resources,  etc.,  of  the  vast  region  over  which  the 
Snake  language  is  talked,  in  the  form  of  notes  to  a 
dictionary  of  that  language,  a plan  that,  as  will  be 
seen,  I had  partially  carried  out  when  my  attention 
and  time  became  too  much  absorbed  by  other  affairs 
to  enable  me  to  devote  myself  to  it  as  I had  wished 
to  do,  and  many  parts  of  it  that  I had  traveled  over 
in  days  gone  by  have  since  that  time  been  developed  in  a 
most  unexpected  manner,  proving  incredibly  rich  in 
precious  minerals.  So  that  a description  of  the  Snake 
country  as  then  appeared  to  me  would  bear  but  a 
slight  resemblance  to  their  present  condition,  and  be- 
sides my  description  of  portions  of  Montana,  informa- 
tion of  which  is  now  eagerly  sought  for  were  so  scat- 
tered through  these  notes  that  they  were  in  a very 
unsatisfactory  shape  for  those  seeking  information  in 
regard  to  it.  These  considerations  have  determined 
me  to  write  a few  pages  describing  in  detail  that  part 
of  my  old  stamping  ground  now  known  as  Montana 
territory,  and  if  there  should  be  some  repetition  of 
things  already  described  in  the  notes,  I hope  my  read- 
ers (if  I should  be  so  fortunate  as  to  have  any)  wilt 
pardon  me,  as  they  are  necessary  to  render  this  last 
description  intelligible.’ 

“The  topography  and  geography  of  Montana  is  de- 
scribed in  detail.  Just  the  right  amount  of  narrative 
and  personal  experience  is  blended  into  this  portion 
of  the  book  to  compel  interest.  The  author  recites  an 
incident  of  his  arrival  in  Montana  and  tells  of  the 
first  discovery  of  gold  in  the  state.  ‘About  the  year 
1852  a French  half  breed  from  the  Red  River  of  the 
North  named  Francois  Finlay,  who  had  been  to  Cal- 
ifornia, began  to  prospect  on  a branch  of  the  Hellgate, 
now  known  as  Gold  creek.  He  found  small  quantities 
of  light  float  gold  in  the  surface  along  this  stream,  but 
not  in  sufficient  abundance  to  pay.  This  became  noised 
about  among  the  mountaineers,  and  when  Reese  Ander- 
son, my  brother  James  and  I were  delayed  by  sick- 
ness at  the  head  of  Mala.d  creek  on  the  Hudspeth’s 
cutoff,  as  we  were  on  our  way  from  California  to  the 
states  in  the  summer  of  i857>  we  saw  some  men  who 
had  passed  Benetsee’s  creek,  as  it  was  then  called,  and 
they  said  they  had  good  prospects  there ; as  we  had  a 
little  inclination  to  see  mountain  life,  we  concluded  to 
go  out  to  that  region  and  winter  and  look  around  a 
little.  We  accordingly  wintered  on  Big  Hole,  just 
above  the  Backbone,  in  company  with  Robert  Demp- 
sey, Jake  Meeks,  and  others,  and  in  the  spring  of  1858 
we  went  over  to  Deer  Lodge  and  prospected  a little  on 
Benetsee  creek,  but  not  having  any  grujj  01  tools  to 
work  with,  we  soon  quit  in  disgust  without  having 
found  anything  that  would  pay,  or  done  enough  to 
enable  us  to  form  a reliable  estimate  of  the  richness 
of  this  vicinity.  We  then  went  back  to  the  emigrant 
road  and  remained  there  trading  with  the  emigrants 
more  than  two  years,  very  frequently  talking  of  the- 
probability  of  there  being  good  mines  in  Deer  Lodge,. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


675 


until  in  the  fall  of  i860,  we  moved  out  to  the  mouth 
of  the  Stinking  Water  river,  intending  to  winter  there 
and  go  over  and  try  our  luck  prospecting  in  the  spring. 
But  the  Indians  became  insolent  and  began  to  kill  our 
cattle,  when  we  moved  over  late  in  the  fall  and  set- 
tled at  the  mouth  of  Gold  creek  and  began  to  pros- 
pect. We  succeeded  during  the  following  summer  in 
finding  prospects  which  we  considered  very  good,  upon 
which  we  began  to  make  preparations  to  take  it  out 
big,  and  wrote  to  our  brother  Thomas,  who  was  at 
Pike’s  Peak,  as  Colorado  was  then  called,  to  come  out 
and  join  us,  as  we  thought  this  a better  country  than 
the  ‘Peak.’ 

"In  outlining  the  topography  of  the  territory  Mr. 
Stuart  divided  it  into  a series  of  basins,  five  in  num- 
ber, of  which  four  lie  on  the  east  side  of  the  Rockies 
and  one  on  the  west.  Each  basin  he  describes  in  de- 
tail; its  resources,  settlement  and  possibilities,  color- 
ing his  descriptions  by  narrating  some  personal  ex- 
periences in  that  particular  section.  That  he  viewed 
the  resources  and  possibilities  of  Montana  with  the 
same  optimism  which  the  authors  of  booster ^ litera- 
ture of  the  present  day  are  wont  to  see  them,  is  indi- 
cated by  the  following  prediction:  ‘The  Yellowstone 

river  will  be  navigable  for  light  draught  steamers  nearly 
to  the  western  edge  of  the  basin,  or  almost  to  the 
center  of  Montana,  and  it  is  by  this  river  that  she 
will  ere  long  receive  all  her  supplies  that  come  from 
the  states  and  it  will  in  time  carry  down  our  gold 
and  silver  to  the  poor  devils  who  are  so  unfortunate 
as  to  live  in  the  Mississippi  valley  and  who  don’t  own 
any  “feet"  in  any  rich  silver  leads,  and  are  ignorant 
of  the  joys  of  going  out  poor  in  the  morning  in  search 
of  "leads”  and  coming  back  in  the  evening  rich  (in 
imagination).’ 

“The  dictionary  of  the  Snake  language  is  indeed 
interesting.  The  accompanying  notes  furnish  many 
sidelights  on  life  in  the  territory  at  that  time  and  con- 
cerning the  habits,  superstitions  and  manner  of  living 
of  the  Indians.  The  dictionary  of  the  Chinook  jargon 
then  and  still  in  use  in  and  among  the  tribes  of  Ore- 
gon, Washington,  British  Columbia  and  the  north 
Pacific  Coast,  also  shows  the  author’s  deep  and  con- 
scientious study  of  the  language.  One  of  the  features 
of  the  book,  however,  which  has  an  immediate  appeal, 
is  the  itinerary  of  the  route  from  Leavenworth  City 
to  Great  Salt  Lake  City,  which  in  those  days  must  have 
been  invaluable  to  the  emigrant.  It  is  followed  by 
itineraries  from  Great  Salt  Lake  City  to  Sacramento, 
California  and  to  Los  Angeles,  and  from  St.  Paul  to 
Fort  Walla  Walla  in  Washington  territory,  and  many 
others.  The  itineraries  were  complete  in  every  detail. 
Distances  were  given  between  points,  locations  of 
wood,  water  and  grass,  at  that  time  necessities  to  the 
emigrant,  are  described,  and  the  conditions  of  every 
camping  spot  along  the  road  outlined  in  detail.  Most 
of  this  territory  was  wilderness,  boasting  no  habita- 
tions and  little  besides  a vast  expanse  of  rolling  plain, 
crossed  at  intervals  by  rugged  mountain  ranges.  The 
itineraries  are  the  concluding  feature  of  the  book." 

The  newspaper  clipping  found  in  Purple’s  letter  is 
from  the  New  York  Times  of  October  4.  1871.  It 
reproduces  a letter  written  by  Mr.  Stuart  Septepiber 
3,  1871,  to  the  Indian  peace  commissioner,  at  St.  Louis, 
in  which  he  deals  with  the  Indian  tribes  of  the  North- 
west, their  numbers,  wealth  and  power.  It  is  a care- 
ful statement  of  their  condition  and  prospects,  and 
perusal  will  show  that  many  of  his  recommendations 
have  long  since  been  followed  by  the  governrnent  in 
the  administration  of  its  Indian  affairs.  It  will  also 
show  that  Mr.  Stuart  made  a careful  study  of  condi- 
tions, and  that  the  great  heart  of  the  man  was  stirred 
to  its  utmost  by  his  deep-seated  knowledge  of  the 
unhappy  conditions  peculiar  to  the  race  of  the  Red 
Men  at  that  time.  The  letter  is  of  historical  value, 
in  view  of  the  fact  that  it  gives  such  a comprehensive 


insight  into  Indian  life  forty  vears  ago.  The  clipping 
follows;  - 

"The  following  interesting  letter  has  been  addressed 
to  Hon.  Robert  Campbell  at  St.  Louis,  and  although 
not  intended  for  publication,  it  contains  so  clear  an 
account  of  the  present  conditions  of  the  Indian  tribes 
in  the  Rocky  mountain  region  that  he  has  permitted 
it  to  be  printed  in  the  St.  Louis  Republican,  from 
whose  columns  we  quote:  ‘Dear  Sir:  Knowing  that 

you  were  familiar  many  years  ago  with  the  numbers, 
wealth  and  power  of  most  of  the  Indian  tribes  of  the 
Rocky  mountains,  and  having  been  in  constant  con- 
tact with  all  the  tribes  from  Colorado  to  the  British 
line,  thus  becoming  fairly  conversant  with  their  cus- 
toms, habits,  languages  and  modes  of  life,  has  caused 
me  to  take  a very  great  interest  in  the  way  our  Indian 
affairs  are  managed,  and  led  me  to  desire  that  they 
could  be  conducted  upon  some  plan  that  would  do 
more  equal  and  exact  justice  to  both  whites  and  In- 
dians. That  the  matter  has  been  very  badly  managed 
in  the  past  is  patent  to  any  observing  mind. 

“ ‘At  the  beginning  of  the  tide  of  immigrants  that  left 
the  eastern  states  and  swept  across  the  continent  to 
California  and  Oregon  the  many  tribes  along  the 
routes  were  numerous  and  in  general  prosperous,  but 
the  contact  with  the  whites  produced  the  heretofore 
inevitable  decline  in  numbers  and  in  an  abasement  of 
character  which  seems  to  follow  like  a curse  in  the 
footsteps  of  civilization,  and  to  fall  with  a blighting 
influence  upon  the  natives  of  the  soil.  This  is  owing, 
principally,  to  the  introduction  among  them  of  whisky 
and  other  attendant  evils  which  produce  famine,  dis- 
ease and  poverty,  dissensions  and  wars  among  them- 
selves and  with  the  whites,  and  is  leading  to  the  rapid 
extermination  of  all  the  tribes  of  the  mountains  and 
plains  of  the  great  West,  some  of  whom  have  already 
declined  so  far  as  to  have  lost  their  tribal  names,  and 
to  prevent  their  utter  extinction  have  become  incor- 
porated into  other  and  stronger  tribes. 

“ ‘Washakee’s  band  of  Shoshones  or  Snakes,  who 
formerly  ranged  from  Bear  river  to  the  mouth  of 
the  Sweet  Water  river,  are  now  upon  a reservation 
in  Wind  river  valley.  They  are  much  reduced  in  num- 
bers and  are  almost  entirely  dependent  upon  the  In- 
dian Department  for  a living,  as  there  are  now  no 
buffalo,  and  few  elk,  deer,  or  antelope,  in  their  country. 
They  are  located  in  a beautiful  valley  and  seem  to  be 
contented  and  desire  to  learn  to  farm,  and  if  properly 
managed  and  cared  for  will  soon  cease  their  nomadic 
life  and  quit  the  chase  for  the  more  quiet  pursuits  of 
raising  stock  and  tilling  the  soil.  They  are  not  at  war 
with  any  other  tribe  except  the  Sioux,  who  will  per- 
sist in  coming  to  their  reservations  and  steal  their 
horses  and  occasionally  kill  some  of  them.  They  com- 
plained, and  justly  so,  that  the  government  does  not 
protect  them  on  their  reservations. 

“ ‘The  “sheep  eater’’  band  of  Snakes  and  the  Ban- 
nacks,  who  formerly  ranged  from-  the  head  almost  to 
the  mouth  of  the  Snake  river,  are  now  nearly  all  on  the 
reservation  at  Lemhi,  near  the  forks  of  the  Salmon 
river  and  on  another  one  near  old  Fort  Hall  on  Snake 
river.  The  first  named  reservation  has  a farm  in 
operation  and  these  Indians,  who  are  naturally  of  the 
most  gentle  and  tractable  dispositions  of  any  of  the 
mountain  tribes,  are  glad  to  learn  how  to  farm  and  are 
willing  to  work  when  they  see  that  they  get  the  benefit 
of  their  labor.  There  is  no  game  in  their  country 
except  a few  mountain  sheep  and  they  do  not  leave 
the  reservation  to  hunt,  but  live  on  the  products  of  the 
farm,  their  annuities  and  salmon,  of  which  latter  there 
is  an  abundance  in  Salmon  river.  The  farm  has  only 
been  in  operation  about  a year,  and  they  now  have 
sixty-five  acres  under  cultivation,  which  is  doing  very 
well,  considering  the  limited  means  of  the  agent. 

“ ‘The  Flatheads  and  Pend  d’Orielles  are  now  prac- 
tically civilized.  They  have  farms  of  their  own.  gen- 


876 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


erally  on  their  reservations  in  the  Bitter  Root  and 
Jocko  valleys.  They  are  in  comfortable  circumstances, 
have  large  herds  of  cattle  and  many  horses.  Owing 
to  the  labors  of  the  Jesuit  missionaries,  who  have  had 
a few  missions  among  them  since  1843,  they  attend 
church  with  considerable  regularity  and  profess  to 
the  Catholic  religion,  and  are  usually  married  by  the 
rites  of  the  church.  These  Indians  are  quiet  and 
peaceable.  A portion  of  them  still  make  semi-annual 
trips  to  the  Yellowstone  and  Missouri  rivers  to  hunt  buf- 
falo, but  if  they  are  properly  managed  for  a few  years 
they  will  become  self-sustaining  and  will  cease  to  go 
after  buffalo,  and  will  become  permanent  residents  on 
their  farms. 

‘‘‘The  Nez  Perces  are  rapidly  becoming  civilized,  and 
stay  mostly  on  their  reservations  on  Snake  river, 
Clearwater  and  the  Columbia.  They  are  rich  in  horses 
and  cattle  and  farm  to  a considerable  extent.  A small 
part  of  them  still  go  with  the  Flatheads  and  Pend 
d'Orielles  to  hunt  on  the  plains  of  the  Missouri  and 
Yellowstone,  but  they  can  easily  be  induced  to  stay 
at  home.  They  are  quiet  and  well  disposed  and  quite 
intelligent.  Many  of  them  can  speak  English  and  a 
few  of  them  can  read  and  write. 

“ ‘The  Crow  Indians  have  an  agency  and  farm  in  the 
upper  part  of  the  Yellowstone  valley,  where  there 
are  one  hundred  and  twelve  acres  under  cultivation. 
These  Indians  take  great  interest  in  the  farm  and 
are  seemingly  very  anxious  to  learn  how  to  conduct 
farming  operations  and  desire  to  be  furnished  with 
implements,  seeds,  etc.  They  seem  to  fully  realize  the 
fact  that  although  game  is  still  abundant  in  their 
country,  the  time  is  not  far  distant  when  they  will 
be  compelled  to  farm  or  starve,  and  they  fully  appre- 
ciate the  kindness  of  the  government  in  giving  them 
annuities  and  teaching  them  how  to  farm. 

“ ‘The  Rlackfeet  and  Piegans  have  an  agency  and  farm 
on  the  Teton  river  which  has  some  eighty-six  acres 
under  cultivation,  but  as  game  of  all  kinds,  and  buf- 
falo in  particular  is  abundant  in  their  country,  they 
take  but  little  interest  in  farming  operations  as  yet, 
although  the  most  intelligent  among  them  admit  that 
they  will  have  to  farm  some  day,  although  they  think 
the  time  farther  off  than  it  really  is.  The  greatest 
difficulty  which  is  experienced  in  keeping  the  Indians 
at  their  agencies  and  on  their  reservations  is  caused 
by  unprincipled  and  influential  men  who  are  interested 
in  trading  whiskey  to  them.  They  persuade  the  In- 
dians to  leave  their  agencies  and  go  into  the  Indian 
country  out  of  reach  of  the  agents,  so  that  they  can 
trade  them  whiskey  with  impunity,  and  nothing  but 
the  unceasing  vigilance  of  Indian  Superintendent  J.  H. 
Viall  keeps  this  crying  evil  within  bounds.  He  has 
taken  energetic  measures  to  keep  this  atrocious  traffic 
suppressed,  and  if  properly  supported  will  soon  suc- 
ceed in  bringing  to  justice  or  driving  out  of  the  coun- 
try all  those  nefarious  scoundrels  who  are  engaged 
in  it.  I look  upon  this  whiskey  trading  as  a crime, 
but  little  short  of  actual  murder,  for  it  brings  with  it 
a long  train  of  attendant  evils  which  are  productive 
of  a vast  sum  of  human  misery. 

“‘Owing  to  the  judicious  administration  of  Indian 
affairs  by  Superintendent  Viall,  there  is  a more  con- 
tented feeling  among  the  Indians  of  this  territory  than 
there  has  ever  been  before.  They  seem  to  know  that 
he  is  using  all  means  within  his  power  to  promote 
their  comfort  and  welfare,  and  had  our  Indian  affairs 
been  managed  in  the  past  with  as  much  justice  and 
genuine  kindness  of  heart  as  has  been  shown  by  Super- 
intendent Viall,  we  would  have  had  fewer  bloody 
and  expensive  Indian  wars,  and  less  of  the  hostile  and 
suspicious  feeling  that  long  years  of  injustice,  false 
promises  and  bad  faith,  have  engendered  in  the  mind 
of  the  Indian  till  he  has  grown  to  look  upon  all  our 
promises  as  mere  subterfuges  to  swindle  him.  The 
total  lack  of  good  faith  shown  by  our  government  and 


the  slight  punishment  that  is  inflicted  upon  the  Indians 
when  they  break  the  many  treaties  made  with  them, 
has  caused  the  Indians  to  look  upon  all  treaties  as 
mere  farces  which  either  party  can  ignore  at  will. 
VVhen  we  do  make  a treaty  with  any  tribe  we  should 
observe  it  to  the  letter,  and  should  make  them  do  the 
same,  and  unless  this  is  done  no  treaty  will  be  observed 
for  any  length  of  time.  The  whites  are  almost  in- 
variably the  hrst  to  break  treaty  stipulations  of  any 
kind  and  then  they  wage  war  upon  the  poor  Indian 
tor  following  their  example. 

" ‘The  dictates  of  humanity  demand  that  the  Indians 
should  be  put  upon  reservations  and  fed  and  clothed 
by  the  government  until  they  become  sufficiently  ac- 
quainted in  the  arts  of  civilization  to  sustain  them- 
selves. The  onward  march  of  civilization  is  fast  ex- 
terminating the  red  men  who  once  were  owners  of  all 
this  fair  land.  They  have  suffered  great  injustice  and 
cruelty  reigns,  and  unless  they  now  have  protection 
from  the  strong  arm  of  the  government,  in  a few  short 
years  their  place  will  know  them  no  more.  Very 
truly  yours,  Granville  Stuart.’  ’’ 

_ We  have  given  this  letter  and  the  newspaper  clip- 
ping m full,  as  they  seem  to  throw  a deal  of  light 
upon  the  early  life  of  the  man.  That  he  was  a thinker, 
and  a man  in  advance  of  his  time,  is  apparent  on  every 
hand.  Certainly  his  prophecy  concerning  the  future 
of  Montana  has  been  realized  four-fold,  and  the  radical 
changes  brought  about  in  the  treatment  of  the  Indian 
question  within  the  last  three  decades  must  be  a source 
of  much  gratification  to  Mr.  Stuart,  in  view  of  his 
sympathetic  view  of  the  situation  as  existing  at  the 
time  of  his  letter. 

Augustus  F.  Graeter.  The  Montana  pioneer  is  an  ex- 
pression synonymous  with  honor,  ability,  courage  and 
independence.  He  made  possible  the  swift,  substantial 
development  of  the  state  and  its  present  high  prestige 
and  he  has  transmitted  his  fine,  staunch  nature  to  his 
sons,  so  that  big  men,  brave  men  and  brainy  men  are 
coming  from  Montana.  Prominent  among  tlae  pioneer 
citizens  who  have  honored  Dillon  by  making  it  their 
home  is  Augustus  F.  Graeter,  who  has  livecl  in  the  state 
since  1862  and  in  Dillon  for  the  past  decade  and  a half. 
Pie  is  a man  of  e.xtensive  interests  in  banking,  mercan- 
tile lines,  ranching  and  real  estate.  He  is  of  German 
descent  and  evinces  in  himself  those  characteristics 
which  make  the  Teutonic  stock  one  of  our  most  admir- 
able sources  of  citizenship ; in  truth  the  superlative  term 
might  well  be  used.  His  life  record  is  without  stain 
and  he  enjoys  honor  and  universal  respect,  and  is  gen- 
erally beloved  by  those  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact 
for  a particularly  lovable  personality  and  a brotherly 
sympathy  which  stands  all  tests. 

By  circumstance  of  birth  Mr.  Graeter  is  a Pennsylva- 
nian, his  eyes  having  first  opened  to  the  light  of  day  in 
Allentown,  that  state,  on  July  29,  1834.  He  is  a descend- 
ant of  a long  line  of  pastoral  men,  of  whom  there  is  in 
the  family  a record,  dating  back  to  1549.  His  father, 
August  F.  Graeter,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Wurtemberg_,  Ger- 
many, March  16,  1803,  and  was  educated  at  Leipsic  and 
Stuttgardt,  coming  to  America  in  1828,  when  a young 
man  in  quest  of  the  much  vaunted  opportunity  across 
the  sea.  He  first  settled  in  the  Keystone  state  and  later 
went  to  Ohio,  where  he  lived  until  his  demise.  He 
was  a publisher  of  German  literature — books  and  news- 
papers— and  a gifted  writer  and  editor.  His  death  oc- 
curred March  8,  1863,  in  Warren,  Ohio,  and  there  all 
that  is  mortal  of  him  was  interred.  The  mother,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Sarah  Hoffman,  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  in  Allentown  she  was  wooed  and  won.  The 
union  of  this  worthy  and  devoted  couple  was  blessed 
by  the  birth  of  eight  children,  the  immediate  subject  of 
this  brief  review  being  the  second  child. 

The  first  two  years  of  Augustus  F.  Graeter,  Jr.,  were 
spent  in  his  birthplace  and  then  the  family  removed  to 


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HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


877 


Ohio.  In  that  state  his  boyhood  and  youth  were  passed, 
and  at  the  age  of  twenty  he  went  back  to  Pennsylvania, 
locating  in  Meadville,  where  he  remained  for  about  a 
year,  clerking  in  a store.  He  then  returned  to  Warren, 
where  he  remained  only  a short  time  and  then  went  to 
Wisconsin,  where  he  engaged  in  the  most  strenuous 
labor,  chopping  cord  wood  and  living  the  free,  adventur- 
ous life  of  the  lumberman.  Again  he  returned  to  War- 
ren, which  was  dear  with  many  associations,  and  again 
stayed  but  a short  time,  ere  he  went  on  to  new  scenes, 
this  time  locating  in  Florence,  Nebraska.  But  Florence 
was  soon  deserted  for  Pike’s  Peak,  Colorado.  He  led  a 
roving,  care-free  life,  and  during  this  period  followed 
diverse  occupations.  While  in  Colorado  he  came  to  the 
decision  to  make  the  momentous  step  which  gave  him 
forever  to  Montana  as  a citizen.  He  arrived  within  the 
boundaries  of  the  great  territory  in  the  month  of  August, 
1862,  and  first  located  in  Bannack.  In  the  first  years  he 
engaged  in  placer  mining,  and  later  in  dredging  and 
ranching.  He  ultimately  removed  to  Dillon,  where  he 
has  lived  for  fifteen  years  and  has  taken  his  place  as  one 
of  its  successful  and  able  citizens.  He  has  followed 
various  lines  of  enterprise,  such  as  banking,  merchan- 
dise, ranching  and  real  estate,  and  anything  with  which 
he  associates  himself  seems  pretty  sure  of  prosperity. 

Mr.  Graeter  is  prominent  in  Masonry,  belonging  to  all 
the  bodies  from  the  blue  lodge  to  the  Shrine.  In  the 
blue  lodge  he  has  filled  all  the  chairs  and  is  now  a past 
master.  In  political  allegiance  he  gives  heart  and  hand 
to  the  Democratic  party  and  its  policies  and  principles. 
At  one  time  he  was  a standard  bearer  in  the  local  ranks, 
being  of  much  influence  and  taking  an  active  part  in 
campaigns.  Recently,  however,  he  has  left  such  things 
to  younger  men.  He  has  been  frequently  solicited  to 
run  for  office,  but  has  always  refused,  even  though  with 
a man  of  his  popularity  victory  would  have  been  almost 
inevitable.  He  consented  at  one  time  to  fill  the  office 
of  county  commissioner  and  also  served  in  the  city 
council,  but  further  than  this  he  was  adamant  in  his 
determination.  He  is,  however,  one  of  the  most  public- 
spirited  of  men,  and  ever  ready  to  give  his  best  effort 
to  any  good  cause. 

As  to  his  purely  personal  inclinations,  he  is  fond  of 
all  out-of-door  sport  in  general  and  of  baseball  and 
horseracing  in  particular.  Montana  is  one  of  his  hob- 
bies and  his  dreams  of  her  future  greatness  magnificent 
indeed. 

Mr.  Graeter  has  been  twice  married,  on  July  29,  i860, 
at  Florence,  Nebraska,  Miss  Emily  M.  Drewey,  became 
his  wife,  and  the  demise  of  this  good  woman  occurred 
in  1878.  In  1880,  in  Bannack,  Montana,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Mary  J.  Taylor,  and  on  October  6,  1908, 
she  passed  away,  mourned  by  all  who  knew  her.  In  her 
memory  were  inscribed  the  following  statements  in  one 
of  the  local  oublications  at  the  time  of  her  demise : 

“Last  evening  the  entire  community  was  plunged  into 
grief  by  the  sad  intelligence  of  the  unexpected  death 
of  Mrs.  A.  F.  Graeter,  of  this  city.  A sense  of  deep 
personal  loss  was  felt,  and  on  every  side  were  heard 
countless  expressions  of  sorrow  at  the  untimely  death 
of  this  most  gracious  woman. 

“Mrs.  Graeter’s  illness  was  brief,  she  only  having 
been  ill  for  the  past  week.  Her  death  was  due  to  acute 
congestion  of  the  lungs.  A week  ago,  shortly  after  hav- 
ing returned  from  Lewistown,  where  she  and  Mr.  Grae- 
ter went  to  attend  the  pioneers’  meeting,  she  was  taken 
down  with  an  attack  of  bowel  and  chest  trouble.  In 
spite  of  all  that  Dr.  Bond,  assisted  by  Dr.  Poindexter, 
could  do,  after  she  had  suffered  a sinking  spell,  she 
rapidly  succumbed,  and  two  hours  later,  at  about  8;oo 
p.  m.,  she  breathed  her  last.  All  immediate  members  of 
the  family  were  present  at  the  bedside  when  she  passed 
away. 

“Mrs.  Mary  Graeter  was  born  in  Coversdale,  New 
Brunswick,  September  26,  1849,  she  having  reached  the 
age  of  fifty-nine  years  just  a short  while  ago.  Her  girl- 


hood days  were  spent  in  that  city.  In  1881  she  came  to 
Montana  with  Mr.  Tate  Taylor,  her  brother,  and  Mrs. 
Taylor,  who  were  then  just  married.  Eight  months 
after  her  arrival  here,  in  September,  1881,  she  was 
wedded  at  Bannack  to  Mr.  A.  F.  Graeter.  For  several 
years  thereafter  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Graeter  lived  at  Bannack, 
later  moving  to  the  Horse  Prairie  where  Mr.  Graeter 
engaged  in  ranching.  Fourteen  years  ago  they  moved 
to  Dillon  and  since  have  continuously  resided  in  this 
city. 

"As  a true  friend  and  a kind  neighbor  her  loss  will  be 
felt  keenly  by  all  those  who  have  known  her  since  the 
early ’days  of  the  territory.  She  was  a good  and  true 
woman,  a kind  and  loving  wife  and  mother,  and  many 
are  the  heartfelt  tears  of  sorrow  shed  in  sympathy  with 
the  sorrowing  family  at  her  loss.  She  was  a devoted 
member  of  the  First  Baptist  church  of  this  city  and  also 
of  the  Eastern  Star  order. 

“Because  any  community  delights  in  and  is  proud  of 
such  examples  of  gracious  womanhood,  our  little  town 
bows  its  head  in  poignant  grief  for  this  noble  woman 
who  was  taken  so  suddenly.  The  memory  of  her  life 
belongs  to  it  and  will  exhale  a lasting  fragrance.  To 
the  desolate  husband  and  daughter  left  alone  in  the 
darkened  home  and  to  the  sorrowing  son  and  brother, 
tender  waves'  of  sympathy  radiate  from  all  hearts;  may 
they  avail  a little  to  comfort.’’ 

Mr.  Graeter  has  four  living  children,  two  sons  and 
two  daughters.  Luther  D.,  married,  resides  at  Areata, 
California;  Blanche,  wife  of  Charles  Falk,  makes  her 
home  at  Eureka,  California ; William  Arthur,  married, 
is  cashier  of  the  State  Bank  of  Dillon;  Sadie  resides 
with  her  father  and  manages  his  household  in  efficient 
fashion.  The  subject  enjoys  the  possession  of  more 
than  his  share  of  friends  and  his  loyalty  to  them  is  un- 
impeachable. 

Samuel  Cohen  was  born  in  New  York  City,  in  1837. 
Until  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he  attended  the  schools 
of  that  city,  when  his  parents,  believing  that  he  should 
prepare  himself  for  the  business  struggle,  apprenticed 
him  to  learn  the  jeweler’s  and  brush  maker's  trade.  For 
seven  years  thereafter  he  followed  this  line  of  work, 
but  never  found  it  much  to  his  liking.  In  1862  he  left 
New  York  for  Bannack,  Montana,  where  he  established 
the  first  clothing  and  men’s  furnishing  house  in  the  city, 
and  a few  years  later  he  opened  a branch  house  in 
Virginia  City. 

Mr.  Cohen  was  energetic  and  ambitious,  with  a keen 
sense  of  business,  and  from  the  beginning  his  venture 
proved  even  more  successful  than  he  had  dared  to  hope. 
He  knew  instinctively  what  his  patrons  of  the  west 
seemed  to  need  and  these  goods  he  furnished,  thus  sav- 
ing the  annoyance  and  delay  of  sending  to  the  east  for 
every  small  article  of  apparel.  Under  his  clever  man- 
agement his  business  so  increased  that  in  1872  he  was 
able  to  sell  out  his  western  interests  and  to  return  to 
New  York  with  an  income  amply  sufficient  for  his 
needs.  In  the  following  year  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Yetta  Poznanski.  She  was,  like  her  hus- 
band, a native  of  New  York  City  and  was  the  daughter 
of  Morris  Poznanski,  a merchant  of  that  city.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Cohen  were  married  on  the  22nd  of  January, 
1873,  when  Mrs.  Cohen  was  but  seventeen  years  of  age. 
For  several  years  they  lived  in  the  American  metropolis 
in  comparative  luxury,  Mr.  Cohen  being  engaged  in  no 
active  business,  but  devoting  himself  to  the  looking 
after  his  investments.  During  the  years  of  his  pros- 
perity in  the  west  he  had  purchased  with  his  earnings 
stocks  and  bonds  on  the  New  York  market,  but  a 
serious  financial  depression  caused  him  to  lose  heavily. 
About  this  time  the  great  findings  at  Leadville,  Colo- 
rado, and  the  subsequent  growth  of  that  town  was  the 
uppermost  topic  throughout  the  country,  and  Mr.  Cohen 
took  his  little  family  and  with  the  remnant  of  his  for- 
tunes started  at  once  for  Leadville,  to  retrieve,  if  pos- 


878 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


sible,  his  Wall  street  losses.  Arriving  in  Colorado,  he 
opened  a large  mercantile  establishment,  and  with  his 
former  success  accumulated  another  fortune,  which  he 
invested  in  real  estate.  Not  anticipating  the  sudden 
slump,  his  savings  again  took  wings  and  his  second 
fortune  was  sadly  depleted.  He  returned  once  more  to 
New  York  City,  there  engaging  in  the  retail  merchan- 
dise business,  in  which  he  was  fairly  successful,  but 
the  western  fever  seized  him  once  more,  and  with  his 
family  he  removed  to  Helena,  Montana,  where  for 
nearly  twenty  years  Mr.  Cohen  was  engaged  in  mer- 
cantile pursuits,  with  only  fair  success.  He  then  re- 
moved to  Seattle,  Washington,  where  He  spent  the  few 
remaining  years  of  his  life,  his  death  occurring  on  De- 
cember 8,  1908. 

Samuel  Cohen  was  an  orthodox  Jew  and  a member 
of  the  Synagogue,  as  were  all  his  family.  He  was  an 
enthusiastic  Mason,  and  a member  of  Ancient  Chapter, 
No.  I,  of  New  York  City.  Politically  he  remained  a 
Jeffersonian  Democrat  until  the  last. 

P'our  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cohen. 
Amy  M.  was  born  in  New  York  City,  on  August  12, 
1876;  she  is  now  the  wife  of  Joseph  Rosenthal,  and 
they  make  their  home  in  San  Francisco.  Another 
daughter,  Mabel,  was  born  in  Leadville,  and  lived  but 
two  years.  Lew  Allen  is  the  eldest  son ; Almont  M. 
was  born  in  Helena,  Montana,  on  the  30th  of  November, 
1890,  and  is  living  with  his  mother  in  Seattle,  Washing- 
ton. 

Lew  Allen  Cohen,  the  eldest  child  of  his  parents, 
was  born  during  his  father’s  earliest  prosperity.  He 
was  born  in  New  York,  on  January  ii,  1874,  and  during 
his  early  years  he  attended  the  schools  of  his  native 
city.  Then  came  the  ebb  of  his  father’s  fortunes  and 
he  was  obliged  to  continue  his  studies  in  Helena,  after 
the  removal  of  the  family  to  the  west.  At  the  age  of 
sixteen  he  felt  it  incumbent  upon  him  to  become  self 
supporting,  and  he  accepted  a position  as  bookkeeper 
with  the  firm  of  Sands  Brothers.  In  1893  he  was  made 
department  manager  for  the  same  concern,  then  the 
oldest  established  dry  goods  house  in  Montana.  For 
fourteen  years  Lew  Cohen  was  associated  with  this 
firm,  and  in  1907,  upon  the  reorganization  of  the  com- 
pany, he  became  president  of  the  corporation,  with  Mr. 
S.  J.  Holzman  as  secretary  and  treasurer.  This  house 
is  not  only  the  oldest,  but  by  far  the  largest  of  its 
kind  in  the  state,  employing  more  than  fifty  persons  in 
the  establishment,  and  it  is  evident  that  Mr.  Cohen  has 
inherited  much  of  his  father's  business  sagacity. 

During  the  holiday  season  of  1900,  he  won  for  his 
wife  Miss  Yetta  Feldberg,  the  daughter  of  Jacob  Feld- 
berg,  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  the  west.  They 
have  no  children. 

Mr.  Cohen  is  a member  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity, 
King  Solomon  Lodge,  No.  9,  of  Helena,  Montana, 
Helena  Lodge  of  Perfection,  No.  4,  Helena  Consistory, 
No.  3,  Flelena  Council  of  Kadosh,  No.  3,  a'nd  the  Chap- 
ter of  Rose  Croix,  No.  3.  He  is  also  a member  of  the 
Woodmen  of  the  World.  He  is  a diligent  worker  in  the 
Retail  Merchant’s  Association  and  the  Commercial  Club, 
and  he  is  known  for  one  of  the  enterpri.sing  and  pro- 
gressive business  men  of  the  state,  who  has  the  best 
interests  of  his  city  and  community  at  heart. 

George  W.  IMorse.  A grand  old  pioneer  in  ^Montana 
and  one  who  early  served  this  commonwealth  by  dis- 
covering a number  of  unexplored  points,  such  as  Indian 
creek  (now  Radersburgh ) , Bilk  Gulch  and  Weasel 
creek,  is  Colonel  George  W.  Morse,  who  was  long  en- 
gaged in  the  cattle  and  ranching  business  in  the  vicinity 
of  Drummond  but  who  is  now  living  virtually  retired 
in  this  place.  He  is  intrinsically  loyal  and  public- 
spirited  in  connection  with  all  that  affects  the  good  of 
Montana  and  of  his  home  community.  He  enjoys  the 
distinction  of  having  been  first  presidential  elector  from 


this  state  and  he  has  attended  every  Republican  state 
convention  since  his  advent  in  Montana. 

Colonel  George  W.  Morse  was  born  at  Whitefield, 
iMaine,  December  2,  1838,  and  he  is  a son  of  Daniel 
and  Mary  A.  (Norris)  Morse,  the  former  of  whom  was 
born  in  England,  whence  he  came  to  America  as  a young 
man,  and  the  latter  of  whom  was  a native  of  White- 
field,  Maine.  The  father  was  a sea-captain,  but  made 
his  home  in  the  state  of  Maine,  where  was  solemnized 
his  marriage  and  where  all  his  children  were  born. 
Mr.  Morse  passed  to  the  life  eternal  in  1866,  aged  sev- 
enty-six years,  and  she  died  in  1880,  at  the  age  of 
seventy  years.  Both  are  buried  in  Maine.  The  Colonel 
was  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth  of  the  six  children  born 
to  his  parents  and  of  that  number  three  are  living  at 
the  present  time  in  1912. 

The  early  education  of  Colonel  Morse  was  obtained 
in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  state.  He  earned 
his  first  money  as  a boy  of  eight  years  by  dropping 
potatoes  in  the  planting  season.  His  salary  was  five 
cents  for  a day’s  work ; he  was  paid  in  pennies  and  as 
one  of  them  was  bad  he  really  only  netted  four  cents 
for  his  first  day’s  work.  As  a youth  he  worked  in  a 
lumber  mill  for  a salary  of  thirteen  dollars  per  month 
and  out  of  this  meager  pay  he  managed  to  save  enough 
to  start  for  the  west.  He  paid  his  fare  as  far  as  the 
Mississippi  river  and  from  that  place  worked  his  way 
on  a boat  to  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  where  he  resided  and 
worked  in  a sawmill  for  the  next  four  years,  during 
which  time  he  helped  put  in  the  first  dam  ever  built 
across  the  Mississippi  river.  In  1856  he  went  to  Lou- 
isiana and  there  was  employed  for  one  year  in  the  tim- 
ber department  of  a railroad  company.  He  later  re- 
turned to  Minnesota  and  thence  went  to  Pikes  Peak, 
where  he  remained  until  1862,  when  he  came  to  Mon- 
tana. He  has  since  been  a resident  of  this  state  except 
for  a short  time  spent  in  Idaho,  where  he  followed 
prospecting  and  mining.  Returning  to  Helena  in  1865, 
he  prospected  for  about  one  year  in  the  vicinity  of  that 
place  and  then  joined  the  crowd  as  a prospector  in  the 
famous  Sun  River  stampede.  It  was  at  this  time,  while 
out  on  one  of  his  prospecting  trips,  that  he  discovered 
Indian  creek.  Subsequently  he  went  to  Reynolds  City 
and  there  followed  mining  for  some  six  years,  during 
which  time  he  made  two  other  valuable  discoveries  that 
are  to  this  day  placed  to  his  credit,  namely.  Bilk  Gulch 
and  Weasel  creek.  From  this  district  he  went  to  New 
Chicago,  two  miles  from  Drummond,  and  there  pur- 
chased a ranch,  engaging  in  farming  and  mining  for  a 
number  of  years.  He  recently  disposed  of  part  of  his 
ranching  interests  and  came  to  Drummond,  where  he 
engaged  actively  in  the  cattle  business,  buying  and 
shipping  stock  to  various  of  the  largest  markets.  Since 
1910,  however,  he  has  lived  virtually  retired,  content- 
ing himself  with  giving  a general  supervision  to  his 
numerous  interests  in  this  section  of  the  state.  He  is 
possessed  of  remarkable  ability  as  a business  man  and 
although  he  has  now  reached  the  venerable  age  of 
seventy-four  years,  is  still  as  active  and  energetic  as 
many  a man  of  half  his  years. 

Colonel  Morse  received  his  title  of  “Colonel”  while 
in  Alinnesota  during  the  time  of  the  Spinet  Lake  mas- 
sacre by  the  Sioux  Indians.  Governor  Ramsey  called 
for  volunteers  to  subdue  the  Indian  insurrections  and 
eighty  young  men  responded  to  the  call.  They  orga- 
nized a company,  and  although  these  young  volunteers 
did  not  see  any  active  fighting,  as  the  Indians  had  in 
the  meantime  disappeared,  before  disbanding  they 
elected  Mr.  Morse  colonel,  and  the  title  has  stuck  to 
him  during  the  long  intervening  years  to  the  present 
time. 

In  politics  Colonel  Morse  is  a stalwart  Republican 
and  he  has  served  as  county  commissioner  for  a period 
of  three  terms.  He  is  an  ardent  party  fighter  and  was 
the  first  presidential  elector  from  the  state  of  Montana. 
He  cast  the  state’s  vote  for  President.  He  attends  all 


.‘n  H'S 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


879 


the  Republican  state  conventions  and  is  an  active  worker 
in  behalf  of  party  interests.  Colonel  Morse  attended 
the  organization  of  the  Republican  party  in  1856  in  the 
territory  of  Alinnesota,  and  has  ever  since,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  1896,  supported  the  Republican  party  on  na- 
tional issues.  In  1912  he  became  allied  with  the  Na- 
tional Progressive  party,  and  served  as  a delegate  to 
the  convention  in  Chicago  when  the  party  was  orga- 
nized and  nominated  Colonel  Roosevelt  for  the  presi- 
dency. He  is  a Knight  Templar  Mason,  being  a mem- 
ber of  the  Ruby  Lodge,  No.  36,  at  Drummond,  but  , for 
many  years  had  been  a member  of  the  blue  lodge  at 
Deer  Lodge,  and  a noble  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  affiliat- 
ing with  Algeria  Temple  at  Helena.  He  is  also  affili- 
ated with  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks 
and  is  a member  of  the  Society  of  Montana  Pioneers, 
of  which  he  has  served  as  vice-president  several  terms. 
For  several  years  he  was  a member  of  the  school  board 
at  New  Chicago,  and  while  he  is  not  formally  con- 
nected with  aiij^  religious  organization  he  contributes 
liberally  to  the  support  of  all  the  churches  at  Drum- 
mond, insisting  that  they  are  all  good.  Colonel  iMorse 
was  an  intimate  friend  of  the  late  Colonel  Sanders  and 
was  in  service  under  him  in  many  campaigns.  He  is 
interested  in  horse  races  and  loves  to  see  a good  boxing 
*jnatch.  He  devotes  a great  deal  of  his  spare  time  to 
reading,  being  particularly  well  informed  on  the  politi- 
cal situations  of  the  day. 

In  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  in  1877.  Colonel  Morse  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  iMattie  J.  Milliken,  a daugh- 
ter of  Edward  and  Serfrances  IMilliken,  formerl3^  of 
Maine.  Colonel  and  IMrs.  Morse  are  the  parents  of  two 
children,  both  boys : George  A.  is  married  and  is  en- 

gaged in  the  real-estate  business  at  Drummond  and 
Aviral  P.  is  likewise  married  and  lives  in  this  place, 
where  he  is  most  successfully  engaged  in  the  general 
merchandise  business. 

Colonel  Morse  holds  distinctive  prestige  as  one  of 
the  good,  grand  and  honorable  pioneers  who  have  made 
Montana  one  of  the  finest  states  in  the  Union.  His 
entire  life  has  been  characterized  by  upright,  honorable 
principles,  and  it  also  exemplifies  the  truth  of  the  Emer- 
sonian philosophy  that  “The  way  to  win  a friend  is  to 
be  one.”  He  is  a man  of  great  philanthropy",  but  there 
is  a modesty  and  lack  of  all  ostentation  in  his  work  as 
a benefactor.  In  this  day,  when  disinterested  citizen- 
ship is  all  too  rare  a jewel,  it  is  helpful  to  reflect  upon 
a course  of  high-minded  patriotism  such  as  that  of 
Colonel  Morse.  His  genial  kindly  manner  have  won 
him  the  high  regard  of  all  with  whom  he  has  come  in 
contact  and  he  is  sincerely  beloved  by  all  his  fellow 
citizens  at  Drummond. 

Sanford  Ruffner.  For  more  than  half  a century 
a resident  of  Gallatin  county",  jMontana,  during  which 
time  he  has  been  a w'itness  of  the  growth  of  this  sec- 
tion of  the  country  from  the  home  of  the  red  man  and 
the  haunt  of  wild  animals  to  a center  of  commercial, 
industrial  and  agricultural  activity,  Sanford  Ruffner, 
now  retired  and  living  in  his  home  at  305  Bozeman 
avenue,  South,  is  highly  deserving  of  a prominent 
place  among  those  w"ho  have  assisted  in  making  Mon- 
tana’s history".  During  his  long  and  useful  residence 
here,  Mr.  Ruffner  w"as  engaged  in  various  occupations, 
and  while  succeeding  in  a financial  way,  he  also  gained 
prominence  in  public  and  social  circles,  identifying 
himself  with  all  movements  w"hich  his  judgment  gave 
him  to  believe  were  for  the  benefit  of  his  community. 
He  was  born  in  Jessamine  county,  Kentucky,  February 
8.  1834,  and  is  a son  of  Samuel  Ruffner,  a native  of 
Pennsylvania,  w"ho  fought  in  the  War  of  1812,  after- 
wards removed  to  Kentucky,  and  in  1849  w"ent  to  Mis- 
souri, where  he  w'as  living  at  the  time  of  his  demise 
in  1869.  There  were  nine  children  in  the  family,  and 
l\Ir.  Ruffner  has  two  brothers  and  a sister  now  living: 
James,  born  in  1820,  a resident  of  San  Francisco,  Cali- 


fornia: John  L.,  living  in  Homer,  Louisiana  and  Eliza- 
beth, the  widow  of  J.  Noland,  living  in  Athens,  Illinois. 

Sanford  Ruffner  began  his  educational  training  in 
private  schools  in  Kentucky,  and  completed  it  in  Mis- 
souri, after  which  he  served  a full  apprenticeship  of 
three  years  to  the  carpenter's  trade.  He  worked  at 
that  vocation  in  Independence,  "Missouri,  until  i860,  in 
the  spring  of  which  year  he  started  for  Colorado  w"ith 
an  ox-team,  stopping  the  first  season  in  California 
Gulch,  the  present  site  of  Leadville,  and  going  to 
Denver  in  1861.  He  remained  in  that  city  until  the 
fall  of  the  same  year,  when  he  returned  to  iMissouri, 
but  again  in  the  next  spring  turned  his  face  toward  the 
w'est,  his  destination  being  Carson  City,  Nevada.  During 
this  trip,  which  w"as  made  by"  ox-team,  Mr.  Ruffner 
experienced  all  the  hardships,  privations  and  dangers 
encountered  by  the  sturdy"  pioneers.'  The  wagon  train 
which  he  had  joined  w"as  a large  one,  having  at  least 
one  hundred  wagons,  and  the  numerous  men  w'ere  kept 
under  strict  military  order  by  the  leader.  Captain 
Anderson.  Net  long  after  their  start  they  were  warned 
of  the  perils  that  awaited  them  by  the  sight  of  smoking 
ruins,  slain  stock  and  massacred  emigrants,  and  these 
.grisly  evidences  of  the  activity  of  the  hostile  Indians 
caused  the  party"  to  exercise  the  utmost  vigilance,  in 
spite  of  which  one  white  man  lost  his  life  and  many 
of  the  emigrant  band  were  wounded  in  the  almost 
nightly  skirmishes  with  the  savages.  When  they  reached 
the  Platte  river,  the  little  party  voted  to  come  to  iMon- 
tana  instead  of  Nevada,  and  took  a route  via  the  Landis 
cut-off,  intending  to  locate  on  Salmon  river,  but,  re- 
ceiving unfavorable  reports  of  that  locality,  changed 
their  course  to  Deer  Lodge,  where  they  arrived  in 
September,  1S62,  and  where  Mr.  Ruffner  remained 
for  one  month.  He  then  wintered  in  Bannack  and 
worked  at  mining,  and  at  his  trade,  until  the  fall  of 
1863.  A short  time  prior  to  leaving  this  locality,  Mr. 
Ruffner  had  done  quite  a large  business  in  making 
coffins  to  bury  the  men  that  had  died  and  were  hung, 
and  also  built  a scaffold  for  Sheriff  Plummer  to  hang 
a man  on,  the  sheriff  subsequently  meeting  his  own 
death  on  the  same  platform  not  long  thereafter.  During 
his  mining  days  in  the  lawless  camp,  Mr.  Ruffner  was 
acquainted  with  many  of  the  notorious  gentry-  of  the 
time,  among  them  George  Ives,  Buck  Stinson  and 
others.  During  the  fall  of  1863  he  outfitted  and  went 
to  Salt  Lake  City  for  provisions,  and  so  successful 
was  -he  in  this  line  that  he  made  several  trips,  on  the 
second  of  which,  while  on  his  return  journey,  he  en- 
countered Judge  Smith,  who  was  making  his  way  out, 
having  been  banished  from  the  country-.  The  lawless 
element,  during  the  years  of  1863,  1864  and  1865,  was 
greatly"  in  evidence,  and  Mr.  Ruffner  can  recall  numer- 
ous thrilling  episodes  that  marked  the  times.  He 

states  that  it  was  no  unusual  thing  to  be  awakened  by- 
shooting  during  the  night,  and  the  first  question  in 
the  morning  would  invariably  be : “Who  have  you  for 
breakfast?”  ^Ir.  Ruffner  turned  his  attention  to 
ranching  in  the  fall  of  1864,  locating  on  a property- 
on  Bozeman  creek,  about  two  and  one  half  miles  from 
Bozeman,  and  continued  thereon  until  igo6,  in  the  fall 
of  which  year  he  and  his  wife  and  daughters,  Stella 
and  Leila,  went  to  Spokane,  Washington,  to  spend  the 
winter  with  their  daughter,  Mrs.  Harry-  K.  Brown. 
After  remaining  there  during  the  winter,  they-  all  went 
to  Long  Beach,  Washington,  and  in  the  fall  of  1907 
returned  to  Bozeman  and  lived  in  their  comfortable 
home  at  No.  318  Tracy  avenue.  In  1911  they  moved 
to  their  new  home  at  305  Bozeman  avenue.  South,  and 
on  December  16,  1912,  went  to  California  to  spend  the 
winter. 

On  October  28,  1869,  Mr.  Ruffner  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Sara  J.  Switzler,  of  Salt  Lake  City-, 
daughter  of  James  L.  Switzler,  a native  of  Virginia. 
Seven  children  have  been  born  to  this  union,  namely : 
011a  M..  the  wife  of  Harry  K.  Brown,  now  residing 


880 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


at  Berkeley,  California;  Charles  S.,  county  treasurer  of 
Callatin  county,  who  married  Grace  Pound  and  has 
one  daughter ; Lester,  who  married  Beatrice  Schmall- 
houscn ; Stella  A.,  who  was  married  December  i6, 
1912,  to  Raymond  Baker,  a partner  in  the  Crown  Scenic 
Studio,  Bozeman ; Leila,  who  makes  her  home  with 
her  parents;  a child  who  died  in  infancy;  and  Fred- 
erick Eugene,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eight  years. 

During  the  years  of  his  activity  as  a rancher,  Mr. 
Ruffner  displayed  marked  ability  and  business  acumen, 
and  his  property  of  six  hundred  acres,  in  the  Gallatin 
valley,  was  a model  of  neatness  and  prosperity.  In 
addition  to  large  crops  of  wheat,  oats,  barley  and  hay, 
he  was  successful  in  raising  valuable  cattle  and  sheep, ^ 
his  buildings  were  of  the  most  modern  and  substantial 
construction,  and  he  was  looked  upon  as  one  of  the 
leading  ranchmen  of  his  district.  A friend  of  educa- 
tion, morality  and  good  citizenship,  he  allied  himself 
with  every  movement  for  the  public  welfare,  and 
served  for  a number  of  years  as  a member  of  the 
school  board.  He  ever  took  a keen  interest  in  both  the 
Association  of  Pioneers  of  Montana  and  the  Pioneer 
Society  of  Gallatin  County,  and  is  still  highly  valued 
in  both,  having  served  as  president  of  the  former  in 
1898,  and  of  the  latter  in  1910. 

Samuel  T.  Hauser.  Among  the  earliest  pioneers 
in  the  van  of  advancing  civilization  in  the  northwest 
was  Hon.  Samuel  T.  Hauser,  ex-governor  of  the  ter- 
ritory of  Montana,  one  of  the  forceful  and  energetic 
factors  that  brought  fruition  to  the  hopes  of  the  most 
sanguine  optimists  concerning  the  welfare  of  this 
young  commonwealth.  To  outline  his  career  during  the 
territorial  and  state  epochs  is  to  sketch  much  of  the 
history  of  the  country  which  he  has  seen  emerge  from 
the  ruggedness  of  a wilderness  to  become  the  home 
communities  of  cultured,  refined  and  progressive  citi- 
zens, and  when,  in  1885,  President  Cleveland  named 
him  governor  of  the  territory,  the  appointment  called 
forth  from  the  people  of  Montana  uniform  approval 
and  endorsement. 

Samuel  T.  Hauser  was  born  in  Falmouth,  Pendle- 
ton county,  Kentucky,  on  January  10,  1833.  His  early 
education,  the  foundation  of  wider  scholastic  attain- 
ments, was  received  in  the  public  schools,  and  in  1854, 
when  he  was  twenty-one  years  old,  he  removed  to 
Missouri,  where  as  a civil  engineer  he  was  employed 
by  different  railroad  companies.  Later  he  served  as 
assistant  engineer  in  building  the  Missouri  Pacific  and 
Northern  Pacific  Railroads,  and  was  chief  engineer 
on  the  Lexington  branch  of  the  former,  the  division 
extending  from  Lexington  to  Sedalia,  Missouri,  and 
he  held  this  important  office  until  1862.  In  the  earlier 
half  of  that  year  he  came  up  the  Missouri  to  Fort 
Benton,  and  in  June  crossed  the  country  to  the  head- 
waters of  the  Columbia  river,  where  he  prospected  for 
gold  for  a time.  The  same  year  he  came  to  Bannack, 
tlien  just  opening  its  treasures  to  the  industrious 
nlacer  miner,  and  in  the  autumn  he  trailed  down  the 
Yellowstone  over  the  Lewis  and  Clarke  course.  The 
history  of  this,  the  “Yellowstone  expedition  of  1863,” 
the  story  of  its  hardships,  its  perils  and  its  romance, 
is  one  of  the  most  thrilling  in  the  annals  that  chronicle 
the  “winning  of  the  west,”  and  among  that  adventurous 
band  of  sturdy  pioneers,  opening  to  advancing  thou- 
sands a new  world,  teeming  with  mineral  wealth  and 
affording  perennial  and  luxurious  pasturage  for  mil- 
lions of  cattle  and  sheep,  none  was  more  indefatig- 
able. none  braver  and  none  more  sagacious  and  re- 
sourceful than  Governor  Hauser.  The  history  of  this 
civil-rnilitary  enterprise  is  preserved  in  the  journal  of 
Captain  James  Stuart  and  in  the  ably  collated  reminis- 
cences of  Governor  Hauser.  There  were  Mteen  men 
in  the  party.  On  the  night  of  May  12.  1863.  the  party 
was  attacked  by  Indians,  and  a number  of  the  men 
were  seriously  wounded.  Mr.  Hauser  received  a 


wound  in  the  left  breast,  the  ball  passing  through  a 
memorandum  book  in  his  shirt  pocket  and  lodging  in 
a rib  over  his  heart,  the  presence  of  the  book  saving 
his  life.  His  intrepid  bravery  was  shown  on  more 
than  one  instance  during  this  trip,  and  of  the  expe- 
dition a local  history  has  said  that  it  “must  certainly 
be  credited  with  discovery  of  the  Virginia  mines  and 
the  opening  of  the  Yellowstone  country.  Through  it 
came  the  information  and  most  of  the  enterprise  which 
placed  Montana  a leader  among  the  territories  within 
a short  time  after  the  first  American  settlements  were 
made.”  This  was  but  one  of  the  many  distinguished 
services  which  Mr.  Flauser  has  rendered  Montana. 

It  was  at  once  seen  that  a new  leader  of  men  had 
come  to  the  territory  and  his  abilities  were  speedily 
recognized.  In  1865,  in  company  with  M.  P.  Lang- 
ford, Mr.  Flauser  organized  a bank  at  Virginia  City, 
under  the  firm  name  of  S.  T.  Hauser  & Company. 
But  here  his  enterprise  did  not  linger.  Those  were 
days  of  action,  industry  and  push.  Soon  afterward  he 
organized  a mining  company,  and  at  Argenta  he  built 
the  first  furnace  erected  in  the  territory.  He  con- 
tinued the  work  of  injecting  life,  strong  commercial 
life,  into  various  communities.  He  organized  in  1866 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Helena,  the  St.  Louis 
Mining  Company  at  Phillipsburg,  later  the  Hope  Min- 
ing Company,  and  here  was  erected  the  first  silver  mill 
of  the  territory.  Other  financial  institutions  which 
sprang  into  being  through  his  action  were  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Butte,  the  First  National  of  Fort 
Benton  and  the  First  National  of  Missoula.  Governor 
Hauser  then  associated  himself  with  other  enterpris- 
ing capitalists  and  built  these  railroads : Helena  & 
Boulder  Valley,  Flelena  & Jefferson  County,  Drummon 
& Phillipsburg,  Helena  & Red  Mountain,  Helena  North- 
ern, and  Missoula  & Bitter  Root  Valley.  Fie  also  or- 
ganized the  Helena  & Livingston  Smelting  & Reduc- 
tion Company.  Governor  Hauser  is  a Democrat,  and 
in  the  councils  of  Democracy  his  influence  has  been 
one  of  potency,  while  he  has  been  an  earnest  and  able 
exponent  of  and  worker  in  the  heat  of  numerous 
campaigns.  In  1884  he  was  a delegate  to  the  Dem- 
ocratic national  convention,  in  which  he  was  one  of 
the  committee  to  notify  the  nominees,  Cleveland  and 
Flendricks,  of  their  nomination.  In  July,  1885,  Presi- 
dent Cleveland  named  him  as  governor  of  the  terri- 
tory of  Montana,  and  he  was  its  first  resident  gover- 
nor. After  a service  of  eighteen  months  he  resigned 
the  gubernatorial  office,  his  administration  being  one 
of  signal  discrimination  and  ability,  one  which  con- 
served the  best  interests  of  the  territory.  In  his  fra- 
ternal relations  Mr.  Hauser  is  identified  with  the  time- 
honored  order  of  Freemasons.  In  1871  Governor 
Hauser  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Ellen  Far- 
rar, a daughter  of  a distinguished  physician  of  St. 
Louis,  Missouri,  and  of  this  union  two  children  have 
been  born,  Ellen  and  Samuel  Thomas,  Jr.  The  fine 
presence  of  Governor  ^Hauser  and  his  manly  char- 
acter have  endeared  him  to  all  with  whom  »he  has 
met  in  business  or  social  relations. 

Governor  Hauser’s  long  connection  with  civil  en- 
gineering led  him  into  scenes  that  were  often  thrilling 
and  sometimes  involved  personal  peril.  We  will  give 
one  heretofore  unpublished  episode  in  his  career  that  is 
replete  with  realism.  It  occurred  a few  months  sub- 
sequent to  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war,  and 
the  scene  was  in  Missouri,  where  the  Governor  was 
assisting  in  the  construction  of  a railroad  in  some  of 
the  “back  counties.”  He  learned  that  a man  was  to 
be  tried  for  his  life  by  a justice  of  the  peace.  To 
Mr.  Hauser  this  proceeding  appeared  strange  and  un- 
warranted, and  with  a friend  who  was  a resident  of  the 
locality,  he  went  to  the  “court,”  where  they  found  a 
young  man  of  not  unprepossessing  appearance  charged 
with  placing  poison  in  a spring.  There  was  no  evidence 
whatever  to  indicate  that  poison  had  ever  been  put 


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HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


881 


into  the  spring,  but  the  court  had  evidently  been  con- 
vened to  convict  the  prisoner,  and  this  was  done 
quickly.  The  condemned  man  was  led  to  a neighbor- 
ing grove,  a rope  was  thrown  over  a limb  of  a tree 
and  he  was  asked  if  he  had  anything  to  say.  ^ He  re- 
plied that  he  was  innocent  of  the  alleged  crime,  and 
requested  that  his  mother  might  be  informed  of  what 
he  had  said  as  he  thus  stood  in  the  shadow  of  death. 
The  pathetic  incident  and  the  wrong  of  it  aroused  the 
indignation  of  Mr.  Hauser  and  he  loudly  protested 
that  the  proceedings  were  unlawful  and  that  no  justice 
court  in  the  Union  held  jurisdiction  over  human  life. 
Instantly  a hundred  malignant  faces  were  turned  toward 
the  intruder  on  Missouri  “justice,”  and  he  was  vigor- 
ously cursed  as  a Yankee.  His  friend  tried  to  explain 
that  Mr.  Hauser  was  a Kentuckian,  but  the  mob  was 
obdurate.  At  that  instant  his  friend,  a powerful 
athlete,  suddenly  pulled  him  from  his  horse  in  time 
to  avoid  his  being  shot  by  one  of  the  guards,  and  then 
threw  him  upon  his  horse  and  started  homeward  at 
a gallop.  The  daring  efforts  of  Mr.  Hauser  were 
made  in  vain,  and,  as  subsequently  ascertained,  an 
innocent  man  was  lynched.  Mr.  Hauser  wrote  to 
Senator  Vest,  who  was  then  publishing  a paper  at 
Boonville,  Missouri,  and  in  which  he  printed  the  let- 
ter. It  in  time  found  its  way  to  that  section,  and  as 
a result  the  Governor  was  warned  to  leave  the  country, 
but  he  remained  and  completed  his  work.  This  was 
but  one  incident  of  the  many  exciting  and  tragical 
scenes  through  which  he  passed  in  the  old  times,  and 
it  illustrates  both  his  kindly  qualities  of  mind  and 
heart,  and  his  courage.  In  conclusion  we  will  briefly 
advert  to  his  genealogy.  His  father,  also  Samuel  T. 
Hauser,  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  and  was  gradu- 
ated from  the  university  of  that  state  in  1817,  with 
the  degree  of  A.  B.  A lawyer  of  eminence,  he  served 
with  distinction  on  the  bench  of  Kentucky,  his  later 
home,  and  where  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Mary  A.  Kenneth,  of  that  state.  They  had  four  sons 
and  three  daughters.  The  paternal  grandfather  of 
Governor  Hauser  was  George  Hauser,  born  in  Ger- 
many, whence  he  immigrated  to  the  United  States 
prior  to  the  Revolution,  in  which  he  served  in  the  North 
Carolina  troops,  in  which  state  he  died. 

Phillip  Lovell.  The  death,  in  June,  1907,  of  Phillip 
Lovell,  of  Dillon,  Montana,  removed  another  of  the  old 
pioneer  ranchers  from  the  ranks.  Mr.  Lovell  had  been 
a rancher  in  Beaverhead  county  for  many  years  and, 
although  he  had  retired  from  active  business  at  the 
tirne  of  his  death,  he  was  always  deeply  interested  in 
this  phase  of  Montana  life.  He  was  a large  land  holder 
and  an  influential  and  prominent  citizen,  at  various 
times  holding  important  offices  of  public  trust. 

Mr.  Lovell  was  a native  of  England,  having  been  born 
there  on  the  12th  of  April,  1840,  the  eldest  of  five 
children  of  Jonathan  and  Ann  Abbey  Lovell.  It  was 
in  1862  that  he  came  to  Montana  and  settled  in  Beaver- 
head county.  He  located  in  Bannack,  and  first  became 
engaged  in  the  butchering  business,  in  which  he  con- 
tinued for  a number  of  years.  In  1872  he  gave  up  this 
work  to  go  into  the  ranching  business,  his  ranch  being 
located  nine  miles  south  of  Dillon.  While  carrying  on 
an  active  stock  business  he  was  also  engaged  in  general 
farming.  _ In  1902  he  removed  to  Dillon  and  retired 
from  active  business,  living  quietly  in  the  citv  until  his 
death. 

Politically  Mr.  Lovell  believed  in  the  principles  of  the 
Democratic  party,  though  he  always  believed  in  voting 
for  the  man  who  was  best  fitted  in  his  eyes  for  the 
office,  regardless  of  party.  In  1880  he  was  elected  on 
the  Democratic  ticket  as  county  commissioner  of 
Beaverhead  county,  his  term  extending  over  a period 
of  six  years.  In  1893  he_  served  as  a World’s  Fair  com- 
missioner to  the  Columbian  Exposition  in  Chicago.  He 
was  a member  of  the  Pioneer  Society  and  in  the  fra- 


ternal world  was  a leading  member  of  the  Masonic 
order  and  belonged  to  the  St.  Elmo  Commandery, 
Knights  Templar.  Upon  his  death  he  left  a large  estate, 
his  landed  property  consisting  of  some  three  thousand 
acres.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  communicants  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  church. 

Mr.  Lovell  was  married  on  July  19,  1875,  to  Mrs. 
Ellen  Thompson,  a daughter  of  John  and  Susan 
(Showers)  McGowen.  Her  father  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania and  her  mother  in  New  Jersey,  but  they  both 
passed  away  in  Fulton  county,  Ohio,  where  her  father 
was  a farmer.  Mrs.  Lovell  was  born  in  Morrow  county, 
Ohio,  though  she  was  reared  in  Fulton  county,  in  the 
same  state.  By  her  first  marriage  she  had  one  son, 
Frank  Thompson,  who  is  now  fifty  years  of  age. 

Simon  Pepin.  A pioneer  of  Montana,  Simon  Pepin 
was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  city  of  Havre  and  one 
of  the  most  substantial  pillars  of  its  subsequent  pros- 
perity, and  for  many  years  has  controlled  and  directed 
some  of  the  largest  productive  resources  in  the  north- 
ern portion  of  the  state.  A history  of  Montana  during 
the  last  thirty  years  would  not  be  complete  without 
reference  to  him,  one  of  its  most  substantial  char- 
acters. 

Simon  Pepin,  of  French  stock  on  both  sides,  was 
born  at  St.  Michael,  Canada,  December  20,  1840.  His 
father,  Samuel,  was  born  in  the  same  locality,  as  was 
also  his  mother,  Mary  (Peprino)  Pepin,  who  died 
when  her  son  Simon  was  four  years  old.  The  par- 
ents were  substantial  but  unassuming  farming  people. 

In  his  native  town  Simon  was  reared  and  educated 
up  to  his  sixteenth  year,  at  which  time  he  left  home 
and  began  his  practical  career.  Without  capital  and 
without  influence  to  place  him  on  the  road  to  fortune,' 
he  found  the  way  by  his  o\yn  ability  and  determina- 
tion, and,  through  all  the  chances  of  a rugged  career, 
has  steadily  advanced  to  prosperity  and  influence. 
From  1856  to  1863  he  was  employed  in  a brick  yard 
at  Saco,  Maine.  In  the  spring  of  1863  he  joined  the 
tide  of  emigration  to  the  west,  and  from  Omaha  made 
the  trip  overland,  with  an  ox  team,  traveling  in  this 
way  around  by  Salt  Lake  City  to  Virginia  City,  Mon- 
tana, where  he  arrived  the  following  November. 

In  the  spring  of  1864  he  entered  the  service  of  the 
noted  Diamond  R.  Freighting  Company,  and  was  con- 
nected with  that  famous  transportation  business  until 
the  company  was  dissolved  in  1890.  In  the  meantime, 
in_  1875,  he  had  begun  on  a small  scale  as  a cattle 
raiser,  this  being  at  first  a side  issue  to  his  regular 
work,  but  by  yearly  increases  and  extensions  he  be- 
came eventually  one  of  the  largest  cattle  raisers  of 
the  state,  and  to  the  majority  of  old  residents  his  name 
is  probably  associated  most  familiarly  with  this  great 
industry.  His  experience  as  a freighter  was  full  of 
incident  and  adventure.  For  fifteen  years  he  made 
regular  trips  to  the  various  towns  and  trading  posts 
throughout  the  vast  territory  covered  by  the  opera- 
tions of  the  Diamond  R.  company,  from  Salt  Lake 
City  on  the  south  to  Fort  Benton  on  the  north.  Dur- 
ing all  that  time  the  life  of  the  freighter  was  a daily 
round  of  hardsliip  and  hazard.  From  1879  to  1890 
he  had  charge  of  the  company’s  transportation  con- 
tracts with  the  government  at  Fort  Assiniboine.  Since 
1882  his  cattle  and  land  interests  have  been  located 
principally  in  Chouteau  and  Teton  counties.  His 
home  ranch  is  two  miles  from  Havre  on  the  north  side 
of  Milk  river,  and  in  recent  years  under  his  manage- 
ment has  become  one  of  the  model  farms  in  this  vicin- 
ity. 

When  he  first  made  his  headquarters  in  this  locality, 
Havre  was  not  yet  a townsite  and  onlv  a few  cabins 
were  scattered  about  in  the  neighborhood.  He  and 
his  partner,  E.  T.  Broadwater,  whose  part  in  the  affair 
is  described  on  other  pages,  were  the  prime  movers  in 
founding  the  town  and  getting  this  place  as  a division 


882 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


point  on  the  railroad,  the  success  of  their  efforts  being 
chiclly  responsible  for  the  subsequent  upbuilding  of  this 
connnercial  center.  Mr.  Pepin  is  president  and  senior 
partner  of  the  Broadwater-Pepin  Company,  which  owns 
many  business  blocks,  miscellaneous  buildings  in  Plavre 
and  lands  in  the  surrounding  district.  He  is  also  one 
of  the  principal  stockholders  in  the  Security  State 
Bank  of  Havre,  and  has  interested  himself  in  prac- 
tically all  of  the  important  enterprises  which  have  con- 
tributed to  the  commercial  progress  of  the  city.  Mr. 
Pepin  has  never  married.  Pie  is  one  of  the  best  known 
among  the  pioneers  of  Montana,  has  enjoyed  a large 
share  of  the  prosperity  of  the  Treasure  state,  and  as 
a public-spirited  citizen  has  returned  much  for  the 
permanent  upbuilding  and  welfare  of  his  portion  of 
this  commonwealth. 

1I.\RRY  jMarshai.l  Ramsey.  Prominent  among  the 
business  men  of  Billings  who  are  making  this  city  one  of 
the  large  commercial  centers  of  this  part  of  the  west 
is  Harry  IMarshall  Ramsey,  who  has  met  with  e.\cep- 
tional  success  as  a dealer  in  fine  horses.  Mr.  Ramsey 
is  essentially  a product  of  the  west,  having  been  born  at 
a mining  camp  near  South  Pass,  Wyoming,  November 
17,  1872,  and  is  a son  of  John  Marshall  and  Roselia  A. 
(McDonald)  Ramsey. 

John  Marshall  Ramsey  was  born  in  Loveland,  Cler- 
mont county,  Ohio,  June  7,  1842,  and  received  his  edu- 
cation at  his  native  place,  after  which  he  learned  the 
trade  of  carpenter  and  wheelwright.  When  he  was  only 
nineteen  years  of  age  he  entered  the  Union  service  dur- 
ing the  Civil  war,  serving  as  a messenger  under  General 
Co.x  in  Rosecran's  division.  When  he  had  completed  his 
army  service  he  went  to  California,  via  the  isthmus  of 
Panama,  but  after  spending  a short  time  in  prospecting 
for  gold,  traveled  overland  through  Idaho  and  entered 
Montana  during  the  sixties.  Settling  first  at  Last 
Chance  Gulch,  he  subsequently  moved  on  to  Virginia 
City,  and  later  was  engaged  in  gold  mining  and  trading 
with  the  Indians  on  the  present  site  of  the  city  of 
Helena,  after  which  he  went  to  Fort  Benton.  There 
he  assisted  in  building  boats  covered  with  rawhide, 
which  was  effectual  in  causing  the  bullets  from  the  In- 
dians’ guns  to  deflect,  and  in  1868  went  down  the 
Missouri  river  with  a partv  to  Omaha.  In  1869  or  1870, 
Mr.  Ramsey  went  with  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad  to 
Cheyenne,  where  he  assisted  in  building  the  first  house 
in  -that  city,  and  then  entered  the  service  of  the  United 
States  government  for  a time,  being  engaged  in  work- 
ing at  his  trade.  At  Fort  Stambeau,  Wyoming,  he  par- 
ticipated in  a number  of  raids  with  the  troops  against 
the  Indians,  and  later,  with  his  wife  and  children,  ac- 
companied the  troops  to  Fort  Custer,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  the  cattle  business  until  1882,  having 
brought  the  animals  from  Wyoming.  In  that  year  Mr. 
R.amsey  came  overland  to  the  present  site  of  Billings, 
where  he  spent  the  summer,  and  then  removed  to 
Golden  Creek,  on  the  Musselshell  river,  continuing  in 
the  cattle  business  at  that  point  until  1883,  when  he 
sold  his  interests  to  the  Courtland  Cattle  Company  and 
located  in  Billings,  where  during  the  winter  of  1883-84 
he  conducted  a roller  skating  rink,  the  first  of  its  kind 
in  Billings.  In  1885  he  engaged  in  the  livery  business, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Ramsey  and  Smith,  an  associa- 
tion which  continued  until  1889,  and  from  that  time 
until  his  retirement  he  gave  his  attention  to  the  horse 
ranch  conducted  by  himself  and  son,  under  the  firm 
name  of  John  iM.  Ramsey  & Son,  and  which  had  its 
inception  in  1884.  Mr.  Ramsey  was  elected  sheriff  of 
Yellowstone  county  at  the  first  state  election  in  1889, 
serving  in  that  position  with  universal  satisfaction  for 
six  years.  That  Mr.  Ramsey  was  held  in  the  highest 
esteem  in  his  adopted  city  was  demonstrated  bv  the 
following  order,  issued  October  10,  1911,  by  the  Grand 
Masonic  Chapter  of  the  State,  of  which  we  quote  only 
a part : “To  all  Grand  Chapters  in  Correspondence  with 


the  Grand  Chapter  of  Royal  Arch  Masons  of  Montana: 
to  the  Grand  Officers  and  all  Subordinate  Chapters,  R. 
A.  M.  of  Montana.  Companions : 1 he  working  tools 
have  fallen  from  the  hands  of  a skilled  craftsman  who 
has  labored  faithfully  in  our  quarries  for  many  years — 
R.  E.  Companion  John  M.  Ramsey,  Past  Grand  Scribe. 
After  but  a week's  illness  Companion  Ramsey  passed 
away  on  Sunday,  September  24,  1911,  at  his  home  in 
Bilhngs,  Montana,  death  being  due  to  peritonitis.  PI  is 
burial  services  were  conducted  by  Ashlar  Lodge,  No.  29, 
of  Billings,  on  September  26,  with  a Templar  escort 
from  Aldemar  Commandery,  No.  5.  At  the  graveside 
Excellent  Companion  Arthur  C.  Logan  delivered  a 
beautiful  though  impromptu  eulogy  upon  the  life  and 
services  of  our  departed  companion.  Companion  Ram- 
sey was  a sturdy  character,  whose  sterling  virtues  and 
unfailing  courtesy  won  for  him  the  lasting  affection 
of  his  neighbors,  friends  and  brethren.  * * * jqis 

wife  survives  him  and  besides  her  are  two  sons,  Plarry 
of  Billings,  and  Arthur  of  Roseburg,  Oregon,  and  one 
daughter,  Mrs.  Gerald  Panton,  and  Mrs.  Ed.  Goulding, 
a stepdaughter,  both  residents  of  Billings.  Only  a short 
time  before  his  illness  there  had  been  a family  reunion 
and  the  heart  of  the  father  was  rejoiced  in  the  pride 
of  haying  his  wife  and  children  about  him.  His  Masonic 
association  of  forty  years  he  cherished  highly;  was  a 
splendid  exemplar  of  its  precepts  and  a faithful  devotee 
of  its  teachings.  It  was  in  1886  that  he  affiliated  with 
Ashlar  Lodge,  No.  29,  of  Billings,  and  in  1889  he  served 
as  its  master.  P'or  two  years  he  served  as  king  of 
Billings  Chapter  No.  6,  R.  A.  M.,  and  became  its  high 
priest  in  1896.  At  its  organization  he  became  a member 
of  Aldemar  Commandery  No.  5,  K.-  T.,  but  held  none 
but  an  appointive  office  therein.  When  the  command- 
ery was  instituted,  he  was  appointed  standard  bearer, 
and  with  the  exception  of  one  year,  filled  the  position 
by  reappointment  until  his  death.  In  1894,  when  the 
Grand  Chapter  met  in  Billings,  he  was  honored  by  the 
election  to  the  position  of  grand  scribe.  He  did  not  at- 
tend subsequent  annual  meetings  but  was  beloved  by  his 
companions  in  Billings,  and  throughout  the  state  where- 
ever  known. 

"The  following  tribute  is  quoted  from  his  home 
paper:  ‘The  friends  of  John  M.  Ramsey  included  all 
with  whom  he  came  in  contact,  for  there  never  was  a 
man  in  the  community  who  possessed  in  a higher  degree 
the  charm  of  attracting  the  love  and  friendship  of  those 
with  whom  he  associated,  and  this  was  effected  without 
any  conscious  effort  of  his  own  and  solely  by  the  kindli- 
ness and  geniality  which  seemed  to  radiate  from  his 
presence.  Enemies  he  had  none,  and  no  man  had  so 
many  and  such  devoted  friends.  In  his  family  he  was  a 
most  kind  and  affectionate  husband  and  father,  and  those 
he  leaves  behind  him,  now  mourning  and  broken- 
hearted, will  ever  cherish  with  loving  memory  his 
kindly  thoughtfulness  and  tenderness.  Of  the  tenets 
of  Freemasonry  he  was  a loyal  follower,  and  held  the 
ancient  craft  in  high  esteem.  In  his  life  of  brotherly 
love  no  member  better  e.xemplified  the  principles  of  the 
order,  in  which  he  was  at  various  times  elevated  to  high 
office.  As  a public  officer  he  discharged  his  duties  with 
fidelity  to  his  trust.  He  tempered,  so  far  as  possible, 
justice  with  mercy,  but  never  flinched  from  any  task, 
however  dangerous  or  onerous  which  it  was  his  duty  to 
perform.  The  generous  heart  which  throbbed  only  with 
kindly  impulses  beats  no  more  the  hand  ever  open  to 
relieve  distress  or  suffering  lies  nerveless  across  his 
breast;  the  genial  smile  which  reflected  the  goodness 
within  the  man  will  no  more  be  seen  by  mortal  eyes ; 
but  the  memory  of  all  that  was  good  and  true  in  John 
Ramsey  will  long  remain  with  this  community,  an  in- 
centive- for  all  who  knew  him  to  a better,  kinder  and 
more  loving  life.’ 

“As  a token  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  our  beloved 
companion  it  is  ordered  that  this  memorial  be  read  at 
the  next  regular  convocations  of  the  chapters  within 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


883 


this  jurisdiction  and  that  suitable  mention  be  made  of 
it  in  your  records. 

“Fraternally  submitted,  Harry  ivl.  Allen,  Grand  High 
Priest. 

"Attest  Cornelius  Hedges,  Jr.,  Grand  Secretary.” 

The  eulogy  which  was  mentioned  above  as  being 
given  by  A.  C.  Logan  follows:  “Dear  Friends — I am 
conducting  this  burial  service  at  the  reqqest  of  our 
brother  while  among  us,  who  on  different  occasions 
requested  that  I should  connnit  this  earthly  tabernacle 
to  its  native  elements,  earth  to  earth,  ashes  to  ashes, 
dust  to  dust,  there  to  remain  until  the  sounding  of  the 
last  trumpet.  This  I have  done  to  the  best  of  my  abilitv, 
according  to  the  limitations  prescribed  by  our  ritual. 

“In  closing  I am  constrained  to  overstep  the  preroga- 
tives of  the  ceremonials,  and  take  advantage  of  the  op- 
portunity offered  to  address  a few  words  to  the  living, 
believing  that  the  life  and  death  of  our  deceased  brother 
is  a fitting  text  for  our  consideration,  and  to  that  end 
I beg  your  kind  indulgence  for  the  few  moments  I shall 
occupy,  and  I trust  that  my  efforts  may  be  of  such 
nature  as  to  receive  your  endorsement. 

“We  are  assembled  today,  to  offer  up  before  the  world  ^ 
the  last  said  tribute  of  our  affection  and  esteem  to  , 
the  memory  of  one  beloved  while  here  on  earth.  We 
have  dropped  the  sympathetic  tear  and  wrapped  about 
his  foibles,  whatever  they  may  have  been,  the  broad 
mantle  of  Masonic  charity;  as  perfection  on  earth  has 
never  yet  been  attained,  the  wisest  as  well  as  the  best  of 
men  have  gone  astray,  therefore  we  will  not  withhold 
from  his  memory  the  commendation  his  virtues  are  en- 
titled to  at  our  hands. 

“We  are  gathered  about  this  narrow  house  prepared 
to  receive  the  lifeless  clay  which  has  performed  for 
three  score  years  and  ten,  man’s  full  allotted _ span  for 
his  pilgrimage  here  below,  its  mission  of  serving  as  an 
earthly  habitat.  No  more  worthy  tenant  ever  inhabited 
earthly  domicile,  than  he  who  so  recently  burst  the 
bonds  that  bound  him. 

“This  grave,  that  coffin,  contain  nothing  that  should 
cause  a tear  or  a pang  other  than  the  memories  they 
excite ; they  are  empty,  meaningless,  and  no  longer  a 
part  or  parcel  of  him  we  knew.  This  bank  of  beautiful 
flowers,  the  symbol  of  affection  of  surviving  friends 
typify  the  beauty  of  his  life. 

“John  Ramsey’s  life  was  a beautiful  exemplification 
of  manly  traits  and  virtues,  and  embodies  all  those  ele- 
ments, essential  to  constitute  an  ideal  life,  as  if  the  gods 
had  all  conspired  to  place  their  imprint  to  give  the 
world  evidence  of  a man.  His  greatest  charm  was  his 
modest  and  retiring  nature,  and  shrinking  from  ostenta- 
tious display  at  all  times  and  on  all  occasions.  For  in 
his  magnanimity  he  rejoiced  more  in  the  success  of  his 
friends  than  in  any  achievement  of  self. 

“In  the  state  and  nation  he  was  a patriotic,  law  abid- 
ing and  consistent  citizen ; in  official  life  a brave  and 
fearless  officer,  never  shrinking  from  danger  or  priva- 
tion while  in  the  discharge  of  duty  and  never  remiss 
in  the  performance  of  them,  except  when  he  was  called 
upon  officially  to  perform  some  service  that  would  dis- 
tress a friend  or  his  family,  as  many  instances  are  re- 
corded and  others  known,  where  his  purse  relieved  the 
unfortunate  and  he  himself  became  the  bearer  of  the 
burden.  Misfortune  and  grief  of  others  appealed  deeply 
to  his  generous  nature,  selfishness  was  a personage  he 
never  knew.  In  his  family  he  was  a patient  and  indul- 
gent husband  and  father;  in  the  community,  amid  the 
daily  walks  of  life,  a cheerful  companion  and  an  in- 
spiration, ever  looking  and  leading  to  the  bright  side 
and  taking  optimistic  views  of  all  things.  He  was 
never  known  to  speak  disparagingly  of  anyone  except 
of  those  whose  life  was  a menace  to  society  and  decency. 

“As  a member  of.  the  Masonic  fraternity,  to  which  he 
was  deeply  attached  during  a period  covering  most  of 
his  adult  career,  he  was  recognized  as  a prominent 
pillar.  We  knew  him  in  scenes  that  the  world  knew  not 
vni.  ri— 


of,  and  phases  of  his  character  were  exhibited  that 
enable  us  to  speak  of  him  with  reverence  and  admira- 
tion. 

“As  a Master  Mason,  he  practiced  all  the  virtues  in- 
culcated in  the  moral  code  of  ethics  taught  by  symbolic 
ritual  and  tradition;  as  a Knight  Templar,  he  was  a firm 
believer  and  adherent  to  the  Christian  religion,  profess- 
ing faith  in  the  immortality  of  the  soul,  and  the  cruci- 
fixion and  ascension  of  our  blessed  Saviour,  and  we 
who  knew  him  best  believe  that  he  is  entitled  to  all  the 
glory  and  awards  that  await  the  valiant  Knight,  who 
believes  in  and  practices  the  Christian  virtues. 

“To  the  Brothers  who  survive  him,  especially  to  those 
who  have  reached  the  meridian  of  their  existence  and 
are  descending  the  western  slope,  this  address  is  fraught 
with  feelings  of  deep  meaning  and  interest,  and  as  I 
recall  the  memories  of  the  past,  let  me  exhort  you  to 
realize  the  importance  of  considering  the  present  and 
the  future  ere  it  is  too  late.  We  should  all  be  im- 
pressed with  the  solemnity  of  the  occasion,  and  resolve 
that  we  will  consider  more  seriously  our  approaching 
fate,  and  make  preparations  for  the  coming  of  that 
‘grim  messenger.’  We  have  ascended  the  long  and 
weary  road  from  youth  to  manhood  by  different  avenues 
and  our  paths  are  marked  by  various  degrees  of  success 
Each  of  you,  I believe,  has  done  the  best  you  could  ac- 
cording to  the  opportunity  and  the  light  afforded.  We 
have  reached  the  zenith  of  our  power,  and  in  looking 
backward  if  we  can  feel  that  we  have  lightened  the 
load  and  encouraged  an  erring  or  discouraged  Brother 
by  our  word  or  example,  it  will  be  a light  to  our  feet 
as  we  descend  rapidly  and  almost  imperceptibly  the 
grade  to  that  ‘bourne  from  which  no  traveller  ever 
returns.’  We  know  not  how  soon  the  friends  who  now 
surround  us  may  be  called  upon  to  perform  the  sad 
rites  of  consigning  our  bodies  to  their  last  resting  place. 

“To  the  younger  members  who  are  just  starting  on 
their  career  characterized  by  the  enthusiasm  that  is  the 
heritage  of  youth,  and  buoyed  up  by  hopes  of  future 
wealth  and  position,  the  road  may  appear  long  and 
the  burden  heavy,  but  remember  that  you  are  girded 
with  the  breast-plate  of  righteousness.  My  earnest 
prayer  is  that  you  may  be  successful  in  avoiding  the 
numerous  snares  and  pitfalls  that  ever  beset  the  path  of 
youth.  That  you  may  not  fall  an  early  victim  to  that 
relentless  tyrant,  death,  who  ‘reaps  the  bearded  grain 
with  a breath,  and  the  flowers  that  grow  between’  for 
the  arm  of  friendship,  the  wealth  of  the  world,  the  in- 
nocence of  youth  and  the  charms  of  beauty  can  not  inter- 
pose to  prevent  his  coming.  May  you  all  be  spared  to 
realize  your  fondest  hopes  and  the  full  fruition  of  your 
ambition. 

“Let  me  address  a final  word  to  you  while  standing 
on  the  brink  of  the  grave  of  one  you  loved,  who  was 
your  friend  and  mentor.  Let  me  admonish  you  to 
imitate  his  pure  and  blameless  life,  his  utter  aliena- 
tion of  self,  and  follow  in  the  steps  of  this  great  man ; 
for  he  was  great,  because  to  be  great  is  to  be  good. 

“And  as  we  return  at  the  close  of  these  ceremonies 
to  our  Masonic  Hall  and  view  the  vacant  chair  draped 
in  mourning,  we  shall  miss  him  whose  mortal  part  lies 
before  us  clad  in  the  habiliments  of  the  grave,  but  this 
lump  of  earth  is  not  our  Brother.  He  still  lives ; he 
will  be  with  us  and  we  shall  feel  his  presence  in  our 
heart  of  hearts. 

“And  now  in  conclusion,  to  the  relatives  of  the  de- 
ceased we  have  but  little  of  this  world’s  comfort  to 
offer.  We  deeply,  truly,  and  sincerely  sympathize  with 
you  in  your  affliction,  and  participate  in  a degree  at  least 
in  the  consolation  afforded  you  that  he  whom  you  mourn 
lived  respected,  died  lamented  and  has  left  behind  him 
a monument  that  will  stand  when  chiseled  stone  and 
storied  urn  have  passed  away  and  are  forgotten  by  the 
generations  yet  to  come. 

“And  now,  dear  friends,  if  any  words  that  I have 
uttered  have  suggested  thoughts  which  shall  have  found 


884 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


a resting  place  in  your  heart  for  future  resolve  or 
good,  I shall  have  great  cause  for  rejoicing,  and  feel 
that  I have  not  taxed  your  time  and  patience  in  vain.” 

Harry  Marshall  Ramsey  spent  his  boyhood  days  un- 
der the  parental  roof,  his  education  being  secured  in  the 
public  schools  of  Billings.  When  he  was  only  twelve 
years  of  age  he  showed  such  business  ability  and  sa- 
gacity that  his  father  took  him  to  the  horse  ranch  at 
Golden  Creek,  on  the  Musselshell  river,  and  when  his 
father  became  sheriff  of  the  county  in  1889  the  youth 
was  made  a deputy.  In  1895  Mr.  Ramsey  went  to 
Aransas  Pass,  Texas,  where  he  erected  a hotel  and  spent 
one  year,  subsequently  moving  to  Houston,  where  he 
spent  the  winter  of  1897.  Another  year  was  spent  at 
Temple,  Bell  county,  Texas,  and  he  then  returned  to 
Billings  and  engaged  in  buying  and  selling  horses 
with  his  father,  the  firm  continuing  as  John  Ramsey 
& Son  until  the  time  of  his  father’s  death,  since  which 
time  Mr.  Ramsey  has  continued  in  business  alone.  He 
is  a member  of  Billings  Lodge,  No.  394,  Benevolent 
Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and  in  political  matters  is  a 
stanch  Republican. 

In  April,  1901,  Mr.  Ramsey  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Lena  B.  Tweedle,  who  was  born  in  Bell 
county,  Texas,  daughter  of  William  and  Nancy 
(Kagen)  Tweedle.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ramsey  have  had  one 
son ; Harry  Darrel,  born  October  10,  1904.  Mr.  Ram- 
sey is  successfully  carrying  on  the  business  founded  by 
his  father  and  is  a worthy  representative  of  that  hon- 
ored pioneer.  He  takes  a great  interest  in  all  matters 
pertaining  to  the  welfare  of  Billings,  and  is  ready  at  all 
times  to  assist  in  forwarding  movements  calculated  to 
make  for  advancement.  He  and  his  wife  reside  at  No. 
928  North  Thirtieth  street,  where  their  many  friends 
are  always  sure  of  a warm  and  hospitable  welcome. 

Harrison  Brown.  The  fortunes  of  Harrison  Brown 
have  been  identical  with  those  of  the  state  of  Montana 
since,  the  year  1863,  when  he  came  as  a boy  of  fourteen 
years  to  this  state,  then  a part  of  Idaho.  He  is  a native 
Missourian,  born  in  Jasper  county,  near  the  town  of 
Carthage,  on  the  25th  of  November,  1845,  and  is  the 
son  of  David  G.  and  Susan  (Gormely)  Brown,  both 
of  whom  were  born  and  reared  and  passed  their  lives  in 
the  state  of  Missouri. 

The  early  schooling  of  Harrison  Brown  did  not  ex- 
tend beyond  his  fourteenth  year,  for  in  that  year  he 
left  his  home  in  Missouri  and  came  to  the  west,  stop- 
ping for  the  winter  of  1863  in  Alder  Gulch.  In  the 
following  summer  (1864)  he  went  to  Bannack  in 
Beaverhead  county,  there  engaging  in  mining  opera- 
tions, and  this  county  has  represented  his  home  from 
that  time  to  the  present.  He  devoted  himself  to  mine 
work  until  1867  and  in  that  year,  though  but  a lad_  in 
years,  he  returned  his  attention  to  independent  farming 
and  stock  raising,  that  being  the  business  in  which  he 
had  been  reared  at  home.  Today  Mr.  Brown  has  a 
fine  ranch  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  situated 
some  six  miles  northwest  of  Grant  in  Beaverhead 
county,  which  is  given  over  to  the  stock  and  grain 
business.  For  a number  of  years  he  was  interested  in 
cattle  raising,  but  some  time  ago  he  withdrew  entirely 
from  the  cattle  business  and  since  then  horse  raising 
has  been  his  chief  interest. 

Mr.  Brown  has  led  an  interesting  and  exciting  life  in 
the  west,  having  passed  through  the  years  of  lawless- 
ness which  characterized  this  section  in  its  early  days 
of  development,  but  which  have  long  since  been  replaced 
with  manners  and  customs  similar  to  those  found  in 
more  easterly  districts.  In  the  Indian  depredations  he 
experienced  his  full  share  of  annoyance,  and  played  an 
important  part  in  the  Nez  Perce  war  in  assisting  in  car- 
ing for  the  unprotected  during  those  days  of  terror. 
When  a boy  in  Virginia  City  in  1864  he  witnessed  the 
hanging  of  five  lawless  characters  in  a partially  com- 
pleted building  which  was  originally  designed  for  a 


drug  store  by  one  “Bill”  Morrison,  but  it  served  nicely 
as  a gallows  on  this  hurried  occasion.  Other  inci- 
dents of  a similar  nature  have  marked  his  career  and 
he  has  a ripe  and  comprehensive  knowledge  of  early 
Montana. 

Mr.  Brown  is  a Democrat,  staunch  and  true,  and  has 
been  active  in  the  ranks  of  the  party  in  his  district. 
He  is  a member  of  the  Society  of  Montana  Pioneers. 
He  has  a wide  acquaintance  in  the  state  and  is  the  inti- 
mate friend  of  W.  A.  Clark  of  Montana  mining  fame. 

Warren  C.  Gillette..  Flalf  a century  has  passed 
since  Warren  C.  Gillette  came  to  Montana.  He  was  an 
important  factor  in  the  development  of  the  localities  in 
which  he  resided  and  was  one  of  the  worthy  pioneers 
of  the  state,  recognized  as  a prosperous  stockgrower 
on  Dearborn  river  in  the  vicinity  of  Craig.  The  mental, 
moral,  social  and  material  development  and  advance- 
ment of  the  state  ever  received  his  support,  and  he 
served  in  positions  of  trust  and  responsibility.  Mr.  Gil- 
ette  was  born  in  Orleans,  Ontario  county.  New  York, 
on  March  10,  1832,  and  died  September  8,  1912,  at  the 
home  of  his  cousin,  W.  F.  Parker,  in  Helena,  Montana. 
His  original  American  ancestors  were  French  Hugue- 
nots, who  located  in  Connecticut.  There  was  born  in 
1802  Orimel  Gillette,  the  father  of  our  Montana  pioneer, 
and  his  brother,  Caleb  Gillette,  was  likewise  a native  of 
Connecticut,  In  early  manhood  Orimel  Gillette  removed 
to  New  York,  where  he  married  Miss  Julia  E.  Ferris, 
born  in  that  state.  They  settled  in  Oneida  county, 
where  the  father  for  many  years  practiced  medicine,  liv- 
ing to  the  age  of  four  score  years,  his  wife  passing  away 
at  the  age  of  sixty.  Of  their  two  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters, Warren  C.  was  the  eldest.  He  never  married,  nor 
did  his  sister,  Eliza  P.,  who  was  his  housekeeper  and 
devoted  companion  until  her  death. 

Warren  Caleb  Gillette,  after  attending  the  public 
schools,  pursued  his  studies  in  Oberlin  College,  Ohio, 
leaving  that  institution  in  1850  and  staying  for  a time 
in  Columbus,  after  which  he  returned  to  New  York 
and  was  engaged  as  a clerk  in  Oneida  county  until 
1855,  when  he  removed  to  Chicago  and  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  E.  R.  Kellogg  & Company,  wholesale  hatters 
and  furriers,  continuing  with  this  firm  until  1859,  and 
in  that  year  he  engaged  in  the  same  line  of  business  as 
a retailer  at  Galena,  Illinois,  conducting  the  enterprise 
for  two  years.  In  the  summer  of  1861  Mr.  Gillette  once 
more  returned  east  and  was  occupied  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  furs  in  New  York  city  until  the  spring  of  1862, 
when  the  discovery  of  gold  in  Montana  led  him  hither. 
His  intention  was  to  make  Salmon  river  his  destina- 
tion, and  at  St.  Louis  he  embarked  on  the  steamer 
“Shreveport”  and  came  up  the  Missouri,  disembarking 
between  the  mouth  of  the  Milk  river  and  old  Fort 
Union,  as  low  water  prevented  further  progress  by 
boat.  After  remaining  in  camp. about  a week  the  party 
started  overland  to  Fort  Benton.  Two  days  later  they 
met  a large  band  of  Assiniboine  and  Crow  Indians,  and 
the  younger  ones  were  inclined  to  stop  the  journey  of 
the  party  up  the  river,  while  some  of  the  older  chiefs 
were  in  favor  of  letting  the  emigrants  do  as  they 
])leased.  The  Indians  determined  to  hold  a council  and 
decide  upon  the  course  to  be  pursued,  and  the  council 
was  held  that  night,  but  the  emigrants  had  concluded  to 
return  to  their  camp  on  Milk  river  and  in  the  morning 
turned  their  teams  in  that  direction,  whereupon  the  In- 
dians informed  them  that  they  must  go  up  the  river,  as 
the  council  had  decided  that  they  might  do  so,  and 
insisted  that  the  white  men  ought  not  now  to  turn 
back.  So,  going  toward  Fort  Benton,  they  arrived  there 
in  September,  but  soon  went  on  to  the  old  town  of 
Montana  City  on  Prickly  Pear  creek,  where  they  went 
into  camp.  They  called  the  place  Camp  Indecision, 
because  they  here  learned  of  the  discovery  of  gold  at 
Bannack,  and  waited  here  until  they  could  send  a dele- 


HISTORY  OF  MOXTAXA 


885 


gation  and  learn  the  true  state  of  affairs  at  Bannack, 
and  something  of  its  attractions  as  a place  of  settlement. 
They,  however,  remained  at  the  camp  until  their  belated 
supplies  reached  Fort  Benton  and  they  then  transported 
them  with  mule  and  ox  teams  to  Deer  Lodge,  once 
known  as  LaBarge  City.  Here  Mr.  Gillette  purchased  a 
cabin  of  C.  A.  Broadwater,  intending  to  occupy  it  as  a 
store,  but  as  Bannack  was  far  more  prosperous,  he 
proceeded  to  that  place,  arriving  in  December,  1862.  He 
brought  his  stock  of  goods,  an  assortment  of  miners’ 
suppfies  principally,  bringing  the  goods  on  pack  horses 
in  three  trips  from  Fort  Benton  to  Bannack.  On  one 
of  these  trips  the  Indians  stole  all  of  his  horses  while  he 
was  encamped  on  Sun  river,  not  far  distant  from  the 
site  of  Great  Falls.  He  recovered  nearly  one  half  of 
the  animals  and  obtained  enough  more  from  the  Ameri- 
can Fur  Company  to  enable  him  to  continue  his  trip 
to  Bannack.  A year  later  he  transferred  his  stock  to 
Alder  gulch,  where  gold  was  discovered  in  1863,  and 
was  in  general  trade  in  Virginia  City  until  1865,  being 
associated  with  James  King. 

Upon  the  discovery  of  gold  in  Last  Chance  gulch, 
they  brought  their  stock  to  Helena,  following  the  rush 
of  miners  thither.  Here  King  & Gillette  were  engaged 
in  the  freighting  and  mercantile  business  from  1865 
until  1869,  and  were  in  partnership  in  mining  operations 
until  1877.  These  earlier  trips  were  attended  with  great 
danger  from  both  Indians  and  road  agents,  and  Mr.  Gil- 
lette had  many  exciting  experiences  and  narrow  escapes. 
He  was  one  of  the  early  promoters  of  the  placer  min- 
ing system  at  Diamond  City,  and  a service  of  great 
public  benefit  was  rendered  by  King  & Gillette  in  their 
Herculean  task  of  opening  the  toll  road  of  ten  miles 
down  Little  Prickly  Pear  canyon.  The  toll  road  saved 
the  travelers  on  the  road  between  Helena  and  Fort 
Benton  from  crossing  the  Lyon  mountains  and  !\Iedi- 
cine  Rock,  as  it  went  down  the  canyon  on  the  present 
route  of  the  Montana  Central  Railroad.  This  important 
work  was  of  inestimable  value  to  the  miners  and  other 
settlers.  The  available  equipment  for  the  construction 
of  this  road  consisted  of  two  plows,  for  which  they 
paid  $175  each,  and  picks  and  shovels.  The  road  was 
completed  in  1866  at  a cost  of  $40,000,  and  this  amount 
was  obtained  from  tolls  within  two  years.  Later  the 
travel  declined,  but  the  road  was  kept  up  until  in  1875, 
when  the  charter  expired.  King  & Gillette  were  among 
the  largest  operators  in  Confederate  gulch,  where  they 
employed  a large  number  of  men  in  the  construction 
of  a bedrock  flume,  clearing  up  $10,000  in  one  season, 
but  it  eventually  caused  them  a loss  of  $60,000.  They 
closed  their  operations  in  1877,  and  IMr.  Gillette  engaged 
in  sheep  raising,  with  which  industry  he  continued  to  be 
occupied  for  more  than  a quarter  century,  having  some 
forty  thousand  acres  of  land  and  raising  sheep  on  a 
most  extensive  scale,  his  flocks  averaging  from  six- 
teen to  twenty  thousand  head.  He  gave  preference  to 
hlerino  sheep  as  best  adapted  to  this  climate.  He  had  a 
fine  ranch  residence  near  Craig  with  modern  improve- 
ments and  facilities,  and  after  the  death  of  his  sister  he 
divided  his  time  between  this  residence  and  Helena. 

Mr.  Gillette  was  a staunch  Republican  and  took  a 
proper  interest  in  the  public  affairs  of  both  territory  and 
state.  He  was  twice  elected  to  the  lower  house  of 
the  territorial  legislature,  and  was  a member  of  the 
council,  or  higher  deliberate  body,  for  one  term,  and 
was  also  a member  of  the  convention  which  framed  the 
present  constitution  of  ‘the  state.  In  public  affairs  he 
gave  evidence  of  wise  discrimination  and  mature  judg- 
ment, and  his  influence  in  the  councils  of  his  party  were 
ever  of  a helpful  order.  Mr.  Gillette  gained  and  re- 
tained friends,  and  his  unassuming  but  successful  career 
in  Montana  was  an  honor  to  the  state. 

In  his  passing  Montana  lost  one  of  its  oldest  pio- 
neers. and  the  event  occasioned  wide-spread  sorrow, 
especially  among  the  old  pioneers  and  all  who  were  inti- 


mate with  him  in  his  later  years.  Mr.  Gillette  was  past 
president  of  the  Society  of  Montana  Pioneers,  and 
ever  active  in  the  interests  of  that  organization. 

Andrew  Van  Corry.  Departing  this  life  on  June  9, 
1911,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years,  eight  months 
and  sixteen  days,  after  long  periods  of  strenuous  ex- 
ertion and  decided  usefulness  in  several  different  parts 
of  the  country  and  under  circumstances  widely  vary- 
ing in  character  and  requirements,  the  late  Andrew 
Van  Corry,  of  Butte,  in  all  his  career  showed  himself 
to  be  a man  of  unusual  gifts  and  qualifications  for 
work  of  many  kinds  and  ready  adaptability  to  his  sur- 
roundings, however  new  and  untried,  and  whatever 
the  conditions  involved  in  them.  He  was  left  an 
orphan  at  the  age  of  twelve  years  by  the  death  of 
both  parents.  Boy  as  he  then  was,  with  no  knowledge 
of  the  great  world,  with  all  his  standards  and  ideals 
formed  from  his  experiences  in  an  old-fashioned  rural 
community,  with  a dreamy  impression  that  the  wild 
west  was  the  coming  hope  of  his  country  and  the 
embodiment  of  opportunity  for  aspiring  souls  like 
his,  he  journeyed  some  eight  hundred  miles  in  the 
wake  of  the  setting  sun  in  search  of  chances  to  mend 
and  further  make  his  fortunes  and  landed  in  what 
is  now  a metropolis  of  the  middle  region  of  our  coun- 
try. and  there  found  employment  and  remained  a 
number  of  years.  His  subsequent  achievements  will 
be  narrated  in  the  following  paragraphs,  throughout 
all  of  which  it  will  appear  that  from  his  boyhood  he 
made  his  own  way  in  the  world,  and  that  in  the  strug- 
gle for  advancement  his  chief  asset  was  his  self-re- 
liance. 

]Mr.  Corry  was  a native  of  the  village  of  Newport, 
Charles  county,  IMaryland,  where  his  grandfather,  the 
progenitor  of  the  American  branch  of  the  family,  lo- 
cated on  his  arrival  from  England  in  this  country  at 
an  early  date,  and  where  his  own  life  began  on  Sep- 
tember 13,  1837.  In  his  native  county  he  attended  the 
public  schools  until  he  reached  the  age  of  twelve 
years,  when,  as  has  been  noted,  his  parents  died  and 
left  him  to  his  own  resources.  His  father  and  his 
grandfather  were  farmers,  and  while  under  their  in- 
fluence he  worked  at  the  same  line  of  productive  use- 
fulness. 

But  when  he  walked  out  into  the  great  world  from 
the  darkened  home  in  which  he  had  been  sheltered 
and  cared  for  from  infancy  and  took  up  the  battle 
of  life  for  himself,  he  did  not  adhere  to  the  pur- 
suit they  had  followed.  He  made  his  way  to  St.  Louis, 
and  there  found  employment  with  the  Simmons  Hard- 
ware Company,  with  which  he  remained  several  years. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-one,  with  his  faculties  prema- 
turely developed  and  stimulated  to  great  activity  by 
the  sense  of  personal  responsibility  he  had  been  guided 
by  for  years,  he  took  another  flight  westward  and 
located  at  Georgetown,  Colorado,  where  he  engaged 
in  prospecting  and  the  development  of  quartz  prop- 
erties, and  in  a short  time  acquired  the  ownership  of 
extensive  mining  interests  in  that  then  fruitful  and 
productive  locality,  in  which  he  passed  five  years  of 
useful  labor  with  good  results. 

In  1863  he  followed  the  trend  of  the  argonauts  of 
the  period  and  came  to  Montana,  locating  at  Ban- 
nack. Later  he  was  actively  engaged  in  placer  min- 
ing in  Alder  Gulch  for  a number  of  years,  and  during 
the  last  years  of  his  residence  in  that  region  was 
county  recorder  of  Madison  county.  Before  and  dur- 
ing his  occupancy  of  this  office  he  had  many  claims  in 
Alder  Gulch,  but  he  was  only  partially  successful 
in  developing  them  in  comparison  with  other  miners 
there  then  and  before  and  since  that  time. 

In  1879,  at  the  end  of  his  term  as  recorder  of  Madi- 
son county,  he  moved  to  Butte,  and  here  he  main- 
tained his  residence  until  his  death,  on  June  9,  1911. 
His  principal  occupation  in  Butte  was  as  manager  of 


886 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


circulation  for  the  Butte  liilcr-Monntain  and  Anaconda 
Standard,  but  while  engaged  in  that  he  also  kept  up 
his  interest  in  the  mining  industry,  and  pushed  the 
development  of  his  claims  with  as  much  energy  as 
he  could  command,  and  with  all  the  resources  avail- 
able to  him  under  the  circumstances. 

Mr.  Corry  was  married  at  Florisant,  Missouri,  on 
June  22,  1872,  to  Miss  Anna  Martha  Ivlattingly,  a 
daughter  of  James  and  Mary  Mattingly,  old  and  es- 
teemed residents  of  St.  Louis  county  in  that  state. 
To  this  union  four  children  were  born:  Arthur  Vin- 
cent, whose  life  began  in  Virginia  City,  ^Montana,  on 
May  10,  1874 1 Clarence  A.,  who  was  born  at  the  same 
place  on  June  13,  1876,  and  is  now  a resident  of 
Butte;  Agnes  P.,  who  came  into  being  on  July  17, 
1878,  also  in  Virginia  City,  and  is  now  the  wife  of 
George  B.  McDonald,  a prominent  mining  man  of 
Butte;  and  John,  who  was  born  in  Butte  on  March 
22,  1882,  and  died  in  that  city  on  January  2,  1907. 

Andrew  V.  Corry  was  renowned  locally  in  iMasonic 
circles,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  one  of  the 
oldest  Freemasons  in  the  state  of  Montana.  Fie  was 
a member  of  all  the  branches  of  the  fraternity  in 
the  York  Rite  up  to  and  including  the  Knights  Tem- 
plar degree,  and  all  in  the  Scottish  Rite  up  to  and 
including  the  thirty-second  degree.  Fie  was  also  a 
Noble  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  But,  while  he  was  de- 
voted to  the  fraternity  and  took  an  earnest  interest 
in  its  beneficent  work,  he  was  essentially  a man  of 
domestic  tastes,  warmly  devoted  to  his  home  and 
its  duties,  and  took  but  little  interest  otherwise  in 
fraternity  or  club  life.  In  politics  he  was  a firm  and 
faithful  Democrat,  and  for  many  years  very  active  in 
the  service  of  his  party,  but  in  the  declining  period 
of  his  life  he  left  political  contentions  and  the  work 
involved  in  them  to  younger  men. 

Arthur  Vincent  Corry  attended  the  schools  of  Butte 
until  within  a year  of  his  graduation  from  the  high 
school.  Then,  on  account  of  a serious  illness,  he 
was  obliged  to  leave  without  finishing  his  course.  But 
when  he  was  able  he  again  took  up  his  studies,  at- 
tending the  University  at  Notre  Dame,  Indiana,  from 
1890  to  1893,  and  from  1894  to  1898  the  Colorado  School 
of  Mines,  being  graduated  from  the  latter  in  the  year 
last  mentioned  with  the  degree  of  Engineer  of  Min- 
ing. After  leaving  the  University  he  practiced  his 
profession  in  different  western  states  until  1902,  then 
returned  to  Butte,  where  he  has  been  actively  en- 
gaged in  professional  work  ever  since.  He  has  done 
a great  deal  of  work  for  large  corporations,  and  has 
also  conducted  extensive  *mining  operations  on  his 
own  account  in  Silver  Bow,  Jefferson  and  Granite 
counties  of  this  state,  and  had  connection  with  other 
enterprises  of  the  same  kind  in  other  parts  of  this 
state  and  others  wherein  mining  industries  abound. 
Mr.  Corry  is  a member  of  the  firm  of  Harper,  Mac- 
donald & Company,  Civil  and  Mining  Engineers,  with 
offices  at  203-4-9  Lewiston  Building,  Butte. 

Mr.  Arthur  V.  Corry  is  a member  of  the  American 
Institute  of  Mining  Engineers  and  the  Montana  So- 
ciety of  Engineers.  Socially  he  is  prominent  in  the 
Silver  Bow  Club  of  Butte,  and  in  fraternal  relations 
belongs  to  the  Order  of  Knights  of  Columbus.  His 
religious  affiliation  is  with  the  Catholic  church,  in 
whose  behalf  he  is  energetic  and  zealous,  as  he  is  in 
connection  with  his  lodge  and  every  enterprise  for 
the  improvement  and  progress  of  his  community  and 
the  benefit  of  its  residents. 

On  September  20,  1903,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
in  Butte  with  Miss  Mary  Armstrong,  a daughter  of 
James  J.  and  Anna  (Leonard)  Armstrong,  natives 
of  Vancouver,  British  Columbia.  Of  this  union  one 
child  has  been  born,  Andrew  Vincent  Corry,  whose 
life  began  in  Missoula,  on  September  22,  1904,  and 
who  is  the  light  and  life  of  the  household,  which  is 
a radiating  point  of  social  enjoyment  in  the  com- 


munity and  a center  of  genuine  hospitality  to  which 
the  hosts  of  friends  of  the  family  frequently  resort. 
The  family  home  is  located  at  825  West  Galena  street, 
Butte. 

The  father  of  the  late  Andrew  Van  Corry  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Civil  war  and  lost  his  life  on  one  of 
its  sanguinary  battlefields.  His  son,  the  subject  of 
this  review,  was  a man  of  great  natural  aptitude  for 
mathematical  computations,  and,  although  he  had  not 
an  extensive  education,  was  capable  of  solving  any 
kind  of  an  engineering  problem.  He  was  of  a modest 
and  retiring  disposition,  never  boastful  of  his  attain- 
ments or  capacity,  and  seemingly  unconscious  of  them. 
Fie  was  also  a man  of  generous  and  genuine  practical 
benevolence,  but  never  made  his  works  of  charity 
known  to  the  public.  He  did  his  duty  well,  faithfully 
and  wisely  in  all  the  relations  of  life,  without  the 
hope  of  reward  except  in  the  approval  of  his  own 
conscience,  and  his  worth  was  all  the  more  estimable 
on  that  account.  Fie  was  in  many  respects  a remark- 
able man,  and  was  esteemed  in  life  and  is  revered  after 
death  as  one  of  the  best  men  this  county  has  ever 
numbered  among  its  leading  and  most  useful  citizens. 

Hon.  G.  W.  Stapleton.  One  of  Montana’s  most 
eminent  legal  counselors,  and  one  of  the  sturdy  char- 
acters of  the  old  days  who  had  no  small  part  in  shaping 
the  destiny  of  the  territory  and  state,  belonged  to  a 
niost  able  and  brilliant  coterie  of  lawyers,  which  flour- 
ished exceedingly  in  territorial  times  and  in  the  early 
days  of  statehood,  and  included  such  men  as  Col.  W.  F. 
Sanders,  Mr.  Warren  Toole,  Lion.  Sam  Word,  Judge 
Kirkpatrick,  Hon.  W.  W.  Dixon  and  others  among  its 
numbers.  Judge  Stapleton  was  one  of  the  forceful 
men  of  Montana,'  and  no  history  of  that  commonwealth 
could  afford  him  any  other  than  a foremost  position 
among  his  contemporaries,  and  at  a time  when  not  even 
the  oldest  commonwealth  had  more  able  and  brilliant 
bars  than  Montana  possessed  in  territorial  times. 

Judge  Stapleton  came  from  a prominent  old  south- 
ern family  whose  members  had  migrated  from  South 
Carolina  to  Kentucky,  at  a time  when  the  latter  state 
was  on  the  western  frontier,  and  where  Judge  Staple- 
ton's parents  were  born,  A laudable  migratory  spirit 
kept  impelling  them  to  follow  the  march  of  civilization 
westward,  next  to  Indiana,  where  he  himself  first  saw 
the  light  of  day,  later  to  Illinois,  to  Iowa,  and  so  on 
until  in  Montana,  where  Judge  Stapleton’s  life  was 
indeed  one  of  the  most  influential  in  the  first  half  cen- 
tury of  that  state’s  history.  He  was  born  in  Rush 
county,  Indiana,  November  28,  1834. 

As  has  been  noted,  his  parents,  Cyrus  S.  and  Margaret 
(Scott)  Stapleton,  were  natives  of  Kentucky.  They 
moved  from  that  state  into  Indiana  soon  after  their 
marriage,  then  after  some  years  to  Illinois,  and  subse- 
quently to  Iowa.  The  father  was  a physician,  renowned, 
in  every  locality  where  he  practiced,  for  his  extensive 
professional  learning  and  skill  and  his  charming  be- 
nignity of  disposition  and  manner. 

The  scholastic  training  of  Judge  Stapleton  was  re- 
ceived, first  in  the  public  schools  of  Iowa  and  later  at 
an  excellent  academy  in  Fort  Madison,  that  state.  In 
1852,  when  but  a boy  of  eighteen,  he  began  the  study 
of  law  in  the  office  of  Hon.  Joseph  M._  Casey,  at  Lan- 
caster, Iowa,  pursuing  it  with  such  diligence  and  suc- 
cess that  he  was  admitted  to  practice  in  November, 
1855,  when  he  was  barely  of  age. 

He  practiced  in  the  courts  of  Iowa  for  four  years, 
then  crossed  the  plains  to  Colorado,  opening  an  office 
there,  and  attended  to  legal  business  entrusted  to  his 
care  until  1862. 

In  that  year  he  removed  to  Montana,  and  finding  the 
demand  for  legal  attainments,  quite  limited,  turned  his 
attention  to  mining  which  proved  profitable  as  he  was 
among  the  first  to  discover  gold,  in  paying  quantities, 
in  the  territor}-.  This  discovery  was  made  at  Grass- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


887 


hopper  creek,  where  he  founded  a town,  and  which, 
but  for  his  modesty  and,  it  must  be  added,  superior 
judgment,  would  now  bear  his  name.  It  was  the  desire 
of  the  miners  along  the  creek  to  name  the  new  town 
after  him,  but,  as  it  was  in  the  country  of  the  Bannack 
Indians,  Judge  Stapleton  saw  greater  propriety  in  nam- 
ing it  after  them;  and  hence  it  became  Bannack  instead 
of  Stapleton. 

Here  he  followed  placer  mining  diligently,  and  at 
different  periods  with  great  success,  at  times  taking  out 
as  much  as  $20  a pan  from  selected  dirt.  About  a mile 
below  the  camp  he  purchased  a claim,  where  with  a 
crude,  hand-made  wooden  rocker,  he  took  out  gold  at 
the  rate  of  from  $200  to  $500  per  day.  Notwithstand- 
ing this  large  3'ield,  he  was  considered  onU*  moderately 
successful  as  provisions  and  living  expenses  were  so 
enormously  high. 

In  1863,  Alder  gulch  thrilled  the  western  world  with 
its  wonderful  gold  production,  and,  like  many  others. 
Judge  Stapleton  “stampeded”  for  that  favored  spot. 
But  with  a prudence  and  forethought  unusual  in  times 
of  great  excitement,  he  halted  the  expedition  at  Beaver- 
head river  on  the  way,  long  enough  for  him  to  write  a 
code  of  laws  for  the  government  of  the  new  camp — 
probably  the  first  codification  of  any  kind  made  in  the 
territory.  He  accompanied  the  expedition  on  to  the 
gulch,  arriving  in  the  first  party,  carrying  his  laws 
with  him.  He  and  Colonel  McLean  together  secured  a 
number  of  valuable  claims  from  which  considerable 
quantities  of  gold  were  extracted.  In  1865,  he  removed 
to  Last  Chance  gulch,  now  Helena,  and  again  took  up 
the  practice  of  law,  finding  great  demand  for  his  pro- 
fessional services.  Five  or  six  months  later  he  located 
at  Ophir  gulch,  and  again  engaged  in  mining.  Subse- 
quently he  went  to  Argenta,  Beaverhead  county,  and  re- 
mained there  until  1879,  engaged  in  quartz  mining  and 
practicing  law. 

It  was  in  the  latter  year  that  he  permanently  located 
in  Butte,  and  where  he  continued  to  reside  until  his 
death.  After  going  to  that  city,  he  turned  resolutely 
away  from  almost  every  other  attraction,  and  for  a 
number  of  years  gave  his  time  and  attention,  almost 
exclusively,  to  that  jealous  mistress,  the  law,  who  re- 
warded his  devotion  with  the  guerdon  of  her  brightest 
smiles. 

He  first  associated  himself  in  practice  in  Butte  with 
Judge  Spratt,  a partnership  that  continued  until  the 
death  of  the  latter,  in  1881. 

The  firm  of  Robinson  and  Stapleton  was  then  formed, 
and  continued  until  1898,  when  death  again  robbed  him 
of  his  partner. 

Judge  Stapleton  then  formed  a partnership  with  his 
son,  Guy  W.,  in  the  firm  of  Stapleton  & Stapleton, 
which  continued  as  long  as  the  father  remained  in 
active  practice,  in  fact  was  not  broken  until  the  latter's 
death,  April  25,  1910. 

Judge  Stapleton  was  really  one  of  the  first  attorneys 
of  the  state  to  devote  his  attention  to  mining  law,  which 
was  destined  to  become  such  an  important  feature  of 
the  practice  in  IMontana.  The  e.xperience  he  gained  in 
mining  and  from  close  touch  with  all  the  varied  phases 
of  early  Montana  life,  proved  of  very  great  assistance 
to  him  in  his  professional  career,  and  was  also  of  in- 
valuable assistance  to  the  territory  and  state,  through 
the  practical  knowledge  he  was  able  to  bring  to  bear 
in  the  framing  of  mining  and  other  laws  of  the  new 
country.  Few,  if  an^q  of  Montana’s  pioneers  were  any 
more  serviceable  and  valuable,  and  it  is  doubtful  if 
any  man  played  a more  influential  part  in  shaping  the 
laws  and  early  history  of  the  territory.  He  was  elected 
to  the  territorial  legislature  four  times — as  often  as  he 
would  serve — and  during  his  tenure  was  first  speaker 
of  the  house  and  then  president  of  the  senate.  He  was 
also  a member  of  the  judiciary  committee  of  each  house. 
When  it  was  found  necessary  to  codify  the  laws  of  the 
territory,  all  eyes  turned  to  him  as  a capable  man  ty 
head  the  commission  for  the  purpose,  owing  to  his  wide 


practical  knowledge  and  great  ability.  As  such  he  was 
the  leading  force  in  giving  clearness  and  consistency  to 
the  body  of  the  statutes  and  proper  trend  to  the  course 
of  subsequent  legislation. 

He  also  served  conspicuously  in  the  convention  of 
1889,  that  formulated  the  constitution  on  which  Mon- 
tana was  admitted  into  the  Union  as  a state.  He  was 
always  identified  with  the  Democratic  party,  and  had 
practically  the  refusal  of  every  office  within  the  gift  of 
the  people,  governor,  attorney-general,  supreme  court 
justice,  member  of  congress,  and  all  the  rest,  abso- 
lutel}'  declining  them  all. 

Notwithstanding  the  exactions  of  his  profession,  he 
found  time  to  develop  extensive  mining  interests,  and 
to  contribute  his  share  of  inspiration,  counsel  and  sub- 
stantial aid  to  ever\"  public  improvement  and  social 
enterprise  of  merit.  He  was  an  interested  and  zealous 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  was  one  of  the 
organizers  of  Virginia  City  Lodge  No.  i,  the  first  lodge 
chartered  within  the  present  limits  of  the  state. 

Flaving  accumulated  a comfortable  fortune,  he  re- 
tired from  active  business  several  years  before  his  death, 
appearing  only  occasionally  in  court,  either  in  his  own 
behalf  or  for  some  old  -time  friend. 

Judge  Stapleton  was  regarded  as,  not  only  one  of 
the  ablest  but  as  well  one  of  the  most  successful  of 
the  pioneer  lawyers,  and  always  commanded  the  re- 
spect of  his  brothers  in  the  legal  profession. 

As  a citizen,  he  was  not  only  one  of  Montana’s  oldest, 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  but  one  of  her  worthiest  and 
most  valued  ones.  Throughout  his  life,  he  was  thor- 
oughly independent  in  thought  and  action ; he  hated 
sham  and  had  a ver\'  great  aversion  for  pretense  and 
hypocrisy,  as  well  as  being  a bitter  foe  of  fraud,  a 
firm  advocate  of  political  honor  and  an  earnest  and  in- 
defatigable striver  after  official  honesty  and  square 
dealing.  One  of  his  strongest  characteristics  was  his 
rugged  honesty.  His  reading  was  wide  in  its  scope, 
he  was  broad-minded  in  his  views,  independent  in 
thought  and  fearless  in  execution. 

As  previously  stated.  Judge  Stapleton  was  called  to 
his  final  rest  on  April  25,  1910.  He  had  been  ailing 
for  several  years,  but  his  trouble  was  not  such  as  to 
compel  him  to  take  to  his  bed,  although  preventing  him 
from  taking  an}'  active  part  in  business.  Two  days  be- 
fore his  death  he  was  out  walking  with  his  son,  laugh- 
ing and  telling  stories. 

“I  have  lived  long;  I have  had  a good  time;  I am  not 
scared  to  die ; the  game's  over.”  These  were  the  last 
words  he  uttered  shortl}'  before  he  threw  his  arm  around 
his  son,  Guy  W.  Stapleton,  and  passed  into  the  beyond. 

He  lived  to  see  the  fruit  of  his  labors  in  the  pros- 
perity and  happiness  of  the  people  he  so  faithfully 
served,  and  the  established  success  of  valued  public 
institutions  to  whose  creations  and  development  he 
so  essentially  contributed.  It  is  high  praise,  but  only 
a just  meed  to  merit  to  say,  that  he  deserved  in  full 
measure  the  public  esteem  he  so  richly  enjoyed. 

The  Anaconda  Standard,  at  the  time  of  Judge 
Stapleton’s  death,  editorially,  said  of  him  in  part: 
“Loved  by  more  than  a few,  feared  by  some,  he  was 
esteemed  by  many  and  respected  bj'  all.” 

In  1870,  Judge  Stapleton  was  married  to  iMiss  Cora  E. 
McIntosh,  a native  of  IMissouri.  Their  only  son,  Guy 
AV.  Stapleton,  received  his  academic  education  at  Deer 
Lodge,  ^Montana,  and  his  technical  professional  training 
in  the  law  department  of  the  LTniversity  of  Virginia, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1895.  He  at  once  became 
associated  with  his  father  in  active  practice,  at  Butte, 
where  he  has  since  been  located.  He  served  as  county 
attorney  of  Silver  Bow  county  and  has  also  served  as 
a member  of  the  Montana  state  legislature. 

He  is  one  of  the  well  known  of  the  younger  profes- 
sional men  and  capitalists  of  ^Montana,  whose  private 
interests  are  varied  and  extensive. 


888 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


George  W.  Irvix.  The  passing-  of  George  Y’.  Irvin 
on  March  i8,  1907,  deprived  Butte  and  the  state  of  Mon- 
tana of  one  of  her  pioneer  citizens,  and  of  a man  who 
made  history  in  the  state  from  the  days  of  his  earliest 
connection  therewith  until  his  death.  He  was  a man  of 
strong  character,  possessing  all  the  attributes  which  in- 
variably make  for  success  of  the  highest  and  most  last- 
ing order,  as  well  as  citizenship  of  the  finest  type. 

A native  of  Chicago,  Illinois,  George  W.  Irvin  was 
born  on  February  22,  1844,  the  son  of  John  B.  and  Ellen 
M.  (Walton)  Irvin,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  The 
father  was  an  early  settler  in  Chicago,  in  the  days  when 
it  was  not  more  than  a cabin  village  upon  the  lake 
front;  indeed,  so  unpromising  was  the  place  that  in 
1848  he  removed  his  family  to  his  native  state.  But  in 
1853  he  returned  once  more  to  Illinois,  this  time  locating 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  state.  He  later  removed  to 
Dubuque,  Iowa,  which  for  years  represented  his  home 
and  the  center  of  his  business  activities. 

George  \Y.  Irvin  diligentl3f  attended  school  until  he 
was  seventeen  years  of  age,  that  period  bringing  him  to 
the  opening  of  the  Civil  war.  He  sought  to  enlist  in 
a Kansas  regiment  for  the  three  months’  service,  but 
with  his  entire  company  was  rejected,  the  regiment  hav- 
ing been  filled  before  it  reached  Fort  Leavenworth.  In 
July,  1863,  when  not  yet  twenty  years  of  age,  he  assisted 
John  Bozeman  in  organizing  a party  to  make  an  over- 
land trip  to  Idaho,  western  Montana  then  being  a part 
of  that  territory.  Thus  early  in  life  did  the  bold  and 
venturesome  spirit  which  ever  characterized  the  actions 
of  Mr.  Irvin  assert  itself  in  his  connection  with  this 
expedition.  When  the  company  reached  the  place  now 
known  as  Buffalo,  Wyoming,  they  were  greeted  by  a 
band  of  Sioux  and  Cheyenne  Indians,  several  hundred 
strong,  and  things  were  made  interesting  for  their  party 
for  some  time.  After  a few  days’  detention  Mr.  Irvin 
and  a companion  were  sent  to  Fort  Laramie,  a distance 
of  175  miles,  to  secure  relief  for  the  beleaguered  party. 
They  made  the  trip  in  three  nights’  riding,  passing 
through  a hostile  Indian  country,  and  on  reaching  the 
Fort  were  refused  aid  by  the  post  commandant,  as  a re- 
sult of  which  the  party  returned  to  the  Platte  river. 
Certain  hardy  spirits  of  the  party,  however,  including 
Bozeman,  Irvin  and  eight  others,  refused  to  be  deflected 
from  their  original  purpose,  and  set  out  alone,  each 
equipped  with  a horse,  a rifle  and  ammunition,  and  ra- 
tions for  a day,  looking  forward  to  bringing  down  suffi- 
cient wild  game  to  suffice  their  needs  in  that  respect. 
It  was  in  late  August  that  they  reached  the  summit  of 
the  Belt  mountains,  there  getting  their  first  view  of 
beautiful  Gallatin  Valley.  Mr.  Irvin  gave  to  the  gap 
the  appellation  of  Bozeman  Pass,  a name  which  it  has 
since  continued  to  bear,  and  upon  the  site  where  they 
camped  is  located  the  city  of  Bozeman.  At  the  conflu- 
ence of  the  three  branches  of  the  Gallatin  river  the  little 
party  encountered  two  men  who  informed  them  of  the 
discovery  of  gold  in  Alder  Gulch,  now  Virginia  City. 
On  August  22,  1863,  Mr.  Irvin  reached  that  place,  im- 
mediately engaging  in  mining  operations,  to  which  line 
of  enterprise  he  gave  his  attention  there  and  in  Cali- 
fornia Gulch  for  something  like  two  years. 

Early  in  life  Mr.  Irvin  formed  his  first  connection 
with  affairs  of  a public  nature,  being  but  twenty-one 
years  of  age  when  in  1865  he  was  appointed  clerk  of  the 
commission  to  codify  the  laws  of  the  territory.  In  the 
following  year  he  became  assistant  assessor  of  internal 
revenue  for  the  district  comprising  Deer  Lodge,  Mis- 
soula and  Beaverhead  counties,  also  serving  as  deputy 
United  States  marshal.  In  1866  Deer  Lodge  reached 
the  dignity  of  a post  office,  and  Mr.  Irvin  was  appointed 
to  the  office,  retaining  the  post  for  two  years.  From 
1874  to  1876  he  was  under-sheriff  of  Deer  Lodge  county, 
and  he  was  public  administrator  of  the  county  in  1876, 
and  clerk  of  the  second  judicial  district  in  1879.  After 
his  removal  to  Silver  Bow  he  was  county  sheriff  from 


1882  to  1884,  and  he  was  United  States  marshal  in  1889 
and  1890,  being  the  last  man  to  hold  that  office  under 
the  old  territorial  regime  and  the  first  incumbent  after 
IMontana  became  a state.  As  a result  of  his  connection 
in  that  respect  he  was  superintendent  ex-officio  of  the 
territorial  penitentiary,  but  when  the  territory  became  a 
state  he  resigned  the  office.  In  1S93-4  he  was  state  com- 
missioner of  mineral  lands,  and  while  the  incumbent  of 
this  important  office  he  employed  counsel  and  fought  the 
Northern  Pacific  Railway  successfully  in  the  case  of  the 
Northern  Pacific  Railway  vs.  Richard  P.  Barden,  et  al. 
Following  the  decision  of  the  supreme  court  in  favor 
of  the  defendant,  through  the  aid  of  the  senators  and 
congressmen  from  Montana,  Mr.  Irvin  brought  about 
the  enactment  by  Congress  of  a law  for  the  subsequent 
examination,  classification  and  segregation  of  17,000,000 
acres  of  land  within  the  Northern  Pacific  land  grant, 
thus  saving  for  the  prospectors  about  one-half  of  the 
land  involved  and  relegating  it  to  the  public  mineral 
lands  of  the  United  States. 

In  1881  Mr.  Irvin  changed  his  residence  to  Butte, 
which  continued  to  represent  his  home  until  his  death. 
The  public  offices  named  above  of  which  Mr.  Irvin  was 
the  able  and  efficient  incumbent  are  sufficient  in  num- 
ber and  importance  to  convey  a somewhat  adequate  idea 
of  the  mental  capacity  and  executive  ability  of  the  man, 
and  they  show  clearly  the  character  of  his  services  to 
his  party  and  the  regard  in  which  he  was  ever  held  by 
those  in  high  places,  as  well  as  those  in  the  less  import- 
ant walks  of  life.  In  March,  1898,  Mr.  Irvin  was  ap- 
pointed postmaster  of  Butte,  a post  which  he  retained 
until  his  death.  In  his  capacity  as  postmaster  he  won 
high  commendation  for  his  ability  and  skill  in  the 
administration  of  its  affairs,  and  the  many  improvements 
he  brought  about  in  the  service.  Under  his  regime  the 
office  was  brought  to  the  very  highest  standard  and 
many  innovations  for  the  good  of  the  system  originated 
in  his  mind  and  were  carried  out  under  his  supervision, 
later  becoming  adopted  and  standardized  in  postal  cir- 
cles throughout  the  country. 

On  October  23,  1867,  Mr.  Irvin  was  united  m mar- 
riage at  Deer  Lodge-  with  Miss  Bettie  H.  Irvine,  the 
daughter  of  Thomas  Howard  Irvine.  One  daughter 
was  born  to  them,  Mary  B.,  who  died  on  September  17, 
1904.  Of  the  marriage  ceremony  a local  chronicle 
records  that  “three  hundred  citizens  of  the  territory 
attended  the  reception  at  the  Deer  Lodge  Hotel,  among 
whom  were  many  Indian  women,  wives  of  white  set- 
tlers,” a commentary  which  is  eloquent  of  the  freedom 
and  jovous  abandon  of  those  early  days. 

Mr.  Irvin  was  buried  in  Mount  Moriah  cemetery,  m 
Butte,  Montana,  The  widow  of  Mr.  Irvin  still  retains 
her  residence  in  Butte,  where  she  is  regarded  as  one  of 
the  city’s  most  estimable  ladies.  She  is  prominent  in  the 
Episcopal  church,  in  which  she  is  one  of  the  leading 
workers,  in  addition  to  which  she  carnes  on  a deal  of 
charitable  work  in  a great  many  directions. 

Concerning  the  passing  of  Mr.  Irvin,  many  interesting 
testimonials  to  his  life  and  work  were  published  at 
the  time,  some  of  which  we  shall  here  quote  as  being 
representative  of  the  general  regard  and  esteem  in 
which  the  deceased  was  held.  In  speaking  of  him  to 
the  Standard,  United  States  Senator  Lee  Mantle  said; 
“His  long  and  efficient  public  service  in  numerous  im- 
portant positions,  his  active  interest  in  public  affairs 
and  his  prominence  in  Republican  politics  long  since 
made  George  W.  Irvin  a distinguished  as  well  as  a 
familiar  nersonalitv  in  the  official,  social  and  political 
life  of  Montana.  'No  man  was  more  widely  or  more 
favorably  known  throughout  the  !-m,gth  and  breadth  of 
the  state.  I think,  perhaps,  it  was  in  political  conven- 
tions that  his ' impressive  personality,  his  clear  percep- 
tions, his  strong  individuality  and  dominating  force  of 
character  made  themselves  most  distinctly  felt.  On 
Mich  occasions  he  exerted  an  influence  peculiarly  his 
own,  and  when  aroused  gave  evidence  of  great  power. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


889 


If  he  believed  an  injustice  was  likely  to  be  done,  no 
considerations  of  tact,  no  pandering  to  expediency,  no 
appeal  of  clique  or  faction  could  stay  him  from  giving 
vigorous  and  often  caustic  expression  to  his  dissent  and 
his  condemnation  of  what  he  deemed  to  be  wrong;  and 
upon  such  occasions  he  usually  carried  his  point.  At  the 
same  time,  he  was  a sagacious  counselor,  possessed  of  a 
vast  fund  of  strong,  practical  common  sense,  all  of 
which  made  him  a potent  factor  in  shaping  the  policies 
and  destinies  of  the  Republican  party  in  this  state. 

“He  was  a man  of  unflinching  courage  and  great 
independence  of  character.  I do  not  think  he  knew 
the  meaning  of  fear  in  any  sense  or  under  any  circum- 
stances. He  possessed  a broad  and  keen  intelligence; 
had  read  and  studied  extensively,  and  was  gifted  with  a 
most  tenacious  memory,  which  rarely  ever  let  go  of  an 
event  or  fact  of  interest  or  importance,  either  local  or 
national.  He  was  a thinker,  and  held  decided  views 
upon  questions  of  public  concern.  He  had  the  courage 
of  his  convictions  and  gave  them  forcible  and  effective 
expression  whenever  occasion  required. 

“As  a potent  factor  in  the  pioneer  life  of  this  commu- 
nity, in  the  early  establishment  of  law  and  order  and 
the  rule  of  justice,  and  later  in  the  advancement  of  the 
moral,  material  and  intellectual  development,  he  ranked 
in  a class  with  that  great  Montanian,  the  lamented  Wil- 
bur F.  Sanders.  In  manner  he  was  dignified,  courtly 
and  affable;  a fine  conversationalist,  always  interesting 
and  entertaining,  whether  talking  in  private  or  speaking 
in  public.  His  fund  of  information  was  inexhaustible, 
and  it  was  indeed  a rare  treat  to  listen  to  his  recital  of 
early  experiences,  interspersed,  as  they  always  were, 
with  stories  told  with  a humor  and  in  a manner  pecul- 
iarly his  own.  In  all  Montana  no  man  was  more  wel- 
come at  the  banquet  board,  and  many  there  are  who  will 
recall  with  sentiments  of  genuine  pleasure,  now  mingled 
with  profound  regret,  his  felicitous  responses  when 
called  upon  for  a toast.  No  one  could  be  happier  on 
such  occasions,  and  his  remarks  were  always  a source 
of  unmixed  delight,  teeming  with  interesting  reminis- 
cences, sparkling  with  kindly,  genuine  humor,  and 
always  accompanied  by  a story  or  anecdote  to  give  pith 
and  point  to  the  subject. 

“George  W.  Irvin  might  have  had  almost  any  political 
honor,  within  the  gift  of  the  people  had  he  so  desired. 
Of  his  abilities  and  capacity  there  was  no  question. 
But  apparently  he  did  not  desire  it.  Neither  did  he  care 
for  great  wealth,  nor  seek  to  pander  to  it.  At  the  same 
time,  no  man’s  counsel  was  more  sought  or  valued  than 
his  in  times  of  stress  by  those  holding  positions  of  great 
responsibility  in  the  community. 

“I  never  knew  a man  so  absolutely  free  from  envy 
and  I never  heard  a word  fall  from  his  lips  except  in 
gratification  over  the  good  fortunes  of  others.  He  was 
an  optimist ; always  hopeful,  always  seeing  the  bright 
side  of  things,  always  holding  out  encouragement  to 
others.  If  he  had  trouble  and  worries  he  kept  them  to 
himself.  He  was  punctilious  in  the  discharge  of  every 
obligation,  no  matter  how  trifling.  Added  to  these,  he 
was  a genial,  companionable,  manly  man ; a loyal  and 
steadfast  friend,  and  a patriotic,  true  American  citizen. 
Death  had  no  terrors  for  him;  he  feared  it  less  than 
any  one  I ever  knew;  and  no  one  was  ever  less  con- 
cerned for  the  future.  He  believed  that  the  surest  pass- 
port to  whatever  of  happiness  or  salvation  might  be  be- 
yond was  in  being  square  and  honorable  here. 

“These,  somewhat  hurriedly  and  imperfectly  expressed, 
are  a few  of  my  impressions  of  one  of  the  best  men  I 
have  ever  known,  and  one  of  the  best  friendships  I have 
ever  had.  Our  friendship  ran  through  more  than  a 
quarter  of  a century,  and  my  regret  at  this  moment  is 
that  1 have  not  the  power  of  expression  to  put  into  words 
all  that  I think  and  feel,  and  all  that  his  useful  life  and 
sterling  character  deserve.  His  death  leaves  a void  in 
this  community  and  in  this  state  which  it  will  be  hard 


to  fill,  for  his  was  a commanding  presence  and  his  life 
was  a potent  force  for  good.” 

An  editorial  in  a Butte  daily  speaks  in  the  following 
terms  of  Mr.  Iryin : “It  would  be  hard  to  name  a citi- 

zen of  those  actively  identified  with  Butte’s  community 
life  whose  death  would  be  more  keenly  felt  by  men, 
women  and  children  in  every  walk  of  life  than  has  been 
the  passing  of  George  Irvin. 

“For  almost  half  a century,  or  since  the  days  when 
white  men  began  to  people  what  is  now  the  state  of 
Montana,  George  Irvin’s  erect  figure  has  been  as  famil- 
iar as  the  noble  outline'  of  the  hills  which  encircle  Sum- 
mit Valley.  Built  upon  big  lines  physically  and  men- 
tally, he  became  while  still  a young  man  a forceful  fac- 
tor in  the  growth  of  the  territory,  and  it  is  recorded  of 
him  that  from  those  stirring  days  when,  with  John 
Bozeman,  he  looked  upon  imminent  death  in  every  form 
unflinchingly  until  that  gray  dawn  when  peacefully  and 
in  the  slumber  like  unto  that  of  a babe,  his  kindly  soul 
passed  out  to  his  creator,  he  was,  the  same  frank,  fear- 
less, generous,  lovable  gentleman. 

“Disdaining  show  and  ostentation  of  any  kind,  his 
undisguised  analyses  of  men  and  situations  were  at 
times  almost  startling  in  their  candor,  but  to  those  in 
suffering  or  in  distress,  to  all  who  were  in  need  of  the 
sincere  condolence  or  assistance  of  a friend  or  counsel- 
lor, George  Irvin  was  as  gentle  as  a woman,  as  gracious 
as  a courtier,  with  a heart  full  of  human  sj'mpathy  and 
kindness. 

“Apart  from  that  charming,  innate  philosophy  which 
made  him  a man  with  the  young  heart  of  a boy,  George 
Irvin  possessed  those  traits  which  are  essential  to  leader- 
ship. Fluent  of  tongue,  and  of  pen,  a keen  observer,  a 
deep  thinker  and  a studious  reader,  when  he  said  or 
wrote  anything  it  was  worth  hearing  or  reading. 
Although  holding  Federal  office,  George  Irvin  was 
neither  a time  server  nor  an  office  hunter.  He  was  a 
bigger  man  than  is  required  for  the  duties  he  fulfilled; 
he  would  have  in  larger  fields  attained  a much  greater 
measure  of  success.  But  men  of  his  stamp  are  not  to  be 
measured  by  the  degrees  of  their  material  profit,  or  by 
their  acquisition  of  place  or  power  of  wealth  They  are 
guided  by  simple,  human  impulse  rather  than  by  cupid- 
ity or  restless  ambition ; their  influence  is  reflected  in 
the  lasting  love  and  respect  of  all  who  come  in  contact 
with  them,  and  there  is  no  one  who  knew  him  who  does 
not  count  the  death  of  ‘Uncle  George’  a personal  loss. 

“Butte  and  Montana  have  lost  a good  citizen;  thou- 
sands have  lost  a faithful  friend;  a wife  has  lost  a lov- 
ing husband ; but  neither  the  snows  of  the  centuries  nor 
the  sands  of  time  will  ever  cover  his  grave  deep  enough 
to  obliterate  the  memory  of  his  kindly  personality  or 
the  greatness  of  his  generous  heart.” 

Editorially,  the  Butte  Miner  said  in  part : “Butte  has 
been  called  upon  to  mourn  the  untimely  death  of  George 
W.  Irvin, — one  of  its  best  loved  public  citizens,  who  at 
the  time  of  his  demise  was  serving  his  third  term  as 
postmaster  of  this  city. 

“Mr.  Irvin  died  after  a short  illness,  and  his  death 
cast  a shadow  of  sorrow  over  the  entire  community,  for 
no  one  was  acquainted  with  him  who  did  not  have  an 
abiding  affection  for  him,  and  admire  his  sterling  quali- 
ties and  intellectual  endowments.  He  crossed  the  plains 
when  eighteen  years  of  age  with  John  M.  Bozeman,  and 
although  occasionally  away  from  the  state  on  public 
business,  once  spending  some  years  in  Washington,  as 
mineral  and  land  commissioner,  he  always  called  Mon- 
tana ‘home,’  and  took  an  immense  pride  in  the  upbuild- 
ing of  this  commonwealth.  With  the  history  of  early 
days  and  men  he  had  a most  intimate  knowledge,  for  he 
had  occupied  confidential  relations  of  friendship  with  all 
the  prominent  figures  that  have  had  a part  in  the  work 
of  making  Montana  what  it  is  today. 

‘‘Those  who  knew  him  best  know  that  it  was  his 
desire  that  when  he  crossed  to  the  other  side  no  ex- 


890 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


tended  obituary  notices  be  given  him,  for  he  often 
expressed  that  sentiment  which  Tennyson  put  into  verse: 
“ ‘Sunset  and  evening  star, 

And  one  clear  call  for  me! 

And  may  there  be  no  moaning  of  the  bar 
When  I put  out  to  sea.’ 

“The  death  of  ‘Uncle  George  Irvin,’  as  he  was  famil- 
iarly called,  has  left  a vacancy  in  the  business,  social  and 
club  life  of  Butte  that  can  never  be  filled,  and  he  will 
ever  be  held  in  affectionate  memory  by  all  those  now 
living  who  learned  to  know  and  love  him.” 

John  F".  Bishop.  Montana  owes  a debt  of  gratitude 
to  its  pioneers,  whose  stout  hearts,  alert  minds  and  will- 
ing hands  conquered  the  wilderness  and  whose  cour- 
age, determination  and  infinite  patience  in  the  face  of 
discouragement  made  it  possible  to  lay  in  the  new 
country  the  paths  of  civilization  straight  and  clean.  A 
representative  of  the  finest  type  of  pioneer  resides  in 
Dillon,  this  being  Jdhn  F.  Bishop,  one  of  the  most 
honored  and  prominent  of  the  citizens  of  Beaverhead 
county.  Fie  has  resided  in  the  state  since  1863,  and  in 
the  interim  has  engaged  in  mining,  ranching  and  sheep- 
raising, his  being  the  distinction  of  inaugurating  sheep- 
raising in  the  state,  the  first  stock  sheep  driven  into  the 
state  being  his  possession.  He  is  a great  traveler  and 
is  familiar  with  many  corners  of  the  country.  Mr. 
Bishop  is  a remarkably  public-spirited  man  and  there 
is  nothing  of  public  import  at  Dillon  or  in  all  the 
Beaverhead  valley  in  which  he  is  not  helpfully  inter- 
ested. 

Mr.  Bishop  was  born  at  Warsaw,  Wyoming  county. 
New  York,  his  eyes  first  opening  to  the  light  of  day  on 
March  14,  1836.  He  resided  in  the  Empire  state  until 
the  age  of  twenty-one  and  then  followed  the  tide  of 
migration  to  the  northwest,  locating  in  Kilbourn,  Wis- 
consin, where  he  followed  teaming  and  rafting  on  the 
Wisconsin  river  for  about  a twelvemonth.  Tiring  of 
that,  he  bought  forty  acres  of  prairie  land  in  the  vicinity 
of  Kilbourn,  with  the  intention  of  cultivating  it,  but 
again  he  became  interested  in  other  directions  and  at 
the  end  of  six  months  he  built  a flat  boat  and  went 
down  the  river  to  Hanfiibal,  Missouri,  where  he  spent 
anomer  six  months  and  then  went  to  St.  Louis  and 
thence  on  up  the  river  to  Leavenworth,  Kansas.  There 
he  hired  out  to  an  overland  train  for  Pike’s  Peak,  in 
some  useful  capacity,  and  his  subsequent  journeys  took 
him  to  Denver  and  to  Nevada  City,  Colorado,  where  he 
engaged  in  mining  and  teaming  for  some  three  years. 

In  the  spring  of  1863  Mr.  Bishop’s  peregrinations 
ceased,  for  he  came  to  Montana,  whose  advantages  and 
opportunities  appealed  to  him  so  eloquently  that  the 
wanderlust  was  never  again  able  to  get  hold  of  him. 
He  settled,  on  April  20th  of  the  year  mentioned,  in 
East  Bannack,  then  a part  of  Idaho,  and  his  first  occu- 
pation was  mining  in  Bivins  Gulch.  Subsequently  he 
followed  freighting  for  three  years  between  Virginia 
City  and  Salt  Lake  and  in  the  summer  of  1865  he 
freighted  from  Benton  to  Helena.  He  then  settled  In 
the  Beaverhead  valley,  about  eight  miles  below  Dillon, 
and  went  into  the  stock  raising  business.  This  county 
was  to  be  the  scene  of  his  residence  for  all  the  ensuing 
years.  In  1869  he  went  to  Oregon  with  Richard  A. 
Reynolds  and  these  gentlemen  bought  a band  of  stock 
sheep  at  The  Dalles  and  drove  them  through  to  Mon- 
tana, thus  becoming  pioneer  sheep  growers  in  the  Treas- 
ure state,  which  then  had  a score  of  years  before  it  as 
a territory.  As  mentioned  in  a preceding  paragraph, 
this  lot  from  The  Dalles  was  really  the  first  band  of 
stock  sheep  ever  driven  into  the  state.  His  operations 
in  sheep  raising  w'ere  on  ait  extensive  scale  and  pros- 
perity has  been  his  from  the  beginning;  he  is  a large 
land  holder  and  a man  of  substance  and  wealth.  In 
1899  he  sold  his  ranch  and  since  has  maintained  his 
residence  in  Dillon ; however  his  vast  interests  still 


occupy  a great  deal  of  his  time  and  he  is  by  no  means 
retired  in  the  usual  sense  of  the  word,  retaining  his 
pristine  vigor  and  executive  ability,  and  managing  his 
various  enterprises  with  rare  good  judgment. 

As  a citizen  Mr.  Bishop  is  interested  in  the  success 
of  good  government,  and  is  a Republican  in  his  con- 
victions, although  by  no  means  an  office  seeker.  He 
is  very  prominent  and  popular  in  Montana  Masonry, 
belonging  to  all  the  different  bodies  and  having  “traveled 
east”  with  the  Shriners.  He  was  at  one  time  eminent 
commander  of  the  Dillon  commandery  and  in  his  own 
living  he  exemplifies  the  ideals  of  moral  and  social 
justice  and  brotherly  love  for  which  the  order  stands. 
He  is  a member  of  the  Beaverhead  Social  Club  and  at 
one  time  a trustee.  He  was  formerly  a member  of  the 
board  of  managers  of  the  Montana  State  Normal  Col- 
lege. At  present  he  belongs  to  the  school  board  and  is 
the  staunch  champion  of  good  education.  He  has  the 
distinction  of  being  the  first  justice  of  the  peace  in 
Beaverhead  valley.  He  is  particularly  an  authority  on 
horses  and  loves  good  horse  flesh  and  horse  racing, 
and  on  his  own  property  raises  standard  bred  stock. 

Mr.  Bishop  was  married  at  Warsaw,  New  York,  Sep- 
tember 14,  1874,  the  young  woman  to  become  his  wife 
and  the  mistress  of  his  household  being  Jennie  F.  Pain- 
ter, daughter  of  Edwin  and  Hannah  Painter,  the  father 
an  agriculturist  in  the  vicinity  of  Warsaw.  Into  their 
home  have  been  born  three  children,  all  daughters. 
Mildred  E.,  born  in  Dillon,  is  the  wife  of  Leslie  A. 
Thompson  and  resides  at  Twin  Bridges,  where  Mr. 
Thompson  is  engaged  in  the  lumber  business.  Mary  P., 
born  in  Warsaw,  New  York,  died  in  Ogden,  Utah,  at 
the  age  of  five  years.  Jean  F.,  a native  of  Dillon,  makes 
her  home  with  her  parents  and  is  an  interesting  and 
accomplished  young  lady.  The  household  is  one  of  the 
favorite  gathering-places  in  Dillon,  and  its  hospitality 
is  renowned. 

Benjamin  B.  Bishop,  father  of  the  foregoing,  was 
born  in  Lancaster,  New  Hampshire,  and  when  young 
located  in  the  state  of  New  York,  where  he  engaged 
in  farming.  He  died  in  the  Empire  state  at  the  age  of 
ninety-one  years.  The  mother,  Lydia  Bishop,  was  a 
native  of  Warsaw,  New  York,  where  she  was  married 
and  lived  out  her  life.  She  preceded  her  husband  to 
the  Great  Beyond  by  many  years,  her  demise  occurring 
at  the  age  of  sixty-nine.  There  were  eleven  children  in 
the  family  of  these  good  people,  Mr.  Bishop  of  this 
review  being  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth.  Mr.  Bishop 
was  reared  to  the  sturdy  discipline  of  his  father’s^  farm 
and  earned  his  first  money  at  the  age  of  twelve,  digging 
potatoes.  He  became  a capitalist  to  the  extent  of  six 
dollars  and  invested  the  same  in  a calf  and  by  clever 
juvenile  speculating  increased  it  to  one  hundred  dol- 
lars. This  was  a real  start  in  life  and  he  has  been 
hustling  for  himself  ever  since.  He  is  an  extensive 
traveler,  making  regular  trips  to  such  parts  of  the 
North  American  continent  as  Alaska,  California  and 
Mexico.  When  the  canal  is  finished  he  intends  to  visit 
Panama.  He  is  familiar  with  a vast  extent  of  country 
and  his  various  experiences  have  made  him  a most 
entertaining  conversationalist.  He  declares  Montana  to 
be  the  best  state  in  existence  and  as  a man  of  strictest 
honesty  and  unfailing  good  judgment  he  must  be  taken 
at  his  word. 

Charles  D.  McLure.  In  the  story  of  one  of  the 
most  remarkable  and  most  valuable  mining  enterprises 
of  Montana,  the  history  of  the  discovery  and  develop- 
ment of  Granite  Mountain,  the  central  personality,  the 
man  whose  unshaken  confidence  and  tireless  resource 
brought  this  great  wealth  to  the  uses  of  the  world,  was 
Charles  D.^  McLure,  of  Philipsburg.  The  history  of 
Granite  Mountain  belongs  elsewhere  in  this  work,  and 
this  brief  article,  which  concerns  the  life  career  of  Mr. 
McLure,  will  make  only  such  reference  to  it  as  is 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


891 


necessary  to  an  understanding  of  the  character  and  work 
of  one  of  Montana’s  most  conspicuous  citizens. 

Charles  D.  McLure,  so  many  years  of  whose  early 
life  were  spent  on  the  western  frontier,  was  of  a race 
of  pioneers,  two  generations  before  him  having  been  in 
the  vanguard  of  the  progress  to  the  west.  He  was 
born  at  Carrollton,  Carroll  county,  Missouri,  Febru- 
ary 22,  1844,  and  was  reared  principally  in  the  city  of 
St.  Louis,  where  he  attended  the  public  schools.  His 
first  regular  employment  and  first  earnings  were  as  col- 
lector for  a railroad  company,  at  a salary  of  seventy- 
five  dollars  a month. 

In  i860,  when  he  was  sixteen  years  old,  he  joined  a 
freighting  outfit  on  the  way  from  Nebraska  to  Denver, 
and  was  thus  introduced  to  the  fascinating  adventures 
and  hardships  of  the  west.  Although  a boy  in  years,  he 
was  fitted  better  than  most  men  for  struggling  with 
the  conditions  of  the  new  and  developing  country  along 
the  slope  of  the  Rockies.  After  three  years  of  freight- 
ing in  Colorado  he  came  up  to  Virginia  City  with  a 
band  of  cattle,  the  route  being  over  trails  dimly  blazed 
and  through  the  Sioux  infested  valley  of  the  Platte. 
He  discharged  the  responsibilities  of  this  trust,  and  thus 
arrived  in  the  region  which  has  practicaly  ever  since 
been  the  scene  of  his  career. 

Having  accumulated  a little  capital,  and  having  plenty 
of  initiative  and  courage,  in  1865  he  engaged  in  freight- 
ing on  his  own  account,  operating  an  outfit  between 
Virginia  City  and  Salt  Lake  City  for  one  winter,  and 
then  between  Helena,  Benton  and  Fort  Copeland  to  the 
mouth  of  Milk  river.  After  that  he  transferred  his 
energies  to  mining.  His  first  venture  was  in  Confeder- 
ate gulch  for  one  year,  his  associates  being  Charles 
Dahler,  Ivey  Myers  and  W.  H.  Parkinson.  He  then 
moved  to  the  Unionville  district,  where  he  located  one 
particularly  valuable  lode,  an  extension  of  the  Whit- 
lach  Union.  But  he  was  soon  convinced  that  success 
in  quartz  mining  depended  upon  a thorough  knowledge 
of  geology  and  metallurgy,  and  having  reached  this  con- 
clusion he  proceeded  with  characteristic  energy  to  equip 
himself  for  what  has  been  his  life  profession.  Return- 
ing to  Missouri,  he  studied  the  science  that  underlies 
mining,  and  when  he  returned  to  Montana  it  was  to  take 
charge  of  the  old  Centennial  mill  in  Butte. 

In  1877  Mr.  McLure  assumed  the  management  of  the 
already  famous  Hope  mill  at  Philipsburg.  In  this  lo- 
cality he  found  the  field  of  achievement  for  which  all 
his  previous  life  had  been  a preparation.  It  was  largely 
due  to  the  energy  and  skill  with  which  he  handled  the 
Hope  mill  that  that  property  yielded  its  rich  revenues 
to  its  owners,  and  while  there  his  attention  was  at- 
tracted to  the  unpromising  prospect  that  had  been 
opened  in  Granite  Mountain.  Interesting  though  they 
are,  the  details  of  the  story  cannot  be  told  here.  Briefly 
narrated,  he  displayed  his  remarkable  faith  and  miner’s 
intuition  as  to  the  stores  of  silver  awaiting  behind  the 
granite  fortresses  of  this  mountain.  In  1880  he  took 
a bond  on  the  property,  with  difficulty  got  together  capi- 
tal to  make  the  venture,  and  started  the  attack  on  the 
great  ledge.  After  weeks  of  unprofitable  work,  with  no 
prospect  of  anything  better  in  sight,  a day  came  when 
there  was  no  more  mbney  available.  The  digging  of 
that  day  did  not  change  conditions,  and  with  the  last 
shift  it  was  apparent  that  operations  must  suspend,  for 
a time  at  least.  The  last  shot  was"  fired  on  the  evening 
of  that  day.  It  hurled  bonanza  ore  upon  the  muckers’ 
planks,  and  in  an  instant  transformed  Charles  D.  Mc- 
Lure from  an  almost  penniless  prospector  into  one  of 
the  greatest  mining  men  of  the  times. 

The  Granite  Mountain  has  produced  more  than 
twenty-five  millions  to  the  wealth  output  of  Montana. 
Most  of  it  and  of  other  enterprises  in  which  Mr.  Mc- 
Lure was  a prominent  factor  went  to  make  millionaires 
elsewhere,  but  he  has  retained  a share  of  it  all,  and 
for  thirty  years  has  been  ranked  among  the  successful 
and  wealthy  men  of  this  state.  As  another  writer  has 


said:  “There  are  many  mills  among  the  Montana 

Rockies  which  are  monuments  to  the  courage  of  this 
remarkable  man,  many  hoists  which  are  testimonials  to 
his  daring.  When  he  was  confident  there  was  ore  to  be 
found,  he  never  hesitated  a minute  to  risk  his  all  to 
find  it.  In  the  face  of  discouragement,  he  became  the 
bolder  and  more  determined.  The  harder  he  had  to 
fight,  the  better  he  fought.  And  it  stands  today  as  his 
record  that  he  was  almost  invariably  right.  When  he 
had  adopted  and  approved  a property,  he  knew  no  rest 
until  he  had  demonstrated  by  development  the  correct- 
ness of  his  theory  regarding  it.  Obstacles  which  would 
have  dismayed  an  ordinary  man,  he  brushed  aside  as 
if  they  were  nothing.  He  had  his  goal  set  and  he  worked 
straight  toward  it.  He  did  not  drive  blindly  at  it,  but 
he  worked  inteligently  and  effectively;  he  planned  his 
campaign,  and  he  followed  his  plan  through  thick  and 
thin.” 

What  Montana  means  to  him  in  the  light  of  his  own 
experience  Mr.  McLure  tells  in  his  own  words : “I 

came  to  Montana  when  there  were  very  few  roads.  I 
have  seen  it  grow  from  an  unorganized  territory  to  its 
present  development.  I saw  it  through  its  pioneer  days 
when  we  had  some  of  the  best  immigration  that  ever 
came  west  from  all  parts  of  the  Uinted  States.  I left 
Montana  in  1881  expecting  to  reside  in  St.  Louis.  But 
the  mountains  and  valleys,  the  beautiful  climate  and 
the  people  of  ^lontana,  and  the  state  in  general,  were 
more  attractive  to  me  than  I realized,  and  I have  re- 
turned.” 

Mr.  McLure  was  married  in  St.  Louis  in  November, 
1885,  to  Miss  Clara  M.  Edgar,  daughter  of  Mr.  and 
^vlrs.  T.  D.  Edgar,  of  that  city.  They  are  the  parents 
of  seven  children,  four  sons  and  three  daughters,  namely: 
Park,  Edgar,  William  R.,  Marianna,  Clara  E.,  Charlotte 
and  Charles  L.  All  of  them  reside  in  this  state,  and 
Edgar  and  William  are  married  and  have  homes  of  their 
own.  They  received  excellent  schooling,  and  some  of 
them  are  college  graduates. 

Mr.  McLure  has  for  years  been  one  of  the  leaders 
in  the  public  life  of  the  state,  and  is  one  of  the  most 
prominent  members  of  the  Democratic  party  of  Mon- 
tana. He  is  a member  of  the  Society  of  iMontana  Pio- 
neers and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Episcopal 
church.  At  his  home  in  Philipsburg  he  has  a very  fine 
private  library.  Though  he  began  life’s  battles  when  a 
boy,  and  spent  many  }-ears  among  the  crude  scenes  of 
a frontier  state,  he  has  acquired,  along  with  a broad 
and  deep  experience  of  men  and  affairs,  a cultured  ac- 
quaintance with  books  and  their  contents.  Much  of 
his  study  has  been  directed  along  scientific  lines,  es- 
pecially in  connection  with  his  profession,  and  as  a met- 
allurgist he  has  high  rank.  Much  that  he  has  achieved 
during  nearly  a half  century  of  residence  in  Montana 
has  been  wrought  into  the  history  of  the  state.  To  state 
his  career  in  concise  language,  he  first  came  upon  Mon- 
tana’s soil  as  a freighter  and  became  one  of  the  state’s 
greatest  men. 

Hon.  S.^muel  W’ord,  who  died  in  1907,  was  a pioneer 
and  an  eminent  citizen  of  Helena,  who  came  to  the 
west  before  the  existence  of  Montana  as  a state  or 
territory,  and  in  this  district  he  was  ever  a leader  in 
affairs  of  moment.  His  ancestors  were  among  the 
early  settlers  of  South  Carolina  who  came  from  Scot- 
land previous  to  the  American  Revolution.  From  two 
brothers  of  the  name,  sprang  the  Words  now  scattered 
throughout  Virginia  and  other  southern  states. 

Samuel  Word  was  the  son  of  William  and  Susan 
Boyd  (Banton)  Word.  The  father  was  born  in  Powell’s 
Valley,  Tennessee,  in  1808,  and  in  early  manhood  re- 
moved from  that  state  into  Knox  county,  Kentucky, 
where  he  majried,  and  in  that  county  Samuel  Word 
was  born  at  Barboursville,  on  January  19,  18,37.  The 
Word  familv  then  went  to  Somerset,  Pulaski  county, 
and  subsequently  in  1856  to  Kansas,  later  moving  on 


892 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


to  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  and  there  the  father  died  when 
he  was  seventy-three  years  of  age.  His  widow  sur- 
vived him  for  a brief  period,  and  was  of  the  same  age 
as  her  husband  was  at  death  when  she  passed  away. 
William  Word  was  a farmer  by  occupation  and  both  he 
and  his  wife  were  faithful  adherents  of  the  faith  of 
Alexander  Campbell,  the  founder  of  the  Christ’.an 
church,  of  wdiich  they  were  members. 

Samuel  Word,  their  son,  received  educational  ad- 
vantages of  a somewhat  meagre  nature,  due  to  the 
undeveloped  educational  system  prevailing  in  our 
country  in  his  youth,  but  he  was  naturally  studious, 
and  early  in  life  displayed  a strong  tendency  toward 
the  law.  In  time  he  entered  the  office  of  Andrew  J. 
James,  afterwards  attorney-general  of  Kentucky,  and 
though  he  studied  diligently,  he  found  himself  handi- 
capped as  much  by  his  lack  of  earlier  education  as 
by  his  limited  financial  means.  He  was  sufficiently 
grounded  in  the  rudiments  of  education,  however,  that 
he  found  it  possible  to  further  his  own  fortunes  by 
teaching  those  less  advanced  than  himself,  and  after 
teaching  for  a considerable  period,  he  was  able  to 
enter  Bethany  College,  in  Virginia,  where  he  applied 
himself  so  assiduously  that  his  health  failed  him  under 
the  strain.  After  a season  of  rest  at  home,  he  again 
entered  upon  his  legal  studies,  entering  the  office  of 
Silas  Woodson,  afterwards  governor  of  Missouri.  Un- 
der the  able  preceptorship  of  Mr.  Woodson  he  con- 
tinued with  his  studies  until  1858,  which  year  found 
him  qualified  to  enter  upon  the  active  practice  of  his 
profession,  and  he  located  in  Oregon,  Holt  county, 
Missouri.  He  formed  a partnership  with  Col.  James 
Foster  and  soon  was  in  command  of  a flourishing  prac- 
tice. It  was  here  that  he  met  and  married  Miss  Sarah 
Margaret  Foster.  She  was  a native  of  Clay  county, 
Missouri,  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry,  her  father  having 
been  a native  of  Ireland  and  her  mother,  who  was  Miss 
Helen  J.  Thompson  prior  to  her  marriage,  being  of 
Scotch  descent.  Four  children  were  born  to  Samuel 
and  Sarah  M.  Word;  William  F.,  a prominent  min- 
ing engineer  of  Helena ; Robert  Lee,  an  attorney  and 
ex -judge  of  the  supreme  court;  Charles  F.,  an  attorney 
and  May. 

Shortly  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Word  started  for 
the  west,  bent  upon  success  and  firmly  convinced  that 
in  this  as  yet  but  partially  explored  country  there  were 
opportunities  in  multitude  for  the  ambitious  man.  This 
was  in  1863,  at  a time  when  Montana  was  yet  embraced 
by  the  territory  of  Idaho,  and  to  Alder  Gulch,  famous 
in  mining  history,  Mr.  Word  made  his  way.  He  engaged 
promptly  in  mining  ventures,  but  a brief  season  was 
sufficient  to  convince  him  that  he  could  make  more 
rapid  progress  by  means  of  his  profession  than  was 
possible  to  him  in  the  prospecting  business.  This 
willingness  to  “make  haste  slowly”  proved  to  be  the 
foundation  of  his  ultimate  splendid  success.  One  year 
in  the  practice  of  law  in  Alder  Gulch  was  a sufficient 
“try  out"  of  the  west  for  Mr.  Word,  and  he  accord- 
ingly returned  to  Missouri,  settled  up  his  affairs  in 
that  state,  and  brought  his  wife  to  Virginia  City. 

It  was  in  1865  that  Mr.  Word  was  appointed  by 
Governor  Edgerton  territorial  prosecuting  attorney  to 
fill  an  unexpired  term  in  the  first  judicial  district. 
His  abilities  for  the  office  were  soon  made  manifest 
in  a most  practical  way,  and  he  was  later  elected  reg- 
ularly to  the  place,  filling  the  position  for  a two  year 
term.  In  addition  to  his  legal  activities,  it  is  freely 
asserted  by  men  of  prominence  in  Helena  and  there- 
about that  Mr.  Word  was  one  who  imparted  great 
impetus  to  the  mining  industry  in  the  territory  in 
1884-5,  and  it  was  he  who  conceived  the  idea  of  plac- 
ing the  stock  of  the  famous  Drum  Lummon  mine  on 
the  market.  Furthermore,  to  Mr.  Word  is  due  much 
of  the  credit  for  the  early  development  of  the  coal 
industry  in  Montana,  as  he,  in  company  with  Hon. 
Walter  Cooper  and  others,  opened  its  first  coal  fields. 


They  obtained  the  Rocky  Fork  coal  fields  and  were 
associated  in  the  industry  with  the  following  well-known 
men : Samuel  T.  Hauser,  Henry  Villard,  Thomas 

F.  Oakes,  then  president  of  the  Northern  Pacific;  James 
L.  Platt  and  James  B.  Hubbell.  A railroad  of  fifty 
miles  in  length  was  built  from  Laurel  to  Red  Lodge 
where  the  coal  fields  were  located,  and  while  other 
coal  fields  have  since  been  developed,  theirs  was 
the  initial  enterprise  of  that  nature  and  the  first  in 
the  development  of  one  of  the  great  natural  industries 
of  the  state. 

Mr.  Word  was  always  an  active  Democrat,  and  in 
the  various  campaigns  in  which  that  party  figured,  he 
has  done  much,  both  on  the  stump  and  in  party  coun- 
cils, to  bring  about  its  success. 

In  1897  Hr.  Word  was  sent  to  Dawson  City,  Alaska, 
as  counsel  of  the  North  American  Transportation  Com- 
pany, where  he  continued  until  June,  1900,  later  going 
to  Cape  Nome,  where  he  was  located  for  some  little 
time.  Mr.  Word  was  a member  of  the  house  of  rep- 
resentatives (fourth  and  extra  sessions  1867).  Member 
council  sixth  session  1869-70.  Member  house  ninth 
session  1876.  Member  tenth  session  1877.  Speaker 
eleventh  and  extra  sessions  1879.  Territorial  legislative 
assemblies.  Member  tonstitutional  convention  1886. 
President  of  Society  of  Montana  Pioneers  1891-2.  He 
was  a Mason  of  high  degree,  being  a member  of  all  its 
branches,  and  he  was  Grand  Master  of  Masons  of 
Montana  in  1887.  He  was  a splendid  type  of  the  best 
citizenship  of  the  west,  and  as  a man  of  big  affairs, 
exceptional  executive  ability  and  the  highest  integrity, 
he  won  for  himself  a name  second  to  none  among 
those  of  the  pioneers  of  his  time  in  the  state  of 
Montana.  Died  at  Helena,  Montana,  September,  1903. 

Robert  Lee  Word.  Born  in  Virginia  City,  Montana, 
June  22,  1866.  Parents  were  Samuel  Word  and 
Sarah  M.  Word.  Went  to  Ann  Arbor  high  school. 
Philips  Exeter  Academy  and  Columbia  Law  School. 
Admitted  to  the  bar  in  1889.  Clerk  of  the  supreme 
court  from  1887  to  1889.  Member  of  the  law  firm 
of  Word,  Smith  & Word  from  1890  to  1892.  Mem- 
ber of  the  law  firm  of  Smith  & Word  from  1892  to 
1896.  Appointed  associate  justice  of  the  supreme 
court  of  the  state  of  Montana  to  succeed  Wm.  H. 
Hunt  in  June,  1900.  Married  November  14,  1900. 
Has  four  children,  three  boys  and  one  girl.  Member 
of  the  law  firm  of  Word  & Word  from  1901  to  1911; 
which  firm  was  dissolved  by  the  death  of  Chas.  F. 
Word  in  June,  1911.  Since  then  has  practiced  law 
alone. 

William  Lowe.  Hailed  everywhere  by  his  fellows 
as  the  “Grand  Old  Pioneer,”  upright,  honorable,  splen- 
did, a man  among  men,  one  cannot  mention  the  name 
of  William  Lowe  anywhere  in  the  state  of  Montana 
without  bringing  forth  words  of  such  praise  as  it  is  not 
often  given  men  to  listen  to,  and  expressions  of  grief 
that  in  its  genuineness  is  the  greatest  proof  of  the  af- 
fection and  esteem  in  which  this  fine  old  citizen  of 
Montana  was  held.  He  has  gone  from  among  his  old 
friends,  but  the  strength  and  power  of  his  memory  is 
undiminished,  and  his  influence  is  still  felt  among 
those  whom  he  left  behind.  It  is  not  often  that  one 
has  the  opportunity  of  writing  the  life  of  such  a man. 
A fine  business  man,  an  earnest,  energetic  citizen, 
active  in  all  movements  for  the  betterment  of  his 
section  of  the  country,  it  is  not  thus  that  he  is  re- 
membered. It  is  his  personal  character  that  made 
him  so  well  beloved,  and  so  influential.  People  may 
forget  that  he  built  no  a great  business  from  practically 
nothing,  but  they  will  never  forget  his  generosity,  his 
little,  almost  unseen  deeds  of  kindness,  his  rigid  stand 
for  truth  and  honor  and  justice  tempered  with  mercy. 
With  men  like  William  Lowe  behind  them,  men  who 
stood  for  all  that  is  highest  and  noblest  in  human 


V' 


0- 


HISTORY  OF  ^lOXTAXA 


nature,  just  the  inspiration  that  is  to  be  gained  from 
the  knowledge  that  they  are  descended  irom  such  a 
race  of  men  ought  to  give  the  men  of  Montana  su- 
perior advantage  over  the  men  of  most  sections  of  the 
country. 

William  Lowe  was  a native  of  England,  having  been 
born  there  on  the  17th  of  February,  1829.  His  par- 
ents came  to  America  and  settled  in  Rhode  Island  when 
he  was  a tiny  child.  Here  William  grew  to  manhood, 
attending  the  public  schools  of  Providence,  where  his 
parents  lived,  and  imbibing  all  the  sturdy  and  vigorous 
moral  and  physical  vitality  that  was  in  the  very  air 
of  that  old  settlement.  After  the  completion  of  his 
education  he  learned  the  tinner’s  trade,  and  this  busi- 
ness or  modifications  of  it,  he  was  destined  to  follow 
more  or  less  throughout  the  whole  of  his  life.  He  fol- 
lowed his  trade  for  a time  in  Providence,  and  here  he 
married  and  began  his  wedded  life.  His  first  child 
was  born  here,  but  died  in  infancy.  In  1858,  following 
the  same  instinct  that  led  his  parents  to  cross  the 
ocean,  he  crossed  the  great  stretch  of  country  to  the 
Mississippi  river  and  settled  in  Iowa,  at  Canton,  in 
Jones  count3v  Here  he  set  up  a hardware  and  tinning 
business,  in  which  he  met  with  considerable  success. 
He  operated  this  business  until  1863.  when  he  made  an- 
other westward  move  and  came  to  the  territory  of  Mon- 
tana. Those  days  might  be  called  pre-pioneer  days, 
for  there  were  scarcely'  any  white  men  in  the  country 
at  all,  and  these  were  to  be  found  in  the  mining  camps, 
save  for  the  few  traders  and  trappers  who  were  the 
first  to  penetrate  the  fastnesses  of  Montana's  moun- 
tains. The  plains  were  covered  with  buffalo  and  the 
mountains  were  teeming  with  Indians.  It  was  not 
hard  to  live,  for  the  country  swarmed  with  wild  game 
of  all  sorts,  and  in  fact  conditions  of  life  were  much 
like  those  of  the  first  settlers  in  New  England  and 
Virginia  in  the  days  when  America  was  a new  and 
practically  unexplored  country. 

_Mr.  Lowe  went  to  work  in  the  mines  near  Virginia 
City,  which  was  only  a rough  mining  camp,  and  during 
the  next  eighteen  years  he  resided  in  that  part  of 
Montana.  _ During  all  of  this  time  Ife  was  principally 
engaged  in  mining  and  prospecting  for  indeed  there 
was  little  else  to  do  in  the  country.  He  had  enough 
experiences  to  fill  many  books  and  to  give  texts  for 
many  a storj'  that  would  be  decried  as  the  merest 
fiction  and  as  impossible  even  in  yellow-backed  liter- 
ature. He  was  a warm  personal  friend  of  Colonel 
ganders  when  the  latter  was  federal  or  territorial 
judge  for  ^Montana.  He  witnessed  the  first  lynching 
that  ever  took  place  in  the  territory,  the  man  being 
put  to  death  b}^  the  Vigilance  Committee,  which  had 
been  organized  to  see  that  justice  was  administered,  and 
who  took  summary  means  of  executing  it.  The  law 
breakers  at  that  time  could  keep  beyond  the  pale  of  the 
law._  of  which  indeed  there  was  very  little,  and  the 
Vigilance  Committee  was  a very  necessary  institu- 
tion. 

In  i88r  Air.  Lowe  came  to  Dawson  county,  and 
settled  at  Glendive,  where  he  remained  for  the  rest 
of  his  life.  _ He  opened  a hardware  store  and  tinning 
shop  here,  in  a tiny  little  log  building.  As  the  town 
grew  Mr.  Lowe’s  patronage  became  larger,  and  he 
was  ^tabled  to  gradually  increase'  his  facilities,  but 
on  his  arrival  Glendive  was  nothing  but  a log  trad- 
ing  post,  and  his  stock  in  trade  was  very  meager.  At 
the  time  of  his  death  he  owned  one  of  the  largest  and 
most  complete  stocks  of  hardware  to  be  found  in 
Alontana  and  this  was  housed  in  a fine  two-story  brick 
building.  This  large  business  was  partly  due  to  the 
growth  of  the  town  and  the  greater  demand  for 
what  he  had  to  offer,  but  his  personal  popularity  had 
a great  deal  to  do  with  his  prosperity,  and  there  was 
not  a man  in  the  whole  country  round  about  who 
did  not  know  that  when  they  traded  with  Air.  Lowe 


893 

they  were  sure  to  get  honest  values  and  the  best  that 
was  to  be  had  in  the  hardware  line. 

Air.  Lowe  was  married  in  1857,  at  Providence,  Rhode 
Island,  to  Helen  Baird.  Seven  children  were  born 
to  them,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  Edwin  died 
at  the  age  of  fourteen  and  Esther,  at  the  age  of  twenty. 
The  living  children  are  Mrs.  F.  ^nk  Fleming,  of 
Glendive,  Alontana,  and  the  two  sons,  Guy  R.  and 
Ray  G.,  who,  succeeding  their  father  in  the  business, 
are  keeping  up  the  standard  set  by  him.  They  are 
known  throughout  Dawson  county  as  straightfor- 
ward, reliable  business  men,  and  the  business  which 
their  father  founded  bids  fair  to  be  as  prosperous  in 
the  hands  of  the  sons  as  it  was  in  the  hands  of  the 
father.  It  is  no  more  than  people  expected,  however, 
for  a son  necessarily  inherits  some  of  the  traits  of 
his  parents,  and  in  this  case  the  boys  had  the  advantage 
of  a wise  and  careful  training.  Their  mother  was  a 
delightful  old  gentlewoman,  to  use  an  old  fashioned 
term  which  suits  her  perfectly,  refined  and  gentle,  and 
she  w'as  the  devoted  wife  and  mother  for  many  years, 
dying  in  1885. 

In  politics  Air.  Lowe  was  a stanch  Republican,  and 
his  sons  have  here  also  followed  in  his  footsteps. 
Among  his  papers  w'ere  found  some  curious  relics  that 
date  back  to  the  earijr  days  of  this  party,  among  them 
being  a newspaper  bearing  the  date  Thursday,  July  2, 
1863,  ^nd  printed  in  Vicksburg,  Alississippi,  on  the 
back  of  a piece  of  wall  paper.  In  fraternal  affairs  Air. 
Lowe  was  a Alason  of  long  standing,  having  become  a 
member  of  the  lodge  at  Canton,  Iowa,  before  coming 
west  and  always  holding  his  membership  in  that  chap- 
ter. 

The  death  of  Air.  Lowe  occurred  on  the  26th  of 
A^a}^  1912,  and  at  the  time  he  was  the  oldest  resident 
of  Dawson  county.  So  passed  from  among  us  one  of 
the  noble  spirits  of  the  earth,  one  of  the  men  who 
make  life  seem  worth  while  and  who  inspire  others  to 
live  up  to  their  highest  ideals  and  forget  that  “money 
talks,”  for  instance,  or  any  other  of  the  stock  phrases 
that  make  up  the  practical  world’s  philosophy.  Air. 
Lowe  proved  that  one  could  make  a comfortable  living 
honestly  and  the  regard  with  which  he  is  spoken  of  by 
every  one  shows  that  the  lessons  taught  by  his  life 
will  not  soon  be  forgotten. 

WiLLi.vM  B.  C.\RTER.  For  a half  century  William 
B.  Carter  has  been  identified  with  the  growth  and 
development  of  this  section  of  Alontana,  having  located 
here  when  the  present  state  was  yet  a portion  of  Idaho. 
Since  1868  he  has  been  devoted  to  ranching,  and  has 
in  the  years  that  have  elapsed  acquired  one  of  the  most 
valuable  ranching  properties  in  the  state.  He  is  a 
man  who  has  seen  western  life  in  all  its  varied  phases, 
from  the  days  when  the  new  settlers  lived  in  momentary 
expectation  of  Indian  raids  and  depredations  of  law- 
less characters  of  every  sort  to  the  days  of  comparative 
quiet  and  the  present  even  trend  of  events  in  the  great 
western  state. 

William  B.  Carter  was  born  in  Geau.ga  count\',  Ohio, 
near  Cleveland,  on  April  23,  1839,  and  is  the  son  of 
J.  H.  Carter  and  his  wife,  Caroline  G.  C.  (Burgess) 
Carter,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Vermont,  The 
father  died  in  Ohio  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  3’ears 
and  the  mother  in  the  same  state  when  she  was  eight3'- 
seven  years  old.  The  country  schools  of  his  native  com- 
munity gave  to  William  Carter  such  schooling  as  he 
was  permitted  to  receive  as  a bo3^  and  he  was  employed 
about  the  farm  home  until  he  was  about  twenty-two 
years  of  age,  when  in  1863  he  started  for  California. 
He  stopped  in  Salt  Lake.  LTtah,  on  the  way  out,  and  on 
Juh-  I,  1863,  reached  Bannack.  Soon  thereafter  he 
went  to  Alder  Gulch,  arriving  at  Virginia  City  in  the 
same  month.  He  on  the  evening  of  the  day  he  arrived 
there  obtained  employment,  receiving  five  dollars  a night 
for  his  work  on  the  claim  of  Colonel  Woods,  one  of  the 


894 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


well-known  miners  and  prospectors,  who  was  also 
known  as  a preacher  in  the  mining  camp,  where  he  held 
regular  Sunday  services.  Here  Mr.  Carter  worked 
for  one  hundred  nights,  then  returned  to  Salt  Lake 
City  and  purchased  three  yoke  of  cattle  and  a wagon, 
ami  brought  a load  of  provisions  to  Virginia  City.  He 
arrived  with  his  load  of  supplies  on  Christmas  day, 
1863,  and  from  then  until  1867  he  continued  in  the 
freighting  business.  Since  that  time  he  has  given  his 
energies  to  the  stock  business,  sheep,  cattle  and  horses 
being  the  products  of  his  ranch.  He  has  a fine  place 
of  sixteen  hundred  acres  in  the  vicinity  of  Dillon, 
where  he  lived  with  his  family  until  1882,  in  which  year 
they  moved  into  the  town  of  Dillon,  and  here  have 
resided  ever  since. 

It  is  needless  to  add  that  Mr.  Carter  has  enjoyed  a 
splendid  success  in  his  operations.  His  present  circum- 
stances speak  for  his  business  prosperity,  and  he  is 
everywhere  regarded  as  one  of  the  financially  respons- 
ible men  of  the  city  and  county.  In  the  early  years  of 
-\lr.  Carter's  operations  in  Montana  he  had  a partner 
in  the  person  of  B.  C.  Bennett,  their  association  con- 
tinuing from  1863  to  1867.  Their  relations  all  this  time 
were  of  the  most  amicable  order,  and  were  only  discon- 
tinued when  Mr.  Bennett  returned  to  his  old  home  in 
(.)hio,  married  and  settled  in  his  former  home,  dying 
there  in  1895. 

On  July  4,  1868,  Mr.  Carter  was  married  to  Miss 
Anna  Selway,  who  was  born  in  Racine,  Wisconsin,  and 
came  to  Montana  in  1864.  She  is  one  of  the  pioneer 
women  of  Montana,  and  is  the  mother  of  seven  chil- 
dren, as  follows : Carrie  E.,  Ada  B.,  Frederick  W.,  Lee 
S.,  Guy  J.,  Florence  C.  and  Anna  B. 

Orson  N.  Newman.  Probably  within  the  confines  of 
the  Yellowstone  Valley  there  is  no  family  better  known 
than  that  of  Newman.  Certain  it  is  that  its  members 
have  been  closely  identified  with  the  almost  phenomenal 
growth  and  development  of  this  section  since  earliest 
pioneer  days,  and  many  now  bearing  the  name  are  hold- 
ing positions  of  importance  in  public  and  private  life. 
Since  colonial  times  in  America  members  of  the  New- 
man family  have  been  leaders  in  the  settlement  of  new 
sections  of  the  country,  and  among  the  representatives 
of  the  name  in  Montana  the  venerable  Orson  N.  New- 
man, of  Billings,  stands  pre-eminent.  He  was  born  in 
Orleans  county.  New  York,  February  15,  1830,  and  is  a 
son  of  Joel  and  Hannah  (Lyon)  Newman. 

The  Newman  family  is  traced  back  to  colonial  times, 
when  three  brothers  of  the  name  came  to  America,  and 
some  of  their  descendants  fought  as  soldiers  in  the 
Continental  army  during  the  Revolutionary  war,  as  did 
also  members  of  the  Lyons  family.  Joel  Newman  was 
born  in  Delaware  county.  New  York,  March  22,  1788, 
and  died  October  6,  1866.  As  a young  man  he  traveled 
to  Orleans  county,  where  he  hewed  him  a home  from 
the  wilderness,  and  in  1830  he  went  to  Wayne  county, 
settling  in  Plymouth  township,  where  the  rest  of  his 
life  was  spent  in  agricultural  pursuits.  In  political 
matters  he  was  an  old-line  Whig  until  the  year  1855, 
at  which  time  he  joined  the  Republican  party.  During  a 
part  of  the  War  of  1812  he  fought  as  a soldier  in  the 
.\merican  army.  He  married  Hannah  Lyon,  who  was 
born  in  New  Jersey,  June  18,  1794,  and  died  February 
3,  1853,  and  to  this  union  there  were  born  five  daughters 
and  seven  sons,  the  four  youngest  sons  still  surviving: 
Timothy,  who  resides  in  Clinton  county,  Michigan ; 
Orson  N. ; Hiram,  living  in  Polk  county,  Oregon ; and 
■Albert,  a resident  of  California. 

After  securing  a common  school  education  in  his 
native  state,  Orson  N.  Newman  left  home  at  the  age  of 
nineteen  years  and  went  to  work  for  wages,  his  first 
employment  being  at  clearing  land.  ^ He  subsequently 
spent  eight  years  in  the  lurnber  business,  working  in 
the  woods  of  northern  Michigan,  on  the  Muskegon  river, 
and  while  in  that  locality,  April  3,  1855,  was  married. 


During  the  spring  of  1858  he  left  Michigan  with  his 
wife  and  two  children,  crossed  Lake  Michigan  by  boat  to 
Chicago,  went  thence  by  rail  to  St.  Louis,  and  by  steam- 
ship up  the  Missouri  river  to  Atchison,  Kansas.  At 
that  point  they  took  a mule  team  to  America,  ninety 
miles  west  of  Atchison,  this  being  the  extreme  western 
frontier  town  at  that  time.  There  Mr.  Newman  took  up 
land  and  spent  four  years  in  improving  his  property, 
and  had  a fair  measure  of  success,  although  of  con- 
veniences there  were  few  and  neighbors  even  less.  Of 
Indians  and  buffalo,  however,  there  were  a plentiful 
quantity.  On  July  2,  1862,  Mr.  Newman  left  Kansas  by 
o.x-team  overland  to  Camp  Collins,  Colorado,  where  he 
spent  the  fall  and  winter  of  1862-3,  and  in  the  spring 
of  the-  latter  year  he  and  his  family  joined  a freight 
train  for  East  Bannack,  territory  of  Montana,  at  which 
point  the  train  broke  up.  The  members  of  the  Newman 
family  spent  one  week  at  that  place  and  then  moved  on 
to  Alder  Gulch,  and  at  the  present  site  of  Virginia  City 
Mr.  Newman  was  engaged  in  digging  a drain,  at  six 
dollars  per  day.  Mrs.  Newman  assisted  her  husband 
materially  at  this  time  by  selling  milk  from  the  cows 
that  they  had  brought  through  from  Kansas,  as  well  as 
disposing  of  bread  which  she  had  baked,  and  after  they 
had  remained  in  Alder  Gulch  for  six  weeks  they  moved 
on  to  Madison  Valley,  where  Mr.  Newman  took  up  a 
hay  claim.  At  that  time  he  was  compelled  to  pay^ 
twenty-five  dollars  apiece  for  scythes,  while  help  was 
not  to  be  had  cheaper  than  five  dollars  per  day,  but 
during  the  six  years  that  he  remained  in  that  locality 
he  met  with  success,  and  built  a station  known  as  Elk- 
horn  Ranch  Farm  Roadhouse.  During  i86g  the  family 
started  overland  for  California,  and  in  October  of  that 
year  arrived  at  Santiago,  where  they  remained  for  one 
year.  In  1870  they  went  to  that  portion  of  San  Ber- 
nardino county  which  has  recently  been  made  River- 
side county,  and  there,  in  November,  1870,  Mr.  Newman 
assisted  in  putting  in  the  first  irrigation  ditch  in  that 
portion  of  the  country.  He  located  ten  acres  of  land 
and  planted  grapes  and  oranges,  but  in  May,  1873,  with 
a four-horse  team,  left  the  Golden  state  to  travel  over- 
land to  Salem,  Oregon.  During  the  winter  of  1873-4 
he  was  engaged  in  contracting  and  cutting  timber  for 
sawmills,  and  he  then  went  to  the  Snohomish  river, 
Washington  territor_v,  on  Puget  Sound,  about  fifty  miles 
from  Seattle.  There  he  and  his  two  sons,  Charles  H. 
and  Edwin  M.,  spent  the  summer  of  1874  working  in  a 
lumber  camp,  and  the  four-horse  team  was  again  put 
into  commission,  the  family  starting  for  Portland,  Ore- 
gon, over  the  Barlow  Pass,  into  the  Walla  Walla 
country,  and  on  to  Palouse,  just  over  the  line  from 
Idaho.  After  passing  the  latter  point  they  were  snow- 
bound in  western  Idaho  and  were  compelled  to  spend 
the  winter  there,  building  a crude  cabin  in  which  they 
lived  until  the  spring  of  1875.  At  that  time  they  came 
through  to  the  old  family  homestead  on  Meadow  Creek, 
Montana,  and  after  spending  three  months  there  moved 
on  to  Bozeman,  where  they  spent  the  winter.  In  the 
spring  of  1876  they  engaged  in  farming  in  the  Gallatin 
Valley,  but  only  remained  two  years,  when,  deciding  to 
again”  seek  new  territory,  they  loaded  a large  wagon 
with  provisions  and  seed,  and  with  three  yoke  of  cattle 
came  overland  to  the  Yellowstone  Valiev  and  located 
near  Coulson,  now  a deserted  village  about  two  miles 
from  the  present  dtv  of  Billings.  They  arrived  March 
16,  1878,  and  the  father  and  sons  at  once  began  farm- 
ing together,  but  later  this  partnership  was  discontinued 
when  the  sons  engaged  in  the  sheen  business.  Mr. 
Newman  resided  on  the  old  farm  until  1899,  and  since 
that  time  has  lived  somewhat  retired,  his  winters  being 
spent  on  the  Pacific  coast,  princmally  in  southern  Cali- 
fornia. He  is  a Socialist  in  his  nolitical  proclivities, 
but  has  never  been  an  office  seeker,  although  at  dif- 
ferent times  he  has  been  chosen  to  fill  public  positions. 
In  1896  he  was  elected  county  commissioner  and  served 
as  chairman  of  the  board  up  to  October,  1899,  when  he 


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•Vi.;,;'P'.' 

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V 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


895 


resigned.  He  was  appointed  justice  of  the  peace  by 
Hon.  Sidney  Edgerton,  the  first  governor  of  Montana, 
but  declined  the  office,  and  later  was  appointed  to  the 
same  office  by  the  county  commissioners  of  Custer 
county.  All  of  Mr.  Newman’s  undertakings  have  met 
with  a full  measure  of  success,  and  throughout  his  life 
he  has  fostered  and  developed  operations  that  have 
helped  to  build  up  and  improve  the  community  where- 
ever  he  has  resided.  In  his  declining  years  he  is  en- 
joying the  fruits  of  a career  that  has  been  filled  with 
kind  and  useful  deeds,  and  he  may  rest  secure  in  the 
knowledge  that  he  has  the  regard,  the  esteem  and  the 
full  confidence  of  all  with  whom  he  has  come  in  con- 
tact. 

On  April  3,  1855,  Mr.  Newman  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Elizabeth  Matilda  Tripp,  at  Croton, 
Newavgo  county,  Michigan.  She  was  born  in  Ontario, 
Canada,  daughter  of  David  and  Lena  (Clapp)  Tripp,  the 
former  a native  of  New  York  state,  who  died  in  Mar- 
shall county,  Kansas,  when  seventy  years  of  age;  and 
the  latter  a native  of  Ontario,  who  is  also  dead. 
They  had  a son  and  a daughter,  the  former  still  living, 
while  Mrs.  Newman  passed  away  August  18,  1886. 
Eleven  children  were  born  to  Orson  N.  and  Elizabeth 
M.  (Tripp)  Newman,  as  follows:  Charles  H.,  of 

Billings;  Edwin  M.,  living  in  Yellowstone  county,  one 
and  one-half  miles  south  of  Billings,  who  is  married 
and  has  five  children;  William  M.,  who  is  engaged  in 
farming  in  Yellowstone  county;  Jane,  the  wife  of  Henry 
McKinsey,  living  at  East  Boulder,  Sweet  Grass  county, 
Montana,  who  has  eight  children;  Asa  D.,  an  extensive 
sheep  raiser,  and  the  owner  of  a large  ranch  in  Blue 
Creek,  Yellowstone  valley,  who  is  married  and  has  two 
children ; Mary,  the  wife  of  W.  J.  Scott,  of  Billings, 
who  has  two  children;  Albert  A.,  of  Billings;  Abe,  who 
lost  his  life  in  a railroad  accident  in  1899,  being  at  that 
time  twenty-seven  years  of  age ; Martha,  who  died 
when  seven  years  of  age ; Mark,  the  owner  of  a fine 
cattle  and  sheep  ranch  on  Blue  Creek,  Yellowstone 
county,  who  is  married  and  has  three  children ; and 
Burton,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Charles  H.  Newman.  A member  of  an  old  and  hon- 
ored pioneer  familv.  and  himself  a resident  of  the  Yel- 
lowstone Valley  for  nearly  thirty-five  years,  Charles  H. 
Newman,  chairman  of  the  board  of  county  commis- 
sioners of  Yellowstone  county,  has  been  closely  identi- 
fied with  a number  of  enterprises  that  have  gone  to 
make  this  one  of  the  centers  of  industrial  activity  in 
the  west.  The  greater  part  of  Mr.  Newman’s  boyhood 
and  youth  was  spent  in  travel,  and  with  his  parents  he 
visited  a number  of  sections  of  the  country^  when  they 
were  still  in  their  infancy,  but  since  coming  to  Montana 
has  made  this  state  his  home,  and  has  been  identified 
with  its  interests  from  the  days  when  he  engaged  in 
hunting  and  trapping  for  a living  to  the  present  time, 
when  he  is  known  as  one  of  the  leading  sheepmen  of  the 
valley.  Mr.  Newman  was  born  October  22,  1856,  in 
Neway.go  county.  Michigan,  and  is  a son  of  Orson  N. 
and  Elizabeth  Matilda  (Tripp)  Newman. 

Mr.  Newman  is  a direct  descendant  of  early  Colonial 
settlers  who  fought  as  soldiers  in  the  Continental  army 
during  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  and  his  paternal 
grandfather,  Joel  Newman,  was  an  American  soldier 
during  the  War  of  1812-14.  The  latter  was  born  in 
Delaware  county.  New  York,  March  22,  1788,  and  died 
October  6.  1866,  and  his  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Hannah  Lyon,  was  born  irf  New  Jersey,  June 
18,  1794,  and  died  February  3,  1853.  They  had  five 
daughters  and  seven  sons,  four  of  the  latter  being  alive 
at  this  time:  Timothy,  of  Clinton  county,  Michigan; 
Orson  N. ; Hiram,  who  lives  in  Polk  county,  Oregon ; 
and  Albert,  who  makes  his  home  in  California.  Joel 
Newman  first  made  a home  for  himself  in  the  wilder- 
ness of  Delaware  county'.  New  York,  and  also  yvas  a 
pioneer  of  Wyoming  county',  where  he  spent  the  rest  of 


his  life  as  a farmer  of  Plymouth  township.  In  1855  he 
gave  up  the  politics  of  the  Whig  party  for  those  of  the 
newly-organized  Republicans,  yvith  yvhich  organization 
he  was  identified  during  the  remainder  of  his  career. 

_ Orson  N.  Newman  received  a good  education  for  his 
time  and  locality,  and  at  the  age  ojE  nineteen  years 
started  out  to  make  his  oyvn  way  in  the  world.  He 
spent  some  time  in  working  at  land-clearing,  but  he 
subsequently  went  to  the  lumber  yvoods  of  northern 
Michigan,  and  there  spent  eight  years.  He  yvas  mar- 
ried there  April  3,  1855,  at  Croton,  Newaygo  county, 
Michigan,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Matilda  Tripp,  who  yvas 
born  in  Ontario,  Canada,  daughter  of  David  and  Lena 
(Clapp)  Tripp,  the  former  a native  of  New  York  state 
and  the  later  of  Ontario,  both  of  yvhom  are  deceased. 
Mrs.  Newman  passed  away  August  18,  1886,  having 
been  the  mother  of  eleven  children,  as  follows : Charles 
H. ; Edwin  M.,  who  lives  one  and  one-half  miles  south 
of  Billings ; William  Marvin,  also  engaged  in  farming 
in  the  Yellowstone  Valley;  Jane,  the  yvife  of  Henry 
McKinsey,  of  East  Boulder,  Syveet  Grass  county;  Asa 
D.,  an  extensive  sheep  raiser  of  Billings,  who  owns  a 
valuable  ranch  south  of  Billings,  on  Blue  Creek;  Mary, 
yvho  married  W.  J.  Scott,  of  Billings ; Albert  A. ; Abe, 
who  met  his  death  in  a railroad  accident  when  tyventy- 
seven  years  of  age,  in  1899;  Martha,  yvho  died  when 
seven  years  of  age ; Mark,  the  owner  of  a fine  cattle 
and  sheep  ranch  on  Blue  Creek,  Yellowstone  county; 
and  Burton,  who  died  in  infancy.  During  the  spring  of 
1858  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Newman  and  their  two  children  left 
Michigan  and  yvent  by  way  of  Chicago,  St.  Louis  and 
Atchison,  Kansas,  to  America,  the  frontier  of  the  west, 
a town  about  ninety  miles  from  Atchison.  After  four 
y'ears  spent  in  farming  the  family  moved  on  to  Camp 
Collins,  Colorado,  and  in  the  spring  of  1863  a freight 
train  bound  for  East  Bannack,  IMontana,  was  joined. 
The  train  broke  up  at  that  point,  but  after  a stay  of  a 
week  the  Newmans  pushed  on  to  Alder  Gulch,  and  on 
the  present  site  of  Virginia  City  the  father  yvas  engaged 
in  digging  a ditch,  yvhile  the  mother  added  to  the  income 
by  selling  milk  and  baking  home-made  bread  for  the 
miners  of  the  vicinity.  Mr.  Newman  was  paid  at  the 
rate  of  six  dollars  per  day  and  Mrs.  Newman  made 
nearly  as  much  by  her  industry,  and  after  six  weeks  they 
had  accumulated  enough  to  invest  in  a hay  ranch  in 
the  Madison  Valley.  Although  he  was  obliged  to  pay 
a salary  of  five  dollars  per  day  to  his  hay  cutters  and 
twenty-five  dollars  apiece  for  scythes,  Mr.  Newman  yvas 
able  to  make  money,  and  he  there  built  a station  known 
as  the  Elkhorn  Ranch  Farm  Roadhouse,  yvhich  yvas 
much  patronized  during  the  early  days.  During  1869 
the  family  started  overland  for  California,  and  in  Octo- 
ber of  that  year  arrived  at  Santiago,  where  they'  re- 
mained for  one  year.  In  1870  they  yvent  to  what  is 
now  Riverside  (then  San  Bernardino)  county,  Cali- 
fornia, and  in  November  of  that  year  Mr.  Neyvman  as- 
sisted in  building  the  first  irrigation  ditch  in  that  county. 
He  also  experimented  yvith  grapes  and  oranges  on  a 
ten-acre  tract,  but  in  May,  1873,  with  a four-horse  team, 
started  overland  for  Portland,  Oregon.  He  spent  the 
winter  of  1873-4  in  contracting  and  cutting  timber  for 
sawmills,  and  in  the  spring  went  to  Snohomish  river, 
about  fifty  miles  from  Seattle,  Washington,  yvhere  he 
and  his  two  sons,  Charles  H.  and  Edwin  M.,  spent  the 
winter  of  1874  working  in  a lumber  camp.  Still  un- 
satisfied with  their  location,  the  family  again  started  on 
its  journey,  aiming  to  go  to  Portland,  Oregon,  but  after 
going  through  the  Barloyv  Pass  into  the  Walla  Walla 
territory',  and  on  to  Palouse.  yvere  snoyv-bound  in 
yvestern  Idaho  and  compelled  to  build  a cabin  in  yvhich 
to  spend  the  yvinter.  In  the  spring  of  1875  they'  again 
started  and  came  through  to  Meadoyv  Creek.  Madison 
Valley,  Montana,  where  had  been  the  old  homestead 
years  before,  and  after  three  months  left  for  Bozeman, 
yvhere  they  spent  the  folloyving  yvinter.  The  spring  of 
1876  found  the  father  and  sons  engaged  in  farming  in 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


«yo 

the  Gallatin  Valley,  but  after  two  years  they  loaded  a 
large  wagon  with  provisions  and  seeds,  and  with  three 
yoke  of  oxen  came  overland  to  the  Yellowstone  Valley, 
locating  at  Coulson,  now  a deserted  villa,ge  about  two 
miles  from  the  present  city  of  Billings.  Ihe  father  and 
sons  were  engaged  in  farming  there  for  some  years,  but 
in  1899  IMr.  Newman  retired  from  business  activities, 
and  since  that  time  he  has  spent  his  winters  on  the 
Pacific  coast,  principally  in  southern  California.  He  is 
a Socialist  in  his  political  belief,  and  has  served  as  county 
commssioner  and  as  justice  of  the  peace,  although  he 
has  never  sought  and  often  declined  public  office.  He 
is  one  of  his  locality’s  most  highly  honored  citizens,  and 
is  esteemed  both  as  one  of  the  Yellowstone's  hardy  pio- 
neers, and  as  a citizen  whose  activities  have  been  so 
directed  as  to  benefit  his  community. 

Charles  H.  Newman  secured  his  education  111  the 
public  schools  of  the  various  vicinities  in  which  the 
family  lived,  and  grew  up  in  an  atmosphere  of  continual 
industry  and  hard  laltor.  With  his  parents  he  arrived 
in  the  Yellowstone  Valley,  March  16,  1878,  and  during 
the  first  four  or  five  years  he  was  engaged  m hunting 
and  trapping  in  the  winter  months.  Money  at  that  time 
was  not  easily  obtained  and  work  was  a scarce  com- 
modity, so  that  the  income  derived  from  the  hides  and 
pelts  obtained  by  the  young  men  added  appreciably  to 
the  family  resources.  He  worked  at  farming  with  his 
father  and  brother,  lidwin  M.,  during  the  summer 
montlis,  and  in  1886  purchased  700  head  of  sheep  with 
the  money  he  had  accumulated  during  his  many  years 
of  earnest,  energetic  endeavor.  Subsequently  his 
l>rothcr,  Asa  D.,  being  assisted  by  his  fathei,  joined  him 
ill  this  enterprise  and  for  some  years  they  continued  m 
the  sheep  business  as  partners.  Later  Mr.  Newman 
bouo'ht  the  old  homestead,  which  he  still  owns,  and  in 
1894  came  to  Billings,  having  been  appointed  dej^ity 
sheriflf  of  Yellowstone  county.  He  served  in  that  office 
for  four  years  and  then  returned  to  the  old  homestead, 
hut  in  1903  sold  his  sheep  and  engaged  in  farming.  This 
occupied  his  attention  until  1906,  in_  which  year  he  was 
elected  county  commissioner,  and  in  1908  he  was  re- 
elected for  a term  of  six  years.  Since  January  i,  1907, 
he  has  acted  as  chairman  of  the  board,  and  has  proven 
himself  in  every  way  an  efficient  official.  Mr.  Newman 
has  brought  an  enthusiasm  to  his  work  that  has  done 
much  to  advance  the  work  done  by  the  board,  and  at 
present  is  active  in  the  erection  of  the  fine  county  house 
three  miles  from  Billings.  He  gives  his  support  to  the 
Republican  party,  its  principles  and  its  candidates,  and 
is  considered  an  important  factor  in  the  Republican 
organization  in  the  valley.  Fraternally  he  is  connected 
with  Rathbone  Lodge,  No.  28,  K.  of  P. ; Camp  No.  6269, 
Woodmen  of  the  World;  Billings  Lodge,  No.  394,  B. 
P.  O,  E.  . . 

On  January  12,  1898,  Mr.  Newman  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Cinderella  Walk,  who  was  born  in  Har- 
rison county,  Indiana,  daughter  of  Joseph  A.  and  Olive 
(Crandell)  Walk,  natives  of  Indiana.  Mr.  Walk  was 
born  February  16,  1814,  and  on  September  6,  1837,  was 
married  to  Olive  Crandell,  who  was  born  December  24, 
1821.  Fie  was  engaged  in  farming  in  Indiana  until  1872, 
in  which  year  he  moved  to  Greenwood  county,  Kansas, 
and  settled  on  a farm  near  Eureka,  and  the  rest  of  his 
life  was  spent  in  farming  and  stock-raising  in  that  lo- 
cality. His  wife  died  March  10.  1891,  and  he  survived 
her  until  August  19,  1900.  Of  a family  of  sixteen  chil- 
dren, two  died  in  infancy,  while  fourteen  grew  to  ma- 
turity, and  of  these  Mrs.  Newman,  was  the  youngest. 
Mr.  Newman’s  business  career  was  one  in  which  in- 
dustrial activity  was  blended  with  strict  integrity,  and 
his  official  efforts  have  been  such  as  to  win  the  unquali- 
fied esteem  and  confidence  of  his  fellow  townsmen, 
who  have  shown  their  appreciation  of  his  work  by  giv- 
ing him  their  hearty  support  and  personal  friendship. 


Albert  A.  Newman.  A worthy  representative  of  one 
of  the  Yellowstone  valley’s  pioneer  families,  and  a man 
who,  for  more  than  thirty  years,  was  engaged  in  ranch- 
mg  and  sheep  raising,  Albert  A.  Newman,  of  Billings, 
is  deserving  of  being  classed  among  the  progressive 
men  of  Montana,  who  have  been  intimately  connected 
with  its  growth  and  development.  Mr.  Newman  was 
born  near  Bakersfield,  Kern  county,  California,  August 
16,  1869,  in  camp,  while  his  parents,  Orson  N.  and  Eliza- 
beth Matilda  (Tripp)  Newman,  were  making  their  way 
into  that  state. 

The  founders  of  the  Newman  family  in  America  came 
to  this  country  during  colonial  days,  and  members  there- 
of fought  valiantly  during  the  War  of  the  Revolution, 
also  furnishing  soldiers  for  the  struggle  between  Eng- 
land and  the  United  States  in  1812.  One  of  the  latter, 
Joel  Newman,  the  grandfather  of  Albert  A.,  was  born 
in  Delaware  county.  New  York,  March  22,  1788,  sub- 
sequently was  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in  Or- 
leans county,  that  state,  and  spent  his  last  years  in 
Plymouth  township,  Wyoming  county,  New  York, 
where  his  death  occurred  October  6,  1866.  He  was 
first  a Whig  and  _ later  a Republican,  and  became  a 
well-known  and  highly  esteemed  citizen.  He  married 
Hannah  Lyon,  who  was  also  of  Revolutionary  stock, 
and  who  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  June  18,  1794,  and 
died  February  3,  1853,  and  they  had  a family  of  five 
daughters  and  seven  sons,  the  four  youngest  sons  still 
surviving,  as  follows : Timothy,  who  lives  in  Clinton 
county,  Michigan ; Orson  N. ; Hiram,  of  Polk  county, 
Oregon;  and  Albert,  who  resides  in  California. 

Orson  N.  Newman  was  born  in  Orleans  county.  New 
York,  February  15,  1830,  received  a public  school  educa- 
tion, and  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years  began  working 
for  himself  at  clearing  land.  He  subsequently  spent 
eight  years  in  the  lumber  district  of  northern  Michigan, 
and  was  married  April  3,  1855,  at  Croton,  Newaygo 
county,  Michigan,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Matilda  Tripp,  a 
native  of  Ontario,  Canada.  Her  death  occurred  August 
18,  1886,  when  she  had  been  the  mother  of  eleven 
children,  namely;  Charles  H.,  chairman  of  the  board 
of  commissioners  of  Yellowstone  county;  Edwin  M., 
living  one  and  one-half  miles  south  of  Billings';  Wm. 
M.,  a farmer  of  the  Yellowstone  valley;  Jane,  who  mar- 
ried Henry  McKinsey  of  East  Boulder,  Sweet  Grass 
county;  Asa  D.,  an  extensive  sheep  raiser  of  Billings; 
Mary,  who  married  W.  J.  Scott,  of  Billings;  Albert  A.; 
Abe,  who  died  in  a railroad  accident  in  1899,  when  he 
was  twenty-seven  years  of  age;  Martha,  who  died 
when  seven  years  old;  Mark,  engaged  in  sheep  and 
cattle  raising  on  his  fine  ranch  on  Blue  Creek,  Yellow- 
stone county;  and  Burton,  who  died  in  infanc3’. 

During  the  spring  of  1858  Mr.  and  IMrs.  Newman, 
accompanied  by  their  two  children,  left  Michigan  and 
went  by  way  of  Chicago,  St.  Louis  and  Atchison,  Kan- 
sas, to  America,  a town  about  ninety  miles  from  Atchi- 
son, and  then  situated  on  the  border.  After  four  years 
spent  in  farming,  removal  was  made  to  Camp  Collins, 
Colorado,  and  in  the  spring  of  1863  the  family  joined  a 
freight  train  which  was  bound  for  East  Bannack, 
Montana.  At  that  point  the  train  broke  up  and  after 
a stay  of  a week  the  Newmans  pushed  on  to  Alder 
Gulch.  On  the  present  site  of  Virginia  City  the  father 
was  engaged  in  digging  drains,  and  the  mother  added 
to  the  income  by  selling  milk  and  bread  to  the  miners 
of  the  vicinity.  For  his  work  Mr.  Newman  was  paid  at 
the  rate  of  six  dollars  a day  and  Mrs.  Newman  made 
almost  as  much  by»  her  industry,  and  within  six  weeks 
they  had  accumulated  enough  capital  to  invest  in  a hay 
ranch  in  the  Madison  valley.  Although  he  was  obliged 
to  pay  a salary  of  five  dollars  a day  to  his  hay  cutters 
and  twenty-five  dollars  apiece  for  scythes,  Mr.  Newman 
was  able  to  make  money,  and  he  there  built  a station 
known  as  the  Elkhorn  Ranch  Farm  Roadhouse,  which 
was  liberally  patronized  during  the  early  days.  _ Dur- 
ing 1869  the  family  started  overland  for  California,  and 


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HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


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in  October  of  that  year  reached  Santiago,  where  they 
remained  for  one  3'ear.  In  1870  they  went  to  River- 
side (then  San  Bernardino)  county,  California,  and  in 
November  of  that  year  Mr.  Newman  assisted  in  building 
the  first  irrigation  ditch  in  that  county.  He  also  experi- 
mented with  grapes  and  oranges  on  a ten  acre  tract, 
but  in  May,  1873,  started  northward  with  a four-horse 
team,  going  overland  to  Portland,  Oregon.  He  spent 
the  winter  of  1873-4  in  contracting  and  cutting  timber 
for  sawmills,  and  in  the  spring  went  to  Snohomish 
river,  about  fifty  miles  from  Seattle,  Washington,  where 
he  and  his  two  sons,  Charles  H.  and  Edwin  M.,  spent 
the  winter  of  1874,  working  in  a lumber  camp.  Still 
unsatisfied  with  their  location,  the  family  again  started 
on  its  journey,  aiming  for  Portland,  Oregon,  but  after 
going  through  the  Barlow  Pass  into  Walla  Walla  county, 
and  on  to  Palouse,  were  snow-bound  in  western  Idaho 
and  compelled  to  build  a cabin  in  which  to  spend  the 
winter.  In  the  spring  of  1875  they  resumed  their 
journey  and  came  through  to  Meadow  Creek  Gallatin 
valley,  Montana,  where  had  been  the  old  homestead  years 
before,  but  three  months  later  left  for  Bozeman,  where 
they  passed  the  following  winter.  The  spring  of  1876 
found  the  father  and  sons  engaged  in  farming  in  the 
Gallatin  valle}^  but  after  two  years  they  loaded  a large 
wagon  with  provisions  and  seeds  and  with  three  yoke 
of  oxen  came  overland  to  the  Yellowstone  valley,  lo- 
cating at  Coulson,  which  is  now  a deserted  village  about 
two  miles  from  the  present  city  of  Billings.  For  some 
years  the  father  and  sons  followed  farming  there,  but 
in  1899  Orson  N.  Newman  retired  from  business  activ- 
ity, and  since  that  time  has  spent  his  winters  on  the 
Pacific  coast,  mainly  in  southern  California.  He  is  a 
Socialist  In  his  political  opinions,  and  has  served  as 
county  commissioner  and  as  justice  of  the  peace,  al- 
though he  has  never  sought  and  often  has  declined 
publk'  office.  Mr.  Newman  is  justly  esteemed  as  a 
citizen  and  is  numbered  with  the  honored  pioneers  of 
the  Yellowstone  valley. 

■Albert  A.  Newman  accompanied  his  parents  in  their 
various,  migrations,  and  his  first  schooling  was  secured 
in  the-  Gallatin  valley,  at  Middle  Creek,  he  later  at- 
tending school  in  Custer  county.  He  worked  at  farm- 
ing and  stock  raising  on  his  father’s  ranch,  and  in  1886 
engaged  in  the  sheep  business,  being  in  partnership 
with  his  brothers  up  to  1890,  when  he  took  up  farming 
on  his  own  account.  After  being  thus  engaged  for  four 
or  five  years,  he  went  to  Ada,  Ohio,  where  he  attended 
school  during  two  winter  terms,  and  he  then  returned  to 
the  old  homestead  in  the  Yellowstone  valley,  and  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  sheep  raising  until  1898.  He  was 
then  occupied  in  working  the  homestead  property  until 
1900,  and  in  that  year  started  to  raise  sheep  on  Bull 
Mountain,  Musselshell  county,  but  in  1910  sold  his 
stock  and  -rented  the  ranch.  Since  that  time  he  has 
lived  practically  retired  at  his  Billings  home,  situated 
at  No.  1122  North  Thirtieth  street.  In  political  matters 
he  -is  a Republican,  but  he  has  not  cared  to  enter  public 
life. 

On  April  28,  1897,  -Mr.  Newman  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  'Lillian  Shannon,  who  was  born  at 
Mankato,  Minnesota,  dattghter  of  Andrew  S.  and  Chris- 
tina E.  (Spencer)  Shannon.  Mr.  Newman,  in  conse- 
quence of  his  genial  manner  and  - his  - general  worth 
and  usefulness,  and  for  the  fact  that  what  he  has 
acquired  is  the  result  of  his  own  thrift,  energy  and 
business  capacity,  is  highly  esteemed.  He  has  been  one 
of  the  first  to  assist  in  promoting  enterprises  of  a bene- 
ficial nature,  and  takes  a deep  interest  in  all  matters 
pertaining  to  the  welfare  of  the  people. 

William  Y.  Pemberton.  In  no  profession  is  there 
a career  in  which  talent  is  more  quickly  discovered  than 
is  that  of  the  law,  and  in  no  field  of  endeavor  is  there 
demanded  a more  careful  preparation,  a more  thorough 
appreciation  of  the  absolute  ethics  of  life  and  of  the 


underlying  principles  which  form  the  basis  of  all  human 
rights  and  privileges.  Unflagging  application,  intuitive 
wisdom  and  a determination  to  fully  utilize  the  means 
at  hand  are  the  concomitants  which  insure  personal 
success  and  prestige  in  this  great  profession,  which 
stands  as  a stern  conservator,  and  it  is  one  in  which 
success  comes  only  as  a result  of  natural  capacity,  un- 
mistakable ability  and  inflexible  integrit}'. 

Among  those  who  have  lent  dignity  and  honor  to  the 
bench  and  bar  of  Montana  is  Judge  William  Young 
Pemberton,  of  Helena,  who  has  the  distinction  of  hav- 
ing served  with  signal  ability  as  chief  justice  of  the 
supreme  court  of  the  state,  and  is  recognized  as  one 
of  the  able  jurists  and  legists  of  the  northwest. 

William  Y.  Pemberton  is  a native  of  the  state  of 
Tennessee,  having  been  born  in  Nashville,  on  the  ist 
of  June,  1843.  His  parents  were  William  and  IMartha 
(Brooks)  Pemberton,  and  he  rvas  one  of  four  sons, 
of  whom  he  was  the  j'oungest  and  is  now  the  only  one 
living.  The  genealogy  of  the  family  may  be  traced'  back 
to  stanch  English  and  Scotch  ancestry,  the  original 
American  progenitors  in  the  agnatic  line  having  among 
the  early  settlers  in  the  Old  Dominion,  where  the  family 
was  one  of  prominence  and  influence.  Judge  Pember- 
ton was  reared  in  Missouri,  where  he  was  under  the 
tutelage  of  his  aunt,  Mrs.  Rebecca  E.  Williamson. 
Here  he  remained  until  he  attained  his  legal  majority, 
attending  the  public  schools  until  he  was  of  age  to 
enter  college.  He  was  then  sent  to  the  Alasonic  Col- 
lege, in  Lexington,  Missouri,  where  he  continued  his 
literary  studies,  in  the  meanwhile  formulating  his  plans 
for  preparing  himself  for  the  legal  profession.  With 
this  end  in  view  he  entered  the  Cumberland  Law 
School,  at  Lebanon,  Tennessee,  where  he  devoted  him- 
self assiduously  to  the  technics  of  the  law,  to  such  good 
purpose  that  he  was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1861. 

In  1863  Judge  Pemberton  came  to  Montana  and  be- 
came one  of  the  pioneer  la.wyers  of  the  state.  He  lo- 
cated in  Virginia  City,  and  before  long  had  a flourishing 
practice.  The  early  laws  of  the  territory  were  vague 
and  indefinite  and  they  were  indifferently  administered. 
Therefore  the  interposition  of  a skilled  and  discriminat- 
ing attorney,  who  in  addition  to  a great  store  of  legal 
knowledge  had  also  the  gift  of  common  sense,  was 
hailed  with  delight  on  the  part  of  those  who  were  in 
favor  of  a reign  of  law  and  order.  Judge  Pemberton 
thus  became  at  once  a man  of  power  and  influence  and 
his  services  were  in  demand  in  all  parts  of  the  ter- 
ritory where  settlements  had  been  made  or  mining 
camps  established.  In  1865  he  removed  to  Helena,  then 
a mere  mining  camp  straggling  up  Last  Chance  gulch. 
He  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  what  is  now  the 
beautiful  capital  city  of  the  state,  although  he  did  not 
long  continue  his  residence  there,  for  in  1868  he  re- 
turned to  Missouri.  Later  he  -^vent  to  Texas  and  was 
there  engaged  in  professional  practice  until  1880,  when 
he  again  felt  the  call  of  the  wilder  west  and  he  re- 
turned to  Montana,  locating  in  Butte,  which  remained 
his  home  until  1909,  when  he  came  to  Helena,  where  he 
has  since  resided. 

Judge  Pemberton  was  gladly  welcomed  to  his  old 
home,  and  in  1882  he  was  elected  district  attorney  of 
the  West  Side  district,  which  included  the  greater  por- 
tion of  the  territory-  west  of  the  mountains.  He  was 
reelected  to  this  position  to  succeed  himself  in  1884 
His  fitness  for  a position  on  the  bench  became  more 
apparent  each  year  and  therefore  in  1891  he  was  ap- 
pointed district  judge  of  the  district  including  Butte, 
and  served  upon  its  bench  until  January  i,  1893.  when 
he  entered  upon  the  duties  of  the  highest  judicial  office 
in  the  state,  becoming  chief  justice  of  the  supreme 
court,  an  office  to  which  he  had  been  elected  the  pre- 
ceding November. 

No  man  thus  identified  with  Montana’s  highest  tri- 
bunal came  to  the  office  with  more  eminent  qualifica- 
tions than  did  Judge  Pemberton.  Possessing  a strong 


898 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


and  distinct  individuality,  thoroughly  read  in  the  science 
of  the  law,  familiar  with  minutia  and  precedents,  and 
having  an  intuitively  judicial  mind,  he  brought  to  the 
supreme  bench  the  attributes  essential  to  the  insuring 
of  equity  and  justice  in  the  tribunal,  the  final  resort  of 
the  people  of  the  commonwealth.  His  rulings  on  the 
supreme  bench  were  singularly  able,  fair  and  impartial, 
showing  a keen  discrimination  in  detecting  the  true  points 
at  issue  and  eliminating  all  that  was  irrelevant,  while 
his  opinions  were  concise  and  clearly  defined,  couched 
in  exact  and  effective  language  and  showing  the  broad 
mental  grasp  and  thorough  legal  knowledge  of  the  chief 
justice.  His  term  on  the  supreme  bench  expired  in 
1899  and  the  state  will  ever  owe  him  a tribute  of  re- 
spect and  will  honor  him  as  a wide  judge  and  an  up- 
right man.  After  his  retirement  from  the  bench.  Judge 
Pemberton  resumed  his  practice  of  the  law  in  Butte. 
His  high  prestige  and  well-known  ability  insured  him 
a leading  clientage,  his  services  being  in  demand  by 
many  corporations,  while  he  continued  to  appear  in  con- 
nection with  much  of  the  important  litigation  in  the 
various  courts  of  the  state.  In  June,  I909>  Judge  Pem- 
berton was  appointed  librarian  of  the  State  Historical 
and  Miscellanous  Library  at  Helena,  and  to  the  duties 
of  this  office  he  now  gives  his  entire  time  and  atten- 
tion. 

In  his  political  allegiance  Judge  Pemberton  has  ever 
given  an  unswerving  support  to  the  principles  and  poli- 
cies of  the  Democratic  party,  and  he  has  wielded  a 
marked  influence  in  shaping  the  political  affairs  of  the 
state.  The  party  cause  has  been  greatly  advanced 
through  his  efforts,  both  in  private  and  public  advocacy 
of  those  principles  which  he  considers  the  true  ones, 
his  powers  in  dialetics  being  of  an  exceptional  order, 
and  always  at  the  disposal  of  his  party  during  a poli- 
tical campaign.  Fraternally  the  judge  is  identified_  with 
the  Masonic  order,  in  which  he  has  taken  the  capitular 
degrees.  He  has  taken  a .very  prominent  and  active 
part  in  the  affairs  of  the  Society  of  Montana  Pioneers, 
serving  as  president  of  the  organization. 

Wm.i.VM  L.  Steele,  deceased.  It  is  doubtful  if  in  all 
the  chronicle  of  human  endeavor,  east  and  west,  there 
could  be  paralleled  in  variety  and  definite  usefulness  the 
record  of  that  fine  Montana  pioneer,  the  late  Dr.  Wil- 
liam L.  Steele.  To  say  that  he  was  one  of  the  most 
distinguished  members  of  his  profession  in  the  west  is 
but  to  begin  the  enumeration  of  his  abilities  and  in  the 
evolution  of  territory  and  state  he  played  a diverse  and 
important  part.  Dr.  Steele  was  born  February  17,  1833, 
near  Pendleton,  Anderson  county,  South  Carolina,  and 
died  May  15,  1910,  at  his  home  in  Helena,  Montana. 
He  was  the  scion  of  stanch  old  Southern  stock,  the  son 
of  William  and  Margaret  (Guyton)  _ Steele,  natives  of 
the  county  which  was  the  scene  of  his  own  birth.  The 
father  was  a midshipman  in  the  United  States  navy 
and  participated  in  the  decisive  naval  battle  between  the 
Chesapeake  and  the  Shannon  in  the  War  of  1812,  when 
Captain  Lawrence  was  mortally  wounded  and  uttered 
with  his  last  breath  the  heroic  words,  “Don’t  give  up 
the  ship,”  which  have  been  the  inspiration  of  all  subse- 
quent American  generations.  After  the  termination  of 
his  services  in  war  the  elder  Steele  engaged  as  a planter 
in  the  south,  until  summoned  to  the  “undiscovered 
country.”  Fie  was  honored  with  the  gift  of  several 
offices  in  public  trust,  serving  in  the  legislature  of  his 
state  and  for  sixteen  years  acting  as  tax  collector.  The 
immigrant  ancestor  of  the  Steeles  was  of  Scotch-Irish 
stock,  and  located  first  in  Pennsylvania,  whence  his 
descendants  removed  to  South  Carolina,  their  exodus  to 
the  south  predating  the  Revolution,  in  which  the  Steeles 
were  active  and  valiant  for  the  cause  of  freedom.  The 
maternal  grandparents  of  Dr.  Steele  were  named  Wat- 
son. and  extant  record  shows  that  the  Grandmother 
Watson,  passing  through  the  camp  of  Lord  Corn- 


wallis, carried  a dispatch  to  General  Green,  during  the 
siege  of  Yorktown. 

Dr.  Steele  was  pne  of  a family  of  typical  pioneer  pro- 
portions, there  being  no  less  than  sixteen  children.  Of 
the  brothers,  three  became  residents  of  Montana.  The 
family  was  in  good  circumstances  and  the  father  had 
the  happiness  to  be  able  to  give  his  sons  good  educa- 
tions. The  doctor  received  his  academic  education  in 
the  John  L.  Kennedy  classical  school  in  Thalion 
Academy,  South  Carolina,  from  which  latter  institution 
he  graduated.  For  the  ensuing  two  years  he  was  en- 
gaged in  pedagogical  work  and  in  the  meantime,  having 
come  to  a decision  as  to  his  life  work,  he  began  the 
reading  of  medicine.  In  1854,  fie  matriculated  in  the 
South  Carolina  Medical  College  at  Charleston,  and  com- 
pleted a three  years’  course,  receiving  his  degree  of 
M.  D.  in  1857. 

He  inaugurated  his  practice  as  contract  surgeon  with 
the  Rabun  Gap  Railroad,  in  which  position  he  served 
two  years.  In  1859  he  made  the  journey  across  the 
plains  to  Colorado,  answering  like  so  many  of  the  flower 
of  American  manhood,  the  beckoning  finger  of  Oppor- 
tunity from  the  westward.  In  the  new  state  he  made 
location  in  Missouri  City,  where  he  secured  a placer 
claim,  which  he  worked  until  1862,  with  fair  success, 
in  the  meantime  doing  such  professional  work  as  came 
to  him.  In  Colorado  he  became  superintendent  of  the 
consolidated  ditch,  which  supplied  water  for  the  placer 
mines,  and  he  was  largely  interested  in  the  great  enter- 
prise. He  also  devoted  considerable  attention  to  stock 
raising. 

Dr.  Steele’s'  residence  in  Montana  dates  from  the 
year  1863.  His  first  residence  was  at  Bannack  City, 
whence  in  course  of  time  he  removed  to  Alder  Gulch, 
In  the  latter  locality  he  served  as  the  first  president, 
which  incumbency,  under  the  conditions  then  exist- 
ing implied  his  presiding  over  the  local  court  of  justice, 
his  powers  being  practically  supreme.  The  country 
was  new  and  wild  and  the  doctor  in  his  judicial  capacity 
presided  over  the  trial  of  several  outlaws  and  it  was 
necessary  for  him  to  pass  the  death  sentence  upon  one 
or  more  criminals  condemned  to  execution.  In  1864 
he  brought  a stock  of  goods  to  Alder  Gulch,  and  in  a 
very  short  time  disposed  of  them.  In  November  of  that 
year  he  located  in  Helena,  which  in  that  day  was  a mere 
mining  camp,  and  this  was  destined  to  be  the  scene  of 
his  remaining  years.  He  immediately  purchased  a 
large  interests  in  mining  properties  in  Grizzlv  Gulch  and 
in  1865,  additional  ones  in  Ophir  Gulch,  Deer  Lodge 
county,  and  also  in  McClellan  Gulch.  All  of  these  he 
operated  with  success.  He  also  engaged  in  cattle  rais- 
ing and  in  1867  and  1868  he  conducted  freighting,  with 
Fort  Benton  as  headquarters. 

In  1869  Dr.  Steele  was  elected  sheriff  of  Lewis  and 
Clark  county,  during  his  two  years’  term  of  service 
doing  much  to  suppress  lawlessness  and  crime,  the  of- 
fice at  that  time  demanding  in  its  incumbent  great  tact, 
much  discrimination,  incessant  watchfulness  and  daunt- 
less courage.  From  1871  until  1898  he  gave  the  greater 
part  of  his  attention  to  active  medical  practice,  and  in 
the  latter  year,  being  then  of  advanced  age,  retired 
for  the  most  part  from  its  active  duties.  He  was  an 
enlightened  practitioner  and  the  friend  and  doctor  of 
hundreds  of  families. 

Instinctively  all  classes  paid  deference  to  Doctor 
Steele  and  were  eager  to  entrust  to  his  wisdom  and 
public-spirit  the  responsibilities  of  office.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  state  senate  in  the  legislature  of  1896; 
he  was  for  ten  years  county  coroner ; three  times  he 
was  elected  mayor  of  Flelena,  and  in  1898  he  was  elect- 
ed treasurer  of  Lewis  and  Clark  county.  In  that  same 
year  he -was  strongly  urged  to  allow  the  use  of  his 
name  as  candidate  for  governor  of  the  state,  but  he  de- 
clined. In  scores  of  other  ways,  the  leading  citizens 
gave  dignified  evidence  of  the  esteem  in  which  they  held 
him,  not  only  in  his  home  city,  but  throughout  the 


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HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


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state.  In  political  faith  he  was  a Democrat  and  his 
active  loyalty  did  much  to  promote  the  success  of  the 
causes  for  which  the  party  stood.  Professionally  he 
was  a member  of  state  and  county  medical  societies, 
and  his  fraternal  affiliations  extended  to  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  and  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen. 

In  1865,  Dr.  Steele  laid  the  foundation  of  his  domes- 
tic happiness  by  his  marriage  to  Miss  Agnes  Forbes,  a 
native  of  Missouri.  The  children  born  to  bless  tbeir 
union  are  Turner  A.,  Frank  F.  and  Agnes  B.  The 
Steele  home  was  famous  for  its  hospitality. 

Dr.  Steele  was  president  of  the  Association  of  Mon- 
tana Pioneers  and  in  its  ranks  all  honor  was  paid  to 
him  as  a man  of  unsurpassed  usefulness  and  honor, 
in  all  the  relations  of  life  his  record  was  unblemished 
and  all  the  splendid  traits  of  the  sterling  pioneer  was 
his  in  abundance.  .His  individuality  was  strong,  and 
at  the  same  time  pleasing  and  his  benevolence  and  love 
of  his  fellow  men  unbounded.  It  means  much  to  a city 
to  number  among  its  inhabitants  men  of  his  type  in 
which  the  pure  fire  of  philanthropy  and  public  spirit 
burns  so  serenely ; such  men  are  of  necessity  rare  and 
all  honor  is  due  to  them  when  they  are  found.  He  lived 
to  the  venerable  age  of  seventy-seven  and  of  him  it 
may  well  be  said, 

“The  sweet  remembrance  of  the  just. 

Shall  flourish  when  he  sleeps  in  dust.” 

Ch.^rles  N.  Kessler.  A name  identified  with  Mon- 
tana territorial  days,  and  connected  with  the  business 
life  of  Helena  for  almost  a half  century,  is  that  repre- 
sented in  this  city  by  Charles  N.  and  Frederick  E. 
Kessler,  sons  of  Nickolas  Kessler,  whose  death 
occurred  in  Helena,  December  ii,  1901. 

Nickolas  Kessler,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Montana,  as 
well  as  one  of  the  most  prominent  business  men  and 
citizens  of  his  day  in  the  city  of  Helena,  will  long  be 
remembered  as  a man  whose  public  spirit  and  enter- 
prise were  important  factors  in  the  upbuilding  of  that 
city.  He  was  born  in  Luxemburg,  Germany,  May  26, 
1833,  the  youngest  of  six  children.  His  father,  whose 
name  was  also  Nickolas,  owned  a small  farm  near 
Befort,  in  the  grand  duchy  of  Luxemburg,  where  the 
son  was  reared  and  received  his  early  education. 

When  Nickolas  Kessler  was  a young  man  of  but 
little  more  than  twenty  he  immigrated  to  America, 
landing  at  New  York  on  January  10,  1854.  After  a 
brief  stay  in  that  city  he  went  to  Detroit,  where  he 
secured  employment  in  a grocery  store.  Following 
this  he  was  employed  in  several  towns  through  north- 
ern Michigan,  and  at  one  time  worked  in  the  lumber 
districts.  Going  to  Chicago,  he  was  for  about  three 
years  employed  in  the  commission  and  feed  business, 
in  partnership  with  James  McPherson,  in  which  con- 
nection Mr.  Kessler  was  able  to  accumulate  a small 
capital. 

In  the  winter  of  1859-60,  when  the  news  of  the  gold 
discoveries  at  Pike’s  Peak  was  spreading  over  the 
coimtr)3  i\Ir.  Kessler  like  many  others  joined  the  ex- 
odus to  that  section.  In  disposing  of  his  business  in- 
terests he  acquired  a small  capital  which  was  invested 
in  a mine  at  White  Gulch,  Colorado.  This  property 
proved  to  be  only  a “pocket.”  so  that  his  initial  mining 
investment  really  served  to  exhaust  rather  than  in- 
crease his  capital.  He  had  considerable  experience  in 
the  mining  camps  of  Colorado,  without  profitable  re- 
sults. With  a partv  of  others  in  August,  1863,  he  started 
for  Bannack,  Montana.  The  journey  was  a long  and 
dangerous  one,  and  after  roughing  it  for  many  days 
the  party  arrived^  in  Virginia  City,  Montana,  Septem- 
ber 22,  1863.  This  camp  was  then  at  the  height  of  its 
excitement,  eatables  were  selling  at  fabulous  prices,  and 
Mr.  Kessler  opened  a small  bakery  and  restaurant, 
which  he  conducted  with  some  profit  during  the  next 
year  or  so.  By  this  time  he  had  accumulated  some 
voi.  n— 4 


little  capital,  and  he  concluded  to  make  a visit  to  his 
old  home  in  Germany.  It  was  while  visiting  the  scenes 
of  his. boyhood  days  in  Germany  that  he  received  a 
letter  from  a friend  back  in  Montana  informing  him 
that  this  friend  had  staked  a splendid  mining  claim  for 
him  in  Confederate  gulch,  which  would  be  retained 
for  Mr.  Kessler  if  he  would  return  to  Montana.  Mr. 
Kessler  hastened  back  to  find  that  his  friend  could  not 
hold  the  property,  and  that  it  had  been  “jumped.” 

About  this  time  the  Blackfoot  City  mining  boom  was 
on,  and  Mr.  Kessler  went  there  with  the  intention  of 
building  a brewery  for  Charles  Beehrer,  of  Nevada, 
with  whom  he  had  become  associated.  Work  on  the 
building  was  at  once  begun,  but  before  its  completion 
it  was  discovered  that  the  mines  were  beginning  to 
play  out,  and  the  future  prospects  of  the  camp  would 
not  warrant  its  completion.  Mr.  Kessler  then  went  to 
Helena  and  took  charge  of  a brewery  owned  by  Mr. 
Beehrer,  which  plant  he  purchased  in  1865,  since  which 
time  it  has  been  known  as  the  Kessler  Brewery  and  has 
always  remained  in  the  family,  a record  in  the  state  of 
Montana  for  continuous  ownership  and  operation  of  an 
industrial  institution.  From  time  to  time  the  plant  has 
been  rebuilt  or  enlarged,  modern  machinery  installed 
with  all  the  latest  sanitary  appliances,  until  now  it  is 
one  of  the  largest  and  best  equipped  manufacturing 
establishments  of  its  kind  in  the  northwest.  Mr. 
Charles  N.  Kessler  is  the  president  and  Mr.  F.  E. 
Kessler  is  secretary  and  treasurer.  Beginning  with 
an  output  of  less  than  1,000  barrels  of  beer  annually, 
this  has  grown  to  over  25,000  barrels  per  annum,  and 
the  plant  employs  about  50  men.  In  1866  Mr.  Nickolas 
Kessler  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  brick,  and  later 
added  sewer  pipe  and  tile,  becoming  the  pioneer  man- 
ufacturer in  that  line  of  industry,  which  was  enlarged 
and  improved  and  included  in  its  product  paving  brick, 
standard  and  ornamental  flower  pots  and  vases,  fire 
proofing,  as  well  as  an  output  of  several  million  com- 
mon brick  per  year.  This  plant  subsequently  became 
the  Western  Clav  Manufacturing  Company,  and  is  now 
one  of  the  most  extensive  plants  of  its  kind  in  Montana, 
and  one  of  Helena’s  leading  industrial  institutions. 
Mr.  Kessler  was  one  of  the  original  board  of  directors 
of  the  National  Bank  of  Montana,  and  was  president  of 
the  Cascade  Land  Companv.  Politically  he  was  a Re- 
publican and  served  in  the  territorial  legislature  of 
1873,  while  fraternally  he  belonged  to  the  Masons  as 
a member  of  Morning  Star  Lodge,  also  to  the  Elks, 
Sons  of  Hermann  and  was  for  one  year  president  of 
the  Society  .of  IMontana  pioneers. 

Mr.  Kessler  was  married  in  1873  to  Miss  Louise  Ebert, 
a native  of  New  York  City,  whose  death  occurred  in 
1880.  She  left  three  children.  Charles  N.,  Frederick 
E.  and  Mathilde,  the  latter  the  wife  of  Capt.  Wil- 
liam B.  Cochran.  Lb  S.  A.,  and  has  two  daughters, 
Louise  K.,  and  iMarion  L.  The  death  of  Mr.  Kessler 
occurred  on  December  ii,  1901,  and  his  demise  was  a 
sad  blow  to  the  city  of  Helena  as  well  as  to  his  inti- 
mate friends  and  relatives.  Few  men  have  contributed 
more  to  the  industrial  progress  of  Helena  than  did 
Nickolas  Kessler.  His  Personal  characteristics  were 
geniality,  kindness  of  heart  and  a strong  sense  of  public 
and  private  duty. 

The  following  tribute  to  his  memory,  taken  from  the 
Helena  Independent,  is  a truthful  reflex  of  public  senti- 
ment over  his  untimely  death;  “The  saddest  news 
Helena  people  have  heard  in  many  a long  time  they 
received  yesterday,  when  it  became  known  that  ‘Nick’ 
Kessler  (as  every  one  knew  him)  was  dead.  For  some 
time  Mr.  Kessler  had  complained  of  not  feeling  well, 
and  he  planned  to  make  a visit  to  California  this  winter. 
About  a week  ago  he  was  too  ill  to  come  into  town, 
and  while  many  of  his  close  friends  knew  he  was  sick, 
it  was  not  thought  he  was  dangerously  ill.  His  im- 
mediate family  did  not  think  so  either.  His  sons  and 
daughter  have  been  untiring  in  their  attentions  to  him 


900 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


while  he  was  confined  to  his  home,  but  they  could  not 
realize  that  his  condition  was  serious.  But  yesterday 
morning  about  six  o’clock  the  end  came.  Four  hours 
previously  he  had  a bad  attack,  and  his  physician.  Dr. 
William  Treacy,  was  summoned.  But  his  skill  was 
unavailing.  After  the  first  attack  Mr.  Kessler  became 
unconscious,  then  rallied  a bit,  relapsed  again  into  un- 
consciousness and  then  went  off  into  a quiet  sleep  from 
which  he  never  awoke,  and  it  was  such  a passing  away 
as  seemed  fitting  to  the  ending  of  a good  man’s  life — 
cjuiet,  painless,  peaceful. 

“It  is  probable  the  death  of  no  other  man  in  Helena 
would  have  occasioned  such  universal  regret  as  that  of 
Nicholas  Kessler.  For  thirty-eight  years  he  lived  in 
this  community  and  during  all  of  that  time  he  was  a 
potent  factor  in  the  business  life  of  the  community.  In 
every  relation  of  life — husband,  father,  business  asso- 
ciate and  man  of  affairs — he  was  tried  and  in  each  of 
them  acquitted  himself  so  well  that  yesterday  the  unan- 
imous voice  of  the  people  was  that  Helena  had  lost  one 
of  the  best  citizens  she  had  ever  possessed.  In  all  of 
the  years  he  had  lived  in  this  community  it  is  doubtful 
if  he  made  an  enemy.  Honest  in  every  dealing,  con- 
siderate of  others,  and  always  willing  to  take  his  share 
of  the  misfortunes  which  came  to  those  who  take  an 
active  part  in  affairs,  his  was  a proud  record.  He  was 
an  old-timer  and  with  them  he  was  popular  and  well- 
beloved  ; the  new-comers  always  found  him  ready  to 
lend  his  assistance  to  any  legitimate  enterprise.  He 
saw  many  of  the  boys  and  girls  grow  up  into  manhood 
and  womanhood,  and  they  liked  him  because  he  always 
had  a pleasant  word  for  them. 

“It  is  the  men  who  have  been  associated  with  him  in 
business  enterprises  who  realize  what  a loss  to  the  city 
his  death  is.  In  all  of  the  years  he  lived  in  Helena  he 
was  ever  foremost  in  everything  that  looked  to  the  up- 
building of  the  city.  When  it  was  proposed  to  build 
branch  railroad  lines  from  Flelena,  Mr.  Kessler  was 
among  the  leaders  who  were  ready  to  subscribe  money 
for  the  enterprise.  When  the  hard  times  came  and  the 
men  who  had  been  the  most  progressive  and  enter- 
prising were  the  hardest  hit,  Mr.  Kessler  did  not  es- 
cape, but  he  always  had  a cheerful  smile  and  he  did  not 
try  to  save  himself  by  putting  his  burden  on  others. 
Instead,  he  was  lenient  with  those  whom  leniency 
would  assist  in  giving  a chance  to  recoup,  and  he  went 
ahead  doing  all  in  his  power  to  bring  about  good  times 
again  in  the  community.  With  Col.  C.  Broad- 
water, he  was  a loyal  and  enthusiastic  worker  for 
Helena,  and  where  the  dollars  of  one  went  for  the  up- 
building of  the  city,  there  the  dollars  of  the  other 
could  be  found.” 

BTis  great  energy  and  business  ability  made  it  pos- 
sible for  him  not  only  to  huild  up  large  enterprises  and 
accumulate  a fortune  for  his  family,  but  to  render  most 
valuable  aid  to  any  enterprise  or  movement  of  benefit 
to  his  city  or  state.  He  was  one  of  the  best  known 
pioneers  in  the  state,  and  the  association  of  those  old 
citizens  did  not  have  a more  enthusiastic  member. 

The  two  sons  of  Mr.  Kessler,  Charles  N.  and  Frede- 
rick E.,  are  numbered  among  the  active  business  men 
of  Helena,  where  thev  are  prominent  in  the  business, 
financial  and  social  life  of  the  city. 

Charles  N.  Kessler  married  Miss  Sarah  FTewett.  of 
Basin,  Montana,  and  they  have  one  child,  a son,  Charles 
Nicholas.  Frederick  E.  Kessler  married  Miss  Florence 
Gordon  of  Whitewater,  Wisconsin,  and  their  two  chil- 
dren are  Helen  Kern  and  Louise  Ebert. 

John  Hines.  Conspicuous  among  the  best  known 
and  most  prosperous  citizens  of  Broadwater  county 
is  John  Hines,  who  through  his  own  efforts  has  ac- 
quired a handsome  property,  and  is  now  living  in 
Townsend,  retired  from  agricultural  pursuits,  but  ac- 
tive in  public  affairs,  being  now  county  commissioner 
of  his  home  county.  son  of  the  late  Edward  Hines, 


he  was  born  in  1842,  near  Kilkenny,  Ireland,  where 
his  childhood  days  were  passed. 

Born,  reared  and  married  in  Ireland,  Edward  Hines 
emigrated  from  Kilkenny  to  the  United  States  in  1848. 
Settling  with  his  family  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  he  was 
there  a resident  until  his  death,  about  1878,  for  many 
years  having  been  a prominent  contractor  of  that  city. 
He  married  Anna  Gall,  a native  of  Kal’icenny,  Ireland, 
and  of  the  eight  children  born  of  their  union  but  two 
are  living,  as  follows:  John,  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 
and  Kearns,  a retired  contractor,  living  on  Walnut 
Hills,  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

Coming  with  his  parents  to  America  in  1848,  John 
Hines  attended  the  public  schools  of  Cincinnati  until 
sixteen  years  old.  Beginning  life  then  as  a wage 
earner,  he  was  for  three  years  a clerk  in  the  grocery 
establishment  of  Patrick  Tracy,  whose  store  was  lo- 
cated at  the  corner  of  Central  avenue  and  McFarland 
street.  Bidding  farewell  then  to  parents  and  friends, 
he  responded  to  the  lure  of  the  wild  west,  striking  out 
boldly  for  the  gold  fields.  Going  by  rail  to  St.  Joseph, 
Missouri,  he  then  proceeded  by  boat  to  Council  Bluffs, 
Iowa,  where  he  outfitted  for  Montana.  Crossing  the 
Missouri  river  June  10,  1863,  Mr.  Hines  arrived  at 
Bannack,  Montana,  late  in  September.  He  remained 
there  a week,  and  then  started  with  his  fellow  com- 
panions toward  the  frontier,  reaching  Alder  Gulch,  now 
Virginia  City,  Montana,  in  October. 

At  the  Sweetwater  crossing,  Mr.  liines  and  his  party, 
which  consisted  of  seven  men,  separated  from  the 
main  body  of  the  wagon  train,  composed  principally 
of  Mormons,  who  were  bound  for  an  entirely  different 
part  of  the  country.  Subsequently  Indians  overtook 
Mr.  Hines  and  his  party  one  night,  and  stole  some 
of  their  oxen.  Mr.  Hines  and  three  of  his  fellow- 
travelers  voted  to  chase  the  thieves  rather  than  return 
to  the  nearest  trading  post  to  buy  more  oxen,  and  three 
of  the  party  started  out  after  the  savages,  traveling- 
twenty  miles  before  catching  sight  of  them.  By  an 
exchange  of  shots  the  pursuers  forced  the  Indians  to 
abandon  the  cattle,  but  not  before  one  of  the  animals 
had  been  killed.  Having  driven  off  the  Indians,  the 
band  of  emigrants  secured  their  cattle,  and  retraced 
their  steps  to  the  camping  place  of  the  Creighton 
train,  and  reported  what  had  happened  and  with  twenty 
men  armed  with  Winchester  rifles  Mr.  Hines  guided 
them  to  where  the  ox  was  killed.  They  found  two 
hind  quarters,  the  remainder  of  the  carcass  having  been 
taken  away  by  the  Indians. 

Mr.  Hines  remained  at  Alder  Gulch,  mining  and 
prospecting,  until  1868,  during  the  time  having  for  two 
years,  in  company  with  John  McQueen,  operated  a 
general  store,  after  which  he  had  assisted  in  the  build- 
ing of  the  telegraph  line  from  Virginia  City  to  Helena. 
In  1868  he  located  at  Radersburg,  Broadwater  county, 
and  a short  time  later  moved  to  Missouri  valley,  where 
he  pre-empted  and  homesteaded  land.  Embarking  then 
in  agricultural  pursuits,  Mr.  Hines  had  a very  success- 
ful career,  becoming  one  of  the  most  prominent  and 
progressive  farmers  and  stock  raisers  of  the  county. 
Disposing  of  his  ranch  and  stock  in  1899,  spending 
the  winter  in  California,  he  took  up  his  residence  in 
May,  1900,  at  Townsend,  intending  to  spend  his  remain- 
ing days  in  a pleasant  leisure.  His  many  friends,  how- 
ever, frustrated  his  well-laid  plans  by  re-electing  him 
county  commissioner  for  a second  term  of  six  years, 
he  having  served  his  first  term -of  two  years  from  igo6- 
1908. 

He  is  a steadfast  Democrat  in  politics,  and  both  he 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Catholic  church. 

Mr.  Hines  has  been  twice  married.  He  married 
first,  at  Alder  Gulch,  Anna  Jane  Howard,  who  was 
born  in  Ireland.  She  passed  to  the  life  beyond,  Jan- 
uary 27,  1908,  leaving  seven  children,  namely : Annie, 
widow  of  Edward  V.  Moran,  a ranchman  of  Frorn- 
berg,  Montana ; George  Edward,  a stock-raiser  in 


EESIDENCE  OF  I\[ARTIN  BARRETT,  DILLON,  MONTANA. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


901 


Alberta,  Canada;  John  Thomas,  of  Fromberg,  assist- 
ing his  sister,  Mrs.  Moran,  in  the  care  of  her  ranch; 
Kate,  wife  of  A.  B.  Timsley,  of  Rockvale,  Montana, 
a farmer  and  stockman ; Theresa  H.,  widow  of  Patrick 
Croak,  of  Townsend;  Lucy  H.,  wife  of  John  Whaley, 
of  Canton,  a rancher  and  stockman;  and  Stasia  H.,  wife 
of  W.  D.  Neild,  a well-known  ranchman  of  Townsend. 
Air.  Hines  married  second,  on  September  15,  1910, 
Ellen  Cleary,  who  was  born  in  Ontonagon,  Michigan. 

AIartin  Barrett.  It  is  no  doubt  true  that  Ireland, 
of  all  countries  of  the  world,  has  sent  more  immigrants 
in  proportion  to  population  to  the  United  States  than 
any  other  country,  and  the  reason  is  well  known.  For 
hundreds  of  years  the  Emerald  Isle  has  been  denied 
many  valuable  rights  and  privileges  by  Great  Britain 
and  the  pride  and  honor  of  the  people  were  ground  into 
the  dust.  They  could  avoid  this  only  by  leaving  the 
island,  much  as  they  loved  it,  and,  accordingly,  thou- 
sands of  them,  as  the  years  rolled  around,  have  crossed 
the  wide  Atlantic  to  find  a home  of  greater  freedom  in 
America.  They  began  to  come  in  large  numbers  after 
the  Revolution  and  have  continued  to  come  until  the 
present  time.  In  every  state  they  settled  and  built  up 
comfortable  homes.  They  were  among  our  first  teach- 
ers and  business  men  and  today  they  occupy  many  of 
the  proudest  positions  within  the  gift  of  the  inhabitants. 
In  Erin  was  born  Martin  Barrett,  one  of  Dillon’s  most 
honored  and  honorable  citizens,  a veritable  pioneer, 
since  he  has  lived  in  the  state  since  1863.  His  occupa- 
tion is  that  of  a stock-raiser,  but  he  has  held  many  pub- 
lic offices  with  great  credit,  having  been  state  representa- 
tive, stock  commissioner,  etc.,  and  no  one  in  Beaverhead 
county  is  better  or  more  favorably  known. 

County  Mayo,  Ireland,  was  the  scene  of  the  birth  of 
Martin  Barrett  and  its  date  was  February  2,  1840.  He 
remained  in  his  native  country  until  about  the  age  of 
seven,  when,  his  father  having  died  a short  time  pre- 
viously, his  mother  removed  to  Canada,  and  there  young 
Alartin  remained  until  1859.  Then,  a youth  of  nineteen 
years,  he  went  to  St.  Joseph,  Alissouri,  where  for  about 
a twelvemonth  he  worked  at  various  occupations.  In 
i860  he  crossed  the  plains  to  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  and 
then  went  back  to  St.  Joseph.  In  1861  he  went  to  Colo- 
rado, where  he  remained  for  two  years  engaged  in  min- 
ing and  in  1863  he  first  came  to  Montana,  settling  at 
Horse  Prairie,  Beaverhead  county,  and  so  favorably  was 
he  impressed  with  the  opportunities  of  the  section  that 
he  has  ever  since  remained  here  and  has  won  success 
and  general  respect.  He  has  followed  stock  raising  ever 
since  his  arrival  Avithin  the  borders  of  the  state.  He  has 
erected  a beautiful  home  in  Dillon,  and  is  now  leading 
a retired  life,  free  to  cultivate  the  finer  things  of  life 
and  the  friendships  of  which  he  has  man}'. 

At  an  age  when  most  boys  are  thinking  of  little  be- 
sides schooling  and  diversion  Air.  Barrett  had  become 
familiar  with  honest  toil.  ■ He  earned  his  first  money  as 
a boy  of  thirteen,  cutting  and  splitting  wood  at  seventy- 
five  cents  a cord.  In  Canada  he  served  an  apprentice- 
ship of  five  years,  learning  the  tanner  and  currier's 
trade,  but  he  never  folloAved  it.  His  first  entire  sum- 
mer’s occupation  was  while  on  a farm  in  Canada,  when 
he  worked  six  months  at  four  dollars  a month  and 
saved  the  entire  twenty-four  dollars.  Out  of  this  money 
he  bought  a spotted  pig,  of  which  he  made  his  mother 
a present,  and  he  stayed  at  home  that  winter  and  Avent 
to  school. 

The  subject’s  father,  Thomas  Barrett,  Avas  born  and 
lived  in  Ireland  all  his  life,  and  in  that  country  fol- 
lowed farming.  When  less  than  seven  years  of  age,  as 
before  mentioned,  his  father  died.  The  mother,  Avhose 
maiden  name  was  Nancy  AIcDonald,  Avas  born  in  Ire- 
land, and  Avhen  her  husband  died  she  came  across  the 
ocean  to  Canada.  Subsequently  she  removed  to  Kan- 
sas, and  at  Wathena,  that  state,  she  passed  aAvay  at  the 
advanced  age  of  ninety  years,  being  there  interred.  There 


were  nine  children  in  the  elder  Barrett  family  and  all 
were  boys,  the  subject  being  the  sixth  in  order  of  birth 
and  the  only  one  living  at  the  present  time. 

Mr.  Barrett  has  ever  given  hand  and  heart  to  the 
policies  and  principles  of  the  Democratic  party  and  Avhile 
he  has  held  office  he  is  not  and  never  has  been  what  is 
termed  a politician,  having  no  taste  for  the  Avire-pulling 
Avhich  is  too  often  a part  of  the  game  of  politics.  In 
1879  he  Avas  sent  to  represent  Beaverhead  county  in  the 
state  legislature  and  so  faithful  Avas  he  to  the  interests 
of  his  constituency  that  he  was  returned  in  1885.  He 
was  stock  commissioner  for  six  years  and  at  one  time 
Avas  a member  of  the  school  board.  An  amusing  cir- 
cumstance occurred  in  this  connection.  Airs.  Barrett  be- 
ing nominated  for  the  same  office  and  running  against 
him  and  that  successfully,  for  she  beat  him.  She  Avas 
school  trustee  for  tAventy-tAvo  years  and  ga\-e  most  in- 
telligent and  faithful  service  to  the  cause  she  repre- 
sented. 

Air.  Barrett  laid  the  foundation  of  a happy  and  con- 
genial life  companionship  by  his  union  on  August  6, 
1867,  at  Red  Rock,  Alontana,  to  Alice  E.  Cook,  daughter 
of  Captain  Hiram  and  Alary  E.  CVining)  Cook,  of 
Michigan.  Airs.  Barrett’s  father  Avas  born  in  the  state 
of  New  York  and  Avas  by  occupation  a carpenter  and 
contractor.  He  serA'ed  in  the  Civil  Avar,  enlisting  in 
Company  H,  of  the  TAventy-fifth  Alichigan  Infantry,  and 
he  Avas  commissioned  captain  at  the  start.  In  1867  he 
came  to  Alontana,  settling  in  Boulder,  and  there  he  Avas 
called  to  the  Great  Beyond  at  the  age  of  seventy-three 
years.  The  mother  Avas  also  a native  of  the  Empire 
state  and  their  marriage  Avas  celebrated  in  Ohio.  Their 
union,  Avhich  was  a Avonderfully  happy  and  devoted  one, 
Avas  of  fifty-tAvo  years’  duration.  The  mother  died  in 
Boulder  when  seventy-seven  and  these  good  people  are 
not  parted  in  death,  for  they  lie  side  by  side.  Airs. 
Barrett  has  three  sisters  and  a brother,  as  folloAvs : Airs. 
Alar}'  Jeffries  resides  in  Hamilton,  Alontana,  as  does 
Airs.  E.  AI.  Pollinger.  Airs.  Katie  Evans  makes  her 
home  at  Como,  and  the  brother,  Frank  Cook,  is  mar- 
ried and  a citizen  of  Como. 

Airs.  Barrett  is  a Avoman  endoAved  Avith  many  good 
gifts  of  mind  and  heart,  of  the  type  Avhich  Alontana 
recognizes  as  the  flower  of  its  Avomanhood.  All  good 
causes  have  her  support  and  in  this  case  “support”  is  by 
no  means  nominal  or  a mere  rhetorical  expression,  for 
her  forcefulness  and  character  are  remarkable.  Through- 
out his  career  Air.  Barrett  has  consulted  her  on  all  mat- 
ters of  importance  and  ahvays  found  her  counsel  calm 
and  wise.  Throughout  all  Beaverhead  county  they  are 
held  in  high  honor  and  esteem.  They  are  zealous  com- 
municants of  the  Catholic  church  and  the  subject  is  a 
member  of  the  Society  of  Alontana  Pioneers. 

WiLLi.AM  T.  AIorroav.  Although  William  T.  Alor- 
roAV  has  been  a resident  of  the  Avestern  states  for  many 
years  and  has  seen  much  of  the  pioneer  conditions  and 
primitive  life  of  the  country  in  the  early  days,  his 
life  has  been  all  serenity  and  calm  when  compared 
Avith  the  strenuous  days  of  bis  father  in  the  sixties 
and  even  later.  Air.  AlorroAv  is  the  son  of  Alalcolm 
and  Janet  (Alatheson)  AlorroAV,  the  former  born  in 
Ontario,  Canada,  and  the  latter  a native  of  GlasgOAv, 
Scotland.  In  the  year  1857,  Alalcolm  AIorroAv  removed 
from  Canada  into  the  states,  first  locating  in  loAva, 
near  the  tOAvn  of  Alarengo.  He  Avas  a cooper  by  trade 
and  folloAved  that  business  in  his  loAva  home  until  the 
spring  of  i860,  Avhen  the  same  restless  spirit  Avhich  had 
prompted  his  removal  from  the  quietude  of  Canadian 
life  into  the  busier  life  of  the  states,  sent  him  to  Pike’s 
Peak,  Colorado,  where  he  engaged  in  the  mining  busi- 
ness. He  purchased  some  mining  property  in  the  Dele- 
Avare  Flats,  continuing  there  for  about  a year,  Avhen, 
his  efforts  not  being  rcAvarded  Avith  a sufficient  degree 
of  success,  he  moved  to  Black  HaAvk  Point,  Colorado 
and  settled  near  the  famous  Gregory  and  Bob  Tail 


902 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


quartz  mines,  there  engaging  in  ranching.  He  re- 
mained thus  occupied  until  the  summer  of  1863,  when 
he  removed  to  a point  fifteen  miles  south  of  Denver, 
on  Plum  creek,  where  he  established  his  family,  and 
made  preparations  to  move  on  to  Montana  alone.  He 
started  out  with  a yoke  of  oxen  and  a covered  wagon, 
arriving  in  Virginia  City  in  November,  1863.  There 
he  engaged  in  mining  at  Bevins  Gulch,  where  he  was 
fortunate  in  securing  a good  claim.  He  found  a part- 
ner, named  Kennedy,  and  the  two  lived  in  the  wagon 
all  winter  and  worked  the  claim  on  shares.  In  the 
springtime,  when  Air.  Morrow  returned  to  Denver  to 
get  his  family,  Mr.  Kennedy  took  advantage  of  his 
absence  and  the  la.x  business  methods  there  prevail- 
ing and  sold  the  claim,  taking  the  wise  precaution  of 
leaving  the  country.  When  Mr.  Morrow  returned  to 
Bevins  Gulch  he  had  no  claim,  and  his  one-time  part- 
ner had  the  money  for  the  property.  This  was  a most 
unfortunate  circumstance,  as  the  claim  later  developed 
a valuable  mine.  While  in  the  Gulch  Mr.  Morrow 
formed  many  accjuaintances  from  which  lasting  friend- 
ships were  evolved,  and  he  had  many  thrilling  experi- 
ences which  were  common  to  all  who  in  those  days  had 
sufficient  hardihood  to  brave  the  possible  and  almost 
certain  adventures  of  the  life  in  a mining  camp.  Road 
agents  were  common,  and  every  man  was  prepared 
to  ])rotect  his  life  and  property  at  all  cost.  On  one 
occasion  Mr.  Morrow  welcomed  to  his  camp  one  Holter 
who  had  been  shot  by  George  Ives,  one  of  the  greatest 
desparadoes  of  the  country.  Mr.  Holter  and  Mr.  Mor- 
row became  fast  friends,  and  later  they  assisted  the 
vigilantes  to  hang  Ives,  who  was  so  unfortunate  as  to 
fall  into  their  hands.  Mr.  Morrow  assisted  in  the 
capture  and  execution  of  Slaide  and  Buck  Stimson, 
two  road  agents  who  made  life  uncomfortable  for 
honest  men  in  Montana  for  many  months  before  they 
were  finally  captured  and  brought  to  justice.  On  his 
trip  from  Virginia  City  to  Denver,  where  his  family 
was  located,  Mr.  Morrow  acted  as  one  of  the  escort,  the 
other  two  being  John  Featherstone  and  X.  Biedler,  of 
“Billy”  Kiskadden,  and  who  was  taking  back  to  Colo- 
rado a great  quantity  of  gold,  all  a large  mule  could 
carry.  They  traveled  by  night  to  avoid  highwaymen 
and  skulking  Indians,  and  they  reached  Denver  in 
safctv  on  May  i.  1864,  having  started  on  the  trip  in 
March. 

Returning  with  his  family,  Mr.  Morrow  arrived  at 
California  Gulch,  three  miles  east  of  Alder  Gulch,  on 
July  4,  1864;  they  made  the  trip  hy  ox  team  and  drove 
a herd  of  forty-one  head  of  cattle.  The  journey  was 
attended  by  many  hardships  and  perils,  and  they  crossed 
streams  so  swollen  that  the  animals  with  difficulty  were 
able  to  swim  across.  While  en  route,  Martin  Holter, 
a brother  of  A.  M.  Holter  • of  Helena,  overtook  the 
party  on  the  road  with  his  horse  teams  and  passed 
the  Morrows,  who  were  en  route  to  Alder  Gulch.  At 
California  Gulch,  where  they  settled,  Mr.  Morrow  sold 
dairy  products  to  the  residents  of  Virginia  City  and 
despite  the  high  prices  paid  for  food  stuffs,  a sack 
of  flour  bringing  $150,  and  other  groceries  in  pro- 
portion, as  the  result  of  the  Civil  war,  Mr.  Morrow 
was  able  to  maintain  bis  family  in  comfort.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1865,  Mr.  Morrow  returned  to  Lost  Chance 
Gulch  and  became  engaged  in  dairy  farming  three 
miles  south  of  Helena,  and  there  he  continued  to 
farm  until  the  fall  of  1865,  when  he  moved  down  to 
Prickly  Pear  valley  and  remained  there  till  the  spring 
of  1867.  Mr.  Morrow  freighted  from  Salt  Lake  to 
Helena  and  from  Benton  to  Helena,  assisted  by  his 
sons,  Dave  and  Malcom,  William  remaining  at  home  to 
attend  to  the  dairying  on  the  old  Bob  Hereford  ranch 
on  Big  Prickly  Pear  valley.  The  freighting  business 
between  Helena  and  Benton  was  conducted  via  Med- 
icine Rock  and  Lyons  Hill,  both  extremely  difficult 
mountains  to  cross  before  the  toll  road  was  built  through 
the  Prickly  Pear  canyon.  In  1878  Mr.  Morrow  estab- 
lished a permanent  residence  in  Fort  Benton,  where 


he  was  living  at  the  time  of  his  death,  -which  occurred 
in  May,  1891.  In  addition  to  his  farming  and  freight- 
ing business,  Mr.  Morrow  conducted  a ferrying  busi- 
ness on  the  Missouri  river  at  Fort  Benton,  and 
altogether  vvas  a busy  man  all  the  days  of  his  life.  He 
was  a typical  pioneer,  and  one  of  the  men  who  have 
npde  the  recent  years  of  progress  in  the  West  pos- 
sible to  the  men  who  came  after  them.  He  was  fear- 
less to  a fault,  and  no  duty  was  too  severe  or  no 
hardship  too  difficult  for  him  to  undertake  and  bring 
to  completion.  For  years  he  was  an  officer  of  promi- 
nence in  the  vigilante  committee  of  his  locality.  Thomas 
Baum,  also  an  officer,  in  fact  captain  of  the  vigilance 
committee,  together  with  Mr.  Morrow,  at  one  time 
entered  a darkened  cabin  in  Virginia  City  and  arrested 
a desperado  who  had  sought  shelter  there  with  five 
companions.  In  order  to  secure  their  man  it  was 
necessary  to  run  the  gauntlet  of  the  guns  of  the  other 
five,  but  by  a strategic  ruse  they  succeeded  in  covering 
the  entire  party  and  carrying  off  their  man  without 
injury  to  themselves. 

Of  the  fourteen  children  born  to  Malcolm  and  Janet 
Morrow,  ten  came  to  Montana  and  eight  are  now  living. 
William  T.,  the  subject  of  this  review,  was  born  in 
Ontario,  near  Kingston,  on  October  26,  1854.  He  was 
yet  a small  child  when  his  parents  removed  to  this 
country,  and  he  received  his  principal  book-learning 
at  Black  Plawk  Point,  Colorado,  up  to  the  age  of  ten 
years.  After  that  he  was  associated  with  his  father  in 
the  dairy  business  until  about  1878,  at  which  time  his 
father  gave  him  an  interest  in  the  business,  and  since 
that  time  he  has  been  continuously  engaged  in  the 
cattle  business  in  this  section  of  the  country.  He  has 
with  the  passing  years  made  steady  and  consistent 
progress  in  his  business,  and  is  today  ranked  among 
the  leading  cattle-men  of  the  state.  He  is  the  owner 
of  a thousand  acres  of  ranch  land,  to  which  he  holds 
the  title  deeds,  and  holds  the  leases  to  several  thou- 
sand additional  acres  which  he  utilizes  in  his  business. 

The  children  of  Mr.  Morrow’s  first  marriage  are ; 
Mrs.  Robert  Coburn,  deceased;  Malcolm,  Jr.;  William 
T.;  David;  Mrs.  John  H.  Green;  Airs.  C.  W.  Fields 
of  Fort  Benton;  Mrs.  Mort  Strong  of  Sun  River, 
deceased;  Mrs.  Frank  Leedy  of  Helena;  Laura;  Airs. 
James  .Adams,  of  Sun  River,  and  Airs.  James  Scott 
of  Charleston,  Washington.  By  a second  marriage 
Air.  Morrow  became  the  father  of  two  sons,  and  they 
yet  survive  him.  His  first  wife,  the  mother  of  the 
subject,  died  in  Helena,  Alontana,  in  June.  1878. 

On  January  23,  1884,  William  T.  Alorrow  married 
Aliss  Marv  Elizabeth  Bach,  niece  of  Airs.  Charles  Lee- 
man  of  Helena,  and  the  sister  of  George  Bach,  who 
died  at  Fort  Benton  on  December  23,  1889,  at  the  early 
age  of  twenty-six  years.  Four  children  were  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alorrow,  three  sons  and  one  daughter. 
They  are : William  G.,  Charles  W.,  Harry  R.  and 

Mary  Elizabeth,  all  of  whom  were  born  at  Fort  Benton. 

Mr.  Alorrow  is  a member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  and 
the  family  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

James  Henry  Gallop.  It  did  not  require  the  heroism 
of  that  noble  band  of  men  on  the  deck  of  the  sinking 
Titanic  to  prove  that  personal  courage  belongs  to  the 
American  man,  for  the  annals  of  such  states  as  Mon- 
tana, tell  true  tales  of  wonderful  self-sacrifices,  of  re- 
markable daring  and  of  quiet  bravery  in  the  face  of 
danger.  There  are  those  still  living  whose  lives  have 
been,  as  it  were,  miraculously  preserved,  many  times 
having  been  placed  in  jeopardy  and  on  not  a few 
occasions,  to  shield  the  helpless.  Among  the  retired 
and  honored  citizens  of  Bozeman,  Alontana,  is  Hon. 
James  Henry  Gallop,  whose  experiences  through  years 
of  adventurous  life  might  prove  all  that  has  been  said. 
Mr.  Gallop  was  born  at  Scipio,  New  York,  February 
10,  1834,  and  is  a son  of  Jonah  and  Hannah  (Frye) 
Gallop,  who  came  of  English  ancestry. 

In  1839  the  Gallop  family  settled  in  Michigan,  and 


p. 


Li  ; 


•S' 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


903 


James  Henry  remained  on  the  homestead  until  the 
death  of  his’ mother,  in  1852,  when  he  started  out  to 
work  at  the  carpenter  trade,  with  which  he  was  already 
familiar.  In  traveling  over  Michigan,  Illinois  and 
Indiana,  he  found  a demand  for  bridge-builders  and  as 
he  was  skilled  in  that  branch  of  his  trade,  as  in  others, 
he  was  kept  very  busy  and  was  reasonably  contented 
until  1862,  when  he  determined  to  go  to  Montana, 
although  in  those  days  this  was  a great  undertaking. 
From  New  York  he  sailed  for  the  Isthmus  of  Panama, 
where,  at  present,  he  . would  probably  find  trouble  in 
locating  land-marks,  and  by  this  route  reached  San 
Francisco.  The  next  move  was  to  Portland,  Oregon, 
from  there  he  went  up  the  mighty  Columbia  to  Fort 
Wallula,  then  crossed  the  country  to  Walla  Walla. 
At  that  point,  in  partnership  with  Arid  Chidester,  he 
bought  a pack  of  ponies  and  they  started  for  Florence. 
Air.  Gallop  relates  how  they  reached  the  Alountain 
House,  but  from  there,  for  sixteen  miles,  the  partners 
had  to  pack  on  their  own  backs.  They  proved  it  pos- 
sible to  get  through  with  goods  and  Air.  Gallop  saw 
this  as  an  excellent  business  opportunity,  which  he 
took  advantage  of  and  it  was  not  long  before  he  had 
accumulated  several  hundred  dollars,  with  an  income 
sometimes  of  forty  dollars  a day.  This  money  he  in- 
vested in  prospecting  in  and  around  Florence  and  later 
joined  the  Buffalo  Hump  stampede,  and  before  he  re- 
turned he  passed  through  the  Ross  Hole,  the  Big  Hole 
and  the  Bitter  Root  country,  going  on  down  the  river 
to  Fort  Owen,  and  finally  reached  Elk  City,  later 
returning  to  Florence.  It  was  in  October  of  that  year 
that  Air.  Gallop  was  stopped  by- a road  agent,  Pete 
Riggs,  and  seriously  wounded  by  a man  who  was  later 
identified  and  was  finally^  executed  for  other  crimes. 

On  account  of  the  severity  of  his  wound.  Air.  Gallop 
was  unable  to  work  during  the  following  winter  and 
spent  the  same  with  friends  in  Oregon,  but  in  the  spring 
and  summer  he  tried  mining  on  Clearwater  river,  which 
he  continued  in  the  next  summer,  Oregon  being  chosen 
for  his  winter  home.  He  then  became  interested  with 
John  T.  Silverwood  and  A.  B.  Chidester  in  the  pur- 
chase of  the  Montana  House,  which  was  conveniently 
located  within  a few  miles  of  Clearwater  bridge,  and 
in  the  following  spring  Air.  Gallop  sold  his  interest  in 
the  property  for  $1,200  and  went  into  the  cattle  busi- 
ness. In  Alarch  following  he  bought  forty-five  head 
of  cattle,  mainly  cows,  locating  at  Magpie,  Alontana, 
where  he  pre-empted  160  acres  of  land  and  engaged 
in  stock-raising.  With  this  business  settlement  the 
greater  part  of  his  really  adventurous  life  closed,  but 
the  records  of  several  years  were  replete  with  hard- 
ships and  dangers  that  only  a brave  man  could  go 
through  and  still  continue  to  face  possible  other  losses 
of  fortune  and  dangers  of  all  kinds.  For  ten  years,  up 
to  1876,  he  remained  in  the  neighborhood  of  Alagpie, 
raising  cattle  and  buying  and  selling  produce,  and  in 
1870  opened  a store  at  Gallatin.  He  had  not  been 
trained,  however,  along  mercantile  lines  and  finding  the 
venture  not  remunerative,  in  1873  disposed  of  it. 

In  1876  Mr.  Gallop  sought  and  found  a desirable 
ranch  on  which  he  determined  to  establish  a permanent 
residence,  its  situation  being  twenty-six  miles  north- 
west of  Bozeman,  and  in  April  he  settled  there,  home- 
steading 160  acres,  taking  up  a desert  claim  of  200 
acres  and  purchasing  a one-half  section  of  railroad 
land,  still  retaining  at  that  time  his  pre-emption  at  Alag- 
pie. Farming  and  stock-raising  were  his  industries.  His 
Durham  cattle  and  his  Norman  horses  becoming  noted 
all  over  the  state.  In  1910  Mr.  Gallop  retired  to 
Bozeman,  selling  his  first  ranch,  Alarch  i.  1910,  for 
$36,000.  The  neighborhood  and  district  adjoining  his 
second  ranch  was  named  Gallop,  in  his  honor,  and  for 
fifteen  years  he  served  as  its  postmaster.  This  ranch 
he  sold  in  December,  1911,  for  $21,600. 

On  Julv  6,  1873.  Air.  Gallop  was  married  at  Fort  Ben- 
ton to  Mrs.  Rachel  C.  Hutchinson,  who  was  born  in 
A'lichigan,  and  is  a daughter  of  Nathan  Chidester.  By 


her  first  marriage  she  had  one  son,  Frank  N.,  who  was 
born  at  Converse,  Michigan,  July  i,  1866,  and  died  in 
Alontana,  January  7,  1901.  He  had  been  associated  in 
business  with  Air.  Gallop,  who  regarded  him  with  a 
father’s  aft'ection. 

In  his  political  views  Air.  Gallop  is  nominally  a 
Republican,  but  in  1898  there  was  a Silver  Republican 
ticket,  on  which  he  ran  for  county  commissioner,  but 
the  ticket  was  defeated  at  the  polls.  Air.  Gallop  served 
one  term  as  justice  of  the  peace  and  other  offices  were 
at  his  disposal  for  many  years,  but  his  business  in- 
terests were  too  absorbing  to  give  him  time  to  serve 
in  many  positions  otherwise  than  stated.  He  has  been 
a very  active  member  of  Pythagoras  Lodge,  No.  2, 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  during  his  twenty-four  years 
of  membership  has  served  in  all  the  offices  and  on  sev- 
eral occasions  has  been  state  delegate  to  the  Alontana 
Grand  Lodge.  In  1895  Air.  Gallop  was  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  Pioneers’  Society  of  Gallatin  county,  Alon- 
tana. He  is  interested  in  a number  of  successful  busi- 
ness enterprises  at  Bozeman  and  keeps  in  touch  with 
all  movements  that  increase  the  city’s  prosperity,  often 
advising  and  directing,  being  qualified  through  his 
wealth  of  experience.  He  is  a representative  man  of 
Gallatin  county. 

Anton  AI.  Holter.  In  all  that  has  been  suffered 
and  all  that  has  been  wrought  in  connection  with  the 
development  and  progress  of  the  great  state  of  Alon- 
tana nope  has  played  a more  worthy  part  or  marked 
the  vanishing  years  with  greater  accomplishment  than 
has  Hon.  Anton  AI.  Holter,  one  of  the  best  known  and 
most  highly  honored  pioneer  citizens  of  Helena  and 
for  many  years  past  one  of  the  representative  business 
men  of  the  capital  city.  Virtually  half  a century  rep- 
resents the  period  of  Air.  Holter’s  residence  in  Alon- 
tana, and  this  period  practically  compasses  the  entire 
history  of  this  commonwealth,  both  as  a territory  and 
a state.  Here  he  came  when  civilization  was  strug- 
gling to  gain  a foothold  on  the  frontier;  here  he  was 
a veritable  pioneer  of  pioneers ; here  his  constructive 
ability  and  indomitable  energy  early  became  potent  in 
results;  and  here  it  has  been  his  to  achieve  large  and 
substantial  success,  together  with  the  gaining  of  the 
most  impregnable  vantage  place  in  popular  confidence 
and  esteem.  In  the  most  significant  sense  the  archi- 
tect of  his  own  fortunes.  Air.  Holter,  now  venerable  in 
years,  has  stood  as  one  of  the  strongest  and  noblest 
of  the  Scandinavian  element  of  citizenship  that  has 
wielded  wonderful  influence  in  the  development  and 
upbuilding  of  the  great  empire  of  the  west.  His  ex- 
periences in  connection  with  frontier  life  were  many 
and  varied,  as  may  well  be  inferred,  and  he  was  one 
of  the  leaders  in  the  march  of  civic  and  industrial 
development  and  progress  in  Alontana,  where  he  has 
overcome  seemingly  insuperable  obstacles,  where  he 
has  endured  many  hardships,  vicissitudes  and  reverses, 
and  where  his  courage  and  persistence  finally  won  to 
him  a most  gracious  independence  and  prosperity.  He 
is  a man  of  broad  mental  grasp,  of  well  fortified 
opinions  and  has  been  influential  in  public  aft'airs  as 
well  as  those  of  industrial  and  commercial  order.  Air. 
Holter  is  to  be  considered  distinctively  as  one  of  the 
founders  and  builders  of  Alontana,  even  as  he  yet 
continues  to  be  one  of  its  most  liberal  and  public- 
spirited  citizens.  He  was  one  of  those  who  had  pre- 
science of  the  future  greatness  of  the  state,  and  he  was 
foremost  in  the  promoting  of  gigantic  and  important 
enterprises-  that  have  made  possible  the  consecutive 
development  of  this  favored  commonwealth.  Scarcely 
any  project  advanced  for  the  general  good  of  the 
territory  or  the  state  has  failed  to  find  in  him  a strong 
and  vigorous  promoter  and  supporter,  and  for  all  time 
his  name  shall  merit  a place  of  distinction  in  the 
history  of  Alontana,  where  he  has  long  lived  and  labored 
to  goodly  ends  and  where  his  circle  of  friends  is 
coincident  with  that  of  his  acquaintances.  His  remi- 


904 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


niscences  of  the  early  days  are  most  graphic  and  in- 
teresting and  the  same  merit  collation  and  publica- 
tion, the  province  of  the  one  at  hand  being  such  as  to 
permit  only  the  briefest  outline  of  his  career.  A most 
interesting  brochure  was  recently  issued  by  the  Timber- 
man,  a lumber  paper  published  at  Portland,  Oregon, 
the  text  of  which  was  an  article  prepared  by  Mr. 
Holter  and  entitled  “Pioneer  Lumbering  in  Montana.” 
In  this  pamphlet  he  gives  a most  interesting  account 
of  many  of  his  experiences  in  the  pioneer  days  of 
Montana, — a record  which  it  is  possible  for  him  to 
amplify  indefinitely,  in  the  production  of  equally  valu- 
able historic  data. 

Anton  M.  Holter  was  born  in  the  little  seaport  town 
of  Moss,  on  a fjord  thirty-two  miles  south  of  Chris- 
tiania, Norway,  and  the  date  of  his  nativity  was  June 
29,  1831.  He  is  a son  of  Foin  and  Berta  M.  (Floxstad) 
Holter. 

Ambitious  and  self-reliant,  of  alert  mentality  and 
vigorous  physical  powers,  Mr.  Flolter  finally  determined 
to  seek  his  fortunes  in  America,  to  which  country  a 
tide  of  immigration  was  setting  in  from  the  Norseland 
countries,  with  the  result  that  he  had  learned  much 
concerning  opportunities  afforded  in  the  New  World. 
Fie  matured  his  plans,  and  on  the  8th  of  April,  1854, 
about  two  months  prior  to  his  twenty-third  birthday 
anniversary,  Mr.  Holter,  in  company  with  others  of 
his  countrymen,  set  sail  for  Quebec.  They  arrived  in 
the  .Canadian  city  on  the  25th  of  the  following  month. 
They  thence  set  forth  by  railroad  for  the  United 
States,  and  this  was  Mr.  Holter’s  first  experience  in 
railway  traveling, — an  experience  which  proved  most 
disconcerting  and  sorrowful,  since  in  an  accident  to  the 
train  five  members  of  his  party  were  killed,  while  others 
were  severely  injured.  Upon  arriving  at  Rock  Island, 
Illinois,  it  was  reported  that  some  of  the  immigrants 
has  suffered  attacks  of  cholera,  and  the  quarantine 
officers  forthwith  were  on  the  alert,  besides  which  none 
of  the  immigrants  could  gain  accommodations  in  any 
of  the  hotels  or  lodging  houses.  Mr.  Holter,  de- 
termined not  to  be  detained  and  scarcely  knowing 
what  was  the  difficulty,  as  he  had  no  knowledge  of 
English,  seized  his  trunk  and  forced  his  way  through 
the  quarantine  ranks  to  a boat  on  which  he  embarked, 
without  any  idea  as  to  the  destination  of  the  vessel. 
He  proceeded  up  the  Mississippi  on  this  boat  and  finally 
made  his  way  to  Freeport,  near  Decorah,  Iowa,  where 
he  joined  one  of  his  boyhood  friends  and  where  he 
soon  found  employment  at  his  trade.  He  received  for 
his  services  twenty  dollars  a month,  twice  the  amount 
given  him  for  a whole  year’s  labor  in  his  native  land, 
and  the  young  immigrant  accordingly  gained  renewed 
faith  in  the  tales  he  had  heard  concerning  the  wonderful 
opportunities  in  America.  His  initiative  faculty  did  not 
long  remain  in  abeyance,  and  he  carefully  saved  his 
earnings  and  began  to  speculate  in  town  lots,  upon  a 
modest  scale,  with  the  result  that  at  the  end  of  the 
year  he  had  accumulated  property  valued  at  three 
hundred  dollars. 

Mr.  Holter  passed  the  winter  of  1855-6  in  working 
at  his  trade  in  the  city  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and  in 
assisting  in  construction  work  on  the  line  of  the  Mis- 
souri Pacific  Railroad,  which  was  being  extended  to 
Jefferson  City,  that  state.  In  the  meanwhile  he  had 
passed  some  time  in  the  state  of  Iowa,  and  returning 
to  that  state,  he  passed  the  major  part  of  the  ensuing 
four  years  at  Osage,  the  judicial  center  of  Mitchell 
county,  so  that  he  was  thus  identified  for  a time  with 
the  pioneer  activities  of  the  Hawkeye  state.  Within 
the  period  mentioned  he  made  several  trips  into  the 
Sioux  Indian  country  in  western  Iowa  and  Missouri, 
and  on  one  of  these  expeditions  he  was  among  the  first 
to  arrive  on  the  scene  of  the  historic  Spirit  Lake 
massacre. 

In  the  spring  of  i860,  Mr.  Holter  joined  the  hegira 
to  the  newly  discovered  gold  fields  in  the  Pike’s  Peak 
district  of  Colorado,  to  which  territory  adventurous 


gold-seekers  had  been  flocking  in  large  numbers  within 
the  preceding  year.  In  Colorado  he  was  joined  by  his 
Martin  M.,  and  they  were-  fairly  successful  in 
their  mining'  and  fanning  operations.  Concernino"  his 
initial  identification  with  Montana  Mr.  Holter  himself 
has  given  the  following  account,  which  is  well  worthy 
of  reproduction,  and  in  the  connection  it  will  be  re- 
called that  during  his  sojourn  in  Colorado  the  present 
state  was  known  as  Jefferson  Territory.  His  state- 
appearing  in  his  article  on  pioneer  lumbering 
111  Montana,  are  as  follows : **After  three  years’  resi- 

dence  at  Pike’s  Peak  I returned  to  my  former  home  in 
Iowa,  and  in  the  spring  of  1863  started,  with  a team 
of  oxen,  back  to  Colorado,  where  I stopped  about  six 
weeks.  During  this  time  a company  of  two  hundred 
men  was  organized  to  go  to  what  was  then  called 
Stinking  Water,  Idaho,  but  what  is  now  known  as 
Ruby  River,  in  Madison  county,  Montana.  This  com- 
pany left  Colorado  on  September  16,  1863.  It  was  well 
organized,  having  a captain  and  other  officers,  and  was 
governed  by  a formal  set  of  rules  and  regulations. 
The  weather  was  pleasant  and  the  food  for  the  stock 
was  excellent.  Flunting  and  fishing  were  especially 
Hie,  too  much  so,  in  fact,  for  so  much  time  was  spent 
in  sport  that  we  made  slow  progress,  and  finally  a Mr. 
Eyenson,  with  whom  I had  formed  a partnership  and 
with  whom  I afterward  did  business  under  the  firm 
name  of  Holter  & Evenson,  and  myself  became  fearful 
that  we  would  be  unable  to  reach  our  destination  before 
winter,  and  we  decided  it  was  best  for  us  to  leave  the 
train  and  strike  out  for  ourselves  at  a greater  rate  of 
speed.  We  had  purchased  a second-hand  saw-mill  out- 
fit, intending  to  go  into  the  lumbering  business  on  reach- 
ing our  destination.  There  were  yet  at  least  a thousand 
miles  to  cover,  so  one  morning  we  yoked  up  our  oxen 
and  struck  out  alone.  During  the  night  a few  more 
teams  overtook  us,  and  every  night  thereafter  other 
teams  ^ caught  up  with  us,  until  we  were  about  forty 
souls  in  all.  We  had  some  heavy  snow  storms  during 
November,  but  finally  reached  Bevin’s  Gulch,  our  tem- 
porary destination,  about  eighteen  miles  from  Virginia 
City,  Montana.  The  remainder  of  the  company,  how- 
ever, got  snowed  in,  and,  so  far  as  I ever  learned, 
never  reached  Montana. 

“Mr.  Evenson  and  I finally  selected  a location  for 
our  saw  mill,  and  after  considerable  hardship  we 
reached  the  top  of  the  divide  between  Bevin’s  and 
Ramshorn  gulches,  on  December  7th.  There  we  went 
into  temporary  camp,  with  no  shelter  beyond  that 
afforded  by  a large  spruce  tree.  As  the  snow  was 
getting  deep  and  there  was  no  feed  for  stock,  I started 
the  next  morning  for  Virginia  City, — eighteen  miles 
distant, — with  the  cattle,  hoping  to  sell  them.  Finding- 
no  buyer,_  I started  to  take  them  out  to  the  ranch  of 
an  acquaintance,  twenty-five  miles  down  the  Stinking- 
Water.  On  the  way  I was  held  up  and  robbed  by  the 
notorious  George  Ives  and  his  companion,  Irvin.  After 
I had  complied  with  Mr.  Ives’  command  to  hand  him 
my  purse  I was  ordered  to  drive  on.  He  still  held  his 
revolver  in  his  hand,  which  looked  suspicious  to  me, 
so,  in  speaking  to  my  team  I quickly  turned  my  head 
and  found  that  he  had  his  revolver  leveled  on  me,  taking 
sight  at  my  head.  Instantly  I dodged  as  the  shot  went, 
and  I received  the  full  force  of  the  unexploded  powder 
in  my  face,  the  bullet  passing  through  my  hat  and 
hair.  It  stunned  me  for  an_  instant,  and  I staggered 
against  the  near  leader,  accidentally  getting  my  arm 
over  his  neck,  which  prevented  me  from  falling.  Al- 
most at  once  I regained  my  senses  and  faced  Ives,  who 
had  his  pistol  lowered,  but  who  raised  it  with  a jerk, 
pointing  at  my  breast.  I heard  the  click  of  the  ham- 
mer, but  the  gun  missed  fire.  I ran  around  the  oxen, 
which  became  very  much  excited,  and  my  coming  in  a 
rush  on  the  other  side  scared  them  still  more,  and  they 
rushed  against  Ives’  horse,  which  in  turn  got  into  a 
tangle  v/ith  Irvin’s  horse,  and  during  the  confusion  I 
struck  out  for  some  beaver  dams  which  I noticed  close 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


905 


by,  but  the  men  soon  got  control  of  their  horses,  and, 
to  my  agreeable  surprise,  they  started  off  in  the  oppo- 
site direction.  What  had  apparently  changed  their  pur- 
pose was  the  sight  which  now  met  my  eyes  also,  that 
of  a man  who  had  just  appeared  over  the  hill  and  who 
was  driving  a horse  team,  with  which  he  had  approached 
to  a point  near  us.  I learned  afterward  that  Ives  and 
Irvin  had  stopped  at  Laurin,  about  two  miles  from  the 
point  where  they  overtook  me,  and  that  Ives  had  fired 
five  shots  at  the  bottles  on  the  shelves  because  the  bar- 
tender refused  them  whiskey,  this  accounting  for  the 
fact  that  only  one  charge  was  left  in  his  revolver  when 
he  attacked  me.  At  the  camp,  the  next  day,  Mr.  Even- 
son  disfigured  my  face  badly  in  extracting  the  powder. 
So,  with  my  face  bandaged  up,  in  the  cold  and  the 
snow,  we  managed  to  build  a brush  road  on  grade 
around  a steep  mountain  to  our  mill  location  on  the 
creek.  We  made  a hand-sled  with  cross-beams  extend- 
ing outside  the  runners  far  enough  so  that  when  neces- 
sary we  were  able  to  nip  it  along  with  handspikes  on 
each  side.  With  this  hand-sled  we  removed  our  outfit 
to  the  creek,  and  we  did  all  the  logging  this  way  during 
the  entire  winter.  We  first  built  a cabin  and  a black- 
smith shop,  but  the  latter  soon  became  more  of  a ma- 
chine shop,  for  when  we  came  to  erect  the  saw  mill 
we  met  with  what  seemed  insurmountable  difficulties. 
As  I knew  nothing  about  a saw  mill  I had  left  the  pur- 
chase of  the  outfit  to  Mr.  Evenson,  who  claimed  to  be 
a millwright  by  profession,  but  it  developed  that  he 
had  either  been  very  careless  in  inspecting  this  machin- 
ery or  that  he  had  not  understood  it,  for  so  much  of  it 
was  missing  that  it  seemed  impossible  to  get  a working- 
mill  out  of  the  material  at  hand.  As  there  was  no 
foundry  or  machine  shop  in  this  part  of  the  country, 
we  were  at  a loss  to  know  what  to  do,  but  were  deter- 
mined to  erect  a saw  mill  of  some  kind,  so  out  of  our 
rubber  coats  and  whip-sawed  lumber  we  made  a black- 
smith bellows,  then  we  burned  a pit  of  charcoal,  while 
a broad  axe  driven  into  a stump  served  as  an  anvil. 
Mr.  Evenson  knew  a little  about  blacksmithing,  so  I 
began  to  feel  somewhat  at  ease,  but  soon  discovered 
what  seemed  to  be  the  worst  obstacle  yet.  This  was 
that  we  had  no  gearing  for  the  log  carriage,  not  even 
the  track  irons  or  pinion,  and  to  devise  some  mechan- 
ism that  would  give  the  carriage  the  forward  and  re- 
verse movement  became  the  paramount  problem.  After 
a great  deal  of  thought  and  experimenting  we  finally- 
succeeded  in  inventing  a device  which  years  later  was 
patented  and  widely  used  under  the  name  of  the  “rope 
feed.’’  Incidentally  I may  say  that  we  found  this  to 
be  such  an  excellent  appliance  that  we  later  used  it  in 
most  of  our  portable  mills,  and  I have  been  informed 
that  several  manufacturers  used  and  recommended  this, 
charging  an  additional  three  hundred  dollars  for  it  on 
small  mills. 

“However,  returning  to  the  point,  in  order  to  con- 
struct this  we  had  first  to  build  a turning  lathe,  and 
when  we  began  to  turn  iron  shafting  it  took  much  ex- 
perimenting before  we  learned  to  temper  the  chisels  so 
that  they  would  stand  the  cutting  of  iron.  To  turn  the 
shafting,  which  we  made  out  of  iron  wagon-axles.  Even- 
son  would  hold  the  chisel  and  I.  with  a rawhide  strap, 
wrapped  around  the  shafting,  taking  hold  with  a hand 
on  each  end  of  the  strap,  would  give  a steady,  hard 
pull  with  the  right  hand  until  the  left  touched  the  piece 
we  were  working  on,  then  reverse,  repeating  the  process 
until  the  work  was  finished.  These  were  strenuous 
days,  and  we  worked  early  and  late  in  the  face  of  most 
discouraging  circumstances.  We  manufactured  enough 
timber  for  the  sixteen-foot  overshot  waterwheel,  the 
flume,  etc.  As  we  were  short  of  belting,  we  made  it 
out  of  untanned  ox-hide,  and  it  worked  well  enough  in 
the  start.  We  finally  got  the  mill  started,  and  we 
sawed  about  five  thousand  feet  of  lumber  before  we  had 
a beast  of  burden  in  the  camp.” 

The  foregoing  account  of  Mr.  Holter's  determined 
efforts  in  the  development  of  the  industrial  enterprise. 


of  which  he  was  one  of  the  first  representatives  in  Mon- 
tana is  given  reproduction  simply  to  indicate  the  ad- 
verse circumstances  and  conditions  which  he  had  to 
face.  It  would  be  impossible  to  enter  into  full  details 
concerning  his  subsequent  operations  along  this  line, 
but  it  may  be  said  that  his  progress  was  marked  by 
many  difficulties  and  exactions,  against  which  he  held 
himself  imperturbed  to  as  great  an  extent  as  possible. 
Competition  was  aggressive  and  insolent,  miners  di- 
verted the  water  demanded  for  the  operation  of  the 
original  mill,  and  one  difficulty  after  another  had  to  be 
adjusted.  Needing  more  machinery  for  the  second  sea- 
son of  mill  operations,  Mr.  Evenson  proceeded  to  Den- 
ver to  obtain  the  equipment,  but  learning  of  the  fabulous 
prices  that  were  being  paid  for  flour,  nails,  and  other 
supplies,  he  invested  the  money  in  such  commodities  in- 
stead of  buying  the  requisite  machinery.  On  the  return 
trip  he  encountered  heavy  storm  and  lost  not  onR  an 
appreciable  portion  of  his  freight,  but  also  a number  of 
his  teams.  The  goods  which  he  succeeded  in  bringing 
through  to  Montana  were  sold  at  a high  price,  but  the 
venture  as  a whole  proved  unprofitable  in  a financial 
way. 

Concerning  the  progressive  policies  which  were  fol- 
lowed by  Mr.  Holter  and  which  brought  about  his  use 
of  more  modern  appliances  in  his  lumber  business  it  is 
unnecessary  to  speak  in  detail,  but  it  should  be  noted 
that  it  was  due  to  him  that  the  first  planing  mill  was 
established  in  Montana,  and  that  his  operations  were 
extended  to  cover  virtually  all  of  the  principal  mining 
camps  in  the  territory.  Other  mills  were  established, 
with  team  power,_  lumber  prices  became  depressed,  and 
partnership  relations  proved  unsatisfactory,  with  the 
result  that  Mr.  Holter  finally  purchased  Mr.  Evenson’s 
interest  in  the  business  which  they  controlled,  and 
formed  a partnership  with  his  brother,  Martin  Holter, 
under  the  firm  name  of  A.  M.  Holter  & Brother.  By 
the  two  brothers  the  first  planing  mill  in  Montana  was 
established  in  the  summer  of  1865,  and  the  same  was 
operated  in  conjunction  with  the  saw  mill  which  they 
had  established  on  Ten  Mile  creek,  about  eight  miles 
distant  from  Helena.  The  firm  maintained  headquarters 
both  at  Virginia  City  and  Helena.  In  speaking  of  con- 
ditions of  the  lumber  business,  Mr.  Holter  has  written 
the  following  succinct  statement,  touching  matters  after 
he  had  made  a trip  to  the  east  for  the  purpose  of  pur- 
chasing new  machinery : 

“I  arrived  in  Helena  on  the  17th  of  May  and  found 
the  lumber  business  in  a bad  way.  The  firm  of  A.  M. 
Holter  & Brother  had  closed  the  mill  with  the  first  snow 
storm  in  the  fall  and  had  sent  all  the  live  stock  to  win- 
ter quarters,  so  in  a short  time  they  were  out  of  lumber 
and  also  out  of  business.  My  first  move  was  to  hurry 
the  men  after  live  stock  and  to  prepare  to  start  the  mill. 
Shortly  after  I had  left  Helena  in  1866  the  cutting  of 
prices  began,  and  from  this  time  on  the  custom  of  sell- 
ing for  what  you  could  get  prevailed.  The  prices  ob- 
tained by  A.  M.  Holter  & Brother  for  the  year  1867 
and  up  to  August,  1868,  averaged  about  fifty  dollars 
for  common  lumber  and  sixty  dollars  per  thousand  feet 
for  sluice,  flume,  and  the  better  grades,  but  during  the 
month  of  August  we  reduced  these  prices  ten  dollars 
per  thousand,  without  consultation  with  other  dealers. 
We  had  reduced  the  price  of  planing-mill  work  _ to 
twenty-five  and  twenty  dollars  per  thousand,  according 
to  quantity  and  ten  dollars  for  surfacing.  Shingles  sold 
for  six  dollars  and  lath  for  twelve  dollars.  We  main- 
tained the  prices  on  the  last  three  items,  as  we  had  no 
competition  on  these.  I finally  got  the  mill  started  and 
also  erected  a new  mill  on  Spring  creek.  Several  more 
mills  sprang  up  in  the  vicinity  of  Helena,  mostly  oper- 
ated by  inexperienced  men,  on  borrowed  capital,  at  a 
high  rate  of  interest,  so  they  soon  came  to  grief.  I 
bought  up  some  of  these  saw  mills  in  1868  and  1869. 
We  also  added  to  our  holdings  a water  mill  near  Jeffer- 
san  City,  in  Jefferson  county,  and  a portable  steam  mill 


906 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


that  we  located  near  Lincoln,  in  what  is  now  Lewis 
and  Clark  county.” 

In  1868  Mr.  Holter  and  his  brother  established,  in 
Helena,  the  fir.st  sash  and  door  factory  in  Montana,  and 
the  plant  was  operated  by  them  until  October,  1879, 
when  it  was  destroyed  by  fire.  Mr.  Holter  continued 
one  of  the  foremost  figures  in  the  lumber  industry  for 
many  years,  and  was  the  pioneer  in  establishing  a lum- 
ber business  at  Great  Falls,  in  1886,  where  operations 
still  continue.  In  1889  Mr.  Holter  became  associated 
with  William  Thompson  in  the  organization  of  the  Mon- 
tana Lumber  & Manufacturing  Company,  operating  in 
the  western  part  of  the  new  state,,  with  main  offices  in 
Idelena  and  Butte.  Later  he  was  actively  identified,  with 
lumbering  operations  in  Idaho,  Oregon,  and  Alaska, 
and  no  one  has  stood  so  clearly  as  an  authority  in  this 
field  of  enterprise  in  Montana  as  this  venerable  and 
honored  citizen  of  Helena.  In  1867  he  became  asso- 
ciated with  his  brother  in  the  establishing  of  a general- 
merchandise  business  at  Helena,  and  the  same  was 
finally  changed  into  a general  hardware  business,  which 
is  now  conducted  under  the  title  of  the  A.  M.  Holter 
Hardware  Company  and  which  is  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant and  extensive  enterprises  of  the  kind  in  the 
entire  northwest,  the  trade  being  both  wholesale  and 
retail. 

The  progressive  ideas  and  liberality  of  Mr.  Holter 
have  been  manifested  along  many  lines,  and  he  is  one 
of  those  who  have  done  much  to  further  the  develop- 
ment -and  upbuilding  of  the  state  that  has  long  repre- 
sented his  home.  In  1890  he  with  others  made  applica- 
tion for  the  use  of  the  waters  of  the  Missouri  river 
near  Helena  for  power  purposes  and  had  a bill  enacted 
by  congress  permitting  a dam  to  be  erected  across  the 
river.  This  was  the  start  of  hydro-electric  development 
in  Montana.  Mr.  Llolter  was  also  one  of  the  organizers 
and  incorporators  of  the  company  that  established  the 
first  water-works  system  in  Montana,  this  having  been 
the  Virginia  City  Water  Works  Company,  which  was 
incorporated  in  January,  1865.  The  installation  of  the 
system  was  attended  with  great  difficulties,  owing  to 
the  meager  facilities  available.  Water  was  to  be  carried 
a distance  of  two  miles,  and  the  pipe  were  made  of  logs 
through  which  a three-inch  hole  was  bored  by  means 
of  an  augur  that  was  made  by  hand  in  a local  blacksmith 
shop.  These  primitive  conduits  were  fitted  into  each 
other  by  the  tapering  of  one  end  into  the  proper  aper- 
ture in  the  next  log,  and  an  iron  band  was  placed  about 
the  outside  log  to  prevent  the  bursting.  These  bands 
in  many  instances  had  previously  done  service  as  wagon 
hubs  on  vehicles  that  had  been  brought  across  the  plains, 
and  the  faucets  and  valves  were  made  by  hand.  Mr. 
Holter’s  natural  mechanical  genius  came  into  efifective 
play  in  this  connection  at  many  times  when  the  prob- 
lem of  construction  and  service  seemed  impossible  of 
practical  solution. 

In  1875  Mr.  Holter  and  his  brother  bought  from  Fred- 
erick Utsch,  a German  inventor,  the  rights  to  manu- 
facture what  was  known  as  the  Utsch  Jig,  a machine 
for  concentrating  ore.  This  was  the  first  jigging  ma- 
chine ever  worked  successfully  in  the  mining  business 
and  was  probably  the  most  valuable  and  effective,  in 
promoting  the  mining  industry  ever  introduced  in  the 
northwest  and  first  used  successfully  at  the  Bunker  Hill 
Sullivan  mine,  Wardner,  Idaho.  In  1898  he  was  actively 
concerned  in  the  organization  of  the  Sand  Point  Lum- 
ber Company,  at  Sand  Point,  Idaho,  the  same  being  now 
known  as  the  Hambird  Lumber  Company.  In  a general 
way  the  following  characterization  made  by  one  familiar 
with  the  career  of  Mr.  Holter  is  of  special  significance, 
by  reason  of  its  absolute  consistency : “He  is  one  of 
those  rugged,  indomitable*  spirits  to  whom  the  com- 
ing generation  inhabiting  the  northwest,  and  especially 
Montana,  will  owe  in  a large  degree  the  magnificent 
heritage  that  awaits  them.”  Further  than  this  it  may 
be  said  that  Mr.  Holter  is  a man  of  distinctive  culture 
and  one  deeply  appreciative  of  the  finer  ideals  and  more 


gracious  social  amenities  of  life,  and  that  his  broad 
mentality  and  fine  constructive  and  administrative  pow- 
ers have  been  exercised  most  effectively  in  positions  of 
distinctive  public  trust. 

Admirably  fortified  in  his  political  convictions,  Mr. 
Holter  has  been  a consistent  and  resolute  advocate  of 
the  principles  and  policies  of  the  Republican  party,  and 
his  faith  has  not  wavered  in  the  face  of  recent  party 
reverses.  He  had  the  distinction  of  being  the  first  Re- 
publican ever  elected  to  office  in  the  city  of  Flelena.  In 
1878  he  was  elected  a member  of  the  territorial  legis- 
lature,  and  in  1888  he  was  elected  a member  of  the  city 
council  of  Helena,  of  which  municipal  body  he  was 
chosen  president.  In  18S9  he  was  elected  a member  of 
the  house  of  representatives  of  the  new  state,  and  he 
had  much  to  do  with  shaping  the  fundamental  policies 
and  laws  of  the  commonwealth  which  has  honored 
and  been  honored  by  him.  He  has  served  as  president 
of  the  Helena  board  of  trade  and  has  been  identified 
with  eyery  progressive  movement  for  the  benefit  of 
the  capital  city.  He  was  one  of  those  primarily  instru- 
mental in  securing  to  Flelena  its  present  fine  high  school 
building.  Fie  erected  the  Holter  block,  in  which  his 
hardware  business  is  conducted,  and  also  his  attractive 
residence,  on  North  Benton  avenue — a home  known  for 
its  gracious  and  unostentatious  hospitality.  He  retains 
a deep  interest  in  all  that  touches  the  welfare  and  his- 
tory of  his  home  city  and  state  and  is  one  of  the  active 
and  valued  members  of  the  Montana  Pioneer  Society, 
of  which  he  has  served  as  president.  He  is  affiliated 
with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  in  which  he  has  received 
the_  chivalric  degrees  in  the  Helena  commandery  of 
Knights  Templars,  and  his  religious  views  are  in  har- 
mony with  the  tenets  of  the  Lutheran  church,  in  whose 
faith  he  was  reared,  Mrs.  Flolter  being  a communicant 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church. 

At  present,  in  his  eighty-second  year,  he  is  strong 
mentally  and  physically.  In  addition  to  his  own  busi- 
ness affairs  he  finds  time  to  attend  to  work  pertaining 
to  the  public  good.  He  and  a few  other  admirers  of 
the  late  Wilbur  Fisk  Sanders  met  a few  years  ago  and 
decided  to  place  in  the  State  Capitol  building  a statue 
to  perpetuate  his  memory.  Mr.  Holter  was  elected 
president  of  the  association  formed.  From  this  begin- 
ning the  last  legislature  enacted  a bill  creating  the 
Sanders  memorial  commission,  Mr.  Holter  president. 
The  work  of  this  body  is  now  nearly  finished  and  the 
statue  about  ready  to  be  put  in  place. 

Judge  F.  K.  Armstrong,  Mr.  Jno.  M.  Flolt,  and  Mr. 
Holter  have  just  appraised  and  purchased  for  the 
state  the  state  hospital  for  the  insane  from  private 
owners.  These  men  were  appointed  by  the  governor, 
and  their  appraisal  was  approved  by  the  voters  of  the 
state  at  the  last  election. 

In  1867,  in  the  city  of  Chicago,  was  solemnized  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Holter  to  Miss  Mary  Pauline  Loberg, 
who,  like  himself,  is  a native  of  Norway,  and  their 
home  life  has  been  one  of  ideal  associations  and  in- 
fluences. Concerning  their  children  brief  record  is 

given  in  the  concluding  paragraph  of  this  review. 

Norman  B.,  who  was  graduated  in  Columbia  Uni- 
versity, in  the  city  of  New  York,  as  a member  of  the 
class  of  1891,  is  vice-president  of  the  A.  M.  Flolter 
Hardware  Company  and  secretary  of  the  Holter  Com- 
pany, besides  having  the  active  supervision  of  the  ex- 
tensive business  interests  built  up  by  his  honored  father. 
He  is  one  of  the  prominent  and  popular  factors  in  the 
business  and  social  activities  of  Helena  and  is  well 
upholding  the  high  prestige  of  the  name  which  he 
bears.  He  wedded  Miss  Florence  Jefferis,  daughter  of 
Charles  M.  and  Sarah  (Bell)  Jefferis,  of  Helena,  and 
the  two  children  of  this  union  are  Marian  and  Richard 
M.  Clara  H.,  the  second  child  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  is  the  widow  of  Percy  H.  Kennett,  who  was  a 
stepson  of  Hon.  Samuel  T.  Hauser,  who  was  the  first 
resident  governor  of  the  territory  of  Montana,  and  the 
surviving  children  of  this  union  are  Flolter  P.  and 


HISTORY  OF  MONTx\NA 


907 


George  H.  Edwin  O.  prepared  for  Yale  University 
in  historic  old  Phillips-Exeter  Academy,  at  Exeter, 
New  Hampshire,  and  after  his  graduation  in  Yale,  in 
1894,  he  entered  the  law  department  of  Columbia  Uni- 
versity, in  which  he  likewise  was  graduated.  He  is 
now  engaged  in  the  successful  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion in  New  York  City.  He  married  Miss  Sarah  Sage, 
daughter  of  Dean  Sage,  of  Albany,  New  York,  and 
they  have  four  children — Sarah,  Elizabeth,  Mary,  and 
Edwin  O.,  Jr.  Albert  L.,  the  next  in  order  of  birth, 
was  likewise  afforded  the  advantages  of  Phillips-Exeter 
Academy,  and  is  one  of  the  well  known  and  popular 
young  business  men  of  Helena.  He  has  been  a zeal- 
ous worker  in  the  ranks  of  the  Republican  party  and 
has  served  as  a member  of  the  legislature  of  his  native 
state.  Austin  M.  died  at  the  age  of  five  years.  Aubrey 
M.,  after  a preparatory  course  in  the  Taft  School,  at 
Watertown,.  Connecticut,  entered  Yale  University,  in 
which  he  was  graduated  in  1905,  and  he  is  now  treasurer 
of  the  A.  M.  Holter  Hardware  Company.  Percy  W., 
the  youngest  of  the  children,  was  graduated  in  Yale 
University,  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1907,  and  died, 
in  Plelena,  on  the  23d  of  November,  1908,  at  the  age 
of  twenty-three  years.  He  married  Miss  Emma  Gamer, 
daughter  of  Erederick  Gamer,  of  Plelena. 

Mrs.  Mary  P.  Holter.  On  December  5,  1912,  oc- 
curred the  death  of  Mrs.  Mary  P.  Holter,  wife  of  A. 
M.  Holter,  of  Helena,  at  the  family  home  on  Benton 
avenue,  after  a lingering  illness  resultant  from  a fall 
she  received  some  two  years  ago.  It  would  be  diffi- 
cult to  say  when  the  passing  of  a pioneer  citizen  of 
Helena  has  caused  such  widespread  and  such  poignant 
sorrow  in  the  community  as  has  the  death  of  Mrs. 
Holter.  For  almost  half  a century  Mrs.  Holter  had 
made  her  home  in  this  city,  and  her  true  worth  has 
long  been  recognized  among  the  people  who  have 
shared  in  her  acquaintance  and  who  have  benefited  by 
the  many  noble  qualities  which  illumined  her  every- 
day life  and  made  brighter  the  pathways  of  so  many 
who  were  unfortunate  and  “acquainted  with  grief.” 

Born  at  Modum,  Norway,  on  June  6,  1841,  Mary  P. 
(Loberg)  Holter  came  to  this  country  in  young  wom- 
anhood and  in  Chicago  married  A.  M.  Holter  on  April 
5,  1867,  he  having  come  from  Montana  to  meet  his 
bride  at  that  point.  In  that  same  year  she  accompanied 
her  husband  on  his  return  to  Montana,  which  state 
has  ever  since  represented  her  home,  and  held  her 
chiefest  interests. 

Her  life  in  Helena  was  from  the  first  a blessing  to 
the  new  and  rough  mining  country.  Coming  to  the 
town  as  a bride,  she  took  up  her  existence  in  a rough 
cabin,  and  all  the  hardships  incident  to  pioneer  life  in 
the  untaught  west  was  her  lot  in  those  early  years. 
Conditions  existing  then  may  better  be  imagined  than 
described,  but  Mrs.  Holter  bore  her  lot  cheerfully  and 
without  complaint,  happy  to  share  the  humble  home  of 
her  husband,  which  was  one  of  the  bright  spots  of  the 
mining  camp  in  the  days  when  homes  were  the  excep- 
tion, and  not  the  rule.  Few  women,  indeed,  had  the 
hardihood  to  attempt  life  in  the  new  country,  but  those 
who  did  found  in  Mrs.  Holter  a friend  in  those  times 
when  only  a woman  could  minister  to  their  needs,  and 
none  knew  her  but  to  love  her.  As  years  went  by,  con- 
ditions in  Helena  changed  vastly  for  the  better.  The 
mining  camp  gave  way  to  a city  which  has  experienced 
a wonderful  growth  and  prosperity,  but  the  good  of- 
fices of  Mrs.  Holter  have  ever  been  in  demand.  None 
in  need  of  sympathy  or  of  material  aid  have  ever  gone 
out  from  her  empty,  and  in  unnumbered  cases  she 
has  sought  out  those  who  were  burdened  with  earth’s 
cares  and  given  unsolicited  aid  to  those  who  would 
have  gone  on  alone  with  the  struggle.  Her  life  has 
been  a shining  light  in  Helena  for  fifty  years,  and  she 
will  long  be  remembered  by  untold  numbers  who  have 
every  cause  to  bless  her  name. 

In  an  editorial  entitled  “The  Woman  Pioneer,”  which 


appeared  in  the  Montana  Dailv  Record  just  following 
the  death  of  Mrs.  Holter,  the  following  tribute  is  paid 
to  her  memor}',  which  is  deemed  worthy  of  perpetuat- 
ing in  this  manner;  “The  death  of  Mrs.  A.  M.  Holter 
in  this  city  yesterday  brings  forcibly  to  attention  the 
part  the  woman  pioneers  played  in  the  making  of  this 
state.  In  the  case  of  Mrs.  Holter,  her  life  in  Montana 
was  spent  in  the  Capital  city,  and  among  the  ^earliest 
women  in  Last  Chance  camp  she  became  through  her 
charities,  her  womanly  qualities,  her  unselfish  services 
to  the  sick  and  unfortunate,  more  prominent  than 
others.  This  prominence  was  not  of  her  own  volition, 
but  simply  because,  while  much  of  her  work  was  un- 
known to  any  save  herself  and  the  recipient,  in  hun- 
dreds of  instances  those  whom  she  assisted  did  not 
confine  their  expressions  of  gratitude  to  the  one  who 
had  been  a ‘friend  in  need.’ 

“Mrs.  Holter  _ was  a type  of  those  good  women 
whose  presence  in  Montana  in  the  early  ’6o’s  made  the 
permanent  settlement  of  the  territory  possible.  The 
men  who  came  here  in  the  early  days  arrived  with  the 
intention  of  ‘making  a stake  and  then  going  back 
home.’  They  underwent  many  hardships,  they  lived  in 
a crude  way,  wiUi  that  one  object  in  view — winning  a 
fortune  and  leaving.  It  required  the  presence  of  good 
women  to  make  homes,  and  Mrs.  Holter  was  one  of 
those  who  did  her  part  in  the  home  making.  Scat- 
tered over  the  territory,  in  mining  camps,  in  out  of  the 
way  places,  were  other  women,  some  of  them  women 
of  mature  years  who  had  pioneered  in  other  sections, 
others  who  came  as  brides,  as  did  Mrs.  Holter,  to  a 
country  in  which  were  lacking  all  the  finer  things  they 
had  known  in  the  east.  These  women,  while  they  have 
not  occupied  the  place  in  the  public  eye  which  the  men 
pioneers  have,  nevertheless  did  as  much  and  as  great 
work  in  building  the  state  as  did  their  husbands. 

“When  Montana  honors  the  memory  of  the  pioneers 
by  the  erection  of  a monument,  there  must  be  two — 
one  surmounted  by  the  figure  of  a man,  the  other  by 
that  of  a woman.” 

iMrs.  Holter  was  a communicant  of  St.  Peter’s  Prot- 
estant Episcopal  church  of  Helena,  and  was  active  in 
all  the  good  works  of  her  parish  for  many  years,  but 
she  never  confined  her  benefactions  to  those  with  whom 
she  was  affiliated  in  a churchly  way;  rather  were  her 
greatest  and  best  works  done  among  those  who  knew 
no  church  life.  Not  only  was  she  active  in  private 
charities  and  beneficences,  but  she  did  what  she  could 
in  public  affairs,  and  her  example  and  influence  was  a 
potent  force  in  the  entire  community  during  her  life. 
She  was  one  of  the  original  members  of  the  old  Helena 
Improvement  Society  and  one  of  its  officers,  and  as 
long  as  her  health  permitted  was  an  active  participant 
in  the  work  of  the  society. 

In  September,  1910,  Mrs.  Holter  suffered  a fall  on 
the  stairs  in  her  home,  from  the  effects  of  which  she 
never  fully  recovered.  The  winter  of  1911-12  she  spent 
in  California  with  her  husband,  and  although  she  re- 
turned with  renewed  strength,  she  never  regained  her 
old-time  vigor.  During  the  summer  and  autumn  she 
failed  gradually,  until  death  called  her  on  the  after- 
noon of  December  5th. 

Mrs.  Holter  was  the  mother  of  five  children,  who 
with  her  husband  survive  her.  They  are:  NOrman  B., 
Albert  L.,  Aubrey,  and  Mrs.  H.  P.  Kennett,  of  this 
city,  and  Edwin  O.  Holter,  of  New  York  City. 

George  Booker.  It  is  the  lot  of  some  men  to  be  born 
great,  while  others  have  to  achieve  greatness.  George 
Booker,  of  Helena,  Montana,  was  clearly  destined  to  be 
the  architect  of  his  own  fortune.  Beginning  life  on  a 
low  rung  of  the  ladder  of  success,  he  has,  by  close  ap- 
plication, untiring  energy,  and  a diligent  use  of  his 
faculties  and  opportunities,  attained  a good  position  in 
business  circles  and  proved  himself  a useful  and  worthy 
citizen.  A native  of  Missouri,  he  was  born  in  St.  Louis 
February  7,  1840.  His  father,  George  Booker,  Sr.,  was 


908 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


born  of  English  parents  in  this  country,  and  spent  the 
greater  part  of  his  early  life  in  St.  Louis,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  business  as  a baker.  In  1853  he  moved  with 
his  family  to  Burlington,  Iowa,  where  he  opened  a bak- 
ery for  the  purpose  of  supplying  merchants  and  steam- 
boat companies  with  the  productions  of  his  establish- 
ment. 

After  the  removal  of  his  parents  to  Burlington,  Iowa, 
George  Booker,  a self-reliant  boy  of  thirteen  years,  left 
home,  returning  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  remained  until 
twenty  years  old,  during  those  seven  years  losing  all 
trace  of  the  family.  In  i860,  having  previously  sup- 
ported himself  by  various  occupations,  he  started  for 
Leavenworth,  Kansas,  going  by  steamboat  up  the^  Mis- 
souri river.  Shortly  after  his  arrival  at  the  point  of 
destination,  Mr.  Booker  became  one  of  a party  of  seven 
venturesome  youths  who  outfitted  a wagon  with  two 
yoke  of  oxen,  and  traveled  across  the  plains  to  Denver, 
en  route  for  Pike’s  Peak  leaving  Leavenworth  in  April 
and  arriving  in  Denver  in  the  latter  part  of  June.  For 
four  years  he  remained  in  Colorado  prospecting  for 
gold.  In  1864  Mr.  Booker  made  his  way  across  the 
country  to  Alder  Gulch,  now  Virginia  City,  Montana, 
where  he  embarked  in  the  livery  and  transfer  business, 
hauling  freight  by  wagons  from  Fort  Benson  to  Alder 
Gulch,  a distance  of  three  hundred  miles  and  while  in 
that  place  took  up  auctioneering.  Coming  to  Ravilli 
county  in  1866,  Mr.  Booker  took  up  his  residence  in 
Helena,  which  was  then  a wide-open  frontier  town,  and 
has  since  built  up  an  extensive  and  highly  remunerative 
business  as  an  auctioneer  at  that  point,  being  widely  and 
favorably  known  in  his  professional  capacity  throughout 
the  northwest.  Possessing  good  business  ability  and 
foresight,  he  has  accumulated  a fair  share  of  this 
world’s  goods,  in  addition  to  owning  his  own  home  hav- 
ing laluable  business  property  on  Main  street,  Flelena, 
and  mining  interests  in  the  valley. 

A Democrat  in  politics,  Mr.  Booker  has  never  been  an 
aspirant  for  official  honors,  though  he  works  hard,  but 
quietly  in  the  interests  of  his  party,  and  for  one  year 
served  as  fire  marshal.  Fraternally,  he  belongs  to 
Helena  Lodge,  No.  3,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Order 
of  Masons;  is  a Knight  Templar;  is  identified  with 
Algeria  Temple,  Mystic  Shrine,  of  which  he  has  been 
recorder  since  its  formation  in  1888;  has  taken  the 
thirty-second  degree  in  Masonry  and  is  preparing  for 
the  thirty-third  degree.  For  the  past  forty  years  he  has 
been  secretary  of  Helena  Lodge,  and  is  probably  more 
familiar  with  lodge  work  than  any  other  of  its  members. 
Fie  is  a charter  member  of  the  society  of  Montana 
Pioneers. 

Mr.  Booker  married  Miss  Mattie  Walton,  of  Trinity 
Gulch,  Montana,  and  of  the  six  children  born  of  their 
union,  three  are  living,  namely:  Ethel,  wife  of  John 
D.  Bartlett,  of  Galesburg,  Illinois;  Clinton  T.  of  Helena, 
an  electrician ; and  Lester  H.,  a clerk  in  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Flelena. 

John  Harris.  About  fifty  years  ago  John  Harris 
came  to  the  state  of  Montana,  bringing  with  him  only 
a good  brain  and  a pair  of  capable,  willing  hands. 
From  this  foundation  he  erected  a structure,  as  repre- 
sented by  his  fortune,  that  has  given  him  prestige  in 
the  world  of  business  and  .finance,  and  in  public  and 
social  life.  Montana  has  its  full  quota  of  self-made 
men,  but  probably  none  have  been  the  architects  of 
their  own  fortunes  in  a greater  degree  than  he.  In  the 
days  of  the  stampedes  to  Bannack  and  Alder  Gulch 
he  was  only  a poor  boy,  laboring  for  a pittance,  but 
so  well  did  he  subsequently  manage  his  affairs  that  he 
soon  was  independent,  and  now  takes  a prominent 
place  among  Fort  Benton’s  foremost  citizens.  Mr.  Har- 
ris was  born  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  November  20,  1849. 
son  of  William  and  Marguerite  (Edwards)  Harris. 
His  father,  a native  of  Virginia,  removed  to  the  state 
of  Missouri  during  frontier  days,  and  in  1849  joined 
the  gold  seekers,  crossing  the  plains  to  California, 


where  he  followed  mining  until  his  death  at  Sacra- 
mento in  1854.  Mrs.  Harris  was  born  in  Wales,  and 
at  a very  early  age  came  to  the  United  States  with  her 
parents,  settling  in  Missouri.  After  the  death  of  Mr. 
Harris  she  was  married  to  William  FI.  Thomas,  and 
her  death  occurred  at  Deer  Lodge,  Montana,  in  1898, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years.  John  Harris’  only 
brother,  Howell  Harris,  was  born  in  1846,  in  St.  Louis, 
Missouri,  and  now  resides  at  Lethbridge,  Canada. 

John  Harris  was  five  years  of  age  when  he  accom- 
panied his  mother  across  the  plains  to  California,  going 
by  mule  team  from  Omaha  to  Salt  Lake,  Utah.  At  the 
latter  point  the  party  remained  until  the  following 
spring,  and  there  Mrs.  Harris  received  word  of  her 
husband’s  death.  The  stampede  to  Bannack  in  June, 
1863,  saw  Mr.  Flarris  a member  of  a prospecting  party, 
and  he  was  located  there  when  the  discovery  of  gold 
was  made  in  Alder  Gulch,  to  which  point  he  imme- 
diately went  with  his  mother  and  brother.  He  fol- 
lowed mining  there  until  1867,  his  stepfather  being  the 
owner  of  a number  of  claims,  but  subsequently  the 
family  removed  to  the  Deer  Lodge  valley,  twenty  miles 
from  Deer  Lodge,  where  they  took  up  ranch  land.  In 
1873  Mr.  Harris  came  to  Fort  Benton,  and  with  his 
brother  embarked  in  a freighting  business  for  two 
years  between  this  city  and  Helena,  but  in  1875  retired 
from  freighting  and  purchased  a herd  of  cattle  in  Deer 
Lodge,  becoming  one  of  the  first  settlers  at  Highwood. 
Mr.  Harris  continued  to  engage  in  cattle  raising  alone 
until  1882,  when  he  with  W.  G.  and  C.  E.  Conrad  and 
I.  G.  Baker,  of  St.  Louis,  organized  the  Benton  & St. 
Louis  Cattle  Company,  this  becoming  one  of  the  leading 
companies  engaged  in  the  cattle  business  in  Chouteau 
county.  He  continued  to  be  connected  with  this  con- 
cern until  1911,  in  which  year  he  disposed  of  his  inter- 
ests to  again  enter  business  alone,  and  since  that  time 
has  followed  cattle  raising  on  the  Highwood  range, 
although  he  makes  his  home  in  Fort  Benton.  Mr.  Har- 
ris is  and  has  been  for  several  years  a member  of  the 
state  board  of  stock  commissioners  and  is  member  of 
the  executive  committee.  He^  is  also  a valued  member 
of  the  Cattle  Men’s  Association,  of  the  Odd  Fellows, 
and  of  the  Episcopal  church.  A stanch  Democrat  in 
his  political  views,  he  served  from  1878  to  1882  as  chair- 
man of  the  board  of  county  commissioners,  was  for  a 
number  of  years  a member  of  the  school  board,  and 
also  served  for  a long  period  as  chairman  of  the  Demo-, 
cratic  county  committee.  He  has  numerous  business 
interests  in  and  about  Fort  Benton,  and  is  a director 
of  the  Stockmen’s  National  Bank  and  the  Benton  Elec- 
tric Light  Company,  and  has  a wide  acquaintance  in 
business  circles  and  in  public  life.  Everywhere  he  is 
highly  esteemed  as  one  who  has  been  an  important 
factor  in  building  up  and  developing  his  community’s 
various  interests. 

Air.  Harris  was  married  February  28,  1885,  to  Miss 
Addie  Berry,  and  they  have  had  seven  children,  as  fol- 
lows; Nellie  Margaret,  born  in  1889,  and  now  the  wife 
of  John  Patterson,  a Chouteau  county  ranchman;  Mary 
E.,  born  in  1891 ; Barbara,  born  in  1894,  and  now  at- 
tending college  at  Faribault,  Minnesota;  Howell,  born 
in  189s,  and  Anna,  born  in  1898,  who  are  attending  the 
Fort  Benton  high  school;  and  Edward  W.,  born  in 
1900,  and  John,  Jr.,  born  in  1904,  who  are  students  in 
the  graded  schools. 

Dr.  Thomas  Jefferson  James  has  been  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Kalispell  since  1908. 
He  is  a native  of  the  state,  born  on  a farm  near  Bloom- 
field. Montana,  on  March  12,  1863,  and  up  to  the  tirne 
of  his  taking  up  professional  work,  was  engaged  in 
ranching  and  in  other  business  of  a similar  nature,  with 
his  father.  Doctor  James  is  a distinct  western  product, 
having  from  his  infancy  been  accustomed  to  the  various 
phases  of  western  pioneer  life.  He  is  the  son  of  Esau 
James  and  Melinda  (Congill)  James,  the  former  being 
the  son  of  Morris  and  Mary  (Beasley)  James. 


V. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


909 


Morris  James  was  born  in  Kentucky.  He  emigrated 
to  Iowa  in  his  early  manhood,  soon  thereafter  going  to 
California  during  the  days  of  the  gold  madness  in  that 
state,  and  he  died  there  in  1850,  still  a young  man.  His 
wife  was  born  in  Tennessee,  near  Chattanooga  and  she 
died  in  Missouri  in  1847.  Their  son,  Esau,  the  father 
of  Doctor  James  of  this  review,  was  born  on  May  24, 
1838.  He  was  but  a lad  when  his  parents  moved  to  Iowa, 
settling  on  a farm  m Davis  county  where  they  remained 
for  some  little  time  before  they  removed  to  Missouri. 
In  that  state  they  settled  on  farming  lands  in  Lancaster, 
but  their  stay  in  Missouri  was  of  the  briefest.  They 
returned  to  Iowa,  making  the  trip  overland  by  wagon 
train  in  the  then  popular  prairie  schooner,  and  from 
Iowa  they  went  on  to  Nebraska,  settling  in  the  eastern 
part  of  the  state,  where  Esau  James  was  employed  by 
land  agents  there,  remaining  through  the  winter.  From 
there  he  moved  to  Kansas,  and  after  a short  time  re- 
turned to  Iowa  once  more,  continuing  there  until  i860. 

In  i860  Esau  James  went  to  Missouri  and  there  mar- 
ried Melinda  Congill  at  Lancaster,  the  marriage  taking 
place  in  the  month  of  September.  Her  parents  were 
early  Iowa  pioneers  who  moved  into  Missouri  in  middle 
life.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  James  returned  to  Iowa 
where  he  was  owner  of  a fine  farm  and  there  he  fol- 
lowed the  farming  business  until  1864.  In  that  year  he 
became  attracted  by  the  western  country  and  decided  to 
move  to  Montana.  He  accordingly  sold  his  farm  and 
joined  a small  party  going  overland  to  Montana,  some 
fifteen  hundred  miles  distant  from  his  Iowa  home,  and 
for  the  most  part,  through  a country  invaded  by  bands 
of  hostile  Indians.  These  early  pioneers  were  never 
lacking  in  pluck  and  determination,  whatever  their  con- 
ditions might  be  from  a material  aspect,  and  the  pros- 
pect of  a trip  of  such  magnitude  presented  no  dis- 
couraging features  to  their  hardy  natures.  Their  trip 
was  unattended  by  untoward  experience  until  they 
reached  the  Platte  river  at  Laramie,  where  they  were 
attacked  by  a small  band  of  Indians.  They  were  suc- 
cessful in  their  efforts  to  resist  the  savages,  and  at 
Laramie  were  detained  by  the  soldiers  stationed  there 
until  a larger  party  had  been  gathered  to  complete  the 
trip.  After  leaving  Laramie  they  were  unmolested 
until  they  reached  Big  Sandy,  Wyoming,  where  a large 
body  of  hostile  Sioux  attacked  them.  The  party  formed 
a breastworks  of  their  wagons  in  a corral,  and  for  four 
days  withstood  the  constant  annoyances  to  which  the 
incessant  attentions  of  the  Indians  subjected  them.  At 
the  end  of  that  time,  when  they  were  just  about  to  give 
up  in  despair,  the  savages  became  discouraged  at  the 
continued  resistance  of  the  party  and  took  their  de- 
parture. From  that  point  they  continued  on  very  cau- 
tiously until  they  reached  the  Green  Mountains,  when 
they  found  themselves  in  the  forest.  En  route  through 
that  part  of  the  country  they  encountered  fierce  forest 
fires,  and  narrowly  escaped  death  in  the  flames.  When 
they  finally  reached  a clearing  they  were  much  the 
worse  for  wear,  having  lost  the  canvases  off  their 
wagons,  but  without  other  loss.  Entering  a valley,  they 
found  their  passage  most  pleasant  until  they  suffered 
the  loss  of  a part  of  their  stock  as  a result  of  eating 
poison  weeds  in  the  valley.  In  the  valley,  they  rested 
after  their  severe  and  trying  trip  and  enjoyed  hunting 
and  fishing  in  the  lakes  and  rivers,  which  abounded  in 
the  choicest  of  Montana  trout,  and  other  game  was 
equally  plentiful.  Continuing  on  from  there  to  Snake 
river  crossing,  they  encountered  new  difficulties  at  the 
Platt  river  crossing  where  they  found  the  river  much 
swollen.  In  order  to  make  the  passage  over  they  had 
to  elevate  their  wagon  boxes  to  a considerable  height, 
and  it  required  four  days  of  strenuous  labor  to  safely 
convey  the  party  across  the  rushing  torrent.  No  sooner 
were  they  safely  across  the  river  than  the  Indians 
again  made  their  appearance,  this  time  stampeding 
their  cattle.  They  were  not  so  persistent  as  other  bands 
which  they  had  encountered,  and  the  travelers  were  able 
to  repulse  them  with  but  little  effort.  At  this  point. 


however,  Mr.  James  narrowly  escaped  with  his  life 
while  trying  to  rescue  the  cattle  which  the  Indians  had 
made  off  with  and  were  guarding  on  a nearby  island. 
The  waters  of  the  river  were  almost  too  much  for 
him,  sturdy  as  he  was,  and  after  sinking  twice  to  the 
bottom  of  the  river,  he  finally  managed  to  reach  the 
shore.  Here  he  found  his  cattle  in  charge  of  a small 
Indian  guard,  and  it  was  with  great  difficulty  that  he 
was  able  to  make  terms  with  them,  and  finally  induced 
them  to  release  the  cattle.  By  holding  to  the  tails  of 
the  oxen  as  they  swam  across,  he  made  his  way  safely 
back  to  his  party  with  all  the  missing  cattle.  Once 
more  ready  for  the  road,  they  set  out  and  proceeded 
unmolested  until  they  reached  Big  Blackfoot  in  Utah. 
From  there  they  went  to  Bannack,  Helena  and  latterly 
to  Virginia  City,  where  the  party  disbanded.  Thus 
ended  the  pilgrimage  of  Esau  James  and  his  family 
from  their  quiet,  Iowa  home  into  the  wilderness  of  the 
West,  as  yet  unclaimed  by  any  but  the  hardiest  pioneer 
spirits  of  the  nation. 

In  the  winter  of  1864-5  Mr.  James  mined  at  Alder 
Gulch,  and  in  the  spring  of  1865  went  to  Last  Chance 
m quest  of  riches  in  that  much  touted  gold  camp.  From 
there  he  went  to  Montana,  and  engaged  in  ranching 
until  1867,  his  location  being  on  the  Missouri  rive? 
some  eighteen  miles  from  the  city  of  Helena.  In  the 
spring  of  1867  he  again  became  enthusiastic  over  the 
mining  situation  and  went  to  Idaho,  but  his  minino- 
operations  were  never  of  a wide  scope,  or  more  than 
ordinarily  successful.  Very  shortly  he  gave  up  that 
business  there  and  moved  on  to  Boise,  Idaho,  where 
he  opened  a hotel,  and  was  very  successful  in  that 
business.  In  1868  he  sold  out  and  went  to  Helena 
sending  his  wife  back  to  Iowa  on  a visit  to  her  old 
home  and_  family,  and  during  her  absence  IMr.  James 
took  a ^rmg  of  racing  horses  and  trained  them  for  the 
J rayis  Brothers.  In  the  following  year  he  followed  a 
similar  business  for  Hugh  Kirkendell,  traveling  through- 
^t  the  West  with  them  and  racing  in  various  places. 
He  continued  in  that  work  until  1870,  tlten  going  to 
Cedar  Creek  where  he  again  interested  himself  in  mining 
ventures.  Not  meeting  with  encouraging  success,  he 
started  a stage  station  at  Eagle  Creek  on  the  Missoula 
river,  and  also  ran  the  hotel  at  that  place,  in  which  he 
continued  until  1873.  From  there  he  went  to  Missoula 
and  started  up  in  the  freighting  business,  later  being 
engaged  similarly  at  Fort  Benton,  Butte,  Deer  Lodge 
and  Helena,  and  continuing  until  1883.  He  then  went 
to  Calfornia  and  spent  a winter.  Returning,  he  bought 
a ranch  two  miles  west  of  Missoula,  which  he  con- 
ducted up  until  1900,  at  which  time  his  son  took  charge, 
and  Mr.  James  went  to  Fort  Steel  on  another  mining 
exploit.  Disappointed  in  that  venture,  he  returned  to 
Montana  and  came  to  Kalispell  where  he  secured  a 
steam  wood-saw  and  engaged  in  wood  sawing.  His 
was  the  first  steam  wood-saw  to  be  operated  in  Kalis- 
pell, and  he  did  a thriving  business  there  with  it  until 
19041  ^^when  he  sold  out  and  bought  the  steam  ferry 
boat  Iowa”  in  operation  on  the  lake  at  Poison,  a busi- 
ness which  he  has  conducted  since  that  time.  In  1908 
Mr.  James  leased_  his  boat  and  made  a trip  through  the 
western  states,  visiting  in  Seattle,  Washington,  thence 
to  Los  Angeles,  California,  and  coming  back  through 
Arizona,  New  Mexico,  Kansas,  Nebraska,  Missouri, 
Iowa  to  Salt  Lake  City,_  and  from* that  point  back  to 
Montana,  the  trip  covering  a period  of  four  years  of 
travel. 

During  the  years  of  Mr.  James’  residence  in  this 
section  of  the  country  he  was  deputy  sheriff  of  IMis- 
soula  county  for  a number  of  years,  and  proved  his 
efficiency  in  many  an  encounter  with  offenders  during 
that  time.  He  is  a Democrat  of  the  Progressive 
type,  and  has  always  been  a strong  partisan  of  the 
cause  of  the  Democracy.  His  life  has  been  one  of  ad- 
venture, but  in  that  respect  similar  to  the  experience 
of  many  another  spirited  man  who  has  helped  to  make 
of  Montana  the  great  and  glowing  treasure  spot  which 


910 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


she  is  today  in  her  further  development.  Mr.  James 
is  a member  of  the  Benevolent  Protective  Order  of  Elks 
of  Kalispell,  and  is  a member  of  the  Christian  church. 
.\lthough  well  advanced  in  years,  he  is  still  strong  and 
rugged,  and  takes  vast  enjoyment  in  the  pleasures  of 
out  door  life.  He  is  the  owner  of  considerable  property 
m this  section  of  the  state,  two  valuable  ranches  being 
a part  of  the  holdings.  In  addition  to  the  Missoula 
ranch  which  his  son  operated  for  him  for  some  tirne, 
he  has  a valuable  cattle  ranch  at  Ross’  Hole,  which 
he  at  one  time  conducted  himself,  but  though  he  does 
not  longer  operate  them  himself,  he  continues  to  be  the 
owner. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  became  the  parents  of  one  son. 
Thomas  Jefferson,  who  is  the  subject  of  this  review. 
His  early  education  was  received  in  the  common  schools 
of  Montana,  after  which  he  was  sent  to  Davenport, 
Iowa,  where  he  attended  the  high  school.  After  his 
graduation  therefrom  he  attended  college  in  Iowa, 
Colorado  and  California.  Doctor  James  is  a graduate 
of  a number  of  schools  of  osteopathy,  among  them  being 
(he  Barber  College  of  Osteopathy  of  Missouri,  Palmer 
College  of  Davenport,  Iowa,  from  which  he  was  grad- 
uated in  igoo.  In  1903  he  was  graduated  from  the 
Medical  Electric  College  of  Chicago,  and  in  1907  from 
the  Los  Angeles  (Calif.)  College  of  Ophthalmology.  In 
that  same  year  he  took  a course  of  instruction  under 
I )octor  Davis  at  Los  Angeles,  in  neuropathy  as  a further 
aid  to  his  profession.  Following  his  graduation  in 
1907  Doctor  James  spent  the  winter  in  southern  Arizona 
and  New  Mexico,  after  which  he  took  a course  of  study 
in  ophthalmology  in  Denver,  finishing  in  1908.  _ Im- 
mediately thereafter  Doctor  James  came  to  Kalispell, 
where  he  has  since  conducted  a very  successful  practice, 
aided  therein  by  his  wife,  who  is  a graduate  of  the 
same  school  in  California  from  which  he  received  his 
degree.  She  was  Mrs.  Oza  L.  Minnick,  and  they  were 
mmried  at  Cranbrook,  British  Columbia,  on  June  5, 
1908.  Both  are  popular  in  their  profession  and  have 
won  a wide  patronage  in  and  about  Kalispell  in  the 
comparatively  brief  time  in  which  they  have  been  here 
established.  Both  are  especially  able  physicians,  and 
have  the  confidence  of  all  who  know  them  professionally 
or  otherwi.se. 

Before  Doctor  James  became  identified  with  his 
present  profession,  he  w’as  employed  in  the  operation 
and  management  of  his  father's  ranching  interests  for 
a number  of  years,  as  suggested  in  another  portion  of 
this  sketch,  and  he  has  had  a large  and  varied  experi- 
ence in  the  years  devoted  to  these  more  strenuous  pur- 
suits. He  was  for  some  time  a well-known  stage  driver 
of  the  overland  stage  between  Helena  and  Jefferson, 
and  many  exciting  experiences  came  his  way  during 
that  time.  Those  w'ere  the  days  when  the  “hold-up" 
man  w'as  well  known  to  the  traveling  public,  and  he 
was  on  numerous  occasions  held  up  enroute.  Doctor 
James  is  a noted  hunter  in  Montana,  big  game  being 
iiis  usual  quest.  On  one  occasion  he  came  near  to  for- 
feiting his  life  as  the  result  of  an  encounter  with  a 
monster  silver  tip  grizzly  bear.  He  fired  five  shots  into 
the  infuriated  animal  before  he  succeeded  in  reaching 
a vulnerable  spot,  and  the  bear  was  within  a few  feet 
of  him  when  the  last  shot  brought  him  down.  He 
still  owns  the  skin,  w'hich  he  had  tanned,  and  it  w'as 
pronounced  at  that  time  the  largest  bear  that  had  ever 
been  killed  in  the  state.  This  handsome  skin  is  but  one 
of  a large  number  of  trophies  of  the  hunt  which  he 
has  to  show  for  his  life  in  the  West.  Doctor  James 
still  takes  an  active  interest  in  the  ranching  busines.s 
which  he  conducted  before  taking  up  osteopathy,  and 
he  is  the  owner  of  other  valuable  Montana  property,  in 
addition  to  a handsome  home  in  Kalispell.  Doctor 
James  is  most  obviously  one  of  those  more  progressive 
and  enterprising  men  who  have  sufficient  wide-minded- 
ness  to  be  able  to  grasp  more  than  one  idea  at  a time, 
and  W'hich  makes  it  possible  for  him  to  entertain  a 
variety  of  interests.  He  is  one  cf  the  valuable  citizens' 


of  Kalispell  who  is  ever  up  and  doing  in  the  cause  of 
improved  conditions,  and  it  is  not  too  much  to  predict 
that  his  future  life  will  shed  a powerful  and  beneficent 
influence  upon  the  community  in  which  he  "lives  and 
moves  and  has  his  being.” 

Judge  John  Edward  Murr.vy  was  born  in  Ireland, 
on  May  18,  1827,  and  died  on  the  loth  day  of  March, 
1903,  at  his  home  in  Lewistown,  where  he  had  lived 
since  May,  1887.  Judge  Alurray  came  to  America 
as  a mere  child  with  his  parents  and  his  first  American 
home  was  in  the  state  of  A'laine.  Later  the  family 
moved  to  New  Brunswick,  and  there  some  years  of  the 
subject’s  life  were  passed.  He  was  yet  very  young 
when  he  left  home,  and  he  began  his  career  in  life’s 
activities  as  an  iron-puddler.  In  1859  he  crossed  the 
plains,  reaching  Denver  via  the  Santa  Fe  trail  in  the 
month  of  April  in  the  same  year.  He  had  many 
experiences  more  or  less  serious  in  their  nature,  and 
at  one  time  he  and  his  partner  lost  their  way  in 
Colorado.  For  several  days  they  subsisted  on  seeds 
and  wild  rose  bushes,  but  finally  succeeded  in  reaching 
food  and  water,  when  hope  was  almost  gone. 

In  the  spring  of  1863  Air.  Murray  left  Colorado  and 
headed  for  Bannack,  Alontana,  which  place  he  reached 
on  the  I2th  of  May.  Soon  thereafter  he  and  a few 
other  hardy  spirits  started  out  on  a prospecting  trip, 
and  it  was  they  who  discovered  gold  in  Florse  Prairie. 
They  organized  into  a company  and  on  July  4th  Mr. 
Alurray  was  elected  president  of  the  mining  district. 
It  was  about  that  time  that  W.  A.  Clark,  since  one  of 
the  famous  mining  men  of  the  west,  came  into  the 
region,  and  he  secured  claims  in  the  gulch  known  as 
the  Jeff  Davis  Gulch,  a tributary  of  the  one  in  which 
they  were  operating,  known  as  Colorado  Gulch. 

In  the  spring  of  1864  Air.  Clark  bought  out  some  of 
Air.  Alurray’s  partners,  and  Air.  Alurray  avers  that  they 
who  claim  that  W.  A.  Clark  never  did  a day’s  work 
in  the  mines  don’t  know  what  they  are  talking  of,  for 
they  did  many  a day’s  work  together  on  that  claim 
and  Air.  Alurray  claims  that  Clark  was  a good  work- 
man, too.  In  September,  1865,  Air.  Murray  sold  his 
interest  in  the  property  to  Air.  Clark  and  went  to  Snake 
River  to  prospect.  His  old  acquaintance,  Skelly,  was 
again  with  him,  but  they  found  nothing  in  that  region 
of  any  value,  so  they  crossed  over  to  the  west  fork  of 
the  Aladison  and  followed  it  down  to  Virginia  City, 
starting  from  there  to  Helena.  At  Helena  Air.  Murray 
got  a claim  in  the  St.  Louis  Gulch,  which  he  soon 
sold  out  and  went  to  Oregon  Gulch,  where, he  mined 
in  several  locations.  Between  the  years  of  1868  and 
1873  he  was  identified  with  various  mining  locations  in 
the  vicinity  and  in  1873  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of 
probate  judge  of  Aleagher  county.  He  served  four 
years  in  that  office,  but  refused  a re-nomination  and 
again  turned  his  attention  to  mining.  In  1879  he  took 
up  a homestead  on  the  Alusselshell  river,  and  in  1882 
he  was  again  elected  probate  judge,  against  his  wishes. 
It  was  in  1887  that  he  first  bought  property  in  Lewis- 
town  and  there  went  into  the  cigar  and  confectionery 
business,  in  which  he  continued  to  be  profitably  engaged 
until  death  called  him.  In  1894  Judge  Alurray  was  ap- 
pointed postmaster  of  Lewistown  and  served  four  years 
in  that  office  under  President  Cleveland.  He  also 
served  as  city  treasurer  of  Lewistown  and  was  an  active 
worker  in  the  ranks  of  the  Democratic  party.  He  was 
a member  of  the  Pioneer  Society  of  Montana  and  his 
churchly  affiliations  were  with  the  Roman  Catholic 
church,  in  which  he  was  reared  by  his  parents. 

On  September  2,  1888,  Judge  Alurray  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Aliss  Belle  Abraham,  and  they  became 
the  parents  of  two  children,  but  one  of  whom,  John' Ed- 
ward Alurray,  is  living. 

Hon.  W.  J.  McCormick.  Few  of  the  honored  pio- 
neers of  Montana  did  more  in  the  way  of  developing  the 
resources  of  this  great  state  in  his  time  than  did  the 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


911 


Hon.  W.  J.  McCormick,  now  deceased,  but  a resident 
of  the  state  from  1863  until  the  time  of  his  death  in 
1889,  and  one  of  the  founders  and  most  enterprising 
and  liberal  citizens  of  IMissoula. 

Born  near  Muncie,  Delaware  county,  Indiana,  in  the 
year  1835,  he  was  the  son  of  Rev.  William  McCormick, 
of  Harrisburg,  Virginia,  and  the  descendant  of  a long 
line  of  Irish  ancestors.  His  grandfather,  John  McCor- 
mick, emigrated  from  Dublin,  Ireland,  where  the  family 
was  long  and  prominently  known,  and  yet  is,  and  from 
that  worthy  gentleman  are  descended  a large  family, 
many  of  whom  have  filled  the  higher  places  in  life 
and  realized  many  noble  ambitions.  The  late  Hon. 
James  G.  Blaine  and  the  late  Hon.  Cyrus  H.  McCormick, 
were  of  this  family.  The  father  of  Mr.  McCormick 
of  this  review  was  a Baptist  minister  of  many  talents, 
and  after  his  marriage  in  Harrisonburg,  Virginia,  in 
which  town  he  was  born  and  reared,  he  moved  to  In- 
diana, where  for  many  years  he  was  devoted  to  minis- 
terial duties,  combining  these  duties  with  the  functions 
of  a circuit  judge,  and  there  he  reared  his  family  of 
seven  children,  of  which  number,  Washington  J.,  the 
subject,  was  the  youngest. 

Washington  J.  McCormick  finished  his  education  in 
Asbury  College,  now  De  Pauw  University  at  Green- 
castle,  Indiana.  In  1856  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
being  then  twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  in  the  following 
year  he  went  to  Utah,  where  he  held  many  important  and 
prominent  positions  in  line  with  his  profession  in  a 
political  way — among  them  being  the  office  of  secretary 
of  state,  attorney  general  and  chief  justice  of  court. 
The  year  1863  first  saw  his  advent  into  Montana,  and 
Virginia  City  was  his  first  place  of  residence.  For 
two  years  he  practiced  law  in  that  city,  and  while  there 
took  an  active  and  efficient  part  in  the  politics  of  the' 
country.  He  was  secretary  of  the  first  Democratic 
convention  held  in  the  territory,  and  in  1864  was  a 
member  of  the  territorial  legislature  from  Madison 
count}-.  In  April.  1865,  he  removed  to  Deer  Lodge 
and  was  elected  to  the  legislature  from  that  county. 
He  was  superintendent  of  the  Flathead  Indian  Agency, 
for  two  years,  from  1866  to  1868,  inclusive.  He  came 
to  Missoula  in  1868,  before  an  organized  town  existed, 
and  here  with  Captain  Higgins  and  Hon.  F.  L.  Worden, 
he  was  occupied  in  the  development  and  building  of 
the  town.  He  was  interested  in  milling  and  stock- 
raising  in  both  Chouteau  and  Missoula  counties,  and 
acquired  much  valuable  ranch  property  in  the  Bitter 
Root  valley,  while  he  owned  a considerable  property 
in  Missoula.  It  is  noteworthy  that  Mr.  McCormick 
w'as  the  first  editor  and  the  founder  of  the  Gazette, 
and  in  his  capacity  as  editor,  he  brought  to  bear  an 
influence  for  good  that  went  far  in  the  upbuilding  of 
the  city  along  the  most  desirable  lines.  His  talents 
were  many,  and  as  a lawyer,  a politician  of  unusual 
ability  and  power,  an  editor  whose  opinions  carried 
weight  and  brought  results  in  the  right  direction,  and 
a business  man  of  exceptional  acumen  and  good  judg- 
ment, he  occupied  an  imposing  position  in  Missoula 
for  upw'ards  of  a quarter  of  a century.  He  attended 
the  legislature  from  iMissoula  county  in  1875,  1877, 
1878,  1884. 

Mr.  McCormick  was  a man  who  gave  liberally  of 
his  substance  to  every  worthy  cause,  and  prominent 
among  his  numerous  benefactions  is  his  gift  of  the 
three  blocks  on  which  now-  stands  the  Catholic  church 
edifice,  the  school  and  hospital.  Although  Mr.  Mc- 
Cormick was  not  of  the  Catholic  faith,  he  gave  liber- 
ally towards  the  establishment  of  Catholic  schools 
and  hospitals  in  his  county.  IMr.  McCormick  also 
w-as  a liberal  giver  in  the  cause  w-hich  resulted  in  se- 
curing the  building  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad 
to  Missoula,  and  it  is  a deplorable  fact  that  the  city 
of  which  he  was  one  of  the  founders,  saw  her  greatest 
era  of  development  and  growth  just  after  the  untimely 
death  of  the  man  wdio  had  labored  so  indefatigably  in 
making  that  growth  possible.  Mr.  iMcCormick  met 


his  death  on  February  3,  1889,  as  the  result  of  an  acci- 
dent caused  by  a windstorm  at  Fort  Owen,  the  oldest 
fortification  in  Montana,  which  property  he  had  pur- 
chased from  Major  John  Owen  in  1870. 

One  year  after  Mr.  McCormick  came  to  Missoula,  in 
1869,  he  was  united,  in  marriage  with  Miss  Kate  Hig- 
gins, the  daughter  of  Christopher  Power  and  Edith 
(O’Byrne)  Higgins,  and  sister  of  the  late  Cantain  C.  P. 
Higgins,  of  Missoula,  with  whom  Mr.  McCormick  was 
associated  in  a business  way  in  the  developing  and 
planning  of  a greater  Missoula  than  then  existed.  Her 
people  were  descendants  of  the  early  kings  of  Ireland, 
and  they  came  to  America  in  1851,  locating  in  Montana 
in  1865. 

Seven  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCor- 
mick, all  native  sons  and  daughters  of  Missoula,  and 
they  are  named  as  follows : Mary  Edith  O’Byrne ; Wil- 

liam Worden;  John  Francis  Higgins;  Blanche  Ada 
Louise;  Veronica  Honora  Hester;  Paul  Christopher 
and  Washington  J.,  Jr.,  concerning  whom  extended 
mention  is  made  elsewhere  in  this  work  in  a separate 
article  devoted  to  him.  The  daughter,  Blanche  Ada 
Louise,  died  on  January  15,  1892,  in  the  seventeenth 
year  of  her  life. 

Washington  J.  McCormick.  Following  the  pro- 
fession in  which  his  distinguished  father,  the  late  Hon. 
Washington  J.  McCormick,  won  a high  place  and  espe- 
cial distinction,  Washington  J.  McCormick  is  just  be- 
ginning a career  of  exceptional  promise.  The  father  was 
one  of  the  oldest  settlers  of  Missoula,  and  a man  to 
whom  the  city  owes  much  of  her  present  prosperity  and 
prominence,  and  in  his  work  the  son  has  the  advantage 
of  every  favorable  circumstance  in  the  making  of  a name 
for  himself  and  achieving  a worthy  success  in  the  pro- 
fession he  has  chosen.  It  is  a pleasing  fact  to  record 
that  the  young  man  is  not  content  with  the  laurels 
won  by  his  worthy  parent,  but  is  bent  upon  a career  of 
accomplishment  which,  in  view  of  his  many  talents 
and  splendid  energies,  it  is  safe  to  predict  that  he  will 
realize. 

Born  in  Missoula,  Montana,  on  January  4,  1884,  Mr. 
McCormick  is  the  son  of  Washington  J.  and  Catherine 
O’Byrne  Higgins,  concerning  the  former  of  whom  e.x- 
tended  mention  is  made  in  a memoir  dedicated  to  him 
in  other  pages  of  this  work,  the  mother  being  the  de- 
scendant of  a noble  family  of  Ireland,  which  claimed  as 
its  ancestors  some  of  the  early  kings  of  that  valiant 
little  island.  Mr.  McCormick  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  city  and  in  the  University  of  Mon- 
tana, and  later  he  attended  Notre  Dame  University  in 
Indiana  and  Harvard  University,  from  which  latter  in- 
stitution he  was  graduated  in  1907.  He  engaged  in 
the  study  of  law  at  Columbia,  and  was  graduated  in 
1910,  a full  fledged  lawyer.  Admitted  to  the  New 
York  bar  in  June,  1910,  at  once  Mr.  McCormick  began 
the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Alissoula,  and  from 
the  start  took  a prominent  place  in  the  ranks  of  the 
Republican  party,  and  in  the  autumn  of  1911  he  took 
the  stump  for  the  party  in  his  district  and  in  other 
parts  of  the  state. 

Two  years  of  continued  practice  in  the  profession  of 
law  in  Missoula  have  not  been  sufficient  to  bring  fame 
as  a legist  to  this  young  man,  but  they  have  been  ample 
to  prove  the  mettle  of  the  man,  and  more  than  sufficient 
to  establish  him  permanently  in  the  ranks  of  the  rising 
young  men  of  the  city  and  county.  As  a side  issue 
Mr.  McCormick  has  recently  had  some  success  in  the 
field  of  journalism  and  belles  Icttres.  A brilliant  future 
is  everywhere  predicted  for  him,  and  Alissoula  is  fortu- 
nate indeed  in  that  the  son  of  one  of  her  most  dis- 
tinguished citizens  has  elected  to  cast  in  his  lot  with 
the  future  of  the  city  of  his  birth,  which  his  father  did 
so  much  to  promote  and  popularize,  and  which  has 
accorded  to  that  worthy  citizen  a fair  measure  of  appre- 
ciation and  praise. 


912 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


Thomas  H.  Carter.  A life  conspicuous  for  the 
magnitude  and  variety  of  its  achievement  was  that  of 
the  late  Senator  Thomas  H.  Carter,  one  of  the  most 
distinguished  and  honored  figures  in  the  history  of  the 
state  of  Montana,  and  one  whose  influence  transcended 
local  environs  to  permeate  the  national  life.  So  great 
accomplishment  as  was  his  can  not  but  imply  exalted 
subjective  character,  and  thus,  above  all  and  beyond 
all.  Senator  Carter  merits  perpetual  honor  by  virtue  of 
the  very  strength  and  nobility  of  his  character.  To  the 
fullest  compass  of  his  splendid  powers  he  rendered 
service  to  the  state  and  nation ; his  labors  were  un- 
sparing, and  his  honesty  of  purpose  was  beyond  cavil. 
The  reflex  of  the  high  honors  conferred  upon  him  was 
the  honors  he  himself  conferred.  It  can  not  be  doubted 
that  to  him  more  than  to  any  other  one  has  been  due 
the  securing  of  that  governmental  co-operation  which 
has  made  possible  the  magnificent  development  of  the 
great  western  empire  of  our  national  domain,  and  he 
was  in  the  truest  sense  one  of  the  great  men  of  Amer- 
ica. It  is  not  easy  to  describe  adequately  a man  who 
was  distinct  in  character  and  who  accomplished  so 
much  in  the  world  as  did  Senator  Carter,  and  the  lim- 
itations imposed  by  the  province  of  this  publication  are 
such  has  to  make  possible  only  a brief  review  of  the 
career  of  the  man,  without  extended  genealogical  rec- 
ord or  critical  analysis  of  character. 

In  a preliminary  way  it  may  be  stated  that  he  to 
whom  this  memoir  is  dedicated  was  the  last  delegate 
from  the  territory  of  Montana  in  the  United  States 
congress,  the  first  representative  in  congress  after  the 
state  has  been  admitted  to  the  Union,  and  the  first 
person  from  the  state  to  be  elected  to  serve  a full  term 
in  the  United  States  senate.  A man  of  action,  a force- 
ful and  effective  director  of  public  opinion,  a statesman 
of  proved  ability,  a lawyer  of  high  attainments  and  a 
citizen  of  high  ideals,  Senator  Carter  well  merited  the 
title  applied  to  him  through  high  and  authoritative 
sources, — that  of  “Mot  tana's  most  distinguished  son.” 
From  the  address  delivered  by  lion.  Lee  Mantle  on 
the  occasion  of  the  assembly  held  in  memory  of  Sen- 
ator Carter,  at  the  Auditorium  in  the  city  of  Helena, 
on  Sunday,  October  15,  1911,  are  taken  the  following 
extracts : 

‘in  endeavoring  to  do  honor  to  the  memory  of 
Senator  Carter,  it  is  only  necessary  to  say  that  which 
truth  requires  and  justice  demands,  for  in  view  of  the 
magnitude  of  his  labors  and  the  value  of  his  public 
services  to  both  the  state  and  nation,  there  is  scant 
opportunity  for  exaggerated  eulogy.  There  is,  indeed, 
much  more  liklihood  of  failing  to  do  full  justice  to  a 
character  so  strong  and  well  poised,  to  a record  so 
replete  with  achievements,  and  to  a life  filled  with  use- 
fulness and  high  promise. 

“On  the  17th  day  of  September,  1911,  the  citizens 
of  Montana,  without  division  of  sentiment,  were  shocked 
and  grieved  beyond  expression  by  the  startling  and  de- 
pressing intelligence,  which  came  like  a thunderbolt 
from  a clear  sky,  that  ex-United  States  Senator  Thomas 
H.  Carter  had  suddenly  expired.  So  wholly  unlooked 
for  and  unexpected  was  this  event,  and  so  large  a place 
had  he  filled  in  the  public  mind,  that  the  sad  news  of 
his  death  was  in  the  nature  of  a public  calamity,  and 
for  days  no  other  thought  was  in  the  minds  of  the 
people,  no  other  expression  upon  their  lips  than  a sense 
of  profound  regret  and  irreparable  loss.  It  seemed 
incredible  that  one  so  familiarly  known  to  us  all ; one 
who  had  so  recently  left  us,  apparently  in  the  full  vigor 
of  body  and  mind  and  in  the  plentitude  of  his  splendid 
intellectual  powers,  should  so  quickly  and  without  ap- 
parent warning  fall  a prey  to  the  ‘Grim  Destroyer.’  Few 
at  first  could  realize  the  full  import  of  the  blow  which 
had  so  suddenly  robbed  us  of  a beloved  friend  and 
neighbor  and  fellow  citizen,  and  plunged  an  entire  com- 
monwealth into  mourning. 


“This  was  the  feeling  throughout  the  length  and 
breadth  of  the  state,  for  there  is  scarcelj^  a nook  or  cor- 
ner within  its  wide  boundaries;  hardly  a spot  amid 
its  towering  mountains  or  up  and  down  its  broad  valleys 
where  his  eloquent  voice  has  not  been  heard,  where  the 
grasp  of  his  hand  has  not  been  felt  in  friendly  greeting, 
or  where  his  name  was  not  a familiar  household  word. 
And  what  was  true  here  at  home,  among  his  own  people, 
in  his  own  state,  was  largely  true  also  in  the  capital  of 
the  nation,  where  his  long  and  conspicuous  service  in 
the  house  and  senate  and  in  other  high  official  posi- 
tions, together  with  his  striking  personalit}',  had  made 
him  an  equally  familiar  figure  and  had  won  for  him 
a profound  respect  and  admiration.” 

Thomas  H.  Carter  was  born  in  Scioto  county, 
Ohio,  on  the  30th  of  October,  1854,  and  thus  he  was 
nearly  fifty-seven  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  occurred,  without  premonition,  in  the  city  of 
Washington,  on  the  17th  of  September,  1911.  The 
future  statesman  gained  his  rudimentary  education  in 
his  native  county  and  was  about  eleven  years  of  age 
at  the  time  of  the  family  removal  to  Illinois,  where  he 
continued  his  studies  in  the  public  schools.  He  was 
reared  to  the  sturdy  discipline  of'  the  farm  and  early 
gained  close  fellowship  with  honest  toil  and  endeavor. 
After  attaining  to  adult  age  he  continued  to  be  identi- 
fied with  the  great  basic  industry  of  agi'iculture  for 
some  time,  later  was  engaged  in  railroad  work,  and 
still  later  showed  that  he  was  eligible  for  pedagogic 
honors,  as  he  became  a successful  and  popular  teacher 
in  the  public  schools  of  Illinois.  The  writer  of  the 
present  article  had  previously  given  the  following  state- 
ments concerning  this  stage  in  the  career  of  Senator 
Carter : “A  young  man  of  such  marked  ambition  and 

distinct  individuality  could  not  prove  dilatory  in  formu- 
lating definite  plans  for  his  future  life  work,  and  thus 
it  was  that  Mr.  Carter  determined  to  prepare  himself 
for  that  profession  which,  more  than  any  other,  has 
touched  the  public  life  and  welfare  of  the  nation.  At 
Burlington,  Iowa,  he  began  the  study  of  law,  and  he 
so  persistently  applied  himself  that,  with  his  remark- 
able powers  of  absorption  and  assimilation,  he  soon  be- 
came eligible  for  admission  to  the  bar.  He  began  the 
practice  of  his  profession  in  Burlington,  and  his  dis- 
tinctive abilities  soon  gained  him  recognition.” 

In  1882  Senator  Carter,  he  was  then  a young  man  of 
about  twenty-eight  years,  took  action  that  was  destined 
to  have  momentous  influence  upon  hi's  future  career, 
for  it  was  in  that  year  that  he  identified  himself  with  the 
interests  of  the  territory  of  Montana.  He  established 
his  residence  in  Helena,  and  the  capital  city  of  the  state 
represented  his  home  thereafter  until  he  was  summoned 
from  the  scene  of  life’s  mortal  endeavors.  Here  he 
forthwith  entered  vigorously  upon  the  practice  of  his 
profession,  and  he  soon  secured  a representative  clien- 
tage, in  connection  with  which  he  made  for  himself 
a place  among  the  leaders  of  the  bar  which  has  ever 
lent  dignity  and  honor  to  Montana.  Eventually  he  as- 
sociated himself  in  practice  with  John  B.  Clyberg,  and 
for  many  years  the  firm  of  Carter  & Clyberg  was  known 
as  one  of  the  foremost  in  the  state,  with  a legal  busi- 
ness of  broad  scope  and  importance.  When  Mr.  Carter 
was  elected  to  congress  Judge  W.  McConnell  became 
a member  of  the  firm,  and  from  this  time  onward  until 
the  close  of  his  life  public  affairs  engrossed  the  major 
part  of  the  time  and  attention  of  Senator  Carter.  With 
the  distinct  impression  that  in  the  condensed  form  de- 
manded for  this  article  no  better  epitome  of  the  political 
career  of  Senator  Carter  can  be  given  than  that  offered 
in  the  text  of  the  memorial  address  delivered  by  Hon. 
Lee  Mantle,  from  which  quotation  has  already  been 
made,  it  is  deemed  expedient  to  reproduce  a number  of 
paragraphs  from  the  same,  with  but  slight  paraphrase 
and  elimination.  This  estimate  comes  from  a lifelong 
friend  of  the  deceased  and  one  who  is  himself  one  of 
Montana’s  distinguished  citizens,  so  that  the  significance 


THOMAS  H.  CARTER 


'y\ 


? 


■,:■';■■■  - ■ !'i 


1 ■ v.v; 


' ■ w,  - 


: -h-.il 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


913 


of  the  statements  given  is  the  more  emphatic  and  author- 
itative : 

"I  think  it  may  be  truthfully  said  that  Senator  Carter’s 
great  natural  gifts,  joined  with  his  many  attainments, 
were  such  a high  order  that  he  would  have  made  his 
mark  and  acquired  distinction  in  any  walk  of  life  he 
might  have  chosen,  but  it  is  in  the  domain  of  politics 
and  of  statesmanship  that  we  must  look  for  the  splendid 
record  of  his  great  career.  He  was  an  ardent  believer 
in  the  faith  and  tenets  of  the  Republican  party,  proud 
of  its  history  and  a devout  worshiper  at  the  shrine  of  its 
patron  saint,  Abraham  Lincoln,  for  whom  his  reverance 
and  admiration  knew  no  bounds.  He  was  a strong,, 
vigorous  partisan,  advocating  and  defending  his  political 
beliefs  with  a force  and  eloquence  rarely  surpassed;  ad- 
dressing his  arguments  to  the  enlightened  self-interest 
and  reason  of  the  people  rather  than  to  their  passions 
and  prejudices.  Senator  Carter’s  partisanship  was  of 
a high  order ; it  was  patriotic  because  it  was  based  on 
an  earnest  desire  to  secure  the  supremacy  of  those 
policies  which  he  firmly  believed  would  most  redound 
to  the  honor  and  glory  of  his  country  and  to  the  hap- 
piness and  prosperity  of  all  its  people.  He  was  a 
political  leader  of  sound  judgment  and  rare  skill, — reso- 
lute and  resourceful  in  emergencies  and  possessing  in  an 
eminent  degree  the  indispensible  faculty  of  inspiring 
confidence  and  arousing  enthusiasm  among  his  followers. 
It  is  true  that  he  made  many  determined  and  relentless 
political  enemies,  but  it  is  equally  true  that  no  man  ever 
had  more  intensely  loyal  and  devoted  friends. 

“One  of  the  most  admirable  traits  of  Senator  Carter's 
character  was  his  broad-mindedness.  It  was  an  excep- 
tional case,  indeed,  if  he  carried  political  difference  into 
his  personal  relations.  No  matter  how  bitterly  partisan 
warfare  might  be  raging,  he  could  always  meet  his 
antagonists  in  a friendly  social  and  personal  intercourse. 
In  fact  it  was  well  nigh  impossible  for  coolness  to 
exist  when  subjected  to  the  genial  warmth  of  his  per- 
sonal presence. 

“Senator  Carter  was  a politician  in  the  highest  and 
best  sense  of  the  term.  He  sought  and  enjoyed  political 
power  and  office  because  they  gave  him  a broad  oppor- 
tunity for  the  gratification  of  his  personal  tastes  and 
bent  of  mind,  and  for  the  exercise  of  his  exceptional 
qualifications  for  public  life.  He  was  politically  ambi- 
tious, but  his  ambition  was  tempered  with  a deep  love 
of  country,  a glowing  pride  in  its  traditions  and  an  ear- 
nest desire  for  the  welfare  of  its  people.  And  it  can 
truthfully  be  said  that  no  public  servant  ever  labored 
more  zealously  in  the  interests  of  his  constituents  than 
he.  His  public  labors  ran  over  a period  of  nearly  a 
quarter  of  a century  and  covered  such  a wide  area 
of  activity  that  it  would  take  volumes  to  enumerate  them 
in  detail.  Into  them  he  poured  freely  of  his  time, 
strength  and  vitality  and  of  the  reserves  of  his  great 
brain.” 

In  1888  Senator  Carter  was  nominated  by  his  party 
for  delegate  in  congress,  this  being  the  year  prior  to  the 
admission  of  the  territory  of  Montana  to  statehood. 
The  campaign  was  one  of  the  most  notable  in  Montana’s 
political  annals.  Theretofore  the  territory  had  elected 
only  one  Republican  delegate  to  congress,  and  the  victory 
achieved  by  Senator  Carter  was  consequently  all  the 
more  significant.  His  opponent  was  Hon.  William  A. 
Clark,  of  Butte,  whom  he  defeated  by  a majority  of 
5,126  votes,  after  a most  vigorous  and  exciting  cam- 
paign. Montana  was  admitted  to  statehood  the  following- 
year  and  this  extinguished  the  office  of  territorial  dele- 
gate ; but  in  the  first  Republican  state  convention  Mr. 
Carter  was  unanimously  made  the  standard-bearer  of 
his  party,  on  this  occasion  as  candidate  for  full  congres- 
sional honors.  At  the  ensuing  election  he  defeated  Hon. 
Martin  Maginnis,  the  Democratic  candidate,  by  a ma- 
jority of  1,648,  and  thus  to  him  was  given  the  distinction 
of  having  been  the  last  territorial  delegate  and  the  first 
to  represent  the  new  state  in  the  national  house  of 
representatives.  From  this  juncture  recourse  is  again 


taken  to  the  address  of  Hon.  Lee  ^lantle,  who  spoke  as 
follows  concerning  Senator  Carter’s  initial  appearance 
in  congress : “His  quick  grasp  of  parliamentary  pro- 

cedure, his  vast  store  of  knowledge  upon  public  ques- 
tions, combined  with  his  readiness  in  debate  and  his 
great  personal  popularity,  enabled  him  at  once  to  stamp 
the  impress  of  his  strong  individuality  upon  his  associ- 
ates and  gained  for  him  a standing  and  influence  rarely 
attained  except  after  years  of  service.  From  that  time 
until  death  claimed  him  he  grew  in  usefulness  and  ex- 
panded in  knowledge  and  power  until  his  reputation  had 
spread  beyond  the  narrow  boundaries  of  his  own  state 
and  he  had  become  a recognized  figure  of  national  im- 
portance,— -the  welcome  associate  of  the  greatest  intel- 
lects in  the  nation,  the  peer  of  the  ablest  statesmen 
in  the  land,  the  trusted  friend  and  counselor  of  presi- 
dents. 

“In  1890  he  was  appointed  secretary  of  the  Republi- 
can congressional  campaign  committee.  In  1891  Presi- 
dent Harrison,  recognizing  his  special  fitness  for  the 
place,  appointed  him  commissioner  of  the  general  land 
office.  His  appointment  to  this  important  position  was 
hailed  with  delight  by  the  people  of  the  west,  who  had 
suffered  much  from  the  unjust  restrictions  and  vexa- 
tious rules — due  to  ignorance  of  western  conditions — 
which  then  prevailed  in  that  department  of  the  govern- 
ment. Under  his  intelligent  and  vigorous  administra- 
tion the  policies  of  the  department  were  immediately 
liberalized,  its  burdensome  rules  suspended,  its  business 
facilitated  and  placed  upon  a reasonable  basis. 

“In  1892,  less  than  four  years  from  his  first  appear- 
ance on  the  stage  of  local  politics,  Senator  Carter  was 
selected  chairman  of  the  Republican  national  committee, 
the  highest  position  attainable  in  the  management  of  na- 
tional party  politics.  This  was  a most  remarkable  tribute 
to  his  abilities  as  an  organizer  and  a mark  of  the  confi- 
dence reposed  in  him  by  the  great  party  leaders.  It  is 
to  be  doubted  if  in  the  annals  of  our  political  history 
there  is  another  instance  of  such  a rapid  rise  from  com- 
parative obscurity  to  political  and  national  prominence. 
The  Senator  retained  this  office  four  years  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Hon.  Marcus  A.  Hanna,  of  Ohio.” 

At  the  close  of  the  campaign  of  1892  Senator  Carter 
resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Helena,  but 
the  people  of  the  state  had  too  profound  an  appreciation 
of  his  ability  and  loyalty  to  permit  him  to  remain  long 
in  private  life.  In  1895  he  was  nominated  as  candidate 
for  the  senate  of  the  United  States.  Concerning  this 
period  in  the  career  of  Senator  Carter  the  writer  of  the 
present  article  had  previously  written  the  following  es- 
timate : “The  ensuing  campaign  was  most  spirited  and 

political  enthusiasm  ran  high  in  Montana,  but  the  re- 
sult was  favorable  to  Mr.  Carter,  the  honor  accorded 
him  being  a fitting  crown  to  his  brilliant  career  as 
representative  of  the  interests  of  his  state.  In  the  senate 
he  assumed  a position  of  no  less  relative  importance 
than  he  had  held  in  the  house.  He  was  an  active  work- 
ing member,  as  a matter  of  course,  for  he  was  essentially 
a man  of  action.  During  his  first  senatorial  term  he 
served  on  a number  of  the  most  important  comittees, 
among  which  may  be  noted  the  committees  on  census, 
appropriations,  military  affairs,  postoffices  and  post  roads, 
public  lands,  territories,  forest  reservations,  and  pro- 
tection of  game,  besides  others  of  scarcely  less  import- 
ance. His  brilliant  and  long  sustained  efforts  in  oppo- 
sition to  the  passage  of  the  river  and  harbor  bill  at  the 
close  of  the  Fifty-sixth  congress  will  ever  be  remembered 
in  the  annals  of  our  political  history.  It  is  an  undoubted 
fact  that  the  defeat  of  this  extravagant  measure  was  due 
to  him.  It  is  unnecessary  to  recapitulate  the  cogent  and 
forceful  arguments  he  brought  to  bear  in  his  famous 
ten-hour  speech,  which  continued  in  the  last  session  of 
that  congress,  which  expired  before  the  address  was 
completed,  for  the  same  are  a matter  of  record  and 
have  been  duly  exploited  in  the  public  press  of  the  nation, 
his  course  having  gained  to  him  the  hearty  commenda- 
tion of  a great  majority  of  the  people  of  the  country, 


914 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


irrespective  of  political  affiliations,  and  stamping  him  as 
one  of  the  zealous  advocates  of  fairness  and  true  econ- 
omy in  the  administration  of  public  affairs.  The  con- 
test on  this  bill  was  a notable  one,  and  Senator  Carter 
scored,  without  fear  or  favor,  a measure  that  was  fos- 
tered by  corporate  greed  and  marked  discrimination 
against  the  West  in  an  unwise  expenditure  of  public 
funds  for  the  benefit  of  the  East.” 

The  great  West,  and  Montana  especially,  owes  a per- 
petual debt  of  gratitude  and  honor  to  Senator  Carter 
for  the  results  of  his  action  in  connection  with  the  defeat 
of  the  bill  to  which  reference  has  just  been  made  and 
which  carried  with  it  vast  appropriations  for  river  and 
harbor  improvements  of  questionable  value  and  in  dis- 
tinct discrimination  against  the  demands  of  the  West 
for  federal  aid.  The  Senator's  antagonism  to  the  bill 
was  not  primarily  because  he  opposed  the  demands  of  the 
eastern  section  of  the  country  but  because  of  the  fact 
that  the  East  was  opposed  to  the  legitimate  demands  of 
the  West.  The  defeat  of  this  bill,  appropriating  millions 
for  river  and  harbor  work,  made  the  East  take  cogni- 
zance of  the  fact  that  the  West  also  had  claims  upon  the 
national  government  for  federal  aid  in  the  reclamation 
of  its  vast  tracts  of  arid  lands.  By  the  action  of  Senator 
Carter  the  ultimate  success  of  the  reclamation  move- 
ment was  assured.  Further  reference  to  this  matter  is 
thus  made  in  the  article  from  which  previous  quotations 
have  been  taken  : 

“Appropriations  followed,  and  soon  thereafter  the 
initial  steps  were  taken  in  the  construction  of  those 
stupendous  irri.gation  projects  which  are  today  the  won- 
der and  admiration  of  the  scientific  world.  To  Senator 
Carter,  next  to  Theodore  Roosevelt,  must  be  given  the 
place  of  honor  in  securing  this  great  constructive  legis- 
lation which  is  bringing  such  vast  benefits  to  Montana 
and  to  the  West  in  general.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneers, 
the  very  ablest  champion  and  advocate  of  the  movement 
that  led  to  these  mighty  undertakings,  which  have  since 
transformed  into  smiling  fields  and  fruitful  orchards 
millions  of  acres  of  barren  soil,  and,  in  very  fact,  made 
the  desert  to  blossom  as  the  rose.” 

It  may  be  further  stated  that  it  was  due  to  the  efforts 
of  Senator  Carter  that  Montana  obtained  a greater 
amount  of  federal  aid  in  reclamation  work  than  did  all 
of  the  other  western  states  combined,  and  it  was  through 
his  interposition  only  a few  months  prior  to  his  death 
a special  appropriation  of  several  million  dollars  was 
made  by  congress  in  1911  for  the  completion  of  the 
Milk  river  irrigation  project,  one  of  the  most  important 
in  Montana.  The  Glacier  National  Park,  in  Montana, 
destined  to  rival  the  Yellowstone  Park  as  one  of  the 
wonderful  natural  resorts  of  the  country,  was  created 
through  the  earnest  labors  of  Senator  Carter,  and  in 
recognition  of  his  efforts  the  highest  peak  in  this  great 
reserve  is  known  as  Mount  Carter  and  the  largest 
of  its  glaciers  as  the  Carter  glacier. 

At  the  Republican  national  convention  of  1908  Senator 
Carter  was  successful  in  his  efforts  to  have  incorporated 
as  a plank  in  the  party  platform  the  provision  calling  for 
the  establishing  of  postal  savings  banks,  and  he  put 
forth  his  claims  with  characteristic  vigor,  in  the  face 
of  the  bitter  opposition  of  the  National  Bankers’  Asso- 
ciation and  other  powerful  influences.  Apropos  of  this 
noble  measure  thus  fostered  by  Senator  Carter,  Hon. 
Lee  Mantle  has  spoken  in  the  following  terms : 

“In  1905  he  was  elected  to  his  second  term  in  the 
senate,  and  toward  its  close  he  had  formulated  and 
introduced  his  bill  for  the  creation  of  the  system  of 
postal  savings  banks.  He  had  long  been  impressed  with 
the  absolute  public  need  of  this  legislation  and  had  de- 
voted a vast  amount  of  time  and  labor  and  research  to 
a thorough  study  of  the  subject  and  to  the  operation  of 
the  system  in  other  lands.  The  bill  met  with  powerful 
and  stubborn  opposition  from  the  very  outset,  and  every 
inch  of  its  progress  was  vigorously  contested.  But 
nothing  could  withstand  the  force,  eloquence  and  per- 


sistence with  which  he  urged  it,  and  none  could  suc- 
cessfully controvert  the  facts,  figures  and  logic  with 
which  he  so  ably  defended  it.  And  finally  the  victory 
was  won  and  he  enjoyed  the  intense  gratification  of  see- 
ing this  beneficient  product  of  his  creative  genius,  into 
which  he  had  thrown  his  whole  heart,  power  and  influ- 
ence, become  a law  of  the  land.  He  also  lived  to  see 
the  benignant  system  in  successful  operation  throughout 
the  nation  and  to  receive  praise  for  the  great  work 
which  he  had  accomplished  for  the  good  of  the  people 
in  general.  The  law  has  already  amply  vindicated  the 
statesmanship  and  foresight  of  its  author  and  has  be- 
•come  a fixed  and  vital  part  of  our  government  policy, 
one  which  no  power  or  influence  can  ever  repeal.  Its 
enactment  was  the  climax,  the  crowning  act  of  Senator 
Carter’s  brilliant  legislative  career  and  will  stand,  as  a 
lasting  and  worthy  monument  to  his  name  and  fame.” 

In  1901  President  McKinley  voluntarily  appointed  Sen- 
ator Carter  commissioner  of  the  Louisiana  Purchase 
E.xposition,  in  St.  Louis,  and  upon  the  assembling  of 
the  board  of  commissioners  the  Senator  was  chosen 
president,  a position  which  he  acceptably  filled.  In 
March,  1911,  Senator  Carter  became  chairman  of  the 
American  section  of  the  newly  created  International 
Joint  Commission,  especially  charged  with  the  adjust- 
ment of  Canadian  boundary  matters,  and  death  came  to 
him  before  he  had  been  able  to  discharge  the  duties 
of  this  new  post,  which  he  had  assumed  with  character- 
istic vigor  and  earnestness. 

At  the  time  of  the'  death  of  Senator  Carter  the  fol- 
lowing editorial  appeared  in  the  columns  of  the  'Wash- 
ington Post:  “Former  Senator  Carter  was  one  of  the 
best  beloved  men  in  public  life.  His  manner  was  so 
hearty,  his  wit  was  so  sharp  and  yet  sharp  in  such  a 
kindly  way,  that  all  his  fellows  loved  him.  He  was  a 
big,  brave-hearted  fighter,  unafraid  and  untrammeled 
except  by  his  own  strong  principles.  He  went  down 
fighting.  In  all  his  life  he  never  sought  cyclone  cellars. 
His  masterful  grasp  of  political  affairs  was  shown  in 
the  manner  in  which  he  brought  about  the  nomination 
of  Harrison  over  Blaine;  that  Harrison  was  not  elected 
was  no  fault  of  Tom  Carter’s.  His  usefulness  was  not 
over.  II is  death,  coming  so  unexpectedly,  leaves  not 
only  Washington  and  Montana  but  also  the  whole  coun- 
try with  a sense  of  shock  and  personal  loss.”  Solemn 
high  mass  of  requiem  was  celebrated  at  St.  Paul’s  church, 
Roman  Catholic,  in  the  city  of  Washington,  and,  in 
conformity  with  the  previously  expressed  wishes  of  the 
deceased,  the  services  were  simple  and  unostentatious. 
The  remains  of  Montana’s  loved  and  distinguished  son 
were  laid  to  rest  in  beautiful  Mount  Olive  cemetery,  in 
the  national  capital.  He  was  a devout  communicant  of 
the  Catholic  church,  as  is  also  Mrs.  Carter.  Prior  to 
touching,  and  with  consistent  brevit}q  the  ideal  domestic 
chapter  in  the  life  history  of  Senator  Carter,  there  is 
all  of  consistency  in  perpetuating  in  this  enduring  form 
further  sentiments  from  the  memorial  address  delivered 
by  Hon.  Lee  Mantle : 

“He  was  one  of  the  most  affable  and  approachable  men 
in  public  life,  wholly  without  vanity  on  the  score  of  the 
great  honors  which  were  his.  Fie  was  born  and  reared 
among  the  common  people, — that  element  of  American 
citizenship  which  the  great  Lincoln  loved  so  well.  He 
was  familiar  with  their  lives ; he  knew  their  ways,  their 
thoughts  and  feelings  and  was  in  sympathy  with  their 
hopes  and  aspirations.  He  was  equally  at  ease  on  a 
cattle  ranch  on  Montana’s  plains  or  the  floor  of  the 
senate  of  the  United  States ; in  some  old  prospector’s 
cabin  in  the  hills  or  in  the  company  of  the  chief  justice 
of  the  supreme  court  of  the  nation.  No  man  enjoying 
his  exceptional  honors  and  distinction  was  ever  more 
Democratic,  more  unassuming,  or  depended  less  for  his 
prestige  and  popularity  upon  the  mere  accessories  of 
official  power  and  position.  He  strove  tenaciously  and 
manfully  for  the  reward  which  came  to  him,  suffering 
the  ‘slings  and  arrows  of  outrageous  fortune,’  which  fre- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


915 


quently  found  in  him  a shining  mark,  with  patience  and 
fortitude.  He  was  undismayed  in  defeat  and  magnan- 
imous in  victory,  and  no  man  was  ever  more  ready  or 
willing  to  condone  a personal  injury  or  forgive  a wrong. 

“Senator  Carter’s  life  was  an  unbroken  record  of  un- 
ceasing labor.  His  whole  heart  was  ever  in  his  work, 
and  he  brought  to  it  a combination  of  extraordinary 
qualities  such  as  are  seldom  found  in  one  man.  He 
was  of  a philosophical  mind  and  gave  much  thought  to 
the  grave  problems  of  life  and  death.  He  received  the 
end  of  life’s  activities  with  the  same  philosophic  calm 
and  fortitude  with  which  he  had  met  all  its  changing 
fortunes  and  vicissitudes.  He  shared  with  the  mass  of 
mankind  that  faith,  hope  and  belief  planted  deep  down 
in  the  human  heart  by  an  all-wise  Greater,  in  the  im- 
mortality of  the  soul.” 

In  the  year  1886  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of 
Senator  Carter  to  Miss  Ellen  L.  Galen,  of  Helena,  and 
she  survives  him,  as  do  also  their  two  sons.  Mrs.  Carter 
is  a daughter  of  the  late  Hugh  Galen,  one  of  the  well 
known  and  highly  honored  pioneers  of  Montana  and  a 
resident  of  Helena  at  the  time  of  his  death.  Mrs.  Carter 
is  a woman  of  distinctive  culture  and  marked  social 
graciousness,  and  is  possessed  of  much  musical  and  liter- 
ary talent.  She  has  been  a leader  in  the  representa- 
tive social  activities  of  Helena,  a city  endeared  to  her 
by  many  hallowed  associations  and  memories,  and  has 
been  a prominent  and  popular  figure  in  the  social  life 
of  the  national  capital,  where  she  still  passes  much  of 
her  time.  She  is  specially  active  in  connection  with 
religious  and  charitable  organizations  in  the  city  of 
Washington,  where,  she  is  vice-president  of  the  Christ 
Child  Society,  a member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of 
Providence  hospital,  as  well  as  that  of  the  Children’s 
Guardian,  a municipal  organization,  and  that  of  the 
Work  for  Poor  Churches.  In  1912  Mrs.  Carter  was 
elected  president  of  the  National  Federation  of  Catholic 
Women’s  Charitable  Organizations,  and  she  is  also 
president  of  the  auxiliary  board  of  Trinity  College,  in 
Washington.  In  the  national  capital  she  is  a member 
and  liberal  supporter  of  the  Catholic  parish  of  St. 
Paul’s  church.  John  Galen  Carter,  the  elder  of  the  two 
sons,  was  born  at  Helena,  on  the  i8th  of  January,  1891, 
and  he  is  now  a member  of  the  class  of  1914  in  George- 
town University,  at  Georgetown,  D.  C.  In  1912  he  re- 
ceived his  first  political  honors  in  Montana,  by  serving 
as  a delegate  to  the  Republican  county  convention  of 
Lewis  and  Clark  countjq  and  as  a delegate  to  the  state 
Republican  convention.  Hugh  Thomas,  the  younger 
son.  was  born  at  Helena  on  the  i8th  of  August,  1^2, 
and  he  likewise  is  a member  of  the  class  of  1914  in 
Georgetown  University. 

John  Walker  Stanton.  During  more  than  a quar- 
ter of  a century  of  active  connection  with  the  bar  of 
Great  Falls,  John  Walker  Stanton  has  attained  a dis- 
tinctive position  as  a lawyer  and  easily  stands  among  the 
leaders  of  his  profession  in  the  state  of  Montana.  His 
career  has  been  one  in  which  his  own  ability  has  played 
a conspicuous  part,  and  he  has  always  relied  upon  the 
forces  of  his  own  mentality  and  character  rather  than 
upon  artifice  or  pretense  for  his  advancement,  and  the 
recognition  of  these  qualities  brought  him  to  his  high 
place  of  esteem  among  the  people  of  Great  Falls  and 
many  other  sections  of  Montana. 

John  Walker  Stanton  was  born  on  a farm  near  Cover- 
dale,  Indiana,  on  March  31,  1861.  His  ancestry,  originally 
English  and  Scotch  Irish,  goes  back  in  America  to  the 
time  of  the  Revolution,  in  which  one  or  more  of  his 
family  took  part  as  soldiers  in  the  Continental  line.  His 
parents  were  Thomas  and  Mary  (Walker)  Stanton. 
His  grandparents  came  from  Virginia,  locating  in  Ten- 
nessee, where  Mr.  Stanton’s  father  lived  until  moving 
to  Indiana.  The  mother  was  born  in  Ohio.  Her 
death  occurred  when  the  son  John  W.  was  seven  years 
old,  and  he  was  still  in  his  teens  when  left  an  orphan 

Vol.  II— 5 


by  the  death  of  his  father.  Fortune  thus  laid  upon  him 
at  an  early  age,  the  necessity  of  providing  for  him- 
self, and  preparing  for  a larger  career  of  usefulness. 
His  education  was  attained  in  the  Indiana  public 
schools,  during  a brief  attendance  at  high  school,  and 
he  studied  in  short  hand  and  business  and  normal 
colleges  for  brief  terms,  but  was  always  his  own 
chief  instructor  in  books.  Brought  up  on  a farm,  he 
had  the  wholesome  and  vigorous  environment  of  country 
life,  and  perhaps  the  most  satisfactory  accomplishment 
of  his  whole  career  has  been  the  fact  that  from  boy- 
hood he  has  done  more  than  pull  his  own  weight. 
While  on  the  farm  he  performed  the  chores  and  other 
duties  while  attending  high  school  two  and  a half 
miles  away,  a distance  which  he  walked  every  day. 

In  April,  1882,  Mr.  Stanton  then  twenty-one  years 
of  age  made  a trip  up  the  Missouri  River  by  steam- 
boat to  old  Fort  Benton.  It  was  this  visit  which  de- 
termined him  to  make  Montana  his  future  home.  Re- 
turning to  the  central  states  he  took  up  the  study  of 
law  in  Indiana  and  Missouri,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  at  Sedalia  in  the  latter  state  January  30,  1886. 
On  August  13,  1886,  having  arrived  in  Montana,  he 
was  admitted  to  practice  before  the  supreme  court 
of  the  territory.  Some  months  later,  in  March,  1887, 
Mr.  Stanton  opened  his  law  office  at  Great  Falls,  and 
has  been  continuously  identified  with  his  profession 
in  that  city  ever  since.  When  Great  Falls  was  in- 
corporated as  a city  in  1887,  he  was  elected  the  first 
city  attorney.  From  May,  1905,  to  the  same  month  in 
igii,  he  again  served  in  that  office.  In  politics  he  has 
voted  the  Democratic  ticket,  since  the  early  eighties, 
and  was  an  influential  factor  during  the  campaigns  of 
Mr.  Bryan  and  Mr.  Wilson  for  the  presidency. 

At  Great  Falls,  September  17,  1891,  occurred  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Stanton  to  Miss  Lulu  Burghardt,  of 
Chicago.  Her  father  was  George  H.  Burghardt,  a 
veteran  of  the  Civil  war  and  now  deceased.  Her 
mother  is  Lucy  A.  Burghardt,  now  a resident  of 
San  Francisco.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stanton  have  a most 
felicitous  home  life,  and  through  twenty-two  years 
they  have  rejoiced  in  the  beauty  of  an  undimmed  matri- 
monial sky.  His  home  has  been  the  object  of  Mr. 
Stanton’s  first  thought  and  care,  and  to  the  companion- 
ship existing  between  himself  and  wife  have  also  been 
added  the  blessing  of  four  chldren,  who  are  still  living: 
Misses  Pansy,  Lucy,  and  Viola,  and  Willard  Quincy 
Stanton.  In  the  winter  of  1912-13  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stan- 
ton traveled  extensively  in  Japan,  China  and  the  Philip- 
pines. The  family  are  members  of  the  First  Congrega- 
tional church  of  Great  Falls.  Fraternally  Mr.  Stanton 
is  well  known  in  the  Orders  of  Masonry,  Woodmen 
of  the  World,  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  the 
Maccabees,  and  especially  among  the  Knights  of 
Pythias.  In  1910  he  attended  the  convention  of  the 
Supreme  Lodge  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  held  at 
Milwaukee,  and  again  at  Denver  in  1912,  as  supreme 
representative  from  Montana.  He  was  a member  of 
important  committees,  and  took  an  active  part  in  the 
affairs  of  the  order,  especially  in  framing  legislation 
for  an  order  which  comprises  seven  hundred  and  sev- 
enty-five thousand  members  in  the  United  States. 

Joseph  N.  Ireland.  With  the  exception  of  the  ac- 
counts of  exploration  and  discovery,  the  operations 
of  the  old  fur-trading  companies  and  similar  activities, 
the  history  of  Idaho’s  substantial  and  real  develop- 
ment might  well  be  condensed  in  a period  of  half  a 
century.  Fifty  years  ago  there  were  only  a military  and 
trading  post  and  a few  mining  camps  and  prospectors 
in  all  the  territory  of  Idaho.  It  is  remarkable,  how- 
ever, that  only  a very  few  living  men  have  been  per- 
sonal witnesses  and  actors  in  this  half-century  era  of 
historical  progress.  Those  who  sought  fortune  and 
adventure  in  Idaho  during  the  early  sixties  were  the 
pioneers  of  pioneers,  and  it  is  with  more  than  ordinary 


916 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


interest  that  the  modern  reader  will  peruse  the  details 
of  a career  which  has  continued  from  that  time  down 
to  the  present.  One  of  these  old  settlers  whose  con- 
temporaries were  the  gold-hunters  who  were  first  at- 
tracted into  Idaho  was  Mr.  Joseph  N.  Ireland,  now 
vice-president  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Pocatello, 
but  in  the  main  living  retired  after  his  long  and  active 
career.  Mr.  Ireland  knew  practically  all  the  early 
men  of  this  country,  and  there  is  no  better  informed 
man  anywhere  concerning  the  history,  the  resources 
and  the  general  character  of  southern  Idaho.  He 
lived  and  had  his  part  in  those  stirring  days,  which 
were  so  remarkable  for  their  individualism  and  also 
for  their  helpful  cooperation,  and  he  not  only  wit- 
nessed but  took  part  in  the  formation  of  those  agencies 
which  were  preliminary  to  the  establishment  of  formal 
Civil  government  in  the  northwest  country. 

Mr.  Ireland  was  born  in  Calvert  county,  Maryland, 
May  15,  1839,  a son  of  Thomas  and  Rebecca  (Wilson) 
Ireland.  The  old  homestead  where  both  father  and 
grandfather  were  born  was  in  Calvert  county,  some 
sixty  miles  below  Baltimore,  and  now  belongs  to  Philip 
Ireland,  a nephew  of  Joseph  N.  Ireland.  The  earlier 
members  of  the  family  gave  service  during  the  Revo- 
lutionary war,  so  that  the  stock  is  long  established 
in  America.  The  father  died  in  1847  at  the  age  of 
fifty  and  the  mother  also  a native  of  Maryland  died 
in  1857,  aged  fifty-seven.  Joseph  N.  Ireland  attended 
the  district  school  near  his  home,  and  at  the  age  of 
fourteen  was  sent  to  Baltimore  to  learn  the  saddlers’ 
trade.  Eight  years  later  he  resolved  that  the  West 
should  furnish  him  his  opportunity  and  by  a long  trip 
across  the  Middle  West  reached  Omaha,  Nebraska. 
That  was  then  the  frontier  outfitting  point  for  travel 
into  the  Northwest.  As  soon  as  possible  he  joined  an 
immigrant  train,  which  left  June  14,  1862,  and  which 
was  three  months  enroute.  When  it  arrived  in  what 
is  now  Bannack  county,  Idaho,  the  party  split  up  and 
Mr.  Ireland,  with  H.  Plendee  and  his  wife,  the  latter 
having  been  the  first  woman  to  go  into  the  mines  of 
Montana  proceeded  to  the  new  diggings.  When  Mr. 
Ireland  and  his  companions  reached  Beaver  Head,  Mon- 
tana, a man  named  William  Gibson  came  to  the  camp 
on  trail  to  advise  them  of  the  discovery  of  gold  by 
himself  and  others  in  a creek  they  named  Grasshopper, 
which  is  now  Bannack,  Montana.  His  object  in  coming 
to  the  trail  was  to  induce  immigrants  to  come  to  the 
camp,  this  he  did  by  posting  a placard  on  the  trail 
giving  the  direction  to  the  mines.  The  destination  of 
immigrants  was  Oregon,  particularly  Florence  on 
Salmon  River  and  Frazier  River,  B.  C.  Buffalo  Gulch 
in  the  Bannack  region  was  named  by  Mr.  Ireland,  and 
he  and  his  companions  got  some  gold  there. 

It  will  be  much  more  interesting  to  follow  Mr. 
Ireland’s  adventures  in  the  new  country  through  the 
medium  of  his  own  reminiscences  covering  the  time 
he  started  West,  until  about  1874  or  1875.  These  recol- 
lections of  an  old  pioneer  present  a very  vivid  account 
of  social  conditions  and  law  and  order  as  maintained  in 
the  early  mining  camps,  and  this  history  of  Idaho  con- 
tains no  more  illuminating  factor  in  those  few  years 
than  the  following  account  from  the  words  of  Mr.  Ire- 
land. He  says : 

“I  crossed  the  plains  in  1862,  left  Omaha,  June  14, 
and  arrived  at  a place  about  twenty  miles  from  where 
Bannack  City,  Montana,  now  is  on  the  twenty-ninth 
of  August.  They  had  just  discovered  gold  there.  One 
of  the  discoverers  came  out  to  the  immigrant  road  and 
struck  our  camp  telling  us  of  the  find,  and  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hendee  and  myself  left  the  outfit  and  went  to  the 
camp.  Montana  did  not  exist,  and  Washington  terri- 
tory at  the  time  extended  as  far  east  as  the  Nebraska 
line.  The  men  who  discovered  the  gold  on  Grass- 
hopper were  Colonel  McClain,  first  delegate  to  congress 
from  the  territory  of  Montana,  Washington  Stapleton, 
William  Gibson,  a man  named  Root  and  another  called 


David,  and  another  whose  name  was  Dance.  Within 
the  next  thirty  days  about  thirty  more  men  came  in. 
About  that  time  the  Bannack  Indians  came  in  on  us, 
about  four  or  five  hundred  warriors,  with  Winnemutta 
as  their  chief.  He  was  the  great  Piute  chief.  The 
most  of  the  Indians  wanted  to  drive  us  out  of  the 
country  or  kill  us,  but  Winnemutta  prevailed  on  them 
to  let  us  go  and  told  them  if  they  killed  us  more  white 
men  would  come  out  to  avenge  our  deaths  than  there 
was  grass  on  the  meadow  where  we  were  then.  We 
parleyed  with  them  about  three  or  four  days,  and  they 
agreed  to  let  us  stay,  providing  we  dig  the  gold  and 
leave  the  country  the  next  year,  and  not  raise  any  wheat 
which  meant  farming  with  the  Indians.  We  had  to 
give  them  the  larger  portions  of  the  supplies  we  had. 
We  invited  them  to  come  back  that  way  in  the  spring, 
and  trade  their  furs  with  us.  During  the  parley  with 
the  Indians,  the  peace-pipe  was  smoked,  Indians  and 
white  men  taking  their  turn  at  the  pipe  as  it  was  passed 
around  the  circle.  There  were  two  or  more  circles 
smoking  at  the  same  time.  The  Indians  were  then 
going  on  a buffalo  hunt  in  the  Yellowstone. 

“In  April  or  May  of  1863  they  came  back,  seeming 
friendly,  and  camped  about  four  or  five  miles  from 
Bannack.  In  the  meantime  Bannack  had  grown  to 
have  a population  of  about  five  hundred,  principally 
men,  among  them  many  tough  characters.  Instead  of 
leaving  the  country  as  we  had  promised,  a band  prin- 
cipally of  these  toughs  was  organized  to  attack  the 
Indians  in  the  night  and  kill  them  all  and  capture 
their  ponies  and  furs.  The  attack  was  to  be  made 
between  twelve  o’clock  and  daylight,  while  they  were 
asleep  in  their  wickiups.  A half-breed  Indian  and  a 
Frenchman  learned  of  the  plan  and  told  the  Indians,  and 
they  were  lying  along  the  Creek  waiting  for  the  at- 
tack. The  leader  of  the  attacking  party  and  most  of 
his  men  got  drunk  before  the  hour  set  for  the  attack 
and  the  plan  fell  through.  The  next  day  the  Indians 
were  a little  shy,  but  some  of  them  came  into  town, 
Buck  Simpson,  Hayes  Lyons,  Skinner  and  others  of 
the  same  kind  (these  men  were  hung  by  the  vigiliant 
committee  the  next  year)  fired  into  the  Indians  on 
the  street  and  killed  two  or  three  of  them,  and  the 
Indians  left  the  country,  killing  one  man  by  the  name 
of  Guy  on  their  way  out. 

“The  winter  of  1862-63  was  a very  dreary  one  in 
Bannack.  One  of  the  first  men  who  came  in  after  the 
Indians  had  taken  our  supplies  was  Mr.  Woodmansee 
of  Salt  Lake,  with  three  or  four  wagonloads  of  pro- 
visions, principally  bacon,  beans,  and  black  flour.  Al- 
though of  poor  quality,  the  people  bought  all  he  had. 
We  built  a few  log  cabins  and  fixed  for  the  winter. 
We  were  snow-bound  from  the  last  of  November  until 
about  April.  A man  named  Hod  Conover  agreed  to 
go  to  Salt  Lake  and  take  the  mail,  if  we  could  assure 
him  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  letters,  at  two  dollars 
and  a half  per  letter.  This  did  not  seem  an  exorbitant 
price.  During  the  winter  a few  stragglers  came  in. 
Poker  playing  was  the  chief  occupation.  Beans  were 
used  for  chips,  and  gold  dust  was  our  money.  The 
monotony  of  the  winter  was  broken  by  the  killing  of 
a man  named  Cleveland,  by  Henry  Plummer.  It  was 
reported  that  Cleveland  was  a horse  thief,  so  nothing 
was  done  with  Plummer.  But  only  twO  or  three  weeks 
later  a man  by  the  name  of  Kossuth  was  killed  and 
three  wounded,  John  Burnett,  Sam  Ellis  and  another. 
The  trouble  came  over  an  Indian  squaw  that  a man 
named  Moore  had  bought,  making  payment  in  a pair  of 
blankets.  The  squaw  went  back  to  her  father,  but 
the  blankets  were  not  returned.  Moore  and  Reeves 
went  in  the  night  to  the  Indian  camp  and  fired  at  the 
tent  and  killed  a white  man,  and  wounded  three  others 
who  had  gone  into  see  what  the  trouble  was  about. 
Before  morning  Moore  and  Reeves  found  that  it  was 
best  for  them  to  leave  the  country,  and  Plummer  got 
alarmed  and  went  with  them.  Walker  Lear  and  a 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


917 


man  named  Higgins  and  one  or  two  others  followed 
them  up.  The  snow  was  so  deep  they  could  not  get 
away  and  Lear  and  Higgins  with  their  companions 
arrested  Moore,  Reeves  and  Plummer  and  brought 
them  back.  A miners’  meeting  was  called  and  a trial 
held  and  they  were  acquired.  After  the  acquittal  they 
spotted  every  man  who  had  had  anything  to  do  with 
their  arrest.  There  seemed  to  be  a general  under- 
standing in  the  country  at  that  time  when  two  people 
had  had  trouble,  and  they  parted,  the  ne.xt  time  they 
met  one  or  the  other  had  to  die,  so  Plummer  and 
Crawford  got  to  carrying  guns  for  each  other.  Craw- 
ford happened  to  get  the  first  chance  and  shot  Plummer 
in  the  arm.  After  Plummer  got  well  Crawford  kept 
himself  concealed  until  he  could  get  out  of  the  country, 
and  never  came  back. 

“There  was  no  law  in  the  country.  If  a man  owed 
you  money  and  did  not  want  to  pay,  you  might  have 
to  collect  it  at  the  muzzle  of  a gun,  and  it  was  often 
done.  In  part,  it  was  the  only  way  to  make  a col- 
lection. Highwaymen  were  numerous,  even  operating 
by  day,  and  warned  their  victims  that  if  they  ‘peached’ 
they  would  meet  death  at  the  hands  of  some  of  the 
band.  Towards  spring  seven  men  started  out  to  pros- 
pect, Bill  Fairweather,  Barney  Hughes,  Tom  Coover, 
Edgar,  Harry  Rodgers,  Bill  Sweeney  and  George  Orr, 
George  Orr  was  taken  sick  and  stopped  at  Deer  Lodge 
with  some  half  breed.  The  others  went  out  to  the 
Yellowstone  country.  The  Indians  took  nearly  everj-- 
thing  they  had  and  drove  them  out  of  the  country. 
On  their  way  back  they  discovered  Alder  Gulch,  said 
to  be  the  richest  gulch  of  placer  mining  that  ever  was 
discovered  in  the  world.  They  prospected  the  gulch 
and  each  man  located  a discovery  claim  of  one  hun- 
dred feet  up  and  down  the  creek  both  sides,  and  one 
hundred  feet  of  a preemption  claim,  thus  giving  each 
man  two  hundred  feet.  These  men  came  back  to 
Bannack  and  told  what  they  had  found  and  on  the 
seventh  of  June,  1863,  they  went  in  with  a stampede 
about  seventy-five  men,  I among  them.  We  all  rushed 
up  the  creek  to  see  who  would  get  the  next  claim. 
As  soon  as  a claim  was  located  the  next  thing  was 
to  get  sluice  boxes  to  wash  the  gold.  Lumber  had 
to  be  sawed  by  hand,  and  cost  fifty  cents  a running 
foot. 

“During  the  summer  people  came  in  from  all  di- 
rections, attracted  by  the  reports  of  the  rich  pros- 
pects, and  by  fall  there  were  at  least  five  thousand 
people  living  here. 

“There  was  a band  of  road-agents  organized  in  1863 
in  Bannack.  A man  by  the  name  of  Dillington  joined 
them  for  the  purpose  of  betraying  them.  He  learned 
they  were  about  to  rob  a man  by  the  name  of  Todd, 
and  informed  the  latter.  Mr.  Tood,  who  knew  some 
of  the  men  belonging  to  this  band  foolishly  asked  them 
if  they  had  intended  to  rob  him.  The  men,  of  course, 
denied  it,  and  asked  him  where  he  got  his  information, 
and  he  said  Dillingham  was  the  source  of  it.  Dilling- 
ham was  in  Alder  Gulch  at  the  time.  The  men  left 
Bannack  and  came  to  Alder  after  him  and  found  him 
sitting  in  a circle  of  men.  I was  in  that  circle.  They 
called  him  out,  saying  they  wanted  to  see  him.  He 
had  hardly  gone  twenty  feet,  when  they  shot  him.  Buck 
Stimpson,  Charlie  Forbes,  and  Hayes  Lyons  were  the 
men  who  called  Dillingham  out  and  shot  him,  Charlie 
Forbes  being  the  man  who  fired  the  fatal  shot.  The 
sheriff  and  the  deputies  were  themselves  all  highway- 
men. The  killers  of  Dillingham  were  arrested,  and 
a miners’  meeting  called.  An  attorney  by  the  name  of 
A.  P.  H.  Smith  defended  and  he  got  the  miners  to 
try  Forbes  by  himself.  Forbes  claiming  to  a Southern 
man  from  New  Orleans  asserted  that  Dillingham  had 
charged  the  former  with  being  a highwayman  which 
was  more  than  this  Southern  gentleman  would  stand. 
The  camps  being  stocked  with  a good  many  Seces- 
sionists who  had  left  Missouri  and  other  states,  the 
sentiment  was  in  favor  of  Forbes,  and  they  cleared 


him.  Then  they  tried  the  other  two  men  and  con- 
victed them,  built  the  scaffold  and  dug  the  grave.  At 
that  point  the  attorney  got  the  miners  to  take  another 
vote.  This  you  remember  was  right  in  sight  of  the 
gallows  and  graves.  In  the  first  point  it  was  claimed  a 
mistake  had  been  made.  When  about  two-thirds  of  the 
vote  had  been  counted  on  the  second  ballot  there 
was  a cry  raised  that  the  prisoners  were  cleared,  and 
in  the  excitement  the  outlaws  were  put  on  horses  and 
rode  out  of  the  country. 

“I  left  Alder  Gulch  in  the  fall  and  came  to  Bannack, 
and  just  after  I reached  there  the  miners  hung  a little 
Irishman  for  killing  a man  named  Keeley.  The  Irish- 
man had  committed  the  murder  for  money.  In  Alder 
Gulch  a man  named  George  Ives  killed  a young  fellow 
for  his  money,  and  the  miners’  meeting  convened  and 
hung  Ives  and  on  the  strength  of  this  affair  a vigilance 
committee  was  formed  that  winter  and  twenty-five  or 
thirty  of  these  highwaymen  were  hung.  Among  them 
was  the  sheriff,  Henry  Plummer,  Deputy  Sheriff  Jack 
Gallagher,  Skinner,  Buck  Stimpson,  Hayes  Lawrence, 
Ned  Ray,  Boone  Hellem,  Bill  Hunter.  A Mexican  was 
shot  to  death  by  the  vigilantes  for  killing  one  of  their 
number.  After  shooting  the  Mexican  they  pulled  down 
his  cabin  and  put  his  body  on  the  pile,  set  fire  to  them 
all,  and  burned  the  whole  thing.  Slade  was  also  hung, 
but  he  was  not  a highwayman,  but  a dangerous  man 
in  the  community.” 

In  the  meantime  having  accumulated  a considerable 
fortune  in  nuggets  and  free  gold,  Mr.  Ireland  in  the 
fall  of  1863  returned  to  Omaha,  he  and  his  partners 
driving  a wagon  overland  to  Salt  Lake  City,  and  thence 
east  to  Omaha,  where  the  proceeds  of  their  ventures 
were  carefully  deposited.  In  the  spring  of  1864  Air. 
Ireland  once  more  went  into  the  western  country  and 
located  at  Fort  Hall,  which  was  the  first  military  post 
in  Idaho  territory,  having  been  established  in  i86g. 
Here  once  more  we  take  up  the  personal  narrative  and 
description  of  his  own  adventures  and  conditions  in 
Idaho  territory  for  the  next  year  or  so. 

“The  first  government  stage  was  put  on  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1864  to  carry  the  mail  from  Salt  Lake  to  Alon- 
tana,  and  from  Fort  Hall  to  Boise.  It  was  called  the 
main  line  to  Alontana,  and  to  Boise  was  a branch  line. 
There  had  been  a private  mail  line  'from  Alontana 
to  Salt  Lake  owned  by  Oliver  and  Conover,  but  when 
the  government  line  was  put  on  they  took  their  stages 
off  and  ran  them  to  different  camps  in  Montana.  The 
government  contract  was  let  to  Ben  Holliday.  The 
first  stage  robbery  was  near  Pocatello  in  1863.  The 
station  was  on  Pocatello  Creek  and  about  two  miles 
south  of  the  creek  in  a little  hollow  the  robbery  oc- 
curred. The  robbers  were  led  by  a man  named  Brocky 
Jack.  They  got  about  six  or  seven  thousand  dollars 
from  the  passengers.  .A.  man  named  Jack  Hughes 
from  Denver  had  most  of  the  money.  Hughes  com- 
plained to  Brocky  Jack  that  not  enough  had  been  left 
him  to  pa}-  for  his  meals  back  to  Denver,  so  Brocky 
Jack  very  liberally  returned  him  twenty  dollars  in 
order  to  get  home. 

“The  first  winter  after  the  establishment  of  the 
government  stage  line  there  was  a great  deal  of  trouble 
in  getting  the  mail  through.  The  contract  for  building 
the  station  on  the  Boise  branch  and  putting  up  the 
hay  for  the  winter  was  left  to  James  Lockett  for  so 
many  dollars  per  ton,  and  so  many  dollars  for  the 
building  of  each  station.  Lockett  was  a hard-working 
industrious  man.  When  the  paymaster  from  the  East 
came  along  he  paid  Lockett  in  greenback  dollars,  which 
at  that  time  were  worth  but  forty-five  cents  on  the 
dollar  in  New  York,  and  in  this  country  they  were 
used  only  as  curiosities,  men  lighting  their  cigars  with 
them,  and  pasting  them  up’  over  the  bars  and  similar 
facetious  uses  of  them  were  made.  Getting  paid  in 
greenbacks  cut  down  Lockett's  price  more  than  half. 
The  result  of  that  settlement  was  that  Lockett  and  his 
friends  burned  up  the  hay  at  the  stations,  so  that  there 


918 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


was  nothing  for  the  stock  to  eat,  and  the  carrying  of 
the  mail  to  Boise  failed  on  that  account.  Most  of 
the  men  remained  on  the  road  and  took  care  of  the 
stock  as  best  they  could,  but  there  was  no  provisions 
for  them  and  they  had  to  live  on  the  barley  which 
had  been  brought  in  for  the  mules.  There  were  some 
game  that  could  have  been  gotten  if  the  men  had  been 
prepared  to  hunt,  but  most  of  them  only  had  six- 
shooters.  On  the  mainline  to  Montana  they  got  through 
a stage  occasionally.  The  Indians  were  not  on  the 
war  path,  but  they  stole  a good  many  mules  to  kill  and 
eat.  The  snow  was  not  so  deep  hut  that  a mule  or 
horse  could  pick  his  living,  but  the  range  was  so  poor 
that  the  mules  would  not  be  strong  enough  to  pull 
a stage.  There  were  two  Indians  who  pretended  to  be 
friendly,  and  said  they  would  tell  the  whites  when 
the  Indians  were  coming  to  steal,  but  in  reality  they 
were  spies.  These  Indians  hung  around  King  Hill 
Station  on  Snake  River,  where  Tom  Oakley  stayed 
most  of  the  winter.  The  Redmen  were  about  the  sta- 
tion a good  deal,  and  finally  one  day  while  he  still  had 
some  beans  left,  Tom  was  boiling  some  for  dinner,  and 
when  they  were  about  half  done  they  scorched.  He 
was  about  to  throw  them  out  when  an  Indian  came 
and  he  gave  them  to  the  latter.  The  Indian  gorged 
himself,  and  in  about  two  hours  died  of  indigestion. 

“In  the  spring  Pete  McManis,  the  division  agent,  came 
through  from  Boise,  trying  to  get  the  mail  through. 
When  he  reached  King  Hill,  he  told  the  assistant 
division  agent  Oakley  to  go  along  with  him.  A man 
called  Yank  and  myself  were  at  Iving  Ilill  that  winter, 
and  we  were  to  follow  them,  but  first  Oakley  told  Yank 
to  take  the  oxen  and  haul  out  a wagon  that  had  mired 
down  near  the  camp  the  fall  before.  Yank  took  the 
oxen  and  in  trying  to  get  out  the  wagon  they  mired 
down.  Oakley  saw  from  the  road  what  had  happened 
and  came  back  to  the  station.  In  the  meantime  the 
other  Indian,  of  the  two  spies,  had  come  in  with  a 
prairie  hen  that  he  wanted  to  trade  for  something.  I 
told  him  to  see  Oakley,  I was  not  the  station  agent. 
Oakley  came  up  just  then  vexed  at  having  to  come 
back  and  told  the  Indian  to  get  out  of  the  door.  The 
latter  did  not  move,  and  Oakley  took  him  by  the  lapel 
of  the  coat  and  jerked  him  out.  The  men  in  the  stage 
called  to  him  to  shoot  the  Indian,  and  Oakley  pulled 
out  his  gun  and  was  going  to  do  so,  but  I said  ‘don't 
kill  him,’  and  he  put  up  his  gun  and  told  the  Indian 
to  get  off  the  place.  The  Indian  went  very  sulkily,  and 
the  witnesses  once  more  called  out,  ‘Why  don't  you 
kill  him?’  and  then  Oakley  pulled  out  his  gun  and  shot 
the  Indian  dead.  Just  at  that  moment  the  oxen  came 
up  with  the  log  chain  dragging  behind  them,  having 
e.xtricated  themselves'  out  of  the  mudhole.  Oakley  said, 
‘Here  Yank  put  the  log  chain  around  the  Indian’s 
neck,  and  drag  him  away  from  the  station.’  Yank 
obeyed  orders,  and  hitched  on  the  oxen  and  dragged 
the  body  off.  It  was  all  done  as  if  it  was  a matter  of 
business.  Oakley  was  not  a bad  man,  but  he  hated 
a thief,  and  ke  knew  these  Indians  were  stealing  the 
mules  or  helping  other  Indians  to  steal  tiiem. 

“In  1865  the  stage  line  was  changed  from  over  Bannack 
Mountain  to  Portneuf  Canyon,  and  in  the  fall  a stage 
robbery  occurred  in  Portneuf  Canyon,  at  which  sixty- 
thousand  dollars  was  obtained  by  the  robbers  and 
four  men  were  killed  and  one  wounded.  Lockett  de- 
termined to  get  even  with  Holliday  on  account  of  being 
paid  in  greenbacks  instead  of  gold  for  building  the 
stage  stations,  and  providing  the  hay  for  the  stage  lines. 
Holliday  had  a partner  named  William  L.  Halsey,  a 
banker  of  Salt  Lake.  Llalsey  was  expected  to  go 
through  on  the  stage  from  Helena  to  Salt  Lake,  taking 
with  him  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars  in 
money.  Lockett  resolved  to  rob  the  stage  the  day 
Halsey  was  on.  The  driver  stood  in  with  Lockett  and 
was  to  give  the  information  as  to  when  Halsey  would 
be  through.  Halsey  feared  he  would  be  robbed  and 
hurried  through  the  stages  he  was  on  until  he  got 


twelve  hours  ahead  of  schedule.  The  robbers  not  look- 
ing for  him  so  early,  he  and  his  treasure  escaped  with- 
out danger.  Lockett  being  disappointed  in  this  venture, 
determined  then  to  rob  the  stage  when  there  was  an- 
other lot  of  money  on  board.  There  was  a St.  Louis 
firm  that  had  a branch  business  in  Helena.  One  of 
the  partners  had  been  killed  by  another  man  named 
McCausland,  and  the  other  St.  Louis  partner,  David 
Dinan  came  out  to  settle  up  matters  and  bring  back 
the  money.  It  was  known  that  a large  sum  was  handled, 
and  the  stage  driver  notified  Lockett  of  the  coming! 
When  the  stage  reached  a narrow  place  in  the  canyon 
about  twelve  or  fifteen  miles  south  of  Pocatello,  the 
robbers  who  were  hidden  in  the  willows  held  up  the 
stage.  The  passengers  were  all  sitting  with  their  guns 
pointing  out  of  the  stage,  and  as  soon  as  they  saw  the 
robbers  they  shot  over  them,  and  then  the  highwaymen 
began  firing  and  killed  McCausland,  Dinan  and  Law- 
rence Merse.  The  fourth  man  I do  not  recall  by  name. 
Ihe  driver,  of  course,  was  uninjured  and  none  of  the 
robbers  were  hurt.  There  were  five  in  the  gang. 
Frank  Williams  was  the  driver,  .and  one  of  the  passen- 
gers named  Carpenter  escaped  without  injury.” 

When  Mr.  Ireland  returned  to  Idaho  in  the  spring 
of  1864,  he  became  one  of  the  contractors  for  Ben 
Holliday,  and  helped  to  build  the  first  stage  station 
along  the  Holliday  line.  The  most  noted  of  these  was 
Fort  Flail,  two  miles  from  which  site  had  previously 
stood  the  old  Hudson’s  Bay  Company’s  post.  He  was 
engaged  more  or  less  in  this  building  and  contracting 
from  1864  to  1870,  and  then  got  into  the  cattle  business, 
and  he  was  one  of  the  first  cattlemen  in  this  section 
of  Idaho.  The  first  cattle  that  he  used  in  stocking  the 
range  were  driven  up  from  Texas,  and  were  the  typical 
Texas  longhorn.  Mr,  Ireland  became  successful  as  a 
cattle  raiser,  and  afterwards  sold  hundreds  of  head  to 
Mr.  Swift  of  the  Swift  Packing  Company. 

Probably  no  other  living  resident  of  Idaho  has  a 
longer  and  broader  view  of  the  basic  industrial  activity 
whicfi  have  made  the  wealth  of  the  Gem  State  than 
Mr.  Ireland.  Fortunate  in  his  early  mining  adventures, 
and  meeting  with  similar  success  in  ranching  he  con- 
tinued to  give  his  personal  superintendence  to  his  large 
interests  in  stock  and  lands  until  1905,  when  failing 
eyesight  caused  him  to  retire.  For  thirty  years  the 
home  and  business  headquarters  of  Mr.  Ireland  were 
at  Malad  City,  where  all  his  children  were  born.  He 
sold  his  ranch  there  more  than  twenty  years  ago,  and 
about  fifteen  years  ago  bought  stock  in  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Pocatello.  In  1905  he  moved  to  the 
latter  city,  and  took  the  place  of  vice  president  in 
the  list  of  officers  of  the  bank.  Soon  after  moving  to 
Pocatello  he  was  elected  as  vice  president  of  the  bank, 
became  a director  in  the  Standrod  and  Company  State 
Bank  of  Blackfoot,  a director  in  the  J.  N.  Ireland  & 
Company  State  Bank  in  Malad,  is  a director  in  the 
Commercial  National  Bank  at  Ogden,  Utah,  and  has 
stock  in  other  banks.  Mr.  Ireland’s  first  marriage  was 
celebrated  in  1877  at  Baltimore  when  Miss  Virginia 
Yateman  became  his  wife.  She  died  at  Malad,  Idaho, 
in  1888,  leaving  two  daughters,  Mrs.  John  P.  Congdon 
of  Boise,  who  was  born  in  Malad  in  1878  and  has  two 
children,  John  Ireland  Congdon  and  Nathaniel  Ward 
Congdon;  and  Ethelinda,  now  Mrs.  Dr.  Frank  Sprague, 
born  at  Malad  in  1888,  and  a resident  of  Bellingham, 
Washington.  Mr.  Ireland  was  married  the  second  time 
at  Baltimore  in  October,  1905,  to  Miss  Phillipina  Stans- 
bury.  His  church  is  the  Methodist.  He  has  always 
been  a Republican  in  politics,  and  during  the  territorial 
period  served  as  a member  of  the  Idaho  legislature. 

Ela  Collins  Waters.  The  lives  of  few  Montana 
citizens  contain  so  much  of  dramatic  interest  as  that 
of  Ela  Collins  Waters,  who  for  more  than  thirty  years 
has  played  the  part  of  a man  of  big  affairs  in  this  state. 
His  record  is  a true  human  document,  and  illustrates 
much  that  has  been  characteristic  of  the  period  of  en- 


; 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


919 


terprise  and  action  which  filled  in  the  half  century  from 
the  Civil  war  to  modern  times. 

Ela  Collins  Waters  was  born  IMay  5.  1849,  at  Martins- 
burg,  Lewis  county,  New  York.  His  father,  Homer 
Collins  Waters,  was  a farmer  and  stock  raiser  in  early 
life  and  later  on  in  the  lumber  business  at  Fond  du 
Lac,  Wisconsin.  His  mother's  maiden  name  was  Ade- 
line Rockwell,  who  was  born  in  Connecticut.  She  was 
a descendant  of  Jonathan  Trumbull.  The  family  moved 
out  to  Fond  du  Lac,  Wisconsin,  in  1849,  where  the 
mother  married  a second  time  several  years  after  the 
death  of  Mr.  Waters,  becoming  the  wife  of  William  M. 
Alsever.  There  were  five  Waters  children  and  two 
Alsevers,  the  family  being  named : Kelsey  Theodore, 
Ela  Collins,  Josephine  Arvilla,  Emma  Augusta  and 
Homer  Merton.  The  two  Alsever  children  were  Mon- 
roe and  Adeline. 

The  education  of  IVIr.  Waters  was  obtained  in  the 
public  schools  at  Fond  du  Lac  until  1864.  After  his 
return  from  the  war  he  attended  Ripon  College  and  a 
select  school  where  he  studied  the  primary  grammar 
and  college  courses,  such  as  Latin,  history,  algebra, 
etc.,  but  left  school  before  graduating.  By  his  elders 
young  Waters  was  called  a wild,  headstrong  boy,  who 
would  rather  play  than  study.  His  mind  was  more  on 
marbles,  kite  flying,  swimming,  and  raising  chickens 
than  on  books,'  though  he  could  learn  easily  enough 
when  he  applied  his  mind  to  the  task.  He  was  very 
much  afraid  that  something  might  happen  which  he 
would  not  see.  As  a boy  he  was  somewhat  pugnacious. 
He  was  expelled  from  school  many  times  for  these 
traits.  He  could  never  keep  still  in  school,  and  it  is 
still  one  of  his  physical  characteristics. 

He  was  turned  out  of  school  during  the  winter  of 
1863-64  and  enlisted  in  the  army,  but  was  declined,  since 
he  was  a very  slim  lad.  In  the  spring  of  1864  he  went 
in  as  a drummer  boy  and  was  accepted,  being  mustered 
in  on  April  15,  1864,  and  serving  until  the  end  of  the 
war.  The  colonel  of  the  regiment  offered  him  for  his 
meritorious  conduct  a lieutenancy,  which  he  refused  be- 
fore he  was  sixteen  years  of  age.  In  an  account  writ- 
ten and  published  in  a Wisconsin  paper.  Colonel  Pier 
after  assigning  credit  to  various  other  men  in  his  regi- 
ment concluded  with  the  assertion  “a  braver  lad  than 
Ela  Waters  never  lived.”  The  lieutenant  of  his  com- 
pany (A.  A.  Dye)  in  a letter  which  is  somewhat  con- 
densed in  form  for  publication  here  wrote : “Captain 
E.  C.  Waters  of  Fond  du  Lac,  Wisconsin,  served  in 
my  company,  ‘A’  ThirW-eighth  Wisconsin  'Volunteer 
Infantry,  during  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  and  he  was 
an  unusually  brave  and  faithful  soldier.  Although  a 
musician  and  not  required  to  bear  arms,  he  went  into 
every  fight  and  carried  a musket  in  every  engagement  in 
which  the  regiment  participated. 

“I  well  remember  that  on  March  25,  1865,  when 
General  Lee  endeavored  to  break  through  our  lines  in 
front  of  Petersburg  and  opened  a terrific  engagement 
by  the  capture  of  Fort  Stedman,  that  young  Waters 
got  permission  of  our  captain  to  go  to  that  part  of  our 
line,  some  four  miles  to  our  right,  and  that  he  carried 
a gun  and  fought  on  the  firing  line  until  the  fort  was 
recaptured.  Though  only  fourteen  years  of  age  he  did 
the  service  of  a grown  soldier  and  was  always  faithful 
and  brave.  No  one  can  doubt  that  he  deserves  well 
at  the  hands  of  a government  he  so  faithfully  served 
at  that  trying  period.” 

His  career  during  the  succeeding  years  will  be  told 
largely  in  the  words  in  which  i\Ir.  Waters  described  it 
to  the  interviewer,  since  his  own  language  is  more  in- 
esting  than  any  paraphrase  could  be : “After  leaving 

Ripon  College  I was  in  the  sewing  machine  business 
for  a year.  Made  $2,400  and  spent  $3,200  and  was  in 
debt  $800  at  the  end  of  the  year.  I also  bought  cattle 
and  sheep,  froze  them  up  and  shipped  them  to 
northern  Michigan  and  made  money.  Then  I went  to 
Cheyenne,  Wyoming,  in  1868.  From  a bed  of  sick- 
ness (mountain  fever)  I loaned  my  supposed  friend 


from  my  home  $250,  all  the  money  I had.  He  imme- 
diately took  the  train  for  Frisco  and  left  me  there 
penniless,  and  I was  glad  to  pawn  what  I had  in  order 
to  live  until  I recovered  my  health  and  strength,  which 
I did,  and  worked  for  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad  Com- 
pany building  snow  sheds.  I made  some  money,  paid 
up  my  debts,  and  in  the  spring  of  1869  with  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-five  other  men  started  for  the  Big 
Horn  mountains  to  gather  gold  by  the  cartload  at  or 
near  the  Last  Cabin  Claim  if  we  could  find  it.  The 
Indians  were  bad  that  year,  and  they  corralled  the  outfit 
in  the  Wind  River  valley,  where  they  held  our  outfit 
for  some  time  until  the  United  States  government  sent 
troops  who  helped  drive  the  Indians  off.  I was  shot 
in  the  leg  and  taken  back  to  Cheyenne,  where  I re- 
mained in  the  hospital  for  some  time.  Finally  the  bul- 
let was  extracted  and  I returned  to  Fond  du  Lac,  a 
poorer  but  somewhat  wiser  man. 

“Then  I was  clerk  in  a hotel  at  Beloit,  Wisconsin,  the 
Goodwin  House,  for  the  very  enticing  salary  of  $16.00 
per  month,  and  came  on  duty  at  9:30  A.  M.  and  went 
off  duty  at  3.00  A.  M.,  getting  about  five  or  five  and  a 
half  hours’  sleep  daily.  This  was  while  my  foot  and 
leg  was  getting  well  and  strong  from  the  effects  of 
the  revolver  bullet.  Then  I secured  a position  on  the 
Chicago  Board  of  Trade,  which  I held  for  a time,  when 
a letter  from  my  dear  mother  informed  me  of  the  ill- 
ness of  my  stepfather  wdth  fever  and  urged  me  to  come 
home  and  assist  in  caring  for  him,  which  I did,  car- 
ing for  him  seven  weeks,  most  of  the  time  night  and 
day,  as  well  as  for  the  other  members  of  the  family, 
who  were  down  with  the  same  fever.  My  stepfather 

died  January  i,  1870,  and  gave  into  my  care  his  only 

living  child.  Adeline  Alsever,  who  was  then  about 

three  and  a half  years  old,  and  he  asked  me  to  care  for 
and  educate  her,  which  I did. 

“I  then  went  traveling  on  the  road  for  the  Menasha 
Woodenware  Company,  selling  woodenware.  They 
failed  after  I had  been  with  them  about  a year  and 
three  months.  I then  went  with  a New  York  tea  house, 
and  finally  became  interested  in  the  company.  For  the 
last  few  years  there  I made  from  $7,000  to  $9,000 

per  year.  In  1882  I went  to  Glendive,  Montana,  and 
with  Mr.  Antone  Klaus  (one  of  God’s  noblemen)  built 
the  Morrell  House,-  a hotel  that  cost  nearly  $30,000.  I 
bought  out  Mr.  Klaus  in  1884  or  1885.  In  the  mean- 
time I was  also  in  the  cattle  business  in  the  eastern  part 
of  Dawson  county,  and  my  cattle  and  Roosevelt’s  cattle 
were  running  some  of  them  on  the  same  range.  In 
the  spring  of  1885  I opened  the  Headquarters  Hotel  at 
Billings,  Montana,  and  ran  the  two  hotels  until  the 
fall  of  188s,  when  my  hotel  at  Glendive  burned,  I los- 
ing $27,300.  In  the  fall  of  1886  I was  elected  to  rep- 
resent Yellowstone  and  Dawson  counties  in  the  upper 
house  of  the  Montana  legislature,  and  during  that  win- 
ter of  1886-87  we  had  the  hard  winter,  and  I lost  a 
large  number  of  cattle,  which  meant  the  loss  of  a large 
amount  of  money.  During  that  same  winter  I was 
elected  as  department  commander  of  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic  of  Montana.” 

In  1887  began  the  phase  of  Mr.  'Waters’  career  which 
proved  the  climax  of  his  business  experience  and  brings 
his  life  down  to  the  present  time.  In  1887  he  was 
made  general  manager  of  the  Yellowstone  Park  Associa- 
tion, vdiich  association  controlled  the  hotel  and  trans- 
portation business  in  the  Yellowstone  National  Park,  this 
company  conducting  eight  hotels  in  the  park.  As  gen- 
eral manager  of  this  association  and  eventually  part 
owner  in  the  transportation  company,  which  he  helped 
organize,  Mr.  Waters  was  closelv  identified  with  the 
entire  business  and  also  put  the  first  steamboat  on  the 
Yeljowstone  Lake.  After  several  years  he  gave  up  the 
position  of  general  manager  and  became  president  of 
the  Yellowstone  Lake  Boat  Company,  and  directed  the 
fortunes  of  that  company  until  the  fall  of  1908.  He 
also  owned  one-third  of  the  Wyler  Company  and  as- 
sisted in  organizing  said  company. 


920 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


In  1907  he  was  offered  $300,000  for  the  property 
and  franchise  of  the  boat  company.  The  privilege  of 
carrying  on  the  business  was  of  course  derived  from 
the  federal  government,  whose  consent  had  to  be  se- 
cured for  a continuance  of  the  franchise  under  a new 
lease  at  the  expiration  of  the  old  lease.  Mr.  Waters 
wrote  the  interior  department  and  to  President  Roose- 
velt requesting  permission  to  sell  the  boat  company 
property,  but  never  received  any  reply  to  his  com- 
munication. The  refusal  of  Mr.  Roosevelt  and  the 
secretary  of  the  interior  to  give  any  recognition  to 
the  request  of  Mr.  Waters  for  the  transfer  of  the  ! 
franchise  to  the  proposed  purchasers  caused  the  sale 
to  fall  through.  There  was  a clause  in  the  boat  com- 
pany's lease  about  as  follows : “At  the  end  of  ten  years, 
if  so  authorized  by  law,  the  secretary  of  the  interior, 
acting  for  the  United  States  government,  may  purchase 
the  property  of  the  Yellowstone  Lake  Boat  Company, 
price  to  be  fixed  by  three  appraisers,  one  chosen  by 
the  government,  one  by  the  boat  company,  and  the 
third  selected  by  the  two  so  chosen.  If  they  do  not 
purchase  the  property  of  the  Yellowstone  Lake  Boat 
Company,  they  will  extend  this  lease  for  a period  not 
exceeding  ten  years  with  all  the  privileges  in  the  new 
lease  contained  in  the  old  contract.”  The  facts  in  the 
case  showed  that  the  administration  refused  either  to 
renew  the  lease  or  fulfill  the  terms  of  the  contract  thus 
stated,  and  ordered  the  company  to  remove  its  -prop- 
erty from  the  park.  The  entire  equipment  of  boats, 
docks,  etc.,  at  once  became  so  much  dead  capital.  It 
is  the  opinion  of  Mr.  Waters,  based  upon  a large 
amount  of  detailed  evidence  that  cannot  be  reported 
here,  that  the  party  seeking  to  get  control  of  the  whole 
of  the  transportation  business  in  the  park  and  standing 
in  the  favor  of  officials  of  the  federal  government, 
used  their  influence  to  discontinue  the  boat  company’s 
franchise,  and  thus  force  a sale  of  the  property  at  a 
figure  far  below  its  cost  value.  Mr.  Waters  carried 
on  a futile  fight  for  his  propertv  and  former  franchise 
rights  with  the  officials  of  two  administrations,  but  in 
the  end  was  forced  to  accept  $50,000  for  the  property, 
whose  original  cost  had  been  about  $250,000,  and  for 
which  he  had  once  been  offered  $,too,ooo.  . 

After  these  disastrous  conclusions  of  the  negotia- 
tions, and  when  the  $50,000  had  been  applied  to  satisfy 
the  boat  company’s  creditors,  Mr.  Waters  was  left 
financially  worth  less  than  nothing,  and  had  to  wit- 
ness the  accumulations,  of  a lifetime  swept  away  by 
what  he  considered  a monumental  act  of  injustice.  He 
says ; “I  was  not  allowed  to  see  any  charges  made 
against  me  or  the  boat  company  under  Roosevelt’s  ad- 
ministration, and  not  until  the  Taft  administration 
came  was  I permitted  to  see  them.  Mr.  Taft  made 
the  statement  in  writing  to  Secretary  Ballinger  (so  I 
was  informed  by  Taft’s  personal  friend)  “that  he 
wanted  him  to  see  that  Mr.  Waters  had  absolute  jus- 
tice,” and  at  that  time,  I believe,  he  meant  what  he  said, 
but  when  he  became  informed  of  the  powerful  com- 
bination against  me  he  stated  to  Mr.  Nicholas  Long- 
worth  (so  Mr.  Waters  was  informed)  “that  $50,000 
was  enough  for  us  to  get  for  our  plant.” 

To  those  who  follow  the  remarkable  vicissitudes  of 
Mr.  Waters  in  this  fight,  it  will  be  interesting  to  know 
that  one  of  the  most  eminent  lawyers  and  public  men 
in  America  took  up  the  matter,  unknown  to  Mr. 
Waters,  and  used  his  brilliant  ability  in  an  endeavor 
to  secure  what  he  believed  was  but  simple  justice  for 
this  old  Montana  veteran.  The  lawyer  in  question  was 
Congressman  W.  Bourke  Cochran  of  New  York  City. 
Mr.  Cochran  made  a thorough  study  of  all  the  docu- 
ments and  evidences  in  the  case,  and  wrote  two  letters 
to  the  then  president,  Mr.  Roosevelt.  These  letters 
are  of  course  too  long  to  be  included  or  quoted  suffi- 
ciently to  indicate  the  trend  of  the  argument,  but  the 
following  random  paragraphs  are  inserted  without  fur- 
ther comment.  The  first  reads : “Your  love  of  a square 


deal,”  Mr.  Cochran  thus  opened  his  letter  to  the  presi- 
dent, “which  I have  appreciated  for  nearly  a genera- 
tion and  which  the  whole  world  has  learned  to  admire 
during  the  last  decade,  encourages  me  to  bring  before 
you  what  I regard  as  a grave  injustice  perpetrated — at 
least  contemplated — by  the  government  through  its 
Interior  Department  against  a deserving  man  and  vet- 
ieran  of  the  Civil  war.”  Then  in  a subsequent  letter 
. appears  the  following : “All  the  testimony  shows  that 
the  transportation  company  and  the  officers  of  the 
United  States  army  concurred  in  wishing  to  drive  him 
(Mr.  Waters)  from  the  park.  Whether  their  atti- 
tude in  this  respect  was  just  or  unjust,  it  is  undeniable 
that  for  a long  time  he  has  stood  alone,  weak,  poor 
and  aged,  defending  his  possessions  and  his  prospects 
against  what  he  concedes  to  be  a combination  of  hos- 
tility among  army  officers  and  greed  of  the  transpor- 
tation company.  Where  a man  is  condemned  by  the 
unanimous  or  overwhelming  sentiments  of  his  own 
neighborhood,  I am  always  ready  to  accept  the  judg- 
ment of  the  community  as  infallible.  But  Waters  is 
the  object  of  sympathy,  not  condemnation,  by  his  own 
neighborhood.  The  men  who  dislike  him  and  con- 
demn him  are  not  permanent,  but  temporary,  residents 
of  the  park.  Humbler  folks  who  live  and  labor  there, 
drivers  of  stages,  subordinate  porters  of  hotels,  hos- 
tlers and  hall-boys  were  unanimous,  so’ far  as  I could 
discover,  in  expressing  sympathy  for  Waters.  Cap- 
tain Waters  says:  That  it  was  publicly  stated  that 
Major  Pitcher,  superintendent  of  the  park,  or  his  wife, 
was  interested  in  the  hotel  or  transportation  company 
or  both.  Thus,  his  hostility  to  the  boat  company.” 

Mr.  Cochran  further  says : “This  attitude  of  dislike 
apparently  was  passed  on  to  his  successors,  each  of 
whom  seems  to  have  regarded  it  as  a feature  of  duty 
of  his  position. 

“Thus,  under  date  of  August  16, 1909,  Captain  Pitcher, 
acting  superintendent  of  the  park,  in  an  indorse- 
ment says  of  certain  statements  to  Captain  Waters, 
referred  to  him  by  the  Interior  Department,  T will 
simply  say  that  they  are  absolutely  false,  and  Mr. 
Waters  knew  they  were  false  when  he  made  them.’ 
(See  Ex.  J. ) 

“Captain  Waters  says  he  can  prove  the  truth  of  any 
statement  he  ever  made  to  the  department  or  any 
superintendent  of  the  park  that  Pitcher  is  not  sup- 
ported by  all  his  predecessors  in  his  statement.  I 
think  he  is  not  supported  by  any  of  them. 

“On  October  5,  1904,  the  same  officer  wrote : 

" T believe  I have  recommended  to  the  department 
that  the  Yellowstone  Park  Transportation  Company 
be  required  to  put  a steamboat  on  the  lake,  to  be  run 
in  connection  with  their  stages.  I now  strongly  repeat 
this  recommendation,  as  this  is  the  simplest  means  by 
which  the  department  can  rid  itself  of  Mr.  Waters  and 
his  boat  company.’ 

“June  6,  1903,  he  again  recommends  that  competition 
be  allowed  in  the  boat  service  for  the  express  purpose 
Of  driving  Waters  from  the  park.  (See  Ex.  i.) 

“On  August  18,  1902,  Major  Pit-cher  addressed  a letter 
to  Waters  formally  prohibiting  him  from  asking  any 
person  to  take  passage  on  his  vessel,  in  these  terms 

“ ‘You  are  hereby  directed  to  henceforth  wholly  desist 
from  soliciting  any  patronage  or  in  any  manner  pre- 
senting your  business  to  any  tourists  upon  the  grounds 
or  within  the  tents  or  buildings  of  the  Yellowstone 
Park  Association  at  the  Thumb  Station,  or  the  Lake- 
Hotel.’  (See  Ex.  J.) 

“As  the  Lake  Hotel  and  the  Thumb  Station  are  the 
terminals  of  the  boat  service  and  therefore  the  only 
place  at  which  Waters  could  secure  any  passengers,  this 
order  in  effect  was  a direction  that  he  abandon  his  busi- 
ness. Unless  he  accosted  passengers  personally,  they 
would  never  be  likely  to  hear  of  his  service,  or  to 
know  that  a passage  on  the  lake  by  boat  was  open  to 
them. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


921 


“As  you  are  doubtless  aware,  nearly  every  visitor  to 
the  park  travels  on  a single  ticket  embracing  several 
coupons  covering  transportation  between  the  different 
points  of  interest,  together  with  hotel  accommodation 
at  the  different  stopping  places.  On  none  of  these 
tickets  is  there  any  mention  of  the  lake  trip  by  way  of 
Waters’  boat.  Passengers  are  never  likely  to  learn  of 
it,  unless  some  agent  of  the  steamboat  meets  them  at 
Thumb  and  urges  them  to  purchase  tickets.  I speak 
from  personal  knowledge.  My  own  party  would  never 
have  crossed  the  lake  by  boat — and  the  very  best  feat- 
ure of  our  trip  to  Yellowstone  Park  would  have  been 
missed  completely — if  it  had  not  been  for  the  personal 
meeting  with  Captain  Waters. 

“Under  Major  Pitcher's  order,  therefore,  Captain 
Waters  must  either  sacrifice  his  business  by  refraining 
from  doing  the  one  thing  through  which  it  could  be 
kept  alive,  or  it  would  be  destroyed  forcibly  by  his 
ejection  from  the  park.  Is  it  extraordinary  that  such 
an  order  should  have  been  interpreted  by  Captain 
Waters  as  an  attempt  to  paralyze  his  business,  with  a 
view  of  having  it  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  transporta- 
lion  company?  Very  likely  he  indulged  in  strong 
language  and  possibly  he  may  have  sought  a motive 
for  what  he  conceived  to  be  persecution  in  some  as- 
sumed understanding  between  the  author  of  this  notice 
and  the  corporation  which  would  be  enriched  by  tlie 
ruin  which  its  enforcement  must  produce.  This  may 
all  be  a source  of  regret,  but  not  of  surprise. 

“Moreover,  it  must  be  remembered  that  Waters,  as 
we  have  seen,  was  not  the  only  one  among  these  war- 
ring elements  to  use  heated  or  intemperate  words. 
Whatever  Waters  may  have  been  tempted  to  say  or 
do  under  what  he  believed  to  be  great  provocation,  he 
could  scarcely  have  exceeded  the  vehemence  of  ex- 
pression which  characterizes  the  language  of  army 
officers  with  respect  to  him,  or  the  violence  of  Major 
Pitcher’s  course,  at  least  in  one  respect. 

“When  I met  Captain  Waters  in  the  Yellowstone,  be- 
sides many  stories  of  ill  usage  which  I considered 
plausible,  he  told  me  one  w'hich  I rejected  as  utterly 
improbable.  I attributed  it  to  misconstruction  or  ex- 
aggeration of  some  neglect,  real  or  fancied,  on  the  party 
of  employes  to  give  him  at  the  hotel  the  service  or 
attention  he  believed  to  be  his  due.  He  charged  that 
the  Yellowstone  company  in  their  warfare  upon  him, 
had  actually  refused  to  receive  him  or  the  members 
of  his  family  at  their  hotels  and  this  refusal  had  been 
approved  by  Major  Pitcher.  Not  until  these  papers 
reached  my  hands  and  I found  his  statement  confirmed 
in  writing  over  IMajor  Pitcher's  own  signature,  could 
I realize  that  such  a violation  of  elementary  rights 
had  been  suffered  by  any  citizen  at  the  hands  of  an 
officer  wearing  the  uniform  of  this  government.  (See 
endorsement  on  paper  dated  June  g.  1905 — Ex.  K.)  I 
think  you  will  agree  that  had  Captain  Waters  been  a 
discharged  convict,  this  order  excluding  him  from  the 
right  to  be_  entertained  at  a hotel  built  upon  public  land 
and  established  under  license  of  the  government  for 
the  express  purpose  of  accommodating  every  citizen 
willing  to  pay  tlie  regular  charges  (especially  so  far 
as  it  affected  his  guests  or  the  members  of  his  family) 
would  have  been  without  warrant,  justification  or 
excuse. 

“Even  if  we  assume  every  conclusion  of  fact  which 
General  Young  has  reached  to  be  absolutely  correct, 
the  severity  of  the  punishment  he  recommends  is  all 
out  of  proportion  to  the  gravity  of  the  delinquencies 
he  imputes  to  Captain  Waters.  If  everything,  he  al- 
leges, be.  taken  as  absolutely  true,  such  grievious 
penalties  as  must  follow  the  adoption  of  his  recom- 
mendation would  be  excessive  ancl  therefore  unjust. 

“Conceive  for  a moment  what  this  would  involve, 
Waters’_  entire  capital  (including  all  the  resources  of 
his  family)  has  been  invested  in  boats  and  other  prop- 
erty operating  the  lake  transportation  service  which 


the  government  authorized  him  to  establish.  One  large 
steam  vessel,  which  I saw  myself,  was  built  last  year. 
Considering  the  service  it  is  e.xpected  to  render,  it  is 
commodious  and  well  appointed.  Evidently  it  has  been 
constructed  in  the  hope  of  increasing  traffic  by  enlarg- 
ing the  accommodation  for  passengers  and  promoting 
their  comfort.  Boats  built  expressly  for  service  on 
the  lake  would  be  of  little  value  anywhere  else.  It  is 
doubtful  whether  they  would  realize  on  forced  sale 
enough  to  pay  the  cost  of  transportation  to  another 
locality.  During  the  long  period  in  which  he  has 
operated  this  service  he  has  established  a business 
which  must  be  of  some  value  or  he  would  not  be  so 
desperately  anxious  to  retain  it.  To  the  good  will  of 
this,  whatever  it  may  be  worth,  he  is  undeniably  en- 
titled in  sound  morals,  if  not  in  the  strict  letter  of 
the  law.  All  these  his  summary  expulsion  from  the 
park  would  destroy  at  one  blow.  His  ruin  would  be 
complete  and  it  would  probably  be  irrevocable.  For 
he  is  an  old  man,  and  with  such  a cloud  on  his  char- 
acter as  expulsion  under  such  conditions  must  cast, 
repair  of  his  fortunes  would  be  practically  impossible. 
The  ruin  of  all  his  prospects  as  well  as  of  his  whole 
possessions  is  therefore  the  punishment  you  are  ad- 
vised to  inflict  on  him.  Surely  nothing  but  offenses 
of  the  very  gravest  character  could  justify  a penalty 
so  severe. 

“One  thing  is  perfectly  certain,  IMr.  President,  if 
Waters  be  expelled  from  the  park  somebody  else  would 
be  given  the  right  to  operate  boats  on  the  lake.  The 
public  cannot  be  excluded  permanently  from  the  right 
to  traverse  this  magnificent  sheet  of  water.  Can  you 
or  anybody  else  doubt  that  the  transportation  com- 
pany will  become  the  beneficiary  of  the  decree  that 
ruins  Waters,  should  an  order  for  his  expulsion  be 
issued  ?’’ 

Mr.  Cochran  concluded  this  long  second  communica- 
tion with  these  words ; “I  should  not  have  felt  inclined 
to  undertake  this  labor  and  inflict  such  a lengthy  com- 
munication on  you,  were  it  not  for  my  humble  but 
very  firm  conviction  that  the  course  I suggest  is  more 
consistent  with  that  impartial  and  unljending  justice 
of  which  the  American  people  believe  you  to  be  the 
very  embodiment.” 

For  the  last  twenty-five  years,  and  while  active  head 
of  the  Yellowstone  Lake  Boat  Company’s  affairs,  Mr. 
Waters  continued  in  the  live-stock  business.  At  one 
time  he  was  running  twelve  thousand  head  of  sheep 
and  for  twelve  or  fifteen  years  has  been  raising  horses, 
cattle  and  mules.  His  enterprise  in  the  stock  business 
has  of  course  varied  with  different  seasons  and  periods, 
but  he  has  been  practically  identified  with  this  industry 
during  the  most  of  his  years  of  residence  in  Montana. 
He  was  also  in  the  mining  business  in  Cook  City  and 
Bear  Creek,  and  was  president  of  the  Pacific  Launch 
Company  of  Tacoma,  Washington,  whose  plant  was 
wrecked  by  a cloudburst  that  caused  the  Puyallup  river 
to  rise  so  rapidly  that  a large  portion  of  the  plant  was 
carried  into  the  bay  and  the  company  became  bank- 
rupt. 

A short  time  before  the  Boer  war  in  South  Africa 
Mr,  Waters  organized  the  American  Land  & Sheep 
Company  under  the  contract  with  an  English  syndicate 
who  agreed  to  furnish  ten  million  dollars  for  purchase 
of  all  the  land  lying  along  the  streams  in  middl/  and 
eastern  Montana,  together  with  the  water-rigl/  con- 
trolled by  these  lands.  The  agreement  also  LIcluded 
the  purchase  by  Mr.  Waters  of  all  the  sheep  yirich  he 
could  obtain.  With  such  a plan  in  mind  M/  Waters 
put  out  two  men  in  the  field  getting  optioiy  on  land, 
and  thus  secured  options  on  property  seven 

million  dollars.  No  one  then  knew  who^re  the  real 
parties  in  the  American  Land  & Sheep  Company.  As 
a result,  in  a short  time,  he  obtained  a/arge  number 
of  sheep  at  a little  more  than  two  dolars  per  head, 
and  the  best  land  in  Montana  at  s^^iJteen  dollars 


922 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


and  a half  an  acre,  including  the  first  and  best  water- 
right.  Then  the  whole  deal  was  brought  to  an  abrupt 
conclusion.  The  Boer  war  made  money  so  tight  in 
England  that  the  syndicate  was  unable  to  control  the 
funds  which  they  had  promised,  and  Mr.  Waters  is 
still  in  the  courts  with  a litigation,  endeavoring  to 
obtain  satisfactory  remuneration  for  the  damages  to 
which  he  was  put  by  carrying  out  his  part  of  the 
contract. 

Mr.  Waters  W'as  formerly  an  active  member  of  the 
Masons  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Elks,  the 
Grand  Army,  and  the  Traveling  Men's  Association. 
Up  to_  1910  he  was  a Republican  in  politics,  but  at 
that  time  he  became  convinced  that  the  party  was 
largely  under  the  control  of  its  more  corrupt  and 
powerful  members  and  therefore  left  its  ranks.  As  to 
religion  his  ancestors  were  most  of  them  Universalists, 
and  that  faith  has  his  own  preference. 

At  Fond  du  Lac,  Wisconsin,  March  4,  1878,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Martha  Bustus  Amory.  Pier  grand- 
father left  a will  which  granted  certain  tracts  of  land 
in  New  York  City  to  his  heirs,  this  land  to  come  into 
their  possession  when  the  youngest  grandchild  was 
of  age.  This  grandchild  was  Mrs.  Waters’  youngest 
brother.  The  immediate  heirs  contested  and  broke  the 
will,  and  but  for  this  the  property  at  this  time  would 
have  been  worth  $1,500,000,000,  The  children  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Waters  were  as  follows : Edna  Alberti, 

Anna  Amory,  and  Amory  Oakes.  The  daughter, 
Edna,  married  A.  F.  Molina,  and  had  one  child,  Amory 
Waters  Molina.  Mrs.  Molina  died  January  15,  1913. 
Amory  Oakes  Waters  married  Miss  Minnie  Lee,  and 
has  one  child,  Martha  Bustus  Waters,  named  for  her 
grandmother,  Anna  Amory  Waters,  the  youngest 
daughter  died  January  6,  1905.  Mrs.  Waters,  whose 
death  occurred  August  6,  1909,  was  a woman  of  splen- 
did_  education,  a great  reader  and  fine  musician,  and 
besides  caring  for  her  home  and  rearing  her  children 
was  a delightful  friend  and  companion  and  was  a 
favorite  in  all  social  circles. 

William  S.  Erwin.  The  visitor  to  the  Gallatin  val- 
ley, viewing  for  the  first  time  its  fertile  fields,  well- 
regulated  farrns  and  general  air  of  prosperity,  finds  it 
difficult  to  believe  that  but  comparatively  a few  years 
ago  this  section  of  the  country  was  a wild  waste  of 
prairie  and  desert  land,  uncultivated  and  unprofitable. 
Such  is  the  case,  however,  and  the  wonderful  change 
that  has  been  brought  about  is  the  direct  result  of  years 
of  persistent,  untiring  labor  on  the  part  of  men  of 
energy,  industry,  perseverance  and  ability,  the  greater 
part  of  whose  lives  have  been  devoted  to  developing 
their  community’s  interests  while  achieving  personal 
success.  Prominent  among  this  class  stands  William 
S.  Erwin,  who  for  many  years  carried  on  agricultural 
pursuits  in  Gallatin  county,  but  who  is  now  retired  from 
active  pursuits  and  living  quietly  in  the  city  of  Boze- 
man, where  he  has  a comfortable  modern  residence  at 
No.  624  West  Olive  street.  Mr.  Erwin  was  born  in 
Schuyler  county,  Illinois,  on  his  father’s  farm.  May  21, 
1864,  and  is  a son  of  George  W.  and  Agnes  E.  (Cor- 
riO  Erwin. 

George  W.  Erwin  was  born  in  Plattsburg,  Steuben 
couity.  New  York,  in  1818,  and  received  his  education 
in  tl«  public  schools  of  that  locality.  On  attaining 
his  majority  he  removed  to  Schuyler  county,  Illinors, 
in  whidi  locality  he  was  a pioneer,  and  for  some  time 
was  engxged  in  driving  the  stage  coach,  his  wages  being 
nine  dolars  per  month,  a part  of  which  were  paid  in 
merchandse.  Subsequently  he  entered  government 
land,  whic;  he  first  devoted  to  the  raising  of  corn  and 
later  gave  iver  to  general  farming  and  stock  raising, 
and  became  one  of  the  best-known  raisers  of  Clydes- 
dale horses  md  full-blooded  cattle  in  his  county.  He 
served  as  a oldier  during  the  Mexican  war,  was  a 
stanch  Democi-it  in  his  political  views,  and  was  a rec- 


ognized authority  on  matters  agricultural  by  his  fellow 
members  in  the  grange.  His  death  occurred  in  1894, 
his  wife  having  passed  away  in  1885,  when  fifty-six 
years  of  age.  Of  their  seven  children,  four  are  still 
living:  Ellen  A.,  the  wife  of  Richard  Bosworth;  Cor- 
nelius M.,  Frank  C.  and  William  S. 

The  early  education  of  William  S.  Erwin  was  se- 
cured in  the  public  schools  of  Schuyler  county,  and  he 
later  attended  Chaddock  College,  Quincy,  Illinois,  and 
the  Indiana  State  Normal  school,  now  the  Indiana  State 
University,  at  Valparaiso.  Mr.  Erwin's  advent  in  the 
Gallatin  valley  was  in  December,  1885,  and  on  first  ar- 
riving he  secured  employment  as  a farm  hand.  As  his 
father  had  done  before  him,  Mr.  Erwin  next  entered 
government  land  and  engaged  in  raising  wheat,  barley 
and  oats.  He  continued  in  business  until  1911,  on  Janu- 
ary I St  of  which  year  he  came  to  Bozeman  in  order 
that  his  children  might  secure  better  educational  ad- 
vantages. Mr.  Erwin  is  a Democrat  in  politics,  and  in 
1907  was  elected  a coui>ty  commissioner  of  Gallatin 
county,  for  a term  of  four  years.  Fraternally,  he  is 
connected  with  Bozeman  Lodge  No.  463,  B.  P.  O.  E., 
and  Bridger  Camp  No.  62,  W.  O.  W.  During  the  many 
years  of  his  residence  in  this  section  he  has  made 
numerous  acquaintances,  and  his  friends  here  are  legion. 
All  movements  for  the  betterment  of  the  locality  have 
his  hearty  support,  and  he  has  always  shown  himself 
to  be  a friend  of  education,  morality  and  good  citizen- 
ship. 

On  April  ig,  1894,  Mr.  Erwin  was  married  to  Miss 
Maisie  M.  Kent,  who  was  born  in  Gallatin  county, 
daughter  of  James  and  Martha  (Hopkins)  Kent,  the 
former  of  whom  died  in  1886,  while  the  latter  still 
lives.  Mrs.  Erwin  is  the  oldest  of  a family  of  six 
children.  Her  father  came  to  the  west  with  his  parents 
from  Pennsylvania,  and  his  boyhood  days  were  spent  in 
Missouri.  In  1864  he  traveled  overland  to  Montana, 
locating  near  Old  Hamilton,  where  he  engaged  in  stock 
raising  and  farming,  and  later  removed  to  near  Cot- 
tonwood creek,  this  being  his  location  at  the  time 
of  his  death.  Four  children  have  been  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Erwin,  namely:  James  Kent,  Mae  Agnes, 

Lewis  George  and  William  Howard. 

Charles  E.  Carlson.  Among  the  young  legal  lights 
of  whom  Montana  and  Gallatin  county  have  every  rea- 
son to  be  proud  is  Charles  E.  Carlson.  He  possesses  a 
splendid  legal  mind,  quickly  getting  at  the  very  heart 
of  a question,  discovering  the  underlying  principles  of 
law,  and  stating  his  conclusions  in  clear,  terse  English. 
In  the  few  years  since  his  admission  to  the  bar  he  has 
been  identified  with  a good  deal  of  important  litigation. 
Mr.  Carlson  is  one  of  those  valiant  characters  who  have 
triumphed  over  adverse  conditions  and  pressed  forward 
to  the  goal  of  success.  He  is  in  the  most  significant 
sense  self-made  and  integrity  and  honor  characterize 
him  in  the  relations  of  life. 

Mr.  Carlson  was  born  at  Albert  Lea,  Minnesota,  May 
3,  1885,  and  there  resided  until  about  four  years  of  age, 
when,  with  his  parents,  he  removed  to  Independence, 
Iowa.  He  remained  in  that  place  for  about  six  years, 
and  the  family  went  to  Britt,  Iowa,  where  they  lived 
for  a year.  Following  that  they  located  in  LIumboldt  of 
the  Hawkeye  state,  where  they  lived  eight  years.  It 
was  in  Humboldt  that  his  father  died  and  though  a boy 
in  years  he  found  it  necessary  to  face  the  world  like  a 
man.  His  father,  Rev.  Adolph  Carlson,  was  a Baptist 
minister,  and  a native  of  Denmark.  He  severed  home 
associations  and  came  to  America  when  a youth  of  nine- 
teen and  like  so  many  of  his  countrymen,  located  first 
in  the  state  of  Minnesota.  He  died  in  1903,  at  the  age 
of  sixty-five  years  and  is  interred  in  that  place.  His 
wife’s  maiden  name  was  Dorothy  Anderson,  and  they 
were  united  in  marriage  in  the  state  of  Wisconsin.  She 
died  in  1887,  when  the  subject  was  an  infant,  and  is 
buried  in  Albert  Lea.  There  were  nine  children  in  the 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


923 


elder  Carlson  family,  the  subject  being  the  youngest  in 
order  of  birth. 

Mr.  Carlson  graduated  from  the  Humboldt  high 
school  and  then  matriculated  in  the  University  of  Min- 
nesota at  Minneapolis,  where  he  pursued  a four-year 
course  in  science,  literature  and  arts,  being  graduated 
from  that  department  and  receiving  his  degree.  He 
had  an  ambition  to  become  a lawyer  and  took  the  neces- 
sary preparation  in  the  same  university.  He  worked 
his  own  way  through  college  and  as  is  usual  in  such 
circumstances,  made  the  most  of  his  hard-earned  oppor- 
tunities. He  had  earned  his  first  money  doing  chores 
for  a doctor  in  Humboldt.  He  is  also  familiar  with  the 
life  of  a commercial  traveler,  for  he  engaged  as  such 
for  a twelvemonth,  and  he  followed  various  other  occu- 
pations previous  to  entering  the  university. 

After  leaving  college  Mr.  Carlson  studied  in  the  office 
of  the  firm  of  Dunn  & Carlson  at  Albert  Lea,  Alinne- 
sota,  and  remained  in  this  association  for  nearly  one 
year.  In  April,  1911,  he  caiue  to  Three  Forks,  Gallatin 
county,  where  he  hung  out  his  professional  shingle  and 
here  he  has  encountered  the  best  of  fortunes,  in  the 
short  time  intervening  since  his  arrival  having  won  the 
confidence  of  the  community.  He  has  a most  com- 
modious and  pleasant  office  and  an  unusually  compre- 
hensive law  library,  whose  volumes  have  been  collected 
for  the  most  part  since  he  came  here.  In  addition  to 
his  ability  in  the  profession  to  which  he  has  already 
proven  an  ornament,  IMr.  Carlson  is  a gifted  orator,  con- 
vincing, forceful  and  eloquent,  and  he  is  in  great  de- 
mand upon  occasions  where  eloquence  is  in  order.  At 
the  recent  Democratic  convention  he  was  selected  to 
make  the  speech  of  nomination.  He  is  a Democrat  and 
is  greatly  interested  in  matters  political,  his  striking 
personality  making  him  an  influential  factor  in  public 
life.  He  has  plenty  of  fighting  blood  and  his  support 
is  an  element  greatly  to  be  desired. 

He  is  enthusiastic  over  outdoor  life  and  amusements, 
and  of  fishing  in  particular.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Baptist  church.  In  college  he  belonged  to  the  Greek 
letter  fraternity.  Delta  Sigma  Rho,  this  being  an 
honorary  fraternity  to  which  are  eligible  all  students  in 
accredited  colleges  who  have  taken  part  in  intelcollegiate 
forensic  contests.  While  in  the  University  of  Rlinne- 
sota  he  took  part  in  the  contest  with  Wisconsin  and 
won.  Apropos  of  Montana,  Mr.  Carlson  says : “I  am 

here  to  stay;  that  expresses  my  view  of  the  state.  I 
have  realized  its  possibilities  and  am  fully  convinced 
that  this  is  the  coming  country.”  Mr.  Carlson  was 
married  at  Humboldt,  Iowa,  October  S,  1912,  to  Miss 
Carrie  Mason. 

Charles  J.  Carlson.  One  of  the  leading  contractors 
of  Helena  is  Mr.  Charles  Carlson,  who  is  known  not 
only  as  a contractor,  but  who  has  a reputation  as  a 
designer,  his  designs  being  sought  after  because  of 
their  good  taste  and  their  excellent  arrangement.  Mr. 
Carlson  was  born  in  Sweden,  on  March  27,  1875.  His 
father,  Charles  Gustafson,  had  died  the  month  pre- 
cedino-  his  birth,  and  although  his  mother,  Clara,  nee 
Nordling,  remarried,  it  fell  to  the  lot  of  Charles  and 
his  older  brother.  Gust  A.  Carlson,  to  begin  early  to 
take  care  of  themselves.  Mr.  Gustafson  had  been  a 
stone  mason  and  after  his  death  his  widow  became  the 
wife  of  P.  R.  Berquist,  to  whom  she  bore  two  sons 
and  two  daughters.  They  are  all  still  residents  of 
Sweden. 

Until  he  was  fifteen  years  old  Charles  attended 
school  in  Sweden,  and  then  as  his  older  brother  was 
coming  to  America,  he  accompanied  him.  They 
stopped  first  in  Marshfield,  Wisconsin,  and  Charles 
stayed  a year  and  a half  before  going  to  Rockford, 
Illinois.  In  Wisconsin  he  had  worked  at  the  trade  of 
cabinet  making,  and  he  supported  himself  by  this  means 
in  Rockford  until  the  panic  of  the  early  ’90s  stopped 
the  mills  and  factories  and  cut  off  his  source  of  income. 
Ht  'was  completely  out  of  funds  before  he  found  work. 


and  he  was  obliged  to  walk  to  Harvard,  Illinois,  a 
distance  of  forty  miles,  to  secure  a chance  to  work.  A 
kindly  conductor  in  Rockford  gave  him  a ride  to  Mad- 
ison, Wisconsin,  and  there  he  found  work  on  a ranch 
five  miles  out  of  the  city.  The  farm  was  owned  by  a 
Mr.  McCoy,  and  Mr.  Carlson  remained  in  his  employ 
for  two  years.  During  this  time  he  saved  his  wages, 
and  with  a little  capital  in  hand  he  felt  he  might  ven- 
ture to  take  up  some  work  for  which  he  was  better 
fitted,  and  which  might  be  more  profitable. 

With  this  idea  in  mind  he  went  to  Madison  and 
worked  at  the  carpenter  trade  for  two  years,  after 
which  he  secured  employment  with  the  Chicago  & 
Northwestern  Railroad.  He  built  tanks  and  stations 
for  them,  but  after  a year  and  a half  he  resigned  from 
his  position  with  the  railroad  and  went  to  Necedah, 
Wisconsin,  to  work  independently  at  carpentry  and 
contracting.  It  was  in  this  town  that  he  met  and  mar- 
ried the  lady  who  has  been  such  an  inspiration  to  him, 
and  who  has  shared  in  the  success  which  his  un- 
flagging courage  and  persistence  have  won  for  him. 
She  was  born  in  Wisconsin,  and  her  maiden  name  was 
Clemmy  jMiller.  The  eldest  of  Mr.  and  IMrs.  Carlson’s 
children  died  in  infancy,  and  two  boys,  Aaron  and 
Wilfred,  besides  one  daughter,  Alta  May,  now  con- 
stitute the  Carlson  family.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carlson  were 
married  on  iMarch  2,  1900,  about  a year  before  coming 
to  Helena. 

The  first  contract  which  IMr.  Carlson  took  in  Ne- 
cedah . was  that  of  building  a barn  for  a prominent 
farmer  of  that  city,  and  as  the  building  was  a large 
one  he  made  quite  a neat  little  profit  on  the  job.  T'nis 
brought  him  other  orders,  and  for  several  3'ears  he  was 
kept  bus}'  around  Necedah.  Later  he  purchased  a 
three  hundred  and  sixty  acre  farm  adjoining  the  place 
on  which  he  had  built  his  first  barn.  When  Mr.  Carl- 
son first  arrived  in  Helena  he  worked  for  the  firm  of 
Schaeffer  & Moncrief,  remaining  with  them  for  nearly 
a year.  He  left  them  to  go  into  contracting  for  him- 
self, and  though  he  began  in  a small  way  his  busings 
steadily  increased.  Except  for  one  year  during  which 
he  was  associated  with  James  Black,  under  the  firm 
name  Black  & Carlson,  he  has  been  alone.  This  asso- 
ciation was  formed  in  1909. 

iMr.  Carlson  has  erected  a large  number  of  the  fine 
modern  dwellings  in  Helena,  and  most  of  these  from 
designs  of  his  own.  Soon  after  coming  to  America  he 
took  a course  in  architecture  in  the  International  Cor- 
respondence School.  He  was  one  of  the  school's  best 
pupils.  The  business  which  he  has  built  up  in  Helena 
is  one  of  the  largest  of  the  kind  in  the  city,  and  it  has 
been  a paying  one.  He  owns  the  building  at  No.  16 
South  Park  street,  and  has  recently  purchased  other 
property  on  that  street,  which  became  necessary  for 
the  rapidly  growing  business. 

Having  something  of  a taste  for  military  pursuits, 
j\Ir.  Carlson  belongs  to  the  ^Montana  National  Guards, 
and  is  a corporal  in  company  G.  He  is  affiliated  with 
the  AVoodmen  of  the  World,  with  the  Royal  High- 
landers, the  Order  of  IMoose,  and  with  the  Eagles,  be- 
sides being  a prominent  member  of  the  Carpenters’ 
Union.  In  politics  he  is  an  independent  voter,  and  so 
considers  only  the  fitness  of  the  candidate  for  the  of- 
fice, with  no  reference  to  his  political  party.  Air.  Carl- 
son himself  has  never  been  at  all  attracted  to  public 
life.  He  has  taken  his  course  in  the  school  of  ad- 
versity. and  in  all  that  hard  training  did  not  fail  in 
coura.ge  nor  falter  in  effort.  As  a reward,  he  has  at- 
tained a comfortable  little  fortune  before  he  has 
reached  middle  life,  and  with  an  admirable  profes- 
sional record  as  a designer,  as  well  as  success  as  a 
contractor,  he  has  still  before  him  a long  career  of  use- 
fulness and  profit.  The  brother  who  accompanied  him 
to  America  is  now  a farmer  in  AIcAIillan,  AVisconsin, 
and  so  both  the  boys  who  came  to  the  country  less 
than  a quarter  of  a century  ago  have  made  a place  in 
it  for  themselves.  There  is  always  room  everywhere 


924 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


for  such  men  of  enterprise  and  capability.  They  are 
needed  in  America,  especially  in  the  northwest,  for 
whose  development  they  have  done  so  much,  and  which 
in  turn  has  been  so  generous  to  them. 

I Ion.  Cornelius  Hedges.  In  considering  the  repre- 
sentative and  constructive  men  of  the  state  of  Montana 
the  name  of  the  late  Judge  Cornelius  Hedges  comes  im- 
mediately to  mind,  for  he  impressed  himself  indelibly  on 
his  generation  through  his  sturdy  integrity,  his  manly 
virtue,  the  force  of  his  natural  powers  of  judgment  and 
his  unselfish  labors  in  the  cause  of  patriotism  and  prog- 
ress. Judge  Hedges  was  born  at  Westfield,*  Massachu- 
setts, October  28,  1831,  and  died  at  Helena,  Montana, 
April  29,  1907,  in  his  seventy-sixth  year.  His  parents 
were  Dennis  and  Alvena  (Noble)  Hedges. 

Judge  Hedges  could  lay  claim  to  a more  or  less  illus- 
trious ancestry,  his  forefathers  having  been  among  the 
earliest  settlers  on  Long  Island,  removing  from  there 
to  Connecticut  and  before  his  time  to  Massachusetts. 
His  maternal  grandfather,  Jacob  Noble,  served  under 
General  Washington  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  and 
was  the  progenitor  of  a long  line  of  honest  farming 
people  and  strong  supporters  of  the  Congregational 
church.  While  the  Nobles  were  of  English  extraction, 
it  is  possible  that  the  Hedges  came  originally  from 
Ireland.  His  father,  Dennis  Hedges,  owned  a small 
farm  and  also  conducted  a blacksmith  business  in  the 
vicinity  of  Westfield,  Massachusetts,  where  he  lived  into 
respected  old  age,  and  when  he  and  wife  celebrated 
their  golden  wedding  the  occasion  was  made  notable  for 
them  by  the  attendance  of  their  only  son,  Cornelius, 
who  had  already  become  a citizen  of  great  prominence 
in  the  far  west.  This  pilgrimage  to  his  old  home  was 
one  of  affection  and  sentiment  and  was  referred  to  by 
Judge  Hedges  many  times  during  his  after  life. 

In  the  local  schools  and  academies  Cornelius  Hedges 
prepared  for  Yale  College,  from  which  he  was  gradu- 
ated in  1853.  During  the  three  succeeding  years  he 
taught  school  and  in  the  meanwhile  studied  his  law 
books  and  in  1855  was  graduated  from  the  law  depart- 
ment of  Harvard  College  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  Massachusetts.  Leaving  New  England,  he  located  at 
Independence,  Iowa,  where  he  opened  a law  office  and 
remained  until  1864,  during  a portion  of  which  period 
he  was  concerned  in  a newspaper  enterprise  and  was 
publisher  and  editor  of  the  Independent  Civilian. 

Young,  ambitious  and  enterprising,  it  is  not  remark- 
able that  Cornelius  Hedges  became  interested  in  the 
wonderful  developing  changes  that  were  taking  place  in 
the  western  country  about  that  time,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1864  joined  a party  and  crossed  the  plains  to  Virginia 
City,  Montana,  later  coming  on  to  Helena,  which  city 
continued  to  be  his  chosen  home  throughout  the  rest  of 
an  unusually  active  and  useful  life.  While  faithful  to 
every  local  interest,  his  subsequent  activities  covered  the 
state,  and  in  the  great  development  which  followed  he 
was  a very  prominent  factor.  In  1871  he  was  appointed 
United  States  district  attorney  and  from  1875  until  1880 
he  was  probate  judge  of  Lewis  and  Clarke  county. 
Judge  Hedges  was  probably  the  original  mover  that  re- 
sulted in  the  establishing  of  the  Helena  Public  Library, 
was  one  of  the  directors  who  secured  as  a beginning  a 
room,  in  the  fall  of  1868,  on  the  present  site  of  the 
International  Hotel.  His  constant  interest  in  educa- 
tional progress  brought  about  his  appointment  in  1872, 
by  Governor  Benjamin  F.  Potts,  as  first  territorial 
superintendent  of  the  public  schools,  and  in  his  devo- 
tion to  duties  pertaining  to  this  position  Judge  Hedges 
traveled  hundreds  of  miles,  under  trying  circumstances, 
to  gather  the  few  teachers  then  in  the  territory,  to  the 
different  centers  of  population,  instructing,  providing 
and  devising  methods  and  improvements  only  possible 
with  a man  of  collegiate  training  and  unselfish  enthu- 
siasm. He  ably  filled  this  position  for  five  years,  one 
year  under  appointment  by  Governor  Potts  and  four 
years  under  his  successor.  Governor  Crosby. 


Judge  Hedges  was  a member  of  the  Washburn  party 
that  visited  the  geyser  region,  leaving  Helena  August 
17,  1870,  with  a small  detail  of  United  States  Cavalry, 
under  the  authority  of  General  Hancock,  and  returned 
to  Helena,  November  27,  1870.  It  was  during  the  re- 
turn trip  that  Judge  Hedges  proposed  the  idea  of  a Na- 
tional Park.  The  lofty  timbered  mountains,  the  im- 
mense water  power  and  the  wonderful  scenery  appealed 
to  all  the  party  and  only  sufficient  wealth  was  needed 
to  exploit  the  region  for  great  private  gain,  but  these 
were  men  of  public  spirit,  state  pride,  and  the  idea  that 
originated  with  Judge  Pledges  immediately  met  with 
the  approval  of  the  party.  It  was  his  idea  that  the  gov- 
ernment should  take  over  these  great  natural  advan- 
tages for  the  country  at  large  and  at  the  very  next  legis- 
lative session  a memorial  was  sent  to  the  United  States 
Congress.  The  active  cooperation  of  Senator  Pomeroy 
of  Kansas  and  Representative  William  H.  Claggett  of 
Montana  was  secured  and  in  1872  the  cherished  dream 
of  Judge  Hedges  became  a reality;  to  the  United  States 
was  preserved  the  wonderful  Yellowstone  region,  now 
the  great  National  Park. 

In  1874  Judge  Hedges  was  chosen  by  the  Republican 
party  as  a delegate  to  Congress,  but  in  those  days  of 
Democratic  supremacy  he  failed  of  election,  although 
his  personal  following  was  remarkable.  In  1884  he  was 
a member  of  the  territorial  constitutional  convention, 
and  in  1889  he  was  elected  a member  of  the  first  state 
senate.  Pie  was  recognized  as  a man  of  great  legal 
ability,  while  his  knowledge  on  almost  every  other 
branch  of  learning  was  thorough.  He  prepared  several 
volumes  of  Montana  supreme  court  reports,  1880-1887, 
and  prepared  much  material  for  the  Montana  Historical 
Society  and  was  its  recording  secretary  from  1877  until 
1885  and  its  president  in  1905.  In  1899  he  was  nomi- 
nated for  the  United  States  senate.  From  1897  until 
1906  he  was  secretary  of  the  state  board  of  sheep  com- 
missioners. Up  to  the  close  of  his  life  he_  retained  his 
natural  powers,  his  keen  eyesight  and  his  firm  pen- 
manship. 

In  the  Masonic  fraternity  Judge  Hedges  seemed  to 
find  an  interest  and  pleasure  that  brought  him  his  largest 
measure  of  enjoyment.  He  devoted  much  time  to  study- 
ing and  working  out  the  spirit  of  the  symbols  and 
architectural  teachings  on  Masonic  subjects,  and  this 
was  frequently  recognized  in  Masonic  literature  and  foi 
vears  he  held  the  office  of  grand  secretary  of  the 
Grand  Lodge,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  the  Royal  Arch  Grand 
Chapter,  Masons,  grand  recorder  of  the  Grand  Com- 
mandery,  Knights  Templar,  and  at  the  time  of  his_  death 
was  the  oldest  acting  Masonic  grand  secretary  in  the 
United  States  and  possibly  in  the  world.  He  was  a 
charter  member  of  Miriam  Chapter,  No.  i,  at  Helena, 
and  was  grand  worthy  patron  ^f  the  Order  of  the 
Eastern  Star  in  1893.  He  was  proud  to  refer  to  these 
honors  during  the  closing  years  of  his^  life  and  no 
one  was  ever  more  knightly  in  upholding  the  lofty 
ideals  of  the  fraternity.  . 

On  July  7,  1856,  Judge  Hedges  was  married  to  Miss 
Edna  Layette  Smith,  of  Southington,  Connecticut,  and 
eight  children  were  born  to  them.  On  July  7>  1906,  Mr. 
aiid  Mrs.  Pledges  celebrated  their  golden  wedding.  Mrs. 
Hedges  died  in  Helena  September  26,  1912.  Judge 
Hedges  was  a man  of  strong  religious  convictions,  and 
was  an  elder  in  the  First  Presbyterian  church  at  Helena. 
Although  full  of  years  at  the  time  of  his  death,  his  life 
had  been  so  rich  in  worthy  achievement  tlpt  ms  loss 
was  felt  in  every  circle,  and  rich  and  poor,  high  dignita- 
ries and  humble  people,  all  united  to  do  honor  to  his 
memory  at  his  funeral.  . • 

The  Montana  Daily  Record  said,  editoiially,  at  the 
time  of  Judge  Pledges’  death:  “In  the  death  of  Cor- 

nelius Hedges,  which  occurred  at  his  home  in  this 
city,  Sunday,  there  passed  away  one  to  whom  the  peo- 
ple of  Montana  owe  a debt  of  gratitude  which  can 
never  be  repaid.  Coming  to  Montana  with  the  first 
of  the  pioneers,  his  whole  after  life  was  spent  in  the 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


925 


territory  and  state.  In  the  beginning  he  put  himself 
on  the  side  of  those  who  were  determined  Montana 
should  be  a safe  haven  for  the  home  maker  and  home 
builder  and  from  that  time  to  the  day  of  his  death  his 
talents  and  his  time  were  always  at  the  service  of  his 
community  and  his  state. 

“In  those  early  days  there  were  few  of  the  pioneers 
who  had  the  educational  equipment  of  Judge  Hedges. 
Reared  in  New  England,  educated  at  Yale,  he  came  to 
this  then  wild  country  and  became  one  with  the  people. 
Never  a self  seeker,  his  ability  was  soon  recognized 
and  whenever  there  was  need  for  a service  which  it 
was  thought  could  not  be  so  well  performed  by  anyone 
else,  he  obeyed  the  call.  But  Judge  Hedges  was  not 
only  an  educated  man  and  student;  he  was  in  every 
sense  a pioneer.  One  of  the  first  lawyers  in  Last 
Chance  gulch  to  practice  his  profession,  he  won  the  con- 
fidence of  the  miners  and  of  the  rough  element  as  well, 
and  his  kindly  counsels  often  in  those  days  prevented 
serious  conflicts  and  attempts  to  overturn  the  authority 
of  the  laws  made  by  the  miners.  As  the  territory  and 
statei  grew  there  was  a place  for  Judge  Hedges. 
Whether  at  the  head  of  the  territorial  educational  sys- 
tem, a judge  of  court,  the  representative  of  the  United 
States  government  as  its  district  attorney,  or  the  ed- 
itor of  the  leading  daily  papers  of  the  state.  Judge 
Hedges  was  a power  for  good,  and  for  the  develop- 
ment of  the  best  in  Montana. 

“The  great  work  done  by  Cornelius  Hedges  for  Mon- 
tana will  be  more  appreciated  as  the  j'ears  pass.  There 
are  a few  who  know  what  a dominant  personality  he 
was  in  placing  before  the  world  the  beauties  of  the 
Yellowstone  National  Park.  He  was  a member  of  the 
expedition  which  visited  the  park  and  told  of  its  at- 
tractions to  the  world.  Always  modest  and  keeping  in 
the  background,  others  have  reaped  much  of  the  credit 
that  should  have  gone  to  him  in  connection  with  the 
setting  aside  of  the  park  as  a national  pleasure  ground. 

“The  Helena  public  library  owes  more  to  Judge  Hedges 
than  to  any  other  for  its  present  efficiency.  In  the  late 
years  to  it  he  devoted  much  of  his  time,  and  its  good 
work  was  his  pride.  Above  and  beyond  all.  Judge 
Hedges  was  a loyal  Montanian.  He  went  through  the 
good  times  and  the  hard  ones,  and  never  did  he  lose 
faith  in  the  greatness  of  the  state  and  its  future.  As 
it  was  with  the  state,  so  with  his  adopted  city.  Helena, 
which  for  so  many  years  had  been  his  home,  was  to 
him  the  one  place  in  all  the  world,  and  he  was  the 
friend  of  every  man  and  woman  in  it. 

“Thoughtful,  kind,  charitable,  ever  ready  to  heed  the 
call  of  the  unfortunate,  without  selfishness  or  guile, 
no  better  man  has  ever  lived  in  Montana,  nor  to  any 
is  there  a higher  meed  of  praise  due  for  what  he  did 
and  gave  to  Montana.” 

Cornelius  and  Edna  Layette  (Smith)  Hedges,  were 
the  parents  of  eight  children,  two  sons  and  a daughter, 
died  in  early  life,  while  those  surviving  are : Wyllys 

Anderson,  of  Fergus  county,  Montana,  formerly  a 
sheep  grower,  and  was  speaker  of  the  lower  house  in 
the  gth  assembly.  At  the  present  time  he  is  receiver 
of  the  United  States  Land  Office  at  Lewiston,  Mon- 
tana; Henry  Highland,  formerly  a stockman  of  Valley 
county,  Montana,  now  a resident  of  California,  where  he 
is  engaged  in  the  dairy  business ; Cornelius  Hedges, 
his  father’s  namesake,  was  closely  associated  with  him 
for  many  years  and  succeeded  to  many  of  his  responsi- 
bilities. He  was  born  at  Helena,  Montana,  March  14, 
1874,  and  was  educated  at  Helena  and  spent  one  year 
at  the  high  school  in  Ann  Arbor,  hlichigan.  He  en- 
tered upon  the  study  of  law,  but  owing  to  his  father’s 
failing  health,  was  obliged  to  assist  in  official  work 
and  never  continued  his  law  studies  to  a conclusion. 
When  fifteen  years  of  age  he  was  appointed  a page 
at  the  constitutional  convention  of  the  state,  and  later 
was  cashier  in  the  water  works  office  at  Helena  for 
six  years.  During  all  this  time  he  was  his  father’s 
assistant  in  attending  to  the  great  mass  of  work  as  Ma- 


sonic secretary  and  since  the  death  of  his  father  has 
creditably  filled  the  same  office.  Mr.  Hedges  is  un- 
married and  resides  at  Helena;  Edna  Cornelia,  Mrs. 
Harr}^  B.  Palmer,  who  resides  in  Helena;  Emily  Mar- 
ion, is  hirs.  John  M.  Woodbridge,  of  Newton,  Mass. 

Sherman  Person  Tuttle.  The  world  instinctively 
and  justly  renders  deference  to  the  man  whose  success 
in  life  has  been  worthily  achieved,  who  has  attained  a 
competence  by  honorable  methods  and  whose  high  repu- 
tation is  solely  the  result  of  preeminent  merit  in  his 
chosen  profession.  Such  a man  is  Hon.  Sherman  Per- 
son Tuttle,  president  of  the  Bank  of  Boulder,  member 
from  Jefferson  county  in  the  Montana  state  legislature 
and  extensively  engaged  in  ranching  and  stock-raising. 

Mr.  Tuttle  is  a Hoosier  by  birth,  his  life  record  hav- 
ing begun  in  Noble  county,  Indiana,  July  21,  1848.  In 
April  of  the  next  year  his  parents  moved  to  Warren 
county,  Iowa,  and  he  lived  in  Warren  and  Marion  coun- 
ties until  he  attained  to  the  age  of  fourteen  years.  The 
family  then  went  to  Denver,  Colorado,  but  remained 
there  only  eight  weeks  before  going  on  to  Stockton, 
California.  After  six  months  in  Stockton,  they  came 
to  Montana  in  the  spring  of  1864  and  on  July  8 of  that 
year  made  location  at  Alder  Gulch.  There  they  lived 
until  the  fall  of  1866  and  then  took  up  their  residence 
in  Fish  Creek,  Jefferson  county,  which  was  at  that  time 
a part  of  Madison  county,  legislation  subsequently  divid- 
ing it  and  making  it  part  of  Jefferson  county.  The 
family  lived  in  those  early  da3^s  on  the  property  which 
was  afterward  known  as  the  John  B.  Wellcome  ranch. 
There  Mr.  Tuttle  of  this  review  lived  for  many  years, 
but  in  1897  he  went  to  Whitehall  and  since  that  j'ear 
has  been  engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising.  In 
November,  1900  he  bought  the  Belcher  ranch,  situated 
one  mile  from  Boulder,  and  in  this  city  he  now  re- 
sides. Boulder  has  welcomed  him  as  one  of  the  most 
progressive  and  useful  of  her  citizens,  and  very  shortly 
after  coming  here  he  was  elected  county  treasurer  of 
Jefferson  county  and  served  in  that  important  office  for 
two  years.  After  concluding  his  public  service  Mr. 
Tuttle  returned  to  his  ranch  and  remained  engaged  in 
the  conduct  of  its  affairs  until  1906,  when  he  bought  out 
the  interest  of  F.  C.  Beherendes  in  the  Bank  of  Boulder 
and  has  ever  since  been  identified  with  its  affairs,  having 
a controlling  interest  in  the  bank  and  holding  the  office 
of  president.  This  is  one  of  the  momentary  institutions 
which  emphasize  and  exert  marked  influence  in  con- 
severing  the  financial  stability  and  commercial  prestige 
of  Jefferson  county.  He  is  also  a director  of  the  White- 
hall State  Bank,  at  Whitehall,  Montana. 

In  the  year  1911  he  was  elected  on  the  Democratic 
ticket  to  the  state  legislature  and  his  services  for  his 
constituents  in  the  state  assembly  have  been  greatly  to 
his  credit  and  their  profit.  He  is  also  president  of  the 
Boulder  school  board  and  he  has  been  very  zealous 
in  his  championship  of  the  best  education  possible.  He 
is  one  of  the  stalwart  advocates  of  Democratic  policies 
and  principles,  has  for  a good  many  3'ears  been  active 
in  politics  and  is  well  known  for  his  public-spirited  at- 
titude toward  all  concerning  the  community’s  welfare. 

Mr.  Tuttle  was  married  March  16,  1873,  at  Fish  Creek, 
Montana,  the  3'oung  woman  to  become  his  wife  and  the 
mistress  of  his  household  being  Derinda  Jane  Butt, 
daughter  of  Jonas  and  Louanna  (Gist)  Butt,  originally 
of  the  state  of  Missouri.  Mrs.  Tuttle  was  born  on  a 
Missouri  farm,  situated  midway  between  Kansas  City 
and  Independence.  To  the  subject  and  his  wife  have 
been  born  ten  children,  eight  of  whom  survive,  as  fol- 
lows : Arthur;  Cora  Jane,  widow  of  George  Melton  and 
resides  in  Escondido,  California,  and  the  mother  of  five 
daughters : Sherman  resides  in  Sacramento,  California, 
and  has  one  daughter : Claud  resides  in  Pocatello,  Idaho ; 
Earl  resides  at  Whitehall,  Montana;  Ada  is  iMrs.  Joseph 
hloore,  of  Boulder;  Lulu  Oleta  and  Julian  Errett.  The 
eldest  son  is  associated  with  his  father  in  the  bank,  as 
assistant  cashier. 


926 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


Mr,  Tuttle's  father,  whose  name  was  David  Tuttle, 
was  born  on  Long  Island  in  i8og;  removed  to  Ohio  at  an 
an  early  age  and  in  the  Buckeye  state  married  Miss 
Lucinda  Cornwall.  Shortly  after  their  marriage  they 
went  to  Indiana,  the  subject’s  birthplace.  David  Tut- 
tle’s name  was  originally  Tuthil,  but  upon  reaching  the 
Noble  county  and  Wabash  river  country  where  he  lo- 
cated he  found  so  many  Tuthils  that  in  order  to  avoid 
confusion  he  obligingly  changed  his  name  to  Tuttle,  by 
which  name  his  family  has  ever  since  been  known.  The 
father  died  after  coming  to  Montana,  on  January  15, 
1870,  but  the  mother  survived  for  many  years,  her  de- 
mise occurring  in  1895.  Both  are  interred  in  Fish  Creek 
cemetery,  as  are  also  his  wife’s  parents. 

Mr.  Tuttle,  of  this  review,  is  a prominent  Mason  and 
Ids  religious  faith  is  that  of  the  Methodist  church. 
South.  He  is  not  especially  interested  in  out-door  sports 
and  diversions  of  various  sorts,  but  finds  his  greatest 
pleasure  at  his  own  fireside,  in  the  company  of  wife 
:ind  children,  like  so  many  men  worth  while  being  es- 
sentially domestic  in  nature. 

Ilis  schooling  was  terminated  at  the  age  of  fourteen 
years,  but  he  has  since  remedied  any  such  educational 
defects  as  may  have  e.xisted  by  his  own  efforts.  At 
the  age  of  twelve  years  his  principal  ambition  in  life 
was  to  own  a pair  of  boots,  and  he  worked  sixteen  days 
for  a neighbor,  at  a compensation  of  twenty-five  cents 
a day,  and  had  this  realized.  The  ability  to  get  what 
he  wants  still  characterizes  him. 

The  journey  made  to  Denver  by  his  parents  in  his 
boyhood  was  overland  with  ox  teams ; its  tedium  needs 
no  comment.  They  traveled  to  California  with  mules 
and  horses  and  by  the  same  method  to  Montana.  On 
their  trip  down  the  Humboldt  river  in  Nevada  they 
were  much  troubled  by  the  Indians,  who  displayed  a 
somewhat  hostile  spirit.  In  some  way  one  of  the  fam- 
ilies became  separated  from  the  crowd,  the  Indians  cut- 
ting off  their  return.  Later  the  noise  of  an  attack 
frightened  the  mules  of  the  lost  family  and  the  mules 
dashed  madly  away  and  rejoined  the  train.  Just  how 
they  accomplished  this  has  always  been  une.xplainable 
to  everybody. 

In  the  spring  of  1870,  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  on 
the  live  stock  business,  the  subject  formed  a partner- 
ship with  his  two  brothers,  Elihu  Francis  and  FTarrison 
Jordan,  and  this  partnership  continued  unbroken  and 
A^ilh  the  pleasantest  of  relations  until  the  death  of 
Flihu  Francis  on  July  2^,  1907,  at  Lewistown,  Mon- 
tana. The  estate  was  then  closed  out.  The  three  broth- 
ers carried  on  a very  extensive  business  in  Jefferson, 
Fergus  and  Valley  counties.  Seldom  have  three  people 
been  so  long  and  so  happily  associated,  and  its  only  ex- 
planation is  the  unselfish  spirit  of  every  one  of  them. 
Mr.  Tuttle  enjoys  the  respect  and  confidence  of  all  with 
whom  he  comes  in  contact  and  as  one  of  Jefferson 
county’s  representative  citizens  and  builders,  no  one  is 
better  entitled  to  a position  in  this  history. 

Harrison  Jordan.  The  late  Flarrison  Jordan,  one  of 
the  eminently  successful  ranchers  and  general  agricul- 
turists of  the  Treasure  state,  covered  varied  experiences 
and  divers  localities  during  his  full  life  of  eighty-six 
years,  forty-eight  of  which  were  merged  in  the  fortunes 
of  the  young  and  growing  Montana.  Flis  parents,  repre- 
senting respectively  Scotch-Irish  and  German  ancestral 
lines,  were  William  F.  and  Isabelle  (Painter)  Jordan; 
the  place  of  his  nativity  was  that  part  of  southern  Illi- 
nois which  is  known  as  “Egypt;”  and  the  date  of  his 
birth  was  March  17,  1825.  In  1847  his  father’s  family 
removed  to  Pleasantville,  Iowa,  a town  surveyed  and 
plotted  by  his  brother  Wesley,  and  that  state  he  called 
his  home' for  several  years.  In  1846  three  of  the  Jordan 
brothers  enlisted  for  service  in  Mexico,  in  a company 
of  the  First  Illinois  Volunteers,  under  Captain  James  D. 
Morgan  and  Colonel  John  J.  Hardin,  the  latter  of  whom 
met  his  death  in  the  historic  .events  at  Buena  Vista. 


After  the  close  of  the  war,  Mr.  Jordan  returned  to  Illi- 
nois and  was  mustered  out  of  service  at  Quincy. 

Returning  to  Iowa,  then  the  home  of  the  family,  Har- 
rison Jordan  was  active  in  public  service,  both  peda- 
gogical and  civic.  A period  of  teaching,  combined  with 
work  as  clerk  of  the  board  of  commissioners  of  Marion 
county,  occupied  him  until  the  winter  of  1851-2,  at  which 
time  he  undertook  what  is.  always  a memorable  office. 
As  town  agent,  he  laid  out  the  town  of  Indianola,  in 
Warren  county.  This  practically  closed  his  activities  in 
Iowa,  for  the  intense  interest  of  that  epoch  of  gold  dis- 
coveries in  the  west  had  claimed  him  as  one  of  its  par- 
ticipants. In  that  same  winter  Mr.  Jordan  went  to  Cali- 
fornia by  way  of  the  Isthmus  of  Panama.  He  found 
the  Golden  state  a field  for  many  profitable  activities, 
due  to  the  rapidly  growing  population  and  the  hi.gh 
prices  paid  for  commodities.  His  main  line  of  activity 
was  dairying,  in  which  'he  engaged  until  the  spring  of 
185s,  at  which  time  he  returned  to  Iowa.  There  he 
spent  seven  years  in  mercantile  business,  at  the  end  of 
that  time  again  responding  to  the  call  of  the  west.  Dis- 
posing of  his  interests  in  Iowa,  he  undertook  the  experi- 
ment of  crossing  the  plains  to  Colorado  with  mule 
teams.  He  thus  arrived  in  Colorado,  where  for  a year 
he  conducted  a dairying  enterprise,  closing  that  activity 
to  resume  his  travels  by  mule  teams,  proceeding  again 
to  California,  though  with  a brief  stay  at  Carson  City, 
Nevada,  en  route.  In  the  spring  of  1864  he  returned 
toward  the  east  as  far  as  Montana,  which  became  his 
permanent  home. 

Having  brought  with  him  a carefully  selected  stock 
of  merchandise  for  miners,  Mr.  Jordan  came  in  July 
of  the  year  mentioned  to  Alder  Gulch,  where  he  started 
a store.  As  the  venture  proved  to  be  less  successful 
than  he  had  expected,  he  took  property  at  Fish  Creek, 
where  he  entered  upon  the  activities  of  dairying  and 
the  raising  of  stock.  For  thirty-two  years  he  continued 
this  work,  the  latter  part  of  that  time  being  devoted 
chiefly  to  the  stock-raising  features  of  his  business.  In 
1898  he  disposed  of  his  Fish  Creek  holdings  and 
removed  to  Pleasant  Valley  where,  in  a beautiful  modern 
residence,  he  continued  to  reside  throughout  his  remain- 
ing years. 

Although  retired  Mr.  Jordan  was  by  no  means  inactive. 
The  many  accessory  interests  of  his  life  did  not  cease 
to  engage  his  thought.  For  the  last  thirty-five  or  forty 
years  of  his  life  he  was  a notary  public  and  also  for 
many  years  a school  trustee.  He  was  always  a hard 
worker  and  an  influential  member  of  the  Democratic 
party,  which  he  ably  served  at  different  times  during 
his  more  active  years.  Both  in  1866  and  in  1872  he  was 
a member  of  the  territorial  legislature  of  Montana ; and 
in  1874  he  was  chairman  of  the  Board  of  County  Com- 
missioners of  Jefferson  county. 

Mr.  Jordan  was  active  and  highly  honored  in  his  con- 
nection with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  in 
which  he  had  passed  all  chairs ; and  with  the  Ancient 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  in  which  order  he  was 
advanced  in  the  year  1850  to  the  Royal  Arch  degree. 
In  1871  he  organized  and  became  the  first  master  of  the 
Silver  Star  Lodge,  at  Silver  Star,  Montana.  That  lodge 
was  later  merged  with  the  Mystic  Tie  Lodge  at  ’White- 
hall, and  of  that  organization  he  remained  a member 
until  the  close  of  his  life.  He  was  senior  grand  steward 
of  the  Grand  Lodge  in  1872,  grand  warden  in  1873  and 
deputy  grand  master  in  1885. 

The  companion  of  Mr.  Jordan’s  mature  life  was  Cathe- 
rine Tuttle  Jordan,  a native  of  Mansfield,  Ohio,  where 
she  was  born  on  February  14,  1836,  and  a daughter  of 
David  Tuttle,  of  Long  Island,  New  York,  and  Lucinda 
(Cornwall)  Tuttle,  of  Canada.  Mrs.  Jordan’s  father 
had  in  his  childhood  removed  with  his  father  from  New 
York  to  Ohio,  had  gone  later  to  Indiana  and  still  later 
to  Iowa.  In  the  last-named  state  they  lived  for  a con- 
siderable time  and  eventually  accompanied  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Jordan  to  Montana.  The  marriage  of  Catherine  Tuttle 


' J 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


927 


and  Harrison  Jordan  had  taken  place  on  November  28, 
1850,  and  in  the  succeeding  years  they  became  the  par- 
ents of  six  children,  all  of  whom  they  creditably  reared 
to  years  of  maturity.  These  sons  and  daughters,  each 
of  whom  is  creditably  established  in  life,  are  as  follows ; 
Celeste  Grace,  Mrs.  William  Wesley  McCall  of  White- 
hall; Violet  Josephine,  Mrs.  Reese  Wampler  of  Gold- 
field, Nevada;  Perneca  Etta,  Mrs.  Arthur  Phelps  of 
Whitehall;  Ida  Isabel,  Mrs.  F.  A.  Riggin,  of  Barr,  Val- 
ley county,  Montana;  Rev.  Walter  Marion  Jordan,  of 
whom  somewhat  extended  account  is  given  below ; and 
Jasper  O.  Jordan,  who  is  a rancher  on  the  homestead  in . 
Pleasant  Valley.  The  family  of  Harrison  Jordan  and 
his  wife  also  includes  a number  of  grandchildren  and 
one  great-grandchild,  born  during  their  lives.  On 
November  28,  igoo,  they  celebrated  their  golden  wed- 
ding, at  which  a goodly  number  of  their  descendants 
were  present. 

The  family  of  Harrison  Jordan  have  been  eminently 
connected  with  the  Christian  church;  with  which  denom- 
ination Mr.  Jordan  became  connected  at  the  age  of 
nineteen,  while  at  Yrsa,  Illinois.  In  Montana  he  was 
a prime  mover  in  and  charter  member  of  the  church 
established  at  Fish  Creek.  He  also  aided  in  founding 
the  church  at  Whitehall  and  for  m.any  years  gave  earnest 
and  efficient  service  as  an  elder.  He  was  active  and 
prominent  in  the  Montana  Society  of  Pioneers  of  which 
he  was  a typical  member. 

On  April  29,  1903,  Mrs.  Jordan,  a woman  of  rare 
saintliness,  passed  to  the  other  life,  which  in  antici- 
pation had  for  her  such  a vivid  reality;  and  on  October 
2,  1910,  Harrison  Jordan,  who  had  so  fearlessly  faced 
many  earthly  adventures,  who  had  frankly  and  heartily 
met  the  world,  who  had  so  loyally  kept  as  his  standard 
the  highest  spiritual  ideal — he,  the  pioneer  of  rough  and 
primitive  countries,  entered  a new  country  and  a new 
home  of  divine  perfection  and  eternal  satisfaction. 

Henry  M.  Parchen.  No  man  living  in  the  state  to- 
day is  more  thoroughly  identified  with  its  history  and 
progress  than  is  Henry  M.  Parchen.  For  nearly  half 
a century  he  has  lived  in  Montana,  and  has  seen  it  grow 
from  a sparsely  settled  mining  and  stock-growing  re- 
gion to  the  proud  position  of  a flourishing  and  progres- 
sive state,  possessing  all  of  the  advantages  enjoyed  by 
the  oldest  settled  regions  of  the  United  States.  In  the 
growth  and  upward  march  of  the  state  Mr.  Parchen  has 
been  a recognized  force  in  advancing  all  that  was  good 
and  enduring  in  commerce  and  government.  Possessing 
high  ideals  and  an  integrity  that  is  unbending,  he  has 
always  maintained  a position  that  has  a decided  ten- 
dency to  foster  and  to  elevate  the  standards  of  com- 
mercial affairs  in  his  own  community.  His  prescience 
and  unfaltering  belief  in  the  ultimate  destiny  of  Mon- 
tana as  a great  commonwealth  enabled  him  to  so  shape 
his  affairs  that  he  was  sure  to  prosper  as  the  state 
prospered  and  grew  in  population.  He  occupies  today 
an  enviable  position  in  the  business  and  social  life  of 
the  city  of  Helena,  and  may  feel  justly  proud  of  the 
fact  that  he  was  one  of  the  citizens  who  laid  the  foun- 
dation stones,  broad  and  deep,  and  aided  in  directing 
its  course  toward  civic  righteousness  and  honor. 

Mr.  Parchen  is  of  German  descent  and  was  born  in 
Prussia,  June  13,  1839,  the  son  of  George  and  Mary 
Parchen.  The  father  and  grandfather  were  prosperous 
citizens  of  the  community  in  which  they  lived,  and  fol- 
lowed the  business  of  millers  and  were  owners  of  grist 
mills.  In  1848  the  parents  were  imbued  with  the  spirit 
of  unrest  that  was  prevalent  among  their  countrymen 
at  that  time  and  determined  to  seek  their  fortune  in  a 
new  land.  They  chose  America  as  the  object  of  their 
destination  and  settled  in  Townline,  near  Buffalo,  where 
they  lived  until  1861.  They  then  removed  to  Richard- 
son count}%  Nebraska,  where  the  father  purchased  a 
farm  and  took  up  the  life  of  a practical  farmer,  at 
which  he  continued  until  his  death,  in  1895.  Of  the  four 


children  born  to  George  and  Mary  Parchen,  the  young- 
est was  Henry  M,  He  remained  with  his  parents  until 
he  was  fourteen  years  of  age  and  attended  the  common 
schools  and  then  took  a thorough  business  course  in 
the  Bryant  and  Stratton  Business  College  at  Buffalo, 
New  York.  On  leaving  school  he  was  employed  as 
a clerk  at  Townline  until  1857,  when  he  removed  to 
Marshall  county,  Indiana,  remaining  there  until  1858, 
when  he  went  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  In  1862  he  deter- 
mined to  try  his  fortune  in  the  gold  fields  of  Colorado 
and  went  to  Denver,  which  was  then  but  a small,  in- 
significant town,  but  which  possessed  a live  and  hust- 
ling population.  The  times  were  exciting  and  many 
thrilling  incidents  occurred  during  the  residence  of 
Mr.  Parchen  in  that  city.  He  secured  a position  as 
bookkeeper  in  the  Planter’s  House,  one  of  the  leading 
hotels  of  the  town,  and  remained  there  until  the  follow- 
ing spring,  when  he  assumed  charge  of  the  IMassasoit 
House  at  Central  City,  which  he  conducted  for  some 
time.  In  1864  the  gold  fields  of  Montana  were  produc- 
ing an  immense  amount  of  j-ellow  metal  and  Mr.  Par-, 
chen,  having  acquired  a taste  for  the  life  and  activity 
of  the  mining  camps,  and  with  a view  to  bettering  his 
fortunes,  started  for  Montana,  and,  arriving  in  Virginia 
City,  was  employed  as  a bookkeeper  in  the  mercantile 
house  of  Erfurt,  Busch  & Company  for  about  one  year. 
He  then  joined  Dr.  Wernigk  and  Louis  Keysser,  and 
the  three  proceeded  to  Helena  and  established  a drug 
and  grocery  store.  Later  on  the  firm  was  changed  to 
Parchen  & Paynter,  the  new  partner  in  the  concern  be- 
ing W.  S.  Paynter.  The  business  prospered  exceedingly 
in  the  hands  of  the  new  firm  and  was  greatly  extended 
by  the  establishment  of  branch  houses  in  Deer  Lodge 
and  other  important  points.  The  business  of  the  firm 
was  conducted  on  a large  scale,  both  wholesale  and  re- 
tail, and  became  one  of  the  recognized  substantial  and 
growing  institutions  of  the  territor}\  In  1874  the  in- 
terest of  Paynter  was  acquired  by  purchase  and  Mr. 
Parchen  became  the  owner.  The  business  has  since 
been  conducted  in  the  firm  name  of  H.  M.  Parchen  & 
Company.  By  this  consolidation  Mr.  Parchen  became 
the  leading  retail  and  wholesale  dealer  in  drugs  in  the 
northwest  and  this  position  he  has  maintained  until  the 
present  day,  greatly  extending  and  amplifying  his  busi- 
ness as  time  and  the  conditions  of  the  trade  warranted. 
By  his  established  reputation  for  integrity  in  all  his 
dealings  he  has  reached  the  acme  of  success  in  the 
business  and  financial  world  and  his  present  wholesale 
and  retail  establishment  in  Helena  will  compare  favor- 
ably with  similar  concerns  in  any  city  of  the  world. 
The  Parchen  Drug  Company  is  the  name  of  the  firm 
at  the  present  time,  and  is  composed  of  Henry  M. 
Parchen  and  his  two  sons,  Henry  G.  and  Albert  D., 
and  Adele  M.  Parchen,  his  daughter.  Their  business  is 
carried  on  in  a fine  three-story  brick  building  on  the 
corner  of  Main  street  and  Broadway,  and  they  own  and 
occupy  in  addition  to  this  fireproof  warehouses  on 
Broadway  and  Jackson  streets.  They  are  also  the  manu- 
facturers of  pharmaceutical  preparations  and  standard 
remedies  and  have  a wide  and  increasing  demand  for 
these  products.  Their  goods  are  distributed  in  all 
parts  of  Montana,  Idaho,  Washington  and  Wyoming. 

jMr.  Parchen  has  always  been  identified_  with  every 
movement  looking  to  the  progress  of  his  city  and  state 
and  its  steady  advance  and  development  has  been  largely 
due  to  his  influence  and  exertions.  It  was  due  to 
the  influence  of  Mr.  Parchen  and  his  five  associates, 
that  the  three  branch  railroads  connecting  Helena  with 
surrounding  mining  camps  were  built  by  the  Northern 
Pacific  Railway  Company  and  which  have  proved  so 
beneficial  to  the  miners  and  to  the  commercial  growth 
and  expansion  of  the  business  of  Helena.  He  is  pres- 
ident of  the  Penn  Yan  Mining  Company,  whose  prop- 
erty is  located  near  Wickes,  Jefferson  county.  He  is 
interested  largely  in  mines  and  is  a heavy  realty  holder 
in  and  about  Helena.  He  has  been  foremost  in  the  or- 


928 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


ganization  of  many  industrial  enterprises  of  a public 
nature  in  this  part  of  the  state  that  have  had  a direct 
and  lasting  benefit.  As  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Helena  Board  of  Trade  he  was  honored  by  being  named 
as  its  first  president  and  its  usefulness  was  greatly  en- 
hanced by  his  untiring  and  unflagging  efforts,  until 
today  the  Helena  Commercial  Club,  a direct  descendant 
of  the  former  organization,  is  regarded  as  one  of  the 
strongest  and  most  useful  of  the  kind  in  the  northwest 
for  the  promotion  of  the  general  welfare.  He  is  also 
interested  in  stock  growing  on  a large  scale  and  is  the 
owner  of  a vast  tract  of  land  in  Cascade  county,  on 
which  are  ranged  herds  of  cattle  and  sheep,  he  being 
part  owner  of  the  Cascade  Land  Company. 

In  early  life  he  was  affiliated  with  the  Democratic 
party  and  voted  for  Stephen  A.  Douglas  for  the  pres- 
idency in  i860,  but  since  the  second  election  of  Lincoln 
he  has  been  a staunch  and  consistent  adherent  to  the 
principles  of  the  Republican  party  and  has  been  hon- 
ored by  the  party  by  election  to  positions  of  honor  and 
trust.  For  three  years  he  was  county  commissioner  of 
Lewis  and  Clarke  county  and  was  a member  of  the 
Twelfth  legislative  assembly.  Fraternally  Mr.  Parchen 
is  prominently  identified  with  the  Masonic  order,  both 
the  York  and  Scottish  Rite,  and  for  thirty-nine  years 
has  served  as  grand  treasurer  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
Montana.  Fie  is  also  a member  of  the  Montana  Club. 

In  1872  Mr.  Parchen  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Emma  D’Achuel,  a descendant  of  one  of  the  old  French 
families  of  St.  Louis,  where  she  was  born.  She  is  a 
gracious,  very  intelligent  and  progressive  woman  and 
is  held  in  the  highest  esteem  by  a large  acquaintance 
both  in  and  out  of  the  state  of  Montana.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Parchen  have  four  children  who  share  with  them  their 
beautiful  home,  which  is  one  of  the  most  elegant  in  the 
city,  surrounded  with  spacious  grounds  and  adorned 
with  shrubbery  and  shade  trees.  It  is  a home  where 
hospitality  is  dispensed  with  lavish  hand  and  where 
friends  and  visitors  are  entertained  in  a manner  fitting 
and  appropriate  to  the  surroundings.  The  children  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Parchen  are  Adele  M.,  Henry  G.,  Albert 
D'A.  and  Ruehling  A. 

Mr.  Parchen  has  earned  a vacation  from  his  arduous 
duties,  carried  on  for  half  a century,  but  is  still  as 
active  as  ever,  although  he  can  now  relax  to  a great 
extent,  knowing  that  his  business  affairs  are  in  the 
hands  of  his  sons,  who  are  the  brightest  and  most  ca- 
pable of  young  men,  and  have  been  carefully  educated 
and  trained  to  carry  on  the  great  enterprises  established 
by  their  father.  Several  years  ago  Mr.  Parchen  de- 
termined to  pay  a visit  to  his  native  land,  and,  accom- 
panied hy  his  wife,  son  and  daughter,  returned  to  the 
place  of  his  birth  in  Prussia.  There  they  were  agree- 
ably surprised  and  pleased  to  find  a number  of  rela- 
tives, who  were  delighted  at  their  visit  and  took  every 
pains  to  make  their  stay  most  agreeable.  They  ex- 
tended their  trip  around  the  world,  taking  in  all  the 
great  seaports  and  cities,  returning  to  their  home  in 
Helena  possessed  with  a vivid  and  pleasant  memory  of 
many  lands,  many  peoples  and  many  cities. 

JosiAH  Fr.ancis  Beck,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of 
Butte  and  one  of  its  best  known  _ citizens  and  largest 
property  holders,  was  born  in  Indiana,  Indiana  county, 
Pennsylvania,  on  December  16,  1834.  He  was  of  Ger- 
man ancestry,  the  German  rendering  of  the  family  name 
being  von  Beck.  His  father.  William  Beck,  was  a pros- 
perous farmer  of  Indiana  county,  and  the  Becks  were 
among  the  earliest  settlers  in  that  section  of  the  state. 
His  mother,  Elizabeth  Rowe,  was  likewise  descended 
from  an  old  Pennsylvania  family. 

Frank  Beck,  as  he  was  better  known  to  his  friends 
in  Butte,  was  reared  to  farm  work  and  received  his 
early  education  in  the  district  schools  of  his  native  vil- 
lage. Fie  later  took  an  academic  course  and  a special 
business  course  at  Duff’s  Business  College  in  Pittsburg, 


and  was  graduated  from  that  school  in  1856.  It  may  be 
stated  here  that  the  young  man  made  his  business  edu- 
cation in  this  college  possible  by  teaching  school  for  a 
number  of  terms,  beginning  when  he  was  but  sixteen 
years  old.  From  1858  to  1861  he  taught  in  Kentucky, 
It  being  his  intention  then  to  follow  the  law  or  medi- 
cine. It  was  more  by  accident  than  design  that  he 
arrived  at  Pike’s  Peak  in  1861,  he  being  in  St.  Louis 
on  a 'visit  when  he  met  his  only  brother,  Daniel  R., 
who  was  then  preparing  to  go  to  Colorado.  Mr.  Beck 
joined  his  brother's  party  and  they  went  up  the  river  to 
. Nebraska  City,  there  joining  a wagon  train  to  Denver, 
making  the  trip  in  twenty-six  days.  Denver  at  that 
time  consisted  of  but  a few  streets,  a number  of  fron- 
tier hotels  and  scattering  stores.  Soon  afterward  the 
party  moved  on  to  Central  City  and  Russell  Gulch, 
then  the  best  camps  in  Colorado.  Mr.  Beck  stopped 
there  a few  weeks,  where  he  occupied  himself  at  min- 
ing and  was  later  employed  at  various  other  camps, 
continuing  in  prospecting  until  the  summer  of  1863. 
He  then  went  to  Denver  and  was  employed  as  night 
clerk  in  a hotel  there.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  a fire 
occurred  in  the  hotel  with  which  he  was  identified,  and 
he  barely  escaped  with  his  life,  and  after  that  expe- 
rience he  decided  to  return  to  the  east  for  a visit.  In 
the  spring  of  1864  he  outfitted  at  Omaha,  and  with  two 
yoke  of  oxen  and  a huge  wagon  loaded  with  a supply 
of  sugar,  bacon  and  flour,  he  made  his  way  safely  back 
to  his  old  camps  in  Colorado,  selling  his  provisions  on 
the  way  for  fabulous  prices.  About  this  time  news  of 
the  gold  strike  in  Alder  Gulch  was  made  public  and  Mr. 
Beck  immediately  set  out  for  Virginia  City,  reaching 
there  on  June  ii,  1864.  With  E.  FI.  Lockwood  he  bought 
a claim  at  the  upper  end  of  the  gulch,  which  they 
worked  with  profit.  In  December  of  that  year  he  came 
to  Butte  and  spent  the  winter  at  work  upon  some 
claims  his  brother  had  located  there  during  the  pre- 
vious summer,  and  in  the  summer  following  he  and 
Thomas  Hall  worked  at  dry  digging,  hauling  the  dirt 
to  the  creek  with  whatever  means  they  had  at  their 
disposal,  and  at  the  end  of  three  months,  when  the 
water  failed  them,  they  had  cleaned  up  the  tidy  sum  of 
better  than  $S,ooo. 

Silver  Bow  was  then  the  county  seat  of  the  larger 
Deer  Lodge  county,  and  Mr.  Beck  being  one  of  the 
best  penmen  in  the  vicinity,  he  was  made  deputy  clerk 
and  recorder,  an  office  which  he  held  for  several  years. 
When  the  county  seat  was  removed  to  Deer  Lodge  citj^ 
in  1865,  Mr.  Beck  went  along.  But  the  continued  con- 
finement of  office  work  was  displeasing  to  a man  of  his 
nature  and  in  1866  he  resigned  his  position  and  returned 
to  Butte.  That  year  the  Highland  Gulch  excitement 
came  up,  and,  as  before,  Mr.  Beck  was  among  the  first 
on  the  ground.  Flis  claims  did  not  prove  inordinately 
rich,  and  when  he  finally  gave  up  prospecting  there  he 
found  himself  in  debt.  Thereafter  he  traveled  to  other 
points  in  the  state,  but  in  1874  came  back  to  Butte  and 
worked  for  a number  of  years  at  shaft  building  and 
other  carpenter  work.  As  much  of  his  savings  as  he 
could  spare  from  his  work  he  invested  in  local  real 
estate,  which  grew  in  value  enormously,  rendering  him 
a wealthy  man  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

When  Butte  organized  a city  government  Mr.  Beck 
was  elected  the  first  marshal,  and  at  the  same  time 
Henry  Jacobs  was  chosen  mayor  and  Charles  S.  War- 
ren, police  judge.  Later  Mr.  Beck  held  such  positions 
as  deputy  sheriff,  deputy  county  treasurer  and  city 
treasurer,  always  taking  an  active  and  intelligent  in- 
terest in  local  and  state  politics.  Eventually,  Imwever, 
he  gave  up  office  holding  in  order  that  he  might  de- 
vote his  time  more  fully  to  his  real  estate  interests.  _ 

Mr.  Beck  was  a Democrat  all  his  life.  He  main- 
tained no  set  religious  views,  but  he  was  a generous 
contributor  to  all  sects  and  liberally  supported  all 
charitable  enterprises  and  movements  for  the  communal 
welfare.  He  was  never  known  to  withhold  his  hearty 


V 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


929 


influence  and  splendid  financial  support  from  any  worthy 
cause.  In  all  his  dealings  he  acted  the  part  of  a con- 
scientious and  upright  man,  and  none  was  held  in 
higher  repute  than  he.  His  kind  and  genial  disposition 
made  him  an  amiable  companion  and  a friend  whom 
all  were  proud  to  claim. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Beck  was  affiliated  with  various  as- 
sociations. He  was  a charter  member  of  Red  Mountain 
Lodge,  No.  12,  of  the  IMasons,  organized  in  1869,  and 
he  later  joined  Butte  Lodge,  No.  22,  of  which  he  was 
the  first  master  elected  in  1877.  He  was  also  a charter 
member  of  Damon  Lodge,  Knights  of  Pythias.  He 
was  a member  of  the  Society  of  Mountain  Pioneers,  and 
for  years  was  president  of  the  Rod  and  Gun  Club  of 
Butte.  Fie  was  particularly  fond  of  dogs,  of  which  he 
owned  several  valuable  ones  at  all  times,  and  found 
great  pleasure  in  hunting  and  fishing,  all  outdoor  life 
appealing  to  him  as  a true  lover  of  nature. 

Mr.  Beck  died  in  Butte  on  April  28,  1909,  and  is 
buried  in  Mount  Moriah  cemetery. 

John  F.  Teb.\y.  The  late  John  F.  Tebay,  a success- 
ful and  well-known  citizen  and  stock-grower  of  Jeffer- 
son county,  was  a Montana  pioneer  of  marked  pros- 
perity. He  came  to  this  state  from  Illinois,  his  native 
state,  but  was  a representative  of  English  families. 
William  Tebay  and  Mary  Furthergole,  his  parents,  were 
both  born  in  England,  both  came  early  to  America  and 
settled  in  Kendall  county,  Illinois,  where  they  were  mar- 
ried at  the  little  town  of  Bristol.  William  Tebay  be- 
came a farmer  in  that  vicinity  and  was  otherwise  en- 
gaged during  his  lifetime  in  mercantile  business  in  Chi- 
cago, while  that  city  was  3'et  young.  He  conducted  a 
store  on  Dearborn  street,  just  across  the  river  on  the 
north  side.  He  died  in  the  Illinois  metropolis  in  1849, 
and  his  burial  place  was  a plot  of  ground  in  the  section 
that  has  since  become  Lincoln  Park.  Mary  Further- 
gole Tebay  lived  until  1884,  spending  her  later  days 
in  Montgomery,  Illinois.  They  were  highly  regarded 
at  a time  and  in  a locality  which  ranked  character  as 
the  true  aristocracy. 

John  F.  Tebay,  the  son  of  William  Tebay,  and  Mary, 
his  wife,  was  born  in  Oswego,  Illinois,  on  the  ninth 
day  of  October,  1840.  In  the  public  schools  of  that 
place  he  received  his  education  and  as  a boy  assisted 
his  father  with  his  different  enterprises.  When  he  was 
nineteen  years  of  age  he  attempted  to  find  a fortune 
at  Pike’s  Peak,  but  being  unsuccessful,  returned  home 
after  three  months.  He  did  not,  however,  give  up  the 
idea  of  financially  finding  himself  in  the  west.  Five 
years  later,  in  1864,  he  ventured  forth  upon  an  overland 
trip,  with  a horse-team,  to  Montana.  When  he  reached 
Fort  Kearney,  Nebraska,  he  found  it  advisable  to  wait 
until  a train  of  teams  could  be  formed  in  order  to  in- 
sure protection  from  the  Indians  during  the  remainder 
of  the  journey.  He  was  obliged  to  remain  at  the  fort 
for  two  weeks,  by  the  end  of  which  time  seventy-five 
wagons  had  arrived.  Forming  a train,  all  started  toward 
Salt  Lake  City,  which  they  reached  without  experienc- 
ing any  excitement  from  Indian  attacks,  although  trains 
preceding  and  following  them  were  caused  not  a little 
trouble  of  a serious  nature.  From  Salt  Lake  they  pro- 
ceeded to  respective  points  in  Montana.  Mr.  Tebay’s 
objective  point  being  Virginia  City,  which  he  reached 
on  September  10,  1864.  Not  long  afterward  he  removed 
to  Jefferson  Island,  in  Jefferson  county,  where  he  took 
pre-emption  and  homestead  claims,  later  a part  of  his 
ranch  property,  which  at  the  time  of  his  death  com- 
prised 1.600  acres.  In  establishing  this  ranch  Mr.  Te- 
bay made  dairying  his  major  enterprise.  During  the  first 
winter  of  his  residence  and  business  at  Jefferson  Island 
he  sold  butter  at  $3.00  a pound ; it  then  dropped  to 
$1.50;  remaining  stationary  for  four  or  five  years,  and 
when  finally  the  rate  dropped  to  $1.00  per  pound  Mr. 
Tebay  discontinued  dairying  and  specialized  in  cattle- 
raising. From  1875  to  1880  he  pastured  1,400  head  of 


cattle  on  the  Musselshell  river,  later  selling  the  entire 
herd. 

At  the  time  of  initiating  his  cattle  business  Mr.  Tebay 
had  gone  east  by  steamboat  from  Fort  Benton  in  the 
autumn  of  1867 ; in  the  spring  of  the  following  year 
he  had  returned  with  sixteen  horses  and  a load  o^ 
freight.  From  that  time  he  steadily  continued  his  stock- 
growing, usually  wintering  from  500  to  1,000  head  of 
cattle  and  from  300  to  500  horses.  At  the  time  of  his 
death  he  owned  this  extensive  ranch  of  1,600  acres, 
another  of  320  acres  near  Whitehall,  valuable  farm 
property  in  Franklin  county,  Iowa,  real  estate  in  the 
city  of  Helena  and  holdings  of  a similar  kind  in  Mont- 
gomery, Illinois.  In  Whitehall  he  also  owned  two  large 
brick  business  buildings  and  a number  of  dwellings. 
The  fine  brick  residence  which  was  the  family  home- 
stead_  at  the  original  ranch,  together  with  the  other 
buildings  surrounding  it,  indicated  the  progressive  spirit 
of  the  owner  of  that  property,  for  it  was  counted  one 
of  the  best  in  the  county. 

Mrs.  John  F.  Tebay  was  one  of  two  daughters  of 
Joseph  and  Lucina  (Young)  Hager,  of  New  York. 
Alice  Hager  was  born  February  22,  1849,  in  Kendall 
county,  Illinois,  and  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Tebay  oc- 
curred on  August  5,  1880.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tebay  be- 
came the  parents  of  three  children,  all  of  whom  were 
reared  to  maturity.  James  Boyd  Tebay  is  engaged  in 
ranching  near  Whitehall.  Miss  Kate  Tebay  became  Mrs. 
John  V.  Huffman,  of  Whitehall,  and  is  the  mother  of 
one  daughter,  Alice  Huff'man.  Miss  Claire  became  Mrs. 
John  M.  Crow,  whose  husband  has  taken  charge  of  the 
Tebay  homestead  estate  near  Whitehall.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Crow  are  the  parents  of  one  son,  John  Franklin  Crow. 

John  Tebay,  the  creator  of  the  prosperity  outlined 
above  and  the  progenitor  of  the  family  he  has  left  to 
enjoy  it,  closed  his  earthly  activities  on  February  9, 
1903,  and  was  buried  at  Whitehall.  IMrs.  Tebay,  who 
with  his  son  and  daughters  survives  the  husband  and 
father,  is  residing  near  Whitehall. 

Joseph  H.\inds.  Success  has  been  worthily  attained 
by  Joseph  Blainds,  who  is  today  accounted  one  of  the 
most  prosperous  and  influential  citizens  of  the  Beaver- 
head valley.  To  his  energ\-,  enterprise,  careful  manage- 
ment and  keen  discernment  his  present  station  in  life 
is  attributed.  For  many  years  he  followed  ranching 
in  this  county,  but  retired  in  1908  and  is  now  free  to 
enjoy  in  leisure  the  fruits  of  his  former  industry  and 
thrift.  Mr.  Hainds  is  one  of  the  Montana  pioneers — a 
stock  impossible  to  surpass  in  courage,  integrity  and 
ability,  not  even  by  the  Pilgrim  fathers,  and  toda\-  he 
enjoys  not  merely  the  respect,  confidence  and  good 
will  of  an  entire  communiW  but  also  its  affection,  as 
one  of  that  fine  company  who  paved  the  way  for  lat- 
ter day  prosperitv  and  good  government,  and  in  all  the 
years  has  fostered  it. 

Mr.  Hainds  was  born  in  Sheridan  county.  IMissouri. 
March  8,  1844.  and  there  resided  until  eighteen  years 
of  age.  Then,  lured  by  the  reports  of  the  richness  of 
the  opening  west,  he  came  overland  to  Montana,  and 
arrived  in  the  state  December  5,  1864.  His  tenure  of 
residence  within  the  favored  boundaries  of  Montana 
dates  from  that  time — nearly  a half  century.  He  first 
located  in  Virginia  City,  where  he  engaged  in  mining, 
and  in  jMarch,  1865,  went  to  Helena,  but  remained  there 
but  a short  time,  going  on  in  June  of  that  year  to 
Blackfoot,  where  he  continued  to  live  for  twelve  years. 
At  the  termination  of  that  period  he  went  to  Sin  River 
Crossing  and  was  there  for  about  four  >'ears,  engaging 
in  the  stock  business.  His  next  move  was  to  Miles 
City,  where  he  remained  a year,  and  thence  he  went  to 
Red  Rock,  Beaverhead  counH,  where  he  was  to  stay 
for  many  years,  his  operation  in  ranching  and  stock- 
raising  continuing  until  1908,  when  he  retired  and  came 
to  Dillon.  During  alm.ost  his  entire  career  he  has  been 
upon  an  independent  footing  and  the  only  salaried  po- 


930 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


sition  he  ever  held  in  Montana  was  when  he  worked 
for  Oliver  & Company,  opening  the  stage  office  at 
Blackfoot  for  this  firm  and  having  under  his  manage- 
ment a large  number  of  teams  and  men.  He  has 
always  proved  a valuable  factor  in  any  enterprise,  pos- 
sessing executive  ability,  tireless  energy,  engineering 
skill  and  genius  in  the  broad  combination  and  concen- 
tration of  applicable  forces.  He  gained  his  elementary 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  Missouri  and  then 
took  a higher  course  in  the  college  at  Mounds,  Mis- 
souri. He  earned  his  first  money  as  a boy  of  twelve 
years,  as  clerk  in  a store  in  Missouri,  and  at  an  early 
age  were  learned  those  lessons  in  industry  and  thrift 
which  have  since  stood  him  in  such  good  stead. 

-Mr.  Hainds  is  actively  identified  with  the  Democratic 
partyy  in  the  superiority  of  those  policies  and  ^ prin- 
ciples he  has  ever  believed.  He  has  ever  held  himself 
in  readiness  to  do  anything  in  his  power  to  advance 
the  welfare  of  the  cause  and  he  is  decidedly  influen- 
tial in  party  ranks.  He  formerly  held  the  office  of 
justice  of  the  peace  and  is  street  commissioner  at  the 
present  time.  His  loyalty  to  state,  county  and  town 
is  unquestioned  and  in  all  that  effects  Dillon  and  its 
people  he  has  keen  interest  and  there  is  no  local  move- 
ment which  in  his  judgment  promises  benefit  to  any 
considerable  number  of  his  fellow  citizens  that  does  not 
have  his  cordial  advocacy  and  generous  support.  He_  is 
a Presbyterian  in  his  religious  conviction,  while  the  faith 
of  his  admirable  wife  is  that  of  the  Baptist  church. 
He  is  like  the  normal  man,  very  fond  of  out-door  life 
and  in  his  younger  days  was  noted  far  and  wide  as 
an  expert  rider,  fearless  of  the  most  fiery  and  capri- 
cious mount. 

Mr.  Hainds  was  happily  married  at  Red  Rock,  Mon- 
tana, January  i,  1883,  the  maiden  name  of  his  wife  being 
Rose  Best.  They  have  two  children,  as  follows : Henry, 
born  October  15,  1888,  an  expert  machinist  and  resi- 
dent in  Dillon,  and  Jessie,  born  at  Red  Rock,  Novem- 
ber 16,  1898,  and  now  a high  school  student. 

Mr.  Hainds’  father,  Henry  Hainds,  v.'as  born  in  St. 
Charles  county,  Missouri,  and  lived  in  that  state  through- 
out his  entire  life,  following  farming  and  also  doing 
considerable  speculating.  The  mother,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Jane  Smith,  was  born  in  Virginia  and  mar- 
ried in  Missouri,  where  she  is  interred  side  by  side  with 
her  life  companion.  Mr.  Hainds  is  the  eldest  in  a 
family  of  three  children.  He  was  but  twelve  years  old 
when  his  father  died,  and  virtually  ever  since  that  time 
he  has  been  - hustling  for  himself. 

Amos  Buck.  The  life  of  Amos  Buck  is  in  itself  a 
minature  history  of  the  state  of  Montana.  It  was  such 
sons  as  he  who  led  her  from  a wild  mining  camp  to  a 
fair  and  prosperous  state,  the  peer  of  any  of  her  sisters. 
Mr.  Buck  has  shared  her  fortunes  from  the  first  in 
placer  mining,  as  an  Indian  fighter,  an  orchardist,  a 
ranchman  and  a merchant.  Her  success  has  meant  lijs 
success  and  his  advancement  hers,  until  now  he  is 
known  as  a merchant  king  in  the  oldest  of  her  cities, 
Stevensville. 

Mr.  Buck  was  born  back  in  Sandusky,  Ohio,  on  Feb- 
ruary 26,  1844.  His  father,  George  Buck  was  a farmer 
who  came  from  Pennsylvania  to  Ohio,  and  later  moved 
his  family  to  Michigan,  where  he  spent  the  last  days  of 
his  life.  The  mother,  Susan  Snell  Buck,  also  a native 
of  Pennsylvania,  gave  birth  to  thirteen  children  and  lived 
to  the  age  of  ninty-one,  being  at  last  laid  to  rest  beside 
her  husband  in  Monroe  county,  Michigan.  Only  three 
of  the  thirteen  offspring  are  now  living : Amos,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch;  Susan,  a widowed  sister,  who 
married  H.  C.  Vandercock  and  now  makes  her  home  in 
Sacramento,  California;  and  a brother,  Henry,  who  was 
for  a number  of  years  associated  with  Amos  Buck  in 
the  mercantile  business.  In  1911  he  sold  his  interest  in 
the  business  to  his  brother  and  has  now  assumed  the 
active  management  of  his  extensive  ranch  and  orchard 
lands  in  the  Bitter  Root  valley.  Fred  Buck,  who  is  now 
deceased,  was  the  captain  of  Company  B,  Michigan 


First  Heavy  Artillery.  He  served  his  country  loyally 
from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  the  Civil  war. 

Amos  Buck  attended  the  graded  school  and  high 
school  of  Monroe,  Michigan,  and  received  a brief  course 
in  the  Michigan  State  Normal  school.  When  eighteen 
years  of  age,  his  brother-in-law,  Fred  Bitting,  offered 
him  a position  in  his  general  store  at  Bellvue,  Ohio. 
It  was  here  that  Mr.  Buck  received  his  first  practical 
experience  in  mercantile  life.  Even  during  his  boy- 
hood he  had  dreamed  -of  the  west,  and  the  little  Ohio 
town  seemed  lifeless  and  enervating  in  comparison  with 
the  freedom  and  inspiration  of  those  dreams.  For 
two  years  he  clerked  faithfully,  in  the  employ  of  his 
relative,  saving  all  that  he  could  of  his  meager  wage 
that  his  dream  might  become  a reality.  In  the  spring 
of  ’sixty-four,  he  left  Ohio  by  rail  for  St.  Joe,  Missouri. 
There  he  joined  a company  of  twenty  men,  bound  for 
the  west.  It  fell  to  his  lot  to  drive  the  four-yoke  ox 
team  most  of  the  distance  across  the  plains  to  Alder 
Gulch,  now  dignified  by  the  name  of  Virginia  City.  The 
journey  consumed  one  hundred  and  forty-six  days,  but 
to  Mr.  Buck  it  was  a pleasure,  as  it  was  the  beginning 
of  the  realization  of  his  ambitions.  He  can  remember 
no  hardships,  enroute,  equal  to  some  with  which  he  had 
to  contend  in  later  life. 

On  his  arrival,  Mr.  Buck  began  work  at  placer  mining, 
receiving  six  dollars  per  day  for  his  services.  His  pay 
was  in  gold  dust,  the  only  medium  of  exchange  known 
to  that  camp  that  winter.  Provisions  became  very 
scarce  before  spring  and  prices  accordingly  advanced. 
At  one  time  the  men  were  paying  one  dollar  and  thirty- 
five  cents  a pound  for  flour  and  one  dollar  a pound  for 
rice.  Salt  could  not  be  had  at  any  price.  A newspaper 
sold  for  a dollar,  and  a messenger  charged  a dollar 
for  every  letter  he  carried  in  or  out.  When  the  longed- 
for  spring  finally  arrived,  Mr.  Buck  with  his  worldly 
goods  strapped  to  his  back,  walked  to  Helena  by  way 
of  the  site  that  is  now  Butte.  In  Helena,  he  worked  at 
placer  mining  throughout  the  summer  and  autumn.  He 
was  present  when  the  first  step  toward  law  and  order 
was  emphatically  taken.  An  unusually  harrowing  mur- 
der had  been  committed.  The  culprit  was  tried  by  a 
jury  of  miners  appointed  for  the  occasion.  He  admitted 
his  guilt  and  was  given  one  hour  in  which  to  arrange 
his  worldly  affairs  before  meeting  death  on  the  scaffold. 
In  such  manner  were  the  rights  of  man  protected  in  the 
early  days  of  Montana. 

In  the  autumn  of  the  same  year,  Mr.  Buck  went  to 
California  Gulch,  near  the  present  location  of  Black- 
foot  City,  where  he  mined  until  October  of  1886  before 
going  to  Lincoln  Gulch  where  he  purchased  his  first 
mine.  During  the  four  years  in  which  he  worked  his 
own  mine  he  was  able  to  accumulate  some  little  means. 
In  1870,  the  property  being  worked  out,  he  sold  the 
water  rights  and  pushed  on  to  Cedar  Creek,  Missoula 
county.  There  he  was  joined  by  three  brothers,  Henry, 
Fred  and  George.  Together  they  built  boats  and  floated 
down  the  Blackfoot  river  to  the  timber  country,  where 
they  rip-sawed  the  trees  into  boards,  carrying  many  a 
load  back  to  some  mining  claim  or  camp.  These  boards 
sold  for  twenty-four  cents  per  foot,  board  measure,  the 
brothers  often  earning  as  much  as  forty  dollars  .a  day, 
and  the  work  lasting  for  more  than  sixty  days.  The 
oldest  brother,  George,  in  the  meantime  engaged  in 
mining.  The  other  brothers,  Amos,  Henry  and  Fred, 
joined  George  at  Camp  67,  where  each  of  them  pur- 
chased an  interest  in  the  mine.  In  1871  Amos  Buck 
was  called  to  Bitter  Root  valley  on  business  and  so 
pleased  was  he  with  the  strip  of  garden  land  and  its 
future  prospects,  that  four  years  later,  when  the  brothers 
were  able  to  dispose  of  their  mine  to  advantage,  they 
settled  in  the  Bitter  Root,  locating  in  Stevensville,  where 
they  established  the  mercantile  house  that  today  is  so 
well  known.  It  is  now  not  only  the  oldest  but  the 
largest  firm  of  its  kind  in  the  community. 

The  Buck  brothers  had  been  in  Stevensville  scarcely 
two  years  when  the  trouble  with  the  Nez  Perces  Indians 
reached  its  culmination.  The  battle  commenced  on  the 


I 


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V 


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i 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


931 


ninth  day  of  August,  1877.  The  women,  children  and 
personal  property  were  so  far  as  possible  sent  from  the 
town  to  Fort  Owen,  all  of  Mr.  Buck’s  merchandise  being 
removed  by  wagon.  The  Indian  band  outnumbered 
many  times  the  small  company  of  soldiers  reinforced  by 
the  brave  citizens  of  Stevensville.  Among  these  citizens, 
Amos  Buck  was  one  of  the  leaders.  During  the  twenty 
hours  of  hot  conflict  he  alone  fired  thirty-five  shots. 
For  a time  the  Indians  had  the  white  men  surrounded 
in  Big  Hole  Gulch  and  the  outcome  looked  dubious. 
However,  the  discipline  of  the  soldiers  under  General 
Gibbons,  together  with  the  determined  efforts  of  the 
long-suffering  men  of  Stevensville,  finally  won  the  day; 
another  instance  of  right  against  might.  Sixty-nine 
white  men,  many  of  them  settlers  who  had  come  to 
Montana  to  find  homes  for  their  families,  lost  their 
lives  in  this  bloody  battle.  The  Indians  fled  in  dismay, 
after  leaving  more  than  two  hundred  of  their  braves 
on  the  field.  The  best  account  of  this — the  last  stand 
of  the  Nez  Perces  Indians  was  written  by  Mr.  Buck 
himself,  and  now  remains  on  file  in  Volume  VII  of  the 
Montana  Historical  Society.  His  activity  in  the  pro- 
tection of  Stevensville,  added  much  to  the  ^ already 
growing  popularity  of  the  young  man,  and  time  has 
proved  that  the  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens  was  not 
misplaced. 

In  the  autumn  of  1905,  Mr.  Buck  was  chosen  by  the 
Republicans  of  his  district  to  represent  Stevensville  and 
vicinity  in  the  state  legislature.  While  in  the  assembly 
he  fathered  the  bill  naming  Ravalli  county  and  intro- 
duced the  one  creating  Sanders  county  and  naming  it 
for  the  worthy  general  whose  courage  had  done  much 
for  Montana. 

In  fraternal  circles,  Mr.  Buck  is  again  a leader,  having 
filled  all  of  the  chairs  in  the  Masonic 'blue  lodge  and 
in  the  Odd  Fellows  of  Stevensville.  It  was  largely  due 
to  his  efforts  that  the  fund  was  raised  for  establishment 
of  the  prosperous  manual-training  high  school  which 
is  so  important  to  the  youth  of  the  city. 

Amos  Buck,  during  his  young  manhood  succeeded 
in  winning  for  his  wife.  Miss  Rosa  V.  Knapp,  of  Albion, 
Michigan.  Even  in  matrimony  the  fates  seemed  to 
favor  him.  Mrs.  Buck  is  the  daughter  of  Jared  Knapp, 
of  New  York  state,  who  in  his  younger  days  settled  in 
Michigan  and  became  one  of  her  wealthy  agriculturists. 
Personally,  she  is  a woman  of  culture  and  education, 
a graduate  of  Albion  College,  class  of  1878.  Their  only 
child,  Charles  Buck,  has  now  completed  the  course 
offered  by  the  Montana  State  University  and  is  now 
department  manager  in  his  father's  establishment  at 
Stevensville. 

While  Amos  Buck  is  a very  successful  merchant  his 
interests  are  much  too  large  to  be  confined  within  the 
four  walls  of  any  mercantile  establishment.  He  owns 
large  tracts  of  mineral  and  ranch  lands  not  to  mention 
his  city  realty.  The  orchard  industry  of  his  state  has 
not  escaped  him.  In  person,  he  planted  the  first  Mc- 
Intosh apple  trees  in  Montana.  These  are  now  more 
than  thirty-five  years  of  age  and  are  one  of  the  attrac- 
tions of  Stevensville,  as  they  did  so  much  toward  proving 
to  the  doubting,  another  great  possibility  of  the  Montana 
soil.  One  of  Mr.  Buck’s  favorite  titles  is  that  of  "father 
of  the  red  McIntosh,”  bestowed  upon  him  by  the 
nurserymen  of  the  state. 

Now  that  their  days  of  strenuous  labor  are  over  and 
the  reward  has  come,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Buck  spend  much 
time  in  travel.  Their  favorite  mode  of  pastime,  how- 
ever, is  journeying  overland,  not  with  a four-yoke  ox 
team  but  in  their  powerful  automobile. 

David  Fratt.  One  of  the  largest  individual  cattle 
owners  in  the  state  of  Montana,  and  a man  who  had 
been  closely  identified  with  the  financial  interests  of 
this  section  of  the  country  for  a number  of  years,  was 
David  Fratt,  of  Billings,  an  excellent  example  of  the 
class  of  men  who  came  to  Yellowstone  Valley  as  pio- 
voi.  n— 8 


neers  and  achieved  success  solely  through  their  own 
efforts.  Mr.  Fratt  was  born  in  Albany  county,  New 
York,  December  27,  1840,  and  was  a son  of  Jonathan 
and  Mary  (Turner)  Fratt,  farming  people  of  the  Em- 
pire state,  and  on  his  father’s  side  of  the  family  of 
German  descent,  while  his  mother’s  people  were  na- 
tives of  England.  Mr.  Fratt  was  the  youngest  of  his 
parents’  five  children,  and  all  are  now  deceased. 

Jonathan  Fratt  followed  the  occupation  of  farming 
in  New  York  state  until  1846,  and  in  that  year  moved 
to  the  territory  of  Wisconsin  as  a pioneer,  settling  in 
the  vicinity  of  Burlington,  Racine  county,  where  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  agricultural  pursuits, 
and  where  his  death  occurred  in  his  sixty-eighth  year, 
his  wife  passing  away  when  sixty-two.  David  was  but 
si.x  years  of  age  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to 
the  new  territory,  and  his  education  was  secured  in  the 
primitive  district  school,  the  greater  part  of  his  time, 
however,  being  spent  in  assisting  his  father  to  clear 
and  cultivate  a farm  from  the  wilderness  of  the  new 
country-.  He  remained  at  home  until  i\Iay,  1864,  when 
he  decided  to  go  to  the  territorir  of  Idaho,  and  accord- 
ingly took  a train  to  Dunleith,  Illinois,  and  crossed 
the  Mississippi  to  Dubuque,  Iowa,  on  a ferry.  From 
there  he  went  by  rail  on  the  Dubuque,  Fort  Dodge  & 
Western  Railroad,  now  a part  of  the  Illinois  Central 
system,  to  Waterloo,  Iowa,  the  western  terminus  of 
the  line,  and  from  that  point  continued  his  journey 
with  an  ox-team  in  company  with  a large  party  of 
emigrants.  From  Omaha  the  party  proceeded  along 
the  north  side  of  the  Platte  river,  and  opposite  Scott’s 
Bluffs  they  were  attacked  by  Indians,  who  killed  one 
member  of  the  company  and  wounded  another,  be- 
sides stealing  a portion  of  the  stock.  When  they 

reached  Red  Bluff'  the  party  left  the  Platte,  having 
changed  their  minds  and  decided  to  come  to  ^Montana 
instead  of  Idaho,  proceeded  to  the  Sweet  Water  river 
via  the  old  California  trail  of  1849,  and  went  thence 
up  the  river  to  South  Pass  and  by  Lander’s  cutoff  to 
Eagle  Rock  on  Snake  river,  in  Idaho.  From  that 
point  they  followed  the  old  Salt  Lake  trail  to  Virginia 
City,  where  they  arrived  in  September  1864,  the  com- 
pany there  disbanding.  When  this  party  left  Waterloo, 
Iowa,  there  were  seventy-five  men,  women  and  chil- 
dren in  the  company,  and  now  the  only  ones  known 
to  be  living  are  Mrs.  J.  E.  Morse,  of  Dillon,  Mdntana, 
and  Mrs.  William  Carter,  of  Dillon,  who  was  Annie 
Selway  and  was  a child  accompanying  her  parents. 
Soon  after  the  disbandment  of  the  company  Mr.  Fratt 
removed  to  Confederate  Gulch,  where  during  the  sum- 
mer of  1865  he  was  engaged  in  mining,  and  subse- 
quently was  the  first  man  to  operate  a threshing  ma- 
chine in  that  part  of  IMontana.  In  1871  he  turned  his 
attention  to  stockgrowing,  and  he  continued  to  follow 
this  line  in  that  vicinity  until  1878,  when  he  moved  over 
the  range  to  Shields  river,  and  in  1882  moved  to  the 
Musselshell  river  vallej',  where  he  maintained  large 
ranches  and  conducted  a business  that  was  excelled 
by  few  in  the  state.  His  faith  in  the  future  of  Mon- 
tana had  been  demonstrated  by  investing  in  large  ranch 
properties  all  over  the  state,  and  the  general  supervi- 
sion of  these  tracts  occupied  the  greater  part  of  his  at- 
tention. He  made  his  home,  however,  in  Billin.gs,  and 
had  a handsome  residence  at  No.  205  North  Twenty- 
ninth  street.  He  was  stock  commissioner  for  Yellow- 
stone county  for  twelve  or  fourteen  3'ears,  but  in  1911 
resigned  from  this  office.  He  was  one  of  the  organ- 
izers and  principal  stockholders  of  the  Yellowstone 
National  Bank,  of  which  he  was  vice-president  for  a 
number  of  years,  and  in  1908  was  one  of  the_  or- 
ganizers of  the  Merchants  National  Bank  of  Billings, 
and  was  a director  in  this  institution  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  His  political  belief  was  that  of  the  Republican 
party,  but  he  never  sought  public  preferment.  The 
success  which  attended  his  efforts  was  the  result  of 
perseverance,  energy  and  ability,  directed  along  the 


932 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


proper  channels,  combined  with  absolute  integrity  in 
the  enterprises  to  which  he  gave  his  attention.  He  was 
highly  esteemed  as  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this  section, 
and  honored  and  respected  throughout  the  county  and 
state. 

Mr.  Fratt  was  united  in  marriage  in  1888  to  Mrs. 
Kate  Armour,  who  was  born  in  the  state  of  New 
Jersey. 

His  death  occurred  on  the  19th  of  March,  1912,  at 
his  residence  in  Billings.  Thus  another  one  of  the 
grand  old  pioneers  of  Montana  has  gone  to  his  reward, 
but  his  memory  will  be  long  cherished  by  a host  of 
friends  and  admirers. 

George  F.  White,  prominent  in  Twin  Bridges  since 
1889,  was  born  in  Spanish  Fork,  Utah,  on  November 
29,  1858.  He  is  the  son  of  Peter  and  Susan  M.  (Terry) 
White.  The  father  was  a native  of  the  Keystone 
state,  born  and  reared  there,  coming  to  the  west  in 
1849.  He  spent  some  years  in  Utah,  but  Montana 
represented  his  home  during  the  later  years  of  his 
life.  He  followed  blacksmithing  and  mining  while  in 
the  west,  and  lived  through  the  most  vivid  pioneer 
stage  known  to  western  life,  and  was  well  and  favor- 
ably known  in  this  section  of  the  country,  his  life 
being  marked  by  his  many  deeds  of  charity,  a trait 
which  was  one  of  his  strongest  characteristics.  He 
died  in  August,  1886,  when  he  was  sixty-three  years  of 
age,  and  is  buried  at  Rochester,  Montana.  The  wife 
and  mother,  who  was  a native  of  Canada,  met  and 
married  Mr.  White  in  Utah,  the  ceremony  being  per- 
formed at  Salt  Lake  City.  She  still  survives,  and  is 
at  present  living  in  California.  Eight  children  were 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  White,  of  which  number  George 
F.  was  the  second  born.  Three  of  the  sons  besides 
George  F.  are  residents  of  Montana,  as  follows:  Flenry 
is  a resident  of  Rochester,  Parshall  E.  is  married  and 
lives  five  miles  from  Anaconda,  where  he  is  engaged 
in  the  hotel  business ; he  was  born  in  Alder  Gulch  in 
1865.  Ira  J.,  who  is  also  married,  lives  at  McArty, 
Madison  county,  Montana. 

Mr.  White,  as  a boy  in  his  parents’  home,  lived  at 
Spanish  Fork  until  he  was  about  six  years  of  age, 
at  which  time  the  family  removed  to  Montana.  They 
made  the  trip  in  the  primitive  mode  of  travelling  in 
those  early  days,  and  arriving  at  Fort  Bridger,  Wyom- 
ing, wintered  there,  in  the  spring  moving  on  to  Mon- 
tana, reaching  Virginia  City  in  the  early  summer.  Mr. 
White  has  since  that  time  been  a resident  of  the  state, 
and  has  with  the  passing  years  done  his  full  share  to 
the  making  of  the  state.  Public  school  advantages  in 
Montana  in  his  boyhood  days  were  noticeable  prin- 
cipally by  their  non-existence,  and  as  a consequence 
such  education  as  Mr.  White  received  was  the  result 
of  his  own  ambition  and  initiative.  He  was  fortun- 
ately of  a persevering  and  inquiring  nature,  and  those 
characteristics  have  enabled  him  to  acquire  a fair 
education — even  surpassing  that  which  other  youths 
attained  with  decidedly  better  advantages.  Mr.  White 
has  always  been  a devotee  of  good  literature,  and 
reading  is  one  of  his  principal  pleasures — a fact  which 
has  been  of  immense  advantage  to  him  in  the  pursuit 
of  knowledge.  The  first  position  he  filled  as  a boy  in 
any  earning  capacity  was  at  work  in  a placer  mine, 
and  he  followed  the  work  for  about  five  years.  He 
then  engaged  in  burning  charcoal  by  contract,  also 
did  some  contract  building  for  the  Hecla  Company. 
He  was  thus  occupied  for  a period  of  two  years,  after 
which  he  again  turned  his  attention  to  mining,  in  which 
he  continued  for  seven  years.  In  1889,  following  his 
second  mining  experience,  Mr.  White  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business  in  Twin  Bridges,  and  he  has  been 
here  since  that  time,  barring  a seven  year  period  in 
which  he  withdrew  from  his  mercantile  interests  partly 
and  engaged  in  ranching  and  stock  raising  in  Madison 
county.  He  eventually  returned  to  Twin  Bridges  and 


resumed  his  old  business,  and  he  is  now  conducting 
an  immensely  popular  general  merchandise  business. 

Mr.  White  is  one  of  the  prosperous  and  popular 
men  of  this  section  of  the  country,  and  is  as  highly 
esteemed  for  his  qualities  of  good  citizenship  as  for 
his  general  amiability.  He  is  a Democrat,  and  at  one 
time  was  especially  active  in  the  interests  of  the  party, 
but  of  later  years  his  ever  growing  business  interests 
have  detracted  in  a measure  from  his  activities  along 
those  lines.  He  was  a member  of  the  state  legislature 
in  1901  and  1902,  and  while  a member  of  that  body 
was  the  instigator  of  a number  of  reforms  now  in 
effect  in  Montana.  He  is  a member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  but  other  than  that  has  no  fraternal  affilia- 
tions, and  is  not  a member  of  any  church,  although  he 
regards  them  all  with  manifest  respect  and  courtesy. 
Mr.  White  is  an  ardent  sportsman,  and  is  especially 
fond  of  horses.  He  is  also  devoted  to  automobiling, 
and  in  1910  he  made  an  overland  trip  in  his  car  from 
Twin  Bridges  tO'  San  Diego,  California.  He  was 
accompanied  on  the  trip  by  his  wife  and  three  sons, 
and  they  visited  every  town  between  the  two  points 
which  their  route  touched.  The  trip  was  unattended 
by  any  misfortunes  or  untoward  adventures,  and  will 
long  be  remembered  by  them  as  one  of  their  most 
pleasing  experiences.  Mr.  White  is  enthusiastic  in 
his  views  of  the  future  of  Montana,  and  says  her 
prospects  are  brighter  than  those  of  any  other  state  in 
the  union,  barring  none.  He  has  made  numerous  trips 
through  the  west  in  search  of  a business  location,  but 
he  avers  that  the  more  he  saw,  the  greater  became  his 
conviction  that  Montana  could  not  be  improved  upon  in 
the  way  of  opportunities.  Thus  he  has  continued  here, 
content  to  be  a part  of  the  busy  life  of  the  northwest, 
and  secure  in  his  belief  in  the  continued  prosperity  of 
the  country. 

On  March  31,  1891,  Mr.  White  was  united  in  mar- 
riage at  Butte  City,  Montana,  with  Annie  Miles,  the 
daughter  of  George  W.  and  Adelaide  J.  Miles,  for- 
merly of  Kansas  City,  Missouri.  They  have  three 
sons : George  M.,  who  is  associated  in  the  business 
with  his  father,  passed  through  the  public  schools  and 
is  a graduate  of  the  San  Diego  Normal  College,  and 
the  two  younger,  Irving  J.  and  Lockett  C.,  are  both 
attending  school. 

Joseph  Carl  Keppler.  One  of  the  most  interesting 
business  careers  of  Montana  has  been  that  of  the  oldest 
and  the  first  jeweler  of  the  state.  The  profession  of  gold 
and  silversmith  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  world,  rank- 
ing with  the  artificer  in  bronze  and  iron  of  early  Bibli- 
cal times.  But  so  intimately  is  the  coining  of  money 
associated  with  the  production  of  the  precious  metals  of 
gold  and  silver  that  the  mint  seems  to  have  a more 
appropriate  and  natural  place  at  the  mines  than  the 
establishment  of  a manufacturing  jewelei".  But  some 
of  the  first  inhabitants  of  Montana  the  men  who  made 
the  first  lucky  strikes  in  the  mines,  brought  part  of 
their  findings  to  this  pioneer  jeweler  and  had  it  wrought 
into  shapes  of  service  and  adornment. 

Few  men  would  have  more  interesting  reminiscences 
of  that  early  period  in  the  history  of  this  state  than 
Joseph  Carl  Keppler,  of  Anaconda,  the  first  regular 
jeweler  who  followed  the  inrush  of  population  to  this 
region.  He  has  had  ad  active  business  career  here  for 
upwards  of  half  a century ,_  and  has  long  held  the  most 
prominent  place  in  that  line,  and  is  also  honored  as 
one  of  the  sterling  citizens  who  have  contributed  to 
the  making  of  the  Treasure  state. 

A native  of  Germany,  Joseph  Carl  Keppler  was  born 
on  the  loth  of  March,  1844,  and  attended  the  schools 
of  his  fatherland  until  he  was  fourteen  years  old.  At 
that  time  he  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  immi- 
gration to  America  and  settlement  in  the  old  town  of 
Galena,  Illinois.  There  he  began  learning  the  trade 
of  jeweler  and  watchmaker.  His  employer  was  J.  W. 


i'; 


'^6 

• frj  >r 


HISTORY  OF  AIONTANA 


933 


Safely,  who  was  also  identified  with  Ulysses  S.  Grant 
in  different  enterprises  at  Galena,  and  the  young  ap- 
prentice came  to  know  quite  well  that  unpretentious 
and  not  very  successful  business  man  who  in  a few 
years  was  the  commander  in  chief  of  the  greatest  army 
of  the  world  and  later  became  president  of  the  country 
which  he  did  so  much  to  preserve. 

In  i86i  young  Keppler  went  west  to  Denver,  where 
he  finished  his  apprenticeship  and  in  three  years  was 
graduated  as  a proficient  jeweler  and  watchmaker.  He 
was  then  twenty  years  old,  and  with  the  spirit  of  youth 
and  the  pioneer  he  started  for  Montana,  driving  an  ox 
team  overland  and  arriving  in  this  almost  wilderness  in 
1864.  Bannack  was  his  first  location,  where  he  was  in 
business  for  himself  two  years.  He  then  established 
a pioneer  jeweler’s  shop  in  Virginia  City,  and  did 
much  manufacturing  of  the  native  metals  on  the  special 
orders  of  his  customers.  This  was  a unique  line  of  busi- 
ness such  as  probably  few  living  gold  or  silversmiths 
in  the  country  ever  engaged  in.  In  the  spring  of  1868 
he  returned  to  Bannack,  which  was  his  home  and 
place  of  business  for  the  next  ten  years. 

In  1878  Mr.  Keppler  moved  his  business  to  Glendale. 
He  had  been  successful  in  his  previous  ventures,  but 
here  he  laid  the  foundation  of  his  permanent  prosperity. 
When  he  left  there  he  had  among  his  general  property 
several  thousand  dollars  in  gold  dust.  The  country  was 
then  infested  by  highwaymen  and  road  agents,  and  to 
insure  the  safety  of  this  treasure  he  engaged  two  men 
as  guards  for  his  wagon.  In  the  spring  of  1884  Mr. 
Keppler  moved  to  Anaconda,  the  city  with  which  he 
has  since  been  identified  as  business  man  and  citizen. 
From  the  narrow  scope  and  meager  stock  of  his  busi- 
ness in  the  early  years  he  developed  his  enterprise  in 
keeping  with  the  advance  of  the  state,  and  has  con- 
ducted one  of  the  very  best  and  largest  concerns  of  the 
kind  in  the  state.  No  man  has  better  deserved  success 
than  Mr.  Keppler,  and  his  distinction  as  the  oldest 
jeweler  of  Montana  is  not  the  chief  among  his  claims 
to  honor  and  esteem. 

During  the  ’70s  President  Hayes  appointed  Mr.  Kepp- 
ler postmaster  of  Glendale,  and  at  the  request  of  the 
business  men  of  the  town  he  continued  to  hold  the 
office  during  the  succeeding  administration.  He  was  . 
also  appointed  postmaster  of  Anaconda,  and  served 
four  years.  Mr.  Keppler  was  one  of  the  incorporators 
of  the  town  of  Anaconda,  and  served  among  the  first 
aldermen.  His  home  is  one  of  the  best  in  the  city, 
and  he  owns  valuable  business  property  and  is  also 
heavily  interested  in  gold  mines  of  the  state.  All  of 
his  prosperity  has  been  the  result  of  his  own  char- 
acter and  ability,  for  it  will  be  remembered  that  he 
began  life  when  only  a boy  in  years,  with  the  diffi- 
culties of  a new  language  and  a new  country  to  contend 
with.  He  is  prominent  in  Masonry  and  the  Eastern 
Star,  and  is  called  the  father  of  the  Anaconda  Masons, 
being  one  of  the  incorporators  of  the  first  lodge  in 
this  city.  He  is  also  affiliated  with  the  Elks,  the  Odd 
Fellows,  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

Mr.  Keppler’s  first  wife,  who  was  Miss  Clara  Kirk- 
Patrick,  of  Boston,  Massachusetts,  died  at  Dillon,  Mon- 
tana, in  1890.  Of  her  five  children,  four  are  deceased, 
and  Eugene  Robert  is  an  engineer  for  the  A.  C.  M. 
Company  of  this  city.  In  1894  Mr.  Keppler  married 
Mrs.  Martha  Haning,  of  New  Brunswick,  Canada.  They 
have  no  children. 

Mr.  Keppler’s  parents  were  Joseph  and  Christine 
(Funke)  Keppler,  both  of  whom  are  now  deceased 
and  their  final  resting  place  is  at  Galena,  Illinois,  where 
they  settled  on  coming  to  America.  Their  eight  chil- 
dren are  named  as  follows : Michael,  a mine  owner  at 
Galena;  Sophia,  wife  of  Mr.  Nick  Roth,  of  Galena; 
Anna  Mary,  the  wife  of  John  Smith,  of  Dubuque,  Iowa; 
Valentine,  who  died  at  Dubuque,  May  22,  1911;  Joseph 
C.,  the  next  in  the  family;  John,  a resident  of  Gutten- 
berg,  Iowa;  Helena,  the  wife  of  John  Bautsch,  of  Den- 


ver, Colorado;  and  Elizabeth,  the  widow  of  Benjamin 
Neynes,  who  was  a farmer  at  Creighton,  Nebraska, 
where  she  died  June,  1912. 

Henry  Elling,  in  his  life  time  one  of  the  most  loyal 
and  public  spirited  citizens  to  whom  Montana  lays  claim, 
was  born  in  Germany,  the  date  of  his  nativity  having 
been  the  9th  of  December,  1842.  Both  his  parents  died 
before  he  had  reached  the  age  of  fifteen  years  and  at  that 
time  he  immigrated,  with  a still  younger  brother,  to 
the  United  States,  proceeding  direct  to  Missouri,  where 
an  older  brother  had  previously  settled.  His  first  posi- 
tion in  this  country  was  in  a mercantile  house  where 
he  received  the  meagre  salary  of  six  dollars  a month 
and  board.  In  1861  he  removed  to  Leavenworth,  Kan- 
sas, and  in  the  following  year  located  in  Denver,  Colo- 
rado, in  which  latter  city  he  worked  as  salesman  in  a 
clothing  house  until  1864.  In  that  year  he  decided  to 
launch  out  into  the  business  world  on  his  own  account 
and  accordingly  purchased  a stock  of  goods  which  he 
brought  to  Virginia  City  by  team,  opening  a store  here 
in  October.  Subsequently,  when  Last  Chance  Gulch, 
now  Helena,  burst  forth  as  the  newest  Eldorado  of 
the  west,  he  secured  a partner  and  removed  his  busi- 
ness to  that  place,  where  he  established  headquarters 
in  a little  log  house,  with  a saw-dust  floor.  He  was 
tremendously  successful  at  first,  but  later  lost  all  he 
had  made  and  was  obliged  to  close  out  his  stock,  after 
which  he  went  east  for  a short  period. 

He  paid  off  all  his  debts,  secured  a new  stock  of 
goods  and  started  all  over  again  in  Nebraska  City, 
then  the  supply  point  for  the  freighting  outfits  of  the 
west.  For  a time  he  was  successful  there  but  when 
the  supply  point  changed  to  Omaha  he  was  once  more 
obliged  to  give  up,  this  time  with  a large  stock  of 
goods  on  his  hands.  He  then  returned  to  Virginia 
City  and  here  it  would  seem  the  tide  of  his  fortunes 
turned,  for  he  was  eminently  successful  from  the  very 
beginning.  In  1873  he  opened  a banking  house  and 
from  that  time  on  his  success  was  insured.  He  was  a 
natural  born  financier  and  with  the  passage  of  time 
became  the  richest  man  in  Madison  county.  Through 
his  banking  interests  he  became  interested  in  many 
financial  and  mercantile  institutions,  including  a num- 
ber in  other  parts  of  Madison  county.  In  1894  he  was 
made  president  of  the  Commercial  Exchange  Bank  at 
Bozeman,  and  after  getting  it  in  good  running  order 
he  assumed  charge  of  the  Carbon  County  Bank,  at  Red 
Lodge,  as  its  president.  Later  he  was  made  a di- 
rector in  the  State  National  Bank  in  Miles  City  and 
about  that  time  also  secured  stock  in  the  National 
Bank  at  Big  Timber  and  in  the  Bank  of  Fergus  County 
at  Lewiston.  In  January,  1898,  he  organized  the  Union 
Bank  & Trust  Company  of  Helena,  of  which  he  was 
elected  president.  Two  years  earlier  he  had  joined 
the  syndicate  which  purchased  the  Gallatin  Light, 
Power  & Railway  Company  of  Bozeman,  that  held 
the  street  railway  and  electric  lighting  franchises  of 
the  city.  He  was  a business  man  of  tremendous 
strength  and  met  with  success  in  all  his  financial  un- 
dertakings. 

Fraternally  Henry  Elling  was  affiliated  with  the  Ma- 
sonic order,  in  which  he  had  passed  through  the  circle 
of  the  York  Rite  branch,  and  he  was  also  affiliated 
with  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen  and  the 
Benevolent  & Protective  Order  of  Elks.  While  a stal- 
wart Republican  in  his  political  allegiance,  he  could 
never  be  prevailed  upon  to  accept  public  office,  al- 
though he  was  at  one  time  urged  to  run  for  governor. 
He  was  at  one  time,  however,  mayor  of  Virginia  City. 

On_  July  20,  1870,  he  married  Miss  Mary  B.  Cooley, 
a native  of  Iowa  and  a daughter  of  W.  A.  Cooley,  who 
came  to  Madison  county  in  1868.  This  union  was 
prolific  of  ten  children,  three  of  whom  are  deceased, 
in  _ 1912,  namely,  Alice,  Henry  and  Herman.  Those 
living  are : Flelen  K.,  wife  of  jim  Bowman  and  a resi- 


934 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


dent  of  San  Francisco,  California;  Henrietta,  wife  of 
P.  H.  Gohn,  of  Pony,  Montana;  Mabel,  now  Mrs.  T. 
G.  Hutt,  of  Kansas  City,  Missouri ; Carlotta,  wife 
of  R.  H.  Fenner  of  Sausahiti,  California;  Karl,  as- 
sociated with  his  brother  Horace  B.  in  the  banking 
business  in  Virginia  City;  and  Flarrison  C.,  of  Har- 
vard University. 

On  November  14,  1900,  Mr.  Elling  was  summoned 
to  the  life  eternal.  A man  of  high  impulse,  strong 
moral  fiber,  fine  judgment  and  keen  foresight,  he 
helped  to  build  the  community  in  which  he  lived  and 
it  suffered  an  irreparable  loss  at  the  time  of  his  death. 
There  is  no  perfection  in  human  character,  yet  he  came 
as  near  to  the  most  attractive  ideal  of  such  perfection 
as  any  man  who  has  gathered  about  him  the  affection 
and  admiration  of  his  fellow  men.  He  was  free  from 
a censorious  spirit  and  was  never  heard  to  utter  an 
unkind  criticism  of  any  one.  His  convictions  were  as 
solid  as  adamant  and  neither  fear  nor  favor  could 
shake  them  from  him,  yet  he  tried  to  estimate  human 
character  in  the  light  of  that  charity  which  “hopeth  all 
things,  which  beareth  all  things,  which  is  not  easily 
provoked,  which  thinketh  no  evil.”  He  exercised  a 
commanding  influence  over  men,  not  as  the  result  of  a 
conscious  ambition  or  a studied  purpose,  but  rather 
from  an  instinctive  homage  the  world  awards  men  of 
exalted  character  and  incorruptible  principles.  He  was 
a man  swayed  by  a conscience  enlightened  by  the 
truth  and  spirit  of  God.  His  ambition  to  be  right  and 
do  right  was  the  paramount  incentive,  and  he  counted 
not  the  cost  of  so  noble  an  end. 

A cherished  memor}'  is  an  enduring  monument  more 
ineffaceable  than  polished  marble  or  burnished  bronze. 
“To  live  in  the  hearts  we  leave  behind  is  not  to  die.” 

Judge  Mortimer  H.  Lott  is  a pioneer  of  Montana, 
well  known  throughout  Madison  county  and  regarded 
as  the  father  of  Twin  Bridges.  He  it  was  who  laid 
out  the  town,  after  he  had  lived  on  the  land  for  years, 
since  1864,  in  fact,  the  year  in  which  he  squatted  on 
it.  The  present  town  site  was  for  years  his  ranch, 
and  since  the  town  was  organized  Twin  Bridges  has 
been  Judge  Lott's  home.  Fie  was  the  first  mayor  of 
the  town  and  was  for  years  a member  of  the  school 
board,  having  resigned  in  1911,  not  caring  to  feel  the 
responsibilities  of  the  office  longer.  He  was  judge 
of  probate  of  Madison  county  for  years,  and  also  served 
as  county  commissioner.  In  all,  his  life  has  been  one 
of  the  fullest  activity,  and  he  has  been  a citizen  of 
great  intrinsic  worth  to  the  county  and  city. 

Judge  Lott  was  born  in  Lottville,  Warren  county, 
Pennsylvania,  on  Christmas  day  in  1827.  He  is  the 
son  of  Hewlett  and  Maria  Lott,  of  that  state,  where 
they  passed  their  lives.  His  education  was  represented 
by  early  public  school  training  and  a special  academic 
course  at  FTedonia,  New  York,  and  until  he  came  west 
he  devoted  himself  to  farming  interests  at  the  Pennsyl- 
vania home.  Fie  was  thirty  years  old  when  he  de- 
cided to  look  about  him  for  a western  location  that 
seemed  suitable,  and  in  the  course  of  his  seeking  he 
visited  many  states,  including  Minnesota,  Iowa,  Ne- 
braska and  Kansas.  He  settled  in  Marshall  county, 
Kansas,  where  he  remained  for  about  two  years,  dur- 
ing which  time  he  was  engaged  in  farming.  He  went 
to  California  Gulch,  Colorado,  from  Kansas,  and  en- 
gaged in  mining  there,  an  occupation  which  held  him 
for  a few  months,  after  which  he  went  to  New  Mexico, 
his  stay  there  being  represented  by  about  a year.  He 
next  returned  to  Colorado  and  for  a short  time  was 
engaged  in  mining  ventures.  On  July  10,  1862,  he 
arrived  in  Montana,  and  on  reaching  Bannack  he  fol- 
lowed mining  for  a while,  then  went  to  Virginia  City, 
this  state,  and  started  a store  in  October,  1863,  which 
he  operated  there  for  about  two  years.  His  journey 
to  Montana  was  attended  by  the  most  thrilling  expe- 
riences, and  so  insistent  were  the  attentions  of  the  In- 


dians that  they  barely  escaped  with  their  lives.  His  lit- 
tle party  were  assailed  by  hostile  warriors  at  every 
hand,  and  for  three  days  and  nights  they  dared  not 
sleep.  They  finally  reached  Fort  Bridger  in  a state  of 
complete  exhaustion,  and  while  the  soldiers  guarded 
Aheir  outfit  the  travelers  slept  through  from  eleven 
'o’clock  in  the  morning  until  four  in  the  next  after- 
noon. Ihe  rest  of  the  journey  was  made  under  escort 
and  they  reached  their  destination  in  safety.  In  1864 
Judge  Lott  squatted  on  the  land  which  represents  the 
present  site  of  Twin  Bridges  and  for  years  he  car- 
ried on  a ranching  business  here.  He  is  a pioneer  of 
the  sturdiest  type,  and  has  endured  much  in  the  years 
in  which  he  has  watched  Montana  come  out  from  a 
state  of  semi-civilization  to  that  of  one  of  the  greatest 
commonwealths  of  the  nation.  Much  credit  is  due  to 
him  for  his  labors  in  and  for  the  state,  more  especially 
for  Madison  county.  He  has  built  mile  upon  mile  of 
good  roads  in  the  county,  one  of  the  things  which 
conduce  most  surely  to  settlement  and  advancement. 
He  has  held  many  important  offices  in  the  administra- 
tion of  the  affairs  of  the  county  and  of  Twin  Bridges, 
and  is  at  present  a member  of  the  board  of  aldermen 
of  the  city,  on  which  he  has  served  for  years.  He  is 
now  practically  retired  from  business  of  all  kinds,  his 
office  on  the  board  of  aldermen  being  the  only  public 
appointment  he  holds,  having  resigned  from  all  others, 
or  refused  to  stand  for  re-election.  Fie  is  a member  of 
the  Masonic  order,  in  the  blue  lodge,  chapter  and  East- 
ern Star,  and  has  served  his  local  lodges  as  master. 
At  Deer  Lodge,  in  September,  1912,  he  was  elected 
president  of  the  Society  of  Montana  Pioneers. 

In  1882  Judge  Lott  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Melvina  J.  Carson  at  Twin  Bridges.  She  was  for- 
merly from  the  state  of  Iowa.  Two  children  have 
been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lott;  Maria  L.  is  married 
to  L.  Comfort  and  lives  at  Twin  Bridges,  where  Mr. 
Comfort  is  postmaster ; Mortimer  J.  is  a student  at 
Parson’s  College  in  Fairfield,  Iowa. 

Newton  Budd.  No  class  among  the  American  people 
today  is  entitled  to  more  credit  or  greater  respect  than 
the  hard  pioneers,  who,  leaving  comfort  and  compara- 
tive ease  behind  them,  braved  every  danger  of  the 
untrodden  wilderness,  reducing  it  to  a state  of  fruit- 
fulness through  their  unremitting  toil  and  the  exer- 
cise of  a stupendous  amount  of  labor.  Of  this  class 
was  the  late.  Newton  Budd  of  Big  Timber,  in  Sweet- 
grass  county,  one  of  the  Montana  pioneers  of  1864 
and  one  of  her  most  honored  and  respected  citizens. 
He  was  born  on  December  23,  1830,  at  Sharon,  Penn- 
sylvania ; he  died  at  Big  Timber,  Montana,  on  March 
-2S>  1905.  and  between  these  milestones  of  time  lie  many 
weary  miles  of  travel  and  many  days  of  hard  work  on 
the  part  of  this  sturdy  pioneer  of  two  states. 

When  Newton  Budd  was  a young  man  his  parents 
brought  their  family  from  Pennsylvania  into  the  newer 
state  of  Iowa.  They  came  overland  by  wagon,  and 

their  journey  into  the  west  was  attended  by  the  sad 

death  of  the  father  of  the  family.  The  mother  with 
her  goodly  family  was  thereafter  in  a large  measure 
dependent  upon  the  labors  of  her  eldest  son,  Newton. 
They  completed  the  unhappy  journey  into  Iowa  and 
there  established  the  home  which  had  been  the  dream 
of  the  father.  In  1854  Newton  Budd  married  Miss 
Sarah  Simmons  in  Iowa,  and  to  them  were  born  five 
children,  named  as  follows : George  S.,  born  in  Iowa, 

in  1857,  and  died  in  1886;  Laura,  born  in  1859  and 

died  in  1888;  Barbara  Terrissa,  born  in  1861  in  Iowa; 
William  H.,  born  in  Iowa  and  now  a resident  of  Marys- 
ville, Montana ; Pearl  M.,  born  in  Montana ; she  has  been 
twice  married,  her  first  husband  having  been  a Mr. 
Cavanaugh,  by  whom  she  had  one  son,  Budd  H.  Cav- 
anaugh ; she  later  married  A.  T,  Kellogg,  and  now 
resides  in  Seattle,  Washington ; Dick,  born  February 
18,  1876,  at  Clancy,  Montana. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


935 


In  1864  Newton  Budd  left  his  wife  and  three  chil- 
dren in  Iowa,  in  the  town  of  Bellview,  and  made  his 
way  to  Montana,  locating  in  Virginia  City.  For  some 
years  he  followed  mining  and  shared  in  all  the  many 
deprivations  of  the  pioneer  prospector  in  untamed  Mon- 
tana. After  some  years  he  took  up  a ranch  at  Lump 
Gulch,  some  miles  from  Clancy,  Montana,  and  there 
he  brought  his  family,  the  two  younger  children  of 
the  house  being  born  there.  At  one  time,  as  the  partner 
of  one  John  Rohrbaugh,  Air.  Budd  ran  a stage  line 
from  Helena,  to  Wicjes,  Montana.  In  the  summer  of 
1882,  having  sold  his  ranch  in  Lump  Gulch  to  the 
Halfords,  he  removed  with  his  family  to  a new  farm 
in  the  Yellowstone  valley,  near  Big  Timber,  and  there 
he  lived  for  seven  years.  In  1889  he  moved  into  the 
town  of  Big  Timber  to  engage  in  the  general  mer- 
chandise trade,  the  hardware  business,  and  in  later 
years,  the  drug  business.  In  1900  he  became  a part- 
ner of  his  son  (Dick)  in  the  drug  business  at  Big 
Timber,  and  so  continued  for  four  years.  _ He  was  a 
man  of  excellent  health  and  ceaseless  activity,  and  his 
life  was  a busy  one,  from  his  boyhood  until  its  close. 

Newton  Budd  was  a member  of  the  Society  of  Mon- 
tana Pioneers  and  had  served  as  vice  president  of  the 
organization.  In  March,  1905,  he  was  attacked  with 
typhoid-pneumonia  and  his  death  occurred  on  the  25th 
of  that  month.  The  Montana  Daily  Record  of  Alarch 
27th  said  of  him : “Newton  Budd,  seventy-four  years 

old,  is  dead.  Mr.  Budd  was  one  of  the  oldest  resi- 
dents of  Sweet  Grass  county,  having  come  here  from 
Bellview,  Iowa,  in  the  sixties.  He  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania in  1830,  was  married  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
four,  and  raised  a large  family  of  children.  His  fam- 
ily are  all  grown  now,  one  living  in  Big  Timber  and 
the  others  in  various  other  states.  He  also  leaves  an 
aged  wife.  Mr.  Budd  was  taken  ill  with  pneumonia 
and  sunk  rapidly  until  the  end  came.  He  was  buried 
Sunday  in  the  Big  Timber  cemetery.”  The  same  pa- 
per of  March  28th,  said  in  part : “The  funeral  services 
over  the  remains  of  Mr.  Newton  Budd  were  held  at 
the  Congregational  church  on  Sunday,  Rev.  E.  A.  Cook 
officiating.  The  funeral  was  more  largely  attended  than 
any  previous  similar  occasion  and  the  church  would 
not  accommodate  half  the  people,  great  crowds  stand- 
ing outside  during  the  services.  Interment  was  made 
at  Big  Timber  Cemetery.” 

Dick  Budd,  the  son  of  Newton  and  Sarah  (Sim- 
mons) Budd,  was  born  on  the  home  ranch  in  Lump 
Gulch,  near  Clancy,  Montana,  on  February  18,  1876. 
From  the  age  of  six  he  passed  his  boyhood  on  the 
farm  near  Big  Timber,  attending  the  schools  of  that 
town  up  to  the  age  of  sixteen.  When  he  had  reached 
that  age  he  left  school  to  go  into  the  drug  store  of 
Dr.  W.  E.  Moore  at  Big  Timber,  .'and  so  well  did 
he  advance  in  the  work  that  a few  years  later  he 
bought  a half  interest  in  the  business.  In  1898  he 
bought  out  Dr.  .Moore’s  share  and  in  igoo  took  his 

father  into  partnership,  disposing  of  the  establish- 
ment after  four  years.  In  '^904  Dick  Budd  became 

active  in  politics  in  Sweet  Grass  county,  and  was  elected 
county  treasurer,  assuming  the  'duties  of  the  office  in 
March,  1905.  His  regime  proved  so  satisfactory  to  the 
public  that  he  was  reelected  in  igo6,  serving  until 
March,  1909.  In  April  of  that  year  he  moved  to 

Seattle,  Washington,  and  until  September  i,  1912,  was 
connected  with  two  of  the  largest  drug  stores  in  that 
city.  On  September  12,  1912,  he  purchased  the  interest 
of  J.  G.  Tucker  in  the  old  established  Fishen  Drug 
Company  in  Helena,  and  removed  to  that  city  to  assume 
his  interest  in  the  business. 

Politically  Mr.  Budd  is  a Republican,  and  his  fraternal 
affiliations  are  with  the  Masonic  order,  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  at  Big 
Timber.  Montana. 

On  June  i,  1898.  Mr.  Budd  was  married  at  Butte, 
Montana,  to  Miss  Alary  Florence  Blake,  the  daughter 


of  John  Blake  of  Big  Timber.  Two  children  have 
been  born  to  them,  Irene,  October  15,  1899,  and  New- 
ton Dick,  August  7,  1907, 

William  R.  Woods.  In  the  early  6o's  John  R. 

Woods,  with  his  wife  Adeline  Shaffin  Woods,  left  the 
Alissouri  town  in  which  he  had  been  born  and  came 
to  what  was  then  an  unsettled  country.  This  word  ap- 
plied to  Montana  at  that  time  in  both  its  meanings,  for 
the  state  was  sparsely  populated  and*  Indian  uprisings 
added  to  the  depredations  of  the  lawless  element  in 
the  scanty  white  population  made  existence  decidedly 
unsettled.  The  elder  White  pursued  the  occupations 
of  ranching  and  mining,  then  the  only  considerable 
industries  in  this  region,  and  he  experienced  all  the 
phases  of  pioneer  life.  He  lived  in  a number  of  dif- 
ferent towns  in  the  course  of  his  career  as  a miner 
and  cattle  man,  including  Bannack,  Diamond  City, 
White  Sulphur  Springs  and  Livingston.  His  faithful 
wife,  the  mother  of  his  two  sons  and  one  daughter, 
died  in  White  Sulphur  Springs  in  1880.  She  was  but 
forty-three  at  the  time  of  her  death.  Her  husband 
survived  her  twenty-two  years,  living  to  the  age  of 
seventy-six.  He  is  buried  in  Livingston,  where  he 
spent  his  later  years.  The  daughter  Alaggie  Woods 
now  lives  in  Red  Lodge,  her  married  name  being  Airs. 
J.  H.  Liehl.  C.  H.  Sherman,  a half-brother  of  Wil- 
liam Woods  the  sheriff  of  Fergus  county,  is  in  business 
in  White  Sulphur  Springs. 

It  was  at  Bannack,  Alontana,  that  William  R.  Woods 
was  born,  on  the  20th  of  November,  1864.  He  was  the 
middle  one  in  the  family  of  three  in  point  of  age. 
When  he  was  six,  his  parents  left  Bannack  for  the 
more  promising  town  of  Diamond  City,  where  they 
remained  two  years  before  moving  to  White’s  Gulch. 
In  1878,  White  Sulphur  Springs  became  their  home, 
and  William  Woods  resided  there  until  1882,  when  he 
moved  to  Fergus  county.  In  that  city,  he  set  up  his 
own  household,  with  Stella  AI.  Pyle  as  his  wife.  Her 
parents  are  Alarcellus  and  Ruth  Pyle  of  White  Sul- 
phur Springs. 

This  same  town  was  the  place  where  Air.  M^oods  re- 
ceived the  most  of  his  schooling.  He  had  begun  to 
work  on  a cattle  ranch  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  and* 
from  that  time,  he  earned  his  own  living.  He  worked 
during  the  summer  and  saved  money  to  put  himself 
through  school  in  the  winter.  During  the  entire  time 
in  which  he  worked  for  wages,  he  was  in  the  employ 
of  but  four  cattle  companies.  When  he  came  to  this 
county,  he  went  into  business  independently,  and  in 
1^2  he  added  a livery  establishment  in  Lewistown  to 
his  ranching  interests. 

Always  interested  in  politics.  Air.  Woods  has  given 
much  time  to  the  interests  of  the  Republican  party 
organization,  and  was  naturally  selected  as  candidate 
for  office.  Under  J.  D.  Waite  he  served  as  deput}’ 
sheriff  for  a term  of  four  years,  and  he  is  now  filling 
the  office  of  sheriff'.  His  life-long  acquaintance  with 
the  country  and  its  people  render  him  especially  fitted 
for  this  post,  whose  duties  he  discharges  with  fear- 
lessness and  despatch. 

Education  is  a matter  upon  which  Air.  AVoods  sets 
high  value,  and  those  of  his  eight  children  who  are 
old  enough,  are  enjoying  the  advantages  of  some  of  the 
famous  institutions  of  the  country.  Alargaret  is  now 
attending  Oberlin,  the  first  of  the  schools  across  the 
Alleghanies  to  stand  for  the  culture  which  we  call 
"New  England”  in  spirit,  by  which  is  meant  highest 
standards  of  scholarship  and'  character  in  its  students. 
Aliss  Gladys  is  at  Valparaiso,  Indiana,  a school  not  less 
noted  than  Oberlin,  though  of  different  purpose  in  its 
training  as  it  makes  a specialty  of  the  commerciai 
branches.  William,  the  only  son,  is  a high  school 
graduate,  and  Lucy  is  still  in  high  school.  Mary  and 
Laura  are  in  the  grades,  and  Alay  is  not  yet  in  school. 
One  daughter,  Stella,  is  married.  Her  home  is  in 


936 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


Evergreen,  Ohio  where  Mr.  Denny  is  a farmer  of  the 
modern  type,  who  understands  how  to  make  agricul- 
ture a paying  business.  All  of  the  children  were  born 
in  this  state. 

Mr.  Woods  is  a member  of  the  Judith  Club,  but 
fraternal  societies  have  no  attractions  for  him.  He 
belongs  to  the  Methodist  church  and  he  is  one  of  the 
rare  men  for  whom  it  is  not  necessary  to  relax  the 
old-time  discipline  of  that  communion,  which  forbids 
the  use  of  liquor  and  tobacco.  For,  remarkable  to 
state  of  anyone  born  and  reared  on  the  frontier,  Mr. 
Woods  has  never  permitted  himself  either  of  these  in- 
dulgences. Mrs.  Woods  is  one  of  the  most  earnest 
and  indefatigable  workers  in  the  church,  and  it  would 
be  difficult  indeed  to  fill  her  place  in  its  ranks. 

Any  sort  of  recreation  which  takes  one  into  the  open 
commends  itself  to  Mr.  Woods,  though  he  confesses 
to  a preference  for  hunting.  His  hobby  is  roping, 
and  in  this  he  excels.  When  actively  at  work  on  the 
ranch,  he  had  the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the 
champions  of  the  district,  which  is  eminently  fitting 
in  one  to  whom  the  range  is  native,  and  whose  heart 
is  in  the  state  and  its  wonderful  future. 

O’Dillon  B.  Whitford,  M.  D.  Probably  there  is  no 
better  known  nor  more  highly  esteemed  citizen  in 
Butte  than  Dr.  O'Dillon  B.  Whitford,  a resident  of 
Montana  for  nearly  fifty  years,  and  for  more  than 
thirty-five  years  one  of  Butte’s  leading  men  in  the  medi- 
cal profession,  in  the  mining  industry  and  in  public  life. 
Although  he  has  reached  an  age  when  most  men  would 
regard  it  time  to  retire,  he  is  still  engaged  in  the  active 
practice  of  medicine,  having  so  lived  his  long  and  use- 
ful life  that  he  is  in  full  possession  of  his  faculties. 
Dr.  Whitford  was  born  in  the  new  town  of  Wooster, 
Wayne  county,  Ohio,  November  4,  1834,  the  first  child 
born  there,  and  is  a son  of  Augustus  H.  and  Charlotte 
(Bidwell)  Whitford,  the  father  of  Scotch  stock  and  the 
mother  of  English  descent.  The  families  of  both  had 
come  to  America  in  the  colonial  times,  and  Dr.  Whit- 
ford’s  parents  proved  themselves  worthy  descendants 
of  colonists.  They  followed  the  westward  tide  of 
progress,  settling  first  in  Ohio  and  later  moving  to 
Indiana. 

Dr.  Whitford  completed  his  professional  studies  in 
the  Eclectic  College  of  Cincinnati  in  1856,  and  during 
the  following  year  went  to  Denver,  Colorado,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  practice  until  1864.  That  year  was 
characterized  by  Dr.  Whitford’s  advent  in  Montana, 
his  first  location  being  at  Virginia  City,  and  after  four 
years  he  went  to  Rochester.  Subsequently,  in  1870, 
he  located  at  Deer  Lodge,  but  in  1876  he  came  to 
Butte,  where  he  has  continued  in  practice  to  the  pres- 
ent time.  For  many  years  Dr.  Whitford  was  largely 
interested  in  mining  operations,  and  from  1864  to 
1868  spent  large  amounts  of  money  in  developing  Ster- 
ling county  land.  From  1868  to  1870  he  belonged  to 
mining  organizations  formed  by  Judge  H.  Z.  Hay- 
ner,  a company  which  was  widely  known  and  which 
made  large  sales  of  mining  properties.  In  1872  Dr. 
Whitford  purchased  a mine  in  Cable,  which  he  de- 
veloped and  in  which  he  was  interested  for  a time, 
and  subsequently  became  the  owner  of  two  mines  in 
Beaver  Head  county  and  of  the  silver  mine,  “Wan- 
derer,” which  he  purchased  in  1876.  He  was  also 
interested  in  the  Meaderville  valley  mines.  In  1868 
Dr.  Whitford  built  the  Miners  Hospital,  of  Butte 
City,  which  was  the  third  he  had  erected  in  the  state, 
the  others  being  at  Virginia  City  and  Rochester,  and 
during  the  four  intervening  years,  1871-1874,  he  was 
surgeon  of  the  penitentiary  at  Deer  Lodge.  In  1870 
he  was  elected  an  alderman  of  Butte,  and  in  1883 
received  the  election  to  the  office  of  mayor,  in  which 
he  served  with  distinction. 

On  November  26,  1854,  Dr.  Whitford  was  married 
to  Miss  Mary  Jane  Tanner,  of  Indiana,  and  they  had 


three  children : Charles  S.,  born  in  1856,  a gradu- 

ate of  the  Chicago  Eclectic  College,  and  now  a prac- 
ticing physician;  Roseman  Estella,  born  in  1859,  at 
Arlington,  Nebraska,  who  died  December  15,  1909; 
and  Mrs.  Henrietta  W.  Comstock,  now  a resident  of 
the  state  of  Washington.  Mrs.  Whitford  died  at 
Deer  Lodge,  July  4,  1870,  and  the  Doctor  married 
(second),  in  1873,  Mrs.  Susan  Lavina  (Sweeney)  Hol- 
loway, daughter  of  John  L.  Sweeney,  a pioneer  of 
Montana,  and  whose  social  graces  and  her  many 
talents  have  been  of  the  greatest  value  to  her  able 
husband.  To  this  union  there  was  born  one  son, 
O'Dillon  B.,  Jr.,  born  in  1874  at  Deer  Lodge,  Mon- 
tana, who  died  at  Butte  in  February,  1891. 

Dr.  Whitford,  as  has  been  before  stated,  is  still  en- 
gaged in  active  practice,  and  is  in  the  best  of  health. 
He  reads  and  writes  without  the  use  of  glasses,  and 
his  memory  is  wonderful,  as  is  proven  in  his  having 
committed  to  memory  the  following  speech,  his  latest 
one,  delivered  during  the  summer  of  1912.  He  has 
frequently  spoken  before  large  assemblages  of  pioneers 
and  their  children,  and  was  president  in  190S  of  the 
Montana  Pioneers  Society.  The  speech,  which  fol- 
lows, not  only  discloses  the  sterling  principles  of  Dr. 
Whitford's  character,  but  also  shows  the  genial,  kindly 
philosophy  of  a man  who,  having  lived  among  all 
kind  and  manner  of  men,  has  become  a faithful  judge 
of  human  nature  and  still  has  an  abiding  faith  in 
mankind : 

“While  some  of  our  old-timers  have  blazed  diver- 
gent trails,  at  our  annual  reunions  we  meet  to  extend 
the  glad  hand  of  welcome  to  our  unwrinkled-faced 
comrades  who  have  for  years  and  years  delved  into 
the  bowels  of  these  rock-ribbed  mountains  for  the  an- 
ticipated prize  that  has  stimulated  the  prospector  from 
vigorous  manhood  to  declining  age  in  hopes  of  a re- 
ward for  his  arduous  labor  in  sinking  shafts,  cross- 
cutting, faults  and  seams,  driving  tunnels  and  follow- 
ing the  trend  of  stringers  to  their  barren  confluent. 
Such  has  been  the  work  of  your  humble  servant  since 
A.  D.  i860,  in  Colorado  and  Montana.  I have  been 
within  a few  feet  of  my  fortune  several  times,  but 
never  quite  deep  enough  to  reach  it.  So  it  has  been 
with  the  majority  of  my  old-time  friends,  whose  cheer- 
ful faces  now  confront  me  with  a satisfied  look  of 
contentment  that  their  work  has  been  well  done,  their 
mission  performed,  hence  are  ready  at  the  first  call 
of  nature  to  leave  this  mundane  sphere  for  an  end- 
less home.  Why  should  we  not  be?  Have  we  not 
contributed  to  the  wants  of  the  needy,  clothed  the 
naked  and  fed  the  hungry?  Have  we  been  found 
wanting?  Have  we  left  undone  those  things  which 
we  ought  to  have  done?  Have  we  done  those  things 
we  ought  not  to  have  done?  Let  those  who  succeed 
us  in  the  affairs  of  state  pass  judgment  upon  our 
conduct  according  to  our  deeds.  The  oft  repeated 
saying  is  a true  one  that  ‘The  pioneer  is  the  van- 
guard of  civilization.’  I am  a pioneer  of  Ohio,  In- 
diana, Wisconsin,  Nebraska,  Colorado  and  Montana. 
No  railroads  were  in  any  of  the  states  mentioned 
where  I lived  when  I left  them;  in  fact,  the  first  loco- 
motive and  railroad  track  I ever  saw  were  at  Silver 
Bow  Junction  when  the  narrow-gauge  was  being  con- 
structed from  Ogden  to  Butte.  During  the  month  of 
April,  1856,  I left  my  native  and  adopted  states  and 
with  my  first  wife,  who  died  in  Deer  Lodge,  July 
4,  1870,  and  a son  (now  living  in  Lewiston,  Idaho), 
father,  mother,  five  sisters  and  four  brothers,  equipped 
with  ox-teams  hitched  to  schooner  wagons,  the  only 
mode  of  travel  then,  wended  our  weary  way  towards 
the  setting  sun.  When  within  sixty  miles  of  Council 
Bluffs,  Cass  county,  Iowa,  the  hand  of  death  snatched 
from  our  ever-watchful  mother  a faultless  husband 
and  father  of  her  ten  devoted  children.  We  dug  his 
grave  on  a little  grassy  knoll,  improvised  a crude  cas- 
ket out  of  some  rough  lumber  we  could  spare  from 


fe; 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


937 


one  of  our  wagons,  into  which  with  our  own  hands 
we  carefully  laid  the  remains  of  the  one  so  dear  to 
ns  and  lowered  it  into  the  newly-made  grave,  en- 
closed it  with  a rough  board  fence,  around  which  the 
bereaved  family  circled  to  take  a last  sad  farewell. 
As  I leaned  over  that  homely  fence,  I imagined  I 
could  see  beneath  that  little  mound  the  noble  face  of 
my  boyhood  days,  wet  with  perspiration,  felling  the 
trees  of  the  forest,  where  I first  learned  to  lisp  his 
name,  admire  his  genius  and  love  his  virtues.  There 
we  left  him  with  the  requiem  of  the  sighing  winds 
and  roving  Indians  and  resumed  our  journey  west- 
ward. 

“Crossing  the  Missouri  river  between  Council  Bluffs 
and  Omaha,  we  journej^ed  twenty-two  miles  farther 
west  to  the  Elkhorn  river  bottoms,  where  we  pre- 
empted lands.  On  the  13th  day  of  October,  just  three 
months  to  a day  from  the  date  of  the  death  of  our 
father,  our  mother  died  of  a broken  heart,  grieving 
over  the  loss  of  her  companionable  husband.  Soon 
the  family  ties  were  severed,  drifting  to  different 
parts  of  the  United  States.  Two  sisters  are  bur- 
ied in  Tampa,  Florida,  and  two  in  California;  one 
brother  is  buried  in  Clarkston,  Washington,  one  on  the 
old  homestead  in  Nebraska,  and  one  starved  to  death 
in  Andersonville  Prison,  his  grave  being  unknown. 
The  surviving  sister  and  a brother  live  near  Red 
Bluffs,  California,  and  one  in  Montana,  now  boring 
her  pioneers  with  a doleful  history  of  a once-happy 
family,  the  majority  of  whom  have  passed  into  the 
unknown,  which  teaches  us  that  the  fate  of  man 
resembles  the  fate  of  nature.  It  is  similarly  depend- 
ent on  natural  laws  and  it  obeys  without  exception 
the  same  stringent  and  inexorable  necessity  which  gov- 
erns all  that  exists.  It  lies  in  the  nature  of  every 
human  being  that  was  born  to  die;  no  one  has  ever 
escaped  that  law.  Death  is  the  surest  calculation  that 
can  be  made  and  the  unavoidable  keystone  to  every  in- 
dividual existence.  The  supplications  of  the  mother, 
the  tears  of  the  wife,  the  despair  of  the  husband, 
cannot  stay  its  hand.  The  natural  laws  are  rude,  un- 
bending powers  which  have  neither  morals  nor  heart. 
No  call  can  awaken  from  the  sleep  of  death;  no  angel 
can  deliver  the  prisoner  from  the  dungeon;  no  hand 
from  the  clouds  reaches  bread  to  the  hungry;  no 
power  above  answers  the  supplications  of  man;  no 
power  from  above  ever  protected  us  from  the  forces 
of  nature ; where  the  thunderbolt  is  attracted  there  it 
will  strike;  the  path  of  the  cyclone  is  strewn  with 
the  dead  and  the  dying.  The  remorseless  earthquake 
blots  out  the  lives  of  many  of  our  good  people  by  flood 
or  fire,  regardless  of  the  supplication  to  the  unknown 
to  stay  the  hand  of  death.  Change  and  decay,  life  and 
death  follow  each  other  according  to  nature  in  such 
rapid  succession  that  we  have  scarcely  time  to  look 
around  us  ere  we  drop  into  eternity. 

“As  I gaze  upon  the  features  of  these  sturdy  pi- 
oneers, I can  regretfully  perceive  the  silver  chord  is 
loosening,  the  golden  bowl  is  breaking.  The  inevita- 
ble end  that  awaits  every  one  of  the  old-timers  of 
the  Treasure  state  is  fast  approaching.  But  a little 
while  the  morning  and  evening  papers  will  tell  the 
story  of  the  last  survivor — of  his  jovial  personality, 
his  many  kindly  acts,  his  deeds  of  valor  and  his  er- 
rands of  mercy. 

“When  the  pioneers  assembled  on  the  old  familiar 
stamping-ground  (Alder  Gulch)  several  years  ago, 
I attempted  to  address  them,  but  on  account  of  ill 
health  then  I was  unable  to  do  so,  and  although  the 
address  was  published  in  the  biographical  sketches 
in  the  ‘History  of  Montana,’  if  you  will  indulge  me 
I will  recapitulate  the  closing  part,  as  a few  of  the 
faces  I see  here  were  present  there.  After  detailing 
the  hardships,  trials  and  tribulations  of  the  early  pi- 
oneers, I closed  as  follows : 


Thus  day  after  day,  and  year  after  year. 

Have  our  joys  been  mingled  with  our  sorrows  and 
tears ; 

And  today,  my  old  friends,  not  in  the  future  to  fear 
We  have  issued  a roll-call  to  see  how  many  are  here. 

As  time  rolls  on  from  year  to  year. 

Let  us  continue  counting  the  number  still  here; 
When  the  last  one  is  counted  by  himself  alone. 

May  he  do  so  unmindful  of  those  who  are  gone. 

For  what  is  a life  but  a ripple  at  sea 
Compared  with  the  thousands  that  are  yet  to  be 
To  the  millions  unborn  who  in  time  will  appear 
And  travel  the  blazed  trails  of  the  old  pioneer? 

Why  think  of  it,  friends,  a million  years  hence 
What  an  atom  we  will  be  in  the  measureless  expanse ! 
What  thought,  what  sense  and  what  reason  can  there 
be 

In  predicting  a future  that  no  one  can  see? 

“As  well  teach  that  the  mind  of  man  was  in  exist- 
ence before  it  was  born.  Let  us  be  content  with  the 
past,  present  and  future,  as  worshiping  a phantom  can 
make  us  no  better. 

“As  we  have  done  in  the  past,  I trust  we  will  con- 
tinue to  the  end  and  employ  our  faculties  to  augment 
the  happiness  of  the  meritorious  and  assist  as  much  as 
we  possibly  can,  the  worthy  and  friendless  in  alleviating 
their  distress  and  their  sorrow.  Thus  will  we  fulfill 
the  inherent  mission  of  the  old  timer,  at  whose  de- 
mise, and  upon  whose  headstone  should  be  inscribed 
in  letters  of  gold;  ‘Here  beneath  this  little  mound 
rests  in  peace  the  remains  of  one  of  the  noblest  of 
men,  whose  friendship  and  advice,  if  appreciated  by 
the  living,  will  be  as  durable  as  the  race  of  man.’ 

“Aged  pioneers,  we  are  all  mindful  of  the  many, 
many  hard  days’  work  done  in  Montana  in  anticipa- 
tion of  a competency  at  least  sufficient  to  tide  us  com- 
fortably over  the  brink  of  life,  and  in  my  irregular 
train  of  thought,  my  silent  meditation,  I half  dream 
of  something  beautiful  coming  to  us,  but  it  don’t  come, 
and  \ye  are  growing  old.  Hence  I realize  that  the 
vaporing  dreams  vanish  with  life  of  the  dreamer  un- 
rewarded. 

“Aged  pioneers,  as  our  race  wdth  time  is  almost 
won,  in  the  language  of  the  poet,  Robert  Burns,  ‘O 
wad  some  power  the  giftie  gee  us,’  and  I say,  with 
power,  to  turn  the  wheels  of  time  backwards  to  the 
youthful,  happy  days,  months  and  years  when  we 
were  as  one  family  gratuitously  united,  when  the 
draughts  of  kindness  overwhelmed  the  present  sordid 
conditions,  when  human  pity  never  did  forsake  us, 
when  the  joys  of  life  were  unconfined,  when  equity 
was  law  and  inequity  received  its  inglorious  chastise- 
ment at  the  hands  of  honest  but  impartial  citizens 
determined  on  self  preservation.  When  Montana  was 
denuded  of  the  undesirable  element  that  disturbed 
the  peace  and  quietude  of  her  reputable  citizens,  until 
the  thieves  and  murderers  were  annihilated.  Were 
we  today  governed  by  the  same  impending,  just  laws 
enacted  by  these  old  timers,  when  the  necessities  de- 
manded retribution,  we  could  still  be  enjoying  the 
comforts  and  pleasures  of  life  that  nature  provides 
for  every  reputable,  honorable  citizen  and  not  be 
compelled  to  look  into  the  muzzle  of  a gun  with  a 
demand  for  our  hard  earnings.  Such  a villian  was 
hunted  down,  tried  by  honest  men.  before  honest 
laws,  and  when  found  guilty,  paid  the  penalty  of  his 
crime  by  dangling  in  the  air  at  the  end  of  a rope,  the 
rope  being  the  only  expense  connected  with  the  cap- 
ture, trial  and  conviction  of  the  criminal,  which  now 
costs  the  tax-payers  thousands  and  thousands  of  dol- 
lars defraying  the  expenses  of  witnesses,  juries,  courts, 
and  the  quibblings  of  lawyers  over  hypothetical,  teach- 


HISTORY  OF  .AIONTANA 


!);58 


nical  brain  storms.  In  an  altercation  between  two 
gamblers,  where  one  was  killed,  as  was  frequently  the 
case,  we  meted  out  justice  to  the  aggressor  invaria- 
bly according  to  the  evidence.  Our  laws  were  inde- 
feasible and  we  did  nothing  to  iinpair  the  dignity, 
honor  and  fame  of  a people  in  placing  Montana's  bril- 
liant star  on  our  national  ensign,  which  has  no  fear 
on  our  star  spangled  banner  in  radiating  effulgence  in 
representing  a state  with  natural  ine.xhaustible  re- 
sources brought  into  requisition  and  productiveness  by 
the  intrepid  pioneer  whose  primitive  laws  protected 
every  honorable  individual  in  the  pursuit  of  his  labor. 
We  were  able  and  did  meet  the  responsibilities  thrust 
upon  us.  No  one,  however,  was  adjudged  guilty  and 
executed  e.xcept  upon  positive  evidence,  but  we  drew 
a line  of  demarcation  for  the  suspicious  character 
wdth  a warning  not  to  cross  it,  w'hich  he  politely 
obeyed.  Thus  have  the  pioneers  of  Montana  played 
an  important  part  in  the  nation’s  history,  never  los- 
ing interest  in  the  events  of  the  hour  until  age  and  re- 
sponsibility, ill-matched  pair,  reminds  us  that  death 
comes  to  the  w’orn  and  weary  as  the  plucking  and 
harvesting  of  the  golden  grain,  as  the  falling  of  the 
autumn  leaf,  which  forces  us  to  realize  that  the  rus- 
tling garments  of  time  forever  still  the  beating  heart 
of  the  aged.  Hence  it  is  only  a question  of  time  with 
us  all,  and  I here  quote  from  the  poet  who  said : 
‘We  live  in  deeds,  not  years — in  thoughts,  not  in 
breaths — in  feelings,  not  in  figures  on  the  dial,’  and, 

I say,  his  life  is  greatest  w'ho  thinks  the  most,  feels 
the  noblest,  acts  the  best  and  reasons  the  most  jrro- 
found — reasons  with  the  intellectual  philosopher.  That 
nature  (as  far  as  w'e  can  discern)  without  passion  and 
without  intention  performs,  transforms  and  retrans- 
forms forever,  She  neither  weeps  nor  rejoices,  she 
produces  man  without  purpose  and  obliterates  him 
■without  regret.’  Nature  is  the  governing  power  of 
the  universe  and  ‘She  knows  no  distinction  between 
the  beneficial  and  the  hurtful.’  She  knows  no  begin- 
ning and  she  knows  no  ending.  She  always  was,  she 
is,  and  always  will  be,  in  proof  of  which  the  eminent 
scientist  tells  me  to  draw  a dark  circle  on  a sheet  of 
white  paper  and  as  in  its  orbit  the  end  joins  the  be- 
ginning, so  is  the  end  one  with  the  beginning  through- 
out the  universe.  In  the  eternal  cycle  everything 
strives  toward  its  commencement  and  every  beginning 
yearns  to  be  where  the  end  joins  it.  Therefore,  we 
should  quarrel  no  longer  as  to  whether  we  will  ever 
be  immortal  spirits,  for  no  power  of  death  can  break 
the  imperishable  chain  of  things.  All  that  is  has  been 
in  existence  from  eternity  and  not  a tiniest  speck  of 
dust  ever  loses  itself  in  the  arms  of  death.  Supersti- 
tion was  my  first  thought,  reason  my  second.  Nar- 
row is  the  world  and  wide  the  brain. 

"Now  I have  a few  thoughts  stored  in  my  mind  1 
desire  to  impart  to  our  sons  and  daughters.  That  an- 
other year  has  come  and  gone  since  we  last  met  in 
Butte,  which  finds  my  health  so  much  improved  that 
I can  stand  erect  and  address  you  without  looking  for 
a support  to  my  back.  Health,  I consider,  is  superior 
to  all  possessions.  The  young  apparently  do  not  appre- 
ciate it,  but  the  aged  do.  The  glory  and  pomp  of 
the  world  are  naught  when  compared  to  health.  If  the 
wealth  of  Croesus  were  mine,  and  my  body  racked  with 
pain  and  disease,  I would  give  it  all  in  exchange  for 
health,  for  what  worth  is  man  without  strength  of 
body  to  vitalize  the  mind  to  do  or  not  to  do,  to  do 
that  which  is  right.  Then,  my  young  friends,  the 
good  people  of  the  whole  world  will  emblazon  the 
footprints  of  your  time  for  the  good  you  will  have 
done,  the  grand  precedent  you  will  have  established 
for  generations  unborn.  I fancy  I hear  some  of  you 
asking  yourselves  the  question:  ‘What  is  Right?’  In 

answering  that  question  I will  recapitulate  the  oft- 
repeated  axiom  ‘To  do  unto  others  as  you  would  have 
others  do  unto  you.’  My  young  friends,  sons  and 


daughters,  as  this  may  possibly  (but  not  proba!bly)  be 
the  last  time  allotted  me  to  address  you,  my  age  indi- 
cating that  my  usefulness  will  soon  be  over,  I trust 
you  will  indulge  me  in  giving  you  the  advice  which 
I have  conscientiously  practiced  during  my  mature 
years.  I have  always  been  a student  of  reciprocity, 
justifiable  forgiveness  and  benevolence,  and  I ask  you 
to  let  the  sensation  of  humanity  interest  you  for  the 
condition  of  your  associates  and  fellow  creatures.  Let 
your  generous  hands  stretch  forth  to  lend  succor  to 
the  unfortunate  citizen  who  is  overwhelmed  by  his 
destiny.  Always  bear  in  your  recollection  that  it  falls 
as  heavy  upon  you  as  it  does  upon  him.  Acknowledge, 
then,  without  guile  that  every  unfortunate  has  an 
inalienable  right  to  your  kindness  above  all.  Wipe 
from  the  eyes  of  oppressed  innocence  the  trickling 
crystals  of  agonized  feeling.  Let  the  distressed  virtues 
fall  upon  your  sympathizing  bosom;  let  the  genial  glow 
of  sincere  friendship  animate  your  honest  hearts ; let 
the  fond  attachment  of  your  wife,  cherished  by  her 
warmest  affections,  make  you  forget  the  sorrows  of 
life.  Be  faithful  to  her  love,  responseful  to  her  ten- 
derness, that  she  may  reward  you  by  a reciprocity  of 
feeling,  that  under  the  eyes  of  parents  united  in  vir- 
tuous esteem  your  children  may  learn  to  set  a proper 
^■alue  on  practical  virtue;  that  after  thus  occupying 
your  riper  years  you  may  comfort  your  declining  age 
and  thus  gild,  with  content,  your  setting  sun. 

"The  strongest  impression  of  my  life  is  coupled  with 
an  infatuation  to  inculcate  peace  and  harmony.  Thus 
have  I been  deeply  interested  on  my  long  journey  so 
far  through  life  to  the  ripe  age  of  almost  seventy- 
eight  years,  and  thus  will  I continue  to  the  end. 
Should  any  of  you  become  derelict  in  your  duties 
to  your  fellow  men,  rehearse  with  sentimental  feel- 
ing the  lines  of  the  poet,  that  ‘man’s  inhumanity  to 
man  makes  countless  thousands  mourn,’  which  should 
appeal  to  the  sympathies  of  any  who  values  life  as 
worth  the  living.  When  we  profoundly  contemplate 
the  environment  of  man,  his  many  duties  in  worldly 
affairs,  his  encroaching  responsibilities  if  coupled  with 
avarice,  we  should  appeal  to  him  in  the  language  of  a 
philosopher,  in  tones  of  eloquence,  that  ‘reason  is  the 
supreme  judge  for  a contented  mind,’  that  avarice  is 
the  twin  to  a miser,  whose  greed  for  gold  destroys 
him  in  every  element  of  gratitude,  rendering  his  ears 
deaf  to  the  cries  of  the  widows  and  orphans.  The 
avaricious  miser  has  no  love  for  the  beautiful,  the 
good  and  the  true,  nor  a sense  of  duty  to  family, 
friends  or  society.  Therefore,  let  us  cultivate  and 
practice  benevolence,  which  teaches  us  to  consider  the 
welfare  of  the  human  race,  also  extend  a helping  hand 
to  the  needy,  if  we  are  financially  able  so  to  do.  Then 
we  can  be  reconciled  to  the  immutable  order  of  things, 
when  there  will  be  no  question  unsolved  as  to  our 
happiness  here  and  forever.  Every  flower  which  un- 
folds its  blossoms,  every  star  which  shines  by  night, 
will  illuminate  our  voyage  to  our  eternal  restful  sleep. 
The  jealousies,  bickerings,  and  quarrelings  that  en- 
thrall the  ubiquitous  mind  are  not  known  among  pi- 
oneers ; social  conditions  are  perfect  with  us.  The 
caste  which  bound  us  to  the  station  in  which  we  were 
born  was  broken  when  in  early  pioneer  days  we  di- 
vided our  bacon  and  beans  with  our  honest  com- 
rades. Here  in  this  society  the  door  of  privilege'  is 
open  to  the  meritorious  only,  to  the  person  who  is  in 
search  of  honest  opportunities.  My  young  friendly 
pioneers’  sons  and  daughters,  in  conclusion  I ask  you 
to  look  around  and  observe  how  many  old-timers 
are  here  today,  and  in  the  not  far-distant  future,  when 
they  will  be  no  more,  when  they  will  have  passed  into 
that  unknown  country,  ‘from  whose  bourne  no  traveler 
returns,’  think  not  that  they  lived  in  vain,  that  their 
advice  is  ignored.  Stay  by  and  with  it  until  your 
vision  can  no  longer  discern  the  daily  rising  and  set- 
ting of  the  sun,  so  that  the  grand  precepts  established 


r,A-,  ■'* 


V >--' 

5. 


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JiVV 


*r^_:.  I 


■- 


4‘ 


I' 


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HISTORY  OF  ^lONTANA 


939 


by  the  Alontana  Pioneers  will  be  scrupulously  observed 
by  their  sons  and  daughters  as  a rule  and  guide  to 
their  conduct,  always  bearing  in  your  recollection  that 
your  ancestors  have  won  a name  and  achieved  fame 
that  will  for  all  time  cluster  around  Montana's  his- 
toric reminiscences.” 

Dr.  O’Dillon  Whitford's  life  has  justified  that  ova- 
tion which  greeted  its  beginning,  for  it  has  been  dedi- 
cated to  the  service  of  the  public  through  the  chan- 
nel of  the  lofty  profession  of  medicine.  In  i88i  the 
Eclectic  Aledical  College  of  iMilwaukee  bestowed  an 
honorary  degree  upon  Dr.  Whitford  in  recognition  of 
his  important  contribution  to  medical  knowledge  in 
the  treatment  of  pneumonia  and  typhoid  fever.  The 
strides  which  have  been  made  in  the  successful  war 
against  these  diseases  are  among  the  triumphs  of  mod- 
ern therapeutics. 

Dr.  Whitford  is  an  honored  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  and  also  of  the  Old  Timers'  Association 
of  Silver  Bow  county.  In  1892  he  was  made  president 
of  the  society.  He  is  one  of  the  most  popular  citi- 
zens of  Butte,  as  he  is  one  of  the  foremost  in  his  pro- 
fession. 

Ch.vrles  H.  Green,  president  of  the  Green  Cattle 
Company,  which  was  incorporated  in  1893,  has  taken  an 
active  part  in  the  development  of  the  west  during  his 
lifetime.  The  industry  in  which  he  is  now  occupied 
is  one  of  the  most  extensive  enterprises  of  its  kind  in 
Montana,  being  devoted  to  the  breeding  of  thorough- 
bred horses  and  cattle  to  a great  extent.  All  his  life 
Mr.  Green  has  been  interested  in  the  stock  business, 
that  having  been  the  business  of  his  father,  who  was 
one  of  the  big  stockmen  of  the  state. 

Mr.  Green  was  born  in  Virginia  City  on  September 
16,  1864,  and  is  the  son  of  John  H.  and  Isabella  (Mor- 
row) Creep.  The  father  was  born  in  Norwalk,  Huron 
county,  Ohio,  on  January  18,  1836,  and  was  the  son 
of  Philip  and  Clarissa  (Wood)  Green,  of  New  York 
state.  They  had  eight  children,  of  which  number  two 
reached  years  of  maturity. 

John  H.  Green,  the  third  child  of  his  parents,  spent 
his  young  life  in  Ohio  and  Michigan,  and  attended 
school  in  Detroit.  In  1859  he  went  to  Colorado  and 
engaged  in  the  sale  of  merchandise  until  1864,  when  he 
came  to  Virginia  City,  ^Montana,  and  engaged  in  the 
livestock  business.  In  1867  he  went  to  Silver  City  and 
there  dealt  in  miners’  supplies  for  a number  of  years, 
and  in  1880  went  to  Fort  Benton  and  engaged  in  the 
livestock  business  on  a large  scale.  He  had  as  many  as 
five  thousand  head  of  stock  on  his  ranch  at  one  time, 
and  prospered  steadily.  He  became  the  owner  of  a 
considerable  amount  of  real  estate  in  Fort  Benton  and 
throughout  the  county,  and  became  prominent  in  the 
financial  activities  of  the  city.  He  was  one  of  the 
organizers  of  the  Stockmen’s  National  Bank  and  was 
a director  of  the  bank  for  clears.  He  died  in  Fort 
Benton  November  23,  1903,  survived  by  his  widow  and 
four  children.  IMrs.  Green  was  born  in  Canada  on 
October  10,  1847,  a daughter  of  Malcolm  IMorrow,  a 
pioneer  of  Montana  of  the  year  1863.  Six  children  were 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Green,  two  of  whom,  Jannetf 
and  Eber  W.,  died  in  childhood.  The  others  are 
Charles  H.  of  this  review,  Walter  M..  William  J.  and 
Frances  E„  all  of  whom  are  associated  together  in  the 
enterprise  of  which  Charles  H.  is  the  head. 

When  Charles  H.  Green  was  an  infant  the  family 
moved  to  Helena  and  settled  in  the  Prickly  Pear  valley, 
where  the  father  was  for  a time  engaged  in  dairy 
farming  and  other  enterprises.  In  1876  he  moved  to 
Rock  Creek,  and  there  was  started  the  mammoth  stock 
business  which  reached  generous  proportions  during 
his  lifetime  and  which  has  been  expanded  on  a wide 
scale  since  his  death  by  his  sons.  In  1887  Charles 
Green  left  home  and  settled  in  Great  Falls.  [Montana, 
and  formed  a partnership  with  Charles  Taylor,  and 


they  were  the  first  to  operate  a livery  business  in  this 
section  of  the  country.  They  continued  in  that  busi- 
ness for  three  years,  then  traded  the  business  for  sev- 
eral hundred  head  of  horses,  which  he  drove  to  Chou- 
teau county,  becoming  sole  owner  and  joining  the 
cattle  business.  In  1903  the  business  had  reached  gen- 
erous proportions,  and  on  the  death  of  the  elder  Green, 
the  business  was  incorporated  under  the  state  laws. 
Charles  H.  Green  was  made  president,  and  has  since 
continued  in  that  position;  Walter  M.  is  secretary  and 
treasurer,  and  resides  in  Lewistown,  [Montana ; William 
J.  is  vice-president,  and  [Mrs.  Isabelle  Green,  the  mother, 
and  Frances  Green,  sister  of  the  subject,  are  also  mem- 
bers of  the  firm.  In  this  way  the  interests  of  John  H. 
Green  were  in  a measure  perpetuated,  and  the  two 
have  united  to  form  one  of  the  really  big  stock  breed- 
ing enterprises  of  the  state.  The  company  was  incor- 
porated for  $100,000,  including  cattle,  horses,  ranch 
property,  etc.,  all  located  in  Chouteau  count}c 

In  addition  to  his  ranching  interests,  Mr.  Green  has 
identified  himself  in  a prominent  way  with  numerous 
other  industries,  among  which  are  the  Benton  Sana- 
tarium,  of  which  he  is  president,  and  the  Benton  Drug 
Company,  in  which  he  holds  the  position  of  treasurer. 
He  served  as  mayor  of  Fort  Benton  from  1906  to  1908, 
and  is  now  a candidate  for  re-election.  He  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  Commercial  Club  of  Fort  Benton,  and  is 
inclined  to  an  independent  view  in  matters  of  a political 
nature. 

On  November  14,  1892,  [Mr.  Green  was  married  in 
Fort  Benton  to  Miss  Lottie  E.  Smith,  the  daughter  of 
John  R.  Smith.  Three  children  have  been  born  to 
them;  [Mary  C.,  born  in  Fort  Benton  in  August,  1893; 
Helen  H.,  born  April  21,  1897,  and  John  H.  Green, 
also  born  in  Fort  Benton,  October  20,  1899,  being  his 
natal  day. 

Alfred  jM.  Esler  was  a pioneer  of  [Montana  and  one 
who,  during  the  thirty-six  years  that  marked  the  period 
of  his  residence  in  the  state,  was  engaged  in  min- 
ing, and  few  men  did  more  than  he  in  the  development 
of  that  portion  of  the  vast  resources  of  the  state. 

Air.  Esler  was  a native  of  Carthage.  Jefferson  county. 
New  York,  where  he  was  born’*on  October  5,  1837,  of 
French  Ancestry.  His  parents,  Aloses  and  Sophia 
(Wemott)  Esler,  were  both  natives  of  New  York. 
They  had  seven  children, — four  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters, of  which  Alfred  AI.  was  the  eldest.  The  father 
was  a carriage  manufacturer.  He  led  a useful  and 
worth}^  life  and  died  in  his  sixty-second  year.  The 
mother  survived  her  husband  a number  of  years  and 
died  in  New  York. 

Alfred  AI.  Esler  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  state  and  there  learned  the  trade  of  a house 
painter  and  decorator.  He  engaged  as  a merchant  at 
Boonville,  carrying  a line  of  wall  paper,  books,  station- 
ery, etc.,  and  was  so  engaged  when  the  reports  of  the 
rich  gold  mines  in  Alontana  induced  him  to  leave  a 
profitable  business  and  come  west  and  seek  a fortune. 
Accordingly  he  sold  out  in  1864  and  made  the  journey 
across  the  plains  and  mountains  with  ox  teams,  the 
trip  being  accomplished  after  long  and  tedious  months 
of  travel.  He  and  his  brother-in-law  made  the  jour- 
ney together,  both  being  accompanied  by  their  wives. 
At  the  end  of  five  months  they  reached  their  destination, 
— Bannack,  and  there  they  divided  their  effects.  Air. 
Esler  getting  two  yoke  of  oxen  for  his  share.  He  traded 
his  oxen  for  a placer  claim  and  engaged  in  mining,  but 
soon  afterward  discovered  that  his  claim  was  valueless. 
Later  in  the  season  Governor  Edgerton  gave  him  the  ap- 
pointment of  justice  of  the  peace.  With  this  office  and 
by  keeping  boarders,  they  managed  to  live.  The  follow- 
ing spring,  in  1865,  he  met  with  a great  bereavement  in 
the  loss  of  his  wife.  In  that  year  he  engaged  in  gold 
prospecting  and  was  fortunate  enough  to  locate  a good 
silver  mine  near  Argenta,  which  he  named  the  Legal 


940 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


Tender,  and  which  was  the  first  quartz  claim  worked  in 
the  state.  That  fall  he  started  with  a six-horse  wagon 
load  of  ore  and  took  it  back  across  the  plains  to  the 
east,  and  thence  to  Europe  to  a smelter.  His  showing  of 
it  to  the  people  of  the  east  resulted  in  the  formation  of 
a company,  to  which  he  sold  a three-fourths  interest  in 
the  mine.  In  the  spring  of  1866  he  returned  to  engage 
in  a St.  Louis  company  and  Mr.  Esler  gave  him  $20,000 
in  gold  to  put  up  a smelter  and  smelt  two  hundred  tons 
of  the  ore.  It  proved  a success,  and  Mr.  Esler  after- 
ward put  up  two  smelters  and  a refiner.  After  they  had 
taken  out  a ton  and  a half  of  silver  the  mine  gave  out, 
and  the  freights  were  so  high  it  was  impossible  to  make 
it  pay  with  the  ore  the  mine  was  producing,  so  they 
discontinued  work  there.  Subsequently,  Mr.  Esler,  with 
his  brother  Frank,  leased  a smelter  at  Jefferson  City, 
Montana,  and  six  months  later  it  was  burned.  Mr. 
Esler  located  various  mines  in  Montana,  with  varied 
success,  and  at  one  time  was  interested  in  the  Parrot 
mine  in  Butte;  in  fact,  it  was  during  his  connection  with 
this  property  that  the  facilities  for  mining  the  ore  were 
greatly  increased.  For  a period  he  was  interested  in 
developing  mining  property  at  Wickes  and  also  had 
holdings  in  the  Rimini  district.  He  became  interested 
in  several  rich  mining  prospects  in  the  Coeur  d’Alene 
district,  including  the  Badger,  Emma  and  Last  Chance 
mines,  and  became  interested  in  a deal  looking  to  the 
development  of  property  purchased  by  the  Bunker 
Hill  and  Sullivan  Company.  Mr.  Esler  engineered  that 
deal  which  had  more  to  do  with  the  development  of 
the  great  silver  and  lead  district  than  any  other  enter- 
prise. Fie  helped  to  organize  the  Helena  & Frisco  Com- 
pany, composed  largely  of  Helena  capitalists,  who  made 
a great  amount  of  money  from  the  mine,  the  controlling  ^ 
interest  being  later  sold  to  an  English  syndicate. 

In  1892  the  Badger  mill  was  blown  up  by  the  miners 
who  had  struck  for  higher  wages,— a demand  whichj 
the  owners  of  the  mine  deemed  unreasonable  and  with 
which  they  could  not  comply.  They  shut  down  the 
works,  and  later,  upon  opening  again,  they_  employed 
new  men.  While  sixty  men  were  at  work  in  the  mill 
it  was  blown  up  with  giant  powder,  and  the  miners 
attacked  the  workmen,  five  being  killed  and  fifteen  in- 
jured. Two  of  Mr.  Esler’s  brothers  were  in  the  mill 
at  the  time.  One  was  taken  prisoner  and  the  other  es- 
caped by  hiding  in  an  excavation.  Mr.  Esler  had  been 
firm  and  resolute  during  all  the  trouble,  and  at  the 
time  of  the  attack  one  hundred  men  went  in  search  of 
“Old  Esler’’  as  they  called  him.  Some  of  the  men  who 
participated  in  the  outrage  were  later  tried  and  sent  to 
the  penitentiary. 

Mr.  Esler’s  last  mining  operations  were  on  the  Black- 
foot  ceded  strip  of  Altyn,  Teton  county,  Montana, 
where  the  A.  M.  Esler  Mining  & Milling  Company  had 
under  bond  the  Cracker  and  Bullhead  copper  proposi- 
tions. They  had  practically  completed  a concentrator 
and  were  soon  to  begin  operations,  when  Mr.  Esler 
was  stricken  and  died  very  suddenly  on  September  10, 
1900. 

Mr.  Esler  was  a member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity, 
being  made  a Master  Mason  at  Brookville,  New  York, 
soon  after  he  had  attained  his  majority,  and  he  ever 
retained  his  active  membership  in  that  order.  He  was 
a Republican  and  always  took  a deep  interest  in  po- 
litical matters,  serving  his  party  well.  He  was  elected 
a member  of  the  territorial  legislature  of  Montana 
in  1866.  In  that  year  there  were  only  two  Re- 
publicans in  the  house,  and  the  laws  passed  by 
the  legislature  were  so  noxious  that  through  the 
efforts  of  Senator  Sanders,  the  whole  action  was  an- 
nulled by  the  United  States  congress.  In  those  ex- 
citing times  a man  ran  no  little  risk  in  being  a Re- 
publican, and  it  required  a deal  of  courage  for  Mr. 
Esler  to  maintain  his  position  and  act  and  vote_  accord- 
ing to  his  convictions,  but  he  proved  himself  in  every 
way  equal  to  the  occasion.  In  1896  he  became  a Sil- 
ver Republican  and  so  remained  until  his  death. 


Mr.  Esler  was  a member  of  the  Episcopal  church 
and  was  a trustee  of  St.  Peters  Hospital,  in  the  af- 
fairs of  which  he  took  a deep  interest.  On  January  29, 
1874,  he  was  married  to  Ophelia  B.  Johnston,  eldest 
daughter  of  Colonel  Johnston,  who  was  a well-known 
pioneer  of  Montana,  coming  first  to  the  territory  in  1862, 
and  bringing  his  family  in  1864,  that  year  marking  the 
advent  of  Mrs.  Esler  in  the  state.  Col.  Johnson  died 
in  1891. 

Three  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Esler,  as 
follows:  Amy  died  in  infancy;  Frances  M.  is  the 

wife  of  Harry  E.  Woodman,  a business  man  of  Helena, 
and  they  have  two  children, — Richard  E.,  who  died 
young,  and  Elizabeth  Kathryn;  Alfred  M.,  Jr.,  died 
May  25,  1894,  in  the  eighth  year  of  his  life. 

Mrs.  Esler  continues  her  residence  in  Helena  on 
Harrison  avenue,  where  the  family  of  her  daughter  also 
resides.  Mr.  Esler  was  a man  of  quiet  tastes,  retiring 
in  manner,  but  yet  possessed  of  a strong  and  forceful 
character.  He  had  a wide  acquaintance  throughout  this 
section  of  the  country  and  well  merited  the  high  es- 
teem and  regard  in  which  he  was  held.  He  was  particu- 
larly fond  of  his  adopted  state,  Montana,  and  had  great 
faith  in  its  future.  Any  movement  for  the  advancement 
and  good  of  the  state  received  his  heartiest  support,  and 
Montana  owes  much  to  him,  as  he  was  a pioneer  in  a 
number  of  important  districts  in  the  state. 

) Malcolm  Morrow.  The  entire  career  of  Malcolm 
Morrow,  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  Fort  Benton, 
is  illustrative  of  the  many  trying  experiences  with  which 
the  pioneers  of  Montana  had  to  contend,  and  an  item- 
ized record  of  the  various  hardships  through  which  he 
has  passed  and  the  numerous  narrow  escapes  which 
characterized  his  early  life  would  fill  many  pages  in 
this  volume.  A somewhat  brief  record  of  his  career, 
however,  will  be  of  interest  to  those  of  the  younger 
generation,  in  that  it  will  show  of  what  hardy  stuff 
these  pioneers  of  the  commonwealth  were  made,  and 
how  through  their  courage,  persistence  and  fortitude 
one  of  the  greatest  states  in  the  Union  has  been  de- 
veloped from  the  wilderness.  Mr.  Morrow  is  a native 
of  Perth,  Canada,  and  was  born  February  8,  1850,  a 
son  of  Malcomb  and  Jennett  (Mathewson)  Morrow. 
His  father,  also  a native  of  Canada,  came  to  the  United 
States  as  a young  man,  locating  first  in  Colorado,  where 
he  was  for  some  time  engaged  in  mining  in  Georgia 
Gulch.  In  1863  he  removed  to  Alder  Gulch,  Montana, 
but  subsequently  moved  on  to  McClellan  Gulch,  and 
after  locating  a claim  returned  to  Denver  for  his 
family.  He  continued  mining  there  and  at  Last  Chance 
and  Canyon  creek,  Georgetown,  Montana,  until  he 
retired  from  mining,  when  he  took  up  his  residence 
in  Helena.  He  later  went  to  Seven  Mile,  and  in  1879 
located  in  Fort  Benton,  where  his  death  occurred  May 
18,  1891,  when  he  was  sixty-five  years  of  age.  He  was 
well  known  in  his  day  and  locality,  and  had  numerous 
friends  throughout  the  state.  Mr.  Morrow  married 
Jennett  Mathewson,  who  was  born  in  Glasgow,  Scot- 
land, and  came  to  America  as  a child,  her  parents 
settling  first  in  Canada  and  later  removing  to  Colorado 
and  Montana.  She  died  in  Helena,  June  16,  1878,  when 
fifty-three  years  of  age.  Malcolm  was  the  eldest  son 
of  their  ten  children. 

Malcolm  Morrow  was  a mere  lad  when  he  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  Denver,  Colorado,  and  in  that 
city  attended  the  public  schools  for  a short  period. 
With  his  father  he  joined  in  the  stampede  for  Ban- 
nack,  but  their  destination  was  subsequently  changed 
to  Alder  Gulch,  where  he  followed  mining  and  pros- 
pecting to  some  extent,  but  was  mainly  identified  with 
the  caittle  business.  After  continuing  in  Alder  Gulch 
in  1864,  in  the  early  part  of  1865  he  moved  to  Last 
Chance  Gulch,  enduring  numerous  hardships  in  the 
journey  and  finding  the  carnp  in  a state  of  great  ex- 
citement on  reaching  that  point.  He  was  there  engaged 


f/- 


h 


f: 


I- 


V 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


941 


in  the  cattle  business  until  1880.  During  this  time  he 
was  in  constant  trouble  with  the  Blackfeet  and  Blood 
Indians,  and  on  one  occasion  his  entire  herd  of  live- 
stock was  stolen,  and  when  the  marauders  were  cap- 
tured he  recovered  only  three  or  four  head  of  his 
horses.  During  the  spring  of  1865,  Mr.  Morrow  started 
freighting  to  Salt  Lake  City,  and  on  one  of  his  sub- 
sequent trips,  having  been  forewarned,  his  party  were 
continually  on  the  watch  for  road  agents.  However, 
they  were  fortunate  in  not  being  molested,  although  on 
one  occasion  the  stage  following  was  held  up  and  a 
passenger  severely  wounded,  Mr.  Morrow’s  party  re-, 
turning  and  placing  him  in  a place  of  safety,  which 
led  to  his  ultimate  recovery.  On  Mr.  Morrow’s  first 
arrival  in  Fort  Benton,  in  1866,  the  fort  was  of  mud, 
and  was  located  one-half  mile  above  the  present  site  of 
the  new  fort,  and  on  the  night  of  his  coming  great 
excitement  prevailed,  a white  woman  having  been  killed 
here.  From  the  time  of  his  coming  here  Mr.  Morrow 
has  continued  to  be  a resident  of  Fort  Benton,  having 
devoted  himself  to  raising  cattle  and  horses  and  to 
the  freighting  business.  He  is  well  known  throughout 
Chouteau  county,  and  bears  the  reputation  of  an  excel- 
lent business  man  and  a public-spirited  citizen.  Fie 
has  interested  himself  in  numerous  enterprises,  and  at 
this  time  is  president  of  the  Benton  Drug  Company, 
and  a director  and  vice-president  of  the  Shonkin  Stock 
Association.  In  political  matters  he  is  a Republican, 
and  his  religious  connection  is  with  the  Episcopal 
church.  Montana  owes  a debt  to  its  pioneers  which 
can  never  fully  be  repaid.  Many  of  them  had  little 
schooling,  but  they  were  rich  in  self-control,  in  effi- 
ciency and  in  common  sense  and  they  had  gotten  their 
wisdom  in  the  greatest  of  schools — pioneer  life.  They 
had  stood  face  to  face  with  the  savage,  with  untouched 
nature,  every  elemental  thing.  Those  who  remain 
deserve  the  honor  and  esteem  of  their  fellows  as  men 
who  were  part  and  parcel  of  the  making  of  the  com- 
monwealth, and  without  whose  courageous  efforts 
present  conditions  could  not  have  been. 

Mr.  Morrow  was  married  at  Helena,  Montana,  July 
25,  1875,  to  Miss  Mary  Ann  Travis,  daughter  of  James 
and  Elizabeth  Travis,  and  sister  of  Tom  Travis,  chief 
of  police  of  Helena.  They  have  had  eight  children,  as 
follows : Macke  Conrad,  born  June  16,  1876,  of  Cas- 
cade, who  is  married  and  has  three  children;  Mrs. 
Bertha  Russel,  of  Cascade,  wife  of  Dr.  Russel,  born 
September  29,  1878,  at  Rock  Creek,  Montana;  Jen- 
nett  Morrow,  born  December  4,  1881,  at  Fort  Benton, 
and_  now  a school  teacher  of  Galata;  Mrs.  Florence 
Whitcomb,  born  September  27,  1884,  at  Fort  Benton, 
and  now  a resident  of  Boulder,  with  one  child;  Warren 
Thomas,  born  June  4,  1887,  at  Fort  Benton,  who  now 
has  charge  of  his  father’s  ranch;  Leonard  H.,  born 
April  IS,  1891,  at  Fort  Benton,  and  now  engaged  in 
the  drug  business  here;  Isabel  Ruth,  born  January  4, 
1893,  a graduate  of  the  high  school;  and  J.  Dewey, 
born  May  7,  1898,  now  attending  school. 

F.  George  Heldt.  When  a man  has  been  as  closely 
connected  with  his  state  as  has  F.  George  Heldt  with 
the  state_  of  Montana  he  must  feel  that  it  is  fairly  a 
part  of  him.  When  he  has  fought  to  maintain  its  honor, 
and  has  stood  by  its  standard  in  times  of  apparent 
peace,  when  although  no  bullets  were  flying  the  safety 
of  the  state  and  of  her  citizens  was  in  as  great  danger, 
he  must  feel  a love  for  the  very  soil,  such  as  those  who 
have  known  her  only  since  she  has  become  a great 
and  wealthy  commonwealth  can  never  feel.  Mr.  Heldt 
has  held  more  offices,  perhaps,  than  has  any  other  liv- 
ing resident  of  his  state,  from  the  first  city  marshal  in 
the  whole  state  to  a member  of  the  state  legislature. 
He  came  to  Montana  when  there  was  little  to  be  seen 
but  buffalo.  Indians  and  a few  adventurous  white  men 
ready  to  risk  everything  for  the  gold  which  they  be- 
lieved to  exist,  hidden  away  in  the  heart  of  the  moun- 


tains or  in  the  beds  of  the  streams.  His  first  job  was 
shoveling  “pay  dirt;”  he  is  now  one  of  the  best  known 
men  in  the  state.  He  did  not  "strike  it  rich,”  but  found 
success  slow  in  coming  to  him.  He  was  too  much 
occupied  with  living  to  spend  much  of  his  time  and 
thought  on  the  problem  of  getting  rich,  but  as  the 
saying  is,  "You  can't  keep  a good  man  down,”  and  he 
eventually  reached  a position  of  prominence  in  th5 
business  world.  In  the  meantime  everyone  in  the  state 
came  to  know  F.  George  Heldt,  for  he  did  not  spare 
himself  in  the  service  of  the  people.  Whenever  there 
was  a difficult  or  dangerous  task  to  be  performed  F. 
George  Heldt  was  one  of  the  first  volunteers,  never 
taking  into  consideration  personal  risk.  He  is  one  of 
the  most  progressive  men  in  a progressive  state,  and  has 
played  an  important  part  in  her  growth  and  develop- 
ment. He  holds  an  enviable  place  in  the  hearts  of 
all  who  know  the  story  of  his  life. 

F.  George  Heldt,  like  a true  westerner,  believes  that 
a man  is  what  he  makes  himself  and  not  what  his  ances- 
tors make  him ; he  therefore  has  never  bothered  his 
head  about  the  blood  that  runs  in  his  veins,  only  know- 
ing that  he  is  of  royal  lineage,  his  paternal  great- 
grandmother being  a daughter  of  the  Grand  Duke  of 
Hesse,  Germany,  who  was  also  known  as  the  Gross 
Herzog  of  Hesse  Darmstadt.  He  was  evidently  a 
member  of  the  younger  branch  of  the  house  of  Hesse, 
and  therefore  a member  of  the  line  that  is  yet  reign- 
ing. The  parents  of  Mr.  Heldt  were  of  the  stuff  that 
ventures  all,  and  they  determined  that  life  offered 
more  in  America  than  in  their  native  land,  and  that  they 
would  immigrate  to  this  newer  world.  They  set  sail 
from  Germany  in  1833,  their  vessel  being  a slow  sail- 
ing ship.  The  voyage  occupied  sixty-five  days,  and  al- 
though the  experience  was  a new  and  interesting  one, 
they  were  indeed  thankful  to  see  land  again.  They 
settled  on  a farm  in  Orleans  township,  Jefferson  county, 
in  the  state  of  New  York,  and  there  on  the  12th  of  July, 
1839,  F.  George  Heldt  was  born.  He  had  a twin 
brother,  of  whom  he  was  the  elder  by  ten  minutes, 
which  fact  he  always  considered  gave  him  authority  over 
the  younger. 

His  schooling  was  not  very  extensive,  all  of  his 
elementary  work  being  performed  in  the  district  school 
During  the  season  he  worked  on  his  father's  farm,  and 
thus  his  school  year  consisted  of  three  months  in  the 
winter.  Later,  however,  he  attended  two  terms,  each 
consisting  of  fourteen  weeks,  at  Falley  Seminary,  Ful- 
ton, New  York.  With  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war 
and  the  president’s  call  for  “three  hundred  thousand 
more  volunteers.”  Mr.  Heldt  was  on  fire  with  patriot- 
ism and  eager  to  go  to  the  front.  He  therefore  en- 
listed in  the  Ninety-fourth  New  York  Volunteer  Infan- 
try, in  which  he  served  for  two  years.  He  then  en- 
listed in  the  Irish  Brigade  which  was  under  the 
command  of  Gen.  Michael  Cochran,  remaining  in 
this  service  for  a year.  It  was  during  the  Civil  war 
that  what  Mr.  Heldt  considers  the  most  memorable 
event  in  his  life  occurred.  He  was  at  the  time  in  the 
quartermaster’s  department  stationed  at  Fairfax  court- 
house, Virginia,  and  he  happened  to  be  in  ’^Vashing- 
ton  when  General  Burnside’s  army  was  to  pass  in  review 
before  the  president.  Mr.  Heldt  very  fortunately  had 
a room  in  Willard’s  hotel,  facing  Pennsylyania 
avenue,  and  adjoining  the  balcony  whereon  President 
Lincoln  and  General  Burnside  stood  during  the  re- 
view. After  the  army  had  passed,  Mr.  Heldt  stepped 
out  upon  the  balcony,  and  put  forth  his  hand,^^  and 
though  to  the  president  he  was  only  one  of  the  “boys 
in  blue,”  it  was  seized  and  shaken  with,  as  Mr.  Heldt 
expresses  it,  “as  much  cordiality  and  pleasure  as  if 
I were  a long  lost  and  dear  friend.”  Just  another  in- 
stance of  the  big-hearted  friendliness  of  our  greatest 
of  all  presidents. 

After  his  years  in  the  army  had  come  to  a close  he 
was  fired  with  the  ambition  to  win  a fortune  by  the 


942 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


marvelous  tales  of  the  wealth  recently  discovered  in 
the  gold  fields  of  Idaho.  He  started  upon  his  quest 
on  the  iith  of  i\iay,  1864,  going  by  way  of  steamer  as 
far  as  Chicago.  His  ship  was  a propeller,  and  his 
starting  point  was  Clayton,  New  York,  a little  town 
on  the  banks  of  the  St.  Lawrence  river.  There  were 
four  in  this  party  during  this  trip  through  the  Great 
Lakes,  P.  J.  Hughes,  a nephew  of  Archbishop  Hughes, 
of  New  York,  Albert  Bushnell,  Frank  Peck  and  Mr. 
Heldt.  When  the  party  arrived  at  Chicago  it  was  de- 
creased by  the  withdrawal  of  Mr.  Bushnell  and  Mr. 
Peck,  who  were  frightened  out  of  the  project,  for  it 
was  almost  certain  that  hostile  Indians  would  be  en- 
countered and  the  travelers  heard  nothing  but  tales 
of  the  dangers  and  privations  of  the  journey.  Mr. 
Hughes  and  Mr.  Heldt,  in  addition  to  being  naturally 
brave,  and  indeed  more  daring  than  was  needful,  had 
already  had  three  years  of  the  hardships  of  an  army 
life,  and  so  were  willing  to  venture.  From  Chicago 
the  railroad  journey  to  Grinnell,  Iowa,  at  that  time  the 
farthest  west  the  railroad  had  reached,  was  madf.  From 
Grinnell  to  Council  Blutts,  Iowa,  stage  coach  was  the 
means  of  transportation.  Here  they  crossed  the  Mis- 
souri river  to  Omaha  on  a ferry  boat,  and  in  the  latter 
place  fortunately  encountered  a band  of  men,  seven  in 
number  who  were  on  their  way  to  the  gold  fields  of 
Idaho,  having  come  from  Wisconsin.  Mr.  Heldt  and 
his  friend  made  arrangements  to  join  this  party,  and 
they  set  out  on  the  ist  day  of  June,  1864.  The  party 
as  it  finally  stood  was  made  up  of  nine  men  with  their 
baggage  and  provisions  loaded  on  four  two-horse  spring 
wagons.  As  far  as  Mr.  Heldt  knows  he  is  now  the  only 
survivor  of  this  band  of  pioneers. 

On  leaving  Omaha  the  line  of  march  followed  the 
Platte  river  to  Fort  Laramie.  There  they  left  the  river 
and  proceeded  through  the  hostile  Indian  country,  ex- 
pecting an  attack  any  day  from  any  direction.  In  fitting 
the  party  for  the  trip  care  had  been  taken  to  have  a 
plentiful  supply  of  .guns  and  ammunition  at  the  sac- 
rifice of  other  comforts,  so-called.  A close  watch  was 
kept  and  every  night  a guard  was  set,  the  night  being- 
divided  into  watches  and  each  of  the  party  serving  their 
turn  at  this  duty.  However  in  spite  of  all  their  pre- 
cautions, it  would  have  been  a simple  task  for  the  In- 
dians to  have  taken  them  by  surprise  and  to  have 
massacred  them  all,  for  they  were  no  match  for  the  red 
men.  as  yet.  There  is  no  doubt  but  that  the  Indians 
would  have  paid  dearly  for  their  victory,  for  a braver 
band  of  men  never  set  forth  on  an  expedition.  One 
of  the  members,  however,  though  not  cowardly  was  yet 
very  cautious,  and  was  in  constant  expectation  of  a 
band  of  Indians  swooping  down  upon  them  from  the 
next  butte.  He  therefore  awoke  each  morning  with 
a new  idea  aljout  safeguarding  the  party,  and  his  de- 
vices were  not  only  unheard  of,  but  laughable.  When- 
ever any  of  the  party  ridiculed  him,  or  hinted  that  he 
might  be  a little  cowardly,  he  would  reply,  "^^’ell,  I 
believe  in  taking -ample  precaution  enough”  It  was 
only  a short  time  before  he  was  known  only  as  “Ample 
Precaution  Enough,"  and  he  never  lost  this  cogno- 
men. 

Although  the  men  were  thankful,  when  they  reached 
the  ruins  of  what  must  have  been  a train  of  a dozen  or 
more  wagons,  of  which  only  a smouldering  mass  of 
cinders  remained,  that  they  had  proceeded  so  far  un- 
molested, yet  their  blood  boiled  and  they  would  have 
liked  to  have  taken  a few  shots  at  the  marauders  who 
had  perpetrated  this  horror.  They  passed  on,  overtak- 
ing several  large  trains,  but  although  warned  that  they 
would  be  much  safer  they  could  not  endure  the  slow 
pace  that  these  heavily  laden  wagons  were  forced  to 
move.  On  one  occasion,  they  did  join  the  train  of 
which  Capt.  J,  H.  Mills  was  in  command,  and 
traveled  with  him  for  several  days.  This  was  through 
the  worst  bit  of  country,  where  every  bush  looked  sus- 
picious. The  passage  was  made  uneventfully,  however, 
and  so  with  a .grave  farewell,  for  who  knew  when  they 


would  again  meet,  the  two  parties  separated  and  the 
smaller  swiftly  proceeded  on  its  way.  It  was  on  the 
seventy-first  day  of  their  journey  since  leaving  Omaha, 
that  a glad  shout  -went  up  from  the  weary,  travel-worn 
band;  Virginia  City  was  in  sight.  Success  and  for- 
tune lay  at  their  feet.  The  trip  had  been  made  with 
such  comparative  ease,  and  in  so  short  a time  that  they 
regarded  it  as  a good  omen  for  the  future. 

The  first  thing  to  be  done  on  their  arrival  in  the 
town  was  to  build  a cabin,  and  it  was  fortunate  that 
among  their  party  was  a carpenter  and  also  a mason, 
for  they  would  have  had  to  pay  a fabulous  sum  had 
they  hired  the  cabin  built.  This  was  soon  accomplished 
and  then  each  man  turned  out  to  hunt  work.  Before 
Mr.  Heldt  had  fairly  looked  around,  he  had  begun  his 
public  service,  for  he- was  mustered  into  the  Vigilantes 
and  took  the  obligation,  that  is,  promised  to  give  his  as- 
sistance towards  ridding  the  country  of  the  thieves, 
murderers  and  desperadoes  with  which  it  was  infested, 
and  at  all  times  to  stand  ready  to  do  his  duty  as  a 
Vigilante.  Western  men  know  what  this  band  of  men 
accomplished,  but  for  the  benefit  of  those  who  may  be 
unfamiliar  with  their  record  the  following  incident  is 
related.  First,  let  it  be  understood  that  at  this  time 
there  was  no  law  in  the  country,  and  the  Vigilantes 
were  banded  together  to  protect  the  lives  and  property 
of  citizens,  not  as  some  have  supposed  for  the  sake 
of  the  excitement  that  was  the  daily  food  of  these 
nien.  Place  yourself  in  Virginia  City,  on  a Sunday, 
in  the  year  1864.  You  are  standing  on  Main  street  in 
front  of  a large  gambling  house  filled  with  men  who 
have  come  into  town  for  their  weekly  spree ; the 
poker  tables  are  full,  faro  is  in  full  swing  at  the 
other  end  of  the  building;  everywhere  are  men,  filled 
with  the  lust  for  gold,  many  willing  to  commit  murder 
in  order  to  get  it.  The  clink  of  gold,  or  the,  soft  thump 
of  a bag  of  dust,  are  the  only  sounds  save  the  voices 
of  the  players.  To  your  left  is  an  auction  stand, 
presided  over  by  a shifty-eyed,  soft  footed  man 
who  is  selling  “cayuses,”  and  whenever  a new  animal 
is  put  up  for  sale,  the  auctioneer  flings  himself  on  the 
back  o,‘^  the  beast,  and  dashes  madly  up  and  down 
the  street,  regardless  of  the  crowd,  throwing  his  arms 
about  to  show  the  ease  with  which  the  bronco  might 
be  controlled,  or  with  the  reins  tightly  grasped,  put- 
ting the  scraggly  animal  through  his  paces.  He  is  the 
center  of  an  admiring,  excited  crowd,  and  to  the  right 
not  ten  feet  from  the  gambling  house  door  stands  his 
competitor,  a clergyman,  preaching  the  gospel  to  a 
crowd  of  several  hundred.  Every  minute  or  so  a man 
drunk  with  whiskey,  or  mad  with  rage  at  having  lost 
his  “pile,”  reels  from  the  door,  stares  a moment  at 
the  minister  of  God,  mutters  a curse  beneath  his 
breath,  starts  toward  the  religious  meeting,  then  meet- 
ing the  eyes  of  a quiet  looking  man,  who  is  lounging 
against  the  house  wall,  slinks  down  the  street  to  the 
mass  around  the  auctioneer's  stand.  As  the  afternoon 
wears  away  the  revelry  and  intoxication  grows,  and 
suddenly  with  a wild  whoop  some  of  the  worst  of  the 
cut-throats  in  the  gambling  house  pour  forth,  bent  on 
mischief.  They  make  their  way  toward  the  minister, 
intent  on  breaking  up  the  services.  Suddenly  from 
every  side  appear  the  watchful  Vigilantes,  and  at  the 
word  from  the  quiet  lounger,  ‘‘Men,  do'  your  duty !” 
they  stand  ready  to  fire.  It  is  not  necessary,  their 
reputation  is  too  well  known,  and  the  men  who  had 
been  so  brave  a moment  before  now  vanish  in  the 
crowd.  These  were  the  sort  of  men  of  whom  the 
Vigilantes  were  composed. 

The  first  job  that  Mr.  Heldt  found  was  shovelling 
“pay  dirt”  from  the  platform  where  it  was  thrown  by 
the  miners  in  the  pit  below,  into  the  sluice  box,  above 
his  head.  He  did  not  start  to  work  until  noon  of 
the  day  upon  which  he  was  hired,  and  at  six  o'clock 
went  to  receive  his  pay  of  $2.50  in  gold  dust.  When 
he  pulled  off  his  heavy  buckskin  gloves,  his  hands  were 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


943 


wet  with  blood,  and  when  the  boss  told  him  he  would 
not  be  needed  tomorrow,  his  grin  was  one  of  joy.  The 
next  trial  he  made  at  earning  his  living  was  in  chop- 
ping cord  wood.  He  and  his  partner,  Mr  Hughes,  took 
a contract  for  cutting  a hundred  cords  of  wood  at  the 
rate  of  $2.00  a cord,  and  since  they  had  no  money  to 
buy  food  in  the  meantime,  they  were  to  be  supplied  with 
“grub,”  the  value  of  which  was  to  be  taken  from  their 
pay.  They  had  only  to  chop  the  wood,  their  boss 
cording  it  as  he  hauled  it.  They  worked  at  this  for 
three  weeks,  and  then  concluding  that  the  huge  pile 
they  had  chopped  contained  considerable  more  than  a 
hundred  cords  they  called  for  their  pay.  On  measuring 
the  amount  done,  the  sum  total  amounted  to  about 
twenty-three  cords,  thus  making  $46.00,  out  of  which 
they  had  spent  $48.00.  They  were  a crestfallen  pair, 
but  their  employer,  while  laughing  at  their  discom- 
fiture, exclaimed,  “You  are  pretty  good  boys  and  I will 
call  it  square.” 

Mr.  Heldt’s  next  job  was  hauling  wood  from  the 
mountains  to  the  city,  with  four  yoke  of  oxen  and  two 
log  wagons.  He  only  held  this  job  for  two  weeks,  for 
when  his  employer  found  fault  with  him,  the  lad’s  high 
temper  would  not  endure  it  and  in  the  quarrel  which 
followed,  the  man  thinking  Mr.  Heldt  a tenderfoot 
whom  he  could  bluff,  tried  to  cheat  him  out  of  his 
pay,  but  he  did  not  succeed,  Mr.  Heldt  turning  the 
tables  on  him  and  getting  his  money.  The  next  day 
Mr.  Heldt  happened  to  meet  Bob  Hagaman,  who  was 
clerk  and  recorder,  and  he  said  that  since  Bob  Hill, 
his  deputy,  was  going  to  Bannack,  as  private  secretary 
to  Governor  Edgerton,  the  place  was  vacant  and  Mr. 
Heldt  might  have  it  if  he  wanted  it.  Being  just  out  of 
a job,  this  was  very  opportune,  and  Mr.  Heldt  began 
his  duties  immediately.  In  the  early  spring  of  1865, 
Bob  Hill,  having  misrepresented  Mr.  Hagaman  to  the 
governor,  secured  his  appointment  as  clerk  and  recorder 
in  Mr.  Hagaman’s  place.  In  September  Mr.  Hill 
resigned  and  the  governor  appointed  Mr.  Heldt  in  his 
place,  for  he  had  continued  in  his  position,  in  spite 
of  the  change  of  superiors.  Until  November,  when  the 
new  clerk  and  recorder  was  elected,  he  performed^  the 
duties  of  this  office,  and  after  the  election  he  remained 
with  the  new  official  until  June,  1866.  This  was  the 
first  election  held  in  Montana,  and  Mr.  Heldt  tells 
the  story  of  his  experiences  as  follows : 

“The  Democrats  in  those  days  outnumbered  the 
Republicans  in  Montana  by  about  ten  to  one.  I went 
to  the  polls  to  vote  and  found  the  Democrats  in  pos- 
session and  was  informed  that  Republicans  could  not 
vote.  I said  nothing,  but  proceeded  at  once  to  find 
Colonel  Sanders,  who  was  the  Republican  candidate 
for  congress.  I was  but  a few  minutes  in  finding  him 
and  told  him  the  ‘Rebels’  had  possession  of  the  polls 
and  would  not  let  me  vote.  After  a moment’s  thought 
the  colonel  said,  ‘Let’s  go  and  find  Colonel  Nelson  and 
Con  Orem,’  'both  prize  fighters  and  both  good  Repub- 
licans. 'VVe  had  no  difficulty  in  finding  them,  and  the 
four  of  us  went  to  the  polls.  I never  will^  forget  the 
twinkle  in  Nelson’s  eyes  and  the  expression  on  his 
face.  After  taking  in  the  situation  he  said  to  Orem, 
‘Well,  Con.  we  will  have  to  make  a passageway 
through  this  mob,’  and  pulled  off  his  coat,  and  Con 
pulled  off  his,  and  at  it  they  went,  and  I at  their  heels. 
When  anyone  showed  any  hesitancy  about  stepping 
back  and  making  a passage  it  was — Biff!  they  fell  right 
and  left,  and  in  less  time  than  it  has  taken  me  to  tell  it. 

I walked  to  the  polls  unmolested  and  deposited  my 
ballot.” 

Mr.  Heldt  was  filled  with  delight  by  the  arrival  in 
March,  1866,  of  his  twin  brother,  John.  They  only  re- 
mained in  Virginia  City  for  a few  months,  going  to 
Helena  in  June.  This  city  was  now  on  the  “boom”  as 
the  former  had  been  in  1864.  The  brothers  took  up  a 
placer  claim  in  Thompson’s  Gulch  about  eight  miles 
from  Helena  and  sunk  a shaft  eighty-five  feet  deep. 


I hey  did  not  place  a single  stick  of  timber  to  guard 
against  a cave-in,  but  nothing  happened  and  since  they 
found  no  pay  streak  they  gave  up  mining  in  disgust. 
The  next  year  another  man  worked  this  claim,  and 
gathered  in  about  ten  thousand  dollars.  They  therefore 
returned  to  Virginia  City,  but  the  summer  of  1867  saw 
them  back  in  Helena.  John  Heldt  secured  a position 
in  the  postoffice  and  his  brother  George  went  into  the 
United  States  marshal’s  office  as  deputy  and  office  man. 
The  close  resemblance  of  the  two  brothers  was  the 
occasion  of  a number  of  laughable  incidents,  among 
them  being  the  following.  They  boarded  at  the  St. 
Louis  restaurant,  of  which  Joe  Appolona,  an  Italian, 
was  the  proprietor.  John  ate  his  meals  an  hour  or  so 
before  George,  and  alter  they  had  been  boarding  at  the 
place  for  about  two  weeks.  Tommy,  the  Irish  waiter, 
began  to  observe  that  there  was  a man  who  was  eating 
six  meals  a day  instead  of  three.  He  thought  that  the 
fellow  must  have  been  starved  for  the  past  month,  and 
that  he  would  soon  get  filled  up.  But  no,  the  same 
thing  continued,  so  Tommy  considered  it  his  duty  to 
report  the  case  to  the  proprietor.  To  convince  him  that 
he  was  speaking  the  truth  he  dragged  his  master  in 
when  John  arrived  for  dinner,  pointed  him  out,  and 
said,  “Now,  in  about  two  hours  he  will  come  again.” 
When  George  arrived,  he  therefore  grasped  the  pro- 
prietor’s arm,  and  pointed  in  his  direction.  Joe  Appo- 
lona knew  them,  and  bending  double  with  laughter,  said, 
“That's  all  right.  Tommy,  he  pays  double.”  It  was  a 
long  time  before  the  Heldt  twins  could  live  this  down. 

A short  time  ago  an  article  appeared  in  a St.  Paul 
paper  concerning  a murder  which  had  been  committed 
by  George  M.  Pinney  in  Montana,  in  which  reference 
was  made  to  his  almost  losing  his  life  at  the  hands  of 
a mob.  Mr.  Heldt  was  almost  an  eye  witness  on  this 
occasion,  having  just  left  the  room  where  Governor 
Beal  was  trying  to  pick  a quarrel  with  Mr.  Pinney, 
when  the  shot  rang  out  and  Mr.  Heldt  rushed  back 
to  find  Beal  dead.  It  was  a clear  case  of  self-defense, 
however,  and  Mr.  Pinney  was  tried  and  speedily  ac- 
quitted with  nothing  resembling  a mob,  or  even  any 
threats  being  made  against  him. 

In  the  autumn  of  1868  J.  X.  Beidler  and  Mr.  Heldt 
as  deputy  United  States  marshals  went  to  Fort  Ben- 
ton to  arrest  some  men  who  had  been  plying  the 
whiskey  traffic  with  the  Indians.  The  trip  was  made  on 
horseback,  the  first  day’s  journey  being  made  to  Dear- 
born Stage  Station,  and  the  afternoon  of  the  next  day 
finding  them  at  “Sun  River  Leaving”  where  the  road 
branched  off  towards  Fort  Benton.  The  two  men  were 
about  to  push  on,  when  the  stage  from  Benton  came 
into  sight,  the  mules  staggering  from  the  effort  they 
had  made,  for  the  coach  had  been  chased  by  a war 
party  of  Indians  almost  to  within  sight  of  the  station. 
The  best  plan  was  to  remain  at  the  station  over  night 
and  then  start  in  the  morning  with  fresh  horses  so 
that  if  the  Indians  were  met,  they  might  run  for  their 
lives  if  necessary.  The  next  morning  the  horses  were 
allowed  to  walk,  and  for  about  twelve  miles  nothing 
disturbed  the  peace  of  the  fresh  morning,  then  after 
crossing  a low  bottom  and  coming  out  on  the  bench 
land,  a band  of  about  twenty-five  Indians  appeared.  It 
was  impossible  for  the  two  men  to  retreat,  it  was 
simply  against  their  natures,  so  deciding  that  there 
would  be  a few  “good”  Indians  to  their  credit,  even 
if  they  finally  had  to  retreat  they  proceeded  on  their 
way,  though  Mr.  Heldt  remarked,  “If  there  were  twenty- 
five  of  us  and  two  Indians  I believe  I would  feel  more 
comfortable.”  All  of  their  preparations  went  for 
nought,  for  on  a nearer  approach,  the  leader  of  the 
band  was  seen  to  be  Indian  Jack,  and  after  exchanging 
a friendly  “How,  how,”  they  passed  on,  Indian  Jack 
being  friendly  to  the  white  men.  This  was  rare  during 
that  year  for  the  Indians  were  hostile  throughout  the 
whole  country.  Travelers  were  waylaid  everywhere, 
and  many  travelers  lost  their  lives  on  the  road  between 


944 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


Fort  Shaw  and  Helena,  the  savages  becoming  so  bold 
as  to  attack  men  within  twenty  miles  of  Fort  Benton. 

In  1865  an  Indian  war  threatened,  and  the  pioneers 
will  never  forget  that  time.  General  Meagher,  then 
acting  governor,  called  for  volunteers,  and  among  the 
number  of  brave  men  who  sprang  to  his  call,  was 
Mr.  Heldt.  He  had  met  General  Meagher  several 
times  when  they  were  both  with  the  army  of  the 
Potomac,  and  when  he  offered  to  serve  for  the  Indian 
war,  the  general  said,  "You  remain  with  me,  yon  have 
done  your  share  of  the  fighting;  I may  need  you  here 
before  this  trouble  ends.”  After  the  Indian  matters 
were  settled,  Mr.  Heldt  went  to  Fort  Shaw  as  clerk 
in  the  quartermaster’s  department.  General  De  Tro- 
briand  was  stationed  here  in  command  of  the  Thirteenth 
United  States  Infantry,  and  it  was  during  this  winter 
that  Colonel  Baker  gave  the  Piegan  Indians  a lesson 
that  they  never  forgot.  The  temperature  was  forty 
below  zero,  and  the  march  to  the  camp  of  the  Indians 
was  made  through  the  snow  and  by  night.  The  sur- 
prise, however,  was  complete,  and  the  Piegan  Indians 
never  again  went  on  the  warpath. 

In  the  spring  of  1870  Mr.  Heldt  resigned  his  position 
to  accept  that  of  bookkeeper  and  general  utility  man 
for  the  post  trader,  having  in  addition  to  his  other 
duties  those  of  postmaster,  stage  agent  and  express 
agent.  P'or  eighteen  years  he  remained  in  this  position, 
or  positions,  and  among  the  joys  of  his  life  was  that  of 
his  duty  as  postmaster  of  arising  every  morning,  with 
the  thermometer  often  at  forty  below,  and  the  hour  be- 
tween one  and  three,  to  receive  the  mail  and  express 
matter  from  the  stage  en  route  from  Helena  to  Ben- 
ton. In  1873  Mr.  Heldt  was  honored  by  election  to 
the  legislature  from  the  northern  portion  of  Lewis  and 
Clark  county.  In  these  days  there  was  no  such  thing 
as  even  a whisper  of  bribes.  If  any  one  was  even  sus- 
pected of  being  a grafter  he  was  ordered  from  the 
country,  and  the  government  was  run  by  a set  of 
honest  straightforward  men,  not  politicians.  The 
capital  was  located  in  Virginia  City,  and  when  Governor 
Potts  called  a special  session,  it  meant  a trip  of  225 
miles,  to  be  accomplished,  but  it  was  a relief  to  some 
of  the  members  when  during  the  regular  session  the 
capital  was  moved  to  Helena. 

On  the  22nd  of  December,  1874,  Mr.  Heldt  was 
married  to  Miss  Mary  Watson,  of  Virginia  City,  the 
occasion  being  celebrated  by  a big  dance  which  was 
tendered  the  popular  young  people  by  their  friends. 
Their  honeymoon  consisted  of  a two  days’  ride  on 
the  Gilmer  and  Salisbury  stage  to  Helena,  where  they 
remained  for  a few  days.  On  the  morning  which  they 
had  set  for  their  departure  for  their  home  in  Fort 
Shaw,  the  weather  which  had  hitherto  been  mild,  had 
again  turned  cold,  and  there  was  now  several  inches  of 
snow  where  there  had  been  none  before.  This  did  not 
deter  them,  however,  and  they  climbed  aboard  the 
stage  and  set  out.  Soon  the  snow  was  axle-deep,  and 
shortly  after  passing  Dearborn  station,  v/hich  they 
reached  that  night,  the  driver  lost  his  way.  The  pros- 
pect of  wandering  around  on  the  prairie  all  night,  with 
the  snow  two  feet  deep,  and  the  thermometer  standing 
at  forty  below  zero,  was  not  inviting.  At  last,  almost 
by  chance  they  found  the  road  again,  and  reached  the 
next  station  at  four  o’clock  in  the  morning.  At  last 
the  bride  and  groom  arrived  at  Fort  Shaw,  having  been 
twenty-six  hours  making  the  journey,  after  a honey- 
moon that  was  a bit  more  thrilling  than  even  they 
cared  to  e.xperience  again.  Until  1888  Mr.  Heldt  re- 
mained in  Fort  Shaw,  and  then  selling  the  J.  H.  Mc- 
Knight  Company  business  with  which  he  had  been 
connected  he  moved  to  Great  Falls,  Montana,  where 
he  has  since  resided. 

Mr.  Heldt  has  had  many  experiences  in  hunting 
buffalo,  and  like  all  others  who  were  in  the  west 
during  the  years  when  the  buffalo  was  a common  ob- 
ject, can  not  understand  their  sudden  disappearance. 


He  tells  a story  of  a buffalo  hunt  that  took  place  in 
1872.  About  ten  miles  northeast  of  the  point  where 
the  city  of  Great  Falls  now  stands,  the  party  found 
the  herd.  It  is  impossible  to  say  how  many  buffalo 
were  in  the  herd,  for  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach, 
the  prairie  was  black  with  the  huge,  shaggy  beasts. 
There  were  at  least  a hundred  thousand,  and  probably 
many  more.  It  was  during  this  hunt  that  Mr.  Heldt 
had  a hairbreadth  escape.  He  wounded  a buffalo 
bull  so  severely  that  he  could  not  travel,  and  stood 
looking  piteously  at  him.  Mr.  Heldt  therefore,  got 
down  from  his  horse  that  he  might  make  more  certain 
of  his  shot  and  so  relieve  the  poor  beast’s  sufferings 
as  quickly  as  possible.  He  was  about  fifty  feet  away 
from  the  buffalo,  when  suddenly  the  animal  came  to 
life  and  leaped  forward  in  great  jumps,  head  down. 
Mr.  Heldt  made  a flying  leap  for  his  saddle,  per- 
forming a feat  that  would  have  made  him  worth  much 
money  to  P.  T.  Barnum,  could  he  have  been  a witness, 
and  putting  spurs  to  his  horse  when  the  buffalo  was  only 
five  feet  distant.  Up  until  1875-6  the  J.  H.  McKnight 
Company  bought  from  the  Indians  and  half-breeds  about 
five  thousand  robes  during  the  season,  and  after  that 
year  they  could  buy  none,  so  abruptly  did  the  bison 
vanish. 

The  first  fire  department  in  Virgin,ia  City,  or  in  fact, 
in  Montana,  was -organized  in  1865.  The  apparatus  con- 
sisted of  a truck,  two  ladders  and  two  hooks.  The 
name  of  the  company  was  the  Hook  and  Ladder  Com- 
pany, No.  I,  and  Mr.  Heldt  was  the  secretary.  One  of 
his  chief  treasures  is  his  belt,  inscribed  with  the  letters, 
“Secretary,  Hook  and  Ladder  Co.  No.  i.”  The  uniform 
was  made  up  of  a pair  of  black  doe  skin  trousers,  red 
flannel  shirt  and  red  cap.  On  the  Fourth  of  July,  1865, 
in  the  midst  of  rain  and  snow,  they  had  their  first 
great  parade,  in  which  the  center  of  interest  was  a 
six-horse  Wells-Fargo  coach.  At  the  firemen's  ball 
which  took  place  in  the  evening,  the  tickets  sold  for 
$10.00  apiece.  Mr.  Heldt  was  also  the  first  city  mar- 
shal in  Montana,  serving  in  Virginia  City,  and  he  is 
the  oldest  notary  public,  with  a continuous  record  for 
service,  in  the  state.  He  was  first  commissioned  by 
Governor  Edgerton,  who  was  the  first  governor  of 
Montana,  and  since  that  time  he  has  served  without  a 
break. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Heldt  became  the  parents  of  two  chil- 
dren, both  of  whom  were  girls  and  both  born  in  Mon- 
tana. Florence  R.  is  now  the  wife  of  Captain  L.  J. 
Fleming,  of  United  States  Cavalry.  The  youngest 
daughter,  Frances  Gibbon,  at  present  living  at  home, 
being  unmarried.  Mrs.  Heldt  died  on  the  8th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1903,  at  Great  Falls,  and  is  buried  in  the  family 
lot  at  Helena,  Montana. 

Joseph  Miller  Lindley.  Few  citizens  have  been 
more  closely  identified  with  the  interests  of  Bozeman 
than  Joseph  Miller  Lindley,  whose  activities  in  this  city 
have  e.xtended  over  a period  of  forty-seven  years,  dur- 
ing which  time  he  has  held  high  rank  in  business,  pub- 
lic and  social  life.  Although  his  business  interests  have 
been  large,  he  has  found  time  to  associate  himself  with 
earnest  and  hard-working  bodies  with  the  city  welfare 
at  heart,  and  the  services  he  has  rendered  his  commu- 
nity cannot  be  overestimated.  Mr.  Lindley  was  born 
August  6,  1840,  near  Vernon,  Indiana,  and  is  a son  of 
James  M.  and  Melissa  (Biggs)  Lindley,  the  former  a 
native  of  New  York,  who  died  in  Indiana  at  the  age 
of  forty-five  years.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneer  farmers 
of  the  Hoosier  state,  whence  he  had  been  taken  by  his 
parents  in  childhood.  His  wife  was  a native  of  Indi- 
ana, but  spent  her  last  years  at  the  home  of  one  of  her 
five  children,  in  Hastings,  Nebraska. 

Joseph  Miller  Lindley  continued  to  reside  on  the  home 
farm  until  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age,  and  secured  his 
primary  education  in  the  district  schools.  In  1857  he 
joined  a party  en  route  to  Minnesota  for  the  purpose 


i . 


♦ 


«> 


%> 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


945 


of  taking  up  farming  land,  and  first  located  near  North- 
field,  Minnesota,  where  he  remained  until  the  spring 
of  1858.  At  that  time  he  went  to  Jacksonville,  Illinois, 
where  he  entered  the  college,  the  president  of  which 
was  a brother  of  the  late  American  comedian,  Sol  Smith 
Russell.  After  his  graduation,  in  i860,  Mr.  Lindley  re- 
turned to  his  old  home  in  Indiana,  but  after  a short 
visit  went  to  Atchison,  Kansas,  and  on  to  Colorado, 
subsequently  returning  to  Kansas.  Owing  to  a severe 
drought,  he  abandoned  agricultural  pursuits  and  spent 
the  winter  of  i86o-’6i  in  Atchison,  but  in  the  spring 
of  the  latter  year  entered  the  state  service,  the  governor 
having  made  a call  for  troops  to  protect  the  frontier 
from  depredations  by  the  "border  ruffians”  and  the 
gathering  Confederates.  Mr.  Lindley  had  previous  ex- 
perience as  -a  soldier,  having  been  engaged  in  Indian 
warfare,  but  was  not  regularly  enlisted  until  May, 
1861,  when  he  was  mustered  into  Company  K,  First 
Regiment,  Kansas  Volunteer  Infantry,  Capt.  George  C. 
Fairchild.  The  regiment  was  at  once  ordered  to  the 
front  and  joined  the  troops  at  Grand  River,  Missouri, 
under  command  of  General  Lyon,  July  7,  1861.  The 
command  followed  General  Price  down  to  the  Arkansas 
line,  and  then  fell  back  to  Springfield,  Missouri,  where 
General  Lyon  participated  in  his  last  battle.  During  the 
terrific  engagement  at  Wilson’s  creek,  Mr.  Lindley  re- 
ceived a bullet  which,  to  this  day,  the  physicians  have 
been  unable  to  extract.  While  in  the  General  United 
States  Hospital  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  he  was  dis- 
charged, being  unable  to  perform  further  duty,  and  was 
then  sent  to  his  regiment  for  discharge  at  St.  Louis. 
Returning  to  Kansas,  he  was  employed  as  a "wagon 
boss”  on  a line  of  freight  wagons,  his  division  being 
from  Nebraska  City,  Nebraska,  to  Denver,  Colorado, 
via  Omaha,  from  Denver  on  to  Salt  Lake  City,  and 
from  Leavenworth  to  Ft.  Laramie  and  other  United 
States  forts.  Subsequently  he  made  two  trips  from 
Salt  Lake  to  Virginia  City,  Montana,  and  on  the  4th  of 
December,  1863,  left  Alder  Gulch  and  secured  passage 
by  stage  from  Salt  Lake  for  California,  going  as  far 
south  in  that  state  as  Los  Angeles,  and  returning  with 
merchandise  by  the  southern  route  to  Virginia  City. 
The  experience  of  Mr.  Lindley  as  a pioneer,  frontier 
pioneer  and  plainsman,  in  point  of  danger,  hardships 
and  excitement,  is  seldom  equalled  in  the  annals  of 
early  western  life.  It  was  in  the  spring  of  1864  that 
Mr.  Lindley  returned  to  Virginia  City,  Montana,  and 
shortly  after  his  arrival  in  the  territory  he  came  to 
the  Gallatin  valley  with  much  of  the  merchandise,  sold  it 
out  and  engaged  in  farming  and  freighting  between  Fort 
Benton  and  Helena.  In  1865  he  abandoned  this  enter- 
prise and  settled  on  a farm  on  Middle  creek,  where  he 
continued  to  reside  until  1871.  He  then  engaged  in 
the  cattle  business  on  the  Shields  river,  buying  the 
cattle  in  Utah  in  1872  but  selling  out,  however,  in  1882. 
In  that  year  he  platted  a sub-division  in  Bozeman, 
known  as  the  Lindley  & Guy  addition,  through  which 
the  finest  residence  street  in  the  city,  Lindley  Place, 
passes.  He  likewise  began  loaning  money  and  opened 
a store  for  selling  farm  implements,  but  closed  the  lat- 
ter two  years  later  to  interest  himself  in  the  real  estate, 
insurance  and  loan  business.  During  the  last  fifteen 
years  he  has  acted  in  the  capacity  of  United  States 
agent  of  pensions.  On  August  22,  1892,  Mr.  Lindley 
organized  the  Bozeman  Land  and  Loan,  Company,  and 
in  1909  was  the  organizer  of  the  Lindley  -Concrete  Com- 
pany, manufacturing  building  material,  blocks,  brick, 
chimney  blocks,  tile,  posts  and  ornamental  work,  as 
well  as  burial  vaults.  The  factory  is  situated  at  the 
south  end  of  Rouse  avenue,  while  the  office  is  located 
at  No.  55  East  Main  street. 

Mr.  Lindley  was  married  at  Janesville,  Wisconsin,  Jan- 
uary I,  1882,  to  the  widow  of  Capt.  H.  C.  Miles.  She 
was  born  near  Vernon,  Indiana,  and  her  father  was  the 
stepfather  of  Mr.  Lindley.  Politically  Mr.  Lindley  is 
a Democrat  and  his  initial  vote  was  cast  for  Grover 


Cleveland  for  president.  On  April  9,  1882,  he  was 
elected  alderman  from  the  Fourth  ward  in  the  first 
city  election  and  later  served  two  more  terms.  During 
this  time  he  was  influential  in  securing  a number  of 
improvements  for  his  community.  A member  of  the 
Bozeman  free  library  board,  unbeknown  to  his  as- 
sociates, he  wrote  to  Andrew  Carnegie  and  managed 
to  secure  his  support.  He  is  a charter  member  and  was 
one  of  the  organizers  of  William  English  Post  No.  10, 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  named  in  honor  of  Will- 
iam English,  an  old  schoolmate  of  Mr.  Lindley’s  and 
adjutant  of  the  One  hundred  and  first  Illinois  Volunteer 
Infantry.  Adjutant  English  was  killed  at  the  battle  of 
Big  Hole,  during  the  frontier  war  with  the  Indians, 
and  his  remains  were  carried  back  to  Jacksonville,  Illi- 
nois, and  buried  at  his  old  home.  Mr.  Lindley  is  senior 
vice-commander  of  the  Department  of  Montana,  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic,  and  in  1911  was  elected  com- 
mander of  his  home  post  in  Bozeman.  He  was  also 
prominent  in  the  formation  of  that  noble  society.  Pio- 
neers of  Gallatin  county,  of  which  he  was  secretary  and 
treasurer  in  1896,  1897  and  1898,  president  from  1899 
to  1900  and  then  re-elected  secretary  and  treasurer  in 
1900  and  1901.  He  has  devoted  much  time  in  the  in- 
terests of  this  organization,  which  is  preserving  for  pos- 
terity a record  of  the  lives  and  activities  of  those 
courageous  men  who  made  the  settlement  of  this  sec- 
tion possible.  He  was  a member  of  the  first  city  council 
of  Bozeman,  was  the  first  president  of  the  Chronicle 
Publishing  Company  of  this  city,  and  his  name  has  been 
associated,  in  some  capacity  or  another,  with  every  en- 
terprise or  movement  which  has  promised  to  be  of 
benefit  to  the  community.  In  all  the  walks  of  life  he 
has  gained  and  maintained  a spotless  reputation,  and  no 
man  is  held  in  higher  esteem  in  the  Gallatin  valley. 

Henry  L.  Des  Combes.  Truly  a pioneer  of  Montana 
is  Henry  L.  Des  Combes,  of  Belt,  whose  advent  to  this 
state  dates  back  to  the  territorial  days  of  1864  and  who 
for  nearly  half  a century  has  been  identified  in  various 
ways  with  the  life  of  this  growing  commonwealth  and 
knows  by  experience  the  vast  and  remarkable  changes 
that  have  taken  place  there. 

i\Ir.  Des  Combes  was  born  in  St.  Louis  county,  Mis- 
souri, on  the  iith  of  December,  1838,  and  comes  directly 
of  Swiss  and  French  antecedents.  Frederick  Des 
Combes,  his  father,  was  a farmer  and  a native  of 
Switzerland.  He  emigrated  to  America  in  1828  and 
became  a pioneer  settler  in  St.  Louis  county,  Missouri, 
where  his  after  life  was  given  to  agriculture  on  the 
old  Chouteau  farm.  He  died  there  at  the  age  of_  sixty- 
eight.  His  wife  was  Christina  Preise,  a native  of 
France  and  born  near  Alsace  Lorraine.  She  died  in 
1880.  Four  children  were  born  to  the  union  of  these 
parents. 

Mr.  Des  Combes  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Kirkwood,  St.  Louis  county,  Missouri,  and 
until  twenty-six  years  of  age  his  life  was  spent  on  the 
farm.  In  1864  he  with  a party  of  some  thirty  men  from 
St.  Louis  started  across  the  plains  for  Montana  and 
arrived  at  Virginia  City  on  the  5th  of  August,  their 
trip  being  without  incident.  .On  arriving  there  IMr.  Des 
Combes  took  up  work  in  the  mines,  at  which  he  con- 
tinued until  the  following  November  wheii  he  removed 
to  Helena  and  was  the  fiifth  to  erect  a cabin  there.  He 
also  assisted  in  laying  out  the  streets  and  in  naming 
them.  In  that  day  he  was  the  owner  of  a large  portion 
of  what  is  now  the  most  valuable  property  in  Helena, 
but  not  foreseeing  the  city’s  future  he  sold  all  of  this 
property  at  practically  what  it  cost.  There  _ he  also 
built  the  Overland  hotel,  the  first  modern  building  in 
the  capital  city.  He  followed  mining  in  various  parts 
of  the  state  until  1880  but  never  proved  very  success- 
ful in  his  ventures,  makin.g  nothin.g  more  than  a liv- 
ing, though  he  owned  properties  that  later  developed 
some  of  the  best  mines  in  the  state.  In  1888  he  re- 


946 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


moved  from  Cora,  where  he  was  ranching,  to  Belt,  to 
which  place  the  railroad  had  been  built  by  that  time, 
and  there  was  elected  a justice  of  the  peace  and  notary 
public,  which  offices  he  has  filled  ever  since.  During 
his  residence  at  Cora  he  served  on  the  school  board 
ten  years. 

He  is  a Democrat  in  party  allegiance  but  has  never 
taken  an  active  part  in  political  affairs,  and  his  interest 
in  the  development  of  Belt  is  shown  by  his  membership 
in  the  Commercial  Club.  Mr.  Des  Combes  has  made  his 
way  in  life  by  his  own  efforts  and  unassisted  by  capital 
and  what  he  has  accomplished  is  the  result  of  long 
years  of  honest  and  energetic  endeavor.  He  stands  for 
the  highest  and  best  citizenship  and  has  so  lived  that 
he  has  drawn  to  himself  the  high  regard  and  esteem 
of  his  fellow  men.  Mr.  Des  Combes  is  unmarried. 

Gen.  Lester  S.  Willson.  Distinction  through  mili- 
tary prowess  commands  universal  admiration  and  re- 
spect and  when  men  go  to  war  and  battle  for  principle 
what  they  accomplish  possesses  worth  far  beyond  the 
struggling  for  conquest.  The  United  States  has  pro- 
duced heroes  whose  military  achievements  are  not 
shadowed  by  those  of  any  past  age.  There  are  military 
men  in  jMontana  as  in  other  states,  now  in  peaceful 
activities,  who  surmounted  such  difficulties  and  faced 
such  grave  dangers  for  many  stormy  years  that  these 
might  justly  entitle  them  to  undying  fame,  and  among 
those  whom  the  Treasure  state  delights  to  honor  is 
Gen.  Lester  S.  Willson,  of  Bozeman.  Gen.  Willson  is 
a native  of  the  Empire  state,  having  been  born  at  Can- 
ton, St.  Lawrence  county.  New  York,  June  i6,  1839, 
and  is  a descendant  of  a line  of  illustrious  ancestors 
reaching  back  to  the  time  of  King  Arthur  and  the 
Knights  of  the  Round  Table.  His  parents,  Ambrose 
and  Julia  A.  (Hill)  Willson,  had  seven  children,  all  of 
whom  grew  to  maturity. 

General  Willson  attended  the  public  schools  of  Canton 
and  supplemented  this  by  a course  in  an  excellent  acad- 
emy at  that  place,  after  leaving  which  he  was  employed 
as  a clerk  in  the  store  of  an  uncle.  When  the  Civil 
war  came  on  he  offered  his  services  in  defense  of  the 
Union  as  a member  of  Company  A,  Sixtieth  Regiment, 
New  York  Volunteer  Infantry,  in  which  he  enlisted  in 
August,  1861,  under  Capt.  William  B.  Goodrich.  He 
was  advanced  to  the  rank  of  sergeant  in  September, 
1861,  to  second  lieutenant  in  October,  1862,  to  first  lieu- 
tenant and  adjutant  a month  later,  and  was  offered  a 
captaincy  the  day  his  commission  as  adjutant  was  re- 
ceived but  declined  the  promotion.  In  August,  1864,  he 
was  made  a captain,  in  October  the  same  year  a lieu- 
tenant-colonel,  a colonel  the  next  May,  but  not  mus- 
tered by  reason  of  reduced  number  of  men  in  regiment, 
and  a brevet  colonel  and  brevet  brigadier-general  after 
he  left  the  service,  with  rank  from  March  13,  1865,  the 
last  honors  being  conferred  upon  him  from  the  recom- 
mendation of  the  two  commanders  of  the  Twentieth 
Corps,  Generals  Hooker  and  Slocum,  “for  gallant  and 
meritorious  service  under  General  Sherman  at  Atlanta.” 
His  early  duty  in  the  service  was  in  guarding  the  Bal- 
timore & Ohio  Railroad,  and  in  the  Virginia  campaigns 
under  Banks  and  Pope  in  1861  and  1862.  He  was  later 
in  the  hardest  of  the  fight  at  Antietam  and  again  at 
Chancellorsville,  where  he  was  severely  wounded-  and 
compelled  to  retire  from  active  service  for  a time.  He 
rejoined  his  regiment  as  the  army  was  preparing  to  move 
for  the  Gettysburg  campaign,  but  his  wound  broke  out 
afresh  and  he  was  ordered  to  Washington  for  treatment. 
In  September,  1863,  he  went  south  with  the  Twelfth 
Corps  under  General  Hooker,  and  participated  in  the 
battles  of  Wauhatchie,  Lookout  Mountain,  Missionary 
Ridge,  Pea-Vine  Creek  and  Ringgold. 

On  November  24,  1863,  largely  through  his  efforts 
and  personal  influence,  his  regiment  veteranized  and  re_- 
enlisted,  said  to  be  the  second  one  in  the  service  to  take 
this  step.  The  next  spring  with  the  Third  Brigade, 


Geary’s  division,  he  took  part  in  all  the  battles  of  Sher- 
man’s campaign,  from  Chattanooga  to  Atlanta,  Savan- 
nah, Goldsborough,  Raleigh,  up  to  and  including  John- 
son’s surrender.  During  much  of  this  time  he  served 
as  aide,  assistant  inspector-general  and  assistant  adju- 
tant-general of  the  brigade.  The  Sixtieth  New  York 
and  the  One  hundred  and  eleventh  Pennsylvania  divided 
the  honor  of  having  been  the  first  regiments  in  Atlanta, 
and  the  first  to  unfurl  their  colors  from  the  top  of  the 
city  hall.  Alby  Davis,  Wellsville,  Ohio,  disputes  with  W. 
W.  Ewing,  Eighty-fifth  Indiana,  that  the  Third  Division, 
Twentieth  Corps,  was  first  into  Atlanta.  The  Sixtieth 
New  York,  Third  Brigade,  Second  Division,  Twentieth 
Corps,  was  the  first  in  the  city  and  hoisted  our  flag 
on  the  city  hall.  As  assistant  adjutant-general  Mr. 
Willson  was  the  first  officer  to  enter  Savannah  at  the 
head  of  his  regiment,  and  received  the  surrender  of  the 
city  at  the  hands  of  Mayor  Arnold.  At  the  earnest 
solicitation  of  Gen.  H.  A.  Barnum,  commanding  the 
Third  Brigade,  he  carried  his  lieutenant-colonel’^  com- 
mission without  muster  from  Atlanta  to  Goldsborough, 
remaining  as  assistant  adjutant-general  of  the  brigade. 
Until  the  declaration  of  peace  he  was  in  constant,  every- 
day service,  never  leaving  his  command  except  on  ac- 
count of  wounds;  and  by  his  close  attention  to  duty  and 
resourcefulness  in  action,  stood  in  the  confidence  of  his 
several  chiefs,  Generals  Sherman,  Hooker,  Slocum, 
Geary,  Greene  and  others,  and  on  many  occasions  was 
entrusted  with  peculiarly  intricate  and  dangerous  du- 
ties. He  was  accredited  with  being  a most  faithful  and 
intelligent  officer  and  of  his  regiment  Maj.  Gen.  George 
S.  Greene  has  said : “It  was  one  of  the  best  in  the 

service.” 

After  the  close  of  the  war  General  Willson  was  ap- 
pointed assistant  quartermaster-general  of  the  state  of 
New  York  with  the  rank  of  colonel.  The  office  had 
the  adjustment  of  many  large  business  matters  with 
the  railroads  pertaining  to  the  transportation  of  troops, 
supplies,  etc.,  balances  between  the  state  and  the  gen- 
eral government,  the  disposition  of  accumulated  sup- 
plies belonging  to  the  state,  and  other  matters  of  mag- 
nitude and  importance  involving  large  amounts  of 
money.  He  resigned  the  office  in  March,  1867,  to  en- 
gage in  business  in  Montana,  and  has  been  in  this 
state  ever  since,  mining,  merchandising,  banking,  and 
other  pursuits  occupying  his  attention.  From  1883  to 
1886  he  served  as  quartermaster-general  of  the  territory 
with  the  rank  of  brigadier-general.  He  has  always  voted 
the  Republican  party  and  been  active  in  its  campaigns, 
having  served  as  a member  of  its  national  committee, 
and  holding  other  important  places  in  its  organization. 
He  was  a member  of  the  territorial  legislature  in 
1868-69,  in  1900  was  a candidate  for  presidential 
elector  for  his  party.  General  Willson  is  well  known 
in  financial  circles  and  is  a director  of  the  Commercial 
National  Bank  of  Bozeman. 

On  March  2,  1869,  General  Willson  was  married  at 
Albany,  New  York,  to  Miss  Emma  D.  Weeks,  a native 
of  Vermont,  and  three  children  were  born  to  this  union, 
of  whom  two  are  deceased,  one  son,  Fred  F.,  still  sur- 
viving. General  Willson  is  a Mason,  belonging  to  Boze- 
man Lodge  No.  18,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  and  is  a charter  mem- 
ber of  the  William  English  Post,  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic.  He  has  filled  most  of  its  offices  and  has  been 
department  commander  of  Montana.  He  also  belongs 
to  the  Loyal  Legion  of  the  United  States  in  the  com- 
mandery  of  New  York. 

Christopher  H.  Waterman.  The  days  of  the  early 
settlement  of  the  state  are  as  half-remembered  dreams 
to  such  of  the  pioneers  of  Montana  who  remain  to  recall 
their  memory,  and  it  is  hard  to  believe  that  the  present 
prosperous  and  flourishing  Treasure  State,  the  center  of 
commercial  and  educational  progress,  was  only  a half 
century  ago  onlv  too  often  the  scene  of  savagery,  the 
home  of  wild  animal  and  wilder  man,  a place  of  dangers 


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HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


947 


and  of  perils,  whence  only  the  courageous  dared  to  come, 
and  where  but  few  could  hope  to  win  success.  Such  has 
been  the  nature  of  the  American  people,  however,  that 
their  ambitions  have  always  taken  them  to  the  new 
places,  causing  them  to  cast  their  lot  with  those  who 
pave  the  way  for  civilization,  and  every  section  of  the 
East  contributed  to  its  full  quota  to  the  population  of 
the  new  country.  From  the  state  of  Vermont  carne 
many  who  were  to  represent  the  best  type  of  citizenship 
during  the  early  days,  and  among  these,  one  who  ex- 
perienced all  the  hardships  and  privations  of  pioneer  ex- 
istence, is  Christopher  H.  Waterman,  of  Bozeman,  a 
resident  of  Montana  since  1864.  Mr.  Waterman  was 
born  in  Rutland  county,  Vermont,  January  24,  1826,  and 
is  a son  of  John  and  Caroline  (Hilliard)  Waterman, 
Vermonters  by  birth,  who  eventually  removed  to  the 
Holland  purchase  in  western  New  York,  where  they 
spent  the  rest  of  their  lives  in  agricultural  pursuits, 
the  father  dying  when  forty-five  years  of  age,  and  the 
mother  passing  away  when  eighty-one.  They  had  a 
family  of  eight  children,  of  whom  Christopher  H.  is  the 
onlv  survivor. 

Christopher  H.  Waterman  was  reared  to  manhood  on 
the  New  York  homestead,  whence  he  had  been  taken 
w'hen  he  was  but  one  year  old,  and  his  education  was 
secured  in  the  district  and  select  schools.  He  was 
twenty  years  of  age  when  he  left  home  to  go  to  Michi- 
gan, but  after  a year  returned  to  New  York  and  adopted 
a seafaring  life,  a vocation  which  he  continued  for 
fourteen  years.  During  this  time  he  served  as  first  mate 
on  some  of  the  finest  vessels  afloat,  and  for  seven  years 
was  captain  of  smaller  craft.  In  1851  he  went  to  Cali- 
fornia, and  for  two  years  sailed  on  vessels  running  out 
of  San  Francisco,  and  then,  with  others,  obtained  con- 
trol of  an  island  lying  to  the  west  of  that  city,  where 
they  engaged  in  securing  seal  oil,  eggs,  furs,  etc.,  and 
within  two  months  had  marketed  10,000  dozen  of  eggs 
at  $1.00  per  dozen,  and  sold  $3,000  worth  of  seal 
oil,  the  venture  netting  them  a neat  profit.  Mr.  Water- 
man then  returned  to  New  York,  and  as  first  mate  of 
a large  vessel  started  for  Havre,  France,  and  at  the 
New  London  Flotel  in  that  city  met  and  married  Miss 
Catherine  Boyle,  a sister  of  the  landlady  of  the  hotel. 
She  was  born  in  Paisley,  Renfrewshire,  Scotland,  June 
13.  1835,  daughter  of  John  and  Catherine  (Devlin) 
Boyle,  natives  of  the  Emerald  Isle.  Her  father  was  em- 
ployed for  many  years  in  the  gas  works  at  Paisley  and 
Glasgow,  Scotland,  and  died  IMarch  i,  1842,  at  the  age 
of  forty-seven  years.  His  wife  long  survived  him,  com- 
ing to  the  United  States  with  her  children,  and  dying 
November  21,  1887,  at  the  venerable  age  of  eighty-six, 
being  then  an  inmate  of  the  home  of  her  daughter,  Mrs. 
Henry  Monforton.  of  Bozeman.  Mrs.  Waterman  is  the 
only  survivor  of  her  family  of  nine  children.  The 
youngest  brother,  Capt.  Peter  T.  Boyle,  served  gallantly 
in  the  Sixty-third  Regiment,  New  York  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, during  the  Civil  war,  and  met  his  death  in  the 
Battle  of  the  Wilderness,  May  5,  1864.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Waterman  have  had  three  children,  as  follows;  Jerome 
B.,  born  December  17,  1862,  and  died  October  26,  1911, 
married  (first)  Miss  Dora  Sales,  by  whom  he  had  one 
son,  Fred,  and  after  her  death  married  (second)  Rose 
V.  Johnston;  Catherine  L.,  who  married  William  L. 'Mc- 
Donnell and  has  four  children,  Erval,  Annie  _C„  Cath- 
erine and  Wm.  W. ; and  Charles  R.,  born  in  Middle 
Creek,  Gallatin  county,  November  15,  i860,  elected  in 
1906  county  commissioner  for  a term  of  two  years,  and 
re-elected  in  igo8  for  six  years,  was  married  November 
7,  1894,  to  Miss  Mary  C.  Arnold,  and  has  four  children, 
Marie,  Evelyn,  Charles  A.  and  Edith  C.  The  marriage 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Waterman  took  place  November  30, 
1859,  Chaplain  E.  N.  Sawtelle,  United  States  chaplain  to 
the  port  of  Havre,  officiating  at  the  ceremony.  After 
reaching  the  United  States  the  ceremony  was  repeated 
by  Rev.  Father  Van  Gorp,  of  the  Catholic  church.  After 
his  marriage,  Mr.  Waterman  returned  to  New  York, 
voi  n—7 


where  he  settled  his  maritime  affairs,  and  then  returned 
to  Havre,  France,  to  engage  in  business.  At  the  out- 
break of  the  Civil  war  in  America  he  came  to  this 
country  and  settled  in  Saginaw,  Michigan,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  the  cooperage  business  until  1864,  at  that 
time  starting  for  Montana  (then  Idaho)  and  leaving  his 
wife  to  stay  at  the  home  of  her  mother  in  Brooklyn, 
New  York,  as  she  was  not  in  sufficiently  robust  health 
to  endure  the  trip.  At  St,  Joseph,  Missouri,  Mr.  Water- 
man secured  an  ox  team  and  wagon,  and  on  May  4, 
1864,  left  that  city  on  the  journey  across  the  plains,  one 
of  a party  comprising  about  200  emigrants.  The  trip 
consumed  about  three  months,  and  Mr.  Waterman  came 
at  once  to  the  Gallatin  valley,  where  he  forthwith  took 
up  a government  claim  of  160  acres,  and  to  this  original 
homestead  he  has  added  from  time  to  time  until  he 
now  has  a magnificent  landed  estate  of  1800  acres,  in- 
cluding the  ranches  wdiich  he  provided  for  his  sons. 
Upon  his  original  little  farm  Mr.  Waterman  built  a 
primitive  log  cabin  of  the  regulation  frontier  type,  and 
made  every  possible  preparation  for  the  comfort  of  his 
wife,  who  was  to  join  him  as  soon  as  possible.  Mrs. 
Waterman  left  Brooklyn,  New  York,  July  17,  1865, 
with  her  infant  child,  to  go  to  meet  Mr.  Waterman  in 
Virginia  City,  Nevada.  The  trip  was  made  by  the 
water  route,  crossing  the  Isthmus  of  Panama  and  thence 
proceeding  to  San  Francisco,  where  lived  her  brother, 
and  from  which  city  she  traveled  overland  by  stage  for 
the  rest  of  the  journey.  Arriving  in  Virginia  City, 
Nevada,  she  discovered  that  her  husband  was  in  Virginia 
City,  Idaho  (now  Montana),  and  accordingly  resumed 
her  long  and  perilous  journey.  This  country  was  at 
that  time  infested  with  hostile  Indians,  and  when  the 
stage  upon  which  she  was  traveling  reached  Austin, 
Nevada,  the  citizens  tried  to  persuade  her  to  give  up  the 
rest  of  the  journey,  as  the  stage  coach  ahead  had  been 
held  up,  looted  and  burned,  and  its  passengers  put  to 
death.  Finally  she  found  that  of  all  the  passengers, 
men  or  women,  she  alone  was  willing  to  take  the  risk, 
but  when  they  found  she  was  obdurate  in  her  decision, 
the  men  were  shamed  into  completing  the  trip,  and 
the  stage  finally  arrived  at  Virginia  City,  Idaho,  October 
21,  1865,  without  further  mishap.  Arriving  at  the  Plan- 
ters House,  a primitive,  poorly-conducted  hostelry',  she 
there  received  the  news  that  the  Indians  had  gone 
through  the  valley  where  her  husband  was  located  and 
had  killed  every  white  settler,  but  not  long  afterward 
she  met  James  McCormick,  a brother  of  Paul  McCor- 
mick, both  old.  Montana  pioneers,  of  Bozeman,  who  in- 
formed her  that  her  husband  was  alive  and  well  and 
living  near  him.  On  his  taking  a note  to  Mr.  Waterman 
the  latter  lost  no  time  in  coming  to  Virginia  City  with 
an  ox  team,  the  journey  taking  three  days.  When  he 
had  reached  the  city,  Mr.  Waterman  paid  the  hotel  bill, 
which  had  become  eighty-two  dollars,  and  they  started 
back  for  the  little  log  cabin  home,  arriving  the  evening 
of  the  third  day.  It  was  already  dark  when  they  reached 
home,  and  while  Mr.  Waterman  was  turning  the  oxen 
loose,  he  placed  his  wife  in  a rude  little  chair  which 
he  had  made  for  her,  inside  the  cabin.  The  air  was 
close  and  filled  with  smoke,  and  it  was  not  until  she 
had  been  asked  by  her  husband  to  take  off  her  wraps 
that  she  learned  that  what  she  had  thought  was  his  black- 
smith shop  was  to  be  her  home ! It  may  be  imagined 
what  this  meant  to  the  carefully  nurtured,  gentle 
woman,  whose  life  prior  to  this  time  had  been  one  of 
ease  and  luxury,  but  with  a courage  that  has  made  pos- 
sible the  civilization  of  every  part  of  our  country,  she 
settled  down  to  assist  her  husband  and  to  do  her 
share  in  the  development  of  the  community.  From 
January,  1865,  to  July,  i806,  Mrs.  Waterman  did  not  see 
a white  woman.  Flour  was  thirt.v-five  dollars  per  sack, 
and  the  depredations  of  the  Indians  kept  the  settlers 
constantly  on  the  lookout.  On  one  occasion  the  com- 
manding officer  at  Fort  Ellis  sent  word  to  Mr.  Water- 
man to  be  armed  and  ready,  for  the  Indians  were  com- 


948 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


ing  and  he  could  not  leave  the  post.  The  few  settlers 
kept  an  outpost  to  warn  them  so  that  they  might  flee 
to  the  refuges  which  they  had  prepared,  if  the  Indians 
approached,  and  all  of  the  women  went  into  Bozeman 
for  greater  safety,  with  the  exception  of  Mrs.  Water- 
man, who  refused  to  leave  her  husband  at  the  little 
home.  During  the  year  1866  a band  of  friendly  Indians 
camped  near  the  Waterman  ranch,  and  the  chief  of  the 
band  became  very  much  attached  to  Airs.  Waterman, 
offering  her  husband  “heaps,  heaps,  heaps  ponies  for  his 
pretty  white  squaw  !’’ 

The  family  continued  to  reside  on  the  ranch  for 
eleven  years,  each  year  finding  Air.  Waterman  further 
on  the  highroad  to  success,  the  early  days’  alarms  being 
forgotten  and  peace  and  prosperity  reigning  in  the  little 
home.  Owing  to  ill  health,  however,  Mr.  Waterman 
eventually  rented  the  ranch  and  moved  to  Maryland, 
where  for  several  years  the  family  lived  on  a farm,  but 
subsequently  removed  back  to  the  old  Alontana  home. 
The  farm  is  under  high  cultivation,  with  the  best  of 
improvements,  including  a fine  country  residence,  in 
marked  contrast  to  the  former  little  log  “blacksmith 
shop.”  In  1889  Air.  Waterman  purchased  an  attractive 
residence  property  in  Bozeman,  at  559  West  Alain  street, 
and  here  the  family  passes  the  winter  months.  In  1901 
Mr.  Waterman  took  a trip  to  New  York  to  visit  two 
sisters  whom  he  had  not  seen  in  thirty-seven  years. 

Politically  a Republican,  Air.  Waterman  served  for 
several  years  as  justice  of  the  peace,  and  in  1868  was  the 
candidate  of  his  party  for  representative  in  the  terri- 
torial legislature,  but  was  defeated  by  two  votes.  While 
a resident  of  the  East,  many  years  ago,  Mr.  Waterman 
identified  himself  with  Odd  Fellowship,  and  was  also 
the  first  president  of  the  reorganized  Gallatin  County 
Pioneers’  Society.  Mrs.  Waterman  is  a member  of  the 
Catholic  church,  and  the  family  occupies  a prominent 
place  in  the  religious  and  social  circles  of  Bozeman. 
Among  Air.  Waterman’s  most  highly  prized  possessions 
are  documents  showing  that  his  grandfather,  David  Wa- 
terman, enlisted  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years,  in  1777, 
in  the  Continental  army,  and  that  he  served  faithfully 
in  various  battles  of  the  Revolutionary  war.  On  Novem- 
ber 30,  1909,  was  celebrated  the  golden  wedding  anni- 
versary of  Air.  and  Airs.  Waterman,  at  which,  in  addi- 
tion to  their  chidlren  and  nine  grandchildren,  friends 
from  all  over  the  country  were  present,  bearing  presents 
and  good  wishes  to  one  of  Alontana’s  most  highly  es- 
teemed pioneer  couples. 

Paul  Weydert.  The  late  Paul  Weydert  was  a 
Alontana  pioneer  in  the  best  and  truest  sense  of  that 
old  familiar  word,  and  between  the  years  of  1864  and 
1901,  when  Mr.  Weydert  met  an  untimely  death  in  a 
runaway  accident,  he  was  identified  with  much  of  the 
growth  and  development  which  Montana  experienced 
in  that  half  century. 

A native  son  of  Germany,  Paul  Weydert,  was  born 
on  the  ist  day  of  Alay,  1829,  in  Luxemburg,  Germany, 
and  was  the  son  of  Caspar  Weydert.  He  came  to 
America  in  1852,  having  previously  learned  the  trade 
of  a wagon-maker  in  his  home  province.  He  was  a 
self-supporting  youth  from  the  age  of  sixteen,  and 
after  he  came  to  America  he  gave  his  undivided  atten- 
tion to  his  trade  until  he  moved  to  Montana  in  1864. 

The  circumstances  of  his  trip  to  the  west  are  these 
in  brief : The  young  man  had  married  in  St.  Paul, 

Minnesota,  where  he  had  settled  after  his  arrival  in 
America,  and  when  he  started  on  the  westward  journey, 
he  was  accompanied  by  his  young  wife  and  an  infant 
six  weeks  old.  Nothing  daunted,  the  courageous  couple 
made  the  start  with  the  others,  the  company  consisting 
of  a train  of  one  hundred  and  sixteen  wagons  drawn 
by  oxen,  which  they  met  at  New  Ulm,  Alinnesota,  and 
a company  of  soldiers,  who  had  in  their  train  three 
hundred  wagons,  each  being  supplied  with  a six-mule 
team.  They  were  thus  insured  against  the  attacks  of 


hostile  Indians,  who  ravaged  the  western  country  in 
those  early  days,  and  the  trip  was  made  in  perfect 
safety,  although  attended  by  one  or  two  unpleasant 
incidents.  They  crossed  Minnesota  and  Dakota,  and 
crossed  the  Missouri  river  on  steamboats.  Coming  to 
the  Yellowstone,  they  forded  that  stream  and  floated 
goods  in  the  wagon  beds,  driving  the  teams  and  cattle 
across.  At  this  point  two  men  were  lost  in  a bed  of 
quicksand  which  they  encountered,  one  of  the  men 
being  Mr.  Weydert’s  driver.  The  train  arrived  in 
Helena,  or  rather  at  the  present  site  of  Helena,  on 
September  22,  1864,  after  being  four  months  on  the 
road. 

The  company  was  made  up  for  the  most  part  of  men 
who  had  gold-seeking  as  their  object  in  Alontana,  and 
the  stay  of  the  party  at  Helena  was  but  brief,  the  party 
breaking  up  there  and  scattering  in  all  directions.  Mr. 
Weydert  chose  the  Prickly  Pear  district  for  his  loca- 
tion and  he  and  his  family  wintered  in  a cabin  which 
he  built.  Here  he  prospected  during  the  winter  months 
and  in  the  spring  of  1865  they  moved  to  Last  Chance, 
thence  on  to  Nelson  Gulch,  where  Mr.  Weydert  built 
a sturdy  little  log  cabin  for  his  family.  Being  a me- 
chanic of  no  mean  ability,  he  was  able  to  produce  a 
praiseworthy  little  home  and  this  log  cabin  was  moved 
three  times,  finally  remaining  in  Helena.  Here  they 
lived  for  a year,  after  which  Mr.  Weydert  went  to 
Hartwell’s  Mill,  some  two  miles  over  the  range,  where 
they  spent  the  summer  of  ’66.  Their  next  move  was 
to  Walker’s  Mill,  where  they  lived  a year.  Air.  Weydert 
worked  in  the  sawmill  and  did  a considerable  pros- 
pecting on  the  side  whenever  a new  report  of  gold 
discoveries  was  made.  He  finally  gave  up  his  mill  work 
and  devoted  himself  exclusively  to  prospecting,  meet- 
ing with  a fair  degree  of  success  in  the  work.  Later 
he  moved  to  Blue  Cloud  and  there  Air.  Weydert  was 
employed  in  a quartz  mill,  which  eventually  proved  a 
failure.  In  1867,  Mr.  Weydert  removed  with  his  fam- 
ily to  what  is  now  the  thriving  city  of  Helena,  and  to 
this  point  they  moved  the  little  house  he  had  built  at 
Nelson  Gulch.  The  cabin  was  moved  for  the  last 
time  in  1898,  and  stood  sturdy  and  stanch  as  a reminder 
of  the  early  pioneer  times  until  within  the  past  few 
years.  The  family  occupied  it  at  intervals  until  1875, 
and  many  of  their  happiest  days  were  passed  within  its 
kindly  shelter. 

In  187s,  Mr.  Weydert  gave  up  prospecting  and  moved 
to  a ranch  five  miles  from  Helena,  located  on  Ten 
Alile  creek,  but  he  removed  to  Helena  in  the  fall  of 
that  year  in  order  to  permit  his  growing  family  proper 
school  advantages,  or  at  least,  as  good  as  were  avail- 
able at  that  time  and  place.  In  1876  he  went  to  the 
Black  Hills  in  search  of  gold,  but  in  seven  months’ 
time  returned  to  Helena.  Here  he  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  his  trade  of  wagon-making,  which  he  followed 
until  1881,  when  he  located  a ranch  in  the  Judith 
Basin,  in  the  autumn  of  the  next  year  bringing  his 
family  to  live  upon  it.  The  place  is  located  a mile 
and  a half  from  Lewistown,  and  the  Chicago,  Alilwau- 
kee  & St.  Paul  Railroad  runs  through  his  place.  This 
ranch,  which  under  his  careful  supervision,  came  to  be 
one  of  the  finest  places  in  the  Judith  Basin,  continued 
to  be  the  home  of  the  family  until  after  the  death  of 
Mr.  Weydert,  which  was  caused  on  October  3,  1901, 
by  his  being  dragged  by  a runaway  horse.  Three  years 
thereafter  the  family  sold  the  ranch,  and  Airs.  Weydert 
now  makes  her  home  with  her  only  surviving  daughter 
in  Lewistown. 

With  reference  to  the  family  of  Mr.  Weydert,  it 
may  be  said  here  that  his  wife  was  Alary  Geyermann, 
born  near  Coblentz,  Germany,  on  June  6,  1836.  She 
came  to  America  in  1854,  and  first  met  her  husband 
in  Aurora',  Illinois.  They  were  married  in  St.  Paul, 
Minnesota,  on  the  29th  of  June,  i8S9,_  and  there  con- 
tinued to  make  their  home  until  their  departure  for 
the  West  in  1864.  Seven  children  were  born  to  these 


;' w>\\‘ 


t :■ 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


949 


parents,  concerning  whom  the  following  brief  mention 
IS  made:  Susan,  the  first  born,  died  in  St.  Paul,  Min- 
nesota, aged  sixteen  months;  Theodore,  born  near 
Shakopee,  Minnesota,  died  at  the  age  of  thirteen 
months ; Peter  C.  is  now  a resident  of  California, 
where  he  is  engaged  in  ranching.  He  it  was  who  was 
an  infant  in  his  mother’s  arms  when  the  family  left 
by  wagon  train  for  the  West.  He  has  been  engaged 
in  business  in  California  for  the  past  five  years,  and 
his  mother  spends  much  of  her  time  with  him  in  his 
home  there;  Lena  died  in  1903,  the  wife  of  Henry  C. 
Fletcher  and  the  mother  of  three  sons;  Anna  M.,  now 
Mrs.  George  J.  Wiedeman,  of  Lewistown;  Augusta  E., 
born  in  1872,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-six,  her  death 
occurring  in  Trenton,  New  Jersey,  while  she  was  in 
attendance  at  the  State  Normal  school  of  that  place, 
and  N.  Albert,  born  in  1874,  now  a resident  of  Ingomar, 
Montana.  ^ 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weydert  were  devout  Catholics  in 
their  early  life.  The  husband  and  father  was  a quiet 
home  man,  more  addicted  to  peaceful  habits  than  the 
average  westerner  is  expected  to  be.  He  was  a Repub- 
lican, and  while  enthusiastic  and  energetic  in  the  work 
of  the  party,  he  was  never  an  office  seeker.  He  was 
deeply  interested  in  the  public  school  systems  and  in 
the  early  days  was  a trustee  of  the  schools  in  his  com- 
munity, his  interest  in  local  conditions  always  being 
marked  by  the  most  unselfish  motives  and  his  efforts 
resulting  in  undeniable  good  to  the  communal  life. 

Charles  W.  Cook.  Born  in  New  England,  that 
cradle  of  so  much  of  our  national  history,  in  youth 
Charles  W.  Cook  followed  the  star  of  empire  west- 
ward and  here  has  spent  nearly  fifty  active  and  useful 
years.  He  is  a pioneer,  his  arrival  here  having  been 
on  September  22,  1864,  and  it  has  been  his  good  fortune 
to  witness  as  marvelous  a period  of  development  a 
new  country  has  ever  experienced.  He  knows  the 
perilous,  hard,  thrilling  life  of  the  early  settler  and 
though  the  rough  life  of  the  early  days  sometimes  brought 
him  so  near  to  death  that  he  felt  its  icy  breath  on  his 
cheek,  his  courage  never  faltered.  His  has  been  the 
romantic,  typical  western  life  which  changing  condi- 
tions has  rendered  now  a matter  of  history.  He  has 
rubbed  shoulders  with  Indians  and  outlaws  and  the  re- 
countal  of  his  adventures  is  calculated  to  make  young 
blood  thrill.  Mr.  Cook  has  shared  the  good  fortunes  of 
Montana  and  has  extensive  ranching  interests,  his  large 
property  being  located  a few  miles  from  White  Sulphur 
Springs.  He  carries  on  extensive  operations  in  sheep 
growing  and  is  sheep  inspector  of  Meagher  county. 

Mr.  Cook  was  born  in  Unity,  Waldo  county,  Maine, 
February  24,  1839,  and  there  resided  until  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years,  when  he  went  to  Providence.  Rhode 
Island,  to  attend  college  and  continued  a student  thpe 
for  three  years.  At  the  conclusion  of  his  education 
he  lost  no  time  in  starting  for  Montana,  whose  glories 
had  been  painted  to  him  in  glowing  colors.  He  came 
west  as  far  as  St.  Joe,  Missouri,  by  rail,  and  then 
came  by  boat  to  Omaha,  at  which  place  he  bought  a 
team  and  drove  through  to  Denver.  At  Denver  he  sold 
the  team  and  hired  out  to  an  outfit  to  come  to  Montana, 
his  duties  being  to  drive  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
head  of  cattle  through  to  Virginia  City,  Montana.  This 
was  successfully  accomplished  and  Mr.  Cook  reached 
the  state  on  September  22,  1864,  and  has  remained 
within  its  splendid  boundaries  ever  since  that  time.  He 
drifted  over  into  the  Diamond  City  district  and  followed 
mining  here  for  about  six  years.  Following  that  he 
was  appointed  receiver  for  a milling  company  at  Old 
Gallatin  City  and  remained  there  for  two  years,  and 
after  settling  up  its  affairs  he  went  into  California  and 
Oregon,  where  he  bought  a band  of  sheep  and  drove 
them  into  Montana.  They  were  the  nucleus  of  what 
was  to  develop  into  a vast  sheep  and  wool  growing  in- 
dustry, Meagher  county  being  chosen  as  the  scene  of 


his  operations.  He  has  acquired  one  of  the  fine  ranches 
in  this  section  and  has  ever  since  the  year  1871  been  one 
of  the  principal  factors  in  this  business.  His  residence 
is  maintained  at  White  Sulphur  Springs. 

The  subject’s  father,  Daniel  Cook,  was  born  in  Maine 
and  lived  in  the  Pine  Tree  State  all  his  life.  He  fol- 
lowed farming  and  contracting.  His  wife  before  her 
marriage  was  Elizabeth  T.  Hussey,  also  of  Maine.  Both 
lived  to  advanced  years,  the  mother  dying  in  1899  at  the 
age  of  ninety,  and  the  'father  preceding  her  in  1879 
when  about  seventy-five  years  old.  These  fine  people 
are  buried  side  by  side  near  the  old  homestead.  There 
were  six  children  in  the  elder  Cook  family,  Mr.  Cook, 
immediate  subject  of  this  review,  being  the  fourth  in 
order  of  birth.  There  is  another  brother  in  Montana, 
Benjamin  B.  Cook,  who  is  married  and  resides  at 
Great  Falls. 

Mr.  Cook  earned  his  first  money  as  a boy  at  the  age 
of  about  fourteen  years,  by  working  on  a neighbor’s 
farm  at  the  princely  salary  of  five  dollars  a month,  all 
of  which  he  gave  to  his  mother.  When  fifteen  he  virtu- 
ally ran  his  father’s  farm,  his  father’s  contracting  work 
taking  him  away  from  home  a great  deal.  The  lad  re- 
ceived his  early  education  in  the  district  schools  of 
Maine  and  then  entered  Oak  Grove  Seminary  at  Vas- 
selboro,  Maine,  and  having  pursued  his  preparatory 
studies  there,  entered  college  at  Providence,  Rhode 
Island. 

He  is  a prominent  Mason,  belonging  to  all  the  orders 
from  the  blue  lodge  to  the  Shrine  and  he  has  been  mas- 
ter of  the  blue  lodge  of  White  Sulphur  Springs.  His  po- 
litical faith  is  pinned  to  the  policies  and  principles  of  the 
Republican  party  and  he  has  for  a long  time  taken  an 
active  and  effective  part  in  politics,  his  word  being  of 
influence  in  party  councils.  He  at  one  time  held  the 
office  of  county  commissioner  to  the  satisfaction  of  all 
concerned  and  he  is  now  sheep  inspector  of  Meigher 
county.  He  has  a postoffice  on  his  ranch  and  was  ap- 
pointed postmaster  of  the  same  by  President  Grant, 
holding  the  office  continuously  ever  since.  Among  his 
several  distinctions  is  that  of  being  one  of  the  three 
men  to  discover  Yellowstone  National  Park,  they  being 
the  first  white  men  to  set  foot  within  that  magnificent 
region.  This  came  about  through  their  following  the 
Yellowstone  river  to  investigate  its  source  and  in  this 
way  wandering  into  the  park.  He  has  never  lost  his 
love  of  the  free  life  of  plain  and  mountain  and  thor- 
oughly enjoys  a camping  expedition,  he  and  his  wife 
having  taken  many  delightful  trips,  some  of  this  nature 
and  some  farther  afield  and  of  more  conventional  char- 
acter. He  enjoys  the  finer  things  of  life,  good  books, 
pictures  and  music  and  is  an  avaricious  reader,  having 
a fine  library  in  which  he  spends  considerable  time.  His 
education,  varied  experiences  and  genial  character  make 
him  one  of  the  most  interesting  of  men  and  an  unsur- 
passed conversationalist.  He  believes  that  Montana  has 
the  greatest  opportunities  and  best  prospects  of  any  state 
in  the  union — declares  that  the  matter  can’t  be  figured 
out  in  any  other  way. 

On  June  26,  1880,  Mr.  Cook  laid  the  foundations  of 
a happy  household  by  his  union  with  Abbie  W.  Kenni- 
cott,  daughter  of  James  H.  and  Abbie  W.  Kennicott, 
their  marriage  occurring  in  Helena,  Montana.  To  their 
union  have  been  born  three  children : Mary  E.,  the 

eldest,  died  January  14,  1893;  Alice  Josephine  is  at 
home ; and  Donald  H.  has  finished  the  curriculum  of 
the  White  Sulphur  Springs  school  and  is  now  in  col- 
lege at  Bozeman.  Their  home  is  one  of  the  most  hos- 
pitable and  delightful  in  the  city.  Mrs.  Cook  is  an  active 
worker  in  the  Presbyterian  church  and  in  the  Ladies’ 
Aid  Society  connected  with  the  same.  She  is  also  a 
valued  member  of  the  Travel  and  Study  Club.  Like 
I'^fr  husband,  she  is  of  New  England  stock,  her  father 
having  been  a native  of  Rhode  Island.  He  traveled 
about  the  country  a good  deal  and  finally  located  in 
Nebraska  City,  Nebraska,  where  he  followed  black- 


950 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


smithing  and  farming.  He  passed  away  in  that  place 
in  April,  1880,  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years.  The 
mother  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty-two.  Mrs.  Cook  has 
a sister  in  this  state,  Jennie  K.  Lewis,  widow  of  Len 
Lewis,  residing  in  White  Sulphur  Springs. 

Mr.  Cook  occasionally  grows  reminiscent  and  looks 
back  over  the  early  days.  One  incident  remains  par- 
ticularly vivid  with  him  and  was  a part  of  his  adven- 
tures when  driving  the  herd  of  cattle  through  to  Mon- 
tana. One  day  he  was  surrounded  by  a band  of  In- 
dians, who  insisted  that  the  young  collegian  share  the 
cattle  with  them.  He  held  out  for  a while,  but  there 
were  too  many  of  them  and,  as  he  expresses  it,  he 
“finally  traded  them  a steer  for  a scalp,"  the  scalp  being 
his  own — or  the  privilege  of  keeping  it.  He  declares 
this  the  best  trade  he  ever  made. 

Ch.vkles  F.  W.  Lehman.  It  is  generally  conceded 
that  the  late  Charles  F.  W.  Lehman  was  one  of  the 
most  widely  known  and  best  beloved  citizens  of  this 
section  of  the  state,  with  which  he  was  identified  in 
various  ways  from  the  early  seventies  up  to  the  time 
of  his  death,  which  occurred  on  March  19,  1911.  Born 
in  Melrose,  Germany,  on  August  15,  1828,  Mr.  Lehman 
left  his  home  when  a boy  of  fourteen  years  and  went 
to  Berlin,  where  he  was  for  something  like  two  years 
associated  with  some  horse  traders,  but  his  mother 
hnally  prevailed  upon  him  to  return  home.  His  stay 
in  his  home  was  not  permanent,  however,  for  in  less 
than  two  years  he  was  found  bound  for  America,  and 
he  landed  in  New  York  without  knowing  a word  of 
the  English  language.  To  further  complicate  matters, 
the  boy  was  sick  and  was  sent  to  Ellis  Island  hospital. 
He  had  no  money,  and  when  he  recovered  sufficiently  he 
secured  employment  in  the  sick  ward,  where  he  re- 
mained for  a number  of  months.  His  knowledge  of 
German  was  especially  valuable  in  the  detention  hos- 
pital and  was  a welcome  sound  to  many  a homesick 
emigrant.  From  New  York  Mr.  Lehman  finally  went 
to  Connecticut,  where  he  located  at  New  Caanan  and 
secured  work  on  a farm,  and  in  that  place  he  inci- 
dentally picked  up  a working  knowledge  of  the  stone 
cutter's  trade.  This  knowledge  he  later  put  to  prac- 
tical use  while  in  the  employ  of  the  southern  railroads, 
in  putting  in  tunnels  and  foundations  at  various  points 
■along  their  lines. 

When  Mr.  Lehman  gave  up  railroad  work  he  went 
to  Nashville,  Tennessee,  and  there  engaged  in  contract- 
ing in  stone  work.  At  this  place  he  had  many  inter- 
esting experiences,  and  one  affair  in  particular  is  es- 
pecially worthy  of  mention  in  this  connection.  In  the 
instance  in  hand  Mr.  Lehman  took  a contract  where 
the  stone  was  to  be  furnished  by  convict  labor,  a circum- 
stance which  aroused  the  hostility  of  the  unions.  They 
hired  a man  to  redress  their  wrongs  by  the  simple 
method  of  killing  off  Mr.  Lehman,  and  the  champion 
of  the  workmen  went  to  the  hotel  where  Mr.  Lehmiin 
was  staying,  fully  prepared  to  discharge  his  obligations 
to  the  unions  in  particular  and  to  society  in  general. 
Fortunately  for  Mr.  Lehman,  his  assailant  was  not  a 
dead  shot,  and  the  first  bullet  went  wide  of  its  mark. 
Moreover,  the  mark  calmly  arose  from  his  seat,  ad- 
vanced slowly  toward  the  would-be  assassin,  who,  un- 
nerved by  the  unexpected  demeanor  of  his  intended 
victim,  sent  his  remaining  shots  at  random.  Mr.  Leh- 
man laid  hold  upon  the  thug,  wrested  the  gun  from 
him  and  threw  him  out  of  the  hotel.  This  little  pass- 
age decided  the  unions  upon  other  tactics,  and  they 
attempted  to  reason  with  him  on  another  line  of  argu- 
ment, after  which,  Mr.  Lehman,  for  a consideration, 
agreed  to  leave  the  city. 

The  Civil  war  broke  out  just  about  this  time  and 
Mr.  Lehman  went  to  St.  Joe,  Missouri  where  he  con- 
tinued his  business  of  contracting.  In  the  Missouri  city 
he  accepted  the  office  of  the  first  street  commissioner  of 
St.  Joe  and  it  was  while  holding  this  office  that  he 


formed  a partnership  with  Henry  Krug  and  a Mr. 
Hax.  Together  they  organized  a wagon  train  and 
started  for  Denver,  where  it  was  their  intention  to  open 
a general  store.  After  a few  days'  journey  the  caravan 
was  attacked  by  Indians  and  Mr.  Lehman's  followers 
refused  to  go  farther.  All  but  one  man  deserted,  and 
perforce,  Mr.  Lehman,  Mr.  Krug  and  their  sole  ad- 
herent, returned  to  St.  Joe  with  the  outfit.  A second 
party  was  organized,  this  time  including  a number  of 
old  German  war  veterans,  and  this  company  made  the 
trip  in  safety,  although  they  had  one  scrimmage  with 
the  Indians.  As  he  had  planned,  Mr.  Lehman  engaged 
in  the  mercantile  business  and  conducted  his  establish- 
ment successfully  until  the  completion  of  the  railroad. 
His  roving  spirit  again  manifested  itself,  and,  no  longer 
pleased  with  Denver,  he  sold  out  to  his  partners,  Krug 
& Hax.  It  is  a noteworthy  fact  that  at  that  time  he 
owned  the  land  where  the  capitol  now  stands  in  Den- 
ver, but  he  disposed  of  it  with  his  other  holdings  at 
whatever  price  he  could  get,  and  went  to  Leadville. 
He  did  not  make  a long  stop  in  that  city,  but  soon 
prepared  for  another  long  overland  trip,  this  time  mak- 
ing California  his  objective  point.  For  a number  of 
years  Mr.  Lehman  worked  in  the  placer  mines  of  Cali- 
fornia, and  he  made  some  money  in  his  work — sufficient 
that  when  he  went  to  Portland,  Oregon,  he  was  able 
to  buy  some  land  in  the  vicinity  of  Portland,  which  is 
now  in  the  heart  of  the  city.  From  Portland  he  went 
to  Boise,  Idaho,  on  a prospecting  trip  with  the  Gilbert 
Company,  who  were  among  the  first  to  find  gold  in 
Idaho.  Mr.  Lehman  spent  two  years  in  that  state  in 
successful  mining  operations.  He  next  went  to  Walla 
Walla,  from  which  point  he  ran  a pack  horse  train  into 
the  Blue  mountains  of  Idaho.  From  Walla  Walla  he 
went  to  Alder  Gulch,  Montana,  arriving  there  in  1864, 
and  since  that  date  Montana  has  been  his  home. 

After  a short  interval  in  Bannack,  Mr.  Lehman  went 
to  Helena  where  he  went  into  the  mercantile  business 
again.  He  had  his  brother  as  a partner,  and  this  firm 
became  the  leading  mercantile  one  in  Helena.  In  1871 
thev  dissolved  partnership,  each  launching  out  for  him- 
self. At  one  time  Mr.  Lehman  owned  and  operated 
six  stores  and  owned  several  valuable  blocks  in  the 
city.  He  continued  in  Helena  until  1893,  when  he  moved 
to  Utica,  at  which  point  he  had  important  interests, 
and  from  Utica  he  came  to  Lewistown  and  opened  the 
present  business  under  the  firm  name  of  Charles  Leh- 
man & Company,  which  came  to  be  one  of  the  largest 
and  most  comprehensive  department  stores  in  the 
state  of  Montana. 

Mr.  Lehman  was  a member  of  the  Lutheran  church, 
and  though  he  was  not  what  is  familiarly  termed  as  a 
church  worker,  he  was  a faithful  practicer  of  the  “re- 
ligion, pure  and  undefiled,"  which  St.  James  described 
in  his  writings.  He  was  always  a generous  and  charit- 
able man,  and  even  in  his  boyhood,  when  he  first  ran 
away  from  home,  he  did  not  forget  to  send  money  to 
his  mother  from  time  to  time.  His  benevolences  were 
unnumbered  and  his  generosity  unfailing.  It  is  possible 
that  his  admirable  qualities  were  best  known  to  mem- 
bers of  his  family,  for  he  whs  an  ideal  husband  and 
father.  Unlike  many  men  of  strong  personality  and 
executive  ability,  he  recognized  similar  traits  in  his 
children,  and  did  not  hamper  them  or  endeavor  to  sup- 
press their  individuality  at  any  time.  He  devoted  his 
entire  energies  to  his  business  and  his  leisure  hours  were 
spent  in  the  midst  of  his  family.  Though  often  urged 
to  accept  public  office,  he  never  consented,  but  as  an 
individual  he  supported  the  Republican  party.  At  his 
death  the  entire  town  of  Lewistown  felt  a sense  of 
loss,  and  during  the  hour  of  his  funeral  all  business 
was  suspended. 

Mrs.  Lehman,  too,  had  the  true  spirit  of  a pioneer. 
She  is  a German  by  birth,  the  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Marie  Bach,  and  she  was  raised  in  New  York  City  and 
there  married.  Soon  after  their  marriage,  Mr.  Leh- 


Ir- 

f 


i. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


951 


man  returned  to  the  west  with  his  bride,  making  the 
trip  by  way  of  St. 'Louis,  Missouri,  thence  by  boat  to 
Fort  Benton,  making  the  trip  on  the  Silver  Bow,  the 
only  side-wheeler  that  ever  came  up  the  Missouri  river 
with  Captain  Ray.  When  they  finally  arrived  in  Helena 
on  June  lo,  i86g,  it  was  after  a stage  ride  of  twenty-four 
hours.  Eight  children  were  born  to  Mr.  .and  Mrs.  Leh- 
man. The  only  daughter,  Helen,  is  now  the  wife  of 
Austin  Marr  of  Lewistown.  One  son,  Charles,  junior, 
died  in  San  Diego,  California,  in  i8g8.  G.  A.  C.  Leh- 
man lives  in  Pueblo,  Colorado,  where  he  is  rector  of  St. 
James’  parish.  The  other  sons  make  their  homes  in 
Lewistown.  Alexander  is  in  the  real  estate  business 
and  a successful  man  in  that  field  of  enterprise,  while 
the  others  are  all  in  charge  of  various  departments  of 
the  business  which  their  lately  deceased  father  estab- 
lished. Alexander  and  Louis  J.  are  married,  but  Os- 
wald, Walter  and  Arthur  reside  with  their  mother. 
Alexander  has  the  honor  of  being  the  youngest  man 
ever  elected  to  the  legislature  of  the  state,  as  he  was 
chosen  to  that  office  at  the  early  age  of  twenty-one 
years.  Louis  J.  Lehman  is  general  manager  of  the 
store : Oswald  has  charge  of  the  dry  goods  department ; 
the  hardware  section,  the  grocery  and  the  office  are  in 
the  care  of  Walter,  while  to  Arthur  remains  the  direc- 
tion of  the  men’s  furnishing  department.  All  are  par- 
ticularly suited  to  the  duties  of  their  separate  depart- 
ments, and  are  carrying  the  business  on  to  a splendid 
state  of  efficiency.  It  was  the  happy  achievement  of 
Mr.  Lehman  not  only  to  be  a factor  in  the  develop- 
ment of  the  state  in  a worthy  measure,  but  to  leave 
behind  him  those  who  would  carry  on  the  name  he 
had  made  known  and  continue  the  career  of  useful- 
ness and  service  in  which  he  acquitted  himself  so 
valiantly. 

Daniel  A.  G.  Flowerree,  deceased  Montana  pioneer, 
and  one  of  the  first  men  to  engage  in  the  cattle  busi- 
ness in  this  state,  was  born  in  Ralls  county,  ^Missouri, 
on  May  ig,  18.35,  and  died  at  Atlanta,  Georgia,  Novem- 
ber 22,  igi2.  He  was  a son  of  Kemp  and  Mathilda 
(Caldwell)  Flowerree,  the  father  a native  of  Virginia, 
the  mother  of  Kentucky,  and  in  their  ancestry  were 
united  the  Scotch  Thistles  and  the  Lilies  of  France. 

Kemp  Flowerree  made  his  advent  mto  the  state  of 
}ilissouri  in  the  year  1833,  and  there  for  many  years  he 
was  occupied  as  a planter,  and  he  died  in  that  state  in 
the  year  1881.  His  widow  survived  him  six  years, 
passing  away  in  1887.  Of  their  family  of  three  sons  and 
four  daughters,  Daniel  Flowerree  was  the  only  iMontana 
resident.  Kemp  Flowerree  was  the  son  of  Walter,  who 
moved  from  Kentucky  to  Missouri  in  1822,  when  the 
rugged  fastnesses  of  that  state  made  it  similar  in  many 
respects  to  the  condition  of  Montana  in  its  pioneer  days. 
There  Walter  Flowerree  married  a daughter  of  the  dis- 
tinguished Breckenridge  family  of  Kentucky,  a family 
whose  brilliance  has  shed  luster  not  only  upon  its  native 
state,  but  upon  the  entire  nation. 

Daniel  A.  G.  Flowerree  passed  from  his  boyhood's 
care-free  days  to  early  manhood  in  his  native  state.  He 
early  conceived  and  consistentli^  fostered  the  belief  that 
the  west  offered  advantages  in  many  ways  superior  to 
those  of  the  east  or  middle  west,  and  in  1852  he  went 
to  California,  where  he  remained  until  1855.  In  that 
year  he  went  to  Nicaragua  and  in  1857  returned  to  Mis- 
souri, there  remaining  until  1864,  when  he  set  out  for 
Montana.  He  made  the  trip  across  the  plains  in  a time 
when  the  path  of  the  traveler  was  beset  by  manifold 
hazards,  the  country  being  alive  with  Indians,  many  of 
them  hostile  and  treacherous  and  upon  mischief  bent. 
The  journey  was  made  by  stage  coach  via  Salt  Lake 
City,  and  on  March  16,  1864,  Mr.  Flowerree  arrived  at 
Virginia  City.  Here  he  passed  some  little  time  in  the 
business  of  prospecting  for  auriferous  deposits,  more  fa- 
miliarly known  in  common  parlance  as  “pay  dirt.’’  Later 
he  engaged  more  profitably  in  other  business  enterprises 


in  Virginia  City,  and  late  in  1865  he  came  to  Helena, 
then  called  Last  Chance  Gulch.  Since  that  time  Mr. 
Flowerree  was  one  of  the  most  distinguished  and  suc- 
cessful business  men  of  Helena,  or,  indeed,  of  the  state. 
He  was  among  the  first  to  recognize  the  well  nigh 
inexhaustible  resources  of  the  state  of  Montana  as  a 
stock  growing  region,  and  was  also  one  of  the  first  to 
profit  by  this  knowledge.  He  was  one  of  the  largest 
stock  growers  and  owners  in  the  northwest  at  the  time 
of  his  death,  and  this  mammoth  business  was  purely  the 
outgrowth  of  his  own  early  business  ventures.  In  1865 
Mr.  Flowerree  had  brought  a herd  of  cattle  from  Mis- 
souri, and  in  1870  and  1873  brought  fifteen  hundred 
more  from  Texas.  From  then  until  he  closed  his 
earthly  career  he  had  confined  his  attentions  almost  ex- 
clusively to  this  business.  In  1883  Mr.  Flowerree 
brought  a band  of  horses  from  Oregon  and  previous  to 
that  time  had  brought  a mammoth  herd  of  cattle  from 
the  same  state.  From  the  early  seventies  until  the  de- 
cline, in  some  measure,  of  the  Montana  cattle  business, 
Air.  Flowerree  was  undoubtedly  one  of  the  largest  grow- 
ers and  shippers  in  the  west.  His  holdings  of  ranch 
property  was  of  considerable  magnitude  in  Lewis  and 
Clark,  Teton,  Cascade  and  other  counties  at  the  time 
of  his  passing. 

The  same  general  shrewdness  and  foresight  which 
made  him  one  of  the  big  stockmen  of  the  state  in  the 
early  days  when  ideritification  with  those  interests  spelled 
immense  profits,  launched  Air.  Flowerree  in  the  grape- 
fruit business  in  Florida,  near  Fort  Meyer.  Some  years 
ago  he  went  to  Florida  for  his  health,  and  it  was  at 
once  apparent  to  him  that  the  possibilities  of  the  country 
in  the  grapefruit  line  were  immense  and  he  accordingly 
purchased  large  holdings  which  he  planted  to  oranges 
and  grapefruit.  In  recent  years  he  was  one  of  the 
heaviest  individual  shippers  of  those  fruits  to  be  found 
anywhere  in  the  country.  He  was  in  many  senses  a 
pioneer,  indeed,  and  he  has  the  distinction  of  having 
built  the  first  shingle-roofed  houses  in  Helena  and  in 
Virginia  City.  The  one  in  Virginia  City  was  without 
doubt  the  first  two-story  house  to  be  erected  in  Alontana. 

In  1858  Air.  Flowerree  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Aliss  Elizabeth  Wethers,  of  Alissouri.  Four  children 
were  born  to  them  : William  K.,  of  Great  Falls,  Alon- 

tana; Annie  AL,  wife  of  W.  L.  Velie,  of  Alohne,  Illinois; 
Eudora,  now  Airs.  J.  J.  Gray,  of  Chicago,  Illinois ; and 
Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  William  Wallace.  Jr.,  of  Helena. 
Airs.  Flowerree  died  in  1882,  On  February  4,  1885, 
Air.  Flowerree  married  Aliss  Elizabeth  F.  Cornelius,  also 
of  Alissouri.  One  son,  Daniel  A.  G.,  Jr.,  was  born  to 
them. 

Air.  Flowerree  possessed  in  a marked  degree  the  quali- 
ties of  the  school  of  life  that  developed  him.  His  name 
was  a synonym  for  rug.ged  honesty  and  square  deal- 
ing. fearlessness,  generosity,  great-heartedness  and  un- 
tiring energy.  The  possessor  of  a keen  native  wit,  he 
was  noted  for  his  quaint  humor  and  his  singular  apt- 
ness in  repartee.  He  was  affiliated  with  the  Democratic 
party,  but  solely  from  motives  of  principle,  as  he  never 
sought  personal  advancement  or  office  favors  of  any 
kind  through  the  medium  of  politics,  although  such  men 
as  he  make  the  greatest  leaders  in  any  activities  they 
may  embrace,  and  the  public  might  well  turn  to  men  of 
his  stamp  for  direction  in  a political  way. 

Thousands  of  friends  and  admirers  of  the  deceased 
pioneer  gathered  in  Helena  to  pav  tribute  to  the  mem- 
ory of  the  man,  on  November  28,  igi2.  when  the  last 
rites  were  observed.  The  funeral  was  held  from  the 
home  of  Airs.  William  Davenport,  at  No.  522  North 
Rodnev  street,  and  the  services  were  conducted  by  Rev. 
J.  F.  AIcNamee.  whose  eulogy  of  the  decedent  was.  in 
part,  as  follows : “One  who  knew  well  the  philosophy 

of  life  has  given  us  the  old  world  truth  which  we  all 
must  learn ; ‘The  day  is  far  spent,  the  night  is  at  hand ; 
the  time  cometh  when  no  man  can  work.’  Once  a.gain 
the  word  is  given  us  to  hear,  as  at  the  close  of  a long 


952 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


day  of  life  the  night  cometh — the  time  of  cessation  from 
labor  to  one  of  our  old  and  respected  citizens. 

"Mr.  Flowerree  in  the  seventy-seventh  year  of  his 
life  has  been  called  hence  and  given  rest  from  toil  and 
physical  infirmity.  Like  many  another  who  came  to 
Montana  in  the  early  days  of  her  history,  his  story  is 
that  of  the  enduring,  ambitious,  achieving  youth  and 
man  who  has  made  a place  for  himself  in  the  memory 
and  .heart  of  a multitude.  For  him,  indeed,  it  was  a 
long  day,  and  now  in  its  close,  the  friends  assembled 
here  to  offer  their  tributes  of  respect,  must  surely 
think  of  those  fundamental  truths  which  make  their 
appeal  to  all. 

"IMuch  of  the  best  in  many  people  whom  I have  known 
is  not  proclaimed  upon  the  house  tops.  It  is  quiet, 
unobtrusive  and  silent;  yet  there  is  good  there,  there 
is  kindness  and  help  and  sympathy  and  love.  Like  the 
coming  of  the  day  upon  the  grass  and  flowers,  or  the 
approach  of  the  morning  sun  to  the  golden  doors  of  the 
east,  not  a footfall  is  heard,  not  a trumpet  sounds,  not 
a saluting  gun  is  fired ; yet  they  come,  and  because  they 
come  some  barren  place  is  revived,  some  drooping 
flower  lifts  its  head,  some  discouraged  soul  looks  up 
and  takes  courage.  Like  so  many  of  these  earlier  men 
of  Montana,  who  saw  the  rougher  side  of  life  and  en- 
dured the  hardships  incident  to  formative  days  of  so- 
cial evolution,  Mr.  Flowerree  was  big-hearted  and  gen- 
erous ; keen  and  prudent  in  business  which  grew  in  di- 
mensions, he  was  open-handed  and  unselfish.  Many  an 
old  friend  and  acquaintance,  down  on  his  luck,  knew 
where  he  could  turn  for  help,  and  indeed  many  could 
testify  that  they  did  not  need  to  ask.  as  it  was  enough 
that  they  were  in  need  to  find  his  helping  hand  ready. 
As  a father,  husband  and  friend  he  was  loved.  As  a 
citizen  he  was  esteemed.  Fie  did  what  he  could  as  he 
knew  it,  as  life  appeared  to  him,  as  the  unselfish  spirit 
led  him  in  the  way  of  sympathetic  helpfulness  to  ex- 
press the  best  within  him.” 

Many  stories  are  told  of  the  innate  generosity  of 
Mr.  Flowerree  and  of  his  square  dealing  and  loyalty 
to  friends.  It  is  told  of  him  that  during  the  panic  of 
1893,  to  save  a Flelena  bank  from  going  to  the  wall,  in 
which  a personal  friend  was  interested,  Mr.  Flowerree 
borrowed  $400,000  in  cash  from  a Chicago  commission 
house,  depositing  it  in  the  threatened  institution, 
through  which  timely  aid  it  was  saved  from  failure  and 
enabled  to  weather  the  financial  storms  of  that  mem- 
orable time. 

The  funeral  of  Mr.  Flowerree  was  held  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Lewis  and  Clark  Society  of  Montana 
Pioneers,  and  many  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  Helena 
assisted  as  active  and  honorary  pallbearers. 

John  McDonnell.  Gallatin  county  has  no  more 
highly  respected  pioneer  family  than  that  of  McDonnell, 
the  founders  of  which,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  McDonnell, 
are  now  living  quietly  in  Bozeman,  enjoying  the  fruits, 
of  long  years  of  labor  on  the  ranches  of  this  section, 
whence  they  came  nearly  a half  a century  ago.  During 
tlieir  long  and  useful  careers  they  have  done  much  to 
aid  the  material  development  of  the  Gallatin  valley,  and 
well  merit  the  esteem  in  which  they  are  universally 
held.  John  McDonnell  was  born  in  County  Tipperary, 
Ireland,  February  26,  1833,  and  is  a son  of  John  and 
Judith  (McCormick),  natives  of  the  Emerald  Isle  who 
immigrated  to  the  United  States  during  their  latter 
years  and  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits  in  New  York  state,  where  both  died. 
They  had  a family  of  six  children,  of  whom  four  still 
survive:  John;  Nicholas,  who  is  engaged  in  the  foun- 
dry and  locomotive  business  at  Des  Moines,  Iowa ; 
Michael,  a resident  of  Bozeman;  and  Mary,  wife  of 
John  Cutler,  living  near  Winterset,  Iowa. 

John  iMcDonnell  secured  his  preliminary  educational 
training  in  the  schools  of  his  native  country,  and  as  a 
youth  determined  to  try  his  fortunes  in  far-off  America. 


When  he  had  accumulated  enough  funds  for  the  jour- 
ney, he  left  Limerick  for  Quebec,  Canada,  whence  he 
arrived  after  a voyage  of  seven  weeks  on  a sailing- 
vessel,  and  then  journeyed  on  to  the  home  of  an  uncle 
in  New  Jersey,  where  for  four  years  he  was  engaged 
in  farming.  In  1857  he  removed  to  the  vicinity  of 
Des  Moines,  Iowa,  where  he  followed  farming  and 
leased  land  until  1864,  on  April  Sth,  of  which  year  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Harriet  C.  Stuff. 
She  was  born  near  Harper’s  Ferry,  on  the  state  line 
between  Maryland  and  West  Virginia,  September  13, 
1851,  daughter  of  Jeremiah  and  Anna  Eliza  (New- 
comer) Stuff,  the  former  born  in  Germany,  September 
22,  1817,  and  died  May  4,  1861,  and  the  latter  born  in 
Maryland,  October  22,  1820,  and  died  in  1904.  They 
had  four  daughters  and  one  son,  all  of  whom  are  living. 
Mr.  Stuff  came  to  this  country  when  he  was  four  years 
of  age  on  a sailing  vessel,  and  landed  at  Baltimore. 
In  184s  he  removed  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Ogle  county, 
sixty  miles  west  of  Chicago,  where  he  became  a pioneer 
millwright,  and  subsequently  moved  to  Dixon,  Illinois, 
where  his  death  occurred. 

After  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McDonnell  re- 
mained in  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  until  May  i6th  of  the 
same  year,  when  they  started  across  the  plains  for 
Montana,  or  Idaho,  as  it  was  then  called.  An  account 
of  their  journey,  as  prepared  by  Mrs.  McDonnell,  not 
only  describes  the  trip  thoroughly,  but  will  prove  an 
interesting  narrative  to  those  of  the  younger  genera- 
tion, as  illustrative  of  life  and  travel  in  the  pioneer 
days,  and  is  entitled: 

How  we  came  to  Montana  in  1864. 

“My  Dear  Young  Friends:  You  have  all  read  and 

heard  much  about  the  early  days  of  Montana,  I am 
sure,  and  yet  I think  you  will  be  interested  in  hearing 
the  story  of  how  we  pioneers  came  to  this  country 
long,  long  ago,  when  the  land  was  wild,  and  inhabited 
mainly  by  wild  animals  and  wild  and  hostile  Indians. 
In  order  to  tell  my  story,  my  mind  will  have  to  turn 
back  to  the  year,  1864.  In  the  early  spring  of  that  year 
my  husband,  myself  and  many  other  young  people — 
many  scarcely  out  of  our  ’teens — only  a few  months 
out  of  school,  and  some  of  us  newly-married,  just 
beginning  to  realize  the  necessity  of  making  a home  of 
our  own,  concluded  to  take  Florace  Greely’s  advice 
and  travel  toward  the  setting  sun.  There  were  no 
Pullman  palace  cars  waiting  for  us  to  get  into,  nor 
emigrant  cars  such  as  they  have  for  home-seekers  now, 
not  even  a stage-coach.  We  came  here  years  in  advance 
of  these  modes  of  travel.  At  that  time  there  were  few 
railroads  west  of  Chicago,  and  none  in  Des  Moines, 
Jowa,  the  point  from  which  we  started  on  our  journey. 

“We  invested  our  little  all  in  large  canvas-covered 
w’agons,  horses,  mules,  oxen,  cows,  chickens,  things  to 
cat  and  w'ear,  and  much  bedding.  We  also  had  our 
garden  seed,  medicine  chest,  bible  and  prayer  books, 
and  musical  instruments.  I still  have  the  violin  we 
brought  with  us.  We  organized  our  company  and 
elected  for  our  captain  a Mr.  Stafford,  a man  who  had 
some  experience  in  overland  traveling.  It  was  his  duty 
to  ride  horse-back  in  advance  of  the  wagons,  several 
hundred  in  number,  watch  the  roads,  keep  a lookout 
for  Indians  and  herds  of  buffalo,  and  find  camping 
places  wdiere  there  was  water,  and  grass  and  wood  for 
our  campfires.  After  these  preparations,  on  the  i6th 
day  of  May,  1864,  after  giving  a tearful  good-bye  to 
our  parents,  our  friends,  our  good,  comfortable  homes 
and  everything  that  was  dear  to  us,  we  started  on  that 
never  to  be  forgotten  camping  trip  across  the  plains. 
Though  the  company  was  large  and  well-provisioned 
and  the  weather  fine,  though  the  stars  and  moon  cheered 
us  by  night  and  the  ever-glowing  sun  brightened  our 
days,  still  w'e  were  sad.  We  knew  we  were  leaving 
civilization  behind  us,  that  we  would  have  to  travel 
unmade  roads,  up  and  down  hills  across  mountains, 
over  treacherous  rivers  and  through  barren  wastes. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


953 


We  knew  many  tribes  of  wild  Indians  were  directly  in 
our  path,  still  we  were  not  afraid.  Youth  is  not 
afraid  of  anything  and  we  were  all^  young  then. 

“It  took  one  week  to  reach  Council  Bluffs  from  Des 
INIoines.  The  Missouri  river  between  Council  Bluffs 
and  Omaha  (two  small  towns  then)  had  to  be  crossed 
on  a ferry  boat.  Our  wagons  w^ere  all  numbered  with 
chalk,  beginning  with  “One” ; I think  ours  was  num- 
ber “One  Hundred  Nine.”  We  paid  two  dollars  each 
to  have  our  wagons  ferried  over.  It  took  all  of  one 
day  and  one  night  to  do  this,  the  ferryman  keeping 
busy  at  work  while  we  slept  in  our  w^agons.  Early  in 
the  morning  our  party  w^as  in  Omaha,  where  we  went 
into  camp  to  spend  Sunday.  This  was  our  last  chance 
to  mingle  with  others  in  Sunday  devotion  in  a church. 

I will  say  right  here  we  kept  our  Sundays  all  through 
that  long,  long  trip  much  better  than  they  are  kept 
now.  On  Monday  we  started  _ on  our  way  through 
Nebraska,  every  day  leaving  civilization  more  surely 
behind  and  getting  further  into  an  unsettled  country. 
Columbus,  then  a town  of  only  a few  houses,  was  the 
last  town  that  I remember.  One  day  we  passed  through 
a camp  of  Pawnee  Indians,  the  first  I had  ever  seen. 
Our  captain  said  they  were  Christianized,  so  I was 
not  afraid  of  them,  but  they  were  very  filthy  and  quite 
repulsive  to  me.  Near  a small  stream,  called  Loup 
Fork,  w^hich  we  had  to  be  ferried  across  by  number, 
as  usual,  our  number  being  so  far  back,  my  husband 
drove  our  team  out  of  line  quite  a distance  in  order 
to  let  the  horses  have  some  grass  to  eat  while  we 
waited  our  turn.  Here  I met  my  first  Indian.  Feeling 
rather  homesick,  I sat  in  the  back  part  of  the  wagon 
looking  out  over  oceans  of  land  covered  with  long 
grass.  The  horses  were  eating  quietly  w'hen  I lay  down 
and  went  fast  asleep.  I was  awakened  suddenly  by  a 
loud  noise.  Sitting  up  quickly  I saw  in  front  of  me 
a large  Indian,  who  was  trying  to  get  my  husband’s 
overcoat  which  was  lying  on  the  spring  seat.  In  the 
effort  to  get  it  out  he  had  pulled  the  seat  over,  and 
this  was  the  noise  that  had  aw'akened  me.  Frightened 
was  not  the  name  to  tell  how  I felt.  There  was  a 
revolver  strapped  to  the  wagon  bows,  and  with  what 
remaining  sense  and  strength  that  was  not  scared  from 
me,  I got  hold  of  it  without  taking  my  eyes  off  the 
Indian.  It  was  the  first  revolver  as  well  as  the  first 
Indian  I had  anything  to  do  with.  I held  one  straight 
and  ^ looked  at  the  other  steadily.  My  Indian  was 
afraid  of  that  unloaded  revolver  and,  hesitating  but 
a minute,  threw  down  the  overcoat,  jumped  to  the 
ground  and  hid  in  the  long  grass.  I was  then  afraid 
he  would  make  off  with  the  horses,  so  I sat  holding 
the  revolver  until  I saw  the  men  coming  to  take  the 
wagon.  Then  my  Indian  got  up  and  ran  swiftly  away. 
I was  completely  outdone,  and  like  a woman  will  do, 
cried  myself  sick  wishing  I was  back  in  Des  Moines. 
But  wishing  was  of  no  use.  It  was  as  safe  to  go  on 
as  to  go  back  alone.  We  soon  learned  that  our  peace 
of  mind  and  safety  depended  on  our  staying  together. 
There  were  days  and  even  weeks  when  days  and  nights 
seemed  about  the  same,  only  we  were  moving  on. 

“One  night  our  captain  said  that  he  had  seen  some 
buffaloes  in  the  vicinity  of  our  camp  and  thought  that 
as  we  had  a nice  camping  place  it  would  be  a good 
thing  to  camp  a few  days  and  hunt.  The  men  were 
all  eager  for  the  hunt  but  we  women  protested.  We 
were  anxious  to  move  on  and  get  under  a roof  some- 
where for  the  winter : but  we  had  to  give  in.  The  men 
took  turns,  some  going  hunting  and  others  watching 
the  horses  and  camp.  At  first  they  got  some  small 
game,  which  made  delicious  eating.  At  last  they  got  a 
huge  buffalo  and  there  was  great  rejoicing  in  camp  and 
meat  galore.  We  salted  some  down,  dried  some  for 
lunches  and  every  camp  kettle  was  being  used  in  the 
cooking  of  that  buffalo  meat.  We  cooked  all  day  and 
far  into  the  night,  but  it  never  got  tender.  I think 
some  of  our  party  lost  their  teeth  trying  to  chew  it. 


No  amount  of  cooking  ever  made  it  palatable.  We 
had  much  sport  over  our  buffalo.  The  ladies  con- 
cluded that  it  was  the  great-great-grandfather  of  the 
herd,  and  on  account  of  his  great  age  could  not  keep 
up  with  the  rest  and  so  fell  easy  prey  to  our  amateur 
hunters. 

“Many  days  after  our  big  hunt,  or  nearing  camp  one 
night,  we  were  delighted  to  see  our  captain  and  his 
horses  standing  under  some  huge  shade  trees.  It 
was  such  an  unusual  thing  to  see  and  we  were  so 
pleased  with  the  sight,  that  we  drove  rapidly  that  we 
might  enjoy  the  shade  before  nightfall.  After  un- 
packing, some  observing  member  of  our  party,  looking 
up  into  the  tree-tops,  made  the  discovery  that  this  was 
an  Indian  burial  place.  A lot  of  dead  Indians  wrapped 
in  blankets  were  fastened  to  the  branches  above  our 
heads.  We  quickly  moved  camp.  We  should  have 
stayed,  for  you  know  the  saying  that  the  only  good 
Indian  is  a dead  one.  Another  time,  after  a long 
drive  under  the  burning  sun,  our  captain  stopped  at  a 
beautiful  gushing  spring.  We  had  again  begun  to  un- 
pack when  a thirsty  member  of  our  party  tasted_  the 
water  and  found  it  scalding  hot  and  so  strong  of  in- 
fernal regions  that  we  thought  it  best  to  move  our 
camp. 

“Sometimes  it  was  hard  to  find  camping  places  where 
there  was  wood,  grass  and  water.  In  that  case  we  had 
to  haul  our  wood  and  water  with  us.  When  we  were 
loaded  in  this  way,  everyone  walked  to  lighten  the  load, 
for  our  horses  were  getting  very  tired.  Some  of  us 
got  to  be  very  good  pedestrians  before  we  reached  the 
end  of  our  journey.  We  always  camped  on  Sundays 
and  sometimes  longer  if  we  found  a nice  place.  The 
time  was  spent  in  doing  some  necessary  work  or  in 
having  a good  social  time.  Occasionally  on  Saturday 
night  we  would  have  a dance.  The  ground  would  be 
smooth,  the  instruments  brought  out,  and  some  would 
dance  while  others  sat  about  the  campfires  and  told 
stories  till  the  wee  hours  of  the  night. 

“On  one  of  those  long  camping  times,  while  the 
horses  were  picketed  out  in  the  grass,  the  men  busy 
mending  the  harness,  and  the  women  on  the  banks  of 
the  Platte  were  washing,  we  were  startled  by  a tremend- 
ous war-whoop,  and  the  first  thing  we  knew  we  were 
almost  completely  surrounded  by  Indians.  We  soon 
found  that  they  were  trying  to  stampede  our  horses, 
which  they  succeeded  very  well  in  doing.  The  men 
took  what  were  left  and  went  after  the  others  that  the 
Indians  had  taken,  and  succeeded  in  getting_  a good 
many  horses  back,  but  one  of  our  men  was  killed  and 
another  crippled  by  the  Indians.  It  was  sad  to  bury 
one  of  our  party  and  leave  him  resting  there  all  alone 
as  we  journey  on,  but  we  had  many  such  experiences 
before  our  long  trip  was  over. 

“The  Civil  war  was  in  progress  when  w'e  left  the 
east.  We  had  had  no  communications  from  our  friends 
and  it  was  not  until  we  reached  Virginia  City  that  we 
heard  the  war  was  about  over  and  we  w^ere  very  thank- 
ful. On  the  Fourth  of  JuR  we  camped  and  celebrated. 
Many  of  us  had  little  flags,  which  we  put  around  our 
camp,  the  best  speaker  was  called  upon  for  an  oration 
and  several  little  picnic  dinners  were  indulged  in. 
Along  in  August  we  were  getting  so  tired  and  wishing 
we  would  now  soon  get  to  some  place  where  we  could 
camp  for  good.  We  were  still  about  five  hundred  miles 
from  where  Bozeman  now  is,  I think,  when  one  day 
our  captain  met  a party  that  had  been  to  Virginia  City, 
the  greatest  placer  mining  camp  in  the  world.  They 
were  going  back  and  told  us  there  was  no  use  in  going 
on,  that  the  countrj^  was  wild  and  cold  and  not  fit  for 
anyone  to  live  in;  that  we’d  all  better  turn  back.  We 
were  filled  with  consternation ; we  could  not  go  back ; 
our  teams  were  almost  worn  out.  We  soon  met  another 
party.  With  them  was  the  great  scout  and  guide, 
Bridger,  guiding  them  back  to  the  east.  The  party 
going  west  and  the  party  going  east  camped  together 


954 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


that  night.  We  women  put  on  our  best  dresses  and 
called  on  Bridger  to  ask  his  advice  as  to  what  we 
should  do ; whether  we  should  go  forward  or  turn 
back.  We  found  a pleasant,  grizzled  old  man,  with  a 
kind  smile  and  pleasant  blue  eyes.  He  was  dressed  in 
a buckskin  suit  and  on  his  head  wore  a bearskin  cap, 
beneath  which  hung  his  long  hair.  He  looked  as  if  he 
had  lived  out  of  doors  all  his  life,  and  I suppose  he 
had.  He  very  pleasantly  told  us  that  he  thought  the 
western  country  had  a great  future,  and  that  it  was 
only  the  young,  strong  and  brave  who  would  be  able 
to  make  a great  country  out  of  it.  lie  told  us  that 
if  we  had  been  brave  enough  to  get  this  far,  to  just 
go  on.  The  country,  he  said,  needed  such  pioneer  men 
and  women,  and  he  did  not  believe  we  would  lose  any- 
thing hy  going  on.  He  said  the  mining  camp  was 
overdone,  hut  the  valleys  were  large  and  fertile  and 
well  watered.  He  thought  Lite  government  would 
surely  send  out  soldiers  to  protect  the  people,  and  the 
soldiers  and  miners,  he  said,  would  have  to  be  fed. 
Then,  in  his  pleasant  voice  he  continued : ‘Ladies,  as 
you  have  been  brave  enough  to  get  this  far,  I believe 
you  will  be  brave  enough  to  go  on.  I will  go  back  with 
you  and  help  you  down  Bridger  Pass,  a very  treacher- 
ous part  of  the  road  to  pass  over.  I have  guided  many 
people  over  it  and  it  is  named  Bridger  Canyon  in  my 
honor.’ 

"We  came  on  and  he  came  with  us.  Our  wagons 
were  let  down  by  ropes  and  chains  over  this  mountain 
pass,  but  this  was  our  last  bad  place.  We  were  soon 
in  what  is  now  called  Gallatin  Valley  and  where  Boze- 
man now  stands.  But,  my  dear  children,  there  was 
nothing  here  but  the  valley,  and  the  beautiful  river — ■ 
absolutely  nothing.  That  was  the  first  of  September, 
1864.  There  were  no  kind  friends  to  welcome  us,  no 
glad  hand  held  out  to  us.  We  just  had  to  stay  and 
make  those  homes  we  had  thought  of,  dreamed  of  and 
talked  so  much  about.  We  had  to  prepare  the  way  for 
those  who  would  come  after  us,  who  did  come,  and  are 
still  coming.  I think  those  pioneer  years  of  isolation 
and  privation  helped  to  make  us  hospitable  and  willing 
to  welcome  the  strangers  who  are  coming  among  us 
and  have  been  a great  help  to  us. 

"We  went  on  with  our  disbanding  until  we  came  to 
Virginia  City;  then  we  broke  up  our  camp  and  scat- 
tered to  different  places  to  do  what  our  minds  and 
willing  hands  could  do.  There  are  not  many  of  us 
left  any  more.  I have  gone  east  many  times  since  that 
big  camping  trip.  1 have  gone  on  the  Pullman  cars, 
and  in  1869  1 went  partly  by  stage  and  partly  by  com- 
mon cars,  but  nothing  has  ever  compared  to  my  camp- 
ing trip.  In  1907  1 went  to  Kansas  City  and  kind  friends 
were  showing  me  around  the  city.  They  took  me  to 
Washington  Park  Cemetery,  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
places  I have  ever  seen.  While  there  I came  across 
Bridger's  monument,  with  his  profile  on  it.  The  moment 
I saw  it  I knew  who  it  was.  I was  so  glad  his  remains 
were  lying  in  such  a beautiful  place,  altho\igh  I heard 
afterwards  that  he  died  in  poverty,  like  so  many  of 
our  good  men.  Kind  friends  had  erected  the  monu- 
ment to  his  memory.  Now  when  any  of  you  go  to 
Bridger  Canyon  for  an  outing,  you  will  know  how  it 
derived  its  name.” 

After  remaining  in  Virginia  City  for  three  weeks, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  McDonnell  took  up  some  land  about  five 
miles  from  Gallatin  City,  on  the  Madison  river,  where 
until  1879  they  were  engaged  in  dairying  and  stock 
raising.  The  original  tract  of  160  acres,  which  had  been 
secured  at  about  $2.50  per  acre,  had  been  added  to 
from  time  to  time  until  there  were  640  acres  in  the 
property,  in  addition  to  which  Mr.  McDonnell  had 
accumulated  three  thousand  acres  on  Elk  creek,  and 
a part  of  this  latter  was  disposed  of  for  $100  per  acre 
in  igio.  At  this  time  Mr.  McDonnell  is  the  owner  of 
180  acres,  but  since  1905  has  been  living  a retired  life, 
satisfied  that  he  has  contributed  his  due  share  to  his 


adopted  section's  development.  He  has  resided  in 
Bozeman  since  1879,  having  come  to  this  city  in  order 
that  his  children  might  secure  better  educational  ad- 
vantages. Here  he  and  his  wife  are  known  as  worthy 
representatives  of  that  class  of  sturdy  men  and  women, 
who  in  the  early  days  had  the  courage  to  pave  the  way, 
and  through  whose  efforts  the  prophecy  of  Bridger,  as 
to  the  great  future  of  the  western  country,  has  been 
fulfilled. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  McDonnell  have  had  four  children, 
namely;  Annie,  born  May  31,  1865,  who  died  November 
12,  1879;  William  L.,  engaged  in  farming  in  Gallatin 
county,  who  married  Edith  C.  Waterman;  Edward,  also 
an  agriculturist  of  Gallatin  county,  who  married  Kath- 
erine Black;  and  Robert  E.,  a well-known  civil  engi- 
neer of  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  who  married  Georgianna 
Howlett.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McDonnell  have  two  grand- 
daughters and  five  grandsons. 

Hon.  Robert  S.  Ford.  While  Robert  S.  Ford  has 
been  a resident  of  Great  Falls  for  more  than  twenty 
years,  and  among  its  most  enterprising  and  substantial 
citizens,  his  business  and  financial  interests  have  been 
so  extensive  and  wide  spread  as  to  entitle  him  to  claim 
identity  with  the  great  Northwest.  His  career  has  been 
marked  by  successful  achievement  in  every  avenue  of 
business  activity  in  which  he  has  been  engaged  since 
leaving  home  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years,  and  among 
the  manv  enterprising;  men  whose  vigor  and  activity 
have  added  to  the  material  importance  of  Montana  he 
holds  a deservedly  high  place.  Mr.  Ford  was  born 
January  14,  1842,  in  Simpson  countv,  Kentucky,  and  is 
a son  of  John  C.  and  Henrietta  (Simpson)  Ford.  His 
father  died  when  Robert  S.  was  a lad  of  five  years,  in 
1847,  and  in  1855  the  family  made  removal  to  West- 
port,  Missouri,  where  his  education  was  completed  in 
the  common  schools. 

Mr.  Ford  was  but  nineteen  years  of  age  when  he 
decided  to  seek  his  fortune  in  the  unsettled  West,  enter- 
ing the  freighting  business  with  ox-teams,  between 
Nebraska  City  and  Fort  Laramie,  a government  post 
on  the  Laramie  river,  and  was  advanced  in  the  following 
year  to  the  post  of  assistant  wagon  master.  In  1863 
he  was  placed  in  charge  of  a wagon  train,  and  in  1864 
came  to  Montana  in  charge  of  an  ox-train  of  sixteen 
wagons  of  merchandise.  Continuing  here,  Mr.  Ford 
freighted  from  Benton,  Cow  Island  and  the  Milk  river 
country  to  the  mining  camps  of  Helena,  Virginia  City, 
Bannack  and  Deer  Lodge  until  1868,  in  which  year  he 
visited  his  mother  in  Kentucky,  she  having  returned 
to  the  South  during  the  Civil  war.  In  the  spring  of 
r86g,  Mr.  Ford  went  to  Colorado,  where  he  purchased 
three  hundred  head  of  Texas  cattle,  which  were  driven 
to  Beaver  Head  valley  and  sold  at  a good  profit.  Thus 
encouraged,  he  again  went  to  Colorado,  and  in  Denver 
purchased  seven  hundred  head  of  stock,  which  were 
wintered  in  1871  at  the  mouth  of  the  Sun  river  and 
disposed  of  them  in  the  spring.  His  winter  cabin  was 
located  about  two  miles  from  Great  Falls  and  was 
erected  by  Mr.  Ford  himself.  His  next  trip  to  Denver 
resulted  in  the  purchase  of  a herd  of  twelve  hundred 
head  of  cattle,  which  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the  Sun 
river  in  November,  1872.  In  the  spring  of  1873,  Mr. 
Ford  located  near  Sun  River  Crossing,  and  here  he 
settled  down  to  the  devolopment  of  one  of  the  most 
lucrative  ranching  projects  ever  seen  in  the  valley.  Fie 
soon  came  to  be  one  of  the  really  big  stock  men  of 
Montana,  and  carried  on  an  enormous  business  in  con- 
tracting with  the  government  for  meat.  In  1891  Mr. 
Ford  brought  his  family  to  Great  Falls,  and  here  estab- 
lished the  Great  Falls  National  Bank,  of  which  he  has 
been  president  ever  since,  and  office  which  he  has  filled 
with  the  utmost  integrity  and  carefulness,  manifesting 
in  his  capacity  as  chief  executive  of  the  institution  a 
large  measure  of  native  shrewdness  and  business  acumen. 
Like  all  of  his  other  enterprises  in  which  he  has  been 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


955 


engaged  during  more  than  half  a century,  this  has  bep 
a decided  success  and  is  an  illustration  of  his  versatile 
talents.  His  property  interests  in  Great  Falls  are  wide 
spread,  and  he  is  one  of  the  most  public-spirited  and 
altogether  valuable  citizens  that  the  community  knovys. 

In  1878  Mr.  Ford  was  married  in  Kentucky  to  Miss 
Sue  McClanahan,  daughter  of  James  Wesley  and  Lydia 
A.  McClanahan,  prominent  people  of  Simpson  county, 
where  Mrs.  Ford  was  born  July  i,  1859.  The  family  is 
one  of  the  oldest  in  the  state,  having  settled  in  Kentucky 
in  its  earlier  days.  Mrs.  Ford’s  girlhood  was  spent 
principally  at  her  home  until  the  time  of  her  marriage, 
September  10,  1878,  when  she  became  the  wife  of 
Robert  Simpson  Ford  of  this  review.  Within  a few 
weeks  after  their  wedding  they  took  up  their  residence 
at  the  home  of  Mr.  Ford,  near  Sun  River  Crossing,  and 
there  resided  until  coming  to  Great  Falls,  and  here  they 
have  since  resided.  Five  children  have  been  born  to 
i\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Ford,  of  whom  two  sons,  Lee  iM.  and 
Shirley  S.,  survive,  the  other  three  having  died  in  in- 
fancy, while  the  family  were  still  residents  of  Sun  River. 
Mrs.  Ford  died  October  25,  1906. 

A stalwart  Democrat  in  his  political  views,  Mr.  Ford 
in  1876  was  the  representative  from  Chouteau  county  to 
the  state  legislature.  In  1877  he  represented  Chou- 
teau and  Meagher  counties  in  the  state  senate,  and  in 
1880  was  chosen  to  represent  his  district  in  the  Four- 
teenth legislative  assembly.  He  has  manifested  an 
inclination  and  ability  to  perform  all  the  duties  of  good 
citizenship,  and  has  been  alive  to  the  demands  which 
a growing  community  casts  upon  its  leading  men.  He 
has  taken  an  active  part  in  bringing  about  reforms  in 
municipal  affairs,  and  has  actively  and  efficiently  aided 
in  whatever  has  been  undertaken  to  raise  the  tone  of 
morality  among  the  people. 

Hon.  James  E.  Martin.  Prominently  connected 
with  the  public  interests  of  Gallatin  county,  Montana, 
a leader  in  its  progressive  citizenship  for  more  than 
thirty  years,  Hon.  James  E.  Martin,  president  of  the 
National  Bank  of  Gallatin  Valley  at  Bozeman,  has 
been  also  closely  identified  with  the  business  enter- 
prises which  have  served  as  foundation  stones  on  which 
the  stable  prosperity  of  this  section  has  been  built.  As 
a financier  he  is  widely  known,  having  been  for  four- 
teen years  cashier  of  the  Gallatin  Valley  National 
Bank  at  Bozeman,  and  later,  in  1904,  was  one  of  the 
organizers  of  the  National  Bank  of  the  Gallatin  Valley 
and  was  elected  the  first  president  of  this  institution, 
the  policy  of  which  he  has  directed  ever  since.  James 
E.  iMartin  is  a native  of  Howard  county,  Missouri,  and 
was  born  August  16,  1840,  one  of  the 'six  children  of 
Thomas  L.  and  Julia  (Elliott)  Martin.  His  paternal 
grandparents  were  David  G.  and  Elizabeth  (Lamb) 
Martin,  the  former  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Missouri, 
who  removed  to  Howard  county,  IMissouri,  and  there 
died  when  about  eighty  years  of  age.  His  wife  died 
in  Kansas  a few  years  prior  to  her  husband’s  death. 
Thomas  L.  Martin  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1810, 
and  was  about  two  years  of  age  when  he  accompanied 
his  parents  to  the  west.  He  there  engaged  quite  ex- 
tensively in  farming  and  stock  raising,  and  died  in  iMarch 
1867,  when  he  had  reached  the  age  of  fifty-seven  years, 
while  his  wife,  a native  of  Missouri,  passed  away  when 
James  E.  was  but  nine  years  of  age. 

The  education  of  James  E.  Alartin  was  secured  in 
the  district  schools  of  the  vicinity  of  his  father’s  farm 
and  he  was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits.  When  about 
sixteen  years  of  age  he  accompanied  his  father  to 
Kansas,  where  he  studied  for  a few  months  in  High- 
land University,  at  Highland,  but  his  education  has 
largely  been  acquired  through  self-discipline  and  he  is 
distinctly  a man  of  broad  general  information  and 
mature  _ judgment,  having  gained  much  through  his 
association  with  men  and  affairs.  When  about  thirteen 
years  of  age  he  earned  his  first  dollar  and  assumed  his 


first  individual  responsibility  by  engaging  to  drive  cattle, 
receiving  forty  cents  per  day.  Within  two  j-ears  he 
was  receiving  fifteen  dollars  per  month  as  a farm 
hand,  working  for  neighbors  near  the  old  homestead 
in  Missouri.  In  Kansas  he  remained  until  the  spring 
of  1864,  when  he  started  on  the  long  trip  to  Montana, 
by  ox-team,  the  journey  being  uneventful  and  the  party 
having  no  serious  trouble  with  the  Indians.  He  arrived 
in  the  Gallatin  valley  in  September,  and  took  up  a 
homestead  claim  of  160  acres  of  land,  which  he  im- 
proved and  put  under  effective  cultivation.  He  here 
continued  his  residence  for  about  three  years,  when 
the  death  of  his  father  called  him  to  Kansas  to  assist 
in  settling  the  estate.  He  remained  there  until  1876 
when  he  returned  to  Bozeman,  where,  in  1892,  he  erected 
a handsome  residence  of  modern  architectural  design 
and  conveniences,  and  here  he  has  since  maintained 
his  home,  having  resigned  the  management  of  his  farm 
to  his  eldest  son.  For  fourteen  years  i\Ir.  iMartin 
served  as  cashier  of  the  Gallatin  Valley  National  Bank 
at  Bozeman,  having  been  one  of  the  organizers  of  that 
institution,  and  in  1904,  as  before  stated,  became  one 
of  those  who  organized  the  National  Bank  of  Gallatin 
Valley,  of  which  solid  and  substantial  institution  he  has 
since  served  as  president.-  In  his  political  preferment 
Mr.  Martin  has  ever  been  a stanch  and  ardent  Democrat 
and  unwavering  in  the  support  of  his  party’s  principles, 
while  his  first  presidential  vote  was  cast  for  General 
Hancock.  He  was  elected  as  a representative  of  Galla- 
tin county  in  the  lower  house  of  the  legislature  in 
1893,  and  was  a working  member  and  one  whose  able 
services  were  appreciated  both  by  his  colleagues  and 
his  constituency.  The  second  legislative  assembly  was 
attended  by  no  little  internal  dissention  and  turbulence, 
as  specific  historical  records  only  too  plainly  indicate, 
but  IMr.  Martin  showed  by  his  actions  that  they  were 
those  of  a strong  man  and  a wise  and  just  legislator. 
In  1896  he  was  again  elected  to  the  legislature  from 
his  county,  and  in  1898  was  chosen  as  his  own  succes- 
sor, having  thus  been  a member  of  the  assembly  of 
1900-01.  In  his  legislative  career  he  was  assigned  to 
membership  on  many  important  committees,  and  his 
every  effort  in  the  house  was  directed  to  the  enactment 
of  wise  laws  and  for  effective  legislation  along  all  lines. 
i\Ir.  Martin  has  also  been  called  upon  to  fill  various 
county  offices,  and  was  the  incumbent  of  the  important 
office  of  county  commissioner  for  one  term.  In  all  the 
relations  of  life,  both  public  and  private,  he  has  retained 
the  confidence  and  respect  of  his  fellowmen.  Fraternally 
he  is  known  as  a prominent  Alason,  having  held  mem- 
bership in  that  body  for  many  years  and  filled  various 
chairs. 

After  his  return  to  Kansas,  Dir.  DIartin  was  there 
married,  July  27,  1871,  to  Dliss  Sallie  Armstrong,  a 
sister  of  Judge  F.  K.  Armstrong.  Dir.  and  DIrs.  Martin 
became  the  parents  of  five  children,  of  whom  two  died 
in  infancy,  while  the  survivors  are : Roy  E..  who  mar- 
ried Dliss  Avilla  Hill,  and  has  the  management  of  his 
father’s  farm;  and  James  E.,  Jr.;  and  Julia  E..  living 
with  their  parents. 

Alfred  W.  Orton.  It  is  a safe  presumption  that  Alf- 
red W.  Orton,  manager  of  the  branch  musical  establish- 
ment of  Norton  Brothers,  at  39  East  DIain  street,  is  one 
of  the  most  progressive  and  enterprising  business  men 
of  his  locality,  as  well  as  one  of  the  most  popular,  and 
an  example  of  self-made  manhood  that  is  worthy  of 
the  most  persistent  and  conscientious  emulation.  He 
was  born  at  Council  Bluffs,  Pottawatomie  county,  Iowa, 
July  8,  1855,  and  is  a son  of  James  C.  and  Pauline  Orton. 
James  C.  (Trton  was  born  in  the  state  of  New  York, 
and  in  1846  removed  as  a young  man  to  Iowa, 
where  he  worked  at  his  trade  of  brick  mason,  although 
at  various  times  he  also  secured  employment  as  a musi- 
cian, being  a skilled  performer  on  the  violin.  In  iS6r 
he.  removed  to  Springville,  Utah,  where  for  three  years 


950 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


he  worked  at  his  trade,  then  removing  to  Virginia  City, 
Montana  territory,  a trip  which  consumed  two  months, 
while  the  former  journey,  from  Council  Bluffs,  had 
taken  six  months,  with  a bull  team.  For  some  time  he 
was  engaged  in  working  as  a mason  and  in  playing  odd 
engagements  as  a musician,  but  ■ eventually  traded  one 
bull  team  for  a log  house  without  windows,  situated  in 
the  city,  and  until  his  death,  in  1879,  when  he  was  sixty- 
three  years  of  age,  was  engaged  in  freighting  between 
Helena,  Virginia  City,  Fort  Benton,  Deer  Lodge  and 
Bannack.  He  was  an  active  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  and  an  ardent  Democrat  in  politics.  His 
wife,  born  in  Pennsylvania,  passed  away  in  1882,  when 
fifty-three  years  of  age.  Alfred  W.  was  the  oldest  of 
their  nine  children,  of  whom  five  are  now  living. 

Alfred  W.  Orton  was  nine  years  of  age  when  he  ac- 
companied his  parents  overland  to  Virginia  Citj',  and 
in  1867  began  work  in  the  printing  office  of  the  Mon- 
tana Democrat,  at  old  Virginia  City,  and  was  later  with 
the  Madisonian.  As  early  as  1873  he  came  to  Bozeman 
and  for  about  one  and  one-half  years  was  employed  on 
the  Bozeman  Times,  but  in  1873  returned  to  the  Madi- 
sonian in  Virginia  City,  where  he  was  also  connected 
with  the  Montanian  for  two  years.  He  returned  to 
Bozeman  in  the  fall  of  1877,  but  soon  removed  to  Butte 
to  engage  in  the  liquor  business,  with  which  he  was 
connected  until  1880  and  then  became  foreman  of  the 
pressroom  of  the  Butte  Miner.  In  the  winter  of  1880  he 
returned  to  the  Madisonian,  and  in  the  following  spring 
again  came  to  Bozeman,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
liquor  business,  but  in  the  fall  of  1883  went  to  Butte 
and  with  his  five  brothers  organized  a band  and  also 
opened  a roller  skating  rink.  Mr.  Orton  leased  the 
Silver  Bow  Club  up  to  the  fall  of  1888,  when  he  en- 
gaged in  the  musical  instrument  business  in  Butte,  and 
in  1890  he  again  came  to  Bozeman  to  engage  in  the 
liquor  business.  In  1895  he  again  returned  to  Butte 
and  was  employed  by  the  City  Railway  Company  until 
1903.  In  that  year  he  was  appointed  city  inspector  of 
weights  and  measures  and  licenses,  and  was  license 
collector  from  1905  to  1907,  in  which  year  he  became 
identified  with  the  musical  instrument  firm  of  Orton 
Brothers.  Since  1909  he  has  been  manager  of  the  branch 
store  at  Bozeman.  He  is  a member  of  Ridgely  Lodge 
No.  12,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  at  Butte,  and  in  his  political  views 
is  a Democrat. 

On  December  21,  1882,  Mr.  Orton  was  married  to 
Miss  Marie  DeBooth,  who  was  born  at  Salt  Lake  City, 
Utah,  daughter  of  Joseph  DeBooth,  a native  of  Scot- 
land. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Orton  have  had  three  children; 
Viola  and  Pearl,  twins,  and  Wallace  Alfred,  an  expert 
piano  tuner,  who  inherits  much  of  the  musical  talent 
of  his  father  and  grandfather.  During  his  long  resi- 
dence in  this  part  of  the  state  Mr.  Orton  has  made  nu- 
merous acquaintances  and  is  popular  with  all  classes. 
He  takes  a great  interest  in  the  welfare  of  his  com- 
munity, and  is  at  all  times  ready  to  support  beneficial 
measures  and  to  do  his  full  duty  as  a good  and  public- 
spirited  citizen. 

Robert  Vaughn.  It  is  not  an  empty  distinction  to 
have  lived  actively  and  usefully  in  any  state  for  a period 
of  nearly  half  a century.  But  in  Montana  and  other 
western  states  fifty  years  means  dating  back  to  the  times 
when  residence  meant  pioneering,  when  activity  was 
synonymous  with  adventure,  and  when  none  but  the 
strong  and  the  daring  could  endure  the  struggle  with 
the  elemental  forces  of  nature  and  barbarism  in  this 
region. 

It  lacks  but  little  more  than  a year  to  complete  the 
half  century  since  Robert  Vaughn  first  ventured  into 
the  country  which  has  since  become  the  state  of  Mon- 
tana. Of  those  he  found  here  and  of  those  who  came 
about  the  same  time,  many  went  down  before  the  stress 
of  Indian  warfare,  of  pioneer  hardship,  and  the  com- 
mon mortality  of  mankind.  He  is  one  of  few  survivors 


from  that  era  which  accomplished  the  beginnings  of  civi- 
lization in  Montana.  Much  that  the  symbols  of  history 
must  preserve  for  future  knowledge,  he  knows  by  per- 
sonal recollection.  The  scroll  of  progress  was  unrolled 
before  his  eyes,  and  he  himself  was  no  inconspicuous 
actor  in  those  processes  and  events  which  became  the 
vital  annals  of  this  state.  One  of  the  oldest  residents, 
none  is  worthier  by  character  and  achievement  of  the 
permanent  record  than  Robert  Vaughn. 

A great  many  people  have  become  familiar  with  the 
story  of  this  pioneer  and  his  associates  through  the 
publication  of  which  he  is  the  author,  entitled  “Then 
and  Now.”  This  volume,  which  has  had  quite  a large 
sale,  recites  the  many  trials  and  hardships  endured  by 
the  early  settlers  of  Montana. 

A native  of  Wales,  in  1858,  at  the  age  of  twenty-four, 
Robert  Vaughn  came  to  America,  and  from  New  York 
finally  drifted  out  to  Illinois.  It  is  important  to  know 
how  the  pioneers  came  to  Montana,  and  the  story  of 
Mr.  Vaughn’s  coming  may  be  told  largely  in  his  own 
words.  He  left  Fairbury,  Livingston  county,  Illinois, 
on  the  4th  of  March,  1864,  in  company  with  James  Gibb, 
John  Jackson,  James  Martin  and  Sam  Dempster  and 
wife,  destined  for  the  new  gold  fields  in  Idaho,  for  at 
that  time  the  territory  of  Montana  had  not  been  created. 
The  mode  of  travel  was  with  a four-horse  team  and 
a farm  wagon.  A great  part  of  Illinois  and  Iowa  at 
that  time  was  sparsely  settled,  and  the  party  would 
travel  for  hours  without  seeing  signs  of  any  habitation. 
They  crossed  the  Missouri  river  by  ferry-boat  to- 
Omaha,  which  had  but  twelve  hundred  inhabitants. 
There  was  made  up  a train  of  sixty-five  wagons,  some 
of  them  being  drawn  by  oxen.  It  was  a mixed  train ; 
some  were  going  to  California,  Oregon,  Washington 
and  Salt  Lake,  but  most  of  them  were  bound  for  the 
new  gold  diggings  in  Idaho.  They  all  followed  a com- 
mon route  as  far  as  Fort  Laramie,  the  trail  to  the  post 
being  on  the  north  side  of  the  North  Platte  river.  On 
the  way  a great  many  Indians  of  the  Pawnee  tribe 
were  encountered,  but  all  of  them  were  friendly.  At 
Fort  Laramie  they  met  the  noted  frontiersman,  John 
Bozeman,  after  whom  the  city  of  Bozeman  is  named. 
He  sought  to  organize  a train  to  take  a cut-off  route, 
east  of  the  Big  Horn  mountains.  There  was  also  a 
man  by  the  name  of  Joe  Knight,  who  was  a trader  at 
this  place.  He  had  two  wagons,  four  mules  each,  with 
supplies  for  Alder  Gulch,  and  he  was  getting  up  a train 
to  go  west  of  the  Big  Horn  mountains  and  through  the 
Wind  River  country.  Mr.  Vaughn  joined  this  party  of 
Knight's.  They  made  up  a train  of  about  one  hun- 
dred wagons  and  about  three  hundred  good  resolute 
men.  Each  man  during  the  hazardous  trip  had  to  take 
his  turn  standing  guard  at  night  as  a precaution  against 
attack  by  marauding  Indians,  and  after  a tedious  trip, 
with  many  hardships,  they  reached  Alder  Gulch  on 
the  13th  of  July,  1864.  This  was  one  of  the  first  out- 
fits to  enter  Montana  over  that  trail.  The  most  of  the 
time  they  followed  the  trail  of  Jim  Bridger,  who  was 
about  three  days  ahead  with  a train  for  Alder  Gulch. 

Such  was  the  introduction  of  Robert  Vaughn  to  Mon- 
tana. In  the  history  of  the  state’s  development  as  re- 
counted on  other  pages  of  this  work  the  reader  might 
properly  read  the  name  of  Robert  Vaughn  into  many 
of  the  events  and  scenes  there  portrayed.  His  expe- 
rience comprised  all  phases  of  the  varied  life  of  pioneer 
times.  He  came  to  know  all  the  notable  personalities 
of  both  the  territorial  and  the  state  era,  and  was  in 
turn  known  and  esteemed  by  them.  For  many  years 
he  was  one  of  the  big  ranchers  of  the  state,  and  made  a 
specialty  of  horse  raising,  producing  some  of  the  best 
in  Montana.  About  two  years  after  the  death  of  his 
wife  he  sold  his  ranch  to  his  old  friend.  Captain  Couch, 
and  then  moved  to  Great  Falls,  which  then  had  about 
3.000  inhabitants.  As  his  home  for  over  twenty  years 
Mr.  Vaughn  has  taken  much  pride  in  Great  Falls  and 
has  been  a factor  in  its  upbuilding.  The  finest  business 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


957 


structure  in  the  cit}-  is  the  Vaughn  Block.  Such  im- 
provements are  always  as  valuable  to  the  community 
in  which  they  are  placed  as  to  the  builder  and  owner. 
This  substantial  enterprise  indicates  Mr.  Vaughn's  high 
appreciation  of  Great  Falls  as  a commercial  center,  and 
he  affirms  this  to  be  the  best  city  in  the  state. 

Robert  Vaughn  was  married  on  the  25th  of  August, 
1886,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Donahue,  daughter  of  Matthew 
and  Jane  Donahue,  of  Toronto,  Canada.  Mrs.  Vaughn 
died  on  January  13,  1888,  at  the  age  of  thirty-three  years. 
Arvonia  Elizabeth  Vaughn,  her  only  child,  was  born 
January  i,  1888.  She  was  reared  with  all  the  care  and 
advantages  that  a devoted  father  could  give.  On  Octo- 
ber 4,  1911,  she  married  Mr.  H.  M.  Sprague,  formerly 
a resident  of  New  York  state  and  now  of  Great  Falls. 
Mr.  Vaughn  now  has  his  home  with  his  daughter  and 
her  husband. 

It  has  been  the  purpose  of  this  sketch  to  set  forth  in 
its  essential  outlines  the  career  of  one  of  Montana’s 
notable  pioneers.  The  bald  facts  have  been  stated,  and 
as  is  the  custom  in  many  occasions  the  best  has  been 
reserved  for  the  last.  Not  least  among  the  causes  which 
will  _ identify  Robert  Vaughn  with  Montana  are  his 
writings  on  many  subjects  connected  with  the  people 
and  history  of  this  state.  He  has  the  gift  of  straight- 
forward statement,  characteristic  of  western  frontier 
character.  In  a work  of  this  kind  it  would  not  be  amiss 
to  quote  voluminously  from  such  writings,  but  here  it 
is  deemed  sufficient  to  repeat  his  simple  narrative  of 
his  own  early  life,  that  to  be  followed  with  a quotation 
of  his  tribute  to  the  Montana  pioneers. 

His  own  story  begins  as  follows;  “I  was  born  in 
Wales,  June  5,  1836,  and  was  reared  on  a farm  until 
I was  nineteen  years  old.  My  parents’  names  were 
Edward  and  Elizabeth  Vaughan.  There  were  six  chil- 
dren— Jane,  Hugh,  Robert,  Edward,  John  and  Marj^ 
Edward  lives  in  the  old  home  at  the  present  time.  His 
address  is  Dugoed  Bach,  Dinas  Maudduy,  Merconeth- 
shire.  Great  Britain. 

“My  parents  were  of  good  family;  by  that  I mean 
they  and  their  ancestors  were  good  Christian  people, 
father  and  mother  were  members  of  the  Episcopal 
church.  Father  was  a warden  as  long  as  I can  remem- 
ber. Mother  was  my  only  teacher.  She  taught  me  to 
obey,  to  tell  the  truth,  to  be  kind,  to  respect  others  and 
above  all  to  fear  God. 

“I  left  home  when  I was  between  nineteen  and 
twenty.  .\t  this  time  I could  speak  but  the  Welsh 
language.  I had  a great  desire  to  learn  to  speak  Eng- 
lish; therefore  I went  to  Liverpool  where  sister  Jane 
lived.  Here  I secured  employment  from  the  Honorable 
Benjamin  Haywood  Jones  to  work  in  the  flower  gar- 
den at  his  beautiful  home  on  the  West  Derby  Road. 
He  was  a rich  banker  in  the  city.  I remained  there 
over  a year.  Brother  Hugh  had  gone  to  America  a 
\ear  before  I left  home,  locating  near  Rome,  New 
\ ork,  so,  in  the  fall  of  1858,  instead  of  going  home  as 
I intended,  I concluded  that  it  would  be  a good  idea 
for  me  to  go  to  America  and  see  my  brother,  and  then 
return  after  three  or  four  months.  Therefore,  without 
the  knowledge  of  my  parents  I took  passage  on  board 
a steamship,  named  the  Vigo,  bound  for  New  York. 
I was  on  the  ocean  twelve  days  and  a half.  As  soon 
as  I landed  I wrote  home  and  stated  what  I had  done, 
and  that  I would  be  back  home  in  four  or  five  months, 
and  at  that  time  it  was  my  honest  intention  to  do  so. 
From  New  York  City  I went  to  my  brother’s  and  stayed 
with  him  about  three  months.  I next  went  to  Palmyra, 
Ohio,  to  see  my  Aunt  Ann,  my  father's  sister.  I was 
right  at  home  now,  and  m3’  father  was  satisfied  since  I 
was  in  the  care  of  his  sister.  I was  at  her  home  over 
a year,  going  thence  to  Youngstown,  Ohio,  where  I 
worked  for  Joshua  Davis  on  a farm,  and  where  I later 
worked  in  the  coal  mines.  From  there  I proceeded  to 
McLean  county,  Illinois,  where  my  brother  had  been 
living  for  two  years.  I farmed  with  him  one  summer. 


then  I went  to  Fairbur3’,  Livingston  county,  and  mined 
coal  until  1864. 

“During  all  of  this  time  I wrote  home  regularly  and 
received  letters  in  return,  but  instead  of  going  home 
I was  continually  getting  further  from  it.  Somehow 
I could  not  resist  the  desire  to  venture  into  the  un- 
settled regions  of  the  West.  I kept  drifting  further 
and  further  until  I found  myself  in  the  heart  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  si.x  thousand  miles  from  home. 

“In  this  way  over  fifty-six  years  have  elapsed  since 
I left  my  childhood  home,  but  the  picture  remains  in 
my  memory  as  though  it  were  but  yesterday;  every- 
thing appears  to  me  as  it  was  the  last  time  I saw  it. 
The  home  still  seems  the  same.  The  ivy  creeping  up 
the  walls ; the  sycamore,  alder,  birch  and  spruce  trees 
stand  there  like  sentries  guarding  it.  The  rose  bushes 
and  evergreen  in  front;  the  hollies  where  the  sparrows 
huddled  together  at  night;  the  orchard  and  the  old 
stone  barn ; and  I imagine  that 

“I  see  the  quiet  fields  around. 

I stroll  about  as  one  who  dreams 
Till  each  familiar  place  if  found. 

How  strangely  sweet  to  me  it  seems. 

“The  old  and  well  known  paths  are  there. 

My  youthful  feet  so  often  pressed. 

Gone  is  the  weight  of  manhood’s  care, 

And  in  its  place  a sense  of  rest. 

“The  broad  expanse  before  me  lies. 

Checked  here  and  there  with  squares  of 
green ; 

Where  freshly  growing  crops  arise. 

And  browner  places  intervene.” 

“I  see  the  dancing  rill  flowing  by  the  garden  gate, 
and  the  great  arch  of  white  thorn  overspanning  the 
passageway  that  led  to  the  main  road.  There  my  mother 
embraced  me  and  kissed  me  and  bade  me  good-bye,  for 
the  last  time.  Here  ‘my  only  teacher’  gave  me  her  last 
instructions,  which  were  these : ‘My  dear  son,  be  care- 
ful in  selecting  your  companions  to  go  out  with  in  the 
evenings.  God  be  with  you,  good-bye.’ 

“Oh,  how  sweetly  her  voice  fell  on  my  listening  ear. 
And  how  I imagine  those  soft  words  I hear ; 

If  I ever  view  her  silent  grave. 

My  tears  will  flow  like  an  ocean  wave.” 

“There  she  stood  gazing  at  her  wandering  boy 
leaving  home.  We  watched  one  another  until  a curve 
in  the  road  hid  me  from  her  sight.  That  was  the  last 
time  I saw  my  mother.  Father  came  with  me  about  a 
quarter  of  a mile.  We  spoke  but  very  little;  we  were 
both  very  sad.  Suddenly  father  turned  to  me  and  took 
me  by  the  hand  and  said : ‘Well  my  son,  fare  thee  well, 
be  a good  boy.’  I was  weeping  bitterly,  and  after  I 
had  gone  a little  way  I looked  back  and  saw  father 
leaning  against  a gate,  which  led  to  the  meadow,  with 
both  hands  over  his  face.  This  caused  my  tears  to 
flow  faster  than  ever.  I shall  always  believe  that  father 
was  praying  for  me  then.  And  that  was  the  last  time 
I saw  him.  Father  and  mother  are  now  sleeping  in 
the  silent  tomb,  but  in  my  memory  they  appear  as  I 
saw  them  last.  Nothing  can  efface  that  vision  from 
my  memory.  I often  think  that  I might  not  have  fared 
so  well  and  would  perhaps  be  a worse  man  than  I am, 
were  it  not  for  the  prayers  of  father  and  mother.” 

In  a recent  contribution  to  the  IMontana  Historical 
Library.  Mr.  Vaughn  told  in  graphic  verse  of  the  char- 
acter and  experiences  of  the  men  who  settled  Montana, 
and  this  tribute  may  fitly  close  this  article: 


958 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


To  Montana  Pioneers 

Montana  pioneers  were  they, 

Who  opened  the  Wilderness  Gate, 

That  civilization  might  come. 

And  transform  it  into  a state. 

They  were  the  brave  pioneers  who. 

Away,  away  westward  went 
O'er  countless  miles  of  trackless  plains 
When  stirring  were  the  events. 

Most  popular  way  to  go  west  then 
Was  in  a prairie  schooner. 

Though  there  were  other  outfits 
Would  get  them  there  much  sooner. 

What  a long  and  perilous  journey 
Was  the  trip  across  the  plain. 

Out  in  cold  and  stormy  weather. 

Tugging  through  mud  and  rain ! 

Many  fights  they  had  with  Indians, 

Who  were  watching  night  and  day. 

For  a chance  to  steal  and  plunder 
And  to  run  their  stock  away. 

Those  came  first  went  to  the  mountains 
In  small  bands  to  hunt  for  gold. 

They  had  bloody  fights  with  Indians, 
Endured  hunger,  fear  and  cold. 

One  was  killed  near  the  camp  fire 
While,  drinking  his  cup  of  tea. 

Another  arrow  rent  the  air 
And  came  near  killing  me. 

I.ater  others  came  and  settled 
In  the  valleys  and  the  plains. 

Hiey,  too,  fought  some  desperate  battles. 

In  which  many  a one  was  slain. 

In  those  battles  with  the  savages 
Many  a pioneer  then  did  fall. 

And  as  many  of  the  enemy 
Answered  to  the  rifle’s  call. 

Blessed  be  those  noble  women 
Who  then  crossed  the  trackless  plain. 
They  were  the  "Red  Cross"  in  those  battles 
To  the  wounded  and  the  slain. 

It  cost  twelve  hundred  lives  or  more 
To  win  the  glorious  victory. 

That  now  the  people  of  this  state 
May  live  in  peace  and  plenty. 

Honor  the  memory  of  those  who've 
Passed  over  the  Great  Divide 
To  rest  in  Camp  Eternity 

On  the  plain  on  the  other  side. 

After  all  we  greatly  enjoyed 
Life  on  the  wild  frontier. 

As  long  as  we  had  a grub-stake  mine 
And  the  Indians  not  too  near. 

As  a general  thing  our  health  was  good, 
rWhen  Indians  were  not  near), 

.■\nd  as  a rule  we  had  plenty  to  eat. 
Antelope  meat  and  deer. 

And  when  the  holidays  would  come 
We  had  a Christmas  dinner, 

A partridge,  vension  and  plum-duff. 

We  cared  for  nothing  better. 


Little  we  thought  that  we  were  then 
Paving  the  way  for  a state. 

Paving  a way  for  Montana, 

MONTANA,  The  Treasure  State. 

David  B.  Weaver.  Now  venerable  in  years  but  ad- 
mirably preserved  in  both  mental  and  physical  faculties, 
this  sterling  pioneer  of  Montana  maintains  his  home  at 
Saxton,  Bedford  county,  Pennsylvania,  but  his  experi- 
ences in  connection  with  early  affairs  in  Montana  as  well 
as  the  notew'orthy  contribution  which  he  has  made  to  the 
recorded  history  of  this  great  commonwealth  render  it 
most  consonant  to  accord  him  special  representation  in 
this  publication.  As  a pioneer  of  the  West  he  was  one 
of  those  urged  to  intelligent  self-development  and  in- 
vention as  well  as  discovery,  as,  like  others  who  braved 
conditions  on  the  frontier  of  civilization,  he  was  wholly 
dependent  upon  his  own  resources.  Conditions  made  the 
pioneers  inventive  and  self-reliant,  and  this  was  not 
only  in  material  things  but  also  in  less  tangible  matters. 
They  became  philosophers  and  thinkers — real  exercisers 
of  thought  and  reason,  because  when  confronted  with 
the  new  conditions  and  compelled  by  necessity  to  over- 
come them,  there  was  no  escape  except  by  thought  and 
action.  Wherever  there  is  real  thought,  and  independ- 
ence, and  discipline,  and  bravery,  there  is  bound  to  be 
philosophy  and  justice.  And  the  pioneers  as  a rule 
were  intensely  just.  Their  very  ruggedness  and  strength, 
their  simple-heartedness  and  directness  made  them  just 
and  kept  them  just;  for  in  their  natural  acceptance  of 
the  wild  and  primitive  life  they  learned  the  wonderful 
fact  that  as  they  judged  so  were  they  judged.  Mr. 
Weaver  has  ever  retained  the  deepest  interest  in  the 
state  to  which  he  came  nearly  half  a century  ago  and  he 
has  been  most  zealous  in  historical  research  and  investi- 
gation concerning  Montana  and  other  parts  of  the  great 
empire  of  the  West,  the  while  his  various  historical  con- 
tributions are  of  great  and  enduring  value.  Fie  came  to 
Montana  in  1864,  the  year  that  marked  its  segregation 
from  Idaho  as  an  individual  territory,  and  he  is  the  only 
survivor  of  the  three  men  who  discovered  placer  gold 
mines  of  paying  yield  in  the  Yellowstone  valley,  in 
August,  1864,  besides  which  he  was  the  first  deputy  re- 
corder of  the  Shorthill  district  of  Montana,  in  1864-5. 

David  B.  Weaver  was  born  in  Hopewell  township, 
Fluntingdon  county,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  7th  of  March, 
1840,  and  is  a son  of  Jacob  and  Mary  (Berkstresser) 
Weaver,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  the  same 
county,  in  1810,  and  the  latter  of  whom  was  born  in 
1816,  their  marriage  having  been  solemnized  in  1838. 
The  father  devoted  his  entire  active  career  to  the  great 
basic  industry  of  agriculture  and  both  he  and  his  wife 
continued  to  reside  in  the  old  Keystone  state  until  their 
death.  At  a reunion  of  the  Weaver  family  held  at  Shy 
Beaver,  Huntingdon  county,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  14th 
of  September,  1912,  an  occasion  on  which  about  six  hun- 
dred representatives  of  the  family  were  present,  David 
B.  Weaver,  the  subject  of  this  review,  gave  a brief  out- 
line of  the  Weaver  genealogy,  and  from  this  record  are 
taken  the  following  data. 

Jacob  Weaver  was  one  of  three  brothers  who  came 
to  America,  probably  from  Holland  or  the  low  countries, 
about  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century, — at  least 
prior  to  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  the  names  of  his 
brothers  having  been  Uranamus  and  Abraham.  Urana- 
nius  settled  in  New  York  and  Jacob,  and  probably  Abra- 
ham also,  located  in  the  province  of  Maryland.  It  is 
practically  well  authenticated  that  Jacob  Weaver  first 
settled  in  Prince  George  county,  Maryland,  whence  he 
later  removed  to  Washington  county,  where  he  became 
the  owner  of  what  was  then  known  as  the  “Big  Spring” 
property,  about  a half-mile  distant  from  the  present  city 
of  Hagerstown,  on  the  Funkstown  road.  It  is  said  that 
during  or  just  after  the  Revolutionary  war  he  sold  this 
property,  for  which  he  received  payment  in  gold  which 
he  was  induced  to  exchange  for  Continental  currency. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


959 


with  subsequent  total  loss,  owing  to  the  depreciation  of 
the  latter.  He  then  took  out  a land  w'arrant,  to  which 
he  was  entitled  for  his  services  in  the  Revolutionary 
w'ar  or  army,  and  located  the  warrant  in  "Guilford  town- 
ship.'’ At  various  places  in  the  published  Archives  of 
Maryland  are  references  to  Jacob  Weaver,  with  record 
of  his  service  as  an  officer  in  a Revolutionar}^  regiment 
that  was  recruited  partly  in  Maryland  and  partly  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  it  is  virtually  assured  that  this  Jacob 
Weaver  was  the  pioneer  physician  here  mentioned.  Dr. 
Weaver  married  Susan  Eitner,  a native  of  Wittenberg, 
Germany,  and  of  their  children  Christian  figures  as  the 
next  in  line  of  direct  descent  to  him  whose  name  in- 
troduces this  article.  Christian  Weaver  wedded  Mary 
Richer  and  they  established  a home  in  Pennsylvania. 
They  were  the  parents  of  Jacob  Weaver,  father  of  David 
B.  Weaver,  the  Montana  pioneer.  At  the  family  gath- 
ering before  which  the  genealogical  record  was  pre- 
sented, as  noted  in  a previous  paragraph,  a permanent 
organization  was  effected  and  David  B.  Weaver  was 
elected  its  president,  a position  in  which  he  is  making 
special  effort  to  amplify  and  preserve  information  con- 
cerning the  family  lines. 

In  the  common  schools  of  his  native  county  David 
B.  Weaver  received  his  early  educational  discipline, 
which  was  later  to  be  most,  effectively  supplemented 
by  self-application  and  by  the  lessons  learned  under 
the  direction  of  the  wisest  of  all  head-masters,  experi- 
ence. He  was  vital,  energetic  and  ambitious  as  a youth, 
and  he  never  acquired  the  habits  of  using  tobacco  or  in- 
toxicating liquors.  He  has  since  stated  that  these 
"luxuries"  never  appealed  to  him  in  the  least.  He  has 
also  stated  that  the  curriculum  of  the  common  schools 
in  his  youth  was  deficient  in  American  history,  and  that 
the  only  available  book  that  interested  him  along  this 
line  w'as  the  journal  of  the  Lewis  & Clark  expedition 
across  the  continent,  the  same  having  been  compiled  by 
Patrick  Gass.  This  work  he  read  and  re-read  until 
he  had  memorized  much  of  its  contents,  and  incidentally 
there  w'as  fostered  in  him  a great  desire  to  see  the  won- 
derful country  described  in  the  publication.  It  is 
interesting  to  record  in  this  connection  that  Mr. 
Weaver  secured  within  recent  years  a copy  of  a most 
interesting  work  entitled  "The  Life  and  Times  of 
Patrick  Gass,”  and  that  he  generously  contributed  the 
same  to  the  public  library  of  Butte,  Montana,  together 
with  a reproduction  of  the  only  photographic  por- 
trait known  to  have  been  taken  of  j\Ir.  Gass,  the  same 
having  been  an  old-style  ambrotype. 

]\Ir.  Weaver  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  continued 
to  be  identified  with  its  work  until  he  had  attained  to 
his  legal  majority.  He  then  went  to  the  Broad  Top 
coal  mines,  about  four  miles  distant  from  the  old 
homestead  farm,  and  there  he  was  employed  in  various 
capacities  until  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1863,  when 
he  formed  a partnership  with  David  R.  Shorthill  and 
leased  the  Prospect  coal  mine,  from  which  they  mined 
and  shipped  coal  for  the  Broad  Top  Railroad  Com- 
pany. Mr.  Shorthill  was  one  of  the  pioneers  in  the 
Pike's  Peak  district  of  Colorado  and  when  the  Idaho 
gold  fever  began  to  spread  through  the  East  he  and  his 
partner,  Air.  Weaver,  both  succumbed  to  its  ravages. 
Mr.  Weaver  now  saw  a means  for  indulging  his  desire 
to  see  the  West  and  was  sent  to  Iowa  City  to  purchase 
oxen  and  wagon  and  other  necessary  equipment  for 
the  long  and  hazardous  trip  to  what  is  now  Alontana. 
He  was  joined  by  Air.  Shorthill,  Richard  Owens,  George 
Travis  and  Alexander  Norris.  This  little  company  of 
adventurers  crossed  the  Alissouri  river  at  Omaha,  and 
thence  proceeded  along  the  road  on  the  north  side  of 
the  Platte  river  until  they  arrived  at  the  Bozeman  Cut- 
off, by  which  trail  they  continued  their  journey,  theirs 
having  been  the  third  wagon  train  to  follow  this 
route  and  C.  C.  Cofffnberry  having  been  captain  of  the 
train.  Captain  Bozeman  had  taken  the  first  train 
through  this  route  and  Captain  Townsend  had  headed 
the  second  wagon  train.  The  party  of  which  Air. 


Weaver  was  a member  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  Emi 
grant  Gulch  on  the  27th  of  August,  1864.  His  financial 
investments  in  the  buying  of  ranch  land  in  the  Yellow- 
stone valley  and  town  property  in  Yellowstone  City 
proved  a total  loss.  Concerning  incidents  in  connec- 
tion with  his  earl}^  experiences  in  Alontana  Air.  Weaver 
has  given  the  following  interesting  data : 

“All  lands  lying  east  of  the  Yellowstone  river  were 
included  in  the  Crow  Indian  reservation,  and  the  hos- 
tility of  the  Indians  compelled  the  frequent  abandon- 
ing of  mining  operations  in  Emigrant,  Bear  and  Crev- 
ice gulches,  the  while  the  United  States  government 
compelled  the  abandonment  of  the  three  ranches  held 
by  J.  A.  T.  Hull,  Captain  Stafford  and  myself,  who 
had  purchased  property  from  T.  E.  Stevens.  Through 
this  action  on  the  part  of  the  government  I lost  six 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  This  land  on  the  east  side 
of  the  river  was  held  by  the  Indians  until  1880,  when  it 
was  ceded  to  the  government,  the  land  having  been 
thrown  open  to  settlement  in  1882.  (Reference:  His- 
tory of  the  Yellowstone  Valley,  by  the  Western  His- 
torical Publishing  Company,  Spokane,  page  130.) 

“I  left  Yellowstone  ‘City’  on  the  15th  of  October, 
1866,  and  with  riding  and  pack  horses  made  my  way  to 
Helena.  There  I properly  equipped  my  outfit,  and 
thence  ‘packed'  my  way  through  to  Walla  Walla,  Wash- 
ington. I left  Helena  on  the  23d  of  October  and  ar- 
rived in  Walla  Walla  eighteen  and  one-half  days  later. 
Thence  I proceeded  to  San  Erancisco,  from  which  city 
I soon  made  my  way  to  the  Mount  Diablo  coal  mines, 
where  I was  employed  as  pumping  engineer  until  Jan- 
uary, 1868.  I then  took  passage  on  a steamer  and  pro- 
ceeded to  New  York,  by  way  of  the  isthmus  of 
Panama.” 

Air.  Weaver  returned  to  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was 
actively  identified  with  farming  and  lumbering  enter- 
prises until  1883,  when  he  removed  to  the  state  of 
Florida.  There  he  engaged  in  the  ginning  of  cotton 
and  also  in  the  manufacturing  of  lumber.  He  operated 
not  only  a cotton  gin  and  a saw  mill,  but  also  a grist 
mill  and  planing  mill.  The  climate  of  Florida  caused 
his  health  to  become  impaired  and  he  accordingly  re- 
turned to  Pennsylvania  a year  later.  Since  that  time 
he  has  maintained  his  home  in  the  old  Ke\'stone  state, 
and  he  is  one  of  the  representative  citizens  of  Saxton, 
Bedford  county,  where  he  has  substantial  property- 
interests. 

The  first  public  office  held  by  Air.  Weaver  was  that 
of  deputy  recorder  of  the  Shorthill  mining  district,  in 
Emigrant  Gulch,  Montana,  in  1864-5.  In  Hopewell 
township,  Huntingdon  county,  Pennsylvania,  he  has 
served  as  school  director,  township  auditor,  and  other 
offices,  and  he  served  as  a member  of  the  board  of  com- 
missioners of  that  county  from  1876  to  1878,  inclusive, 
having  been  elected  on  the  Democratic  ticket.  In  poli- 
tics he  has  for  a number  of  years  maintained  an  in- 
dependent attitude,  and  has  given  his  support  to  men 
and  measures  meeting  the  approval  of  his  judgment. 
Thus  he  has  voted  for  both  Republican  and  Demo- 
cratic candidates. 

In  Toppings'  Chronicles  of  the  Yellowstone  Valley 
Air.  Weaver  has  called  attention  to  a number  of  inac- 
curacies, and  liis  familiarity  with  the  early  conditions 
and  incidents  in  that  section  makes  his  dictum  prac- 
tically authoritative,  so  that  it  is  specially  interesting 
to  note  that  he  now  has  in  preparation  a History  of  the 
First  Settlement  and  Settlers  of  the  Yellowstone  Val- 
ley, 1864-6,  a compilation  that  cannot  fail  to  prove  of 
great  value  as  an  addition  to  the  recorded  annals  of 
Montana.  In  this  work  Air.  Weaver  is  showing  the 
most  careful  discrimination  and  historical  accuracy,  and 
the  same  should  find  place  in  all  public  and  reference 
libraries  in  Alontana.  He  has  previously  made  con- 
tributions to  other  historical  works  touching  the  Yel- 
lowstone valley,  and  concerning  errors  appearing  in 
one  of  such  publications  he  has  vritten  as  follows : 


960 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


“The  statement  is  made  that  gold  was  found  in  Emi- 
grant Gulch  in  1863,  by  Thomas  Curry,  who  remained 
in  the  vicinity  for  some  time,  living  with  the  Indians 
and  putting  in  his  time  hunting  and  fishing.  This  is 
not  correct.  Thomas  Curry  told  me  personally  that 
lie  came  over  from  Alder  Gulch  in  March,  1864,  with 
two  companions,  and  that  they  were  prospecting  at  the 
mouth  of  Emigrant  Gulch  when  the  Indians  came  to 
them  and  robbed  them  of  all  of  their  ‘grub.’  I asked 
him  why  he  permitted  this,  and  he  replied  that  the 
Indians  were  too  numerous  to  justify  resistance.  Con- 
sequently he  and  his  companions  returned  to  Virginia 
City  for  new  supplies.  Reason  will  tell  us  that  if 
Curry  were  in  Alder  Gulch  in  1863  he  would  have  pro- 
ceeded to  dig  for  gold  there,  as  the  metal  was  dis- 
covered there  in  May  of  that  year,  while  the  gulch  is 
more  than  fourteen  miles  in  length  and  at  that  time 
afforded  an  ample  amount  of  rich  mining  ground  for 
him  to  locate  a rich  claim.  So  this  story  of  his  having 
been  in  Emigrant  Gulch  in  1863  is  entirely  unauthentic.” 

In  his  home  town  Mr.  Weaver  is  a charter  member 
of  Saxton  Grange,  No.  1132,  which  was  organized 
about  fifteen  years  ago.  He  is  a member  of  the  So- 
ciety of  Montana  Pioneers  and  also  of  the  Society  of 
Pioneers  of  Eastern  Montana.  He  has,  as  already 
stated,  made  most  valuable  contributions  to  histories 
of  Montana,  both  general  and  specific,  and  the  pub- 
lication here  presented  is  fortunate  in  having  such  a 
contribution  from  his  pen.  Though  not  formally  iden- 
tified with  any  religious  body  Mr.  Weaver  has  the 
deepest  reverence  for  the  spiritual  verities  and  attends 
the  Church  of  God,  at  Saxton,  supporting  the  work 
of  that  denomination. 

At  Huntingdon,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  2d  of  Decem- 
ber, 1868,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Weaver 
to  Miss  Elizabeth  Mountain.  She  was  born  in  the  old 
Keystone  state  and  her  ancestors  were  numbered 
among  the  early  settlers  of  the  beautiful  Juniata  valley. 
She  was  a granddaughter  of  Jane  Maguire,  -whose  mar- 
velous escape  from  capture  by  the  Indians,  in  1777,  'S 
narrated  in  Brumbaugh  & Walton’s  “Stories  of  Penn- 
sylvania.” Mrs.  Weaver  was  a daughter  of  David 
Mountain,  who  was  a man  of  excellent  intellectual  at- 
tainments and  a successful  and  popular  teacher  in  the 
public  schools  of  Pennsylvania  in  the  early  days.  She 
was  born  on  the  27th  of  May,  1841,  and  was  sum- 
moned to  the  life  eternal  on  the  loth  of  November, 
1910,  her  memory  being  revered  by  all  who  came  within 
the  sphere  of  her  gracious  and  gentle  influence.  She 
had  one  sister  and  four  brothers,  and  three  of  her  broth- 
ers were  gallant  soldiers  of  the  Union  in  the  Civil  war. 
Concerning  the  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weaver  the 
following  brief  data  are  given : Clara  B.  is  the  wife  of 
Orbison  L.  Ben.son  and  they  reside  at  Salter,  Pennsyl- 
vania; William  E.,  who  resides  in  New  York  City,  wed- 
ded Miss  May  Rogers  and  they  have  three  children, — 
Ralph,  Donald  and  Gilbert;  John  M.,  a resident  of  Mill- 
town,  Washington,  married  Miss  Mary  Shearer;  James 
A.  is  at  Saxton,.  Pennsylvania ; Mary  C.  is  the  wife  of 
Clarence  L.  Metzgar,  of  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania, 
and  they  have  four  children, — Elizabeth,  Clarence,  Jr., 
Jack  and  Harold;  and  Effie  H.  resides  with  her  father 
at  Saxton,  Pennsylvania. 

From  an  article  written  by  D.  H.  Fisher,  are  taken 
the  following  brief  statements : “D.  B.  Weaver  is  the 
last  survivor  of  the  three  men  that  discovered  gold 
in  paying  quantities  in  the  Yellowstone  valley,  in  1864. 

“The  first  gold  mined  in  what  is  now  known  as  Mon- 
tana was  by  Grannville  Stuart,  and  four  companions, 
on  Gold  creek,  a branch  of  the  Little  Blackfoot  river. 
The  next  or  second  gold  discovery  and  mining  camp 
was  the  ‘Grasshopper  Diggings’  discovered  by  John 
White,  and  John  McGarvin,  and  others,  about  the  first 
of  August  1862.  The  third  mining  camp  discovered 
was  Alder  Gulch  by  Bill  Fairweather,  Mike  Sweeny. 
Barney  Hughes,  Harry  Rodgers,  Tom  Coover,  and 


Henry  Edgar  on  the  26th  of  May,  1863.  The  fourth 
mining  camp  discovered  was  Last  Chance  Gulch  by 
John  Cowan  and  three  companions,  on  July  15,  1864, 
where  the  city  of  Helena  is  now  built.  The  fifth  mining 
camp  discovered  was  the  Emigrant  Gulch  and  mines 
on  the  Yellowstone  Valley,  on  the  30th  of  August, 
1864,  by  David  R.  Shorthill,  David  B.  Weaver  and 
Frank  Garrett.  This  afterward  became  known  as 
Emigrant  Gulch  and  the  village  at  the  mouth  of  the 
gulch  was  known  as  Yellowstone  City.  Mr.  Weaver 
worked  for  Colvin  and  Uncle  Johnnie  Cowan  on  Dis- 
covery claim,  in  1866.  Both  of  these  men  are  dead, 
and  so  at  this  date  there  are  probably  only  two  men 
living  that  marked  or  blazed  the  trails  to  the  five  first 
placer  mines  of  Montana.  These  pioneers  are  Gran- 
ville Stuart,  of  Butte,  Montana,  and  David  B.  Weaver, 
of  Saxton,  Pennsylvania.” 

Mr.  Weaver  gives  the  following  record  concerning 
the  Last  Chance  discovery,  the  gulch  in  question  now 
constituting  the  main  business  street  of  Helena,  the 
capital  of  Montana;  “The  Last  Chance  placer  gold 
mines  were  discovered  on  the  15th  of  July,  1864,  but 
the  prospectors  did  not  find  the  gold  in  paying  quan- 
tities, so  they  went  on  further  north.  Not  meeting  with 
better  success,  they  returned  to  the  site  of  the  present 
city  of  Helena  in  November,  1864,  to  try  again  on  the 
bar  previously  discovered.  They  spoke  of  this  being 
their  last  chance,  and  hence  the  locality  became  known 
as  Lasf  Chance  Bar  or  the  Last  Chance  Diggings.  John 
Cowan  and  Colvin  were  natives  of  the  state  of  Georgia 
and  had  been  gold  miners  in  that  state,  which  probably 
had  much  to  do  with  their  successful  prospecting  in 
Montana  and  in  finding  the  rich  placer  mines  where 
Helena  now  stands.” 

Nicholas  J.  Bielenberg  is  one  of  Montana’s  fore- 
most citizens,  not  only  from  the  conspicuous  character 
of  his  identification  with  the  state’s  development  and  up- 
building, but  from  his  long  residence  therein  and  the 
various  channels  of  progress  through  which  his  influ- 
ence, progressiveness  and  public  spirit  has  been  felt. 
He  was  but  a boy  of  seventeen  when  he  came  to  Mon- 
tana in  the  spring  of  1865,  with  no  other  capital  than  a 
stcut  heart,  an  industrious  nature  and  habits  of  frugality 
that  his  excellent  German  parentage  had  naturally  en- 
dowed him  with,  yet  from  this  modest  equipment  he  has, 
l)y  dint  of  his  own  efforts,  been  for  years  accorded  a 
foremost  position  among  the  substantial,  high  class  citi- 
zens of  the  state. 

Mr.  Bielenberg  was  born  in  Holstein,  Germany,  June 
8.  1847,  and  was  but  a youngster  of  four  years  when 
his  parents,  Claus  and  Margaret  (Cruse)  Bielenberg, 
with  his  two  brothers,  Charles  H.  and  John  N.,  immi- 
grated to  the  United  States.  They  settled  at  Daven- 
port, Iowa,  where  they  engaged  in  farming,  and  in  that 
state  passed  their  remaining  years.  The  elder  Bielen- 
berg was  an  intelligent,  well-educated  man  who  had 
done  military  service  in  his  native  country.  He  and  his 
sons  swiftly  adapted  themselves  to  American  ways,  and 
the  latter,  particularly,  became  superior  American  citi- 
zens. Claus  Bielenberg  was  of  the  Lutheran  religion, 
and  all  of  his  family  inherited  his  high  moral  principles. 
He  built  and  owned  business  property  in  Davenport  and 
its  vicinity,  and  was  one  of  its  most  highly  respected 
townsmen. 

Nicholas  Bielenberg  was  given  the  usual  public  school 
privileges,  but  his  lively  interest  in  all  practical  affairs 
led  him  to  shorten  his  period  of  study  in_  order  to  join 
in  the  vocational  activities  in  which  his  father  and 
brother  were  engaged.  The  details  of  the  butchering 
trade  were  learned  by  him  in  Davenport  and  when  six- 
teen years  of  age  he  went  to  Chicago,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed through  the  winter  of  1865.  For  his  first  month’s 
work  he  received  only  three  dollars  and  board.  The 
following  spring  he  returned  to  Davenport,  and  made 
preparations  to  seek  his  life’s  success  in  the  new  west. 


r 


i 


\ 


C 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


961 


His  trip  thither  was  a most  memorable  one  and  worth 
relating  in  brief  detail.  From  Davenport  the  young 
Bielenberg  took  a river  boat  to  St.  Louis,  where  he 
stopped  for  a few  days,  after  which  he  took  passage  on 
“The  Bertrant”  up  the  Missouri  river  en  route  to  Fort 
Benton,  Montana.  About  thirty  miles  above  Omaha  the 
boat  sank,  and  although  no  lives  were  lost  all  had  to 
submit  to  the  inconvenience  of  camping  twenty  days  on 
the  bank  of  the  river  while  waiting  for  another  boat  of 
the  same  line.  Continuing  the  voyage  neither  boat  nor 
passengers  met  with  difficulties  until  interrupted  by  a 
herd  of  buffalo  crossing  the  stream.  This  necessitated 
their  waiting  for  eighteen  hours.  Their  next  mishap 
w'as  occasioned  when,  having  reached  a point  below  the 
Dry  Fork  of  the  Missouri,  they  struck  a sand  bar,  and 
in  the  process  of  extricating  the  vessel  a spar  was 
broken.  The  delay  thus  occasioned  w'as  fraught  wdth 
the  most  serious  circumstance  of  the  entire  trip.  The 
party  was  attacked  by  Indians,  who,  in  the  encounter 
killed  one  man,  wounded  another  and  carried  away  two, 
of  whose  lives  they  disposed  in  the  most  horrible  man- 
ner. In  sight  of  the  stranded  passengers  of  the  Ber- 
trant watching  from  the  deck  in  desperate  helplessness, 
the  Indian  squaw's  carried  dry  w'ood,  wdth  which  they 
surrounded  the  captives,  held  in  durance  by  the  male 
savages.  With  the  victims  securely  bound  in  the  center, 
the  wood  was  set  aflame  and  the  other  voyagers  saw 
them  thus  pitilessly  destroyed.  It  is  hardly  to  be 
wondered  at  that  Mr.  Bielenberg  has  ever  since  had  an 
insuperable  aversion  for  the  Indian  race.  The  Bertrant 
was  presently  started  on  her  way  once  more  and  on 
June  i8,  1865,  arrived  at  Fort  Benton,  having  taken  a 
number  of  deer  and  elk  on  the  route  and  having  heard 
of  the  close  of  the  war  wfficn  passing  one  of  the  river 
forts. 

After  arriving  at  Fort  Benton,  ]\Ir.  Bielenberg  pro- 
ceeded to  consider  his  immediate  future.  His  objective 
point  was  Helena.  But,  on  landing,  his  exchequer,  which 
had  suffered  unexpected  depletion  because  of  the  exi- 
gencies of  the  voyage,  amounted  to  exactly  thirty-five 
cents.  On  the  boat  which  had  brought  him  to  Fort  Ben- 
ton was  his  supply  of  butcher’s  tools,  but  he  was  at  a 
loss  to  defray  the  cost  of  transporting  them.  Youth  and 
ambition  often  meet  wdth  kindly  consideration,  as  the 
young  man  found  on  this  occasion.  The  captain  of  the 
boat,  to  whom  he  explained  his  dilemma,  gave  him  clear- 
ance for  his  tools,  and  instructed  the  boat's  steward  to 
supply  him  with  the  necessary  provisions  for  his  journey 
to  Helena,  free  of  all  charge.  Young  Bielenberg  then 
loaded  his  belongings  on  a mule  wagon,  at  the  side  of 
w'hich  he  walked  to  his  destination,  arriving  on  the  first 
of  July.  At  Helena  he  learned  of  a business  in  his  line 
which  was  to  he  bought  from  Henry  Edgar,  the  first 
discoverer  of  Alder  Gulch,  the  richest  gulch  in  IMontana. 
The  butcher’s  establishment  w'as  in  Blackfoot,  Montana, 
and  to  that  place  Nicholas  Bielenberg  went  to  buy  out 
the  Edgar  meat  business,  his  two  brothers  agreeing  to 
“stake”  him.  Here  he  engaged  in  the  butchering  busi- 
ness until  1870,  when  he  removed  to  Helena,  and  was 
there  identified  with  the  same  line  of  trade  until  1872, 
when  he  located  at  Deer  Lodge. 

About  this  time  iMr.  Bielenberg  became  connected 
with  the  line  of  business  that  started  him  on  the  road 
to  the  great  success  that  he  has  achieved,  the  stock  busi- 
ness. Here  he  engaged  in  stock-raising,  and  in  buying 
cattle  for  the  Chicago  market,  which  was  reached  by 
driving  the  stock  through  to  Chej^enne,  Wyoming,  and 
there  shipping  by  rail  to  Chicago.  For  several  years  he- 
carried  on  an  important  business  in  this  connection.  In 
1877  he  established  a meat  business  in  Butte,  which  be- 
came one  of  the  leading  industries  of  its  kind  in  the 
northwest.  A modern  cold  storage  plant  was  erected, 
and  a large  wholesale  trade  was  thus  supplied.  The 
growth  of  the  business  was  substantial,  and  eventually 
assumed  such  proportions  that  it  was  deemed  advisable 
to  incorporate  it,  which  was  done,  the  name  given  to  it 


being  the  Butte  Butchering  Company,  which  concern  has 
since  directed  the  enterprise. 

About  1884  Mr.  Bielenberg  became  associated  with  his 
half-brother,  Conrad  Kohrs,  in  an  extensive  cattle  busi- 
ness Shortly  afterward  he  carried  on  the  same  line  of 
business  as  an  individual,  but  later  became  interested 
with  Joseph  Tooniey,  and  they  developed,  in  this  line, 
an  enterprise  of  immense  proportions  for  that  time! 
They  handled  more  than  one  hundred  and  thirty  thou- 
sand head  of  sheep  in  one  year,  and  their  flocks  were  to 
be  found  in  various  parts  of  Montana,  while  they  also 
transacted  a large  business  in  buying  and  shipping  sheep 
and  cattle  from  the  northwest,  their  operations  extend- 
ing from  Washington  to  North  Dakota,  and  contributed 
largely  to  the  development  of  the  live-stock  industry  in 
this  section  of  the  country. 

We  quote  from  an  appreciative  article  previously  pub- 
lished: “It  can  be  safely  said  that  Mr.  Bielenberg  and 

his  associates  were  the  fathers  of  the  sheep  industry  in 
northern  Montana,  and  their  operations  were  the  first  of 
any  importance  in  the  state.  Mr.  Bielenberg  was  the 
first  shipper  to  discover  the  value  of  screenings  in  the 
feeding  of  sheep  in  transit,  and  his  discovery  has  grown 
to  be  a valuable  industry  in  the  handling  of  mutton  for 
the  eastern  markets.” 

For  more  than  forty  years  Mr.  Bielenberg  has  been 
identified  with  the  stock-raising  industry  of  Montana, 
and  probably  no  other  man  in  the  state  has  given  greater 
impetus  to  an  industry  that  has  brought  equal  renown 
and  distinction  to  the  Treasure  state.  His  interests  are 
varied  and  extensive,  including  valuable  mining,  real 
estate  and  industrial  holdings.  His  investments  have 
been  made  with  discrimination,  showing  marked  busi- 
ness capacity  and  foresight.  Interested  in  any  movement 
of  benefit  to  the  community,  and  always  on  the  side  of 
progress  and  advancement,  there  is  no  better  example  of 
the  type  of  men,  who  have  not  only  lived  to  see  IMon- 
tana  take  her  place  among  the  great  western  states,  but 
have  largely  contributed  to  the  transformation. 

Mr.  Bielenberg  from  the  time  of  casting  his  first  vote 
up  to  1912  was  one  of  the  staunch  supporters  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  taking  a prominent  part  in  its  councils, 
and  was  one  of  its  advisers  in  his  section  of  the  state. 
In  1892  he  was  a delegate  to  the  national  convention  at 
IMinneapolis,  and  many  times  served  in  similar  capacities 
in  state  and  county  conventions.  In  1912  he  joined  the 
Progressive  movement,  and  at  once  took  a prominent 
place  among  the  organizers  of  that  party  in  Alontana. 
The  principles  of  the  Progressive  party  were  only  those 
with  which  he  had  been  in  sympathy  for  a long  time. 
His  influence  has  been  strong  in  this  movement  toward 
cleaner  politics  in  state  and  nation.  Mr.  Bielenberg  pre- 
sided at  the  mass  convention  meeting  held  in  Helena 
J'uly  29,  1912,  for  all  people  of  the  different  counties  of 
Montana  whose  third  party  sentiments  were  strong  and 
clearly  defined.  He  was  a delegate  to  the  National  Pro- 
gressive Convention  at  Chicago  in  August,  1912,  that 
nominated  Theodore  Roosevelt  for  president. 

Mr.  Bielenberg  has  been  a resident  of  Deer  Lodge  for 
over  forty  j^ears,  completing  his  beautiful  modern  home 
in  this  city  in  1910.  It  was  here  that  he  married,  on  the 
14th  of  March,  1872,  Miss  Annie  Bogk,  a native  of  Osh- 
kosh, Wisconsin,  and  a daughter  of  Augustav  and 
IMargaret  Bogk,  natives  of  Germany,  who  came  from 
Wisconsin  to  the  Deer  Lodge  Valley  in  the  early  days, 
and  passed  the  remainder  of  their  lives  in  this  section. 
Mr.  and  IMrs.  Bielenberg  have  been  the  parents  of  five 
children.  The  eldest.  Alma  Margaret,  born  July  15, 
1874.  is  now  Mrs.  W.  I.  Higgins,  of  Deer  Lodge.  How- 
ard Zenor,  born  on  the  26th  of  November,  1876,  married 
Annie  Winkelman,  engaged  in  the  garage  business  in 
Deer  Lodge,  and  they  have  one  son,  John  Howard. 
Augusta  Kohrs,  who  was  born  on  the  i6th  of  December, 
1880,  died  on  January  4,  1901.  Anne  Marie,  who  was 
born  on  April  16,  1883,  attended  the  Deer  Lodge  schools 
and  schools  in  the  east  for  two  years,  and  now  resides 


962 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


with  her  parents.  Claude  Nicholas,  whose  birth  took 
place  on  the  26th  of  October,  1888,  is  engaged  in  the 
ranching  and  stock-raising  business.  He  was  married 
on  September  5,  1912,  to  Ethel  Catherine  Marcum. 

-Mr.  Bielenberg  is  one  of  the  extensive  owners  of  high 
class  ranch  property  in  the  Deer  Lodge  Valley.  He  is 
liresident  of  the  Deer  Lodge  Water  Company,  and  was 
one  of  the  builders  of  the  magnificent  hotel  property  in 
Deer  Lodge,  a structure  that  would  do  credit  to  a city 
many  times  the  size  of  Deer  Lodge.  Among  his  other 
executive  offices  he  is  president  of  the  Butte  Butchering 
Company,  vice-president  of  the  Tuolme  Mining  Com- 
pany, and  is  a director  in  the  Pilot-Butte  Mining  Com- 
pany. 

Mr.  Bielenberg  has  been  a successful  man,  not  only  as 
regards  the  accumulation  of  property,  but  as  a citizen  of 
high  character  and  a business  man  of  strict  integrity 
and  fairness.  He  enjoys  the  comforts  and  pleasures  of 
life,  has  reared  an  excellent  family  in  keeping  with  a 
high  social  standing,  and  has  contributed  liberally  to  all 
worthy  projects,  whether  of  a charitable,  civic  or  reli- 
gious character. 

Fraternally  he  belongs  to  the  Masonic  order,  affiliating 
with  the  Helena  Commandery,  No.  2,  Knights  Templar, 
and  Algeria  Temple,  Mystic  Shrine,  at  Helena.  He  is 
also  a member  of  the  Elks. 

His  acquaintance  includes  many  of  the  prominent  men 
of  the  state,  not  only  of  today  but  for  the  past  twenty- 
five  years.  Few  men  in  this  section  of  Montana  are  bet- 
ter known  than  "Nick”  Bielenberg,  as  he  is  called,  not 
from  any  lack  of  respect  but  from  a most  friendly  and 
jovial  disposition,  and  the  faculty  of  making  and  re- 
taining friends. 

Akmistead  Hughes  Mitchell.  In  a new  land’s  evo- 
lution from  primitive  wildness  to  orderly  civilization, 
every  class  of  pioneers  leaves  more  aggressive  claim  to 
the  appreciation  of  posterity  than  does  the  pioneer  phy- 
sician. His  work,  no  less  strenuous,  no  less  perilovis 
than  that  of  others,  is  done  with  least  of  the  egotistic 
spirit  and  with  less  purposely  permanent  appeal.  Scores 
of  physician-heroes  die  on  our  frontiers  without  de- 
served recognition  for  their  impartially  altruistic  la- 
bors. Alontana,  being  desirous  of  paying  tribute  to  the 
greatest  of  hers,  honors  such  names  as  those  of  Doc- 
tors Leavitt,  Click,  Steele,  Maupin,  Brooke,  Yeager, 
Father  Ravailli  and  that  dominant  personality  of  rare 

ability Dr.  Armistead  LIughes  Alitchell.  A leader 

in  public  deliberations  and  a strong  and  definite  in- 
fluence in  the  industrial  development  of  the  state,  Dr. 
Mitchell  leaves  a life-record  of  such  interest  as  to  re- 
quire in  this  review  such  detailed  mention  as  the 
conditions  of  the  present  publication  permit. 

The  gallantry  of  temperament  which,  when  united  to 
depth  of  character,  produces  the  finest  type  of  valor 
was  Dr.  Mitchell’s  inheritance.  His  maternal  grand- 
father, Major  John  Hughes,  had  enlisted — with  the 
permission  of  his  mother,  Ann  Neville  Hughes — when 
lie  was  but  sixteen  years  of  age  as  a patriot  in  the  Con- 
tinental army  and  had  thus  as  a mere  youth  won  his 
spurs  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  Both  Major  Hughes 
and  his  wife,  Ann  Alerri weather,  were  natives  of  Vir- 
ginia and  represented  the  Old  Dominion  families  of 
Tarleton,  Neville  and  LIughes  of  colonial  and  military 
note.  Virginians  also  were  the  doctor’s  paternal  grand- 
parents, Captain  Robert  Mitchell  and  Ann  Seldon  Arm- 
istead. Their  son,  William  Daunton  Mitchell,  as  a 
young  man  came  from  Virginia  to  Kentucky,  where  he 
married  Lucy  LIughes,  daughter  of  the  above-mentioned 
Major  John  and  Ann  (Alerriweather)  Hughes.  In  the 
Bluegrass  state  William  Mitchell  and  his  wife,  Lucy 
Hughes  Mitchell,  became  widely  known  in  Jefferson  and 
Oldham  counties,  having  a large  plantation  in  the  former 
region.  William  D.  Mitchell  was  counted  one  of  the 
most  learned  men  in  Kentucky,  being  prominent  first  as 
a county  clerk  in  Oldham  county  and  later  as  a jurist 


of  distinction  in  Louisville,  Oldham  county.  It  was 
there  that  on  October  31,  1831,  his  son  Armistead 
Hughes  Mitchell,  was  born. 

After  having  spent  the  years  devoted  to  his  primary 
education  m La  Grange,  Oldham  county  Kentucky,  then 
the  parental  home,  Armistead  Hughes  Mitchell  was 
sent  to  the  University  of  Virginia  at  Charlottesville, 
for  Ins  college  preparatory  course.  In  his  junior  year, 
the  youth  s audacious  spirit  led  him  to  leave  school  quite 
unceremoniously  and  to  join  a regiment  on  the  way  to 
participate  in  the  Mexican  war.  He  was  permitted  only 
a few  months  of  this  exciting  experience,  for  his  father 
ordered  his  return  as  soon  as  possible  after  hearing  of 
the  boys  adventure.  As  William  Daunton  Mitchell  was 
then  living  in  Louisville,  Kentucky,  he  arranged  for 
his  son’s  entering  upon  medical  studies  at  Jefferson 
college  in  that  city.  Having  completed  the  work  of  the 
courses  there,  he  went  subsequently  to  the  University 
of  New  York,  from  the  medical  department  of  which 
he  was  graduated  in  1852. 

1 hus  equipped,  the  young  physician  returned  west, 
no  less  keenly  interested  in  the  adventurous  phases  of  ex- 
istence than  when  a boy.  His  abilities  and  interests 
were  so  aboundingly  vigorous  that  his  career  refused 
to  be  confined  by  the  limits  of  his  profession.  When 
Dr.  Mitchell  left  New  York,  he  went  first  to  visit  his 
father,  who  was  then  conducting  a sugar  plantation 
on  the  Brazos  river,  thirty-five  miles  from  Galveston, 
Texas.  He  then  lingered  for  a year  in  Mexico,  a lo- 
cality that  had  not  lost  its  charm  for  him.  His  real 
destination,  however,  was  California,  for  this  was  the 
period  of  the  gold  mining  excitement  in  that  state.  In 
the  autumn  of  1853  the  young  doctor-adventurer  ar- 
rived in  San  Francisco,  where  he  not  only  engaged  in 
practice  as  a physician,  but  entered  upon  an  active  specu- 
lating career,  with  mining  interests  in  various  parts  of 
the  state.  Ranching  also  interested  him  to  such  an  ex- 
tent that  he  became  joint  owner  with  Jasper  Harold 
of  a large  ranch  on  which  were  herded  large  numbers 
of  cattle  for  selling  throughout  the  mining  districts. 
Nor  were  the  foregoing  activities  the  sum  of  this  re- 
markable young  man’s  operations.  The  political  move- 
ments of  the  times  held  great  attraction  for  him.  He 
was  therefore  promptly  recognized  as  an  available  and 
desirable  candidate  for  important  public  office,  being 
made  in  1857  a member  of  the  state  legislature  from 
California.  Two  years  later  he  was  reelected  as  the 
joint  representative  from  Tulare  and  Fresno  counties. 

The  climax  of  excitement  over  gold  mining  in  British 
Columbia  led  Dr.  Mitchell  to  dispose  of  his  cattle-ranch 
interests  and  to  investigate  conditions  on  the  Fraser 
river.  Not  finding  the  situation  sufficiently  promising, 
he  returned  tentatively  to  California,  soon  afterward 
locating  at  Aurora,  Nevada.  Here  he  continued  his 
medical  practice  and  again  became  interested  in  mining 
speculations.  He  was  so  fortunate  as  to  be  one  of 
the  original  discoverers  of  the  rich  Esmerelda  mine, 
which  was  the  basis  of  his  mining  operations  until  1863, 
at  which  time  he  had  become  the  possessor  of  a goodly 
fortune.  To  Austin,  Nevada,  and  then  to  Idaho  city, 
Idaho,  he  next  went  for  a short  time,  in  neither  place 
being  satisfied  with  the  prospects  he  found.  After 
looking  over  possibilities  in  Oregon,  he  passed  to  the 
Kootenia  district  in,  British  Columbia.  As  a thriving 
mining  camp  existed  there  at  that  time.  Dr.  Mitchell  ob- 
tained a claim  on  the  creek  near  Galbraith’s  ferry,  sev- 
eral miles  north  of  what  is  now  Bonner’s  ferry.  . As 
the  placers  here  were  prodigiously  rich.  Dr.  Mitchell’s 
claim  in  three  months  yielded  him  some  $20,000  of  gold 
dust.  Lie  returned  to  San  Francisco  to  spend  the  winter, 
and  in  May  of  1865  he  resumed  mining  activities.  On 
one  of  his  prospecting  trips  he  learned  from  a Jesuit 
priest  and  some  accompanying  Indians  of  reported  rich 
placers  in  the  Blackfoot  country.  He  went  with  them 
across  the  mountains  to  McClellan’s  Gulch,  in  Deer 
Lodge  county,  reaching  that  place  in  September  of  1865. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


963 


He  continued  at  that  time  to  Helena,  where  he  was 
professionally  engaged  for  a year,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  he  definitely  located  in  the  town  of  Blackfoot, 
Montana. 

It  was  not  possible  for  Dr.  Mitchell  to  be  long  in  any 
place  of  residence  without  being  the  object  of  political 
honors  and  responsibilities.  In  1868  his  services  were 
required  on  the  Territorial  council,  as  councilman  for 
the  districts  composed  of  Deer  Lodge  and  Missoula 
counties.  He  was  elected  on  the  Democratic  ticket  and 
successive  reelection  followed  in  the  years  1869,  ’70,  ’71, 
’7-^,  '75..  '77;  ’78.  '80,  ’8i,  '82  and  ’83.  He  was  presi- 
dent of  the  Council  in  1871,  ’75  a.nd  ’77. 

In  1869  President  Grant  appointed  Dr.  Mitchell  to 
construct  the  original  building  of  the  Territorial  peni- 
tentiary at  Deer  Lodge,  to  which  place  he  removed 
in  the  same  year,  having  charge  of  the  work  until_  it 
was  concluded  in  1871.  He  was  then  appointed  physician 
and  surgeon  for  the  same  institution  and  in  connec- 
tion with  that  practice  he  continued  his  private  activi- 
ties as  a general  medical  practitioner.  In  1882  _Dr. 
Mitchell  resigned  the  prison  appointment,  but  remained 
a resident  of  Deer  Lodge  until  near  the  close  of  his 
life. 

While  Dr.  Mitchell's  organizing  ability  was  very 
clearly  and  emphatically  demonstrated  in  his  private 
operations  and  in  his  construction  of  the  prison,  the 
great  monument  to  his  executive  power  is  seen  in  his 
evolution  of  the  sanitarium  at  Deer  Lodge.  This 
achievement  had  its  inception  in  his  being  awarded  by 
Governor  B.  F.  Potts,  in  1875,  the  official  position  whose 
duties  were  the  care  of  the  insane  of  Montana  territory. 
At  first  there  were  seven  men  patients,  that  number 
continuing  for  two  years.  In  1877  Dr.  Mitchell  pur- 
chased the  Warmsprings  property  and  Dr.  Charles  F. 
Mussigbrod  became  his  partner  in  the  work  and  respon- 
sibilities of  the  institution,  which  at  that  time  had  but 
thirteen  patients.  From  that  nucleus  has  been  developed 
the  present  institution.  The  keen  perception  of  Dr. 
IMitchell  in  recognizittg  the  great  value  of  the  thermal 
and  curative  properties  of  the  waters  of  Warmsprings 
w'as  only  one  evidence  of  his  far-sightedness.  He  and 
Dr.  Alussigbrod  proceeded  to  have  constructed  a group 
of  small  buildings  suitable  for  the  comfort  and  best 
care  of  the  thirteen  patients  then  in  charge.  They  also 
built  a small  hotel  and  appurtenances  suitable  for  the 
resort  which  the  springs  and  other  natural  attractions 
of  the  place  were  making  it.  A farm  and  garden  were 
next  planned  and  from  this  beginning  a magnificient 
agricultural  establishment  gradually  grew.  The  ranch, 
garden  and  stock  farm  at  first  provided  for  both  the 
sanitarium  and  the  resort  and,  being  later  absorbed  by 
the  needs  of  the  asylum,  have  gone  far  tow'ard  making 
this  one  of  the  model  institutions  of  its  kind  in  the 
world.  It  was  in  1890  that  the  management  of  the 
plant  decided  that  the  greatly  increased  number  of  in- 
mates in  the  State  Asylum  for  the  Insane  made  it  ad- 
visable to  discontinue  the  hotel  and  public  resort.  Since 
that  time  the  owners  have  devoted  their  entire  time 
and  attention  to  the  needs  of  the  patients  and  the  full 
resources  of  the  property  to  their  requirements.  The 
original  group  of  log  and  stone  buildings  first  con- 
structed for  the  use  of  the  thirteen  original  inmates 
have  been  replaced  by  splendidh^  planned  buildings  of 
the  most  modern  and  highly  perfected  type.  The  cost 
of  the  newly  constructed  group  was  nearly  a half  mil- 
lion dollars  and  all  are  under  the  most  efficient  care. 
The  vast  surrounding  property  is  fenced,  properly  wa- 
tered and  brought  to  a high  degree  of  profitable  culti- 
vation. Not  only  the  inexhaustible  flow  of  the  thermal 
W'aters,  but  the  carefullj'  supervised  meat,  garden  and 
dairy  products,  assured  by  the  sufficient  appropriated 
water  rights,  make  the  place  one  most  to  be  desired 
for  the  class  of  patients  whose  disorders  require  the 
most  nearly  perfect  conditions  as  well  as  the  wdsest  and 
most  delicate  handling.  It  is  capable  of  accomodating 

Vol.  II— 8 


more  than  a thousand  patients  and  its  methods  are 
the  most  hygienic,  as  well  as  the  most  humane  and 
scientific,  that  could  be  wished.  In  all  this  develop- 
ment of  thirty-five  years’  time.  Dr.  Mitchell  was  the 
leading,  moving  spirit  in  building  up  the  institution  and 
shaping  its  destinies.  Even  such  improvements  as  have 
been  instituted  since  his  demise  have  been  made  possible 
through  his  early  efforts  and  his  remarkable  foresight. 

While  the  supervision  of  the  great  work  described 
above  was  Dr.  Mitchell’s  chief  concern  from  its  begin- 
ning, so  large  was  the  man  in  mind  and  energies  that 
from  time  to  time  other  important  duties  called  him. 
One  of  these  was  his  acceptance  of  Governor  Potts’ 
appointment  to  the  post  of  surgeon  general  during  the 
Nez  Perces  war;  and  another  was  his  service  as  sur- 
geon in  charge,  under  General  Gibbon’s  appointment, 
after  the  detachment  of  the  regimental  surgeon  from 
the  command,  following  the  battle  of  Big  Hole.  Nor 
were  his  political  preferments  in  the  later  epoch  of  his 
life  wholly  of  a professional  nature;  for  then,  as  in 
his  earlier  years,  he  was  able  to  officiate  ably  in  va- 
rious contemporary  affairs.  His  interest  in  legislative 
and  executive  politics  never  abated  and  he  was  fre- 
quently made  chairman  in  the  committees  and  conven- 
tions in  which  he  participated.  In  1885  he  was  the 
chairman  of  the  Democratic  territorial  central  com- 
mittee ; in  1888  he  was  elected  by  the  convention  as  a 
member  of  the  national  committee  of  the  same  party ; 
and  while  serving  in  that  capacity  he  was  appointed  a 
member  of  the  committee  whose  duty  it  was  to  formally 
notify  Mr.  Cleveland  of  his  nomination.  In  1892  Mr. 
Mitchell  endorsed  the  theories  and  purposes  of  the 
People’s  party.  That  political  organization  made  him 
its  nominee  in  Deer  Lodge  county  for  state  senator ; 
honored  him  with  the  county  chairmanship  in  1894-6; 
sent  him  as  its  delegate  to  the  state  conventions  in  1894, 
’96  and  ’98;  and  elected  him  alternate  to  the  National 
convention  at  St.  Louis  in  1896. 

Coincident  with  the  numerous  interests  above  noted. 
Dr.  Mitchell’s  participation  in  mining  enterprises  con- 
tinued. It  is  said  that  no  other  man  in  IMontana  has 
put  more  money  into  the  legitimate  mining  operations 
in  the  state  than  did  he.  In  many  cases,  of  course,  his 
investments  failed  to  return  profits  to  him ; but  others 
are  now  finding  them  advantageous  and  it  cannot  be 
said  that  his  efforts  were  wasted,  for  they  contributed 
materially  to  the  development  of  Montana. 

The  formal  affiliations  of  Dr.  Alitchell  in  a social  way 
were  with  the  iMasonic  order.  On  October  3,  1882,  in 
presence  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Montana,  then  in  ses- 
sion at  Deer  Lodge,  Dr.  iMitchell  was  honored  by  Deer 
Lodge  Number  14,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
with  the  degrees  of  E.  A.,  F.  C.  and  M.  M.,  under  a 
special  dispensation  of  the  Grand  Lodge.  Throughout 
the  remainder  of  his  life  he  continued  a member  of  the 
organization  and  its  honors  have  followed  him  on  his 
last  journey. 

All  of  Dr.  jMitchell’s  domestic  life  was  lived  at 
Deer  Lodge.  His  marriage  occurred  here  on  November 
23,  1871,  Mrs.  Mitchell  having  been  before  her  mar- 
riage Miss  Mollie  E.  Irvine — a daughter  of  Thomas 
E.  Irvine,  of  Richmond,  Kentucky.  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Mitchell  became  the  parents  of  five  children,  of  whom 
two  now  survive : Mary  Adele,  now  Mrs.  J.  M.  Scand- 
land,  mentioned  in  the  biography  of  her  husband  else- 
where in  this  work;  and  Harold  Governeur,  the  young- 
est member  of  the  family. 

Dr.  Mitchell’s  final  illness  began  in  the  summer  of 
1896  and  was  of  that  nature  which,  affecting  the  eyes 
and  head,  is  called  mastoiditis.  In  his  efforts  at  over- 
coming it,  he  consulted  the  most  eminent  specialists, 
including  Dr.  Bosworth  and  Professors  Starr  and  Gray 
of  New  York.  In  1897  he  made  a summer  trip  to 
Alaska  and  in  the  autumn  of  1898  went  to  California, 
but  in  neither  case  did  he  find  relief.  His  endeavors 
to  withstand  the  ravages  of  his  malady  were  of  the 


964 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


most  courageous  kind,  but  in  October  of  the  last- 
named  year  he  succumbed  to  the  resultant  weakness 
and  the  end  came  December  20th,  at  his  home  in 
Warmsprings.  The  last  reverent  services  were  said 
over  his  body  at  the  Episcopal  church  of  Deer  Lodge, 
by  the  Reverend  E.  G.  Prout,  and  were  accompanied 
by  full  Masonic  rites.  The  presence  of  numerous  emi- 
nent citizens  from  distant  localities,  added  to  that  of 
his  many  friends,  acquaintances  and  warm  admirers 
throughout  Deer  Lodge  count}',  made  that  memorial 
gathering  the  largest  of  its  kind  ever  known  in  Deer 
Lodge. 

Dr.  Armistead  LIughes  klitchell  is  remembered  for 
those  achievements  the  recountal  of  which  is  given  in 
foregoing  paragraphs  of  this  article ; but  even  more 
for  the  qualities  which  no  pen  can  make  vivid — the  in- 
describable elements  of  personality  which  make  a friend 
or  comrade  so  ineffably  precious,  even  in  memory.  His 
high  sense  of  honor,  personal  and  professional,  his  im- 
partiality and  loyalty  in  friendship ; his  exquisite  sym- 
pathy, underlying  the  dominent  force  of  his  nature  and 
revealing  itself  so  wonderfully  at  a patient’s  need ; his 
ideal  relations  to  the  members  of  his  family — these  char- 
acteristics one  may  name  as  definitely  his.  Just  what 
they  meant,  in  their  blended  entity,  to  the  world  in 
which  he  moved  is  now  expressible  only  in  the  multi- 
fold heart-image  shared  by  those  who  best  knew  Dr. 
Mitchell. 

SoPHRONius  Marchesseau  is,  as  his  name  indicates, 
of  French  descent,  though  both  his  father  and  his  mother 
were  born  m Canada.  The  father,  Francis  Marchesseau, 
was  a tiller  of  the  soil,  but  the  love  of  romantism  and 
adventure  so  strong'  in  the  French  Canadian,  was  his 
most  dominant  quality.  He  died  in  his  fifty-sixth  year, 
leaving  a widow,  Sophia  Richards  Adarchesseau,  who 
mourned  him  until  her  own  death,  almost  a quarter  of 
a century  later.  They  were  the  parents  of  ten  children, 
of  whom  but  two,  Sophronius  Alarchesseau  and  his 
sister_  Henrietta,  were  granted  length  of  life.  The  sister, 
Henrietta  Marchesseau,  became  the  wife  of  the  late  Mr, 
Trahan,  of  Central  Falls,  Rhode  Island,  and  her  death 
occurred  September  29,  1912,  at  the  age  of  ninety  years, 
one  month  and  eleven  days. 

The  life  of  the  remaining  son,  the  fourth  born  in  the 
family  of  ten  children,  would  have  been  a delight  to 
Hamlin  Garland  or  Oweii  Wister.  Bret  Harte  could 
have  painted  it  in  its  true  colors  and  done  it  justice. 
That  life  covers  almost  a century  in  time,  the  great 
century  of  development  in  the  northwest.  His  feet 
traversed  almost  every  state  in  the  Union  from  east 
to  west  and  from  west  to  east  and  back  again,  and 
this  in  a time  when  to  the  average  civilization  western 
travel  wa^  one  of  the  impossibilities.  It  is  difficult  to 
compress  a life  so  filled  with  action,  so  far  reaching  in 
its  influence,  so  epoch  making  in  its  results,  into  a 
few  pages  of  a Alontana  edition.  It  was  voices  like 
unto  his,  crying  in  the  wilderness,  that  made  way  for  a 
new  civilization  in  a country  that  is  only  now  beginning 
to  be  known. 

Sophronius  Alarchesseau  was  born  in  L’Acadie,  St. 
Johns  county,  in  the  province  of  Quebec,  Canada,  on 
the  twenty-fourth  day  of  December,  1828.  Education 
was  a commodity  difficult  to  obtain  in  those  parts  and 
times,  nor  did  the  young  men  feel  greatly  the  lack 
thereof  with  half  a continent  lying  unexplored  before 
them.  The  book  learning  that  lay  in  his  path,  however, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  received.  He  attended,  of 
course,  for  some  little  time  the  schools  of  his  native 
village,  but  early  became  a clerk  in  a store  of  general 
merchandise.  About  the  time  he  reached  his  majority 
he  went  to  Burlington,  Vermont,  where  he  accepted  a 
similar  position.  Hardly  was  he  established  in  his  new 
work  when  glad  tidings  spread  like  wild  fire  over  the 
country,  tidings  of  gold  in  California.  From  every 
country  side  parties  of  young  men  set  out  for  the  land 


of  the  setting  sun.  Some  traveled  around  the  Horn, 
others  by  way  of  the  Isthmus  but  Sophronius  Alarches- 
seau  and  two  of  his  brothers,  with  the  blood  of  the 
Canadian  trapper  red  in  their  veins,  joined  a company 
of  eight  young  men  and  started  on  the  tedious  over- 
land journey  from  Vermont  to  California.  Their  real 
starting  point,  however,  was  St.  Johns,  the  home  of  the 
Alarchesseaus.  Leaving  there  on  April  eleventh,  1850, 
they  traveled  by  rail  and  boat  through  the  great  lakes 
and  down  the  Alississippi  to  St.  Louis.  Here  they  were 
delayed  for  some  time  in  procuring  their  outfits  and 
making  arrangements  for  the  really  serious  portion  of 
the  great  undertaking.  At  Independence,  Alissouri, 
each  man  purchased  a mule,  a flint  lock  musket  and 
what  other  necessities  he  was  able  to  carry  in  his  knap- 
sack. At  Westport  they  joined  a party  of  Sante  Fe 
merchants  and  on  the  first  of  June  they  set  out  all 
together  across  the  dusty  plains.  They  met,  of  course, 
many  Indians,  some  tribes  considered  hostile  to  the 
white  pioneers,  but  the  young  Canadians  knew  well 
these  Indian  tribes,  most  of  whom  belonged  to  the 
Sioux  nation  and  were  pleased  to  hear  again  the  French 
Canadian  tongue.  The  hardships  of  the  journey  lay  in 
the  long  months  of  continuous  travel,  the  thirst  and 
the  famine  with  which  they  had,  at  times,  to  battle  and 
the  dropping  by  the  wayside  of  beast  and  man.  At 
Salt  Lake  City,  the  little  band  rested  for  three  weeks, 
and  they  received  at  the  hands  of  the  Mormon  settlers 
the  most  courteous  treatment  and  the  most  urgent  invi- 
tation to  join  their  own  colony  already  established. 
Some  were  tempted,  but  the  majority  of  the  party  were 
strong  willed  men  for  whom  California  was  the  only 
goal. 

In  the  early  autumn  they  arrived  at  Logtown,  Eldo- 
rado county,  near  Mud  Springs,  and  started  at  once  to 
work.  Their  only  knowledge  of  placer  mining  was 
what  they  had  gleaned  from  hearsay.  They  had  brought 
\vith  them  their  rockers  and,  what  was  more  to  them, 
each  man  had  an  inexhaustible  supply  of  energy  and  en- 
thusiasm. The  first  day’s  work  netted  twenty-five  dol- 
lars apiece.  All  winter  these  eleven  men  labored  side 
by  side,  earning  on  an  average  of  one  hundred  dollars 
a day.  In  the  spring  they  moved  on  to  the  Yuba  river 
diggings,  where  they  were  again  successful.  In  1858 
came  the  great  Frazer  river  gold  excitement.  Eighteen 
thousand  men  left  California  for  Alaska,  and  among 
the  number  was  Sophronius  Marchesseau.  He  went 
from  San  Francisco  to  Victoria  by  boat,  thence  across 
the  gulf  of  Georgia  to  the  Frazer  river.  The  report 
of  tile  gold  findings  had  not  been  exaggerated,  but 
the  hardships  of  the  plains  were  as  nothing  to  the  cold 
and  the  famine  of  this  barren  land.  Many  a man  was 
known  to  exchange  his  largest  nugget  for  a crust  of 
bread.  It  seemed  impossible  to  supply  the  multitudes 
with  food,  and  so  high  were  the  prices  that  only  the 
wealthy  could  buy.  Many  who  preferred  a competence 
and  comfort  to  gold  and  starvation  retraced  their 
weary  steps  to  Frisco. 

Air.  Marchesseau,  to  whom  the  excitement  had  ap- 
pealed even  more  strongly  than  had  the  gold,  returned 
to  California  and  his  mines,  richer  by  only  the  experi- 
ence. He  continued  to  work  his  properties  until  1863, 
when  he  returned  to  his  old  home  for  a visit,  the  trip 
being  made  by  way  of  the  Nicaragua  route.  It  was 
with  sadness  that  he  noted  the  many  changes  that  four- 
teen years  had  wrought  in  St.  Johns.  Of  his  own  fam- 
ily there  remained  to  him  only  his  mother,  one  brother 
and  a sister,  the  latter  having  recently  died  September 
29,  1912,  aged  ninety  years.  The  country  appealed  to 
him  even  less  than  before,  and  after  -a  brief  visit  he  set 
his  face  again  westward. 

This  time  he  chose  to  end  his  journey  in  Montana,  a 
country  that  had  interested  him  in  his  earlier  travels. 
In  the  spring  of  1865  he  came  up  the  river  to  Fort 
Denton  and  overland  by  wagon  to  Helena.  At  the 
mouth  of  the  Marias  there  was  great  excitement  over 


N HIS  85th  YEAR 


HISTORY  OF  AIONTANA 


965 


a prospective  Indian  uprising,  as  a camp  of  foresters 
had  been  recently  murdered,  but  the  difficulty  proved 
to  be  entirely  local  and  our  subject  reached  Helena  on 
the  fifth  of  July.  Here  he  became  interested  in  some 
valuable  mining  property  which  he  still  owns.  He  be- 
gan operations  in  Dry  Gulch  on  Indian  Creek  but  was 
soon  engaged  by  the  New  York  Mining  and  Exploring 
Company  at  ten  dollars  a day.  Professor  Hodges  was 
superintendent  of  the  “White  Latch  Union”  and  Mr. 
Marchesseau  became  his  overseer.  In  1886  he  pur- 
chased a stock  of  goods  in  Helena  and  came  to  Butte, 
where  he  started  a trading  post.  Butte  at  that  time 
was  merely  a mining  camp  where  the  miners  were  work- 
ing with  rockers  and  sluices.  For  two  years  he  con- 
tinued in  business  here,  when  the  water  became  so 
scarce  that  the  miners  were  many  of  them  obliged  to 
discontinue  their  operations.  He  then  moved  his  stock 
to  French  Gulch  and  later  to  Bitter  Root,  Missoula 
county.  When  the  quartz  mines  were  opened  at  Butte 
business  began  to  prosper  once  more  and  Mr.  Marches- 
seau reopened  his  general  store.  This  was  in  1875  but 
even  then  all  goods  had  to  be  hauled  by  wagon  and 
the  price  of  freight  was  from  twelve  and  a half  to 
fifteen  cents  per  pound.  His  store  was  located  on  Main 
street  on  the  present  site  of  his  brick  block,  which  was 
erected  in  1890.  This  block  is  one  of  the  best  business 
structures  of  Butte,  being  seventy-four  by  eighty-one 
feet  and  three  stories  in  height.  In  1883  our  pioneer 
merchant  disposed  of  his  business  to  L.  W.  Foster  and 
L.  R.  Mallet  that  he  might  have  more  freedom  to  de- 
vote to  his  other  growing  interests. 

Mr.  Marchesseau  has  never  found  time  in  his  active 
life  to  search  for  his  “Golden  Girl”  and  assume  family 
cares.  He  is  a member  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church 
but  neither  a lodge  member  nor  a politician.  He  makes 
his  home  in  his  own  beautiful  building,  the  upper  stories 
of  which  he  has  finished  and  equipped  as  a modern 
hotel.  Although  a man  who  has  never  taken  a part  in 
the  public  life  of  his  city  or  state,  he  is  known  through- 
out Montana  as  one  of  the  old  timers  who  has  made 
the  new  regime  possible. 

Rev.  Walter  M.  Jordan,  a prominent  and  highly 
esteemed  member  of  the  Christian  church,  is  a worthy 
son  of  the  Montana  pioneer  whose  life  is  recorded  in 
other  pages.  When  Harrison  Jordan  and  Catherine 
Tuttle,  his  wife,  were  residents  of  Alder  Gulch,  in  this 
state,  their  eldest  son  was  born  on  July  22,  1865.  This 
son,  named  Walter  Marion,  received  his  elementary 
education  in  the  district  schools,  from  which  he  passed 
to  the  Butte  high  school  for  more  advanced  study.  He 
subsequently  entered  that  well-known  institution  of 
higher  learning  which  is  known  as  Drake  University  and 
which  is  located  at  Des  Moines,  Iowa.  From  the  col- 
legiate courses  there  he  was  graduated  in  1888  with  the 
degree  of  Bachelor  of  Philosophy. 

The  independent  activities  of  Walter  M.  Jordan  began 
with  a period  of  pedagogical  activity — that  profession, 
which,  when  conscientiously  conducted,  is  fraught  with 
the  same  altruistic  spirit  which  pervades  the  Christian 
ministry.  In  the  winter  of  1889-90  he  engaged  in  teach- 
ing at  Silver  Star,  Montana,  and  the  following  August 
entered  the  ministry  of  the  Christian  church,  but  was 
not  officially  ordained  until  June,  1892,  at  Cotner  Uni- 
versity, Lincoln,  Nebraska. 

Rev.  Jordan’s  first  charge  was  at  Cascade,  Montana, 
with  which  he  combined  his  pastorate  at  Hogan,  i\Ion- 
tana.  His  recognition  of  the  greatness  of  his  calling 
led  him  to  desire  the  fullest  possible  intellectual 
advancement,  a direct  result  of  which  was  his  pursuing 
of  a post-graduate  course  at  Cotner  University,  from 
which  in  1892  he  received  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts. 

In  August,  1893,  Rev.  Jordan  responded  to  a call 
from  the  church  of  his  denomination  at  Deer  Lodge, 
Montana,  and  his  ministry  there  was  followed  by  simi- 
lar pastoral  services  at  Helena,  where  he  accepted  the 


Christian  pastorate.  On  January  i,  1899,  he  began  his 
work  at  the  latter  city,  where  he  remained  for  five 
years.  During  his  pastorate  there  his  consecrated  and 
earnest  leadership  resulted  in  the  clearance  of  a large 
church  debt  and  in  a doubling  of  the  membership  of  the 
Helena  Christian  church. 

The  next  pastorate  of  Rev.  Jordan  was  at  Quincy, 
Illinois,  the  early  home  of  his  father.  In  1908  he  passed 
from  there  to  another  charge  in  his  native  state  of  Mon- 
tana, becoming  pastor  for  one  year  of  the  Christian 
church  in  Billings,  when  he  accepted  a call  to  become 
the  pastor  of  the  Shortridge  iMemorial  church  at  Butte, 
where  he  has  since  been  located.  In  that  church  he  still 
continues  his  ministry,  leading  his  people  to  a clearer 
comprehension  of  the  spiritual  vision  and  of  its  appli- 
cation to  the  mundane  life.  Single-minded  in  his  ideals 
and  standards,  he  is  broad  in  his  interests,  which  touch 
every  phase  of  the  life  of  Butte  and  of  an  even  wider 
field. 

Organizations  of  high  moral  purpose,  whether 
avowedly  religious  or  nominally  secular,  have  sought 
both  his  membership  and  his  official  service.  From  i8go 
until  he  removed  to  Quincy,  Illinois,  he  was  a member 
of  the  .State  Board  of  the  iMontana  Christian  Associa- 
tion ; when  he  became  a resident  of  the  state  once 
more  he  became  a member  of  the  organization,  of 
which  he  was  made  president  of  the  executive  com- 
mittee in  1912.  The  Montana  Christian  Endeavor  Union 
made  him  its  secretary  in  1895  and  its  president  in  1896. 
On  the  State  Board  of  Charities  and  Reform  his  serv- 
ices were  called  into  requisition  by  Gov.  R.  B.  Smith, 
and  he  was  reappointed  by  Gov.  Joseph  K.  Toole ; 
as  the  board’s  secretary,  Rev.  Jordan  served  until  his 
resignation  on  removing  from  the  state.  He  served 
as  chaplain  of  the  state  senate  the  first  time  that  body 
met  in  the  new  capitol,  and  offered  the  first  invoca- 
tion uttered  within  that  structure  of  civic  deliberations. 

Of  secular  organizations,  the  order  of  Ancient  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons  claims  the  membership  of  Rev. 
Jordan,  who  in  1890 — at  the  time  when  his  father  was 
worshipful  master  of  that  lodge — attained  the  degree  of 
Master  Mason.  Rev.  Jordan  is  now  affiliated  with 
Butte  Lodge,  No.  22. 

The  domestic  life  of  Rev.  Jordan  began  in  1892 ; on 
June  30th  of  that  year,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  iMiss  Ella  Dungan  of  Des  Moines,  Iowa.  She 
was  a daughter  of  Prof.  David  R.  Dungan  of  Drake 
University.  The  children  who  were  born  to  Walter  M. 
and  Ella  Jordan  were  three,  who  were  named  respec- 
tively, Merle  Kinnis,  Marion  Jean  and  Derryl  Dee. 
Ella  Dungan  Jordan  died  in  1906,  in  Quincj^  Illinois. 
The  present  Mrs.  Jordan  (nee  Jeannie  Coe)  is  a daugh- 
ter of  Josiah  Coe,  of  Woodbine,  Iowa.  His  second  mar- 
riage took  place  at  Billings,  Montana,  on  June  30,  1008. 

Thomas  Howard  Irvine.  Although  more  than 
thirty  years  have  elapsed  since  Thomas  Howard  Irvine 
passed  away,  he  is  yet  remembered  by  the  pioneers  of 
Deer  Lodge  valley,  where  he  was  an  early  settler  and 
where  he  occupied  a position  of  respect  and  esteem, 
as  befitting  a man  of  the  high  character  and  personal 
worth  which  were  his.  Mr.  Irvine  came  from  a fine 
old  Kentucky  family,  whose  members  were  prominent 
in  the  early  history  of  the  state.  The  name  of  his 
grandfather,  Capt.  Christopher  Irvine,  occupies  a 
prominent  place,  together  with  those  of  Boone,  Har- 
rod,  Shelby  and  other  men  of  equal  prominence,  on  the 
magnificent  shaft  that  stands  in  the  cemeterj-  at  Frank- 
fort erected  to  the  memory  of  Kentucky's  honored 
dead. 

The  Irvine  family  is  of  Scotch-Irish  extraction,  its 
members  being  early  settlers  in  Virginia,  whence  they 
emigrated  to  Kentuckr^,  then  a frontier  section. 
Thomas  H.  Irvine  was  born  in  Richmond.  IMadison 
county,  Kentucky,  on  February  16,  1811,  a son  of  David 
C.  and  Nancy  (Howard)  Irvine.  His  father  was  born 


966 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


November  i8,  1785,  in  Richmond,  Kentuck}%  and  mar- 
ried Nancy  Howard  of  Bourbon  county.  He  died 
August  14,  1820,  at  Richmond,  Kentucky,  when  he  was 
but  thirty-five  years  of  age. 

David  C.  Irvine  was  a son  of  Captain  Christopher 
Irvine,  mentioned  above,  who  settled  at  Richmond, 
Kentucky,  in  1799.  Captain  Irvine  married  Lydia 
Calaway  of  Madison  county,  Kentucky,  a daughter  of 
Col.  Richard  Calaway.  Captain  Irvine  served  in 
the  war  of  1812,  and  was  killed  in  battle,  near  Fort 
Meigs,  Ohio,  May  5,  1813,  his  body  being  interred 
upon  the  field  of  battle. 

Thomas  Howard  Irvine  grew  to  manhood  in  his  na- 
tive Kentucky  county  and  there  he  married  his  first 
wife.  Alary  Ann  Williams,  who  bore  him  four  children, 
of  whom  but  one  is  now  living, — William  C.,  retired, 
and  living  in  Butte,  Alontana.  For  his  second  wife 
Mr.  Irvine  married  Sally  Bryan,  of  Fayette  county, 
Kentucky,  a daughter  of  one  of  the  old  and  prominent 
families  of  the  state,  Bryan  Springs,  near  Lexington, 
was  named  for  them.  The  children  born  of  this  sec- 
ond union  were  as  follows : Isabelle  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; Nannie  H.,  now  the  widow  of  Richard  Jones, 
who  makes  her  home  in  Seattle,  Washington;  Thomas 
H..  of  this  review,  a rancher  at  Perma,  Montana; 
Bryan,  one  of  the  best  known  mining  men  in  Butte, 
where  he  located  many  of  the  richest  mines  in  the  city, 
and  where  he  finally  died ; Bettie  Hart,  the  widow  of 
George  W.  Irvin,  one  of  the  prominent  men  of  Butte 
during  his  lifetime,  in  which  city  she  now  lives;  Mary 
E.,  the  widow  of  Dr,  A.  H.  Mitchell,  who  is  men- 
tioned in  greater  detail  elsewhere  in  this  work;  Mar- 
garet Bryan,  who  married  William  Shanly  of  Deer 
Lodge,  Montana,  where  she  died ; Eliza,  who  married 
William  Cassidy,  of  Anaconda,  Montana ; Sally  B., 
who  married  Ilarry  Mills  and  died  in  Deer  Lodge; 
Alice,  who  died  at  Soda  Springs,  Idaho,  while  the 
family  were  en  route  to  Idaho. 

About  1848  Thomas  Howard  Irvine  left  Kentucky 
with  his  family  and  emigrated  to  Missouri,  settling 
in  Buchanan  county  some  fifteen  miles  south  of  St. 
Joe,  where  a brother,  William  L.,  had  located  a short 
time  previously.  In  1865  he  came  to  Montana  (where 
his  two  sons  were  then  living)  and  located  on  a tract 
of  land  along  Race  Track  Creek,  in  what  is  now  known 
as  Powell  countv,  and  there  he  took  up  farming  and 
stock-raising.  Flere  he  continued  to  live  for  a few 
years  and  about  1870  moved  to  within  a short  distance 
of  Deer  Lodge,  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  His  death  occurred  on  July  14,  1881,  in  Butte, 
Montana,  while  there  on  a visit  to  his  daughter.  He 
is  buried  at  Deer  Lodge.  His  wife  died  January  24, 
1871.  at  Deer  Lodge. 

Thomas  H.  Irvine  was  one  of  the  old-school  Dem- 
ocrats, whose  faith  in  his  party  was  firm  and  stanch. 
But  he  was  never  an  office  seeker,  although  a regular 
voter.  He  was  a member  of  the  Christian  church. 
His  home  was  ever  noted  for  the  genuine  old  southern 
hospitality  peculiar  to  those  of  his  section  of  the  coun- 
try, and  his  excellent  family  were  well  reared.  He  was 
a highly  respected  and  esteemed  citizen,  who  bore  an 
enviable  standing  in  his  community,  and  he  is  still 
remembered  by  many  who  were  privileged  to  know 
him  in  the  years  gone  by. 

John  A.  Stenckr,  dealer  in  implements  of  all  kinds 
in  Philipsburg,  Montana,  is  a representative  business 
man  of  this  city.  His  identification  with  the  life  aiy^ 
growth  of  the  state  began  as  long  ago  as  in  i86s^afld 
since  that  time  he  has  been  variously  occupied  in^ari- 
ous  parts  of  the  state.  ' In  1892  he  settled  in  Philips- 
burg,  and  since  that  year  has  been  engaged  in  the  im- 
plement business. 

Air.  Spencer  is  a native  of  Indiana,  born  in  Boone 
county,  that  state,  on  April  9,  1844.  When  he  was 
seven  years  of  age  his  parents  moved  to  St.  Paul, 


Alinnesota,  where  they  remained  until  the  later  years 
of  their  life.  He  is  the  son  of  John  B.  and  Nancy 
(Johnson)  Spencer.  The  father  was  born  in  Kentucky 
and  after  his  removal  to  Minnesota  remained  there 
until  late  years,  when  he  made  his  home  in  California. 
He  was  a contractor  and  builder  of  some  importance 
and  was  a successful  man.  He  died  at  the  age  of 
eighty-five  years.  His  wife,  whom  he  married  in  In- 
diana. also  died  in  California,  and  is  there  buried  by 
her  husband’s  side.  She  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty 
years  and  was  the  mother  of  six  children,  of  which 
number  John  A.  of  this  review  was  the  first  born. 

As  a boy  in  St.  Paul,  John  A.  Spencer  attended 
the  public  schools  of  that  city,  and  he  remained  there 
until  he  was  about  twenty-one  years  of  age,  first  visit- 
ing Alontana  in  1865.  lie  located  in  Virginia  City  at 
first,  and  he  remained  there  for  a period  of  twenty- 
seven  years,  engaged  in  the  merchandise  business. 
After  that  long  period  of  business  experience  in  Vir- 
ginia City  he  sold  out  and  went  to  Butte,  where  he 
again  engaged  in  mercantile  lines,  and  continued  in 
business  there  for  three  years.  Fie  once  more  closed 
out  his  business  and  went  back  to  the  old  home  in  St. 
Paul,  where  he  remained  for  two  years,  becoming  estab- 
lished in  business  there,  but  the  call  of  the  west  drew 
him  back  to  Alontana  again  and  he  returned  to  Butte, 
where  he  remained  for  one  year,  followed  by  a period 
of  one  year  in  Granite,  in  both  places  being  occupied 
by  business  interests.  In  1893  he  located  in  Philips- 
burg  and  established  the  business  which  has  held  his 
undivided  attention  continuously  since  that  time. 

Air.  Spencer  has  always  showed  a decided  business 
ability,  that  characteristic  of  his  nature  becoming  ap- 
parent in  his  youth.  When  he  was  but  sixteen  years 
of  age  he  went  to  work  in  a grocery  store  in  St.  Paul, 
receiving  as  his  monthly  stipend  fifteen  dollars,  which 
he  dutifully  and  generously  handed  to  his  mother  every 
pay-day,  and  until  he  came  west  he  was  for  the  most 
part  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in  one  capacity 
or  another,  thereby  gaining  a goodly  store  if  experi- 
ence which  he  has  turned  to  excellent  account  in  past 
years.  Mr.  Spencer  is  a Alason  and  is  affiliated  with 
Flint  Creek  Lodge,  No.  ii,  and  the  Eastern  Star.  Fie 
has  been  master  of  the  blue  lodge  at  Virginia  City  and 
at  Philipsburg  also.  He  is  a Republican,  but  not  a 
man  of  any  political  ambition.  He  has  always  lived 
the  life  of  a good  citizen,  content  to  perform  the  duty 
lying  nearest  him  and  let  others  fill  the  public  offices. 
He  has  served  his  city  as  a member  of  the  council 
during  two  terms  and  in  that  office  has  done  good  work 
for  Philip=burg.  He  is  a member  of  the  Society  of 
Alontana  Pioneers. 

In  1875  Spencer  was  married  to  AIiss  Harriet 

Welch  at  Virginia  Citv.  She  was  a daughter  of  Wil- 
liam and  Harreit  Welch,  of  that  city.  She  died  m 
1904,  leaving  her  husband  and  one  son,  Clarence  ^ C., 
to  mourn  her  loss.  The  son  is  now  married  and  lives 
at  Wallace,  Idaho. 

Clinton  A.  Slo.\n.  An  active  and  highly  prosperous 
business  man  of  Butte.  Clinton  A..  Sloan  has  spent  a 
large  part  of  his  life  in  Alontana,  and  in  the  develop- 
ment and  advance  of  its  material  and  industrial  inteiests 
has  performed  an  important  part.  A son  of  the  late 
A.  H.  Sloan,  he  was  born  June  15,  1856,  in  Clinton 
countv,  Alissoiiri. 

/A.  H.  Sloan  was  born  in  Ohio,  in  1820.  Learning  the 
carpenter’s  trade  when  young,  he  followed  it  in  Mis- 
souri for  a number  of  years.  Coming  from  there  to 
Montana  in  1865,  he  located  with  his  family  on  a ranch, 
and  was  here  activelv  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
until  his  death,  in  1888.  He  married  Alarian  Douglass, 
who  was  born  in  Iowa,  and  is  now  living  in  Montana, 
her  home  being  in  Boulder  Valley.  To  them  eight  chil- 
dren were  born,  including i Clinton  A.,  the  subject  of 
this  brief  biographical  sketch ; John  B.,  a ranchman  in 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


967 


Madison  county,  Alontana ; Seymour  D.,  of  Butte ; Airs. 
L,  D.  Byers,  of  Boulder;  and  Airs.  F.  C.  Berndies,  of 
Seattle,  Washington. 

.A  lad  of  six  years  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
Alontana,  Clinton  A.  Sloan  attended  the  district  schools 
several  terms  after  locating  here,  and  as  soon  as  old 
enough  to  earn  a livelihood  began  work  on  a ranch. 
Industrious,  economical  and  an  excellent  manager,  he 
saved  some  money,  and  having  wisely  invested  it  in  land 
owned  quite  a valuable  ranch  as  early  as  1888.  Alaking 
a specialty  of  raising  and  shipping  horses  and  cattle, 
he  built  up  an  e.xtensive  industry  in  that  line,  shipping 
immense  car  loads  of  stock  to  the  eastern  markets  from 
his  ranch  in  Jefferson  county,  Alontana.  Disposing  of 
his  land  and  other  interests  in  Jefferson  county  in  1898, 
Air.  Sloan  became  a resident  of  Butte  in  that  year,  and 
embarked  in  the  livery  business  as  a member  of  the  firm 
of  Parmer.  Cotter,  McGovern  & Sloan.  Two  of  the 
partners  withdrawing  at  the  end  of  eight  months,  the 
business  was  continued  under  the  name  of  Sloan  & AIc- 
Govern  until  1900.  Air.  Sloan  then  bought  out  his 
partner’s  interests,  and  carried  on  the  livery  alone  for 
two  years,  but  the  ensuing  three  years  had  as  a partner 
Air.  Tom  Alorrow.  That  partnership  then  being  dis- 
solved, Air.  Sloan  established  the  Sloan  Livery  Com- 
pany, which  he  conducted  successfully  for  two  and  one- 
half  years,  wdien  he  sold  out  to  the  firm  of  Aliller  & 
Simons.  A short  time  later,  becoming  associated  with 
Air.  Byers,  Air.  Sloan  again  engaged  in  the  livery  busi- 
ness. under  the  firm  name  of  Sloan  & Byers,  and  in  its 
management  is  meeting  with  characteristic  success,  being 
one  of  the  best  known  liverymen  of  the  county. 

Air.  Sloan  married,  January  22,  1902,  Aliss  Lillian 
Rogers,  of  Butte,  and  their  home  is  one  of  comfort 
and  cheer.  Politically  Air.  Sloan  supports  the  princi- 
ples of  the  Democratic  party,  and  religiously  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Christian  church.  Fraternally  he  belongs 
to  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and  to  the  Benevo- 
lent and  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 

George  E.  Gohn.  In  view  of  the  nomadic  spirit 
which  dominates  the  American  public  and  causes  citi- 
zens of  this  great  country  to  wander  restlessly  about 
from  one  place  to  another,  it  is  most  gratifying  to  come 
in  contact  with  a man  wdio  has  passed  practically  his 
entire  life  in  the  place  where  he  was  born  and  reared. 
Mr.  Gohn,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Virginia  City,  Alon- 
tana, on  the  23d  of  January,  1865,  has  been  prominent 
in  politics  in  Madison  county  and  for  many  years  has 
conducted  the  Aletropolitan  Meat  Alarket  here. 

He  is  a son  of  George  and  Anna  (Zweifel)  Gohn,  the 
former  of  whom  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  Alarch  28, 
1834,  and  the  latter  of  whom  was  a native  of  Switzer- 
land, w'here  her  birth  occurred  in  February,  1842.  Airs. 
Gohn  came  to  America  in  1852  and  settled  in  Taunton 
Alassachusetts.  She  was  married  to  Air.  Gohn  in  1861, 
in  Central  Citjq  Colorado.  She  died  in  Virginia  City, 
Alontana,  in  1898,  and  is  buried  beside  her  honored 
husband  in  the  cemetery  of  this  place.  George  Gohn 
was  a pioneer  in  Alontana,  having  settled  in  Aladison 
county  in  Alay,  1863.  Immediately  after  his  advent  into 
the  Treasure  state  he  opened  a meat  market  in  Vir- 
ginia City,  where  he  continued  to  reside  during  most 
of  the  remainder  of  his  life  time.  He  was  summoned  to 
eternal  rest,  in  Alissoula,  in  1906,  aged  seventy-two 
years.  He  was  a prominent  Alason  during  his  residence 
in  Montana  and  is  buried  in  the  Alasonic  cemetery  in 
Virginia  City.  Mr.  Gohn  was  a stalwart  in  the  ranks 
of  the  Republican  party  and  he  was  incumbent  of  a num- 
ber of  important  public  offices  during  his  active  career. 
For  two  terms  he  was  treasurer  of  Aladison  county; 
for  four  years  was  county  commissioner ; for  two  years 
was  county  assessor ; and  for  several  terms  served  with 
the  utmost  loyalty  as  city  alderman.  He  and  his  wife 
were  the  parents  of  five  children,  four  of  whom  are 
living,  in  1912,  as  follows : Alary  is  the  widow  of  Bert 


Rew  and  she  maintains  her  home  in  Virginia  City; 
George  E.  is  the  immediate  subject  of  this  review; 
Philip  H.  is  married  and  lives  in  Kansas  City,  Alissouri; 
and  Anna  Alay  is  the  wife  of  I.  H.  French,  of  Liv- 
ingston, Alontana. 

After  completing  the  curriculum  of  the  public  and 
private  schools  of  Virginia  City,  George  E.  Gohn,  of 
this  notice,  entered  upon  an  apprenticeship,  under  his 
father,  to  learn  the  meat  business.  He  was  associated 
with  his  father  in  the  meat  business  for  a number  of 
years  and  has  followed  that  line  of  enterprise  during  the 
greater  portion  of  his  active  career,  with  the  e.xception 
of  four  years  when  he  was  county  treasurer.  It  was 
during  his  incumbency  of  that  office  that  his  father  died 
and  when  his  term  expired  he  assumed  charge  of  the 
old  shop,  known  as  the  Aletropolitan  Aleat  Alarket,  and 
has  conducted  it  with  admirable  success  ever  since. 
This  market  is  the  oldest  continuously  operated  meat 
market  in  Montana,  it  having  been  begun  by  the  elder 
George  Gohn  in  the  year  1864.  In  his  political  convic- 
tions Air.  Gohn  is  a Republican  and  he  manifests  an 
active  interest  in  all  that  affects  the  general  welfare  of 
that  organization.  In  1902  he  was  honored  by  his  fellow 
citizens  with  election  to  the  office  of  county  treasurer 
and  he  served  as  such  for  a term  of  four  years,  during 
which  time  his  administration  was  characterized  by  ad- 
mirable devotion  to  duty. 

In  Virginia  City,  April  16,  1896,  Air.  Gohn  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Aliss  Alar}-  F.  Vickers,  a daughter  of 
Robert  and  Alartha  Vickers,  of  this  city.  Air.  and  Mrs. 
Gohn  became  the  parents  of  four  children : Harold  and 
Robert  are  in  school ; Harry  it  at  home ; and  Alartha 
Alildred  is  deceased.  In  religious  matters  Mr.  and  Airs. 
Gohn  favor  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church,  in  whose 
faith  they  are  rearing  their  children. 

Fraternallv  Air.  Gohn  is  a member  of  the  blue  lodge. 
Free  and  Accepted  Alasons,  and  a Shriner,  and  he  is 
likewise  affiliated  with  the  Elks,  the  Eagles  and  the 
Society  of  Alontana  Pioneers.  He  is  exceedingly  fond 
of  horses  for  riding  and  driving,  devotes  a great  deal 
of  attention  to  reading  and  thoroughly  enjoys  a good 
baseball  game.  As  regards  Alontana,  he  says : “I  was 

born  and  raised  in  Alontana  and  naturally  feel  for  my 
native  state.  But  in  all  candor  and  honesty  my  opinion 
of  Alontana  is  that,  in  addition  to  all  her  other  natural 
advantages,  she  will  some  day  surprise  the  whole  world 
in  mining  alone.” 

Jere  Sullivan.  Every  one  in  Alontana,  who  has 
traveled  in  the  northern  section  of  the  state,  and  many 
who  have  not,  know  Jere  Sullivan,  of  Fort  Benton. 
He  is  not  only  well-known  as  the  proprietor  of  the 
Chouteau  House,  but  he  has  played  a verj-  important 
part  in  the  political  history  of  his  section  of  the  state. 
Like  many  of  the  most  influential  citizens  of  the  West, 
he  has  won  prosperity  and  success,  entirely  through 
his  own  efforts.  The  story  of  the  poor  boy  becoming 
in  time  the  wealthy  rancher  or  merchant  is  a familiar 
one,  but  though  many  men  may  have  had  this  experi- 
ence it  in  no  way  detracts  from  the  glory  of  such  a 
rise,  and  to  eastern  ears,  the  stories  of  such  a rise 
as  Air.  Sullivan's  seem  like  fairy  tales.  He  has  lived 
in  Alontana  for  over  forty-five  years,  and  in  his  strug- 
gle for  success,  has  played  the  part  of  a man  to  such 
an  extent  that  he  has  won  the  admiration  and  regard 
of  all  who  know  him. 

Jere  Sullivan,  as  he  is  familiarly  called,  although 
the  name  given  him  at  baptism  was  Jeremiah,  was  born 
on  the  4th  of  Alarch,  1844,  at  Mills  street.  County 
Cork,  Ireland.  His  father  was  Teremiah  Sullivan,  and 
his  mother  was  Johana  (Clifford)  Sullivan.  His 
parents  were  poor,  as  were  most  of  the  people  in 
Ireland  in  those  unhappy  days,  but  they  left  to  their 
son,  a more  valuable  heritage  than  money,  that  is  an 
unswerving  sense  of  honesty  and  honor  and  truth. 
The  family  is  supposed  to  be  descended  from  the 


968 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


O'Sullivan  Bere,  one  of  the  feudal  chiefs  of  ancient 
Ireland.  Mr.  Sullivan  came  to  America  in  1858,  and 
settled  in  Canada,  in  the  province  of  Ontario.  He 
received  his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  Dunne- 
\ ille,  Ontario,  remaining  in  school  until  he  was  seven- 
teen. 

His  first  business  venture  was  entered  upon  immedi- 
ately after  he  left  school,  and  consisted  of  a clerkship 
in  a country  store.  A modest  position  to  be  sure, 
but  a stepping  stone  to  better  things.  In  1858  he  came 
to  the  United  States,  and  as  a cabin  boy,  on  one  of  the 
lake  steamers,  between  Buffalo  and  Chicago,  gratified  both 
his  love  of  travel  and  a fondness  for  change.  He  re- 
mained in  this  capacity  for  a year  and  then  went  to  St. 
Louis.  Here  he  served  in  various  capacities  on  board  a 
number  of  steamers.  For  a time  he  was  connected  with  a 
line  of  steamboats  running  between  St.  Louis  and  New 
Orleans.  This  was  during  the  years  when  the  Missis- 
sippi was  the  great  highway  of  travel  for  the  valley, 
and  the  steamboats  were  what  in  those  days  were 
genuine  floating  palaces.  The  life  was  one  of  con- 
stant excitement,  and  nowhere  could  Mr.  Sullivan  have 
found  a better  school  for  the  study  of  mankind.  He 
later  held  similar  positions  with  a line  of  steamboats 
plying  between  ports  on  the  Upper  Mississippi.  In 
1865  he  came  to  Montana,  as  steward  of  the  steamer 
“Benton.” 

It  was  the  third  of  August,  1865,  when  he  arrived 
in  Montana.  The  journey  had  taken  him  nearly  five 
months  to  complete,  for  he  bade  good-bye  to  St.  Louis 
on  the  iith  of  March,  1865.  For  eight  or  nine  years 
after  his  arrival  in  Montana,  he  followed  placer  min- 
ing, with  varying  success.  Fle  was  able  to  save  quite 
a bit  of  money,  and  at  last  was  able  to  gratify  an 
ambition  that  he  had  long  had  in  secret,  and  that  was 
to  own  and  operate  a first-class  hotel.  It  was  in  1874 
that  he  came  to  Fort  Shaw  and  opened  a hotel.  He 
met  with  considerable  success  but  deciding  that  Fort 
Benton  was  better  suited  to  his  purposes  he  came 
to  this  place  in  1879,  and  opened  the  Chouteau  House. 
Here  he  has  been  ever  since  and  the  hotel,  of  which 
he  is  the  proprietor,  has  grown  in  fame  since  the  days 
its  doors  were  first  thrown  open.  A simple  chronicle, 
but  one  must  read  between  the  lines  and  trj^  to  visual- 
ize the  trials  and  hardships  and  discouragements  that 
Mr.  Sullivan  was  forced  to  conquer.  Placer  mining  is 
not  child’s  play,  and  the  management  of  a hotel  in  a 
new  and  rough  country,  is  a full-sized  job  for  two 
men. 

The  name  of  Jere  Sullivan  became  noised  abroad  as 
that  of  an  honest,  capable  business  man,  and  in  1889, 
he  was  selected  by  the  federal  authorities,  as  collector 
of  customs  for  Montana  and  Idaho,  with  Fort  Benton 
as  the  port  of  entry.  He  served  in  this  office  for  four 
years.  His  popularity  in  his  home  town  was  demon- 
strated in  his  election  as  mayor,  not  once,  but  twice, 
each  time  for  a term  of  four  years.  He  was  county 
commissioner  of  Chouteau  county  for  eight  years  and 
for  twelve  years  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace 
at  Fort  Benton.  He  was  also  United  States  commis- 
sioner for  the  long  period  of  sixteen  years. 

Politically  Mr.  Sullivan  is  a Republican  and  is  an 
influential  factor  in  the  work  and  success  of  the  party. 
He  is  a communicant  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church. 
Mr.  Sullivan  has  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife 
was  Mary  Agnes  Hoffman,  a daughter  of  Jacob  Hoff- 
man, of  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania,  and  the  date  of  the 
marriage  was  1880,  the  ceremony  taking  place  in  Fort 
Benton,  Montana.  Seven  childreji  were  born  of  this 
marriage:  Jere  J.,  Earl  D.  Be',  Harry  G.,  John  F., 

Eugene  A.,  Nora,  who  is  married  to  Lloyd  Walton, 
of  St.  Paul,  and  Mary  Agnes.  In  1900,  at  St.  Paul, 
Minnesota,  Mr.  Sullivan  was  re-married  to  Sophia 
Schubert,  a daughter  of  Carl  Schubert,  of  New  Ulm, 
Minnesota.  One  child  has  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Sullivan,  Johana  Veronica.  Mr.  Sullivan  is  a member 


of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  and  was 
grand  master  of  the  order  from  M04  to  1905.  He  has 
also  been  a member  of  the  Elks  since  1910. 

John  Piper  Barnes,  the  son  of  George  W.  and 
Martha  (Thomas)  Barnes,  was  born  in  Boone  county, 
Missouri,  on  the  28th  day  of  January,  1832.  The  fa- 
ther was  born  in  Culpeper  county,  Virginia,  and  re- 
moved to  Kentucky  with  his  parents  when  a child  of 
three  years.  These  were  Kentucky  pioneers,  the  year 
1797  marking  the  date  of  their  advent  into  the  state, 
where  the  grandfather  of  the  subject  died  in  the 
year  1910,  at  the  patriarchal  age  of  one  hundred  and 
three  years.  He  had  six  sons  by  his  first  marriage, 
all  of  whom  served  Jn  the  war  for  American  inde- 
pendence. By  his  second  marriage  he  had  five  sons 
and  four  daughters,  and  of  this  latter  family,  George 
W.,  the  father  of  John  P.  Barnes,  was  the  youngest 
born.  All  the  sons  of  the  second  marriage  served 
in  the  War  of  1812  under  Colonel  Johnson  in  Gen- 
eral Harrison’s  army.  George  W.  Barnes  was  a bugle- 
man  of  the  troop  of  mounted  infantry,  and  a note- 
worthy incident  of  the  battle  of  the  Thames  is  that 
an  order  to  blow  a retreat  was  understood  by  him 
as  an  order  for  a charge.  Fie  blew  the  order  for  a 
charge,  with  the  result  that  the  American  forces  rushed 
forward  to  victory  instead  of  retreating.  In  1820 
George  "VV.  Barnes  settled  in  Missouri,  took  a course 
in  medicine,  and  was  for  many  years  engaged  in  prac- 
tice in  Clay  and  Platt  counties.  In  1826  he  married 
Miss  Martha  Thomas,  and  they  became  the  parents 
of  six  children:  Richard  T.,  Sarah  F.,  John  P.,  Eliza- 
beth R.,  Margaret  J.  and  Mary.  In  1898  Richard  T. 
died  at  Helena,  Montana,  at  the  age  of  seventy  years, 
and  the  subject  is  now  the  only  member  of  this  family 
residing  in  the  state  of  Montana.  In  1852  Mrs.  Barnes 
died,  and  by  steamboat  he  accompanied  the  family 
of  hi.s  son  John  P.  to  Montana  in  1865,  death  claim- 
ing him  one  year  later,  when  he  was  in  the  seventy- 
second  year  of  his  life. 

John  P.  Barnes  was  accorded  the  common  school 
advantages  peculiar  to  his  time  and  place,  a short 
term  in  the  high  school  finishing  his  education.  He 
acquired  a practical  knowledge  of  business  as  his  fa- 
ther’s assistant  in  the  drug  store,  and  then  engaged 
in  the  merchandise  business  as  a clerk,  continuing  in 
that  capacity  until  1852.  In  that  year  he  entered  busi- 
ness for  himself  at  Parksville,  Missouri.  He  remained 
thus  associated  until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war, 
when  he  promptly  offered  himself  to  the  southern  cause 
and  enlisted  as  a lieutenant  in  the  army  of  General 
Price.  After  a year  of  service  a severe  attack  of 
typhoid  fever  caused  him  to  resign  his  commission 
at  Memphis,  Tennessee,  and  he  was  succeeded  in  his 
command  by  R.  S.  Kelly,  who  later  gained  prominence 
in  Montana  as  United  States  marshal  under  Presi- 
dent Cleveland.  Upon  recovering  his  health  suffi- 
ciently to  permit  of  travel,  he  secured  a pass  from 
General  Lew  Wallace,  the  Union  commander,  and 
returned  to  his  old  Missouri  home.  The  Federal 
authorities  being  then  in  command,  Mr.  Barnes  was 
placed  under  bonds  and  found  himself  unable  to  leave 
that  district  until  1864,  in  which  year  he  came  to  the 
west  and  in  the  employ  of  an  acquaintance,  being  in 
charge  of  certain  freight  wagons  and  a drove  of  cat- 
tle. He  arrived  in  Virginia  City  on  the  12th  of 
September,  1864,  the  trip  consuming  one  hundred  and 
twenty  days,  which  was  then  considered  exceptionally 
expeditious,  in  view  of  former  trips  to  that  point. 

A few  weeks  of  prospecting  decided  Mr.  Barnes 
in  favor  of  a ranch,  and  he  located  on  a place  in 
Jefferson  valley.  On  December  24,  1864,  he  came  to 
the  present  site  of  Helena,  took  up  a claim  in  the 
Grizzly  gulch,  and  continued  to  mine  it  with  good  suc- 
cess until  the  fall  of  1865.  At  that  time  his  family 
arrived  from  the  east,  when  he  moved  over  to  the 


i 

i 


I 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


969 


New  York  mining  district,  and  for  ten  years  there- 
after was  occupied  in  mining  and  milling  in  the  New 
York,  Eldorado  and  Helena  districts,  in  company  with 
one  W.  W.  Arnold,  who  was  his  companion  on  the 
trip  from  the  east.  In  1867  and  1868,  with  A.  G. 
Clarke  and  Alexander  Kemp,  he  constructed  the  El- 
dorado ditch  from  Trout  creek  to  Eldorado  bar.  This 
cost  the  sum  of  $103,000  in  the  construction,  and,  un- 
fortunately for  its  projectors,  proved  a losing  propo- 
sition. They  then  engaged  in  the  sawmill  business 
near  Helena  and  built  a mining  flume  on  Clancey 
creek  in  Jefferson  county.  During  a part  of  the  years 
1870  and  1871  Mr.  Barnes  resided  in  Helena,  and 
there  had  charge  of  the  lumber  yard,  but  in  the  latter 
named  year  he  removed  to  the  flume  on  Clancey  creek, 
where  he  remained  until  the  fall  of  1874,  when  he 
purchased  a ranch  on  the  Spokane  and  made  his 
home  there  until  1882.  At  that  time  he  and  Mr.  Ar- 
nold sold  their  mining  properties,  Mr.  Arnold  re- 
taining the  ranch  and  Mr.  Barnes  taking  the  stock, 
which  he  removed  to  the  Judith  basin  and  located  on 
a homestead  ranch  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
near  Philbrook.  He  later  added  a similar  tract  to 
this  by  purchase,  and  the  place  represented  his  home 
until  lie  removed  to  Lewiston  in  1894. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1887  Mr.  Barnes 
purchased  a half  interest  in  three  rnining  claims  _ m 
the  North  Aloccasins  mountains,  and  in  the  following 
year  with  his  son,  C.  E.  Barnes,  he  bought  the  re- 
maining half  interest  from  A.  D.  Harmon.  He  de- 
veloped these  properties  and  added  to  them  until  he 
had  a group  of  fifteen  claims,  known  as  the  Barnes- 
King  group  of  mines.  Their  mill  had  a capacity  of 
practically  three  hundred  tons  and  they  were  able  to 
run  one  hundred  tons  through  in  eight  hours  without 
any  difficulty,  the  ore  having  an  average  value  of 
ten  dollars  a ton.  The  Barnes-King  group  was  bonded 
to  an  eastern  syndicate  in  December,  1901,  for 
$1,000,000.  In  1905  IMr.  Barnes  established  at  Lewis- 
ton the  Judith  & Basin  Milling  Company,  which  he 
sold  in  1910.  He  removed  to  Helena  in  September, 
1907,  where  he  now  resides,  although  his_  principal 
financial  interests  are  still  centered  at  Lewiston. 

Mr.  Barnes  was  ever  a strong  Democrat  and  has 
been  an  active  factor  in  the  ranks  of  the  party,  be- 
ing honored  from  time  to  time  with  important  official 
trusts,  all  of  which  he  has  discharged  with  a fidelity 
and  advantage  to  the  people  whom  he  served.  In  1867 
he  was  appointed  by  Governor  Smith  one  of  the  com- 
missioners to  organize  Meagher  county,  including  all 
the  territory  between  the  ^Missouri  and  Yellowstone 
rivers  as  far  south  as  Flathead  Pass.  In  the  fall  of 
1868  he  was  chosen  one  of  the  first  members  of  the 
legislature  from  this  new  county,  and  the  next  fall 
was  elected  to  represent  Choteau,  Meagher  and  Gal- 
latin counties  in  the  upper  house.  After  his  removal 
to  Jefferson  county  he  was.  in  the  fall  of  1871,  elected 
the  joint  representative  of  Lewis  and  Clarke  and  Jef- 
ferson counties  in  the  council,  and  in  1877  was  nomi- 
nated as  a member  of  the  same  body  for  Lewis  and 
Clarke  county,  but,  giving  no  personal  attention  to  the 
canvass,  w'as  defeated  by  the  small  majority  of  _ sixty 
votes.  In  1886  he  was  one  of  the  commissioners 
elected  to  organize  Fergus  county,  and  he  held  that 
office  for  three  years,  or  until  the  first  election  of 
state  officers  under  the  state  constitution  in  1889.  IMr. 
Barnes  took  possession  on  July  i,  1894,  of  the  office 
of  receiver  of  the  United  States  land  office  at  Levvis- 
ton,  and  he  held  this  office  for  four  years,  discharging 
its  duties  to  the  fullest  satisfaction  of  all  concerned. 
When  the  city  of  Lewiston  was  incorporated  he  was 
elected  its  first  mayor,  but  refused  to  be  a candidate 
for  a second  term. 

In  1850  Mr.  Barnes  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  and  has  been  a valued  member  of  that  body 
for  more  than  sixty  years.  He  became  a Mason  in 


January,  1858,  at  Parkville,  [Missouri,  and  is  now  af- 
filiated with  Lewiston  and  Helena  lodges  of  the  order. 

On  the  23d  of  February,  1853,  Mr.  Barnes  married 
Miss  Rosetta  L.  Beeding,  a daughter  of  Craven  P.  and 
Rosetta  L.  (Lackland)  Beeding.  She  was  a native 
of  Hagerstown,  Maryland,  from  whence  her  parents 
removed  to  Saline  county  in  1844  and  to  Parkville, 
Missouri,  in  1852.  Six  children  have  been  reared  in 
the  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barnes : Clarence  E. ; 

John  S. ; Martha  E.,  the  wife  of  Joseph  Wanderlin; 
Anna  M.,  married  to  R.  L.  Neville;  Loretta,  the  wife 
of  M.  L.  Woodman;  and  Carlotta,  the  wife  of  John 
L.  Raw.  Mrs.  Barnes  died  in  March,  1899,  aged  sixty- 
five  years.  On  May  8,  1901,  Mr.  Barnes  was  mar- 
ried a second  time,  when  Mrs.  Jennie  (Sheridan) 
Larson  became  his  wife.  She  was  born  in  Lindly, 
Steuben  county.  New  York,  in  1855. 

Although  Mr.  Barnes  has  reached  a place  of  no 
slight  importance  in  the  life  of  Montana,  it  is  con- 
ceded by  all  who  know  him  that  his  natural  modesty 
and  reticence  had_  kept  him  from  attaining  the  high 
station  for  which  his  natural  qualifications  have  fitted 
him  so  admirably.  It  has  been  said  of  him  that  had 
he  so  desired  he  might  have  had  any  office  in  the  gift 
of  the  people,  but  despite  his  unwillingness  to  push 
to  the  front  he  has  held  numerous  responsible  offices 
with  exceptional  abilit}',  and  has  lent  a dignity  to  every 
phase  of  life  in  which  he  has  been  found. 

Andrew  Taylor  Hamilton.  On  the  south  fork  of 
Sixteen  Mile  creek,  in  the  beautiful  Gallatin  valley, 
is  situated  the  magnificent  ranch  of  Andrew  Taylor 
Hamilton,  a tract  of  720  acres  which  he  has  accumu- 
lated through  the  medium  of  his  own  efforts.  Mr. 
Hamilton  is  one  of  Montana’s  “old  timers,”  and  during 
nearly  half  a century  has  witnessed  the  many  changes 
that  have  taken  place  in  this  section  and  contributed 
his  due  share  to  the  state’s  development.  He  is  a native 
of  Hardin  county,  Ohio,  and  was  born  May  2,  1850,  a 
son  of  Richard  and  Elizabeth  (Ulin)  Hamilton,  natives 
of  Richland  county,  Ohio.  Mr.  Hamilton’s  father  was 
born  in  September,  1812,  and  died  October  4,  1892, 
while  his  wife  passed  away  April,  1858,  being  in  her 
thirty-fifth  year.  Of  their  two  daughters  and  four 
sons,  two  are  living : Richard  D.,  who  lives  in  Pember- 
ton. Oregon;  and  Andrew  Taylor. 

The  grandfather  of  jMr.  Hamilton  was  Richard  Ham- 
ilton, a native  of  County  Donegal,  Ireland,  of  Scotch 
parentage.  He  came  to  the  United  States  as  a young 
man,  was  married  in  Ohio,  where  he  reared  a family 
of  three  children,  of  whom  Richard  was  the  youngest, 
and  was  one  of  the  pioneer  agriculturists  of  Richland 
county,  where  he  spent  the  last  years  of  his  life.  The 
father  of  Andrew  T.  Hamilton  was  reared  to  farming 
and  stock  raising,  and  until  1856  was  located  in  Ohio, 
whence  he  moved  in  that  year  to  Lucas  county, 
Iowa,  and  became  a pioneer  tiller  of  the  soil  of  that 
section.  On  April  5,  1865,  he  moved  with  his  family 
from  Iowa  by  ox-teams,  traveling  overland  to  Salt 
Lake  City,  Utah,  and  then  on  to  Alder  Gulch.  During 
the  month  of  September,  1865,  the  little  party  arrived 
on  Bozeman  creek,  where  at  present  stands  the  Boze- 
man Hotel,  in  the  city  of  Bozeman.  The  last  years  of 
Mr.  Hamilton’s  life  were  spent  in  stock  raising  and 
farming  in  Gallatin  county.  First  a Whig  and  later  a 
Republican,  Mr.  Hamilton  was  active  in  the  ranks  of 
his  party,  and  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  both 
in  Ohio  and  Iowa. 

Andrew  Taylor  Hamilton  was  six  years  of  age  when 
he  accompanied  his  parents  from  Ohio  to  Iowa,  and  his 
education  was  secured  in  the  district  schools  when  he 
could  be  spared  from  the  work  of  the  home  farm. 
He  accompanied  the  family  to  Montana  in  1865,  and 
until  1879  was  associated  with  his  father  in  farming 
and  stock  raising.  Since  that  year  he  has  carried  on 
operations  in  township  i,  on  a tract  of  720  acres,  five 


970 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


miles  north  and  six  miles  east  of  Belgrade,  in  the 
beautiful  Gallatin  valley,  and  has  a horse  ranch  on  the 
south  fork  of  the  Sixteen  Mile  creek.  He  makes  a 
Specialty  of  breeding  fine  Percheron,  Clydesdale  and 
French  draft  horses  and  has  standard-bred  milch  cows. 
A stanch  Republican  in  politics,  Mr.  Flamilton  cast  his 
first  vote  for  President  Hayes,  and  in  1878  was  electee 
justice  of  the  peace,  succeeding  himself  in  office  for 
twelve  consecutive  years,  when  he  retired  from  office. 
Although  he  received  only  a meagre  education  in  his 
youth,  Mr.  Hamilton  is  one  of  the  best  informed  men 
of  his  section.  In  1875  he^  returned  to  Lucas  county, 
Iowa,  where  he  attended  high  school,  and  he  has  now 
accumulated  a large  law  library  and  is  well  informed 
on  matters  of  jurisprudence.  Fraternally,  Mr.  Flamil- 
ton  is  connected  with  Pythagoras  Lodge  No.  2,  Knights 
of  Pythias  of  Bozeman.  Fie  was  one  of  the  organizers 
of  the  Farmers  Alliance  in  that  city. 

On  May  13,  1877,  Mr.  Hamilton  was  married  to  Miss 
Alicia  Florence  Young,  who  was  born  in  Lucas  county, 
Iowa,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Beam)  Young, 
natives  of  Kentucky,  both  of  whom  are  deceased.  They 
had  eight  children,'  of  whom  Mrs.  Hamilton  was  the 
sixth  in  order  of  birth.  Mr.  Young  removed  from  his 
native  Blue  Grass  state  to  Iowa  in  1856,  locating  in 
Lucas  county,  and  subsequently  became  one  of  the 
leading  farmers  and  stock  raisers  of  Clai'k  county.  He 
was  first  a Whig  and  later,  a Republican,  and  an  earnest 
adherent  of  the  faith  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hamilton  there  have  been  born  seven 
children,  all  of  whom  are  living : Leslie  C.,  who  married 
Ida  B.  Potter;  Nellman  R.,  who  married  Lucy  Patrick; 
Chesna,  the  wife  of  Lester  Davis;  Leal  E. ; Everett  A., 
who  married  Polly  Holton ; Erlice  E. ; and  Gail  M. 

Joseph  D.  Conrad.  One  of  the  best  known  of  Mon- 
tana’s pioneers  whose  identification  with  the  growth  and 
development  of  that  state  extends  through  a period  of 
nearly  a half-century,  is  Joseph  D.  Conrad,  president 
and  business  manager  of  the  Montana  Daily  Record,  the 
leading  Republican  paper  of  the  state,  and  one  of  the 
well  known  dailies  of  the  Northwest. 

Mr.  Conrad  was  born  in  Jennings  county,  Indiana, 
October  22,  1842.  His  father,  whose  name  was  the 
same  as  the  son,  followed  the  business  of  railroad  con- 
struction and  naturally  followed  the  course  of  the  em- 
pire westward.  He  was  among  the  earliest  of  the 
railroad  builders,  and  his  death  occurred  at  Madison, 
Indiana,  in  1873,  surviving  his  wife,  Lucy  (Griffin) 
Conrad,  but  two  months.  She  was  a native  of  Ireland, 
and  like  her  husband  a member  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
church.  Their  family  consisted  of  nine  children,  of 
whom  Joseph  D.  was  the  third  in  order  of  birth.  Mr. 
Conrad  senior  was  a Democrat,  but  never  held  office  as 
he  had  no  desire  for  political  honors,  preferring  the 
society  of  his  home  and  family,  where  his  time,  not 
occupied  in  business  matters,  was  largely  passed. 

In  1855,  Mr.  Conrad,  senior,  was  engaged  in  contract 
work  on  the  old  Hannitoal  & St.  Joe  Railroad,  anebnoved 
his  family  from  Indiana  to  Missouri.  Joseph  D.  conrad, 
our  subject,  attended  school  in  Caldwell  county  and 
in  Hamilton,  and  in  Utica,  in  Missouri,  and  concluded 
his  education  at  St.  Benedict’s  College  in  Atchison, 
Kansas,  graduating  in  the  class  of  1859.  At  the  out- 
break of  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Conrad  entered  the  commis- 
sary department  at  Fort  Leavenworth,  and  remained  in 
that  connection  until  1865.  In  the  spring  of  that  year  he 
started  for  Montana  with  a wagon  train.  The  journey 
occupied  one  hundred  and  eighty  days,  and  was  most 
novel  and  interesting,  although  not  without  hardships. 
The  most  exciting  time  occurred  when  within  about 
ninety  miles  of  Julesburg,  on  what  was  known  as  the 
Pole  Creek  route,  between  Julesburg  and  Cheyenne 
Pass.  The  train  was  attacked  by  a party  of  Indians  on 
the  war  path,  and  a fierce  fight  ensued  but  the  emigrants 
succeeded  in  beating  off  the  savage  foe,  killing  five  of 


their  number,  while  the  travelers  escaped  without  a 
fatality,  although  several  were  severely  wounded.  This 
was  not  an  unusual  experience  for  the  travelers  across 
the  plains  in  those  days,  for  the  many  unmarked  graves 
attest  the  fierceness  of  the  wily  foe  and  the  casual- 
ties resulting  to  the  emigrants.  The  party  arrived 
unbroken  at  Virginia  City  in  October  1865. 

Mining  was  the  principal  occupation,  and  the  one  busi- 
ness in  which  any  new  arrival  could  engage  in,  and 
which  attracted  the  hundreds  of  men  who'  sought  for- 
tune in  the  mines.  While  many  succeeded,  there  were 
also  a great  many  that  were  less  fortunate.  Mr.  (Tonrad 
did  some  mining  and  also  considerable  prospecting.  It 
was  while  engaged  in  the  latter  that  Mr.  Conrad  met  with 
a dangerous  and  most  painful  experience.  He  was  caught 
in  a blizzard  and  suffered  dreadfully  from  the  cold, 
freezing  his  feet  badly,  and  for  a considerable  time  was 
totally  incapacitated.  Resuming  the  search  for  hidden 
treasure,  as  soon  as  his  physical  condition  would  per- 
mit, he  followed  that  business  for  a number  of  years, 
in  various  parts  of  the  territory,  but  was  never  lucky 
enough  to  strike  a rich  pay  shoot.  At  length,  realizing 
the  hazard  of  the  mining  business  and  believing  that  he 
might  be  more  successful  in  other  pursuits,  he  deter- 
mined to  engage  in  merchandising.  In  1879,  he  estab- 
lished a general  store  in  the  flourishing  camp  of  Marys- 
ville. This  proved  a profitable  undertaking  from  the 
very  beginning,  and  was  successfully  conducted  by  Mr. 
Conrad,  until  he  disposed  of  his  mercantile  interests  at 
that  place  in  igoo.  Mr.  Conrad’s  reputation  as  a busi- 
ness man  had  become  thoroughly  established,  and  he 
was  held  in  the  highest  esteem  for  his  honorable  and 
upright  business  methods.  He  was  appointed  post- 
master at  Marysville  b}'  President  Harrison,  and  served 
in  all  five  years,  four  of  which  were  under  the  admin- 
istration of  Grover  Cleveland. 

Since  1905  Mr.  Conrad  has  been  prominently  identi- 
fied with  the  Daily  Record  Publishing  Company,  and 
there  has  found  a scope  for  his  business  and  executive 
ability  that  is  somewhat  commensurate  with  his  capacity. 

The  Record  is  published  at  Helena,  and  occupies  a 
foremost  position  among  the  leading  dailies  of  the  state. 
It  is  the  successor  to  the  Helena  Herald,  which  was 
established  in  1868,  and  was  organized  in  1905,  when 
Mr.  Conrad  was  made  cashier  of  the  company.  In  Jan- 
uary, 1912,  he  was  elected  oresident;  Dr.  O.  M.  Lan- 
strum,  vice-president;  and  T.  A.  Marlow,  treasurer. 

The  office  of  president  of  the  Record  Company  is 
anything  but  a sinecure,  as  it  entails  the  duties  of  busi- 
ness manager,  which  Mr.  Conrad  conducts  with  signal 
ability. 

On  October  4th.  1873,  Hr.  Conrad  married  Miss 
Katharine  Miller,  a native  of  Iowa  but  at  that  time  a 
resident  of  Canyon  Ferry.  They  became  the  parents 
of  three  children : George  Edward,  of  Helena,  con- 
nected with  the  Union  Market;  Ralf  J.,  of  Helena;  and 
Lillian,  now  the  wife  of  Dr.  O.  M.  Lanstrum,  of  Helena, 
and  who  has  three  sons:  Claud,  Fredrick  and  Philip. 

Politically  Mr.  Conrad  is  a Republican,  having  de- 
parted from  the  faith  of  his  father  in  politics,  but  still 
adheres  to  the  church  of  that  parent.  Fraternally  Mr. 
Conrad  is  a Pythian  Knight  of  high  degree,  having 
passed  through  all  the  chairs. 

He  began  life  a poor  boy,  but  it  proved  no  handicap 
to  him,  rather  an  incentive,  to  do  and  achieve  success 
on  his  own  account.  He  has  had  a wide,  varied  and 
interesting  experience  in  Montana's  history  and  now- 
after  nearly  a half-century,  he  can  look  back  and  survey 
the  field  with  satisfaction,  for  he  has  made  good  and 
acquired  a competence,  as  well  as  occupying  a position 
of  dignity  and  responsibility  in  a profession  which  is 
among  the  strongest  influences  of  modern  civilization — 
the  press. 

Fie  is  fully  entitled  to  the  high  position  he  holds 
among  the  business  men  of  Montana,  and  his  friends 
are  limited  only  by  his  acquaintance. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


971 


John  F.  Work.  If  the  biographer  should  attempt  to 
select  a life  record  to  present  to  the  readers  of  the 
\ounger  generation  as  an  illustration  of  the  vicissitudes 
of  pioneer  life,  probably  no  better  exemplification  could 
be  found  than  the  career  of  John  F.  Work,  one  of  the 
most  highly  esteemed  residents  of  Bozeman,  the  story 
of  whose  life  during  frontier  days  reads  like  the  pages 
from  some  wild  romance.  The  son  of  a i'forty-niner,” 
he  joined  in  the  rush  for  gold  in  the  newly  discovered 
camps,  hunted  buffaloes  and  tracked  (and  was  tracked 
by)  Indians,  narrowly  escaping  death  on  several  occa- 
sions, and  eventually  settled  down  to  sheep  raising  in 
the  Yellowstone  valley,  where  he  is  now  regarded  as 
one  of  his  section’s  most  substantial  and  representative 
citizens.  Mr.  Work  was  born  on  a farm  in  Adams 
county,  Pennsylvania,  near  the  field  where  the  great 
battle  of  Gettysburg  was  to  be  contested  in  later  years, 
his  natal  day  being  June  30,  1835,  and  he  is  a son  of 
James  and  Marie  (Black)  Work. 

James  Work  was  born  in  Allegheny  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, in  1810,  and  as  a youth  learned  the  trade  of  a 
wagoner  or  freighter.  During  the  early  ’forties  he 
started  for  the  West,  going  by  water  to  Jackson- 
ville, Illinois,  and  there  engaging  in  the  broom  manu- 
facturing business.  About  a year  later  he  moved  to  Scot- 
land county,  Missouri,  where  he  followed  farming  until 
1847,  when  he  moved  to  Memphis,  Missouri,  there  en- 
gaging in  the  packing  business  in  which  he  continued 
until  1849. 

In  1849,  when  the  nation  was  electrified  by  the  dis- 
covery of  gold  in  California,  Mr.  Work  started  across 
the  plains  by  bull  team,  then  a popular  mode  of  travel, 
arriving  three  or  four  months  later  in  Sacramento,  his 
sole  earthly  possessions  being  represented  by  a cow.  He 
was  engaged  in  seeking  the  precious  metal  up  to  1853, 
with  a fair  measure  of  success,  .and  in  that  year  returned 
overland,  via  Panama,  to  Memphis,  in  Scotland  county, 
Missouri,  where  he  engaged  in  pork  packing  until  1862. 
then  going  to  California  once  more,  where  he  engaged 
in  prospecting,  mining  and  farming  up  to  the  fall  of  1863. 
He  then  spent  a year  in  Idaho,  but  returned  to  Missouri 
via  Salt  Lake,  and  the  remainder  of  his  life  was  spent 
in  agricultural  pursuits,  his  death  occurring  in  1869.  Mr. 
Work  married  Miss  Marie  Black,  who  was  born  in  1812, 
on  a farm  in  Adams  county,  Pennsylvania,  eight  miles 
from  the  Gettysburg  battlefield,  and  she  died  in  1893, 
having  been  the  mother  of  seven  children,  of  whom  three 
are  living;  John  F.,  of  this  review;  Mary,  the  widow 
of  Eugene  Williams,  residing  in  Livingston,  [Montana; 
and  Zachary  Taylor,  who  married  Alary  Cox  and  lives 
in  Park  county,  Montana. 

John  F.  Work  was  still  a small  child  when  he  ac- 
companied his  parents  to  Scotland  county,  Alissouri,  and 
there  he  secured  such  education  as  the  district  schools 
afforded,  although  the  greater  part  of  his  time  was  spent 
in  the  school  of  hard  work  on  his  father’s  farm.  In 
1857  he  began  to  drive  cattle  from  different  points  in 
Missouri  to  St.  Paul  and  Minneapolis,  Alinnesota,  and 
after  making  a number  of  such  trips,  in  1859  he  went 
overland  to  Pike’s  Peak,  Colorado,  with  a party  during 
the  gold  excitement.  Returning  to  Jefferson  City,  Mis- 
souri, he  acted  as  yard  boss  in  the  state -prison  until 
1861,  when  he  returned  to  Memphis,  Missouri,  to  visit 
his  parents.  On  A'larch  16,  1862,  Air.  Work  and  his 
father  became  members  of  a party  that  had  started  over- 
land to  California,  with  an  outfit  of  mules  and  horses, 
but  when  they  had  reached  Stillwater,  Wyoming,  re- 
ceived news  of  the  discovery  of  gold  on  Salmon  river. 
At  South  Pass  he  met  a party  going  to  Salmon  river, 
and  made  arrangements  to  join  them.  With  only  $2.50 
in  his  pockets,  he  started  off  with  the  party,  to  make  the 
journey.  This  was  an  extremely  perilous  undertaking, 
as  the  Indians  were  on  the  war-path.  On  arriving  at 
their  destination,  they  were  not  favorably  impressed  by 
conditions  as  they  found  them  to  exist,  and  started  for 
Elk  City,  about  three  hundred  miles  distant.  Shortly 


after  leaving,  their  pack  mules  ran  aw-ay,  and  they  were 
forced  to  subsist  mainly  on  grouse  during  a tramp  of 
three  hundred  miles  to  Elk  City,  in  which  place  they 
remained  three  or  four  days,  and  then  pushed  on  another 
125  miles  to  Lewiston,  Idaho,  which  place  they  left  on 
foot  for  Walla  Walla,  in  company  with  an  Irishman 
familiarly  knowm  as  old  Jim,  but  before  they  reached 
their  destination  the  party  broke  up  and  Mr.  Work  trav- 
eled alone  without  food  for  a day  and  night.  Eventu- 
ally he  secured  employment  on  a ranch  near  Walla  Walla 
at  wages  of  $2.50  per  day,  and  in  the  spring  of  1863  left 
for  Placerville,  Idaho,  which  he  reached  after  a perilous 
journey  through  the  deep  snow  of  the  Blue  Alountains. 
He  prospected  and  worked  for  wages  in  Idaho  until  the 
fall  of  that  year,  when  he  returned  to  Walla  Walla 
and  secured  employment  at  a teamster  for  the  United 
States  government,  a position  which  he  held  until  the 
spring  of  1864,  when  he  returned  to  Idaho.  There, 
with  three  other  young  men,  he  purchased  a small 
piece  of  mining  property  in  Aloore's  Creek,  and  after 
working  all  summer  at  placer  mining,  spent  the  winter 
in  the  valley  with  an  old  friend  of  his  father.  Dur- 
ing that  time  they  ran  out  of  flour  once,  and  for  six 
weeks  the  only  obtainable  food  was  black  tail  deer. 
In  the  spring  of  1865  he  went  to  Idaho  City,  and 
shortly  thereafter  commenced  working  for  wages  on 
Moore’s  Creek,  but  in  August,  1865,  left  with  a 
freighting  outfit  for  Salt  Lake.  He  took  his  father 
with  him,  who  had  arrived  in  very  poor  health,  and 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  small  stock  of  money  in 
paying  the  elder  man's  fare  back  to  Alissouri  with  a 
freighting  outfit.  He  then  engaged  in  working  for 
Bishop  Layton,  of  the  Alormon  church,  but  in  the  fall 
of  1865  went  overland  to  Virginia  City,  Alontana,  and 
later  to  Silver  Bow.  In  December,  1865,  he  arrived 
m the  city  of  Helena.  While  there  he  helped  Johnnie 
Healy  to  select  forty  head  of  oxen  and  started  to  take 
them  through  to  Sun  river,  but  heavy  snows  stopped 
them.  They  were  compelled  to  stop  at  Alalcolm 
Clark’s  ranch,  and  eventually  lost  all  but  fourteen  head 
of  their  oxen.  Air.  Work  returned  to  Helena  in  the 
spring  of  1866,  from  there  went  to  Deer  Lodge  and 
in  the  same  fall  to  Argenta,  where  he  secured  a posi- 
tion in  the  smelters.  In  the  spring  of  1867  he  re- 
turned to  Salmon  river,  Idaho.  In  the  fall  of  the 
same  year  he  came  over  the  mountains  with  Hugh 
Kirkendall’s  outfit  to  Bozeman  where  for  some  time 
he  was  employed  by  the  government  in  delivering 
supplies  to  the  Crow  Indians.  During  the  fall  and 
winter  of  1867  he  was  employed  by  Air.  Kirkendall, 
who  had  the  contract  to  furnish  wood  for  Fort  Ellis, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1868  went  to  Emigrant  Gulch, 
where  he  spent  some  time  in  mining.  Subsequently 
he  followed  hunting  on  the  Yellowstone  river,  but  in 
1871  began  lumbering  and  continued  to  be  so  engaged 
until  1872,  when  he  took  up  what  is  at  this  time 
known  as  the  Ben  Strickland  ranch  on  the  upper  Yel- 
lowstone river,  in  Park  county.  Losing  a number  of 
oxen  there,  he  engaged  in  the  pack  train  business, 
taking  invalids  to  the  Alammoth  Hot  Springs,  and  car- 
ried the  first  white  woman  who  was  ever  taken  to  the 
National  Park.  He  continued  in  this  business  until 
1874,  and  in  1875  again  engaged  in  mining  in  Emi- 
grant Gulch.  The  summer  of  1876  he  spent  in  the 
Black  Hills  with  a party  of  sixty-five  prospectors,  and 
returned  via  Fort  Laramie,  wintering  on  Pass  creek, 
near  Fort  Hallock,  in  1877.  He  then_  came  through 
the  Wind  river  country  and  Green  river  section  to 
Alontana,  and  took  Nelson  Story,  Sr.,  Byron  Story 
and  Charles  Rich,  through  the  National  Park,  return- 
ine  to  Bozeman.  In  a return  trip  to  Cinnabar,  the 
party  consisted  of  three  men  and  one  boy,  and  when 
they  were  attacked  by  Nez  Perces  Indians  they  were 
forced  to  abandon  their  camp  and  supplies  in  order 
to  save  their  lives  by  crossing  the  river.  Later  Air. 
Work  obtained  some  small  measure  of  revenge  for 


972 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


the  destruction  of  the  camp  by  aiding  in  the  packing 
for  the  United  States  in  its  raid  on  this  tribe  of  sav- 
ages. He  then  accepted  the  position  of  superintend- 
ent of  the  firm  of  McAdow  & Vilas,  who  carried  on 
cattle  business  on  Work  creek,  in  Sweet  Grass  county, 
and  named  in  honor  of  Mr.  Work,  but  subsequently 
took  charge  of  the  government  herd  for  the  United 
States  at  Crow  Indian  Agency.  He  then  engaged  in 
freighting  from  Bozeman  to  the  Crow  agency.  The 
year  1880  saw  ]\Ir.  Work  established  in  the  freight- 
ing business,  under  the  firm  name  of  Work  & Lock, 
and  in  that  year  he  helped  Captain  Belknap  of  Boston 
to  select  a ranch  location  at  Stinking  Water,  Wyom- 
ing in  the  Wind  river  country.  In  1881  he  purchased 
for  Colonel  Belknap  over  fifteen  hundred  head  of  cattle 
and  took  them  to  the  Stinking  Water  country.  In 
1883  he  accepted  and  fulfilled  a sub-contract  with  the 
Bozeman  Tunnel  Company  to  remove  dirt  from  the 
tunnel  and  hauling  wood  and  coal.  Since  1880  he  has 
been  engaged  in  the  sheep  business,  and  now  has 
quite  e.xtensive  interests  in  the  Yellowstone  valley 
near  Livingston.  His  son,  Lester  P.  Work,  has  since 
1910  practically  had  charge  of  the  business,  although 
Mr.  Work  advanced  in  years  as  he  is  and  after  a 
rugged  and  strenuous  life  in  the  West,  is  still  fully 
capable  of  handling  his  properties  and  handling  them 
to  the  best  advantage,  should  circumstances  necessi- 
tate his  taking  charge.  In  March,  1892,  he  removed 
to  Bozeman  and  has  since  made  his  home  there.  He 
has  at  various  times  identified  himself  with  enter- 
prises which  have  had  for  their  object  the  betterment 
of  the  community,  and  the  large  business  ventures 
with  which  he  has  been  connected  have  made  his  name 
familiar  throughout  this  section  of  the  country.  His 
record  is  that  of  a good  citizen  and  a business  man  of 
strict  integrity,  and  his  friends  are  legion.  With  a 
wealth  of  anecdote  and  a keen  memory  of  the  time 
when  this  section  was  the  home  of  wild  animals  and 
still  wilder  men,  he  is  a pleasing  and  interesting  con- 
versationalist. Politically,  Mr.  Work  is  a Republican, 
and  socially  he  is  a valued  member  of  the  Montana 
and  Gallatin  Pioneer  societies. 

On  January  10,  1884,  Mr.  Work  was  married  to 
Mary  Evelyn  Stone,  who  was  born  in  Worth  county, 
Missouri,  daughter  of  Jeremiah  R.  and  Mary  (White) 
Stone,  the  former  born  in  Virginia  on  May  2,  1834, 
and  still  surviving,  and  the  latter  born  in  Indiana, 
September  ii,  1837,  and  died  in  1906.  Mrs.  Work’s 
parents  had  a family  of  four  sons  and  six  daughters, 
of  whom  the  following  are  still  living:  Joseph  R., 
Elmer,  Mary  Evelyn,  Alpha  and  Ila.  Jeremiah  R. 
Stone  was  a mere  boy  when  he  accompanied  his 
parents  from  Virginia  to  Missouri,  and  there  learned 
the  harness  trade,  an  occupation  which  he  followed 
until  1883.  He  then  came  to  Montana  and  engaged  in 
ranching  near  Bozeman  until  1902,  since  which  year 
he  has  lived  a retired  life  in  this  city. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Work  have  two  children:  Vida  Marie 
and  Lester  Park.  The  former  was  married  in  Aug- 
ust, 1912,  to  Ray  Holloway,  and  the  latter  married 
Ina  Tucker,  the  daughter  of  John  Tucker  of  Helena, 
in  November,  1912.  She  died  three  months  after  their 
marriage. 

P.MRiCK  A.  L.\rgey.  In  the  list  of  men  who  became 
identified  with  the  history  of  Montana  in  the  pioneer 
days,  it  is  doubtful  whether  there  could  be  revealed 
a more  distinctly  unique  and  individual  character  than 
Patrick  Largey,  His  life  was  marked  by  unceasing 
toil  and  endeavor,  by  modesty  and  honesty  of  purpose, 
and  was  crowned  with  success  that  was  worthily 
achieved.  In  the  life  story  of  this  versatile  and  well 
beloved  citizen  the  element  of  tragedy  bore  a potential 
part.  His  early  struggle  for  a foothold  in  the  world 
of  effort  was  discouraged  and  made  more  difficult  while 
he  was  yet  a very  young  man  by  the  loss  of  his  father 
through  a disastrous  accident,  and  also  through  losses 


caused  by  the  business  reverses  of  others.  Yet  these 
trials  and  discouragements  so  stimulated  his  own 
activities  that  they  led  to  final  and  commanding  tri- 
umphs, only  to  end  at  the  very  acme  of  his  usefulness 
and  power  by  violent  death  at  the  hands  of  a cowardly 
assassin  who  had  frequently  fed  on  his  bounty. 

Largey  was  born  on  April  i.  Palm  Sunday,  in 
1836,  and  was  reared  on  a farm  near  New  Lexington 
in  Perry  county,  Ohio,  far  from  the  din  and  turmoil 
of  the  busy  marts  of  trade.  Nothing  in  his  childhood 
and  youth  was  to  reveal  to  him  the  great  world  in 
whose  activities  he  was  to  participate  so  vigorously 
and  successfully.  Yet  it  may  be  that  with  the  imagina- 
tion which  was  a part  of  his  inheritance  from  a long 
line  of  Celtic  ancestors,  the  lad  had  visions  of  future 
conquests  in  that  great  outside  world  of  commerce 
and  finance.  The  section  in  which  he  was  reared 
offered  meager  opportunities  for  education,  but  he 
made  the  most  of  the  material  at  hand,  utilizing  it  to 
such  advantage  that  while  many  of  his  associates  were 
toiling  through  the  grades  he  had  qualified  as  a teacher, 
and  was  soon  saving  what  he  could  from  his  small 
earnings,  to  assist  in  paying  his  way  through  St. 
Joseph’s  College,  at  Somerset,  Ohio.  During  vacation 
periods  he  was  employed  on  the  farm  and  his  pay  from 
this  labor  also  went  to  provide  the  tuition  and  books. 

After  leaving  college,  he  taught  school  for  a time, 
then  went  to  Cincinnati  and  became  bookkeeper  for 
a commercial  house.  A year  later,  he  was  employed 
by  _ John  McCune,  who  owned  steamboats  on  the 
Ohio  river.  Through  this  employment  and  what  it 
led  to,  he  ultimately  reached  Keokuk,  Iowa,  where 
he  worked  in  a dry-goods  store  two  years,  when  the 
firm  failed  and  he  returned  to  his  home  town,  in  Ohio. 
Here  he  again  took  up  the  profession  of  teaching,  and 
during  the  vacations,  between  terms,  worked  as  a farm 
hand.  He  worked  at  anything  he  could  get,  pro- 
vided it  were  honorable,  and  even  though  wages  were 
low,  he  was  a young  man  of  regular  habits,  not  given 
to  _ indulgences  of  any  kind,  and  was  able  ■ through 
strict  economy  to  lay  aside  a little  money. 

With  the  small  capital  thus  acquired,  he  again  went 
west,  locating  in  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  in  1861.  Here 
he  was  able  to  purchase  a small  stock  of  merchandise 
and  to  open  a store.  The  experience  and  acquaintance 
with  conditions  and  with  people  that  came  to  him 
after  a year’s  time  spent  here,  gave  him  an  insight 
into  a field  that,  as  thought,  offered  greater  oppor- 
tunities. He  therefore  disposed  of  his  business  in 
Des  Moines,  and  went  to  Omaha,  Nebraska,  where  he 
became  purchasing  agent  for  Edward  Creighton,  a 
renowned  freighter,  buying  horses,  mules,  and  oxen 
to  be  used  by  him  in  freighting  across  the  plains.  In 
1865,  he  was  made  captain  of  one  of  Mr.  Creighton’s 
trains  of  sixty  wagons,  which  he  safely  conducted  to 
Virginia  City,  Montana,  in  the  fall  of  that  year,  losing 
only  one  man,  who  was  killed  from  ambush  by  Indians. 
Mr.  Largey’s  keen  appreciation  of  values  and  oppor- 
tunities enabled  him  to  take  in  at  a glance  the  possi- 
bilities of  this  part  of  the  country,  and  he  decided  to 
remain.  The  following  year  he  opened  a grocery  store 
at  Helena,  but  the  business  not  being  to  his  liking  he 
sold  it  in  the  fall.  He  again  entered  the  freighting 
business,  buying  mules  and  wagons  of  Majors  & Rus- 
sell, and  within  a year  carried  $60,000  worth  of  gold 
to  Salt  Lake  City.  He  also  dealt  in  cattle  in  Jefferson 
county,  in  the  state  of  his  adoption.  Presently  he 
was  once  more  engaged  in  merchandise,  having  chosen 
Virginia  City  as  the  base  of  his  operations,  but  he 
did  not  continue  this  enterprise  long.  After  selling 
the  business  he  ne.xt  worked  as  salesman  for  Creigh- 
ton & Ohle,  remaining  with  them  for  four  years. 
He  next  became  a hardware  merchant,  continuing  in 
the  trade  eight  years,  then  selling  out  the  business  in 
1880,  to  Elling,  Knight  & Company,  and  looking  around 
for  some  other  pursuit  and  location. 

Through  all  these  chances  and  changes  Fate  was 


^ f ‘ ^ 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


973 


leading  him,  with  a firm  but  kind  and  persuasive  hand, 
to  the  place  and  opportunities  for  which  she  seems  to 
have  designed  him,  and  at  last  her  goal  was_  reached. 
When  he  sold  his  hardware  business  in  Virginia  City, 
he  came  to  Butte  and  organized  the  Butte  Hardware 
Company,  and  in  1883  he  established  a branch  house 
for  it  in  Anaconda.  The  trade  in  both  cities  was  large 
and  active,  and  its  requirements  kept  him  _ busy,  but 
this  was  always  in  accordance  with  his  desires. 

Some  years  prior  to  coming  to  Butte,  however,  Mr. 
Largey  engaged  in  other  lines  of  enterprise  which  are 
too  important  to  be  overlooked.  In  1867,  he  built  a 
telegraph  line  for  the  Western  Union  Company  from 
Virginia  City  to  Helena,  and  in  1868  one  from  Helena 
to  Fort  Benton,  following  it  the  next  year  by  one 
from  Helena  to  Bozeman.  Then  in  1879,  he  built  the 
line  between  Deer  Lodge  and  Butte,  being  the  prime 
factor  in  the  company  owning  it,  which  later  became 
the  Montana  Central  Telegraph  Company.  When  the 
Northern  Pacific  Railroad  was  building  through  this 
territory,  he  sold  part  of  the  line  to  the  United  States 
government.  Mr.  Largey  was  also  instrumental  in 
building  up  large  banking  institutions  in  Virginia  City 
and  Helena,  in  which  he  was  the  dominant  figure. 
Through  them  he  acquired  an  extensive  and  accurate 
knowledge  of  the  banking  business,  and  was  well  pre- 
pared to  start  the  State  Savings  Bank  of  Butte  when 
the  time  came.  He  founded  this  bank  on  the  29th  of 
January,  1891,  beginning  business  with  a capital  stock 
of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  in  an  excellent  field 
for  extensive  operations.  He  was  elected  its  president 
and  controlled  its  policy,  augmented  its  usefulness, 
popularized  its  coffers  and  directed  the  investment  of 
its  revenues,  his  management  of  affairs  proving  to 
be  full  of  wisdom  and  of  great  advantage  to  the  insti- 
tution. 

In  the  meantime,  with  a quick  eye  to  perceive  and 
a hand  ever  ready  to  supply  public  needs,  he  secured 
the  aid  of  others  and  with  them  purchased  the  feeble 
and  struggling  electric  light  plant  in  Butte.  He_  formed 
the  company  for  the  sole  purpose  of  purchasing  and 
developing  the  plant  and  when  this  was  accomplished 
he  sold  it.  i\Ir.  Largey  also  founded  the  Butte  Inter- 
Mountain,  a daily  newspaper,  and  was  the  first  presi- 
dent of  the  company  which  conducted  it.  Like  every- 
thing else  he  put  his  hand  to,  this  enterprise  flourished 
from  the  beginning,  and  has  grown  in  circulation  and 
influence  until  it  is  one  of  the  most  prosperous  and 
effective  expressions  of  public  opinion  in  the  North- 
west. 

]\Ir.  Largey  was  the  son  of  Patrick  and  Jane  (Cassilly) 
Largey,  natives  of  Armagh  in  the  county  of  the  same 
name  in  Ireland,  where  they  were  married  in  1809  and 
whence  they  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1814. 
On  their  arrival  they  located  on  a farm  in  Perry  county, 
Ohio,  near  the  town  of  Somerset.  There  they  passed 
the  remainder  of  their  useful  and  upright  lives  and 
reared  their  family  of  eleven  children ; and  there  also, 
they  died,  the  mother  in  1857,  at  the  age  of  sixty  years, 
and  the  father  in  1859,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two,  from 
injuries  received  by  falling  into  a well. 

Patrick  A.  Largey  was  the  last  born  of  their  eleven 
children.  He  was  married  in  Chicago  on  the  30th  of 
April.  1877,  to  Mi§s  Lulu  Sellers,  a native  of  Cincinnati, 
daughter  of  Morris  Sellers  and  his  first  wife,  Amanda 
(Patterson)  Sellers.  Mr.  Sellers  is  president  of  the 
Sellers  Manufacturing  Company  of  Chicago,  and  pre- 
vious to  this  connection  was  for  years  a successful  me- 
chanical engineer  in  railway  construction.  He  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania  and  is  descended  from  one  of 
the  colonists  who  came  over  with  William  Penn.  Six 
children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Largey,  four  of 
whom  are  living:  Morris  Sellers,  who  having  re- 

ceived his  education  at  the  University  of  ^Michigan,  is 
now  vice  president  of  the  State  Savings  Bank  and  is 
prominently  identified  with  the  business  life  of  the  city 
of  Butte,  where  he  makes  his  home ; Lulu,  who  is  now 


the  wife  of  Frank  C.  iMcGinn,  of  Omaha,  Nebraska; 
Edward  Creighton,  who  is  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this 
work,  and  Mary  Alontana,  who  was  born  the  year  of 
Montana’s  admission  to  the  dignity  of  statehood,  August 
24,  1889,  now  Mrs.  R.  G.  iMacDonald  of  Butte.  The 
two  children  who  have  passed  away  were  Grace  Helen, 
who  died  in  1879,  and  Blanche,  whose  death  occurred 
in  childhood.  About  1879  Mr.  Largey  built  what  was 
the  second  brick  residence  in  Butte,  on  the  northwest 
corner  of  Broadway  and  Washington  streets,  and  was 
where  his  home  was  always  made.  In  1893  he  remodeled 
the  house,  adding  a second  story.  It  was  in  this  original 
house,  the  first  telegraph  office  in  Butte  was  located. 

The  sensational  and  tragic  event  which  ended  Mr. 
Largey’s  life  occurred  on  the  nth  of  January,  1898. 
On  that  day  he  was  deliberately  shot  in  his  bank  by 
an  irresponsible  miner,  named  Riley,  who  cherished 
an  imaginary  grievance  until  it  became  a mania  with 
him.  Three  years  before  he  had  been  injured  in  an 
explosion  in  an  enterprise  in  which  Mr.  Largey  was  a 
stockholder.  For  several  days  prior  to  his  desperate 
deed  he  haunted  the  bank  and  was  always  received  and 
treated^  with  kindness  by  Mr.  Largey,  who  frequently 
gave  him  liberal  financial  assistance. 

When  he  was  thus  assassinated,  Mr.  Largey  was  in 
his  full  manhood  and  vigor,  and  both  the  time  and  the 
method  of  his  death,  at  the  height  of  his  usefulness, 
gave  the  whole  Northwest  a great  shock  and  excited 
universal  lamentation.  He  was  an  inspiration  to  Mon- 
tana, and  an  especially  valuable  man  in  his  own  com- 
munity. With  a genius  for  affairs  of  magnitude  and 
the  enterprise  and  ability-  to  conduct  them  to  success, 
he  was  a great  power  in  the  development  and  progress 
of  the  state.  Sunny  in  disposition,  captivating  in  man- 
ner, entertaining  in  conversation  by  reason  of  wealth 
of  wisdom  and  facility  of  expression,  and  charitable  to 
the  last  degree,  he  was  one  of  the  most  useful  and 
popular  men  in  the  state.  He  was  the  life  of  any  party 
of_  which  he  was  a member,  having  a great  fund  of  wit. 
His  attitude  toward  any  public  or  private  duty  was 
one  that  few  people  consistently  carry  out,  for  he  never 
shirked  a duty  were  it  one  owing  to  his  town  or  state 
or  to  the  great  Northwest  as  a whole. 

The  Butte  Daily  Inter-Mountain,  in  commenting  edi- 
torially upon  his  untimely  death,  said:  “P.  A.  Largey 

was  one  of  the  foremost  citizens  of  the  state,  and  for 
twenty  years  has  been  a leading  and  influential  citizen 
of  Butte.  His  money  is  invested  in  a score  of  enter- 
prises for  the  upbuilding  of  the  commonwealth.  In 
Madison  and  Jefferson  counties  he  had  profitable  inter- 
ests. In  Silver  Bow  he  has  been  merchant  and  miner 
on  a large  scale.  As  president  of  the  State  Savings 
Bank,  he  was  prominent  in  financial  circles,  being  rec- 
ognized as  a conservative,  honorable  and  able  financier, 
and  personally  he  was  a very  rich  man.  His  estate 
will  figure  over  a million  dollars,  the  Speculator  (copper 
mine)  alone  having  yielded  him  a very  large  fortune. 
As  a man,  as  a husband,  a father  and  a citizen,  Patrick 
A.  Largey  stood  high.  A better  hearted  man  never 
lived.  He  was  devoted  to  his  family  and  his  friends. 
He  was  public  spirited  and  liberal  to  a fault.  His 
quiet  humor  endeared  him  to  ever^ffiody.  He  had  op- 
ponents but  they  were  not  his  enemies ; he  had  business 
.differences  with  others,  but  he  always  thought  he  was 
right  in  his  convictions.”  Mr.  Largey,  as  has  been  said, 
left  a large  estate,  an  estate  that  reflected  his  business 
foresight  and  excellent  judgment  in  the  subsequent  in- 
crease in  value.  He  owned  much  real  estate  and  valuable 
mining  properties.  The  Speculator,  a large  dividend 
payer,  and  the  Center  Star  at  Rossland,  British  Colum- 
bia, being  among  the  most  valuable.  Mr.  Largey  con- 
tributed liberally  to  charity,  and  all  public  movements 
had  his  cordial  and  substantial  support,  practices  that 
have  been  continued  by  the  famih- — a chapel  for  St. 
James  Hospital,  large  contributions  for  the  construction 
of  the  Church  of  the  Sacred  Heart  at  Butte,  together 
with  substantial  aid  to  churches  in  other  cities,  as  well 


974 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


as  provision  for  the  education,  both  academical  and 
technical,  of  many  a youth  of  promise,  the  child  of 
poor  but  worthy  parents, — benefactions  bountiful  and 
far-reaching  in  character,  but  unostentatiously  given. 

Charles  Henry  Austin,  rancher  and  financier,  is 
one  of  the  most  prominent  men  in  Cascade  county. 
His  operations  have  been  on  a large  and  generous 
scale,  and  he  has  built  up  a business  that  long  since 
placed  him  in  the  front  ranks  of  western  ranchmen. 
In  addition  to  his  interests  in  that  direction,  he  has 
become  connected  with  practically  all  the  big  indus- 
trial and  financial  concerns  in  the  town  of  Cascade, 
in  many  instances  being  the  prime  mover  in  the 
organizations,  and  in  all  of  them  holding  large  and 
responsible  positions,  well  suited  to  his  splendid  ability 
and  business  acumen.  Beginning  in  the  west  with 
no  capital  beyond  his  magnificent  brain  and  his  dom- 
inant will  and  unalterable  strength  of  purpose,  Mr. 
.\ustin  has  left  his  mark  upon  every  avenue  of  indus- 
try that  has  aided  in  the  development  of  his  state,  and 
is  justly  recognized  as  a leader  among  his  fellow  men. 

Born  in  Burlington,  Vermont,  February  6,  1844, 
Charles  Henry  Austin  is  the  son  of  William  and  Eliza- 
beth (Harrington)  Austin,  both  natives  of  the  Green 
.Mountain  State.  The  father  was  a merchant  tailor 
in  his  native  city  and  there  passed  his  life,  his  death 
occurring  in  July,  1844.  The  mother  died  in  Burling- 
ton in  1902  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-three  years. 
Five  children  were  born  to  them,  all  sons,  of  which 
number  Charles  Henry  was  the  youngest.  He  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Burlington  to  the 
age  of  fifteen  years,  and  his  first  employment  was  on 
a neighboring  farm,  where  he  worked  to  the  age  of 
eighteen  years.  When  the  war  broke  out  he  promptly 
enlisted  for  nine  months  in  Company  C of  the  Twelfth 
Vermont  Volunteers  and  served  eleven  months.  He 
saw  much  active  service  in  that  time,  participating 
in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  and  a number  of  other 
engagements  of  somewhat  less  importance.  ,A.fter  his 
term  of  service  had  e.xpired,  he,  with  a friend,  went  to 
San  b'rancisco,  and  a little  later  went  to  Austin,  Ne- 
vada, where  he  worked  in  the  mines  for  twenty-two 
months.  J^'rom  there  he  went  to  Montana,  going 
overland  with  a team  as  far  as  Salt  Lake,  there  he 
bought  a saddle  horse  and  packed  him  and  with  two 
other  men  led  him  to  Montana.  He  left  Austin  on 
March  20,  1865,  and  reached  Virginia  City  on  May  5th ; 
he  remained  there  but  a short  time,  going  on  to  Silver 
Bow  and  Helena,  where  he  engaged  in  mining  and 
prospecting.  He  was  thus  occupied  in  that  section 
for  two  years,  when  he  gave  up  the  uncertainty  of 
mining  for  the  more  sure  business  of  ranching,  and 
he  located  on  the  Missouri  river,  eighteen  miles  from 
Helena.  His  first  small  venture  in  that  business  was 
sufficiently  successful  to  show  him  that  there  was  a 
splendid  future  for  him  in  the  ranching  business,  and 
he  has  continued  in  it  ever  since,  broadening  out  and 
expanding  his  interests  with  the  passing  of  the  years 
until  today  he  is  acknowledged  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant ranchers  in  the  state.  He  remained  at  Craig 
for  two  years  and  in  1870  removed  to  Lewis  and  Clark 
county,  about  four  miles  out  of  Cascade.  In  1882  he 
moved  to  Chestnut  valley.  Cascade  county,  and  he  has’ 
ranched  there  since  that  time. 

In  1909  Mr.  Austin  assisted  in  organizing  the  First 
State  Bank  of  Cascade  and  was  elected  president  of 
that  institution.  Fie  is  also  president  of  the  Cascade 
Land  & Live  Stock  Company,  a large  and  prosperous 
concern  which  operates  over  nine  thousand  acres  of 
land.  In  1891  Mr.  Austin  established  the  Cascade 
Mercantile  Company,  of  which  concern  he  is  the  presi- 
dent, and  he  is  also  the  president  of  the  Cascade 
Realty  Company.  He  is  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
Cascade  Milling  Company  and  is  a member  of  its 
directorate,  and  is  vice  president  of  the  Home  Lum- 


ber Company,  as  well  as  being  actively  identified  with 
most  of  the  industrial  and  financial  concerns  of  any 
standing  in  Cascade.  On  the  live  stock  company 
ranch  of  Mr.  .A.ustin  he  has  a herd  of  more  than 
a thousand  head  of  cattle  and  more  than  one  hundred 
horses. 

The  phenomenal  success  of  Mr.  Austin  is  directly 
attributable  to  his  own  splendid  ability  and  good  man- 
agement. He  was  practically  penniless  when  he  came 
to  Montana  and  his  early  e.xperiences  in  the  west 
were  marked  by  severest  hardships  and  privations. 
Fie  slept  for  weeks  without  the  shelter  of  a tent  in 
the  mining  regions,  wrapped  in  a blanket  and  lying 
on  the  snow-covered  ground.  Mere  hardships,  how- 
ever, were  insufficient  to  quench  the  fires  of  persistence, 
and  the  ultimate  course  of  his  life  has  amply  demon- 
strated the  remarkable  character  of  the  man. 

Mr.  Austin  is  a Republican  in  politics,  but  takes  no 
active  part  in  the  political  affairs  of  his  county,  being 
busily  engaged  in  the  management  of  his  own  affairs. 
He  is  a member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  affiliating  with  Rainbow  Lodge  No.  28  at 
Great  Falls,  and  he  and  his  family  are  members  of 
the  First  Methodist  church  at  Great  Falls. 

On  F'ebruary  10,  1876,  Mr.  Austin  was  married  to 
Sarah  E.  Hough,  daughter  of  Joseph  Hough,  a native 
of  New  York  state.  Four  children  were  born  of  their 
union, — one  son  and  three  daughters.  Gertrude  P., 
who  became  the  wife  of  John  Oliver,  is  now  deceased. 
William  FL,  the  only  son,  died  on  February  i,  1912, 
at  the  age  of  twenty-six  years.  Fle  was  married  to 
Ethel  Christenson,  and  lived  at  the  ranch  of  which  he 
was  manager.  The  remaining  daughters  Ruth  and 
Mary  Joyce,  still  share  the  parental  home  at  800  Fifth 
avenue.  North,  at  Great  Falls. 

Edward  H.  Cooney.  One  of  the  pioneers  of  the  state 
of  Montana,  and  one  who  from  childhood  has  seen  the 
wonderful  growth  of  the  great  Treasure  state,  is  Ed- 
ward H.  Cooney,  subject  of  the  present  sketch  and  a 
resident  of  the  city  of  Great  Falls.  Born  at  Fort  At- 
kinson, Iowa,  February  14,  1865,  son  of  Thomas  and 
Maria  A.  Cooney,  he  reached  Alder  Gulch,  Montana, 
the  following  July  and  can  truthfully  be  said  to  be  a 
native  son. 

Mr.  Cooney  was  educated  at  various  places  in  the 
district  schools  of  Montana  and  completed  his  school- 
ing in  the  Helena  high  school  in  1883.  During  the 
time  he  was  attending  school,  and  afterward,  he  was 
associated  with  his  father  in  the  cattle  business  but  later 
settled  in  Wickes,  Montana,  where  he  embarked  in  busi- 
ness on  bis  own  account,  subsequently  he  removed  to 
Butte  where  he  engaged  in  newspaper  work. 

In  i8g6  Mr.  Cooney  came  to  dreat  Falls  as  repre- 
sentative of  the  Anaconda  Standard,  continuing  in  this 
capacity  for  three  years,  when  he  resigned  his  position 
to  become  city  editor  of  the  Great  Falls  Leader,  of 
which  he  later  became  editor  and  owner.  Mr.  Cooney, 
Charles  M.  Webster  and  J.  W.  Freeman  purchased  the 
newspaper  plant  and  conducted  it  as  a co-partnership  for 
several  years,  Mr.  Webster  and  Mr.  Freeman  selling 
their  interests  in  1906  to  LI.  B.  Mitchell  and  F.  M. 
Tenny ; Mr.  Cooney  still  retains  his  interest  in  this 
business  and  is  president  of  the  Leader  Publishin<r 
Company. 

Mr.  Ciooney  filled  the  office  of  manager  and  active 
editor  until  1907  when,  under  the  Roosevelt  adminis- 
tration, he  was  called  to  the  position  of  postmaster 
of  Great  Falls,  being  reappointed  by  President  Taft. 
Mr.  Cooney  was  in  the  first  state  legislature  of  Mon- 
tana from  Jefferson  county;  in  1898  he  was  elected 
a inember  of  that  body  from  Cascade  county;  he  was 
also  a member  of  the  school  board  and  trustee  for 
Great  Falls  for  ten  years;  he  is  president  of  th** 
Northern  Montana  Fair  Association  and  president  of 
the  State  Press  Association.  At  the  last  Republican 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


975 


state  convention  of  Montana,  held  in  Great  Falls,  Sep- 
tember, 1912,  he  was  defeated  by  a narrow  margin 
for  the  nomination  for  governor  of  Montana. 

Although  his  business  and  official  interests  have  de- 
manded the  major  portion  of  his  time  and  attention, 
Mr.  Cooney  has  not  denied  himself  the  pleasure  of  com- 
panionship with  his  fellowmen  and  is  counted  one  of 
the  cleverest  after  dinner  speakers  and  all  round  orators 
of  the  state.  He  is  widely  and  popularly  known  in 
fraternal  circles  as  well,  belonging  to  Cascade  Blue 
Lodge  No.  34,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  Great  Falls  Chapter  No.  9, 
Black  Eagle  Commandery  No.  8,  of  which  he  is  past 
eminent  commander ; and  the  Red  Cross  of  Constantine. 
He  is  also  connected  with  the  Woodmen  of  the  World; 
has  been  state  treasurer  of  the  Elks  for  three  terms, 
and  is  past  exalted  ruler  and  grand  representative  of 
Great  Falls  Lodge  No.  214,  B.  P.  O.  E. 

On  November  17,  1890,  Mr.  Cooney  married  Miss 
Georgia  Day,  daughter  of  George  W.  Day,  a pioneer 
settler  of  Minneapolis  where  he  was  the  pioneer  lum- 
ber manufacturer  and  the  first  man  to  establish  a flour 
mill  at  the  falls  of  St.  Anthony.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cooney 
have  had  three  children,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy; 
Eugene  B.,  the  first  born,  met  an  accidental  death  by 
drowning  in  1905  when  fourteen  years  of  age,  and 
Louise,  born  at  Butte,  passed  away  at  Boulder,  Mon- 
tana, when  she  was  sixteen  years  old.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Cooney  are  general  social  favorites,  and  their  home  at 
226  Third  avenue  North  is  a center  of  quiet  refinement. 

Henry  Bose  was  born  on  the  sea  coast  of  Germany 
and  came  to  Montana  in  the  spring  of  1865.  The  year 
previous  to  his  coming  to  Montana  was  spent  in  Cali- 
fornia, where  he  was  employed  in  a grocery  store  in 
San  Francisco.  Mr.  Bose  liked  California  and  would 
no  doubt  have  remained  there  had  he  not  been  advised 
by  the  doctor  to  go  to  a higher  altitude  and  rough  it, 
this  being  the  only  tonic  that  would  help  him,  he  being 
sickly. 

Now,  early  in  1865  the  big  stampede  to  the  Big  Bend 
mines  and  the  Blackfoot  placer  mines  in  the  newly 
created  territory  of  Montana  was  causing  quite  an  ex- 
citement in  San  Francisco.  Mr.  Bose  and  another  young 
fellow  made  up  their  minds  to  “Embark  for  the  Land 
of  Gold.”  They  left  San  Francisco  by  steamer  for 
Portland.  After  staying  there  a while  they  got  a boat 
to  The  Dalles,  where  all  the  miners  and  prospectors 
got  their  outfits  and  horses.  They  bought  horses, 
saddles  and  packs  as  well  as  their  grub,  blankets  and 
all  necessary  tools  for  their  trip  and  for  prospecting. 
1 he  Dalles  at  that  time  was  a very  busy  place,  horses, 
saddles,  as  well  as  pack-saddles,  chaparejos,  ropes  and 
cinches,  all  were  expensive.  They  had  a riding  horse 
each  and  two  pack-horses  with  lots  of  good  grub,  for 
they  had  heard  provisions  were  very  dear  in  Montana. 
They  had  good  warm  blankets  and  every  necessity,  but 
no  luxuries  like  tents,  dutch  ovens  or  other  comforts 
for  the  trail. 

They  started  and  came  on  the  old  Mullen  trail.  It 
rained  a great  deal  and  the  roads  were  bad,  and  Mr. 
Bose  experienced  the  hardships  of  his  life  on  this  trip, 
being  a weak  consumptive  and  the  cold  and  wet  was 
hard  on  his  cough.  When  they  reached  Little  Spokane 
they  found  that  the  Mullen  road  by  way  of  Coeur 
d’  Alene  mission  was  not  passable  and  had  to  come  the 
old  Kootenai  trail  north  of  Pend  d'Oreille  lake  and 
over  Cabinet  mountain.  They  lost  two  horses  and  were 
glad  when  they  were  able  to  lay  in  some  supplies  at  the 
old  Warden  & Higgens  store  at  Old  Hellgate. 

They  took  in  the  first  stampede  in  Flint  Creek  and 
each  recorded  a claim  there,  and  as  their  money  was 
^30ut  gone  they  concluded  they  had  better  go  to  Last 
Chance  Gulch,  get  something  to  do  and  earn  some 
money  with  which  to  open  their  claims.  On  the  trip 
to  Last  Chance  on  Green  Horn  Gulch,  between  Black- 
foot  and  Helena,  Bose  sold  his  last  horse  for  $45.00 


and  with  this  money  together  with  a little  he  had 
brought  with  him  he  bought  a half  interest  in  a sack 
of  flour.  However,  they  both  found  work  in  Last 
Chance  Gulch,  and  built  a cabin.  Mr.  Bose  continued 
sleeping  in  the  open  and  began  to  get  better  rapidly 
in  the  Montana  climate.  Mr.  Bose  was  soon  able  to  buy 
a horse  again,  and  with  a good  saddle  horse  he  was  in- 
dependent and  soon  got  acquainted  in  the  good,  jolly, 
sociable  set  of  fellows  that  managed  to  blow  in  about 
all  they  made.  The  following  is  one  of  Mr.  Bose’s 
reminiscences  of  the  early  days  in  Last  Chance  Gulch : 
“Late  in  the  fall  of  1865,  he  and  his  partner  had  a small 
cabin  way  up  on  Bridge  street,  a log  cabin  with  no  glass 
window,  a flour  sack  nailed  across  an  aperture  taking 
its  place.  They  both  had  been  down  to  D.  Flowerree’s 
in  the  evening  and  as  they  went  to  Mather  & Crackers 
billiard  hall,  his  partner  said  to  him : T guess  there’s 
going  to  be  a necktie  party  tonight.’  He  had  to  ask 
his  partner  for  an  explanation.  They  stayed  up  until 
about  ten  or  eleven  o’clock  and  went  to  their  cabin  and 
turned  in.  They  both  worked  hard  and  went  to  sleep 
at  once.  They  had  not  slept  very  long  when  they  heard 
a terrible  noise  in  the  street.  Some  fellow  was  begging 
for  his  life.  They  both  got  up.  Mr.  Bose  wanted  to 
light  a candle,  but  his  partner,  who  was  older  and  mor<= 
experienced  stopped  him.  They  were  compellea  to 
listen  to  the  fellow’s  pleadings  until  they  died  away  in 
the  distance.  This  was  a new  experience  to  Mr.  Bose 
and  was  nerve-racking  to  say  the  least.  The  next  morn- 
ing, as  they  went  to  their  work  in  Dry  Gulch,  they  could 
see  on  the  old  pine  tree  near  Belenburg’s  slaughter 
house  a man  hanging  on  a long  rope.  This  explained 
the  necktie  party  his  partner  spoke  to  him  about  the 
evening  before.” 

He  followed  the  life  of  a placer  miner  until  1872  when 
placer  mining  seemed  to  have  ended  and  the  great 
Montana  territory  began  to  be  depopulated.  The  Black 
Hill  excitement  took  a great  many  away  and  the  re- 
mainder went  to  Cedar  Creek.  He  somehow  strayed 
up  to  Fort  Benton,  the  gate  city,  where  all  supplies 
had  to  come  from  at  that  time.  It  superseded  the  times 
of  ’65  when  everything  had  to  come  in  by  pack  train 
from  Walla  Walla,  The'Dalles  or  Salt  Lake  City. 

Fort  Benton  was  then  the  great  Mecca,  a lively  place. 
Sometimes  in  the  spring,  as  many  as  five  large  Missouri 
river  steamers  were  at  Benton  at  one  time,  some  load- 
ing and  some  unloading.  He  got  work  as  a general 
roustabout  with  a large  mercantile  firm  by  the  name 
of  I.  G.  Baker  Co.  The  work  consisted  of  baling  and 
assorting  furs  and  buffalo  hides.  After  a while  he  hired, 
out  to  a Frenchman  named  Gerard  who  kept  a trading 
post  at  Fort  Berthold  down  the  river.  He  left  Fort 
Benton  on  the  steamer,  Nellie  Peck,  and  had  an  inter- 
esting trip.  When  the  boat  landed  at  Fort  Peck  to  load 
on  some  fur  they  were  prevented  from  landing  by  old 
“Sitting  Bull’s’’  band,  Hun  Ke  Pau  Poo,  Sioux  Indians. 
Capt.  Grand  Marsh  and  Doc  Terry  had  to  go  ashore, 
and  after  a long  pow  wow  and  several  barrels  of 
crackers,  syrup  and  sacks  of  bacon  had  been  sent  ashore, 
they'  were  finally  allowed  to  handle  the  bales  of  fur  to 
the  boat.  On  that  trip  the  steamer  tied  up  near  the 
mouth  of  the  Musselshell  to  let  a herd  of  buffalo  cross 
the  Missouri  river.  They  only  went  as  far  as  Fort 
Rice,  where  Mr.  Gerard  had  some  ponies  and  a lot  of 
fur  cached  and  had  to  bring  it  north  to  Fort  Berthold. 
This  was  a time  that  the  Crees,  Mandans,  and  Blackfoot 
Indians  were  at  war  with  the  Sioux  and  on  account  of 
it  the  government  built  Fort  Abraham  Lincoln  at  the 
mouth  of  Apple  creek.  On  that  trip  they  met  General 
Custer  in  his  long  flowing  white  curls  and  in  command 
of  the  _7th  Regiment  of  Lk  S.  Cavalry.  They  had  a very- 
hard  time  getting  back  to  Berthold,  having  to  travel  at 
night  and  hide  themselves  in  the  daytime,  but  finally- 
got  home  without  losing  a man.  He  remained  there 
a while  but  it  was  too  dull  for  him.  He  again  made 
for  Benton,  traveling  overland  through  old  “Sitting 


97() 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


Bull’s”  domain.  Upon  arriving  at  Benton  he  got  a 
position  with  the  cattle  outfit  headed  for  all  the  North 
British  posts.  Starting  in  at  Bella  river  they  delivered 
cattle  at  each  post.  Going  by  way  of  Hoop  Up  they 
traveled  all  along  the  Saskatchewan  river,  stopping  at 
Battleford,  Prince  Albert,  old  Cou  Appelle,  and 
finally  the  tail  end  of  their  drive  was  completed  at  old 
Fort  Geary,  Manitoba,  in  1872.  They  did  some  travel- 
ing. He  stayed  in  the  British  possessions  seventeen 
years  and  a better,  fairer  and  more  honorable  people 
he  never  found  in  all  his  travels.  Pie  married  a Cana- 
dian girl  and  three  of  his  children  were  born  in  Mani- 
toba. Pie  spent  some  of  his  most  pleasant  and  happy 
hours  in  old  Rupert’s  Land.  He  returned  to  Montana 
off  ’and  on,  but  finally  in  1891  came  to  the  Flathead  and 
settled  in  Kalispell. 

WiNTHROP  Raymond.  The  sudden  death  on  the  third 
of  September,  1912,  of  Winthrop  Raymond,  of  Sheri- 
dan, Montana,  has  taken  from  us  one  of  the  best  known 
and  most  beloved  of  the  old  pioneers  of  the  state  of 
Montana.  There  is  hardly  a phase  of  the  industrial  and 
business  life  of  Madison  county  with  which  he  was  not 
intimately  connected  at  some  point  in  his  career,  and  in 
all  of  his  enterprises  he  showed  that  indomitable  spirit, 
that  unswerving  honesty  and  frankness  that  have  char- 
acterized the  pioneers  of  the  West  from  the  earliest 
years.  He  is  well  known  and  will  be  long  remembered 
l)y  lovers  of  good  horse  flesh  as  the  owner  of  a ranch 
which  bears  the  reputation  of  having  shipped  from  its 
borders  many  of  the  finest  horses  ever  raised  in  the  state 
of  Montana.  He  was  perhaps  best  known,  however,  as 
the  founder  of  the  flourishing  little  town  of  Sheridan, 
which  he  himself  platted  in  1890.  Although  he  had 
retired  from  active  business  before  his  death,  Mr.  Ray- 
mond never  ceased  to  take  a deep  interest  in  any  matter 
affecting  this  town,  where  he  made  his  home,  and  he 
was  ever  ready  to  aid  in  any  project  which  had  the 
advancement  of  the  city  as  its  end.  Aside  from  the 
personal  grief  that  the  citizens  of  Sheridan  must  feel, 
there  is  also  the  sorrow  for  the  loss  of  a public  bene- 
factor and  friend. 

Cincinnati,  Ohio,  was  the  birthplace  of  Winthrop  Ray- 
mond, the  date  of  his  birth  being  the  22d  of  October, 
1847.  FI  is  father,  who  was  Daniel  F.  Raymond,  was 
born  in  Connecticut  in  1786.  He  was  a man  of  great 
gifts  and  of  powerful  intellect.  He  was  a lawyer  by 
profession  and  was  a brilliant  member  of  the  bar,  his 
activity  in  political  circles  also  giving  him  prominence 
in  the  circle  of  men  who  were  making  the  history  of 
his  times.  He  was  noted  for  his  literary  ability,  and 
wrote  the  first  book  on  political  economy  published  in 
this  country.  He  also  was  the  man  who  originated  the 
idea  of  a national  banking  currency.  He  did  not  live  in 
the  state  where  he  was  born  for  very  many  years,  most 
of  his  life  being  spent  in  Maryland,  and  the  years  imme- 
diately preceding  his  death  in  the  state  of  Ohio.  Here 
he  died  in  1849,  at  the  age  of  sixty-one  years,  and  he 
now  lies  buried  in  Cincinnati.  He  married  Delilah  Mat- 
lick,  in  Virginia,  in  1837.  Flis  wife  was  a native  of  the 
Old  Dominion,  being  a member  of  one  of  the  oldest 
Virginia  families,  and  it  is  easy  to  be  seen  whence 
came  some  of  that  courage  and  pioneer  spirit  that  ani- 
mated the  soul  of  Winthrop  Raymond,  for  after  her 
husband’s  death  she  not  only  raised  her  large  family, 
but  finally  came  across  the  plains  to  Montana.  She  died 
at  Belmont  Park,  Montana,  in  1896,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
three,  and  is  buried  in  Virginia  City.  Winthrop  Ray- 
mond was  the  youngest  of  six  children,  and  of  these 
one  only  survives,  Mrs.  Sarah  Herndon,  who  is  living 
in  Virginia  City. 

Shortly  after  the  death  of  his  father,  which  occurred 
when  young  Winthrop  was  about  four  years  old,  his 
mother  moved  with  her  family  to  Missouri,  and  there 
the  lad  grew  up.  About  fourteen  years  of  his  life  were 
spent  here,  and  here  he  received  his  education.  When 


he  was  eighteen  he,  together  with  his  mother  and  broth- 
ers and  sisters,  started  for  the  West,  coming  directly 
across  the  plains  to  Montana,  and  reaching  Virginia 
City  on  September  7,  1865.  Since  that  time  he  lived 
until  his  death  in  Madison  county,  and  contributed  in 
every  imaginable  way  to  its  growth.  As  a boy  he  was 
as  fearless  and  intrepid  as  he  was  when  a man,  and  he 
soon  found  work,  in  the  rapidly  growing  mining  camps 
of  Alder  Gulch,  hauling  wood  and  rock  in  and  about 
Virginia  City.  He  carried  many  a stone  which  is  now  a 
part  of  the  buildings  of  the  older  section  of  Virginia 
City,  which  was  then  a vigorous  mining  camp.  Later  on 
he  took  a contract  for  the  erection  of  the  quartz  mill  at 
Summit,  in  Alder  Gulch,  and  after  this  had  been  com- 
pleted he,  in  company  with  his  brother,  Hillhouse,  suc- 
cessfully engaged  for  several  years  in  the  freighting 
business,  their  route  lying  across  the  mountains  and 
plains  between  Summit,  Montana,  and  Corinne,  Utah. 

In  1870  Mr.  Raymond  engaged  in  a wholesale  mercan- 
tile business  in  Virginia  City,  going  into  the  business  on 
a larger  scale  than  most  men  would  have  dared  to  try 
in  a new  country,  but  Mr.  Raymond’s  faith  was  fully 
justified,  and  for  many  years  lie  and  his  brother  were 
the  big  wholesale  grocers  of  Virginia  City.  In  1880  the 
mercantile  business  was  disposed  of  and  the  brothers 
turned  their  attention  to  ranching  and  stock  raising,  an 
industry  in  which  they  had  been  interested  since  1876. 

It  was  in  this  year  that  Mr.  Raymond’s  brother  went 
to  Kentucky  and  there  bought  a hundred  head  of  the 
finest  standard  bred  horses  he  could  find  and  these 
horses  laid  the  foundation  of  the  famous  Belmont  park 
ranch  stock.  The  ranch  itself  consisted  of  nearly  six 
thousand  acres  of  the  best  land  in  the  section,  all  under 
fence,  and  from  this  ranch,  which  was  started  by  Mr. 
Raymond  and  his  brother,  have  been  shipped  such  fa- 
mous horses  as  Belmont  and  Tempest,  and  many  others 
of  their  high  standard.  In  1889  Mr.  Raymond  engaged 
in  the  banking  business  in  Virginia  City,  as  one  of  the 
firm  of  Raymond,  Harrington  & Company,  selling  his 
interest  in  1888  to  Amos  Hall.  He  continued  to  loan 
money  and  lend  his  aid  to  the  promotion  of  new  enter- 
prises until  1889,  when  he  purchased  the  Bateman  ranch, 
and  in  1890  platted  the  townsite  of  Sheridan  and  placed 
the  lots  upon  the  market.  Mr.  Raymond  was  a mem- 
ber of  the  Society  of  Montana  Pioneers,  the  Sons  of 
the  American  Revolution,  and  the  Benevolent,  Protec-  I 
tive  Order  of  Elks. 

Mr.  Raymond  was  married  in  Omaha,  Nebraska,  on  i 
the  28th  of  February,  1876,  to  Hanna  E.  Bateman,  a 
daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  R.  P.  Bateman,  of  Montana.  1 
Four  children  were  born  of  this  union,  one  boy  and 
three  girls.  The  eldest  of  these,  Carrie  B..  is  living  at 
home.  Daniel  W.  is  married  and  lives  at  Helena,  Mon-  1 
tana,  where  he  holds  the  position  of  secretary  of  the 
state  board  of  stock  commissioners.  The  two  younger  ' 
girls,  Delilah  E.  and  Mary,  are  both  at  home.  He  had 
one  grandson,  Winthrop  Hillhouse.  j 

The  suddenness  of  Mr.  Raymond’s  death  came  as  a 
blow  to  the  whole  community,  for  he  had  been  walking 
about  the  town  the  day  before.  He  died  during  the 
night  peacefully,  his  death  being  caused  by  heart  trouble. 

On  the  following  Thursday,  September  5,  1912,  the  fu-  j 
neral  was  held,  the  archdeacon,  S.  D.  Hooker,  of  Helena, 
conducting  the  services  according  to  the  beautiful  ritual  I 
of  the  Episcopal  church.  The  great  number  of  friends  I 
who  followed  the  body  to  its  last  resting  place  in  Sheri-  j 
dan  cemetery  were  mute  witnesses_  to  the  love  and  re- 
gard everywhere  felt  for  the  old  pioneer. 

The  Sheridan  Forum  for  September  the  fifth,  prints  j 
as  their  leading  editorial  an  appreciation  of  Winthrop 
Raymond,  from  which  the  following  is  taken : “His  life 
work  was  not  attended  by  the  trumpets’  blare,  but 
quietly  and  unostentatiously  he  went  about  what  he  had 
to  do  with  a forcefulness  that  was  successfully  effective. 

His  financial  undertakings  were  carried  on  with  integrity 
and  with  a keen  eye  to  good  business  that  won  him  the 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


977 


respect  and  admiration  of  his  contemporaries.  Of  his 
good  deeds  we  have  no  chronicle  except  as  they  are 
lovingly  written  in  the  hearts  of  the  many  he  has  aided. 
Widely  known  in  Montana  and  affectionately  respected, 
it  was  considered  a privilege  to  grasp  the  hand  of  kind 
and  genial  ‘Wint’  Raymond.  He  was  a pioneer  in  the 
fullest  sense  of  the  word,  for  he  spent  his  energies  in 
the  building  of  the  new  commonwealth,  as  well  as  in 
the  building  of  his  private  fortune.” 

The  following  extract  is  taken  from  the  memorial  pre- 
pared by  the  Society  of  the  Pioneers  of  Montana,  who 
knew  and  appreciated  as  no  one  else  could  the  true 
value  of  Mr.  Raymond’s  life  and  work:  “Mr.  Raymond 
came  to  Montana  as  a boy;  young  he  was  as  the  country 
itself,  and  he  grew  to  manhood’s  estate,  and  increased  in 
civic  strength  and  righteousness,  just  as  the  young  state 
grew  in  those  things  which  have  made  Montana  the 
proud  commonwealth  of  today.  Public  spirited,  loyal 
and  generous,  his  pride  in  his  town,  his  country  and  his 
state,  was  only  exceeded  by  his  tender  love  and  devo- 
tion to  his  friends  and  family.  Respected  and  trusted 
by  all,  loved  by  those  who  knew  him  best,  his  is  a 
heritage  rare  and  precious  beyond  price.  Winthrop  Ray- 
mond never  dissembled;  he  was  for  or  against;  you 
could  always  find  him  on  one  side  or  the  other,  fighting 
for  his  convictions;  policy  was  not  his  course;  brusque, 
plain  spoken,  honest  and  frank;  yet,  with  all  consider- 
ing other  men’s  feelings  and  beliefs,  he  went  his  way  and 
lived  his  life,  satisfied  to  do  justice  to  all  mankind,  and 
enjoying  the  good-will  of  his  fellow  men.  His  name 
will  long  be  associated  with  the  early  history  of  this  sec- 
tion; his  memory  will  linger  in  the  minds  of  all.” 

How  firm  was  his  belief  and  faith  in  Montana  is  shown 
by  the  following  remark  which  he  made  shortly  before 
his  death:  “Montana  to  me  is  one  of  the  great  promis- 
ing states  of  the  future,  with  her  mineral  and  agricul- 
tural wealth,  her  stock  raising  and  other  resources.  She 
will  eventually  take  the  lead  over  all  and  will  come  to 
the  front.” 

William  Tecumseh  Sweet.  Ohio  has  contributed 
many  fine  men  to  the  building  of  the  great  west,  and 
Montana  has  received  her  share  of  that  excellent  type 
of  American  citizenship — the  Buckeye.  For  none'  of 
them  should  this  part  of  the  state  be  more  grateful  than 
for  William  Tecumseh  Sweet,  who,  a veteran  of  the 
Civil  war,  came  to  Montana  in  1866,  and  has  spent  many 
years  successfuly  engaged  in  ranching.  He  now  holds 
the  office  of  clerk  of  court  for  the  fifth  judicial  dis- 
trict and  is  a wonderfully  popular  incumbent  of  the 
same. 

Mr.  Sweet  was  born  in  Webster,  a suburb  of  Ports- 
mouth, Ohio,  August  27.  1836.  There  he  passed  his 
boyhood  and  youth,  his  life  being  happily  uneventful 
until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war.  On  June  10,  1862, 
he  enlisted  in  Company  B of  the  Eighty-seventh  Ohio 
Infantry,  and  thereupon  entered  upon  a varied  and 
thrilling  military  career.  In  September  of  the  same 
year  he  was  taken  prisoner  at  Harper’s  Ferry,  but  was 
paroled  on  the  field.  Stonewall  Jackson  was  the  Con- 
federate general  upon  that  occasion.  On  parole  Mr. 
Sweet  came  home  and  stayed  two  weeks  and  then  went 
to  Cincinnati,  where  he  enlisted  in  the  navy  on  the  gun- 
boat Gazelle,  commanded  by  Captain  Thatcher.  He 
shipped  to  Cairo,  Illinois,  from  Cincinnati,  and  then 
started  with  the  intention  of  joining  the  Gulf  Squadron, 
but  the  vessel  failed  to  pass  inspection  at  New  Orleans 
and  so  lay  there  all  winter.  In  the  spring  Mr.  Sweet 
joined  the  Red  River  expedition,  and  subsequently  re- 
turned on  the  Mississippi  and  was  stationed  on  that 
river  on  patrol  duty  until  the  expiration  of  the  term 
of  his  enlistment.  However,  he  only  shipped  for  one 
year,  but  _he_  served  sixteen  months.  He  was  sent  to 
Cairo,  Illinois,  and  there  paid  off  and  then  returned 
to  the  home  town  of  Webster,  where  after  a stay  of 
ten  days  he  re-enlisted,  this  time  as  a member  of  Com- 


pany F of  the  One  Hundred  and  Ninety-second  Ohio 
Regiment,  and  served  in  this  connection  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  becoming  second  duty  sergeant.  His  com- 
mander was  Colonel  Butterfield.  Mr.  Sweet  was  dis- 
charged at  Winchester,  Virginia,  and  then  came  home 
and  remained  in  the  home  circle,  taking  up  the  happy 
old  ties,  until  March  4,  1866. 

That  date  marks  the  first  identification  of  the  subject 
of  this  review  with  Montana.  On  June  12  he  located  at 
Helena  and  engaged  in  the  business  of  manufacturing 
charcoal,  which  he  followed  for  four  months,  accumu- 
lating a tidy  sum  of  money.  Believing  that  he  would 
enjoy  the  free  life  of  the  plains,  he  then  went  to  Jeffer- 
son county  and  entered  into  ranching  and  stock- 
raising,  about  eight  miles  out  from  Boulder.  He  con- 
tinued this  for  a year  and  then  entered  mercantile 
business  at  Boulder,  which  he  followed  for  eight  years, 
subsequently  selling  out  and  again  going  into  the  ranch- 
ing business,  which  he  has  followed  more  or  less  ever 
since. 

Mr.  Sweet  is  assuredly  of  the  right  material  for 
public  office,  being  steadfast  in  duty,  faithful  and  in- 
telligent, and  the  people  feel  safe  in  intrusting  him  with 
any  public  duty.  He  was  justice  of  the  peace  for 
twenty  years,  and  is  now  clerk  of  court  of  the  fifth 
judicial  district,  serving  his  first  term  in  that  capacity. 
It  is  an  open  secret  that  Mr.  Sweet  can  hold  this  office 
as  long  as  he  wishes. 

In  glancing  at  Mr.  Sweet’s  early  life,  the  fact  becomes 
apparent  that  his  educational  opportunities  were  lim- 
ited, for  circumstances  were  such  that  he  was  able  to 
attend  only  two  or  three  years  in  the  district  schools 
of  Scioto  county,  Ohio.  However,  he  has  since  re- 
paired this  deficiency  in  very  definite  fashion  by  read- 
ing good  books  and  assimilating  the  culture  of  the 
people  with  whom  he  associated.  No  one  could  be 
more  truly  a self-made  and  self-educated  man.  His 
first  adventure  in  a wage-earning  capacity  was  as  a 
helper  to  John  Richard,  of  Bloom  township,  Scioto 
county,  for  whom  he  worked  for  five  years  at  six 
dollars  and  a quarter  a month.  And,  niirabile  dictu  in 
this  day  of  extravagance  and  high  living,  he  saved  a 
bank  account  out  of  this  lordly  stipend. 

Mr.  Sweet  w^as  married  in  Boulder,  March  9,  1869, 
to  Emma  lola  Cook,  daughter  of  Captain  Hiram  and 
Mary  E.  Cook,  and  wdio  was  born  in  Kalamazoo,  jMich- 
igan.  The  death  of  this  admirable  woman  occurred  in 
Boulder  on  March  4,  1897,  at  the  age  of  forty-seven 
years.  Her  father  was  a veteran  of  the  Civil  war, 
serving  in  a Michigan  regiment,  enlisting  as  a private 
and  coming  out  a captain.  His  business  was  that  of  a 
carpenter  and  contractor.  The  maiden  name  of  the 
mother  was  Mary  E.  Vinig,  and  she  w'as  a school 
teacher  previous  to  her  marriage  to  the  captain.  Both 
of  these  good  people  are  deceased  long  since,  their  re- 
mains being  interred  in  the  cemetery  at  Boulder. 

The  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sweet  was  blessed  by 
the  birth  of  eight  sons  and  daughters,  the  number  be- 
ing equally  divided  as  to  sex  and  the  good  and  useful 
citizenship  to  which  they  have  attained  must  be  indeed 
gratifying  to  the  subject.  The  names  of  the  children 
are  as  follows:  Nellie  Bly,  Chester  Weed,  Ralph  Waldo, 
Blanche  Emma,  May  Elizabeth,  William  Tecumseh, 
Shelby  Cook  and  Kittle  Louise.  Two  of  the  daughters 
are  deceased,  namely:  Nellie  Bly  and  Blanche  Emma, 
and  all  that  is  mortal  of  them  rests  beside  their  beloved 
mother.  All  the  others  are  e.xcellently  fixed  in  life. 
Ralph  Waldo  is  the  owner  of  valuable  mining  interests 
in  Mexico ; May  Elizabeth  Sweet  is  her  father's  chief 
deputy  and  she  has  his  unqualified  recommendation 
that  she  is  the  best  in  the  business ; Chester  Weed  is 
manager  of  the  Bozeman  Mining  Company,  of  Boze- 
man, Montana;  William  Tecumseh  has  held  the  office 
of  manager  of  the  Ryan-Virden  Produce  Company  at 
Butte  for  the  past  eight  years ; Shelby  Cook  is  engineer 
for  the  Royal  Milling  Company  at  Kalispell,  Montana, 


978 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


Joseph  N.  Sweet,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Lexington,  Kentucky,  and  died  at  Webster,  Ohio,  at 
the  advanced  age  of  eighty-four  years.  For  fifty  years 
he  was  in  the  ministry  of  the  Baptist  church,  a position 
involving  much  opportunity  to  do  good  and  little  to 
acquire  riches.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Mary  Popejoy,  was  born  at  Sinking  Springs,  Ohio,  and 
lived  to  the  age  of  seventy-nine  years,  her  demise  oc- 
curring at  Webster.  The  father  was  a soldier  in  the 
War  of  1812. 

Mr.  Sweet  is  a communicant  of  the  Episcopal  church, 
taking  an  active  part  in  its  good  works.  Pie  is  very 
prominent  in  Masonic  circles,  and  has  the  distinction 
of  Iteing  the  first  man  to  be  made  a Mason  in  Jefferson 
county,  his  initiation  being  at  Radersburg,  the  county 
seat  at  that  time.  He  has  since  filled  nearly  every  office 
in  the  lodge.  He  is  very  fond  of  hunting  and  fishing 
and  engages  in  these  sports  whenever  opportunity  pre- 
sents. He  is  a stanch  Democrat,  and  is  of  influence  in 
the  councils  of  the  local  Democratic  party.  He  was 
the  youngest  of  four  boys  in  his  father’s  family,  all 
Democrats  in  political  faith,  but  Mr.  Sweet  nevertheless 
cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for  Lincoln  and  he  re- 
gards this  as  the  pleasantest  political  incident  of  his  life. 
Mr.  Sweet  belongs  to  the  best  type  of  American  citizen- 
ship and  than  this  no  higher  praise  can  be  given. 

George  W.  Wakefield.  While  transmitting  to  poster- 
ity the  memory  of  such  men  as  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
it  will  instill  in  the  minds  of  our  children  the  important 
lesson  that  honor  and  station  are  the  sure  reward  of 
continual  exertion,  that  success  is  seldom  denied  those 
whose  lives  have  been  filled  with  honest  industry,  and 
that  those  who  labor  energetically  in  their  younger  years 
may  spend  the  evening  of  life  in  comfortable  retirement. 

Mr.  Wakefield  was  born  in  the  city  of  Bangor,  Penob- 
scot county,  Maine,  October  15,  1833,  and  is  a son  of 
Benjamin  and  Betsy  Wakefield,  natives  of  Maine.  His 
father,  a contractor  and  builder  by  occupation,  was  a 
prominent  Whig  politician  of  his  day,  and  served  in 
the  state  legislature.  His  death  occurred  in  his  eighty- 
sixth  year.  Of  his  four  children,  George  W.  is  the  only 
survivor. 

George  W.  Wakefield  attended  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  place,  and  when  but  twelve  years  of  age  se- 
cured his  first  employment  in  the  old  Stetson  Hotel  in 
Bangor.  After  working  therein  for  about  six  months, 
he  went  to  Lincoln,  Maine,  in  charge  of  horses,  and  later 
at  Bangor,  learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith  in  the  shop  of 
John  Wingate.  He  also  for  some  time  was  engaged  in 
painting,  and  for  one  winter  was  engaged  with  his 
brothers  in  freighting  between  Bangor  and  Aroostock, 
Maine,  but  in  the  fall  of  1853  he  married  at  Bangor  and 
left  home  for  St.  Anthony  (now  East  Minneapolis), 
Minnesota,  becoming  superintendent  of  the  teaming  busi- 
ness of  D.  Morrison.  In  the  fall  of  1858  he  went  across 
the  country  from  St.  Paul,  to  Fort  Geary,  Red  River  of 
the  North,  remaining  there  but  a short  time.  He  left 
Fort  Geary  in  January,  1859,  making  the  return  trip  of 
five  hundred  miles  alone  with  a team  of  three  dogs. 

During  the  excitement  over  the  discovery  of  gold  in 
i860  at  Pike’s  Peak,  Mr.  Wakefield  went  overland  with 
a mule  team,  and  continued  on  to  California  Gulch  and 
into  New  Mexico,  spending  the  greater  part  of  his  time 
in  prospecting  and  mining,  bur  eventually  returned  to 
Colorado.  In  the  spring  of  1861  he  made  the  journey 
overland  to  San  Francisco,  California,  with  a four  mule 
team,  there  taking  the  steamer  Sierra  Nevada  for  the 
Frazier  river  country,  and  during  the  winter  of  1861  he 
worked  at  blacksmithing  in  Oregon.  In  the  spring  of 
1862  he  went  up  the  Columbia  river  to  the  Florence 
mine,  returning  by  way  of  Lewiston,  Idaho,  on  the  Sal- 
mon river  and  Clearwater. 

About  this  time  with  six  other  men  with  their  camp- 
ing outfit  and  at  what  is  now  known  as  Spokane  all  their 
stock  was  stolen  by  Indians  and  they  were  -left  afoot. 


They  were  on  their  way  to  Alder  Gulch,  now  Virginia 
City.  After  looking  in  vain  for  their  stock  they  con- 
cluded to  go  to  war  with  the  Indians,  but  about  this  time 
an  old  Indian  came  into  their  camp  for  something  to 
eat,  the  white  men  showed  him  some  silver  money  and 
told  him  he  should  have  it  if  he  got  their  horses  for  them 
and  in  a short  time  he  returned  with  the  horses,  and 
thereby  was  the  means  of  avoiding  considerable  trouble. 

From  here  he  went  to  the  old  mining  camp  at  Orifino, 
Idaho,  returning  Jo  Lewiston,  Idaho,  he  spent  about 
one-half  of  the  winter  there,  and  then  started  out  with 
a pack  outfit  and  horses  over  the  mountains,  arriving  in 
Alder  Gulch,  Idaho,  now  Montana,  in  the  spring  of 
1863.  He  was  engaged  in  prospecting  and  mining  until 
the  fall  of  1864,  when  he  returned  to  St.  Anthony,  Min- 
nesota, and  in  the  spring  of  1865  left  again  for  Montana 
with  his  wife,  in  a two-horse  spring  wagon.  The  several 
wagons  in  the  outfit  crossed  the  North  Platte  river  at 
the  regular  crossing  near  Sage  creek,  after  which  Mr. 
Wakefield,  being  impatient  to  complete  the  journey, 
drove  ahead  of  the  other  wagons  until  he  came  up  with 
an  outfit  that  had  been  robbed  of  its  horses  and  two  of 
its  men  killed  by  the  Indians,  this  inducing  him  to  return 
to  the  other  wagons  for  greater  safety. 

They  continued  their  journey  through  Bridger  Pass 
and  then  on  the  Soda  Butte  Station  where  Mr.  Wake- 
field again  left  the  other  wagons  behind  and  hastened 
on  to  Rock  Station.  At  this  point  he  again  learned  of 
the  outrages  of  the  hostile  Indians,  who  had  taken  the 
war-path,  and  was  compelled  to  wait  over  a day  until 
the  rest  of  the  outfit  had  caught  up  with  him,  and  they 
journeyed  on  to  the  Laramie  river  and  into  Alder  Gulch, 
where  they  arrived  July  4,  1865. 

Subsequently  they  went  to  Blackfoot,  but  in  the  fall 
of  1865  Mr.  Wakefield  returned  to  within  twelve  miles 
of  Alder  Gulch  and  the  following  spring  engaged  in  the 
dairy  business,  also  establishing  a stage  station  about 
ten  miles  from  Virginia  City  during  the  following  winter. 
In  the  summer  of  1867  he  located  on  a ranch  near  the 
Dempsey  ranch,  but  in  1870  he  became  the  owner  of 
the  Point  of  Rocks  Station,  and  also  carried  on  farming 
during  that  and  the  following  year. 

In  1872  he  removed  to  Bozeman,  Montana,  and  pur- 
chased property,  engaging  in  the  livery  and  hotel  busi- 
ness and  conducting  a stage  line  between  Bozeman  and 
Virginia  City. 

Selling  out  in  the  spring  of  1881  he  contracted  to  fur- 
nish the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad  with  one  hundred 
thousand  railroad  ties  on  Mill  creek,  and  on  the  com- 
pletion of  this  venture  he  went  to  Mammoth  Hot 
Springs.  In  1883  he  organized  the  first  transportation 
line  for  conveying  tourists  through  the  Yellowstone  Na- 
tional Park  and  conducted  it  with  success  until  1893. 
During  the  year  1892-1893  he  opened  and  managed  the 
new  Hotel  Bozeman  at  Bozeman.  Montana. 

The  latter  part  of  this  year  he  disposed  of  his  inter- 
ests in  Bozeman  and  the  park  and  engaged  in  the  livery 
business  in  Livingston,  the  following  two  years  he  again 
spent  in  taking  passengers  through  the  National  Park. 
The  next  four  years  he  was  proprietor  of  the  Albemarle 
Hotel  in  Livingston.  . 

His  next  enterprise  was  conducting  a farm  at  Cinna- 
bar, Montana,  and  taking  passengers  through  the 
National  Park,  but  after  two  years  he  sold  his  coaches 
and  ■ horses  and  returned  to  Livingston.  Although 
nearly  eighty  years  of  age,  Mr.  Wakefield  retains  the 
vitalities  of  middle  life  to  a remarkable  degree,  and  his 
mind  is  even  more  vigorous  than  his  body,  being  the 
marvel  of  the  modern  short-lived  business  men. 

His  life  has  been  crowded  full  of  work,  and  he  has 
always  enjoyed  the  life  and  opportunities  given  him. 
Wealth  and  friends  have  been  his,  and  he  enjoys  all 
these  with  no  trace  of  that  offensive  ostentation  that  has 
so  often  shaded  the  lives  of  other  men.  It  is  a pleasure 
to  bear  testimony  to  the  real  worth,  and  this  last  testi- 
mony voices  the  sentiments  of  the  entire  community. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


979 


Until  1893  Air.  Wakefield  was  a Republican,  but  since 
that  year  has  given  his  support  to  the  candidates  of  the 
Democratic  party. 

In  1853  Air.  Wakefield  was  married  to  Miss  Alargaret 
Brittain,  who  was  born  at  Woodstock,  New  Brunswick, 
Canada,  and  she  passed  away  in  1903,  having  been  the 
mother  of  one  child,  Libbie,  the  wife  of  Dr.  Samuel  F. 
AVay,  of  Livingston. 

WiLLi.tM  Wesley  AIcCall.  The  life  of  Mr.  AIcCall 
has  been  one  of  varied  experience  and  enterprises,  and  he 
has  been  through  almost  all  the  phases  of  life  in  a new 
country.  He  was  born  in  Alillersburg,  Ohio,  on  No- 
vember 14,  1845.  His  father,  Thomas  McCall,  was 
fifty-three  years  old  at  the  time  of  his  son’s  birth,  as 
he  was  born  in  Chesapeake,  Alaryland,  in  the  third  year 
of  Washington's  first  administration.  The  elder  Mr. 
McCall  was  one  who  felt  the  lure  of  new  countries,  and 
when  his  son  was  one  year  old  he  moved  from  what 
was  then  the  middle  west  section  of  the  land  to  the  far 
country  of  Iowa,  and  in  Van  Buren  county  he  followed 
stock  raising  and  farming  until  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  at  the  age  of  seventy-two.  He  now 
lies  at  rest  in  a rural  cemetery  near  the  town  of  Birm- 
ingham. His  wife,  Mary  Otis  AIcCall,  was  born  in 
Ireland,  in  1816.  She  has  been  a resident  of  America 
since  she  was  one  year  old,  and  is  now  living  at  Smith 
Centre,  Kansas. 

William  Wesley  AIcCall  received  the  sturdy  training 
of  the  farmer's  son,  first  on  his  father’s  farm  and  later 
on  those  of  the  neighbors.  He_  attended  school  in 
Birmingham  when  it  was  in  session,  and  the  rest  of 
the  time  he  farmed.  One  summer  he  worked  for  an 
Iowan  whose  name  was  Timothy  Day.  His  stipend 
was  twenty-five  dollars  a month,  and  “harvest  wages,” 
He  received  one  dollar  per  acre  for  cutting  grain,  and 
through  the  harvest  time  he  was  able  to  cut  four  acres 
a day.  That  was  remarkable  for  a boy,  but  Mr.  Mc- 
Call has  made  a record  more  than  once  on  “piece 
work.”  At  the  age  of  twenty  he  left  home  and  came 
to  Montana,  entering  Virginia  City  on  August  g,  1866. 
Here  he  took  up  the  work  wdth  which  he  was  most 
familiar  and  for  two  years  worked  on  a ranch  at  the 
mouth  of  Alder  Gulch.  At  the  end  of  that  period  he 
bought  a place  of  his  own  near  Silver  Star,  and  for 
seven  years  continued  in  the  stock  business.  In  the 
year  1875  the  grasshoppers  stripped  the  fields  and  left 
nothing  in  the  w'hole  country,  so  Air.  McCall  left  his 
ranch  and  went  to  Butte,  where  he  engaged  in  team- 
ing for  various  mining  companies,  including  that  of  W. 
A.  Clark. 

Mr.  McCall  was  married  in  1873  to  Aliss  Celeste 
Grace  Jordan,  daughter  of  Harrison  and  Catherine 
Jordan,  of  Fish  Creek.  Air.  Jordan  had  come  to 
Iowa  from  Springfield,  Illinois,  in  1854.  He  farmed 
in  or  near  Pleasantville,  Iowa,  eight  or  nine  years,  re- 
moving to  Alder  Gulch,  Alontana,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  business,  and  in  1866  sold  out 
and  then  was  extensively  en.gaged  in  stock  raising, 
dairying  and  ranching  near  Fish  Creek.  Air.  AIcCall 
of  this  sketch,  in  1876  rented  his  own  ranch  and  moved 
to  Butte  and  was  there  for  about  two  years  and  a.  half, 
and  in  1878  rented  his  father-in-law’s  ranch ' on  Fish 
Creek,  remainino-  there  until  1880.  In  the  summer  of 
1876  Airs.  AIcCall  conducted  the  Centennial  boarding 
house  at  Centennial  mill,  and  it  was  from  here  that  Air. 
AIcCall  hauled  cord  wood  to  the  mill,  a distance  of 
nine  miles.  He  cut,  hauled,  delivered  and  put  up  the 
wood  alone  and  at  that  he  was  able  to  handle  two 
cords  a dav  with  his  one  span  of  horses,  thus  earnin.g 
eleven  dollars  a day.  A local  paper  commenting  upon 
it  at  the  time  challenged  the  countryside  to  “Beat  it 
if  vou  can.” 

In  1880  Air.  McCall  bought  the  Half-Way  House  on 
the  Little  Pipestone,  so  called  because  it  stood  Just  half 
way  betwppn  Butte  and  Silver  Star.  He  ran  this  hotel 

Vo!.  Ti— 9 


for  four  and  a half  years  and  then  sold  out  to  Fred 
Ehrig.  He  was  also  postmaster  at  Grace,  named  in 
honor  of  Airs.  AIcCall.  In  part  payment  for  his  hotel 
he  took  a quarter  section  of  hay  meadow  and  some 
other  ranch  property  near  Silver  Star,  and  for  a time 
he  worked  this  place.  He  gave  it  up  to  enter  the  meat 
business  at  Silver  Star  and  after  a year  he  branched 
out  in  this  undertaking  and  bought  the  market  at  Twin 
Bridges  and  a little  later  the  Sheridan  market,  and  for 
two  years  conducted  the  three  places. 

It  was  in  1890  that  Air.  AIcCall  came  to  Whitehall 
and  opened  a hotel  in  the  only  building  in  town.  The 
other  two  structures  were  tents,  one  being  used  by 
Dad  Winkler  for  a saloon  and  the  other  by  F.  A. 
Stuart  for  a residence.  The  railroad  was  just  build- 
ing through  the  town  then,  and  it  was  not  a densely 
populated  settlement.  Air.  AIcCall  conducted  his  .hotel 
for  two  years  and  then  sold  out  to  go  into  the  general 
merchandise  business.  In  1892  he  sold  out  his  interest 
in  this  also  and  went  into  the  livery  business.  While 
keeping  hotel  Air.  AIcCall  acted  as  postmaster,  the  hotel 
serving  as  post  office  until  a building  was  put  up  for 
that  purpose.  In  1897  he  again  resumed  hotel  keeping, 
and  for  a time  ran  the  Jefferson  House,  now  known  as 
the  Costin.  When  he  disposed  of  this  place  Air.  AIc- 
Call bought  an  interest  in  the  placer  mining  industry 
on  the  Little  Pipestone  and  he  is  still  connected  with 
that  concern.  He  went  into  the  butcher  business  again 
and  remained  in  that  for  two  years,  until  he  was  ap- 
pointed postmaster,  which  office  he  still  holds.  This 
is  the  third  time  Air.  AIcCall  has  received  the  appoint- 
ment of  postmaster,  and  this  is  a tribute  to  his  effi- 
ciency as  a public  official  as  well  as  to  his  power  in 
the  Republican  party. 

Air.  AIcCall  has  had  his  share  of  the  experiences  of 
the  pioneer.  When  his  party  reached  this  part  of 
Alontana,  the  Big  Plorn  river  was  so  high  that  they 
were  obliged  to  build  rafts  on  which  to  carry  over 
their  effects.  When  they  reached  the  other  side  they 
found  themselves  in  the  midst  of  a war  between  the 
Indian  tribes,  and  Air.  AIcCall  beheld  for  the  first  time 
the  interesting  but  rather  grewsome  object,  a scalp. 
He  was  relieved  to  know  that  it  had  been  on  an  In- 
dian's head,  and  not  on  a white  man's.  The  Redskins 
did  not  molest  the  emigrants,  although  three  of  their 
cattle  were  stolen,  but  even  these  were  subsequently 
returned,  and  the  company  moved  on  in  safety.  Air. 
and  Airs.  AIcCall  can  recount  many  an  interesting  ad- 
venture of  the  early  days,  and  they  especially  enjoy 
such  a conversation  with  Air.  and  Airs.  S.  F.  Tuttle,  of 
Boulder  City,  whose  wedding  was  celebrated  with  their 
own,  thus  making  that  day  of  Alarch  16,  1873,  a doubly 
joyful  one. 

Only  one'  of  the  seven  children  of  Air.  and  Airs. 
AIcCall  is  nOw  at  home  as  the  others  are  all  married. 
'Ernest  Ralph,  the  eldest,  is  now  about  forty  and  he  and 
his  family  of  four  children,  Alelba,  Edith.  Ralph  and 
Clyde;  and  his  wife  reside  on  a ranch  in  Jefferson 
countt’,  about  five  miles  from  Whitehall  on  Whitetail 
creek.  Ida  Aland  is  now  Airs.  Frank  E.  Houghton, 
her  husband  being  associated  with  Ernest  N.  AIcCall 
in  ranching.  Fav  Eugene  AIcCall  and  his  family  reside 
in  Whitehall,  where  he  is  in  the  cigar  manufacturing 
business  and  also  conducts  a barber  shop.  His  daugh- 
ters are  Iona  and  Evelyn.  Chester  Giles  is  married  and 
works  in  the  Badger  mine  in  Butte.  Floyd  Harold  and 
his  wife  also  reside  in  Butte,  where  he  is  a car  in- 
soector  for  the  Northern  Pacific  and  have  one  child, 
Helen,  Pearl  Blanche  AIcCall  Gannon  lives  in  Pied- 
mont, where  her  husband,  Thomas  H.  Gannon,  is 
operator  for  the  Chicago,  Alilwaukee  and  Puget  Sound 
Railway.  They  have  one  child,  a baby,  Erma.  The 
daughter  at  home  is  Aliss  Ethel  Lucile  AIcCall. 

In  his  active  and  diversified  business  career  Air.  AIc- 
Call has  found  time  to  devote  to  other  things  than  the 
pursuit  of  gain.  He  is  an  active  member  of  the  Chris- 


980 


HISTORY  OF  .MONTANA 


tian  church,  and  a worker  in  the  Sunday-school,  of 
which  he  has  been  superintendent  for  two  years.  In 
the  Masonic  lodge  he  has  tilled  all  the  offices,  and  he  is 
also  a member  of  the  Eastern  Star.  He  has  always 
been  active  in  municipal  affairs,  and  was  at  one  time 
councilman  of  Whitehall.  Both  he  and  Mrs.  McCall 
are  enthusiastic  Montanians  and  it  is  here  that  their 
interests  lie.  Mrs.  McCall’s  parents  both  ended  their 
days  here.  Her  mother,  Catherine  Tuttle  Jordan,  died 
in  1904,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five.  Her  husband  survived 
her  five  years,  although  he  was  fifteen  years  her  senior. 
Harrison  Jordan  died  at  the  ripe  age  of  eighty-five 
years,  seven  months  and  eleven  days.  Both  are  buried 
in  Fish  Creek  cemetery,  one  monument  marking  both 
graves. 

John  A.  Featherman.  Although  John  A Feather- 
man,  who  is  living  virtually  retired  at  Urummond,  Mon- 
tana, has  reached  the  venerable  age  of  seventy-si.x  years, 
he  is  still  hale  and  hearty  and  retains  in  much  of  their 
pristine  vigor  the  splendid  mental  and  physical  qual- 
ities of  his  prime.  He  has  been  a resident  of  Drum- 
mond since  1904  and  was  formerly  interested  in  a chain 
of  stores  in  various  places  in  this  locality.  In  recent 
years,  however,  he  has  disposed  of  all  his  business  in- 
terests, with  the  e.xception  of  his  share  in  the  Feather- 
man  Mercantile  Company,  the  largest  establishment  of 
its  kind  in  Drummond.  Mr.  Featherman  is  an  old 
pioneer  in  Montana  and  his  early  experiences  in  the  west 
were  of  a most  exciting  character.  He  is  interested  in 
public  affairs  and  gives  freely  of  his  aid  and  influence 
in  support  of  all  measures  and  enterprises  projected 
for  the  good  of  the  city  and  state  at  large. 

John  A.  Featherman  was  born  in  Hamilton  township, 
Monroe  county.  Pennsylvania,  March  26,  1836,  and  is 
a son  of  Abraham  and  Rachel  (Miller)  Featherman, 
both  of  whom  were  born  and  reared  in  Pennsylvania, 
where  they  were  married  and  where  they  died  each  at 
the  age  of  sixty  years.  He  was  born  January  13,  1792, 
and  passed  away  September  6,  1852,  and  she  was  lx>rn 
November  25.  1805,  died  November  17,  1865.  The 
father  was  a farmer  and  stock-raiser  during  the  entire 
period  of  his  active  career  and  was  very  successful  along 
those  lines  of  enterprise.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Abraham 
Featherman  became  the  parents  of  ten  children,  of  whom 
the  subject  of  this  review  was  the  fifth  in  order  of 
birth. 

The  early  education  of  John  A.  Featherman  con- 
sisted of  such  advantages  as  were  offered  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  his  native  place  and  he  also  pursued  a 
special  course  at  Kingston  (Pa.)  Seminary.  As  a youth 
he  worked  on  the  farm  for  his  father  and  at  odd  times, 
when  employed  by  others  in  such  work,  received  twenty- 
five  cents  per  day  in  remuneration  for  his  services. 
Subsequently  he  secured  a job  as  clerk  in  a store  at 
Stroudsburg,  and  devoted  his  attention  to  that  line  of 
work  until  his  twenty-fourth  year,  when  he  came  west. 
In  i860  he  went  to  Colorado,  where  he  followed  mining 
and  prospecting  for  three  years.  Things  were  rather 
wild  and  woolly  in  the  southwest  in  those  early  days  and 
Mr.  Featherman  had  a number  of  close  calls.  On  one 
occasion,  while  waiting  for  the  stage  on  a rather  de- 
serted spot,  he  was  surrounded  by  four  Indians  on 
horseback  who  demanded  the  surrender  of  his  rifle. 
He  knew  it  meant  death  to  give  up  his  weapon,  so  tried 
to  parley  with  them.  Negotiations  were  getting  to  the 
straining  point  and  something  was  about  to  happen 
when  the  stage  hove  in  sight.  This  frightened  the 
Indians  and  they  left  immediately.  This  was  in  1861 
and  soon  thereafter  Mr.  Featherman  left  Colorado  for 
East  Bannack,  Montana,  but  landed  at  West  Bannack, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  the  wholesale  and  butcher 
business  at  Boise  City  for  three  years.  Here  he  built 
the  third  or  fourth  house  in  that  place.  In  the  spring 
of  1S66  he  came  to  Montana,  landing  first  in  Helena, 
where  he  sojourned  only  a short  time  and  whence  he 


went  to  Carpenter’s  Bar,  prospecting  in  the  latter  place 
for  a number  of  months.  He  then  returned  to  Helena, 
where  he  again  turned  his  attention  to  the  meat  busi- 
ness. Later  he  opened  another  market  at  Blackfoot 
City,  but  eventually  closed  both  these  places  and  went 
to  Reynolds  City,  where  he  resided  for  three  years  and 
where  he  conducted  a meat  market  and  a general  store. 
In  the  fall  of  1870  he  disposed  of  all  his  interests  in 
Montana  and  went  to  California,  but  remained  in  that 
state  only  during  the  winter.  The  next  spring  he 
returned  to  Montana  and  located  at  Deer  Lodge  and 
there  devoted  his  attention  to  the  mercantile  business 
for  the  ensuing  two  years,  when  he  removed  to  New 
Chicago.  He  has  the  distinction  of  having  established 
in  1872,  and  named  that  little  town  and  he  built  the 
first  house  there.  He  opened  a store  and  ran  it  with 
success  for  a number  of  years  and  likewise  conducted 
stores  at  Drummond  and  Philipsburgh.  Fie  became 
interested  in  ranching  in  the  vicinity  of  New  Chicago 
and  also  devoted  considerable  attention  to  stock-raising. 
In  1903  he  sold  out  all  his  interests,  except  that  in  the 
Featherman  Mercantile  Company  at  Drummond,  and 
established  his  home  at  Drummond,  where  he  now  leads 
a retired  life,  acting  only  in  an  advisory  capacity  in 
the  conduct  of  the  mercantile  business. 

In  politics  Mr.  Featherman  is  an  unswerving  sup- 
porter of  the  principles  and  policies  for  which  the  Re- 
publican party  stands  sponsor.  Fie  has  served  on  the 
school  board  and  for  many  years  was  the  popular  and 
efficient  incumbent  of  the  office  of  postmaster  at  New 
Chicago.  Fie  has  frequently  been  urged  to  run  for 
other  public  offices  but  would  never  do  so. 

In  the  time-honored  Masonic  order  he  is  a member  of 
Ruby  Lodge,  No.  36,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  in 
which  he  is  past  master  and  of  which  he  has  been  treas- 
urer for  four  years.  He  has  also  taken  all  the  degrees 
of  the  York  Rite,  and  is  a Noble  of  the  Mystic  Shrine. 
Fie  a|,tends  church  but  is  not  a regular  member.  He 
devotes  considerable  leisure  time  to  fishing  and  is 
e.xceedingly  fond  of  good  music,  declaring  he  would  sit 
up  all  night  any  time  to  hear  a good  quartette.  He 
favors  automobiling  and  has  a fine  car  for  his  private 
use.  In  regard  to  Montana  he  says : “There  is  no 

better  place  in  the  world  than  this  state.  Its  future  is 
exceedingly  bright.  It  is  a country  with  honest  at- 
tractions, a place  for  men  to  accomplish  big  things 
and  the  only  state  in  the  Union  that  can  put  that  merry 
twinkle  of  satisfaction  in  the  eye  of  every  man.” 

Mr.  Featherman  takes  a prominent  part  in  all  that 
tends  to  promote  the  growth  and  welfare  of  his  home 
town  and  community.  In  191T  he  and  one  of  his 
associates,  J.  W.  Blair,  erected  the  Palace  Flotel,  one 
of  the  finest  concerns  of  its  kind  in  Montana.  He  is 
unmarried  and  has  a niece.  Miss  Bertha  J.  Featherman, 
who  keeps  house  for  him. 

John  Wendel  was  born  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  on 
November  22,  1863.  His  father,  John  Wendel,  was  a 
lumberman  by  trade,  following  the  calling  in  which  his 
father  had  engaged,  and  also  that  in  which  the  family  of 
his  wife,  Katrina  Heinzehnan.  had  worked  for  genera- 
tions. John  Wendel  was  a man  of  consequence  in  his 
native  city,  in  which  he  served  as  alderman  for  a period 
of  twelve  years.  When  his  advancing  years  rendered 
public  service  too  onerous  a burden,  he  retired  and 
spent  the  rest  of  his  days  in  the  quiet  of  his  home.  Mr. 
Wendel’s  maternal  grandfather,  John  Heinzelman,  was 
one  of  the  soldiers  who  accompanied  Napoleon  on  the 
disastrous  march  to  Moscow,  and  he  was  one  of  the 
few  who  lived  to  return,  and  to  resume  his  business  of 
lumbering  in  the  historic  region  of  the  Black  Forest. 

John  Wendel  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  his 
native  province  and  he  also  attended  the  training  school 
in  the  night  sessions.  From  this  latter  he  received  a 
certificate,  which  was  granted  after  he  had  passed  a 
rigid  examination  in  the  city  of  Freudenstadt.  This 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


981 


docnment  gave  assurance  that  his  training  and  educa- 
tion entitled  him  to  precedence  as  a master  baker.  He 
received  this  diploma  in  1882  and  previous  to  this  time 
he  had  assisted  his  father  at  the  lumbering  operations 
in  the  Black  Forest.  For  a year  after  finishing  the 
trade  school  Mr.  Wendel  worked  at  his  chosen  vocation 
in  his  home  province.  He  then  went  to  Mulhausen,  in 
-Alsace,  where  he  added  to  his  professional  knowledge 
by  learning  the  French  methods  and  processes  in  the 
bakery  craft.  He  mastered  this  as  thoroughly  as  he 
had  the  German  art  of  cookery,  and  with  this  e.xpert 
training,  came  to  America  in  1885. 

Until  September,  1886,  Mr.  Wendel  was  employed  in 
New  York  City.  Upon  leaving  the  eastern  metropolis 
he  came  directly  to  Helena,  where  he  worked  for  just 
one  week  and  then  went  to  Butte.  Here  he  remained 
until  July  of  the  following  year,  when  he  again  re- 
turned to  Helena.  He  decided  to  cast  his  lot  with  the 
capital  city,  and  it  has  been  his  home  since  that  date, 
and  the  scene  of  his  success. 

Mr.  Wendel's  first  position  here  was  with  the  Reinig 
Bakery,  and  he  kept  this  until  July  i,  1889.  By  this 
time  he  had  established  a reputation  as  an  expert  in 
his  line,  and  he  had  likewise  made  an  extensive  acquaint- 
ance among  an  appreciative  class  of  patrons.  He  now 
established  a business  of  his  own,  and  put  up  his  own 
plant.  His  principal  store  was  located  on  State  street, 
but  he  also  operated  a shop  in  the  Diamond  block, 
which  was  opened  for  trade  in  September,  1889. 
Shortly  after  this  Mr.  Wendel  secured  a lease  of  the 
Reinig  Bakery,  which  he  still  operates,  along  with  other 
well  equipped  establishments.  The  handsome  residence 
of  the  Wendels  is  located  on  First  street,  and  on  the 
rear  of  the  grounds  are  situated  his  large  ovens  and 
bakery  plant.  The  building  is  thirty-five  by  one  hun- 
dred feet  and  it  is  furnished  with  every  modern  device 
known  to  the  best  of  such  workshops  in  the  country. 
On  his  place  are  also  situated  the  dwellings  for  his 
employes,  the  lots  on  which  these  stand  being  back  of 
the  bakery.  Convenient  to  these  are  the  stables  which 
lodge  the  horses  and  the  wagons  necessary  to  the  busi- 
ness. The  entire  plant  is  a model  of  convenience  and 
of  the  best  modern  ideas  in  the  baking  industry. 

Mr.  Wendel  has  large  holdings  in  different  mining 
properties.  He  is  interested  in  placer  mining  in  Deer 
Lodge  county,  and  he  also  owns  the  Badger  mine  in 
the  Warm  Springs  district  of  Jefferson  county.  This 
mine  is  a large  producer,  and  the  ore  is  being  con- 
stantly shipped  from  it,  as  it  is  a most  valuable  property. 

Like  his  father,  this  John  Wendel  has  served  on  his 
city  council.  In  1898  he  was  elected  alderman  by  a 
majority  of  over  too  votes,  and  two  years  later  was 
reelected  and  served  in  the  council  twelve  years.  He 
was  chairman  of  the  water  and  lights  committee  and 
was  on  the  streets  and  alleys  committee.  He  was 
president  of  the  council  for  the  last  five  years  of  his 
service.  A member  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
church,  he  has  always  been  a zealous  worker  for  the 
advancement  of  that  body. 

On  February  2,  1890,  Mr.  Wendel  was  married  to 
Miss  Henrietta  Reiss,  of  Syracuse,  New  York.  There 
were  five  children  born  of  the  union  of  Miss  Reiss  and 
Mr.  Wendel,  as  follows : Edward  J.,  born  January  6, 
i8gi ; Kate  S.,  June  24,  1892;  John  G.,  September  22, 
189s ; Theodore  M.,  October  5,  1897 ; and  Henrietta  L., 
April  9,  1900.  The  mother  of  this  family  died  on 
March  4,  1904,  and  the  following  September  Mr. 
Wendel  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Charlotte 
Goettlich,  of  Booneville,  Indiana.  Two  children  were 
the  fruit  of  this  union;  Lawrence  A.,  born  December 
3,  1906,  and  Charlotte  M.  E.,  born  September  9,  1908. 

In  1907  Mr.  Wendel  was  sent  to  the  legislature  by  the 
Republican  party,  which  he  has  always  loyally  sup- 


ported. He  is  indeed,  a veritable  “'Rathsherr”  of  the 
noble  type  winch  his  father  represented  in  the  home- 
land. 

Colonel  Thom.vs  Cruse.  It  is  impossible  to  estimate 
the  value  of  a man  like  Colonel  Cruse  to  the  community 
m which  ne  lives,  for  the  reason  that  his  services  are  be- 
yond computation.  Coming  to  Montana  in  his  youn<- 
manhood,  he  lias  poured  out  without  stint  his  energy 
and  ability  in  the  development  of  his  state.  One  of  the 
foremost  mining  men  in  the  northwest,  his  fame  is  per- 
haps  greatest  in  that  line,  but  his  activities  have  not 
been  confined  to  mining  alone,  they  have  been  equally 
as  great  in  the  stock-growing  and  banking  business. 
Colonel  Thomas  Cruse  is  a Montanian  all  the  time,  and 
m this  respect  is  a rarity  among  men  who  have  wrested 
great  fortunes  from  the  rugged  mountains  and  smiling 
valleys  of  the  Treasure  state.  He  elects  to  remain 
where  he  made  his  fortune,  and  to  use  it  in  the  develop- 
ment of  more  wealth  for  the  benefit  of  his  fellow-man. 
I\venty-five  thousand  dollars  a year  is  a conservative 
estimate  of  the  amount  of  money  annually  expended  by 
Colonel  Cruse  in  the  exploration  and  development  of 
mines.  In  his  home  city,  Helena,  he  is  identified  with 
every  vital  and  living  thing  looking  to  the  advancement 
of  social  and  religious  progress.  His  contributions  to 
icligioiis  institutions  alone  within  the  past  few  years 
have  amounted  to  more  than  half  a million  dollars,  and 
he  was  by  far  the  largest  contributor  toward  the  beauti- 
ful new^  cathedral  in  his  home  city.  His  life  history  is 
an  inspiration  to  all  aspiring  young  men,  and  will  long 
be  referred  to  as  an  example  well  worth  following  for 
the  brilliant  success  achieved  from  advantages  that  were 
not  as  good  as  the  average. 

Colonel  Thomas  Cruse  is  a native  of  Ireland,  and  was 
born  in  County  Cavan  in  March,  1836.  His  parents 
were  typical  of  that  vigorous  and  aggressive  race,  and 
from  them  he  inherited  those  sterling  qualities  of  mind 
and  heart  that  have  made  him  the  successful  and  domi- 
nant figure  he  is  today.  He  received  such  education  in 
his  native  land  as  was  available,  and  early  determined 
to  better  his  condition  by  casting  his  lot  with  the  “Land 
of  the  Free.”  At  the  age  of  twenty  years  he  embarked 
for  America,  and  landed  in  New  York  in  1856,  where  he 
rernained  until  1863.  Believing  there  were  better  oppor- 
tunities for  a young  man  in  the  far  west  he  decided  to 
go  to  California,  and  to  determine  upon  an  enterprise 
affecting  his  fortune  was  as  good  as  accomplished  by 
the  indefatigable  young  man.  He  went  by  steamer,  and 
by  way  of  the  Isthmus  of  Panama.  Arriving  in  Califor- 
nia, he  passed  the  time  in  endeavoring  to  better  his 
fortunes  between  that  state,  Nevada  and  Idaho.  Mining 
was  his  favorite  pursuit,  and  this  he  followed  with  fair 
success.  In  1866  the  fame  of  Alder  Gulch  in  Montana 
attracted  his  attention,  and  he  determined  to  try  his 
fortune  in  that  land  of  promise.  He  followed  placer 
mining  in  Alder  Gulch  until  the  winter  of  1866-7,  when 
he  returned  to  Idaho,  during  the  Salmon  river  stampede, 
for  new  diggings.  Disappointed  at  the  outlook  in  Idaho, 
Colonel  Cruse  returned  to  Montana  in  the  following 
summer,  arriving  at  Helena  on  July  fourth.  The  follow- 
ing day  he  went  to  Trinity  Gulch,  a few  miles  north  of 
Helena,  and  engaged  in  placer  mining.  In  that  camp 
and  Silver  creek,  nearby,  he  ended  his  placer  mining 
days  on  the  discovery  of  the  great  Drum  Lummon  mine, 
a gold  mine  that  has  since  produced  $30,000,000,  and 
which  was  sold  by  Colonel  Cruse  for  $1,500,000,  to  an 
English  syndicate. 

At  the  present  time  Colonel  Cruse  is  more  actively  en- 
gaged in  mining  than  at  any  time  in  his  life.  The  large 
proposition  under  his  direction,  the  Bald  Mountain 
mines,  at  Marysville,  which  are  developed  to  a depth  of 
1,100  feet,  and  equipped  with  a milling  plant  of  twenty 
stamps  and  an  auxiliary  plant  for  cyaniding  the  mill 
tailings.  He  is  also  engaged  in  developing  other  prop- 


982 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


erties  and  his  activities  are  such  as  to  excite  the  admira- 
tion of  liis  fellow  citizens. 

An  institution  that  is  a great  source  of  pride  to 
Colonel  Cruse  and  a distinct  credit  as  well  as  great  bene- 
fit to  Helena  is  the  Thomas  Cruse  Savings  Bank,  estab- 
lished by  Colonel  Cruse  in  1887,  and  the  first  institution 
of  its  kind  in  Montana.  It  ranks  among  the  very  strong- 
est banks  in  the  state,  and  has  been  a success  front  its 
inception,  and  illustrates  the  business  foresight  and  judg- 
ment' of  its  founder,  who  has  been  its  only  president. 
The  Thomas  Cruse  Savings  Bank  transacts  a general 
banking  business  in  addition  to  the  savings  department, 
and  deals  in  all  kinds  of  high  grade  securities.  Its 
management  is  able,  conservative  and  such  as  to  merit 
the  confidence  of  discriminating  patrons. 

Colonel  Cruse  is  a man  of  extensive  and  varied  inter- 
ests, among  which  is  that  of  stock-raising,  and  he  is  the 
owner  of  one  of  the  largest  ranches  in  the  state.  He  is 
noted  for  his  sterling  character,  uprightness  and  strict 
integrity  in  all  his  dealings.  His  religious  faith  is  that 
in  which  he  was  reared,  and  he  is  an  honored  member  of 
the  Roman  Catholic  church  and  contributes  generously 
towards  its  support.  His  charitable  contributions  are 
large  and  are  given  with  discriminating  judgment  and 
wisdom.  . 

He  married  Miss  Margaret  Carter  m 1880.  She  was  a 
sister  of  the  late  United  States  Senator  Thomas  H. 
Carter.  Mrs.  Cruse  died  within  a year  of  her  marriage, 
leaving  one  daughter,  Mary.  Associated  with  Colonel 
Cruse  in  many  of  his  interests,  particularly  those  of 
banking  and  mining,  are  his  two  nephews,  Frank  H. 
Cruse  and  Will  Cruse,  the  former  being  vice  president 
of  the  Thomas  Cruse  Savings  Bank.  a-,-  , , 

Politically  Colonel  Cruse  has  always  been  afhhated 
with  the  Democratic  party,  but  has  never  desired  or 
soimht  political  honors,  but  it  is  certain  that  one  of  his 
indomitable  character  and  native  force  would  have  suc- 
ceeded in  the  political  field  the  same  as  he  has  m his 
other  fields  of  endeavor  had  his  inclinations  so  led  him 
Remarkably  well  preserved  for  one  of  his  yeais,  and 
one  of  the  oldest  active  business  men  m Montana.  Col- 
onel Cruse  maintains  a very  close  supervision  of  his  ex 
tensive  interests  with  the  same  rare  judgment  that 
characterized  his  business  transactions  of  a quarter  ot  a 
century  ago.  Fie  has  witnessed  the  great  transforma- 
tion in  the  Treasure  state,  and  few  are  living  today  who 
have  taken  any  more  active  part  m this  wonderful 
change. 

Robert  Lee  Kelley  was  born  January  2,  1866,  at 
Grizzly  Gulch,  Montana,  but  during  the  autumn  of  the 
same  year  his  parents  removed  to  Deer  Lodge,  Mon- 
tana After  attending  the  public  schools  of  Dee 
Lodge  he  entered  the  College  of  Montana,  located  in 
the  same  town,  specializing  in  civil  engmeeimg  He 
left  college  in  the  fall  of  1887  and  at  hrst  followed 
mining  and  prospecting  in  Montana  unti  1900,  and 
was  fairly  successful.  In  1901  he  was  elected  cle  k 
of  the  district  court  of  Powell  county,  on  the  Detno- 
cratic  ticket,  and  has  been  reelected  each  time  since 
to  the  same  office.  He  works  in  the  interests  of  his 
party  in  a quiet  and  systematic  way,  has  a host  ot 
friends  and  is  progressive  and  popular. 

Mr  Kelley  is  the  owner  of  promising  mining  property 
and  of  city  realty.  He  is  a member  of  the  K of  P. 
Lodge;  of  the  M.  of  E. ; of  the  M.  W.  of  A.,  and  secre- 
tary of  the  ‘‘United  Artisans.  ’ He  is  also  a membei 
of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

He  married  Miss  Gertrude  A.  Galbraith,  daughter 
of  Judge  William  A.  Galbraith,  of , Pennsylvania.  Five 
children  have  been  born  of  this  union : Margaret,  now 

Mrs  W F Ganschow,  of  Chicago;  Warren  L..  as- 
sistant in  his  father’s  0^^;  Jeannette,  who  is  a 
scholar  in  the  high  school;  and  Georgia  and  Llo>d,  the 
younger  members  of  the  household.  p„i-.Art 

The  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  Robert  S 


Kelley,  was  born  in  Virginia,  in  1831,  and  attended 
school  until  he  was  fourteen  years  of  age.  His  first 
work  was  as  a clerk  in  Missouri,  where  he  remained 
four  years.  In  1852  he  was  editor  of  the  Democratic 
Platform  at  Liberty,  Missouri.  He  sold  out  and  moved 
to  Atchison,  Kansas,  in  1853,  where  he  started  the 
Squatter  Sovereign,  which  he  published  for  two  years. 
He  then  sold  out  and  engaged  in  mercantile  business 
in  Kansas  City,  Missouri.  He  continued  there  until 
the  beginning  of  the  Civil  war,  when  he  joined  the  Con- 
federate army,  serving  as  a captain  until  1863,  when 
he  resigned  and  came  to  Montana,  settling  at  Alder 
Gulch  and  remaining  one  year.  Then  he  removed  to 
Helena  and  Grizzly  Gulch.  In  1866  he  located  in  Deer 
Lodge  and  began  mercantile  business  with  J.  S.  Pem- 
berton, remaining  five  years.  At  the  end  of  this  time 
he  sold  out  and  engaged  in  mining  until  his  death, 
September  19,  1890.  Mr.  Kelley  had  the  distinction  of 
owning  claim  No.  2,  at  Helena,  Momana,  located  in 
Grizzly  Gulch.  Fie  was  appointed  U.  S.  marshal  for 
Montana  by  President  Cleveland  in  1885.  He  owned 
mining  property  at  Pioneer  City  and  Squaw  Gulch  in 
1872  and  had  an  interest  in  the  Rock  Creek  Ditch  Com- 
pany. The  Kelley  Hogan  and  Company  property  at 
Pioneer  City  proved  a success  and  he  also  opened  other 
quartz  propefties  successfully.  Mr.  Kelley  built  several 
fine  substantial  buildings  in  Deer  Lodge. 

The  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  Mary 
L.  Foreman  Kelley,  who  was  born  at  Memphis,  Mis- 
souri, in  1840.  She  is  now  living  at  Deer  Lodge.  Of 
the  children  in  the  parents’  household,  two  are  deceased; 
Katie  is  now  Mrs.  Welling  Napton,  of  Missoula,  Mon- 
tana; Nannie  B.  is  now  Mrs.  C.  D.  Joslyn,  of  Portland, 
Oregon;  the  third  child  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 
Georgia  K.  is  now  Mrs.  Lon  Hoss,  of  Portland,  Ore- 
gon; Floward,  of  Seattle,  Washington;  Florence,  of 
Portland,  Oregon;  Lamar,  of  Portland,  Oregon;  "War- 
ren, who  died  at  Deer  Lodge ; and  Perry,  in  Kansas. 

Mr.  Robert  Lee  Kelley  is  a great  lover  of  music  and 
his  favorite  instrument  is  the  cornet.  He  is  a popular 
man  and  efficient  in  all  he  undertakes. 

Lewis  Coleman.  In  reviewing  the  life  of  this  Mon- 
tana pioneer — for  nearly  forty  years  a resident  of  Deer 
Lodge,  a citizen  of  the  highest  type  and  an  official  of 
most  creditable  record — it  is  of  especial  interest  to 
consider  in  some  detail  not  only  biographical  but  gen- 
ealogical facts.  For  not  only  was  Lewis  Coleman  him- 
self a pioneer,  but  his  progenitors  through  five  genera- 
tions have  been  of  the  same  type. 

The  birth  of  Lewis  Coleman,  second  son  and  third 
child  of  John  Coleman  and  Mary  Boyer,  his  wife,  oc- 
curred in  Germantown,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  in 
May  of  1842.  When  he  was  eighteen  years  _ of  age 
he  followed  an  impulse  similar  to  that  which  had 
led  his  ancestors  in  a westerly  direction  and  went  to 
Colorado,  where  he  engaged  in  mining.  It  was  while 
he  was  in  that  state  that  the  Civil  war  began  and  Lewis 
Coleman  enlisted  in  1862— at  the  age  of  twenty— in 
Company  K,  Third  Colorado  Infantry.  At  Leaven- 
worth, Kansas,  this  regiment  became  the  Second  Colo- 
rado Cavalry,  and  in  its  ranks  Mr.  Coleman  served, 
under  General  Curtis,  on  the  frontiers  and  in  several 
battles.  His  command  was  discharged  at  Fort  Leaven- 
worth in  the  autumn  of  1865. 

Mr.  Coleman’s  first  activity  after  the  close  of  the 
war  was  in  the  capacity  of  hotel  clerk  in  Kanps  City. 
While  doing  this  work  he  succeeded  in  finding  time 
for  pursuing  some  practical  studies  in  a night  school 
of  the  city  In  1866  he  came  by  way  of  Colorado  to 
Montana,  where  he  first  located  at  Virginia  city.  Thence 
he  went  to  Highland  Gulch,  where.  except_  for  the  in- 
terruption occasioned  by  his  participation  in  the  8m- 
mon  river  stampede”  in  1867,  he  remained  until  1869. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


983 


In  that  year  Mr.  Coleman  took  up  his  residence  in 
Deer  Lodge,  which  was  his  home  from  that  time 
throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life.  His  activities 
during  the  years — almost  two  score — of  his  citizenship 
in  Deer  Lodge  were  of  many  kinds,  the  commercial 
and  political  being  predominant.  He  was  connected 
with  the  grocery  business,  first  as  accountant  for  the 
firm  of  Osborne  and  Denney,  and  later  as  an  associate 
of  Murphy,  Higgins  and  Company,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained for  thirteen  years.  He  gradually  established 
an  unassailable  reputation  for  efficiency  and  trust- 
worthiness in  whatever  he  undertook.  With  such  high 
standing  it  is  not  surprising  that  positions  of  public 
trust  soon  began  to  come  to  him. 

In  1874  Territorial  Governor  Potts  appointed  Mr. 
Coleman  one  of  the  directors  of  the  penitentiary.  Four 
years  later  he  was  elected  by  the  people  of  Powell 
county  to  the  responsible  office  of  county  treasurer.  In 
1886  he  was  chosen  sheriff,  and  after  his  two  years  of 
service  in  that  capacity  he  was  again  honored  by  elec- 
tion to  the  office  of  county  treasurer.  In  July,  1890, 
he  was  appointed  by  President  Harrison  to  the  post- 
mastership of  Deer  Lodge.  His  incumbency  of  this  civil 
position  began  on  September  i,  1890,  and  on  Decem- 
ber 9,  1903,  he  was  appointed  by  President  Roose- 
velt for  a second  term  of  service.  He  again  succeeded 
himself  in  this  office  in  January,  1908,  and  continued 
in  its  important  administrative  activities  until  the  time 
of  his  death.  Other  municipal  offices  which  he  held 
were  those  of  alderman  and  city  treasurer. 

The  domestic  life  of  Mr.  Coleman  began  soon  after 
he  took  up  his  residence  in  Deer  Lodge.  On  Septem- 
ber 21,  1871,  at  Highland  Gulch,  Montana,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Cynthia  J.  Kantner.  She 
was  a native  of  Indiana  and  a daughter  of  Benjamin 
and  Eliza  (Surten)  Kantner,  of  Lewis  county,  that 
state.  She  was  born  in  that  locality  on  July  24,  1850. 
Her  father  died  when  she  was  but  seven  years  of 
age.  Her  mother  remarried,  her  second  husband  be- 
ing Robert  Burdess,  who  came  to  Montana  in  1864. 
With  other  members  of  the  family,  Cynthia  Kantner 
had  joined  him  in  1868.  At  that  time  the  Union 
Pacific  Railway  brought  passengers  only  to  Cheyenne, 
Wyoming,  from  which  point  it  was  necessary,  as  Mrs. 
Coleman  vividly  remembers,  to  continue  the  journey 
by  stage  to  Virginia  Citv,  Montana.  The  Kantner-Cole- 
man  marriage  took  place  on  September  21,  1871.  They 
became  the  parents  of  the  five  sons,  of  whom  data  of 
birth,  marriage  and  vocation  are  given  below. 

William  E.  Coleman  was  born  June  22,  1872.  He 
married  Miss  Alberta  Chynick,  of  Bonner,  Montana, 
and  he  and  his  wife  are  now  residents  of  Anaconda. 
Lewis  J.  Coleman  was  born  on  April  10,  1874.  He 
married  Miss  Lydia  Seafield,  of  Anaconda,  and  is  the 
father  of  one  daughter,  Lewanna  Coleman,  born  on 
January  15,  1907.  He  resides  with  his  family  in 
Anaconda.  James  Robert  Coleman  was  born  March 
19,  1876:  he  married  Miss  Frieda  Stark,  and  their  son, 
James  R.  Coleman,  was  born  May  2,  1907.  Charles 
Dellinger  Coleman  was  born  July  19,  1878,  and  died 
at  the  age  of  two  years.  Paul  Hart  Coleman  was  born 
January  7,  1884,  and  is  now  a resident  of  Anaconda. 
All  the  sons  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Coleman  were  born  in 
Deer  Lodge. 

Mr.  Coleman  was  one  of  the  strongest  men  in  his 
party  in  Powell  county.  He  was  a stanch  Republican 
and  one  of  nrinciples  higher  even  than  his  partisan 
loyalty.  It  can  be  said  of  him  that  he  was  the  only 
man  who  was  able  to  break  up  the  party  slate  of 
the  bosses  that  dominated  that  county  prior  to  the 
division  that  set  off  Deer  Lodge  and  Granite  counties 
from  Powell  county.  His  acquaintance  included  the 
prominent  men  of  the  state  and  his  friends  were 
legion.  His  many  acts  of  kindness  went  to  show  the 
big  heart  he  possessed  and  to  which  his  countless  ac- 
quaintances could  bear  witness.  A thorough  gentle- 


man, courteous,  affable  and  polite,  his  fitness  for  pub- 
lic office  was  further  augmented  by  his  splendid  ability 
as  a penman.  A quiet,  unassuming  man,  devoted  to 
his  family,  a Christian  gentleman  and  a model  citizen 
■ — this  is  the  characterization  given  him  by  those  who 
knew  him  best. 

I As  a prominent  member  of  the  local  post  of  the 

/ Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  of  the  Free  and  Ac- 
cepted Masons  and  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows and  of  the  Episcopal  church,  j\Ir.  Coleman  is 

' vividly  remembered  and  deeply  missed.  His  widow 
is  still  a resident  of  Deer  Lodge  and  is  one  of  the  es- 
timable ladies  of  that  place. 

Lewis  Coleman’s  grandmother,  IMary  Schaeffer  Boyer, 
was  a granddaughter  of  that  early  Pennsylvanian  who 
owned  and  sold  the  large  tract  of  land  now  largely 
occupied  by  the  present  city  of  Germantown,  Pennsyl- 
vania. Selling  this  land  at  what  he  considered  an  ad- 
vantageous price,  he  removed  his  family  and  effects  to 
another  extensive  tract  which  he  had  purchased  in 
the  interior  of  the  state.  That  region  was,  at  the 
time  of  his  locating  within  it,  a frontier  section  of 
Pennsylvania.  Indian  raids  were  not  unusual  and 
one  such  attack  resulted  in  the  death  of  this  pioneer 
and  his  wife  at  the  hands  of  the  savages.  Their 
two  children,  Catherine  and  an  infant  sister,  were 
seized  by  the  Indians  and  carried  away  by  them.  The 
younger  sister  soon  died  from  exposure,  but  the  girl 
Catherine  for  seven  years  remained  in  captivity.  Be- 
ing a young  woman  of  more  than  ordinary  intelligence 
and  force  of  character,  she  won  a remarkable  degree 
of  respect  and  deference  from  her  wild  captors.  Her 
understanding  ' of  the  medicinal  efficacy  of  various 
herbs  added  to  the  high  esteem  in  which  she  was  held, 
and  she  became  a noted  doctress  among  members  of 
the  tribe,  who  greatly  prized  her  services.  This  band 
— probably  of  the  Miami  Indians — in  their  wanderings 
traversed  an  extensive  part  of  southern  Ohio.  It  was 
while  they  were  in  that  part  of  the  country  that  the 
Pennsylvania  girl  captive,  who  was  permitted  much 
liberty  in  going  about  to  gather  her  herbs,  was  one 
day  surprised  to  hear  the  sound  of  hammering.  Trac- 
ing the  sound  for  some  distance,  she  came  to  the  bank 
of  a stream,  down  which  a raft  was  about  to  be 
floated  by  some  white  men.  Astonished  to  see  a young, 
white  woman  in  Indian  garb,  they  listened  with  eager 
interest  to  her  story  of  captivity  and  endeavored  to 
persuade  her  to  join  them  in  order  to  secure  her  liberty. 
But  she  preferred  remaining  among  her  respectful  and 
considerate  captors  to  joining  strangers  of  whom  she 
knew  nothing.  She  requested  these  men,  however,  to 
report  her  predicament  to  authorities  who  should  en- 
ter into  negotiations  with  the  Indians  for  her  release. 
In  the  course  of  time  that  end  was  accomplished,  her 
leavetaking  of  this  Miami  band  being  accompanied 
with  gifts  of  valuable  trinkets  and  other  highly  prized 
articles.  Returning  to  the  friends  of  her  family  in 
Pennsylvania,  she  resumed  the  habits  of  civilization  and 
was  later  married  to  a young  man  named  Schaeffer. 
One  of  her  daughters,  ]\Iary  Schaeffer,  became  IMrs. 
George  Boyer,  and  with  her  Catherine  Schaeffer  lived 
in  the  days  of  her  widowhood.  It  was  then  that  her 
reminiscences  of  the  fine  country  to  the  west,  in  which 
the  Indians  lived  and  hunted,  aroused  such  interest 
that  in  1804  a colony  of  emigrants  from  that  section 
of  Pennsylvania  migrated  to  Ohio.  Their  long  jour- 
ney by  wagon  was  one  in  which  this  lady  acted  to  a 
great  extent  as  guide.  She  it  was  who  gave  the  new 
settlement  in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  the  same  name 
as  that  borne  by  the  village  of  her  father’s  early  com- 
munity. Catherine  Schaeffer  lived  in  Germantown, 
Ohio,  to  the  end  of  her  life,  rendering  valuable  serv- 
ice through  her  knowled.ge  of  medicine  and  of  life 
in  a new,  wild  region.  That  colony  included  among 
its  other  settlers  George  Coleman,  whose  son  John 


984 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


later  married  Mary  Boyer,  a daughter  of  Mary  Schaef- 
fer Boyer  and  a granddaughter  of  Catherine  Schaeffer. 

George  Coleman  was  the  father  of  eleven  children, 
among  the  five  sons  of  which  John  Coleman  was 
third  His  marriage  to  Mary  Boyer  took  place  on 
April  15,  1835.  Of  the  si.x  children  of  John  and  Mary 
Coleman,  two  sons,  William  and  Lewis,  became  Montana 
pioneers,  thus  continuing  the  family  tradition  made 
notable  by  their  grandfather,  George  Coleman,  their 
distinguished  ancestress,  Catherine  Schaeffer,  and  their 
earlier  progenitor  of  Germantown  liistory. 


Roderick  D.  McR.\e.  What  Montana  was  in  the  days 
at  the  mining  camp  and  what  it  has  become  during  the 
era  when  mine  and  ranch  and  farm  together  produce  the 
wonderful  resources  of  the  state— all  this  Roderick  D 
iUcRae  has  witnessed,  and  has  himself  been  no  small 
Hetor  in  helping  to  create.  Mr.  McRae  knew  Virginia 
Uty  and  other  mining  camps  during  the  ’60s  and  has 
tor  more  than  forty  years  been  more  or  less  identified 
with  the  mineral  industries.  At  Philipsburg,  his  home 
town,  where  he  has  long  been  one  of  the  influential  citi- 
zens, lie  IS  probably  best  known  as  a prosperous  rancher 
His  career  is  an  interesting  one,  and  in  many  respects 
typical  of  the  class  of  men  who  have  made  Montana 
one  of  the  richest  states  of  the  Union. 

Born  m Canada  in  February,  1845,  educated  in  the 
common  schools,  he  earned  his  first  money  when  a boy 
ot  about  seventeen  by  working  in  the  lumber  camps 
starting  at  thirteen  dollars  a month.  Most  of  this  sal- 
ary he  gave  to  his  parents,  and  continued  his  work 
among  the  lumber  woods  of  Canada  until  he  was  of 
age.  l.y  that  time  he  had  saved  enough  to  enable  him 
to  start  out  in  seeking  his  own  fortunes.  The  destina- 
tion he  chose  was  the  great  west  of  the  United  States 
and  how  he  finally  arrived  in  Montana  is  a little  storv 
01  itself. 


With  Denver  as  his  objective  point,  he  traveled  by 
lailroad  as  far  as  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  and  then  by  boat 
to  Nebraska  City.  There  he  and  three  others  made  up 
a party,  and  hiring  a team,  set  out  for  Denver  Half 
way  across  the  prairies,  they  met  a large  freighting  out- 
fit bound  for  Montana.  After  brief  negotiations,  they 
abandoned  their  course  toward  Denver  and  hired  out 
to  the  freighters  as  body  guards  for  the  long  journey 
into  the  northwest.  He  really  walked  all  the  distance, 
and  thus  arrived,  after  many  weary  miles  of  trudging 
over  prairies  and  mountain  trails,  at  Virginia  City  in  the 
year  1866. 

In  the  years  that  have  elapsed  since  then  he  has  had 
no  permanent  residence^  elsewhere  than  in  Montana,  he 
has  worked  and  done  his  share  in  developing  the  terri- 
tory to  a state,  and  is  today  one  of  the  most  loyal  citi- 
zens of  this  commonwealth.  For  the  first  year  he  was 
engaged  in  mining  at  Virginia  City.  The  Montana  & 
St.  Louis  Mining  Company  (now  the  Hope  Company) 
then  proposed  that  he  go  to  the  new  settlement  of  Phil- 
ipsburg  and  work  on  their  new  mill.  During  his  em- 
ployment with  that  company  he  took  the  first  ore  out 
of  what  has  since  been  known  as  the  famous  Hope  Mine. 
At  that  time  there  were  very  few  roads  anywhere  in 
this  region,  and  one  had  to  be  constructed  in  order 
to  get  access  to  Philipsburg.  Thus  he  was  present  dur- 
ing the  period  of  infancy  of  the  pleasant  little  city  where 
he  now  has  his  residence.  For  several  years  he  contin- 
ued at  mining  in  and  about  this  locality,  and  it  is  his’ 
distinction  that  he  discovered  the  famous  North  Star 
copper  mine,  now  one  of  the  rich  deposits  of  this  dis- 
trict. 

Mr.  McRae  then  bought  a ranch  in  this  vicinity,  and 
for  more  than  thirty  years  has  devoted  most  of  his  at- 
tention to  ranching  and  the  stock  business,  which  he 
has  conducted  on  an  extensive  scale.  At  the  same  time 
he  has  been  interested  in  the  prospecting  or  practical 
operation  of  mines.  His  residence  for  some  years  has 


been  in  Philipsburg,  from  which  center  he  manages  his 
other  business  affairs. 

At  Deer  Lodge,  this  state,  Mr.  McRae  was  married, 
June  10,  i873»  to  Miss  Minerva  Burden,  daughter  of 
Thomas  & Fannie  (Hornsby)  Burden.  Six  children  have 
come  into  their  home,  one  daughter,  Minnie  Frances, 
dying  in  infancy,  and  the  other  five  are  as  follows: 
Roderick  D.,  Jr.,  who  is  married  and  a resident  of  Phil- 
ipsburg; Margaret,  the  wife  of  Frank  Holten,  of  Lew- 
iston, Idaho;  William,  married,  who  now  lives  in  Gran- 
ite county;  Mamie,  wife  of  Charles  Powell,  whose  home 
is  at  Basin  in  Boulder  county;  and  John,  who  is  single 
and  resides  at  Granite  City.  All  the  children  were  given 
good  school  and  home  advantages,  and  now  occupy  use- 
ful and  honorable  places  in  the  world’s  work.  Mr.  Mc- 
Rae is  a member  of  the  Philipsburg  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce, is  a Republican  in  politics,  and  takes  a very  ac- 
tive interest  in  the  local  and  general  affairs  of  govern- 
ment and  society.  At  home  the  welfare  of  the  public 
schools  has  interested  him,  and  he  has  been  a member 
of  the  school  board  at  Stone  for  many  years.  Frater- 
nally he  is  affiliated  with  the  Elks  lodge,  and  the  relig- 
ious preference  of  himself  and  wife  is  for  the  Presby- 
terian church.  Of  the  diversions  and  interests  of  life 
that  are  not  directly  connected  with  practical  affairs, 
the  sports  of  the  field  find  an  ardent  devotee  in  Mr. 
McRae.  He  is  especially  fond  of  fishing,  and  every 
fall  spends  a week  or  so  at  his  favorite  recreation 
haunts. 

Mr.  McRae’s  father,  Duncan  McRae,  was  a native  of 
Scotland,  and  came  to  Canada  during  his  youth.  Farm- 
ing was  his  life  occupation.  He  was  a very  devout 
Christian,  active  in  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  did 
much  practical  charity.  His  death  occurred  in  1894, 
when  he  was  eighty-four  years  of  age.  His  wife,  Mar- 
garet (Monroe)  McRae,  died  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
eight,  and  they  now  sleep  side  by  side  near  their  old 
home  in  Canada.  Of  the  eleven  children  in  the  family, 
Roderick  was  the  seventh. 

This  brief  sketch  should  not  be  closed  without  quo- 
ting some  of  Mr.  McRae’s  opinions  about  the  state 
where  he  now  resides,  and  of  which  few  men  are  better 
fitted  through  long  and  active  residence  to  give  a judg- 
ment. Montana,  he  thinks,  is  the  easiest  place  in  the 
world  to  make  a living  in,  and  the  best  place  to  recuper- 
ate financially.  Even  during  the  silver  crash,  when  all 
the  mines  were  shrouded  in  the  gloom  of  inactivity,  the 
depression  was  only  temporary.  The  people  shifted 
their  activities  into  other  channels,  and  were  soon  again 
prosperous  and  happy.  It  was  a godsend,  after  all,  this 
shutting  down  of  the  mines,  for  it  brought  the  people  to 
realize  that  they  had  the  finest  stock-ranch,  fruit-farm 
and  dairying  country  in  the  world.  And  now  the  best 
part  of  it  all  is,  that  the  mines  are  running  on  a larger 
scale  than  ever,  and  productive  industry  is  not  limited 
to  any  one  department.  The  Treasure  state  is  a real 
diamond — polished  and  perfect,  without  a flaw. 

James  M.  Page.  In  1866,  James  M.  Page  came  to 
Montana  and  has  made  this  state  his  home  continuously 
since  that  time.  During  the  intervening  period  he  has 
divided  his  time  between  ranching  and  surveying,  and 
for  a number  of  years  past  has  been  engaged  in  extend- 
ing the  public  surveys  in  nearly  every  county  in  the 
state  of  Montana.  His  life,  from  his  earliest  boyhood, 
has  been  one  of  the  most  strenuous  activity,  and  he  has 
been  a telling  factor  in  the  development  of  Madison 
county.  As  a pioneer  citizen  of  the  state  and  a man 
whose  life  has  been  of  the  greatest  worth  to  the 
commonwealth,  it  is  eminently  fitting  that  some  mention 
be  made  of  him  and  his  work  in  this  historical  and  bio- 
graphical publication. 

James  M.  Page  was  born  in  Crawford  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, on  July  22,  1839,  and  is  the  son  of  Wallace 
and  Nancy  (Bonney)  Page.  Both  were  natives  of 
Massachusetts,  where  the  father  was  born  in  1810  and 


■ : r 


V 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


985 


the  mother  in  i8i6.  They  were  both  reared  in  the 
state  of  their  birth  and  there  they  were  united  in  mar- 
riage, shortly  afterward  removing  to  Pennsylvania, 
where  Mr.  Page  followed  farming  as  an  occupation.  Pie 
died  on  September  i,  1840,  when  he  was  but  thirty  years 
of  age.  The  wife  and  mother  lived  until  1852,  pass- 
ing away  in  May  of  that  year.  She  is  buried  in 
Illinois.  They  were  the  parents  of  six  children,  of  which 
number  James  M.  was  the  fifth  born. 

When  he  was  four  years  old,  James  M.  Page  moved 
to  Michigan  with  his  mother,  and  he  made  his  home 
in  that  state  until  he  was  about  nineteen  years  of  age. 
He  was  but  an  infant  when  his  father’s  death  broke  up 
the  family,  and  he  fought  his  own  way  through  the 
world  from  the  age  of  eleven.  He  earned  his  first 
wage  as  a boy  of  that  tender  age  working  on  a farm, 
and  received  eleven  dollars  a month  for  his  labors. 
When  he  was  in  his  nineteenth  year  he  joined  a survey- 
ing party  operating  in  northern  Michigan,  and  later 
went  to  Minnesota  where  he  was  engaged  from  April, 
1858,  to  April,  1862,  in  extending  the  public  surveys  of 
the  northwestern  part  of  that  state.  In  1862  he  returned 
to  Michigan  for  the  purpose  of  offering  his  services  as 
a soldier  in  the  cause  of  the  Union.  He  entered  the 
Sixth  Michigan  Volunteer  Cavalry  in  August,  1862,  and 
served  during  three  years  of  the  Civil  war,  participating 
in  many  of  the  most  telling  conflicts  of  the  period, 
among  them  Gettysburg.  He  was  taken  prisoner  and 
languished  in  prisons  at  Andersonville,  Libby  and  Belle 
Island  during  a weary  period  of  fourteen  months,  being 
finally  exchanged  at  Savannah,  on  November  21,  1864, 
and  was  discharged  as  second  lieutenant  at  Leaven- 
worth, Kansas,  on  June  21,  1865.  On  quitting  the 
army,  Mr.  Page  went  to  Chicago  where  he  took  a spe- 
cial course  in  a business  college  in  that  city,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1866  came  to  Montana  across  the  plains  from 
Leavenworth,  leaving  the  latter  place  on  March  3rd, 
and  arriving  at  Virginia  City  on  the  21st  of  June,  1866, 
bringing  with  him  a train  of  merchandise.  He  has  been 
a resident  of  Madison  county  continuously  since  then, 
as  well  as  continuing  to  be  identified  with  the  survey- 
ing business  in  a governmental  capacity,  the  while  he 
has  become  identified  with  the  big  ranching  interests 
of  the  county,  and  has  come  to  be  the  owner  of  a splen- 
did ranch  of  fifteen  hundred  acres  in  the  county,  situ- 
ated five  miles  from  Twin  Bridges.  The  town  of  Page- 
ville  was  founded  by  Mr.  Page,  and  the  post  office  of 
the  town  is  now  located  on  his  ranch.  Mr.  Page  was 
county  surveyor  of  Madison  county  for  fifteen  years  and 
has  been  connected  with  the  LTnited  States  Surveyor 
General’s  office  since  1873.  In  1882  he  was  joint  repre- 
sentative in  the  territorial  legislature  for  Madison  and 
Beaverhead  counties  and  was  re-elected  to  succeed  him- 
self in  1884.  In  1895  he  was  appointed  by  Governor 
Rickards  to  the  position  of  state  land  agent,  a position 
which  he  held  for  about  two  years  when  he  resigned. 
Mr.  Page  is  a Republican,  and  is  recognized  as  one  of 
the  strong  men  and  fighters  of  the  party  in  Montana. 
He  has  always  taken  an  active  and  intelligent  interest 
in  local  political  affairs,  as  well  as  those  extending  to 
the  state,  and  has  won  a degree  of  prominence  that  is 
entirely  consistent  with  his  worthy  accomplishment  in 
whatever  field  he  has  given  his  attention. 

Mr.  Page  is  a member  of  the  Masonic  order,  is  a 
charter  member  of  the  blue  lodge  at  Twin  Bridges,  and 
holds  membership  in  the  chapter  and  commandery  No. 
I,  at  Virginia  City. 

On  July  7,  1872,  Mr.  Page  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
Christianson,  the  daughter  of  Christian  and  Esther 
Christianson,  formerly  of  Holstein,  Germany,  then  liv- 
ing on  Wisconsin  Creek,  Madison  county.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Page  became  the  parents  of  four  daughters,  of 
whom  brief  mention  is  made  as  follows : Helen  E,, 
married  Erwin  R.  Blaisdel,  a prominent  attorney,  and 
they  live  at  Plains,  Montana;  Mina  E.  is  the  wife  of 
L.  T.  Holt  of  the  government  forest  reserve,  and  lives 


at  Twin  Bridges;  Mary  E.  married  Dwight  Bushnell, 
and  lives  near  Twin  Bridges,  where  he  is  the  business 
manager  of  the  Mule  Shoe  ranch ; Lena  M.  remains  at 
home  with  her  parents.  Mr.  Page  has  one  sister  living 
in  Montana — Mrs.  N.  L.  Page — and  two  brothers — 
Robert  W.  and  Rodney  W.  Page — all  of  whom  reside 
in  Pageville. 

Henry  W.  Buford.  As  president  and  general  man- 
ager of  the  Valley  Garden  Ranch  Company  and  of  the 
Buford  Mercantile  Company,  Henry  W.  Buford,  whose 
name  forms  the  caption  for  this  article,  certainly  de- 
serves representation  among  the  prominent  business 
men  of  Virginia  City,  Montana.  He  has  done  much  to 
advance  the  wheels  of  progress  in  Montana,  aiding 
materially  in  the  development  of  business  activity  and 
energy,  wherein  the  prosperity  and  growth  of  the  state 
always  depend,  and  he  has  always  manifested  a deep 
and  sincere  interest  in  public  affairs. 

Henry  W.  Buford  was  born  in  Virginia  City,  Mon- 
tana, March  4,  1878,  and  he  is  a son  of  Simeon  R. 
Buford,  who  was  born  in  Scotland  county,  Missouri, 
whence  he  came  to  Montana  in  1866  and  settled  in 
Virginia  City,  here  passing  the  residue  of  his  life.  His 
first  business  here  was  that  of  freighting  and  in  1878  he 
entered  into  the  general  merchandise  business  with  the 
late  Henry  Elling.  Subsequently  the  firm  of  Buford  & 
Elling  started  a cattle,  horse  and  sheep  ranch  and  this 
enterprise  met  with  unexcelled  success.  Mr.  Buford 
was  a man  of  kind  heart  and  unusually  generous  im- 
pulses. He  contributed  liberally  to  various  religious 
and  charitable  institutions  and  was  a true  friend  to 
the  needy.  In  political  circles  he  was  a prominent 

Democrat  and  was  a member  of  the  constitutional  con- 
vention that  framed  the  constitution  for  the  state  of 
Montana.  Eor  two  terms  he  was  a member  of  the 
state  senate  and  during  that  time  he  was  instrumental 
in  getting  the  Orphans’  Home  for  Madison  county.  He 
married  Katie  A.  Cooley  in  Virginia  City  in  1877,  and 
to  them  were  born  eight  children,  of  whom  Henry  W. 
was  the  first  born.  Effie  C.,  wife  of  W.  M.  Wightman, 

Simeon  R.,  Jr.,  and  Ruth,  are  all  residents  of  New 

York  City.  The  father  died  in  1905,  aged  fifty-nine 
years,  and  his  cherished  and  devoted  wife  passed 

away  in  the  same  year,  at  the  age  of  forty-nine  years. 

After  completing  the  curriculum  of  the  public  schools 
of  Virginia  City,  Henry  W.  Buford  was  matriculated 
as  a student  in  the  Montana  Wesleyan  University  at 
Helena,  He  earned  his  first  money  as  a boy  herding 
cattle  in  Virginia  City,  and  for  one  year  he  was  a page 
in  the  senate  at  Helena.  In  1900  he  engaged  in  the 
livery  business,  and  in  that  connection  conducted  stables 
at  Norris  and  in  Virginia  City.  In  1910  he  assumed 
charge  of  the  Elling  & Buford  sheep  and  ranch  inter- 
ests, and  after  the  incorporation  of  that  concern  as 
the  Valley  Garden  Ranch  Company,  in  1910,  he  was 
elected  president  and  general  manager  of  the  company. 
In  March,  1911,  he  was  elected  president  and  general 
manager  of  the  Buford  Mercantile  Company,  and  he 
finds  his  time  completely  taken  up  with  the  manage- 
ment of  these  two  large  and  prominent  business  con- 
cerns. He  is  likewise  interested  financially  in  the 
Elling  State  Bank  and  the  Southern  Montana  Bank 
at  Ennis,  in  both  of  which  he  is  a member  of  the 
boards  of  directors. 

At  Ennis,  Montana,  February  8.  1902,  Mr.  Buford 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Florence  May  Kohls, 
a daughter  of  Frederick  F.  and  Virginia  B.  Kohls, 
prominent  residents  of  Virginia  City.  Mrs.  Kohls  en- 
joys the  honor  of  having  been  the  first  girl  born  in 
Virginia  City  and  for  that  reason  she  was  named  Vir- 
ginia Belle.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Buford  have  no_  children. 

Mr.  Buford  is  a stalwart  Democrat  in  his  political 
convictions  While  undoubtedly  he  has  not  been  with- 
out that  honorable  ambition  which  is  so  powerful  and 
useful  as  an  incentive  to  activity  in  public  affairs,  he 


986 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


regards  the  pursuits  of  private  life  as  being  in  them- 
selves abundantly  worthy  of  his  best  efforts.  In  com- 
munity affairs  he  is  active  and  influential  and  his  sup- 
port is  readily  and  generously  given  to  many  measures 
forwarded  for  the  general  progress  and  improvement. 
He  is  affiliated  with  the  Benevolent  & Protective  Order 
of  Elks,  in  which  he  is  esteemed  leading  knight,  and 
in  religious  matters  he  and  his  wife  are  devout  mem- 
bers of  the  Episconal  church.  He  is  fond  of  out-door 
life  and  spends  considerable  time  in  riding  and  driv- 
ing and  automobiling. 

Hon.  Paul  McCormick.  Something  more  than  a 
simple  announcement  and  a passing  remark  is  due  the 
Hon.  Paul  McCormick,  “The  Grand  Old  Man  of  Mon- 
tana,” who,  during  the  many  years  of  his  residence  near 
Billings,  has  become  as  familiar  to  the  people  of  this 
section  as  their  own  household  goods.  More  than  any 
other  man,  probably,  during  the  early  years  of  his  resi- 
dence here  he  was  ardently  and  actively  engaged  in  de- 
veloping the  natural  resources  of  the  great  wilderness 
of  the  middle  west,  and  his  name  deserves  a place  on  the 
roll  of  Montana's  most  honored  sons  for  the  great  work 
he  achieved  not  only  in  showing  the  way  for  future 
generations,  but  as  a man  who  in  ever}^  relation  of  life 
has  so  directed  his  activities  that  they  would  be  of  the 
greatest  possible  benefit  to  his  community.  Paul  Mc- 
Cormick was  born  at  Greenwood,  Steuben  county.  New 
York,  June  14,  1845,  and  is  a son  of  James  and  Margaret 
McCormick,  who  spent  their  lives  in  the  Empire  state. 

After  attending  the  schools  of  Steuben  county  and 
Alfred  Center  Academy.  Mr.  McCormick  decided  to 
try  his  fortunes  in  the  great  northwest,  and  in  1866  made 
his  way  to  Montana,  settling  on  Middle  creek,  in  the 
Gallatin  valley,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  and 
freighting.  He  accompanied  Colonel  Baker  on  his  fa- 
mous expedition  of  1870  against  the  Piegans  to  the 
Maria’s  river  battlegrounds,  furnishing  transportation 
for  the  greater  portion  of  the  troops.  Five  years  later, 
in  connection  with  Major  F.  D.  Pease  and  Z.  H.  Dan- 
iels, he  organized  and  fitted  out  the  expedition  to  the 
lower  Yellowstone,  known  in  history  as  the  Fort  Pease 
expedition,  and  was  one  of  the  most  daring  and  dan- 
gerous expeditions  ever  undertaken  in  the  state.  With 
a party  of  twenty-eight  men  they  embarked  in  Mackinaw 
boats  at  Benson's  landing  on  the  Yellowstone,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  the  mouth  of  the  Big  Horn  river.  Three  miles 
below  this  point,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Yellowstone 
and  in  the  heart  of  the  hostile  Indian  country,  they 
built  Fort  Pease,  and  for  eight  months  withstood  the 
assaults  of  the  fierce  and  treacherous  Sioux  Indians, 
enduring  hardships  and  dangers  such  as  seldom  fall  to 
the  lot  of  even  brave  fronti.ersnien.  If  was  virtually  an 
eight  months’  battle  for  existence,  and  during  this  time 
six  men  were  killed  and  nine  wounded.  When  they 
were  not  actually  fighting  the  Indians  they  were  obliged 
to  be  in  a state  of  constant  watchfulness  and  prepara- 
tion. The  next  year  United  States  troops  came  to  their 
assistance  and  secured  the  peace  and  safety  of  the  sec- 
tion ; and  thus  through  the  enterprise  of  these  daring 
men  it  was  made  available  for  settlement  and  product- 
iveness. Mr.  McCormick  himself  raised  the  first  flag 
at  Fort  Pease,  between  the  Crow  Indian  agency  and  the 
Union  Pacific  Railway. 

After  this  experience,  Mr.  McCormick  joined  the  com- 
mand against  the  Indians  as  a trader,  and  at  the  close 
of  hostilities  located  at  Miles  City  and  engaged  in  gen- 
eral merchandising  and  freighting.  In  1879  he  removed 
to  Junction  City  and  continued  in  business  at  that  point 
until  188.3,  when,  in  partnership  with  Thomas  C.  Powers, 
he  organized  the  Paul  McCormick  Cattle  Company  and 
continued  freighting  operations  on  a large  scale.  This 
partnership  and  company  lasted  for  ten  years,  at  the 
end  of  which  the  Custer  Cattle  Company  was  formed, 
of  which  Mr.  McCormick  was  elected  president,  and  in 
1898,  when  Spear  Brothers  Cattle  Company  was  organ- 


ized, he  became  vice-president  of  the  concern.  He 
continued  with  these  enterprises  until  his  removal  to 
Billings,  in  1891,  when  he  organized  the  Paul  McCor- 
mick Company  for  general  merchandising,  a firm  which 
became  one  of  the  leading  industries  of  its  kind  in  the 
city.  In  1908  he  sold  his  interests  in  this  business  to 
Yegen  Brothers  and  Highes  & Yates,  and  since  then  has 
been  engaged  in  looking  after  his  large  farm,  situated 
two  and  one-half  miles  west  of  Billings,  where  he  in- 
tends to  spend  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  can  look 
back  over  an  honorable,  well-spent  life,  content  with 
what  he  has  accomplished,  and  with  no  doubts  as  to  the 
future.  In  political  matters  he  has  always  been  a stanch 
adherent  of  Republican  principles.  Although  he  has 
never  sought  public  office,  he  has  at  various  times  been 
honored  by  his  fellow-townsmen,  and  in  1879  was  elected 
to  the  legislature  as  one  of  the  first  delegates  from  the 
new  county  of  Custer.  Through  some  technicality  he 
was  not  allowed  to  have  a voice  in  the  body,  but  through 
his  personal  influence  succeeded  in  having  the  difficul- 
ties removed  and  the  organization  of  the  county  firmly 
established.  He  was  also  sent  as  a delegate  to  the 
Republican  national  convention  in  1888,  and  has  served 
in  various  other  capacities.  On  the  occasion  of  Presi- 
dent Taft’s  visit  to  Billings  in  October,  1911,  Mayor 
Frank  T.'  Woods,  in  introducing  Mr.  McCormick  as 
chairman  of  the  meeting  held  at  the  Babcock  Theater, 
spoke  in  part  as  follows : “I  wish  to  present  to  you 

for  chairman  of  this  meeting  a man,  a pioneer  in  all 
that  the  word  implies.  Having  lived  in  what  is  now 
this  commonwealth  for  more  than  forty  years,  most 
of  which  time  has  been  spent  in  this  valley;  a man  who 
has  been  honored  by  our  citizens,  and  particularly  by 
his  own  party  as  delegate  to  the  legislature  in  territo- 
rial days,  a member  of  the  national  convention  which 
nominated  Harrison,  and  both  a Roosevelt  and  a Taft 
elector — in  each  instance  he  having  had  the  honor  of 
receiving  more  votes  than  any  other  elector  from  this 
state.  I refer  to  klontana’s  Grand  Old  Man,  the  Hon. 
Paul  McCormick  of  this  city.”  Further  comment  on 
the  universal  respect  and  esteem  in  which  he  is  held 
would  be  superfluous.  His  fraternal  connection  is  with 
the  Knights  of  Columbus  and  Billings  Lodge,  No.  394, 
B.  P.  O.  E. 

In  1879  Mr.  McCormick  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Mary  Spear,  a native  of  ^Missouri,  who  was  living 
at  Helena  at  the  time  of  her  marriage  to  Mr.  McCor- 
mick. P'ive  children  have  been  born  to  this  union : 
Paul,  Jr.,  Myrl  and  Blythe,  and  two  deceased,  Edith,  at 
the  age  of  twelve  and  Guy,  at  the  age  of  four  years. 

Major  Martin  Maginnis.  “Act  well  thy  part;  there 
all  the  honor  lies,”  is  a truism  which  has  a specific  and 
determinate  application  and  exemplification  in  the  life 
of  this  distinguished  gentleman,  who  has  been  a factor 
of  eminent  usefulness  in  the  development  of  Montana 
from  the  early  pioneer  days,  who  has  rendered  to  the 
nation  the  valiant  service  of  a gallant  soldier  on  many  a 
battle-field,  who  has  been  identified  with  those  product- 
ive activities  which  have  advanced  the  progress  and 
prosperity  of  the  country,  wdio  has  honorably  held  posi- 
tions of  high  public  trust  and  who  has  had  that  deep 
appreciation  of  the  elemental  rectitudes  which  ever  im- 
plies a life  true  to  itself  and  its  possibilities. 

Martin  Maginnis  comes  of  that  staunch  nationality 
which  has  had  so  valuable  an  influence  upon  the  history 
of  the  American  republic,  his  parents,  Patrick  and 
Winifred  (Devine)  Maginnis,  having  both  been  born  on 
the  Emerald  Isle,  descending  from  a long  line  of  Irish 
ancestors.  They  immigrated  to  the  United  States  in 
1838,  settling  in  the  state  of  New  York,  but  later  re- 
moved to  Illinois  and  subsequently  to  Minnesota,  where 
they  died  at  the  conclusion  of  useful  lives.  Martin 
Maginnis  was  born  in  Wayne  county.  New  York,  on 
October  27,  1841.  His  childhood  days  until  he  was 
eleven  were  passed  in  attendance  at  the  public  schools 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


987 


and  Macedon  Academy  and  his  education  was  continued 
in  Minnesota.  He  eventually  entered  Hamline  Univer- 
sity at  Red  Wing,  but  it  was  only  a short  time  before 
his  patriotism  led  him  to  leave  school  and  give  his  per- 
sonal assistance  to  his  country,  then  menaced  by  armed 
rebellion.  On  April  i8,  i86i,  he  enlisted  in  Compmiy 
F,  First  Minnesota  Volunteers,  under  Captain  William 
Colvill,  Jr.,  and  was  mustered  in  as  its  first  sergeant. 
After  the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run,  where  he  received  a 
gunshot  wound  in  the  cheek,  he  was  made  second 
lieutenant,  and  thereafter  his  regiment  accompanied 
General  Shields  on  his  campaign  through  Maryland  and 
Virginia,  after  which  he  was  transferred  to  Sedgwick’s 
division  of  the  Second  Army  Corps,  participating  in  the 
siege  of  Yorktown  and  the  battles  of  West  Point,  Fair 
Oaks,  Peach  Orchard,  Savage  Station  (here  he  was 
wounded  in  the  left  shoulder).  White  Oak  Swamp, 
Glendale  and  Malvern  Hill.  He  was  next  with  General 
Hooker  in  the  second  fight  at  Malvern  Hill,  his  regi- 
ment forming  the  rear  guard  of  the  army  and  being  the 
last  to  cross  the  bridge  when  the  Union  troops  retreated. 
From  Malvern  Hill  General  IMcClellan  went  to  Fort- 
ress Monroe,  and  the  Second  Corps,  under  General 
Sumner,  went  to  Centerville,  to  reinforce  General  Pope. 
After  the  second  battle  of  Manassas  General  McClellan 
assumed  command.  The  regiment  was  actively  and 
prominently  engaged  in  the  battles  of  South  Mountain 
and  Antietam.  At  Antietam  Lieutenant  Maginnis’  com- 
pany lost  twenty-five  per  cent  of  its  members,  he  himself 
being  promoted  first  lieutenant  for  “gallant  and  merit- 
orious service  in  the  field.”  His  regiment  led  the  ad- 
vance of  McClellan’s  army  when  it  crossed  the  Potomac, 
and  occupied  a prominent  position  at  Snicker’s  Gap. 
He  was  at  Warrentown  v/hen  General  McClellan  was 
relieved  by  General  Burnsides,  and  the  regiment  led  the 
latter’s  advance  forces  to  Fredericksburg,  being  in  the 
Second  Army  Corps  and  in  the  division  commanded  by 
General  Couch,  who  constructed  a pontoon  bridge  and 
thereby  captured  Fredericksburg.  l\Iajor  Maginnis  par- 
ticipated in  the  assault  on  IMarye’s  Heights,  where  he  re- 
ceived a slight  wound  in  the  side,  his  regiment  holding 
the  ground  gained  until  the  army  was  withdrawn  across 
the  Rappahannock.  Later  the  regiment  took  part  in  the 
campaign  of  Chancellorsville,  during  which  the  Federal 
forces  again  crossed  the  river  and  carried  Marye’s 
Heights  by  assault,  under  General  Sedgwick,  who  held 
the  ground  until  the  army  was  again  withdrawn  across 
the  river.  The  Second  Army  Corps  was  now  com- 
manded by  General  Hancock,  and  followed  General  Lee 
on  his  northern  raid,  leading  the  advance  that  event- 
uated in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  During  this  march 
the  regiment  was  actively  engaged  at  Manassas  and 
Thoroughfare  Gap.  At  Gettysburg  where  General 
Sickles’  line  was  broken.  General  Hancock  threw  the 
First  Minnesota  into  the  breach  to  hold  the  ground  until 
reinforcements  could  come  up,  and  there  was  made  the 
most  fatal  charge  known  in  the  annals  of  warfare,  the 
loss  aggregating,  eighty-three  per  cent  of  the  men  en- 
gaged. In  Major  Maginnis’  company  of  thirty-four 
men,  seventeen  were  killed  and  thirteen  wounded.  He 
was  here  made  captain  and  later  promoted  to  major  of 
his  regiment,  in  which  capacity  he  led  his  command 
with  General  Meade  across  the  Rappahannock,  partici- 
pating in  the  battle  of  Bristow  Station.  The  regiment 
then  accompanied  General  Grant  to  Cold  Harbor,  where 
Major  Maginnis  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the 
Eleventh  Minnesota,  which  reported  to  General  Thomas 
in  Tennessee.  He  was  now  placed  on  detached  duty,  as 
provost  marshal  of  that  state,  and  assigned  to  the  staff 
of  the  military  governor,  Andrew  Johnson,  afterward 
president  of  the  United  States.  The  Major  later  re- 
turned to  his  regiment,  which  took  part  in  the  battles 
of  Nashville  and  Franklin,  Tennessee.  In  June,  1865, 
at  the  close  of  the  war.  Major  Maginnis  was  mustered 
out  of  the  service  with  the  rank  of  major.  His  military 
career  was  one  of  marked  distinction,  and  to  him  at- 


taches the  honor  of  attending  those  who  offered  their 
lives  in  defense  of  the  nation’s  honor  during  the  greatest 
civil  war  known  to  history. 

After  the  war  Major  Maginnis  was  for  a time  editor 
of  a newspaper  at  Red  Wing,  Minnesota,  but  determin- 
ing to  locate  in  the  west,  he  organized  a party  of  one 
hundred  and  forty  men,  who,  with  forty  wagons,  crossed 
the  plains  to  Montana,  by  the  northern  route,  now  the 
line  of  the  Great  Northern  Railroad.  The  party  arrived 
in  Helena  on  September  5,  1866,  and  Major  Maginnis 
engaged  in  mining  on  Indian  creek  and  in  Mitchell 
Gulch  until  August,  1867,  when  he  became  editor  of  the 
Rocky  Mountain  Gazette,  which  was  issued  under  his 
direction  until  1872.  The  paper  eventually  became  the 
Helena  Independent,  now  recognized  as  the  leading 
Democratic  daily  of  the  capital  city.  In  1868  he  joined 
the  ranks  of  the  Benedicts,  marrying  Louise  E.  Mann, 
a native  of  Michigan.  In  1872  Major  Maginnis  was 
elected  territorial  delegate  to  congress,  defeating  Hon- 
orable W.  H.  Clagett,  and  in  1874  he  was  elected  his 
own  successor,  defeating  Honorable  Cornelius  Hedges, 
the  Republican  candidate.  By  subsequent  re-elections 
he  remained  in  congress  until  1884.,  serving  six  con- 
secutive terms — a fact  singularly  indicative  of  trust  and 
confidence  reposed  in  him  by  the  people  of  the  territory. 
More  distinguished  honors  were  to  be  his,  however. 
He  was  a delegate  to  the  constitutional  converition  in 
1889,  which  framed  the  present  constitution  of  Montana, 
and  took  an  active  part  in  its  proceedings.  It  will  ever 
stand  to  his  credit  as  a high  distinction  in  the  annals  of 
Montana  that  he  was  chosen  as  one  of  the  first  two  to 
represent  the  new  commonwealth  in  the  United  States 
senate,  his  colleague  being  Hon.  W.  A.  Clark.  These 
duly  elected  senators  were  denied  their  places  in  the 
senate,  the  seats  being  awarded  to  Hon.  W.  F.  Sanders 
and  Hon.  T.  C.  Power.  As  congressional  delegate 
Major  Maginnis  made  a reputation  that  has  not  been 
surpassed  in  the  history  of  that  office,  and  succeeded  in 
obtaining  benefactions  for  the  young  and  struggling 
territory  which  have  so  far  not  been  equaled  by  all  the 
legislation  obtained  by  a full  state  delegation  in  both 
senate  and  house.  He  successfully  abolished  the  Indian 
reservations  which  then  covered  the  larger  portion  of 
the  territory.  Lie  procured  appropriations  from  congress 
and  caused  to  be  established  and  built  for  the  protection 
of  the  frontier  these  army  posts : Fort  Logan,  Fort 
Keogh,  Fort  Custer,  Fort  Maginnis,  Fort  Assinnaboine 
and  Fort  Missoula ; the  assay  office  at  Helena,  and  the 
LTnited  States  penitentiary,  at  Deer  Lodge,  afterwards 
turned  over  to  the  state.  The  other  government  build- 
ings erected  in  Montana  are  those  at  Fort  Harrison,  in 
the  establishment  of  which  he  was  an  important  factor. 
He  procured  many  appropriations  for  the  payment  of 
depredation  claims,  the  payment  of  the  Montana  militia 
claims  and  various  claims  of  citizens  beyond  enumera- 
tion. He  was  active  in  the  passage  of  land  and  timber 
laws  for  the  benefit  of  the  settlers,  and  took  an  active 
part  in  all  general  legislation,  particularly  affecting  the 
western  states  and  territories.  One  of  the  most  im- 
portant laws  contributory  to  the  development  of  the 
west  was  the  general  right  of  way  for  railways  across 
the  public  lands.  This  bill  he  drafted  and  carried 
through  congress,  and  under  it  all  the  railways  in  the 
west,  except  the  three  chartered  by  congress,  have  been 
constructed  He  procured  the  grant  of  lands  for  the 
university  and  other  state  institutions,  and  was  active  in 
procuring  the  admission  of  the  state.  Lie  was  contin- 
ually chosen  as  chairman  of  the  territorial  delegates, 
who  then  had  a committee  of  their  own ; achieved  a 
national  reputation  as  a debater  in  the  house  of  rep- 
resentatives, and  made  notable  orations  at  the  national 
cemetery  at  Gettysburg,  the  Soldier’s  Home  in  -Wash- 
ington, the  reunion  ol  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  in 
Washington,  the  meeting  of  Democratic  Clubs  in  the 
Academy  of  Music  in  New  York,  and  to  the  Tammany 
Society  at  its  hall  in  the  same  city. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


9HH 


When  the  difficulty  arose  between  the  state  and  tlie 
Northern  Pacific  Railroad  Company  as  to  title  to  min- 
eral lands  in  the  commonwealth,  Major  Maginnis  threw 
the  full  force  of  his  strong  individuality  into  the  work 
of  securing  to  the  state  and  the  government  the  rights 
justly  due  each  in  the  premises,  being  made  a special 
commissioner,  and  he  secured  the  congressional  ap- 
pointment of  the  mineral  land  commission  for  Montana, 
whose  work  has  recently  been  successfully  completed. 
For  his  efforts  in  this  case  alone  the  Major  merits  the 
gratitude  of  the  state.  Major  Maginnis  has  ever  been 
a fearless  advocate  of  the  principles  and  policies  of  the 
Democratic  party,  whose  cause  he  has  clone  much  to 
forward,  through  editorial  utterances  and  influential 
participation  in  its  councils.  He  has  represented  the 
party  in  many  state  conventions,  was  for  years  a mem- 
ber of  the  Democratic  national  committee,  and  in  1896 
was  a presidential  elector  from  Montana.  He  is  rec- 
ognized as  one  of  Montana’s  representative  men  and  his 
efforts  in  her  behalf  will  be  held  long  in  grateful  recog- 
nition. The  Major  keeps  alive  his  practical  interest  in 
his  old  comrades  in  arms  by  retaining  membership  in 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  and  the  Loyal  Legion. 

Anthony  Wayne  Barnard.  There  is  perhaps  no  rnan 
in  Butte,  Montana,  who  has  lived  a more  interesting 
life  than  Anthony  Wayne  Barnard,  nor  one  whose  in- 
fluence upon  the  development  and  upbuilding  of  this 
part  of  the  state  has  been  so  keenly  potent.  Not  only 
was  he  one  of  the  earliest  immigrants  to  this  portion 
of  the  Northwest,  but  he  came  here  as  a young  man 
with  an  unusual  amount  of  grit  and  determination,  and 
at  once  set  out  to  make  himself  a factor  that  would 
be  felt  in  the  history  of  the  state.  From  the  time  when 
in  1866,  a young  man  of  twenty  years,  but  brave  and 
adventurous  in  spirit,  he  started  out  with  a team  and 
a spring  wagon  to  cross  the  plains  to  Montana,  up  to 
the  present  days  of  successful  fruition  of  a life’s 
ambition,  he  has  had  many  experiences;  some  thrilling, 
some  trying  and  discouraging,  many  demanding^  con- 
fidence and  courage  and  strength  of  body  and  m.ind. 

Air.  Barnard  was  born  in  Chautauqua  county.  New 
York.  September  3,  1846,  the  son  of  Martin  M.  and 
Elizabeth  (Benedict)  Barnard,  and  in  early  childhood 
was  deprived  by  death  of  a mother’s  loving  care  and 
ministrations.  His  father,  a Virginian  by  birth,  went 
to  New  York,  when  young,  and  when  the  government 
in  the  early  fifties  made  a most  liberal  offer  of  lands 
to  settlers  who  would  go  west  he  took  advantage  of 
the  opportunity  to  acquire  free  land  and  located  with 
his  family  in  Rock  county.  Wisconsin,  where  his  death 
occurred  in  1876.  The  Barnard  family  consisted  of 
eight  children,  and  Anthony,  who  was  fifth  in  order 
of  birth,  was  a lad  of  bnt  four  or  five  summers  when 
his  father  went  to  Wisconsin.  That  part  of  the  state 
was  then  indeed  the  “Wild  West”  and  the  life  of  the 
farmer’s  son  was  then  far  different  and  perhaps  much 
more  interesting  than  is  now  the  case  in  the  same 
place  with  all  its  beautiful  cultivated  fields  and  modern 
farm  equipment  and  home  conveniences.  At  any  rate 
Air.  Barnard  lived  the  life  of  the  typical  boy  of  the 
Wild  West.  He  went  to  school  when  opportunity  was 
afforded  to  do  so,  and  by  great  good  fortune  secured  a 
finishing  course  at  a good  high  school,  completing  his 
studies  finally  when  nineteen  years  old.  Then  began 
his  independent  career.  The  call  of  the  still  further 
west  was  in  his  blood,  and  as  previously  stated  the 
young  man  pluckily  started  out  on  a trip  to  Montana 
with  a team  and  a spring  wagon  as  his  principal  outfit. 
The  route  which  he  selected  was  that  leading  through 
Council  Bluffs  and  Omaha,  then  uo  the  Platte  river 
across  the  state  of  Nebraska  to  Fort  Laramie. 

This  was  in  the  year  1866,  that  memorable  time  when 
Red  Cloud  and  his  band  of  Indian  followers  made  so 
much  trouble  for  the  pioneer  settlers  and  emigrants 


who  were  moving  westward.  It  was  at  that  time  that 
several  bloody  massacres  occurred,  among  them  that  of 
Harney’s  men,  and  the  whole  country  was  aroused 
over  the  situation. 

Fortunately  for  them  before  Mr.  Barnard’s  party 
left  P'ort  Laramie  a treaty  of  peace  was  signed  by  the 
Indians  and  the  government,  and  the  train  of  twenty- 
five  wagons  to  which  he  was  attached  suffered  no 
annoyance  from  the  savages.  However  the  streams  and 
rivers  were  much  swollen  and  the  party  experienced 
great  difficulty  in  fording  or  crossing  many  of  them. 
When  fording  was  impossible  it  was  necessary  to  im- 
provise rafts  for  crossing,  and  several  men,  and  many 
cattle  and  mules,  were  drowned  while  the  crossings 
were  being  effected. 

Among  other  points  of  interest  passed  by  the  train 
was  the  Custer  Battle  Ground,  but  after  leaving  Fort 
Laramie,  on  one  long  stretch  of  five  hundred  miles  not 
a single  human  habitation  was  seen.  The  party  trav- 
eled the  new  Bozeman  route  and  they  saw  Colonel 
Bozeman  at  his  ferry  when  they  crossed  the  Yellow- 
stone river,  but  soon  his  tragedy  also  was  to  be  enacted, 
for  the  ne.xt  year  he  was  killed.  The  train  of  emi- 
grants of  which  Mr.  Barnard  formed  a part  arrived 
at  Virginia  City  late  in  July  and  reached  Butte  on 
August  6,  1866,  at  which  date  the  inhabitants  of  the 
place  did  not  number  so  many  as  one  hundred  and  fifty 
people. 

The  journey  had  been  long  and  exhaustive,  fraught 
with  many  dangers  and  anxieties,  delays  were  experi- 
enced and  difficulties  had  occurred  on  the  way  that  had 
not  been  anticipated,  so  that  when  the  party  arrived 
numbers  of  them  were  without  means,  Mr.  Barnard 
being  one  of  those  whose  slender  provision  of  money 
was  entirely  depleted.  Although  without  funds  he  was 
not  discouraged,  however,  and  he  went  to  work  prompt- 
ly and  energetically,  securing  work  in  the  mines  and 
earning  as  much  as  was  possible  until  winter  closed 
the  season.  When  the  mines  closed  no  other  work 
was  to  be  secured  and  as  a result  of  the  dark  outlook 
for  the  future  many  of  his  friends  and  acquaintances 
returned  as  quickly  as  possible  to  their  eastern  homes. 
Mr.  Barnard,  however,  had  a spirit  made  of  “sterner 
stuff”  and  having  reached  the  land  he  sought  was  de- 
termined to  conquer  all  adverse  conditions  and  wring 
success  from  his  adventure  if  life  and  strength  did  not 
fail  him. 

During  the  time  when  no  employment  was  to  be 
secured  at  cash  wages  he  spent  his  time  in  prospecting 
and  was  one  of  the  first  to  find  good  placer  grounds 
and  he  was  one  of  the  first  patentees  of  a claim  within 
the  limits  of  the  state,  he  having  secured  Number  42. 
His  ground  proved  to  be  rich  and  from  the  claim  he 
took  out  gold  to  the  value  of  about  $200,000.  This 
claim  was  located  in  Alissoula  Gulch,  where  is  now 
what  is  almost  the  heart  of  the  city,  and  in  addition  to 
the  value  of  the  land  for  mining,  after  it  had  been 
thoroughly  worked  Mr.  Barnard  sold  town  lots  to 
the  value  of  $40,000  from  it.  Thus  in  his  young  man- 
hood he  laid  the  firm  foundation  for  what  he  has  made 
into  a large  fortune  and  he  is  at  this  time  rated  as  one 
of  the  wealthiest  property  owners  in  this  section.  He 
is  extensively  interested  in  various  valuable  mining 
properties,  among  his  holdings  being  a lot  of  seventy- 
five  quartz  claims. 

Alany  fine  pieces  of  city  real  estate  are  also  owned 
by  Air.  Barnard  in  Butte  and  besides  the  Barnard 
block,  one  of  the  first  large  buildings  he  erected  here, 
he  has  built  a large  number  of  houses  in  other  parts 
of  the  city.  His  faith  in  this  city  and  state  is  unbounded 
and  he  believes  that  the  future  has  in  store  a more 
phenomenal  growth  and  development  than  the  past  has 
shown  and  in  the  progress  that  is  to  come  he  aims  to 
be  an  influential  factor,  as  he  has  been  in  the  develop- 
ment during  the  past. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


989 


When  the  call  of  need  has  come  to  him  in  whatever 
capacity  Mr.  Barnard  has  always  with  promptness  re- 
sponded and  on  the  occasion  of  the  celebrated  raid 
made  on  the  whites  by  Chief  Joseph  and  his  fanatical 
followers  he  joined  Hon.  Wm.  A.  Clark’s  company  of 
defenders  and  spent  two  weeks  in  the  service.  He 
was  not,  however,  a participant  in  the  great  battle  which 
was  fought  in  the  Big  Hole  country,  and  in  which 
thirty  men  were  killed  and  many  others  v/ounded.  for 
his  command  was  then  engaged  in  another  part  of  the 
country  and  did  not  arrive  on  the  scene  until  the  day 
after  the  battle. 

Mr.  Barnard  is  a man  of  strong  influence  in  public 
life  and  politically  is  a stanch  advocate  of  Jeffersonian 
Democratic  principles.  He  has,  however,  consistently 
refused  the  importunities  of  many  of  his  friends  to 
accept  official  honors  of  any  kind.  He  has  been  urgent- 
ly solicited  by  both  Republicans  and  Democrats  of  prom- 
inence to  become  a candidate  for  mayor  of  Butte  but 
has  always  refused,  feeling  that  he  can  best  serve  by 
giving  his  attention  to  his  business  and  the  public 
interests  incidentally  involved  in  the  same  because  of 
.their  magnitude  and  important  character. 

In  fraternal  circles  Mr.  Barnard  occupies  a high 
place.  He  is  a member  of  the  Masonic  order  and  in 
that  lodge  has  given  valuable  service  both  in  the  ranks 
of  the  craft  and  in  official  station  in  all  the  depart- 
ments to  which  he  belongs,  lodge,  chapter,  council  and 
commandery.  Of  the  last  named  he  is  past  commander. 
Fie  also  holds  membership  in  the  Silver  Bow  Club 
and  was  that  organi.zation’s  first  secretary. 

On  January  8,  1880,  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Barnard  to  Miss  Jessie  G.  Addis,  a native  of  New 
Jersey.  They  are  the  parents  of  five  daughters,  Lillian, 
Ida,  Josephine,  Mabel  and  Edith. 

Richard  W:  Clarke.  One  of  the  old  and  honored 
pioneers  of  the  Yellowstone  valley,  where  he  was  one 
of  the  first  to  cultivate  the  soil,  is  Richard  W.  Clarke. 
Fie  has  been  closely  identified  with  the  industrial  growth 
and  development  of  this  section  ever  since  the  Indian 
trading  days,  and  throughout  his  long  and  useful 
career  he  has  so  conducted  his  activities  that  his 
record  stands  without  stain  or  blemish.  Mr.  Clarke 
was  born  at  Stoyestown,  Somerset  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, October  22,  1840,  and  is  a son  of  George  A.  and 
Mary  Fletcher  (Black)  Clarke. 

On  the  paternal  side  of  the  family,  Mr.  Clarke  traces 
his  ancestry  back  to  John  Clarke,  who  came  to  America 
on  the  Mayflower  and  his  paternal  grandmother  was 
born  at  Fort  Duquesne,  Pennsylvania,  of  Holland  an- 
cestry. His  grandfather  on  his  mother’s  side  was  a 
native  of  Tyrone  County,  Ireland.  George  A.  Clarke 
was  born  in  1796.  at  Stony  Creek,  Somerset  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  there  was  engaged  in  farming,  as 
the  proprietor  of  a sawmill,  as  a merchant,  and  as  a 
tanner,  and  was  also  associated  with  the  Shads  Creek 
Iron  Company.  He  was  a justice  of  the  peace  for  a 
number  of  years  and  was  a prominent  Whig  until 
1856,  in  which  year  he  embraced  the  principles  of  the 
Republican  party.  On  his  removal  to  Chattanooga, 
Tennessee,  he  became  an  extensive  owner  of  real 
estate,  the  management  of  which  he  made  his  work 
during  the  rest  of  his  life,  and  his  death  occurred  in 
Chattanooga  in  18S6,  when  he  had  reached  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  ninety  years.  He  was  married  in  Wash- 
ington county,  Pennsylvania,  to  Mary  Fletcher  Black, 
a native  of  that  county,  who  lived  to  be  eightv-tw^o 
years  of  age,  and  they  had  a family  of  nine  children, 
of  whom  five  are  living:  Richard  W. ; Laura,  w’ho  is 
the  widow  of  James  Cardin;  Ida,  the  wife  of  Seth  F. 
Lewis;  George  A.,  of  St.  Louis, Missouri,  who  after 
thirty-seven  years  of  service  is  still  in  the  employ  of 
a railroad;  and  Cora,  the  wife  of  a Mr.  Burnett. 


Richard  W.  Clarke  was  educated  in  the  schools  of 
Pennsylvania,  where  from  his  eighteenth  to  his  twenty- 
first  year  he  was  engaged  in  teaching  the  same  school. 
In  1861  he  removed  to  Jefferson  county,  Indiana,  and 
after  two  years  spent  there  as  an  educator,  started 
overland  with  Major  Colby,  at  that  time  Indian  agent, 
for  Fort  Lyon,  Colorado.  He  then  began  trading  with 
the  Indians,  an  occupation  which  he  followed  until 
November  29,  1865,  when  Colonel  Chivington  attacked 
Black  Kettle's  camp,  where  Mr.  Clarke  was  trading  and 
nearly  exterminated  the  Indians.  Mr.  Clarke  then  re- 
turned to  Leavenworth,  Kansas,  but  in  the  spring  of 
1866  came  overland  on  the  Bozeman  trail  to  Mon- 
tana, going  on  up  to  Alder  Gulch  at  a time  when  there 
was  but  one  log  shack  in  the  present  city  of  Bozeman. 
Subsequently  he  took  up  a homestead  in  the  Gallatin 
valley,  where  during  the  early  days  he  met  with  numer- 
ous exciting  experiences.  On  one  occasion  the  Sioux 
Indians  coming  up  'he  valley,  killed  three  white  set- 
tlers, Mr.  Clarke’s  wife  and  baby  being  hidden  in  the 
brush  for  fear  they  would  pass  by.  He  continued  to  live 
in  the  Gallatin  valley  until  1878,  and  then  removed  to 
near  the  present  site  of  the  city  of  Billings,  purchasing 
eighty  acres  of  railroad  land  and  later  buying  two 
hundred  and  eighty  acres  from  P.  W.  McAdow,  where 
he  erected  a home  and  set  out  trees  that  today  form 
a beautiful  grove.  Although  it  is  not  known  whether 
Mr.  Clarke  was  the  first  to  put  a plow  into  the  land  in 
the  Yellowstone  valley,  it  is  known  that  he  has  the 
distinction  of  being  the  first  settler  to  use  irrigation  in 
the  valley,  and  there  he  developed  a valuable  property, 
but  in  1904  disposed  of  his  ranch  and  went  to  Oregon 
to  deal  in  farm  lands.  This  he  continued  until  1911, 
and  in  that  year  returned  to  the  Yellowstone  valley, 
where  he  has  since  carried  on  farming.  Mr.  Clarke  is 
a stanch  Republican  and  cast  his  first  vote  for  Abraham 
Lincoln,  but  he  has  never  cared  for  public  office,  al- 
though he  has  done  his  duty  as  a citizen  by  serving  as 
a member  of  the  school  board  both  in  Montana  and 
Oregon.  He  is  a charter  member  of  Ashlar  Lodge 
A.  F.  & A.  M.,  in  which  he  has  numerous  warm  friends. 

Oh  October  21,  1869,  Mr.  Clarke  was  married  to  Miss 
Davidella  Wallace,  who  was  born  at  Paducah,  Ken- 
tucky, March  2,  1853,  the  daughter  of  William  and 
Susanna  (Leffle)  Wallace,  both  of  whom  are  deceased. 
Mr.  Wallace  was  born  in  Scotland  and  came  to  this 
country  with  his  parents  when  a mere  child.  Prior  to 
1849  he  followed  farming  in  Kentucky,  and  in  that 
year  removed  to  California,  but  later  returned  to  Ken- 
tucky and  subsequently  went  to  Kansas,  building  the 
first  house  in  Leavenworth.  Some  years  later  he  pur- 
chased a farm  near  Topeka,  on  which  the  remainder  of 
his  life  was  spent.  Mrs.  Clarke  is  the  only  survivor 
of  her  parents’  twelve  children.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Clarke  a family  of  twelve  children  have  been  born,  all 
of  whom  still  live,  as  follows ; Rose,  the  wife  of  J.  M. 
V.  Xochran,  of  Billings;  Laura,  B,,  the  wife  of  Chris- 
tian Yegen,  also  of  this  city;  Florence,  wife  of  Henry 
Scott,  of  Custer,  Montana ; Alice,  who  married  Henry 
Morehouse,  of  Ada,  Washington ; Abigail,  who  mar- 
ried John  Sparling,  of  Roundup;  George,  a resident  of 
Bend,  Oregon;  Mar}q  the  wife  of  Willard  Stockwell, 
of  Musselshell,  Montana ; Jay  W.,  living  in  Carbon 
county,  Montana;  Eva,  the  wife  of  Homer  Finley; 
Katherine,  who  married  a Mr.  Solem,  and  is  an  actress ; 
Thomas  Carter,  connected  with  the  freight  department 
of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad;  and  Ruth,  who  is 
completing  her  education  in  Switzerland.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Clarke  have  twenty-seven  grandchildren.  Al- 
though he  possesses  a handsome  competency,  honestly 
and  fairly  earned,  Mr.  Clarke  continues  to  engage  in 
activities,  being  still  hale  and  hearty  in  spite  of  his 
seventy-two  years.  His  ability  has  been  of  a high 
order,  but  it  ranks  no  higher  than  his  personal  char- 
acter, and  he  is  honored  and  esteemed  as  one  of  those 


900 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


to  whom  the  state  of  Montana  owes  its  present  great- 
ness. 

Hugh  F.  Galen.  One  of  the  founders  and  makers 
of  Montana,  whose  death  occurred  May  30,  1899,  at 
Los  Angeles,  California,  his  remains  being  buried  in 
the  city  of  Helena,  Montana,  where  for  a long  time 
he  had  lived,  Hugh  F.  Galen  is  at  rest  after  arduous 
labors,  in  peace  after  many  contests,  in  the  place 
where  he  enjoyed  in  full  measure  the  sincere  regard, 
the  high  esteem,  the  full  confidence  of  the  community. 
Mr.  Galen  was  born  at  the  little  town  of  Castle  Derg, 
County  Tyrone,  Ireland,  March  17,  1826,  He  remained 
in  his  native  land  attending  school  and  working  his 
way  along  until  he  was  nineteen  years  of  age.  In  1845 
he  emigrated  to  the  United  States,  locating  at  Bangor, 
Maine,  where  he  engaged  in  the  log  and  lumber  business 
for  a year,  when  he  removed  to  New  Orleans  and 
was  occupied  in  merchandising  for  another  year.  In 
the  spring  of  1847,  even  before  the  discovery  of  gold 
in  California,  the  Pacific  Coast  wore  to  his  awakened 
fancy  a winning  smile,  and  He  began  freighting  to  its 
distant  regions,  making  a number  of  trips  to  Nevada 
and  California;  and  later  traveling  by  way  of  Salt 
Lake,  Oregon  and  Washington,  until  he  stopped  near 
the  site  of  the  city  of  Seattle,  There  he  sold  his  teams, 
built  a sawmill,  and  engaged  in  lumbering  and  general 
trading  until  1859,  making  in  1858  a short  stay  within 
the  present  limits  of  Montana  during  one  of  his  trad- 
ing trips,  at  which  time  he  visited  the  town  of  Bannack. 

In  1859  he  again  passed  through  a portion  of  iVIon- 
tana  on  his  way  from  Lhah  to  Washington.  He  did 
not,  however,  linger  long,  but  took  up  his  residence 
and  engaged  in  business  at  The  Dalles,  Oregon.  The 
next  year  he  returned  to  California,  and  from  San 
h'rancisco  went  to  Dallas,  Oregon,  where  he  remained 
until  1861,  trading  with  the  Indians  and  conducting 
;i  hotel.  In  May,  1863,  he  removed  to  Salmon  City, 
Idaho,  where  he  did  trading  and  conducted  a hotel 
until  the  spfing  of  1866.  That  year  he  came  to  Mon- 
tana to  stay,  and  located  at  Helena,  or  rather_  Last 
Chance  gulch,  as  it  was  then  called.  He  began  freight- 
ing between  the  gulch.  Fort  Benton,  and  from  Salt 
Lake,  Afterwards,  in  1869,  he  added  to  his  other  profit- 
able enterprises  a stage  route  between  Bozeman  and 
Helena,  This  he  continued  until  the  completion  of 
railroads  in  the  territory  in  1884  took  away  its  best 
patronage.  But  while  it  was  in  operation  he  carried 
the  United  States  mails  and  troops,  and  conducted  the 
whole  business,  on  a highly  profitable  basis.  From  1884 
to  the  time  of  his  death  he  employed  his  capital  and 
his  energies  in  a number  of  well-paying  industrial 
enterprises,  being  at  one  time  president  of  the  Capital 
City  Lighting  Company  and  a director  of  the  Montana 
National  Bank — always  driving  with  his  characteristic 
energy  and  clearness  of  vision  some  profitable  mer- 
cantile or  productive  undertaking  which  gave  employ- 
ment to  others,  kept  the  wheels  of  commercial  activity 
in  motion,  and  helped  to  build  up  and  improve  the 
community.  In  addition  to  his  interests  in  Helena  he 
owned  a number  of  valuable  ranches  in  Jefferson, 
Madison  and  Lewis  and  Clark  counties,  on  which  he 
raised  large  crops  and  vast  flocks  of  sheep  down  to 
1882.  Then  he  sold  his  sheep,  numbering  more  than 
10,000,  and  substituted  other  stock,  and  had  in  1894 
400  head  of  cattle  and  900  horses. 

Until  the  cataclysm  of  1896  Mr.  Galen  was  an  un- 
wavering Democrat  in  politics,  and  always  manifested 
the  liveliest  interest  in  the  success  of  his  party,  so  far 
foregoing  his  ovvh  preferences  and  tastes  in  1876  as 
to  accept  a seat  in  the  territorial  legislature  as  a 
representative  from  Jefferson  county.  But,  in  general, 
he  was  averse  to  public  life  and  official  station. 

His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Matilda  Gillogly, 
was  like  himself  a native  of  Erin,  and  came  to  America 


w;th  her  parents  in  infancy.  Her  family  located  in 
Bangor,  Maine,  where  the  two  young  people  first  met. 
She  came  west  overland  to  meet  her  future  husband 
and  they  were  married  in  San  Francisco,  June  23,  i860. 
This  admirable  lady  died  December  2,  1891. 

There  were  seven  children  born  to  the  union  of 
Hugh  F,  Galen  and  his  wife, — Charles  LI.,  Frank  and 
Llinnie,  now  deceased  and  four  of  the  number  sur- 
viving. Ellen  L.,  born  April  15,  1861,  at  Dallas,  Ore- 
gon, is  the  widow  of  ex-Senator  Thomas  H.  Carter, 
resident  of  Helena;  James  L.,  born  in  Helena,  March 
28,  1871,  until  recently  has  been  in  Alaska,  engaged  in 
mining,  but  was  appointed  superintendent  of  the  Glazier 
National  Park  a short  time  ago  by  President  Taft  and 
is  at  present  residing  at  Belton,  Montana;  Charles  F., 
born  at  Salmon  City,  Idaho,  December  13,  1863,  died 
in  Helena,  August  2,  1875;  Hugh  F.,  born  in  Helena, 
December  3,  1868,  died  December  27,  1897,  in  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.  ;'Mary  Agnes,  born  December  ii,  1873, 
at  Llelena,  died  February  22,  1875;  Albert  J,,  born 
January  16,  1876;  and  Matilda  Margaret,  born  Feb- 
ruary 25,  1878,  in  Jefferson  county,  Montana,  is  the 
wife  of  Thomas  J.  Walker  of  Butte,  Montana,  county 
attorney  of  Silver  Bow  county. 

iMiCHAEL  Gurnett  has  spent  all  but  four  years  of 
his  life  as  a resident  of  Montana,  and  he  is  glad  that 
those  four  w'ere  his  first,  as  he  would  not  like  to  waste 
any  mature  years  out  of  the  best  state  in  the  Union. 
Omaha  was  his  birthplace,  and  the  home  of  his  infancy, 
but  in  1864,  the  Gurnett  family  moved  to  Virginia  City, 
and  after  two  years  there  took  up  their  abode  in  the 
Missouri  valley,  near  Helena,  where  several  of  Mr. 
Gurnett’s  kinsmen  still  reside.  His  father,  Patrick 
Gurnett,  was  born  in  Ireland  and  immigrated  to  Amer-. 
ica  when  still  a boy.  He  traversed  a large  part  of  the 
United  States  before  settling  in  Montana,  and  in  Ken- 
tucky he  was  married  to  Ellen  Dowling,  like  himself 
a native  of  Ireland.  When  he  settled  in  the  Mis- 
souri valley  Llr.  Gurnett  engaged  in  farming  and  in 
stock  raising  and  he  followed  that  line  until  1890, 
when  he  retired  from  business  and  took  up  his  residence 
in  the  pleasant  little  city  of  Townsend,  where  he  still 
makes  his  home.  This  spot  is  the  more  desirable  lo- 
cality to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gurnett  because  their  daughter 
Mary,  now  Mrs,  Ragen,  also  makes  her  home  there. 
Her  husband  is  a well-to-do  rancher  and  stockman. 

The  ranch  upon  which  Patrick  Gurnett  settled  in 
1866  was  near  the  city  of  Llelena  and  it  was  in  the 
capital  city  that  Michael  went  to  school.  LTntil  1882, 
he  was  with  his  father  in  the  cattle  business  and  in 
the  sixteen  years  he  gained  a thorough  knowledge  of 
the  vicissitudes  of  stock  raising.  When  he  came  to 
Fergus  county,  he  continued  in  the  same  business, 
and  his  father  was  interested  in  most  of  his  ventures. 
Not  until  1907  did  Mr.  Gurnett  branch  out  alone  in 
the  cattle  trade. 

Mr.  Gurnett  has  the  taste  for  politics  which  is  so 
dominant  a characteristic  of  his  race,  and  ever  since 
he  was  old  enough  to  vote  he  has  taken  active  part 
in  the  councils  of  the  Democratic  party.  For  four 
years  before  coming  to  Lewdstown  he  was  treasurer  of 
Broadw'ater  countv,  and  he  was  the  first  assessor  of 
Fergus  county.  Lie  still  holds  that  office,  and  that  in 
itself  is  sufficient  comment  upon  his  efficiency  as  a 
public  officer,  and  his  nopularity  in  the  county. 

A member  of  the  Catholic  church,  Mr.  Gurnett  has 
no  lodge  affiliations  except  with  the  Woodmen  of  the 
World.  Of  course  he  is  fond  of  hunting  and  fishing. 
These  might  be  termed,  the  state  amusements  of  Mon- 
tana, for  every  able-bodied  member  of  the  common- 
wealth shoulders  his  rod  or  his  gun  with  that  same 
zeal  with  which  the  Chicagoan,  for  instance,  hies  him 
to  the  baseball  field.  Another  of  Mr.  Gurnetfs  favorite 
ways  of  employing  his  spare  time  is  in  reading.  He  has 


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HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


991 


a discriminating  taste  in  books,  as  is  proper  to  one 
who  makes  friends  of  them. 

Mr.  Gurnett  was  married  at  Helena  on  May  6,  1890, 
to  Miss  .Margaret  McRae,  the  daughter  of  Donald  and 
Margaret  McRae  of  Wisconsin.  They  have  four  chil- 
dren, one  son  and  three  daughters.  Miss  Gertrude, 
the  eldest,  was  born  in  Townsend,  and  is  now  deputy 
in  her  father’s  office.  Floyd  E.  is  attending  high 
school  in  Lewistown,  and  his  two  younger  sisters,  Nel- 
lie and  Bertha,  are  both  in  the  grades.  All  were  born 
in  Townsend,  and  christened  in  the  Catholic  church, 
of  which  their  mother  is  also  a member. 

George  W.  Crane.  Fifty  years  ago  thousands  of  men 
and  boys  marched  away  from  comfortable  homes  and 
loved  ones  to  offer  up  their  lives  on  the  altar  of 
patriotism.  Some  dyed  that  altar  with  their  life  blood 
and  never  returned ; others  came  back,  but  have  borne 
through  the  succeeding  years  the  indelible  imprint  made 
by  a soldier’s  hardships.  Those  who  did  return  found 
hard  conditions  awaiting  them.  After  four  years  of 
strenuous  endeavor,  when  each  minute  might  be  their 
last,  when  a nation’s  life  hung  in  the  balance,  depend- 
ing upon  their  bravery  and  endurance,  it  was  extremely 
difficult  to  resume  the  ordinary  occupation  of  peace. 
Yet  thousands  did  this  very  thing  and  developed  into 
magnificent  men,  sound  of  body,  as  well  as  of  judg- 
ment and  principle,  greatly  benefited  by  the  discipline 
which  their  military  life  had  ingrained  in  them,  and 
rounded  out  useful  careers  that  have  set  an  enduring 
example  to  coming  generations.  One  of  the  honored 
veterans  of  the  great  Civil  war,  George  W.  Crane, 
illustrates  iri  his  life,  the  vicissitudes  and  experiences 
of  the  typical  westerner.  One  of  Montana’s  “old- 
timers,”  he  has  joined  in  the  stampedes  to  the  new 
mining  camps,  has  followed  the  open  range,  has  gained 
a name  and  position  for  himself  in  the  world  of  busi- 
ness, and  has  been  one  of  the  influential  factors  in  the 
development  of  Fort  Benton,  of  which  city  he  has 
served  as  postmaster  since  1900. 

George  W.  Crane  was  born  in  the  state  of  Vermont, 
November  27,  1843.  His  father,  James  E.  Crane,  was 
also  born  in  the  Green  Mountain  State,  but  in  1857 
took  his  family  to  Champaign  county,  Illinois,  where 
he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  subsequently  be- 
coming roadmaster  for  the  Great  Western  Railroad. 
He  died  in  1880,  at  the  age  of  sixty-three  years.  His 
wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Eliza  Brown 
Corlue,  was  born  at  Springfield,  Vermont,  in  1812,  and 
died  at  Jacksonville,  Illinois,  on  November  10,  1905. 

George  W.  Crane  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  the 
state  of  Illinois,  and  was  thirteen  years  of  age  when 
he  was  taken  to  Champaign  county,  Illinois,  by  his 
parents.  He  was  engaged  as  telegraph  operator  on  the 
Great  Western  Railroad  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil 
war,  and  when  President  Lincoln  issued  his  call  for 
troops  was  one  of  the  first  to  respond,  offering  his 
services  to  the  Lyon  Guards,  an  independent  rifle  com- 
pany. After  serving  loi  days  with  that  company,  he 
assisted  in  the  organization  of  Company  I of  the 
Twenty-sixth  Regiment,  Illinois  Volunteers,  of  the 
Fifteenth  Army  Corps,  with  which  he  served  through- 
out the  entire  period  of  the  war.  In  the  long  list  of 
uotable  hard-fought  engagements  in  which  he  partici- 
pated may  be  mentioned  the  battles  of  Corinth  and 
luka,  the  siege  of  Vicksburg  and  a number  of  hotly 
contested  engaaements  in  the  south  under  Generals 
Logan  and  McPherson.  He  was  with  General  Sher- 
man’s command  on  its  famous  march  to  the  sea,  and 
was  mustered  out  July  19,  1865,  at  Washington,  D.  C., 
and  discharged  as  a non-commissioned  officer.  Mr. 
Crane  had  the  record  of  a gallant  and  faithful  soldier, 
and  received  creditable  mention  for  bravery  in  battle. 
He  was  of  the  type  of  soldier  that  formed  the  backbone 
•of  the  Union  armies  and  which  finally  made  them 


victorious,  justly  winning  the  admiration  of  Iris  com- 
rades and  the  respect  and  confidence  of  his  superior 
officers. 

On  receiving  his  honorable  discharge,  Mr.  Crane 
went  to  Lafayette,  Indiana,  where  he  took  a position 
with  the  Wabash  Railroad,  but  after  a short  period 
spent  in  the  freight  department  went  to  Hannibal,  Mis- 
souri, where  he  arrived  December  14,  1865.  He  entered 
the  mercantile  business  in  that  city,  but  after  a few 
months  sold  his  interests  and  started  for  Montana, 
July  10,  1866,  via  the  overland  route  from  Omaha, 
Nebraska,  and  on  reaching  the  Gallatin  valley  took 
employment  on  a ranch.  One  year  later  the  discovery 
of  gold  at  Canyon  Creek  found  him  with  the  mad  rush 
of  venturesome  souls  in  search  of  the  precious  metal, 
and  after  four  years,  during  which  he  met  with  a fair 
amount  of  success  in  placer  mining,  he  went  to  Helena, 
Montana,  and  was  immediately  employed  as  clerk  in 
the  mercantile  establishment  of  A.  M.  Holter,  for  whom 
he  worked  eight  months.  At  that  time,  learning  of 
the  discovery  of  gold  at  Clancy  and  Ten  Mile  Creek, 
he  was  unable  to  withstand  the  lure  and  packed  his 
prospector’s  outfit  and  joined  the  rush,  but  after  a 
short  period,  meeting  with  only  indifferent  success, 
gave  up  mining  and  for  one  year  was  again  engaged 
in  ranching.  Mr.  Crane  then  decided  to  embark  in 
business  on  his  own  account,  and  accordingly  opened 
a mercantile  establishment  at  Clancy,  whicli  he  con- 
ducted successfully  until  1879,  the  year  that  saw  his 
advent  in  Fort  Benton.  Here  at  that  time  was  located 
one  of  the  large  stage  stations,  although  Fort  Benton 
was  then  little  more  than  a trading  post,  and  Mr. 
Crane  was  appointed  agent,  a position  which  he  held 
while  conducting  a general  merchandise  store  until  the 
iron  horse  came  to  this  point  and  eliminated  the  old 
method  of  travel.  He  has  continued  his  business,  how- 
ever, to  the  present  time,  and  since  his  first  appoint- 
ment, July  21,  1900,  has  acted  in  the  capacity  of  post- 
master of  Fort  Benton,  giving  universal  satisfaction 
and  being  one  of  the  most  popular  citizens  of  the  com- 
munity. Mr.  Crane  is  a Royal  Arch  Mason  and  a 
Knight  of  Pythias.  A Reoublican  in  politics,  for  thir- 
teen years  he  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  of  Fort 
Benton,  up  to  1899,  and  for  the  past  thirty  years  has 
acted  as  a member  of  the  school  board  and  still  holds 
office.  With  his  family,  he  attends  the  Episcopal  church. 
The  example  Mr.  Crane  has  set  is  a potent  stimulant 
to  public-spirited  activity.  WhUe  others  have  theorized 
about  benefits  to  be  obtained  he  has  been  out  working 
to  get  them.  Citizenship  of  this  type  is  far  too  rare, 
and  it  is  probably  for  this  reason  that  -he  is  recognized 
as  one  of  Fort  Benton’.s  most  representative  men. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Crane  occurred  February  14, 
1877,  Helena,  Montana,  when  he  was  united  with 
Miss  Julia  lone  Payne.  They  have  had  fifteen  chil- 
dren, as  follows : Edgar  Rufus,  a prominent  news- 

paper man  of  British  Columbia;  Oliver  B.,  a resident  of 
Havre;  Ezra  L.,  deputy  county  clerk  of  Chouteau 
county,  and  a resident  of  Fort  Benton;  George  W., 
Jr.,  Miss  Julia  I.  and  Miss  Florence  E.,  living  at  the 
family  residence;  and  James  P.,  Miss  Gladys,  Chester 
A.  and  Harry  H.,  all  of  whom  are  attending  the  Fort 
Benton  schools,  and  four  who  died  in  infancy. 

Joseph  Hirshberg.  Prominent  among  the  successful 
business  men  of  Montana,  Joseph  Hirshberg  is  emi- 
nently deserving  of  some  mention  in  a historical  and 
biographical  work  of  this  nature,  devoted  to  the  state 
in  which  he  has  concentrated  his  business  activities  in 
late  years,  and  where  he  has  won  a high  place  in  the 
esteem  and  confidence  of  his  fellow  men.  Mr.  Hirsh- 
berg was  born  in  Posen,  Germany,  on  January  28,  1847, 
and'  is  the  son  of  Abraham  and  Ernestine  Hirshberg, 
also  of  Posen,  Germany,  where  they  passed  their  lives. 


992 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


In  early  life  Joseph  Hirshberg  immigrated  to  the  United 
States.  He  came  to  Montana  in  1866. 

Mr.  Hirshberg  was  married  in  New  York  to  Miss 
Eva  Davis,  who  was  born  April  i,  1857.  She  died  in 
Helena,  Montana,  on  August  14,  1907,  leaving  her  hus- 
band and  four  sons.  They  are  named  as  follows ; Ed- 
ward, born  at  Fort  Benton,  Montana,  on  April  10,  1880; 
.Sidney,  also  born  at  Fort  Benton,  June  12,  1881 ; Mor- 
timer, June  27,  1883;  and  Francis  J.,  .\pril  i,  1889. 

Edward  J.,  the  eldest  son,  is  cashier  of  the  banking 
firm  of  Hirshberg  Brothers.  He  is  a young  man  of 
much  ability  and  progressiveness,  and  is  destined  to 
occupy  a prominent  place  in  the  life  of  his  community. 
He  married  on  June  12,  1907,  at  Missoula,  Montana, 
Miss  Gertrude  Kohn,  daughter  of  Herman  Kohn,  an 
old  pioneer  settler  of  Montana,  and  a well  known 
merchant  and  jeweler  of  Missoula.  He  has  been  a resi- 
dent of  the  state  since  1875,  and  is  a heavy  property 
holder  in  and  about  his  home  city.  One  daughter  has 
been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hirshberg,  Eva,  born  at 
.Missoula  on  March  7,  1910. 

The  three  remaining  brothers  are  unmarried  as  yet. 
.Sidney,  who  is  the  second  born  of  the  four  brothers, 
is  a member  of  the  Hirshberg  Mercantile  Company  of 
Conrad,  Montana,  in  which  business  he  has  been  active 
since  he  was  graduated  from  the  Helena  high  school  at 
the  age  of  seventeen  years. 

George  A.  Bruffey.  During  the  past  decade  various 
sections  of  Park  county  have  shown  a decided  growth 
and  development,  both  in  population  and  industrial  and 
commercial  importance,  this  increase  being  commen- 
surate with  the  activities  and  progressive  spirit  of  the 
leading  men  of  the  several  communities.  Not  the  least 
of  these  in  point  of  advancement  is  the  city  of  Bruffey, 
named  in  honor  of  George  A.  Bruffey,  who  came  as  a 
pioneer  to  Montana  nearly  half  a century  ago,  and  who 
during  his  long  residence  in  the  state  has  identified 
himself  with  business  ventures  of  an  e.xtensive  nature 
and  rendered  his  section  signal  service  in  high  public 
office.  Mr.  Bruffey  was  born  in  Pocahontas  county, 
Virginia  (now  West  Virginia),  September  24,  1842, 
and  is  a son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Call)  Bruffey. 

John  Bruffey  was  born  in  Pocahontas  county,  Vir- 
ginia, in  1808,  and  as  a youth  learned  the  trade  of 
wagon  maker.  In  young  manhood  he  migrated  to 
Trenton,  Missouri,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  for 
about  two  years,  then  removing  to  Knoxville,  Iowa, 
where  he  continued  to  follow  the  same  vocation  until 
the  spring  of  1848.  Returning  to  Missouri,  he  spent 
two  or  three  years  in  that  state,  then  going  back  to 
Knoxville,  Iowa,  and  being  in  business  for  five  or  six 
years.  Subsequently  he  secured  a farm  in  Clark  county, 
Iowa,  where  the  remainder  of  his  life  was  spent,  his 
death  occurring  in  1880.  He  was  a lifelong  Democrat. 
His  wife,  who  was  born  in  Greenbrier  county,  Virginia 
(now  VVest  Virginia),  in  1811,  survived  him  until 
1891,  and  was  the  mother  of  ten  children,  of  whom  three 
survive;  George  A.;  Mary,  the  wife  of  Jefferson  Kil- 
gore; and  John,  who  makes  his  home  in  Iowa. 

As  was  the  custom  of  farmers’  boys  of  his  day,  George 
A.  Bruffey  worked  on  the  homestead  place  during  the 
summer  months,  and  obtained  his  education  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  during  winters,  thus  spending  a boyhood 
in  training  his  mind,  while  also  building  up  a robust 
and  hearty  physique.  Fie  was  eighteen  years  of  age 
when  he  left  the  parental  roof  and  started  overland 
with  ox-tcams  for  Nebraska,  where  during  i860  and 
1861  he  was  engaged  in  putting  up  hay.  In  the  spring 
of  1862  he  continued  overland  to  Denver,  Colorado, 
where  he  followed  freighting  until  the  fall  of  1863,  on 
September  first  of  which  year  he  started  for  the  Salmon 
mines,  in  Idaho,  with  ox-teams.  Reaching  that  point, 
the  members  of  his  party  agreed  to  go  on  to  Alder 
Gulch,  Idaho  (now  Montana),  and  for  about  two 


years  he  was  engaged  in  mining  there,  but  subsequently 
engapd  m farming,  an  occupation  which  he  followed 
on  the  banks  of  the  Jefferson  river  until  1866.  That 
year  saw  his  advent  in  Butte,  wliere  he  was  engaged  in 
mining  until  1869,  at  which  time  he  embarked  in  the 
dairy  and  merchandise  business,  and  m keeping  the 
Fish  Creek  station  on  the  overland  road,  a business 
with  which  he  was  connected  for  a period  coverino- 
twenty  years.  Since  leaving  Pish  Creek,  Mr.  Bruffey 
has  resided  in^  Park  county,  and  has  been  extensively 
engaged  in  raising  cattle  and  horses,  and  in  general 
ffirrnmg,  his  alfalfa  crop  in  1911  aggregating  100  tons. 
He  IS  a shrewd  and  capable  business  man,  and  the  hon- 
orable and  upright  manner  in  which  he  has  conducted 
his  dealings  and  the  fact  that  his  name  has  been  asso- 
ciated only  with  legitimate  transactions,  have  combined 
to  give  him  a wide  reputation  for  business  probity,  and 
tq  firmly  establish  him  in  the  confidence  of  his  fellow 
citizens.  Mr.  Bruffey  has  been  a lifelong  Democrat, 
and  stands  high  in  the  counsels  of  his  party  in  Park- 
county.  His  first  public  office  was  that  of  deputy  sheriff 
in  Madison  county,  Montana,  under  A.  J.  Snyder,  the 
first  sheriff  of  that  county.  In  1872  he  was  elected  to 
the  territorial  legislature  from  Madison  county,  and 
in  1876  he  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Fish  Creek  by 
President  Grant,  and  held  that  office  until  1889,  also 
serving  as  a member  of  the  school  board  in  Madison 
county.  In  1896  he  was  elected  to  the  state  legislature 
from  Park  county  and  served  one  term,  and  in  1901, 
through  the  efforts  of  United  States  Senator  W.  A. 
Clark,  the  Bruffey  postoffice  was  established  and  named 
in  honor  of  Mr.  Bruffey,  and  since  that  time  he  has 
held  the  office  of  postmaster.  In  addition  he  is  acting 
as  a member  of  the  board  of  school  directors  of  district 
No.  34.  As  an  official  he  has  shown  himself  at  all 
times  to  have  the  best  interest  of  his  community  at 
heart,  and  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties  has  shown  a 
conscientious  regard  for  the  responsibilities  of  his  of- 
fices. He  is  a valued  member  of  the  Montana  Pioneers’ 
Society. 

On  February  12,  1871,  Mr.  Bruffey  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Matilda  Jane  Ridlen,  who  was 
born  in  Indiana,  daughter  of  William  and  Malinda  (De- 
Vore)  Ridlen.  Mr.  Ridlen,  a native  of  Maine,  came 
west  to  Iowa  among  the  pioneers  of  that  state,  locating 
in  Mahaska  county,  where  he  was  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits  up  to  his  death  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
five  years.  His  wife,  who  lived  to  be  eighty-nine  years 
old,  was  a native  of  Indiana,  and  they  had  ten  diil- 
dren,  of  whom  two,  Sabra  and  Mary,  are  living.  Mr. 
Bruffey’s  wife  died  March  2,  1911,  in  the  faith  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of  which  her  parents 
were  lifelong  members.  She  and  her  husband  had  the 
following  children;  Margaret  S.,  the  wife  of  Montie 
Cady;  Alrneda  I.,  wife  of  S.  P.  Skillman;  Primus  A., 
who  married  Pearl  Baker;  Sylvia,  the  wife  of  James- 
Gravley;  Fatima,  the  wife  of  Frank  E.  Skillman; 
Memrous,  who  married  Ella  Bouche;  Elzina,  wife  of 
Matthew  Gravley;  Minot  and  Emma,  residing  at  home 
with  their  father;  and  Ruth,  who  lost  her  life  in  an 
accident. 

Wheeler  O.  Dexter,  well  known  among  the  pioneers- 
of  Chouteau  county  since  1866,  was  born  in  Canisteo, 
Steuben  county.  New  York,  on  July  31,  1843,  and  is 
the  son  of  Bela  and  Anna  (Snyder)  Dexter.  The 
father  was  a New  Englander,  and  the  mother  was  born 
in  New  York  state.  Farming  and  lumbering  occupied 
the  time  and  attention  of  Bela  Dexter  and  he  passed  his 
life  in  those  occupations  in  New  York,  dying  there  on 
February  15,  1851,  while  the  mother  lived  to  reach  the 
age  of  sixty.  They  had  three  children,  Wheeler  O. 
being  the  youngest  born. 

To  the  age  of  twenty-two  years,  Wheeler  0.  Dexter 


riv.  -' - i 

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HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


993 


lived  in  New  York  state  in  his  native  town.  He  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools  of  his  home  community 
and  in  the  academy  at  Ithaca,  New  York,  doing  labor 
for  his  board  while  at  the  common  schools,  labor, 
hajdng  and  harvesting  to  pay  for  his  academy  school- 
ing. When  he  was  twenty-two  he  left  home  and  came 
directly  west.  Arriving  at  St.  Cloud,  Minnesota,  he 
joined  a wagon  train  then  being  organized  by  one  Jim 
Fisk.  Four  hundred  men,  women  and  children  made 
up  the  company,  and  one  hundred  and  forty  wheeled 
vehicles  left  St.  Cloud  on  June  6,  1866,  arriving  at 
Helena,  Montana,  on  the  2d  day  of  September  fol- 
lowing. 

At  Helena  the  party  disbanded,  but  Mr.  Wheeler  had 
left  the  outfit  at  a place  called  The  Lakes,  Chouteau 
county,  then  went  on  to  Helena  and  reaching  it  in 
advance  of  the  regular  party.  His  first  work  in  Helena 
was  for  his  board,  and  then  he  secured  a position  as 
an  engineer  in  a sawmill,  situated  in  Dry  Gulch,  ana 
after  a short  time  he  was  engaged  as  engineer  in  a 
quartz  mill,  where  he  remained  for  a year.  He  then 
gave  up  the  work  and  went  up  the  river  where  he 
established  a wood  yard,  in  which  he  continued  for 
a brief  time.  In  the  spring  of  1868  he  went  to  Benton, 
where  he  worked  at  carpentering  for  a time,  then  tried 
his  skill  at  teaming.  The  next  year,  while  in  search 
of  coal,  he  was  robbed  of  his  team  of  three  horses.  He 
followed  the  robbers  twenty-six  days,  and  finally  suc- 
ceeded in  recovering  two  of  his  horses,  after  which  he 
devoted  himself  to  cutting  wood  on  the  river  for  the 
supplying  of  boats.  That  work  proved  profitable  and 
he  continued  in  it  until  1874,  when  he  went  to  the 
Gallatin  valley  and  preempted  some  ranch  lands.  He 
stopped  there  for  two  years,  then  sold  his  right  and 
came  back  to  Benton,  which  has  been  his  headquarters 
ever  since. 

For  a time  after  I\Ir.  Dexter  returned  to  Benton  he 
was  occupied  in  hauling  passengers  and  freight  from 
Cow  Island  to  Helena  and  Benton,  the  latter  place  then 
famous  as  a trading  post.  At  the  mouth  of  the  Mussel- 
shell river  three  more  horses  were  stolen  from  him  by 
Indians,  but  this  loss  he  never  recovered,  although 
he  pursued  them  hotly  and  in  a running  fight  fired 
eight  shots  into  their  midst  before  he  was  compelled 
to  seek  cover.  In  1874  he  opened  a meat  market  at 
Bozeman,  which  he  operated  for  a time,  and  at  one 
time  he  operated  a threshing  outfit  in  the  Gallatin  val- 
ley, but  for  the  most  part  he  was  engaged  in  freighting 
up  to  1879,  when  he  introduced  the  first  threshing  out- 
fit into  Benton  and  operated  it  for  years.  In  1881  he 
established  a sawmill  in  Highwood  which  he  ran  for 
three  years,  and  when  Great  Falls  was  first  opened  up 
he  built  a ferry  boat  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  traffic. 
He  later  built  a second  one,  and  these  he  ran  continu- 
ously until  the  railroad  went  through.  He  built  there 
the  first  steam  launch,  and  it  was  used  as  a passenger 
boat  on  the  river.  Though  his  operations  were  care- 
fully conducted,  it  is  a fact  that  Mr.  Dexter  never 
experienced  any  measure  of  financial  prosperity  while 
away  from  Benton,  and  many  an  enterprise  has  known 
his  touch  in  the  years  that  have  passed,  many  of  which 
met  with  absolute  failure ; others  w'ith  only  common- 
place success.  At  one  time  he  operated  an  express 
line  from  Benton  to  Great  Falls.  He  freighted  and 
threshed  all  over  the  county  of  Chouteau.  And  he  was 
one  of  those  who  had  the  government  contract  to  haul 
supplies  to  Custer  from  Fort  Shaw  to  the  Big  Horn 
river  on  the  Yellow'stone.  He  has  seen  the  ups  and 
downs  of  western  life,  has  had  his  successes  and  his 
failures,  like  most  men,  but  through  it  all  has  main- 
tained a calm  and  quiet  existence,  untouched  by  worry 
or  doubt  of  the  future.  Mr.  Dexter  is  a veteran  of 
the  Civil  war,  having  enlisted  on  January  4,  1864,  in 
Company  F.,  in  the  Sixteenth  New  York  Heavy  Artil- 


lery, and  serving  until  the  close  of  the  war,  when  he 
was  honorably  discharged.  He  is  a member  of  the 
G.  A.  R.  at  Ft.  Benton. 

Mr.  Dexter  is  a Republican  in  his  political  views, 
and  at  one  time  served  in  the  office  of  public  adminis- 
trator in  Benton.  He  is  a Mason  of  the  third  degree 
and  is  the  oldest  member  in  the  order  now  living  in 
Benton.  He  is  also  a member  of  the  Eastern  Star. 

Like  every  pioneer  who  has  lived  through  the 
formative  period  of  western  growth  and  development, 
Mr.  Wheeler  has  had  his  full  share  of  the  thrills  and 
chills  which  accompany  close  acquaintance  with  the  un- 
civilized Indian,  but  his  heart  is  bound  up  in  the  west, 
and  Chouteau  county,  Montana,  he  regards  as  his 
rightful  home,  where  he  has  witnessed  the  progress 
of  almost  fifty  years  of  activity. 

Thomas  Lewis.  Any  record  of  the  lives  and  activi- 
ties of  the  progressive  men  who  have  contributed  to 
the  development  and  advancement  of  Montana  would 
be  decidedly  incomplete  did  it  not  make  extended  men- 
tion of  Thomas  Lewis,  a well  known  retired  citizen  of 
Bozeman,  and  a resident  of  this  state  for  nearly  a half 
a century.  Mr.  Lewis  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1842,  and 
is  a son  of  John  and  Nancy  Lewis,  who  emigrated 
from  Wales  about  1838,  settling  first  in  Ohio  and  sub- 
sequently going  to  Missouri,  where  the  mother  died. 
Thirty-one  years  later  Mr.  Lewis  lost  his  father,  who 
passed  away  at  Emporia,  Kansas.  After  the  mother’s 
death  the  home  was  broken  up,  and  at  an  early  age 
he  was  thrown  upon  his  own  resources. 

Until  he  was  nine  years  of  age  Mr.  Lewis  attended 
the  district  schools  to  some  extent,  but  his  advantages 
were  decidedly  limited,  and  the  greater  part  of  his  edu- 
cation was  secured  in  the  school  of  hard  work  and 
through  observation.  When  he  had  reached  the  age  of 
ten  years  he  began  to  work,  and  when  he  was  thirteen 
was  a full-fledged  hired  man,  working  by  the  day  or 
month  at  any  employment  that  presented  itself.  Thus 
he  was  made  self-reliant,  and  this  faculty  of  always 
depending  on  his  own  work  and  judgment  has  proved 
of  inestimable  value  to  him  in  later  years.  In  1859  Mr. 
Lewis  determined  to  try  his  fortune  in  the  west  and 
made  his  way  to  the  Pike’s  Peak  country,  at  a time 
when  the  whole  nation  was  in  a state  of  excitement 
over  the  mineral  discoveries  there.  This  did  not  prove 
a favorable  venture,  and  to  use  i\Ir.  Lewis’  own  words ; 
“When  I 'got  broke’  I was  glad  to  go  back  to  old  Mis- 
souri.’’ There  he  remained  until  the  spring  of  1863. 
working  industriously  and  saving  his  wages,  being  still 
convinced  that  he  could  win  success  in  the  west,  to 
which  he  decided  to  return.  Securing  an  outfit  at  St. 
Joseph,  Missouri,  he  set  forth  with  four  mules,  and  after 
a weary  journey  of  ninety-three  days  on  the  plains,  ar- 
rived in  Virginia  City,  June  4,  1863.  In  1864-65  he  was 
engaged  in  mining  in  Alder  Gulch,  near  Virginia  City, 
and  also  about  two  miles  below  the  present  city  of 
Butte,  then  marked  by  only  a few  log  cabins.  In  the 
spring  of  1866  Mr.  Lewis  came  to  Bozeman,  where 
he  was  employed  in  a sawmill  and  at  other  work  until 
the  fall  of  1S68,  when  he  rented  and  operated  a thresh- 
ing machine  during  the  season.  In  the  following  spring 
he  traded  his  outfit  for  a farm,  the  first  of  a number 
of  trades  in  which  he  invariably  got  the  better  of  the 
agreement,  but  disposed  of  his  property  after  harvest, 
and  in  1870  resumed  mining  operations.  In  the  spring 
following  he  assumed  the  management  of  a ranch  in 
Gallatin  county,  and  in  1872  took  charge  of  a wagon 
train  for  the  firm  of  Rich  & Willson,  with  whom  he 
remained  until  the  spring  of  1877.  He  then  purchased 
the  mules  and  wagons  and  continued  operations  in 
freighting  during  one  season,  but  in  1878  sold  his 
wagon  train  and  purchased  an  interest  in  the  mercantile 
business  of  General  Willson,  in  Bozeman,  this  associa- 
tion continuing  about  one  year.  In  1880  he  was  asso- 


994 


HISTORY  OF  ^lOXTANA 


dated  with  Major  Pease  in  a trading  post  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Stillwater  river,  and  in  i88i  took  over^  six  hun- 
dred head  of  cattle  to  the  Chicago  market,  his  partner 
in  this  enterprise  being  J.  H.  Wells.  In  the  spring  of 

1882  he  associated  himself  with  L.  H.  Carey  and  began 
the  manufacturing  of  brick  at  Bozeman.  In  the  fall  of 

1883  he  purchased  the  interest  of  the  senior  partner  of 
the  firm  of  Rich  & Wilson,  conducting  a grocery  busi- 
ness until  the  succeeding  fall,  when  the  partnership  was 
dissolved  by  mutual  consent.  In  1882  he  was  one  of 
the  organizers  of  the  Bozeman  National  Bank,  in 
which  he  held  a directorship,  until  September  i,  1884, 
at  which  time  he  w'as  elected  vice-president  of  the  in- 
stitution and  held  that  office  until  September  i,  1888, 
when  he  sold  his  interest,  and  since  that  time  has  been 
engaged  in  buying  and  selling  real  estate. 

A stanch  and  active  Democrat,  Mr.  Lewis  has  held 
various  positions  of  public  trust,  and  is  looked  upon 
as  one  of  the  reliable  wheel-horses  of  the  party  here. 
He  cast  his  first  vote  in  favor  of  Grover  Cleveland  for 
the  presidency  in  1892.  In  1889  he  was  chairman  of 
the  board  of  county  commissioners  of  Gallatin  county, 
was  a member  of  city  school  board  for  four  years, 
in  1896  became  a member  of  the  city  council  as  alderman 
from  the  Third  ward  and  at  present  is  on  Gallatin 
county  high  school  board.  In  1866  he  became  a member 
of  Gallatin  Lodge  No.  6,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  of  which  he 
served  as  master  in  1880,  1888  and  1892.  He  and  his 
family  attend  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church  and  are 
well  and  favorably  knowm  in  church  circles.  Probably 
Mr.  Lew'is  is  known  best  for  his  work  in  later  years 
in  the  Pioneers  of  Gallatin  county.  He  served  as 
vice-president  of  this  society  in  1893,  being  elected  pres- 
ident in  1907.  He  also  holds  membership  in  the  Mon- 
tana State  Pioneer  Society,  of  which  he  was  vice- 
president  in  1894.  With  a reputation  for  the  highest 
integrity,  and  holding  the  unquestioned  confidence  of 
his  fellow  citizens,  Mr.  Lewis  takes  high  rank  among 
the  men  who  have  made  the  city  of  Bozeman  what  it 
is,  and  is  deserving  of  being  placed  among  the  city’s 
representative  citizens. 

On  July  13,  1882,  Mr.  Lewis  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Kate  N.  Martin,  daughter  of  Judge  Josephus 
P.  Martin.  Mrs.  Lewis  is  a graduate  of  the  California 
State  Normal  School  at  San  Jose,  in  the  public  schools 
of  which  city  she  taught  for  five  years,  and  also  was 
a teacher  in  the  Bozeman  schools  for  two  years  prior 
to  her  marriage.  Miss  Edna  Lewis,  the  only  child  of 
this  union,  graduated  from  the  Bozeman  high  school 
when  but  fifteen  years  of  age.  _ She  then  attended  the 
Montana  State  College  of  Agriculture  and  Mechanical 
Arts,  from  which  she  was  graduated,  and  subsequently 
graduated  from  the  University  of  California  with  high 
honors  and  received  the  degree  of  Master  of  Mathe- 
matics. She  has  since  been  teaching  in  the  Bozeman 
high  school.  In  1908  she  was  elected  secretary  of  the 
Pioneer  Society  of  Gallatin  County  Sons  and  Daugh- 
ters, was  re-elected  in  1909,  and  in  1910.  1911  and  1912 
was  elected  president.  A young  lady  of  culture  and  re- 
finement, she  is  a general  favorite  in  social  circles  of 
Bozeman,  where  her  friends  are  legion. 

Joseph  G.vns.  Both  the  pioneer  and  the  modern 
period  of  Montana  history  is  represented  by  the  well 
known  citizen  of  Helena,  Mr.  Joseph  Gans,  president 
of  the  Gans  & Klein  Company  of  this  city.  Mr.  Gans 
is  one  of  the  few  pioneers  who  are  still  active  and 
vigorous  in  business  affairs,  although  to  a considerable 
degree  he  has  turned  over  the  management  of  his 
business  to  his  son,  M.  L.  Gans.  Mr.  Gans  has  been 
a resident  of  Montana  since  1866,  and  has  had  a life 
of  all  the  varied  experience  which  is  typical  of  Mon- 
tana history  during  the  last  half  century.  He  has 
been  a freighter,  a rancher  and  stockman,  a merchant, 
and  through  it  all,  a most  public  spirited  citizen. 

Joseph  Gans  was  born  in  Newstadt,  in  German 


Bohemia,  Austria.  His  father  was  M.  L.  Gans,  who 
had  served  in  the  Austrian  army.  ■ The  family  came  \ 
to  America  in  1834  at  which  time,  two  brothers,  F.  R.  I 
and  Herman  Gans  settled  at  Mobile,  Alabama,  while 
another  brother,  S.  M.  Gans,  located  at  New  York  City. 

In  the  family  of  M.  L.  Gans  the  father,  there  were 
nine  boys  and  six  girls,  and  as  Joseph,  the  Montana 
pioneer  was  the  youngest  of  this  large  household  cir- 
cle, he  has  little  remembrance  of  the  older  members 
of  the  family,  some  of  whom  he  has  never  seen. 

Mr.  Joseph  Gans  came  to  America  in  January,  1861. 

He  had  obtained  a fairly  substantial  education  in  his 
native  country,  and  since  learning  the  English  lan- 
guage, has  become  proficient  in  its  use,  and  is  a man 
of  broad  information  and  large  knowledge  of  men  and 
affairs.  In  New  York  City,  after  his  arrival  in  this  1 
country,  he  remained  one  year  and  then  crossed  the  | 

Isthmus  of  Panama  to  California.  Fle  remained  in  ij 

the  western  states  six  months,  after  which  he  went 
to  Oregon,  where  he  was  employed  in  a butcher  shop 
for  more  than  a year.  Boise,  Idaho,  was  his  next 
destination,  and  from  that  point  he  was  engaged  in 
operating  a pack-train  for  two  seasons.  During  the 
summer  of  1866  he  went  to  Kootenai  in  British  Co- 
lumbia, but  during  the  same  year  returned  to  the 
states,  and  in  December,  1866,  arrived  in  Helena.  Thus 
he  became  one  of  the  early  traders  and  merchants  of 
that  time,  and  had  a store  at  the  Jefferson  Bridge,  for 
three  years.  From  merchandising  he  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  ranching  and  cattle-raising,  and  was  engaged 
in  that  industry  for  some  years.  In  1876  he  became 
associated  with  Gans  & Klein  at  Helena,  also  in  the 
sheep  business  in  Wyoming,  where  he  remained  as 
one  of  the  leading  sheep  men  of  that  place,  until 
1904.  In  the  latter  year  he  bought  the  business  known 
as  Gans  & Klein  Company,  and  has  since  been  presi- 
dent of  this  well  known  concern. 

Mr.  Gans  is  a Republican  in  politics,  and  though 
never  an  aspirant  for  office,  has  always  fulfilled  his 
duties  of  citizenship  with  credit.  He  is  a member  of 
the  Jewish  church.  Fraternally  he  is  affiliated  with 
the  Masonic  lodge  of  Helena,  and  has  for  thirty-five 
consecutive  terms  held  the  office  of  treasurer.  At 
Flelena  on  November  26,  1878,  Mr.  Gans  married  Miss 
Rachel  Kaufman.  Their  children  are  named  as  fol- 
lows: Sara  L.  Flatow,  Flattie  B.,  David  S.  and  M.  C. 
Gans. 

Hon.  William  G.  Conrad.  From  the  time  of  the 
Louisiana  purchase  of  the  great  northwestern  empire 
and  its  exploration  by  those  intrepid  men,  Captains 
Lewis  and  Clark,  a halo  of  romance  has  hovered  over 
that  land,  particularly  that  portion  embraced  within 
the  confines  of  the  state  of  Montana.  For  more  than 
a hundred  years  it  has  been  the  land  of  gold, — the 
land  of  promise  to  ventursome  and  energetic  spirits 
who  desired  to  get  out  of  the  beaten  track  and  hew  a 
fortune  for  themselves  from  the  primeval  wilderness. 
Among  those  who  were  inspired  by  the  glitter  of  prom- 
ise in  the  Rocky  Mountains  was  Hon.  William  G. 
Conrad,  and  that  his  dreams  of  future  empire  and 
wealth  have  come  true  is  fully  shown  by  the  pros- 
perity of  the  great  state  of  Montana  at  this  time,  and 
in  a personal  way  by  his  success  as  an  Indian  trader, 
freighter,  stock  grower,  financier,  banker  and  miner. 

Flis  coadjutor  and  partner  from  the  beginning  in  the 
greater  part  of  his  business  transactions  has  been  his 
brother,  Charles  E.  Conrad.  The  ramifications  of  his 
business  are  state  wide  and  his  interests  not  only 
multifarious  in  number,  but  colossal  in  magnitude  in 
a country  where  business  has  been  and  is  yet  carried 
on  upon  a gigantic  scale. 

Hon.  W.  G.  Conrad,  the  descendant  of  old  colonial 
families,  was  horn  in  Warren  county,  Virginia,  Au- 
gust 3,  1848.  His  father  was  Colonel  James  W.  Con- 
rad, whose  immediate  ancestor,  Joseph  Conrad,  im- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


995 


migrated  from  Germany  to  the  New  World  and  set- 
tled in  the  beautiful  Shenandoah  Valley  during  the 
early  settlement  of  the  Old  Dominion.  Colonel  Con- 
rad married  Miss  Maria  Ashby,  also  a descendant  of 
the  colonists  who  were  identified  with  its  history  from 
the  earliest  period.  Her  ancestor  on  the  paternal  side, 
John  Ashby,  a loyal  subject  of  King  Charles  I of  Eng- 
land, was  among  the  first  who  landed  on  Virginia 
soil.  Mrs.  Conrad’s  great-grandfather,  also  named 
John  Ashby,  was  with  General  Washington  under  Brad- 
dock  at  Fort  Duquesne,  and  her  grandfather,  Benjamin 
Ashby,  was  one  of  that  great  commander's  confidential 
officers  throughout  the  Revolutionary  war.  Colonel 
James  W.  and  Maria  (Ashby)  Conrad  were  the  par- 
ents of  thirteen  children.  They  owned  a large  Vir- 
ginia plantation,  and  the  father  was  long  a prominent 
judge  in  his  district,  as  well  as  colonel  of  the  state 
militia.  In  1874  they  removed  to  Montana  in  order 
to  be  near  their  children,  who  had  preceded  them  to 
this  state,  and  after  many  years  of  happy  and  con- 
tented life  they  passed  peacefully  beyond  the  purple  of 
the  mountains  to  the  shining  shore  that  awaits  the 
generations  of  men. 

Flon.  William  G.  Conrad,  their  eldest  son,  was  reared 
on  the  plantation  in  Virginia,  and  after  attending  the 
district  school  perfected  himself  in  his  studies  at  the 
famous  Washington  Academy.  At  the  early  age  of 
nineteen  he  determined  to  strike  out  for  himself  and 
together  with  his  brother  Charles  started  for  the  head 
waters  of  the  Missouri  river,  by  rail  to  Cincinnati, 
thence  down  the  river  to  Cairo,  up  the  Mississippi  to 
St.  Louis  and  on  to  Fort  Benton,  which  they  reached 
in  safety  after  a three  months’  journey,  although  pass- 
ing through  many  perils  on  the  upper  Missouri,  where 
hostile  Indians  were  the  only  inhabitants.  On  arriv- 
ing at  Fort  Benton,  Mr.  Conrad  at  once  plunged  into 
business,  and  his  career  has  been  remarkable  in  its 
upward  and  onward  march.  He  began  as  a clerk  in 
the  mercantile  establishment  of  I.  G.  Baker  & Com- 
pany, and  at  the  expiration  of  a period  of  four  years 
became  a member  of  the  firm.  Within  eight  years 
he  and  his  brother  secured  the  possession  of  the  im- 
mense resources  and  prestige  of  the  firm  liy  purchase. 
The  business  of  this  firm  was  one  of  the  most  exten- 
sive and  far-reaching  of  any  conducted  by  private 
capital  in  the  northwest  and  Canada,  comprising  as  it 
did  large  freighting  operations  and  numerous  mercan- 
tile establishments  in  both  the  United  States  and  the 
Dominion  of  Canada.  Enormous  quantities  of  sup- 
plies were  transported  from  Fort  Benton  for  both  their 
own  use  and  that  of  the  Canadian  government,  which 
service  required  the  use  of  hundreds  of  men  and 
thousands  of  oxen,  horses  and  mules.  After  the  pur- 
chase of  the  Baker  interests  the  Conrad  Brothers  di- 
vided the  control  of  the  business.  W.  G.  Conrad  took 
charge  of  the  Montana  branch,  while  his  brother 
Charles  had  control  of  the  Canadian  department.  The 
latter  included  large  stores  at  Lethbridge,  Fort  IMc- 
Leod.  Calgary  and  Fort  Walsh,  and  a bonded  freight- 
ing line  extended  from  eastern  Canada  to  the  North- 
west Territory.  The  firm  handled  all  kinds  of  military 
and  Indian  supplies  and  furnishes  the  money  to  the 
Canadian  government  with  which  to  pay  the  mounted 
police  and  Indian  annuities.  In  Montana  their  freight 
lines  extended  almost  the  entire  extent  of  the  territory, 
supplying  Helena,  Bozeman,  Missoula  and  many  other 
places  with  their  merchandise,  and  the  government 
with  supplies  for  soldiers  and  Indians.  In  addition  to 
this  vast  business  they  also  operated  a number  of 
steamboats  on  the  Missouri  river  and  several  Canadian 
streams.  It  was  a common  thing  for  the  firm  to  handle 
more  than  twenty  million  pounds  of  freight  in  a year, 
but  their  executive  ability  and  systematic  manner  of 
conducting  the  business  was  such  that  the  immense  mass 
was  carried  on  apparently  without  effort  and  entirely 
devoid  of  friction.  The  business  was  discontinued  in 

Vol  ii—  1 0 


1888,  when  the  Canadian  department  was  disposed  of 
to  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  the  sale  being  concluded 
in  London.  Before  the  end  of  that  year  they  had  also 
disposed  of  the  freighting  line. 

As  a side  issue  to  their  great  affairs,  they  had  be- 
come interested  in  the  cattle  business  in  Montana  as 
well  as  in  Canada,  and  were  the  possessors  of  im- 
mense herds  in  both  places.  The  business  and  assets 
of  the  firm  became  so  extensive  that  Mr.  Conrad  de- 
termined to  establish  a bank  in  1880,  and  accordingly 
he  started  a banking  house  in  Fort  Benton,  called  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Fort  Benton,  of  which  he  was 
president  during  its  life  there,  and  together  with  his 
brother  was  the  sole  owner  of  the  bank  when  it  re- 
moved to  Great  Falls  and  renamed  the  Northwestern 
National  Bank.  In  1894  they  sold  one  fifth  of  the 
slock  in  the  Northwestern  to  the  Boston  & Montana 
Copper  Company,  and  B.  D.  Hatcher  was  put  in  charge 
of  the  bank.  At  the  end  of  two  years  Mr.  Hatcher 
purchased  the  interest  of  the  Conrads  in  the  bank  for 
the  Boston  & Montana  Copper  Company,  and  two 
months  later  the  bank  closed  its  doors.  Then  it  was 
that  the  true  spirit  and  sterling  character  of  W.  G. 
Conrad  was  shown  in  a conspicuous  unmistakable 
manner.  He  was  in  White  Post,  Virginia,  at  the  time, 
but  when  the  news  was  flashed  by  telegraph  that  the 
bank  had  failed,  Mr.  Conrad  at  once  dispatched  a 
message,  saying:  “I  want  every  depositor  paid  in  full!” 
In  this  message  he  also  asked  James  T.  Stanford  to 
act  as  receiver.  Through  Mr.  Conrad’s  influence  in 
Washington,  Mr.  Stanford  was  appointed  receiver  and 
the  indebtedness  of  the  bank  to  its  depositors  paid  in 
full,  a fact  which  is  known  not  only  to  the  people  of 
Montana,  but  to  the  bankers  of  the  United  States. 
Legally  Mr.  Conrad  was  not  liable  for  the  indebted- 
ness of  the  bank,  but  he  waived  all  other  considera- 
tions for  the  benefit  of  his  friends  and  neighbors  who 
had  deposited  their  money  with  him  in  the  full  con- 
fidence that  it  was  safe  because  they  knew  him  so  well 
and  believed  so  fully  in  his  honesty  and  uprightness  as 
a man,  and  his  conduct  at  the  crucial  moment  amply 
justified  their  confidence. 

In  recent  years  Mr.  Conrad's  activities  have  taken 
an  even  wider  range.  He  has  recently  established  a big 
banking  institution  in  the  city  of  Helena  called  the 
Conrad  Trust  and  Savings  Bank,  and  is  a heavy  stock- 
holder and  president  of  the  Montana  Life  Insurance 
Company.  He  is  president  of  the  Conrad  Townsite 
Company,  which  owns  large  tracts  of  land,  water  com- 
panies and  power  plants.  He  is  also  a large  owner  in 
and  treasurer  of  the  Conrad-Price  Cattle  Company, 
which  ranked  among  the  leading  cattle  growers  of  Mon- 
tana and  Canada.  He  is  the  principal  stockholder  of 
the  Spring  Hill  Mine  near  Helena,  a gold  proposition 
that  has  an  estimated  value  of  one  million  dollars : and, 
as  though  all  these  interests  were  not  sufficient  to  oc- 
cupy the  time  and  exhaust  the  faculties  of  this  inde- 
fatigable man.  he  controls  the  stock  and  is  president  of 
the  Conrad  National  of  Kalispell,  the  Pondera  Valley 
State  Bank  of  Conrad,  and  the  First  State  Bank  of 
Livingston.  He  is  president  of  the  Conrad-Stanford 
Company  at  Helena,  which  firm  was  established  in  this 
city  in  igo2,  when  it  purchased  the  assets  of  the  First 
National  Bank  and  the  Merchants  National  Bank,  and  is 
the  owner  of  mines  and  real  estate  in  various  parts  of 
the  state. 

Only  a man  of  Mr.  Conrad's  iron  constitution  could 
withstand  the  strain  imposed  by  his  various  responsi- 
ble and  exacting  duties.  His  operations  in  the  sphere 
of  finance  are  of  colossal  magnitude  and  far-reaching  in 
variety,  yet  they  are  all  so  systematized  that  they  seem 
as  easy  of  accomplishment  by  him  as  though  they  con- 
sisted of  an  ordinary  business  of  no  greater  magnitude 
than  the  conducting  of  a cross  roads  store.  He  holds 
high  rank  among  the  financiers  of  the  country  and  pur- 
sues a simple,  unostentatious  life.  The  Conrad  Bank- 


996 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


ing  Company  of  Great  Falls  is  another  of  his  institu- 
tions and  he  owns  in  addition  large  business  blocks 
in  that  city.  In  fact,  he  is  one  of  the  greatest  factors 
in  the  business  of  the  northwest;  and  so  honorable  and 
fair  have  been  his  dealings  throughout  that  no  one  be- 
grudges him  the  high  station  in  wealth  and  influence 
that  he  has  attained. 

Politically  Mr.  Conrad  is  a Democrat  and  has  been 
an  advocate  of  the  principles  of  that  party  since  he  has 
been  of  legal  age,  and  the  party  has  honored  him  with 
various  offices,  which  he  filled  with  signal  ability.  He 
was  county  commissioner  of  Chouteau  county  when 
barely  of  age,  and  held  the  office  while  he  was  a resi- 
dent of  the  county.  He  was  also  a member  of  the 
state  senate  in  1879,  filled  a number  of  offices  in  Fort 
Benton  and  was  its  first  mayor.  He  has  also  been  a 
candidate  for  the  United  States  senate,  and  in  i88g 
lacked  but  four  votes  of  being  elected.  His  friends 
have  repeatedly  urged  his  candidacy  for  the  office,  know- 
ing his  great  ability  and  fitness  for  the  position,  and 
he  has  been  favorably  mentioned  as  a candidate  for 
the  vice-presidency  of  the  United  States. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Conrad  occurred  in  1876,  when 
he  espoused  the  daughter  of  Hon.  Paul  L.  and  Almira 
(Hopper)  Bowen,  of  Virginia, — Miss  Fannie  E.  Bowen. 
Five  children  have  been  born  to  them.  They  are  Maria 
Josephine,  the  wife  of  A.  Gilbank  Twigg,  living  in  Fa- 
quier  county,  Virginia;  Minnie  Atkisson;  George  Hat- 
field, married  to  Kate  Kennedy  and  resides  in  Plelena, 
and  they  have  one  child,  Kathryn ; Arthur  Franklin 
married  Lanita  Randell,  and  is  living  in  Great  Falls, 
Montana,  and  they  have  one  son,  William  PI. ; and  Wil- 
liam Lee,  who  died  in  1878,  at  the  age  of  one  year.  The 
wife  and  mother,  who  was  born  October  5,  1853,  passed 
away  in  Plelena  on  February  20,  1911.  Her  loss  was 
deeply  deplored  wherever  she  was  known,  and  the  fol- 
lowing comment  which  appeared  in  a Helena  paper  at 
the  time  of  her  death  is  a fitting  commentary  on  the 
life  of  one  who  was  well  beloved  by  all  who  were  privi- 
leged to  share  in  her  acquaintance : “Mrs.  Gonrad  was 
the  embodiment  of  southern  hospitality,  and  whether 
it  was  at  Fort  Benton  in  the  early  days,  in  Great  Falls 
in  later  years,  or  more  recently  in  Helena,  her  friends 
always  knew  they  were  more  than  welcome  in  her 
home.  In  recent  years  Mrs.  Conrad  had  not  been  physi- 
cally able  to  take  the  leading  part  she  did  in  earlier 
days  in  the  social  life  and  the  philanthropies  of  the 
commonwealth  in  which  she  lived,  but  those  who  had 
the  pleasure  of  her  acquaintance  and  friendship  in  the 
early  days  recall  the  delightful  way  in  which  she  did 
what  she  could  to  make  others  happy.  But  she  never 
lost  her  interest  in  the  welfare  of  those  less  fortunate 
than  herself,  and  there  were  many,  not  only  among  her 
close  associates,  but  among  those  who  looked  to  her 
as  a friend  in  time  of  need,  who  will  sincerely  mourn 
her,”  The  legislature  of  Montana,  in  session  at  the 
time  of  the  death  of  Mrs.  Conrad,  adjourned  as  a special 
mark  of  respect  to  her  memory. 

In  addition  to  his  beautiful  residence  in  Helena,  Mr. 
Conrad  owns  a fine  estate  in  Virginia,  his  native  state, 
as  well  as  that  of  his  wife,  and  there  he  and  his  fam- 
ily have  been  wont  to  repair  for  a season  of  rest  and 
recreation  during  the  winter  months,  Mr.  Conrad  is 
a member  of  the  Episcopal  church,  as  was  also  his 
wife,  and  he  is  personally  identified  with  the  Masonic 
order. 

In  all  his  relations  to  his  fellow  men,  Mr.  Conrad  has 
been  just  and  upright  and  unsparingly  fair,  and  as  a 
matter  of  course,  he  stands  high  in  the  estimation  of  all 
business,  financial  and  social  circles,  and  is  fully  en- 
titled to  the  distinction  accorded  to  him. 

Henry  S.  Neal.  As  assessor  of  Deer  Lodge  county, 
Montana,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  held  in  the  highest 
regard  by  the  people  of  the  entire  county  and  especially 
of  the  city  of  Anaconda.  He  has  held  other  public 


offices,  in  each  of  which  he  acquitted  himself  with  dis- 
tinction and  evidently  with  satisfaction  to  the  people, 
for  it  is  by  the  people’s  voice  that  he  holds  his  present 
honorable  position. 

Henry  S.  Neal  is  a native  of  Maryland,  born  in  Balti- 
more, January  15,  1844.  His  parents  moved  to  West- 
minster, that  state,  while  he  was  an  infant,  and  there 
made  their  home.  Fie  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  and  entered  college,  but  at  the  outbreak  of 
hostilities  between  the  states  in  1861,  he  left  college 
when  but  seventeen  years  old  and  joined  the  Con- 
federate army  under  General  Robert  E.  Lee.  He  became 
a member  of  Breathitt  battery,  of  the  Flying  Artillery 
service,  and  served  in  that  branch  of  the  army  through 
the  entire  period  of  the  war  up  to  the  surrender  of 
General  Lee.  Very  shortly  after  the  close  of  hostilities 
he  decided  to  locate  in  the  west.  He  traveled  from 
Virginia  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri  by  rail;  thence  to 
Kansas  City  by  boat ; to  Atchinson,  Kansas,  by  rail, 
where  he  joined  Shrewsbury’s  train  consisting  of  twenty- 
four  mule  and  ox-teams  and  thirty-two  men.  With  this 
outfit  he  traveled  to  Julesburg,  thence  up  Pole  creek  to 
Fort  Buford,  and  then  by  Green  river  to  Salt  lake, 
where  he  arrived  in  September,  1866.  He  found  em- 
ployment in  the  planing  mills  of  Decker  & Evans  in 
Salt  Lake  City,  and  worked  there  until  the  following 
spring,  when  he  went  to  Virginia  City,  Montana,  and 
after  a very  brief  stop  went  on  to  Helena.  At  this 
place  he  began  placer  mining,  and  followed  it  with  varied 
success  for  some  time.  He  enlisted  in  the  Montana 
Militia,  serving  as  lieutenant  under  Neil  Howe.  With 
his  company  he  made  a trip  to  Yellowstone  park,  where 
trouble  arose  in  the  ranks,  and  the  entire  company,  with 
the  exception  of  the  officers,  left  the  service.  With 
his  fellow  officers.  Lieutenant  Neal  returned  to  Helena, 
where  he  again  took  up  placer  mining  at  Last  Chance 
Gulch. 

Becoming  tired  of  this  occupation,  Mr.  Neal  turned 
his  attention  to  stock  raising,  taking  up  a claim  in 
the  same  vicinity.  He  remained  there,  meeting  with 
fair  success,  until  1871,  when  he  sold  out  his  ranch 
property,  and  moved  to  Deer  Lodge  county,  where  he 
leased  the  Dance  Ranch.  He  remained  on  this  ranch 
three  years,  when  he  again  took  up  mining  in  the 
section  known  as  Squaw  Gulch  and  worked  there  two 
seasons  for  wages.  Next  he  returned  to  Deer  Lodge 
county,  where  he  leased  the  Bratton  ranch,  which  prop- 
erty he  conducted  with  good  success  until  1884.  At 
that  time  he  again  sold  out  his  ranch  and  moved  to 
Anaconda.  Always  an  active  man,  he  identified  himself 
with  public  affairs  very  soon  after  locating  in  the  city, 
and  served  one  term  there  as  street  commissioner,  at 
the  conclusion  of  which  he  moved  to  Granite  county  and 
opened  a general  store  and  boarding  house  in_  1^5. 
This  venture  prospered  and  he  remained  with  it  five 
years.  In  1890,  an  opportunity  presenting  itself  for 
advantageous  sale  he  disposed  of  his  property,  again 
located  in  the  city  of  Anaconda  and  became  interested 
in  public  matters.  He  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace, 
which  office  he  held  four  years.  In  1908  he  was  elected 
assessor  of  Deer  Lodge  county,  and  now  holds  that 
office. 

Mr.  Neal  is  a Republican,  and  active  in  party  affairs, 
notwithstanding  the  fact  that  he  fought  valiantly  in 
the  Confederate  army.  He  is  a member  of  the  National 
Union  and  one  of  its  prominent  officers.  He  owns  a 
handsome  home  in  the  city  of  Anaconda,  where  he  lives 
with  his  family  and  is  the  possessor  of  considerable 
other  city  real  estate. 

On  August  9,  1868,  Mr.  Neal  was  married  in  Helena, 
Montana,  to  Miss  Marv  M.  Pouquett.  They  have  had 
four  children.  One  son,  A.  H.  Neal  is  assistant  to  his 
father  in  the  assessor’s  office  at  Anaconda.  Paul  R. 
Neal,  another  son,  is  manager  of  the  Atlas  Mines  in 
Granite  county,  Montana.  Harry  C.  Neal,  a third  son, 
is  clerk  for  the  Atlas  Mining  Company.  Edna,  a 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


997 


daughter,  is  now  Mrs.  Lawrence  McPherson,  of  Port- 
land, Oregon. 

The  parents  of  Henry  S.  Neal  were  Abner  Neal  and 
Mrs.  Rose  Elizabeth  (White)  Neal,  of  Maryland.  Abner 
Neal  was  a lawyer  of  much  prominence  in  Baltimore 
and  Westminster.  He  was  uncle  to  President  Grover 
Cleveland.  A sister  of  Abner  Neal  was  the  mother 
of  Mr.  Cleveland.  Henry  S.  Neal  enjoys  the  comforts 
of  a pleasant  and  cultured  home  in  Anaconda.  He 
appreciates  the  honor  accorded  him  by  his  fellow  citi- 
zens, but  his  chief  source  of  pride  is  the  fact  that  he 
has  been  able  to  so  successfully  rear  and  educate  his 
children,  every  one  of  whom  has  been  an  honor  to  their 
parents. 

Edw.ved  Br.xssey  has  the  distinction  of  being  the 
oldest  white  resident  of  Lewistown.  When  he  first 
came  here  there  were  only  five  white  men  in  the  place 
so  he  is  able  to  speak  with  authority  on  the  progress 
and  development  of  this  section.  iMoreover  he  taught 
the  first  school  ever  held  in  Eergus  county  and  so  has 
been  identified  with  the  educational  work  of  the  region 
from  its  very  beginning. 

Born  in  England  on  October  22,  1844,  Mr.  Brassey 
received  the  thorough  and  systematic  training  of  the 
English  public  schools,.  His  father  was  engaged  in  the 
lumber  business  and  spent  all  his  life  in  England. 
He  died  while  on  a visit  to  the  island  of  Cyprus  in 
the  Mediterranean  when  he  was  about  seventy  years 
old.  His  wife  was  Elizabeth  Poyntz,  who  was  born  in 
1827  and  died  fifty  years  later.  Edward  Brassey  is  the 
eldest  of  the  three  children  of  the  famih'.  At  the  age 
of  twenty,  IMr.  Brassey  came  to  America  and  spent 
three  vears  traveling  about  the  country  working  at 
various  occupations  of  a clerical  nature.  In  1867  he 
made  the  trip  from  Omaha  to  Montana  and  finished 
the  jouiTiey  without  serious  accident,  althougli  the 
party  had  many  skirmishes  with  the  Indians.  Like  most 
settlers  of  that  period,  Mr.  Brassey  had  been  attracted 
to  Montana  by  the  rich  discoveries  of  gold  and  he  took 
up  his  residence  in  one  of  the  camps  in  the  vicinity  of 
Helena.  The  location  he  selected  was  Eldorado  Bar 
and  here  he  worked  at  mining  in  the  summer  and 
taught  school  in  the  winter.  * The  presence  of  an  Eng- 
lish public-school  man  in  the  raw  mining  camp  was 
nothing  short  of  a bonanza  to  the  settlers  who  had 
brought  their  families  and  many  a child  received  a 
grade  of  instruction  out  in  the  wilds,  which  was  not 
afterwards  equalled  in  the  institutions  of  cultured  and 
settled  communities. 

It  was  in  1881  that  Mr.  Brassey  came  to  Fergus 
county.  For  a number  of  years  he  followed  ranching 
along  with  his  work  as  an  educator.  Later,  as  the 
county  became  more  thickly  settled  he  went  into  the 
land  and  insurance  business.  At  present  he  is  a prac- 
ticing land  attorney  besides  representing  several  in- 
surance companies. 

On  Christmas  eve  of  the  year  1876,  Mr.  Brassey  was 
married  to  Miss  Lucinda  Smith,  daughter  of  John 
Smith  of  Eldorado  Bar.  The  wedding  was  celebrated 
in  Helena.  They  have  two  children,  both  of  whom 
live  in  Lewistown.  Lillian  is  the  wife  of  James  H. 
Charter  and  William  E.,  makes  his  home  with  his  par- 
ents. 

Mr.  Brassey  is  an  active  Republican  Bull  Moose  and 
he  has  long  been  influential  in  the  ranks  of  the 
party.  He  was  public  administrator  of  Fergus  county, 
a member  of  the  city  council  of  Lewistown,  register 
of  the  United  States  land  office  for  eight  years  and 
IS  now  justice  of  peace.  In  addition  to  these  public 
offices,  Mr.  Brassey  was  at  one  time , superintendent  of 
the  schools  of  Meagher  county.  In  every  place  which 
he  has  filled.  Mr.  Brassey  has  discharged  the  duties 
of  the  position  with  characteristic  fidelity  and  efficiency. 
He  feels  a proprietary  interest  in  the  town  which  he 


has  seen  grow  up  from  the  very  foundation  and  he  is 
eloquent  on  the  subject  of  its  opportunities. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brassey  are  members  of  the  Episcopal 
church  and  Mrs.  Brassey  is  one  of  the  most  devoted 
of  its  attendants.  In  the  fraternal  orders  of  Lewis- 
town, Mr.  Brassey  is  affiliated  with  the  Elks  and  with 
the  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  has  filled  all  the  chairs  in 
both  these  lodges.  As  is  to  be  expected  of  one  of  Mr. 
Brassey's  training  he  is  a great  lover  of  books,  and  not 
less  fond  of  music.  Being  an  Englishman  by  birth  and 
a Montanian  by  choice,  he  naturally  takes  kindly  to  the 
rod  and  the  gun.  Although  he  is  Lewistown’s  oldest 
citizen  his  activities  are  by  no  means  restricted  to  the 
traditional  ones  of  the  “oldest  inhabitant.”  He  does 
not  spend  his  time  in  recounting  the  exploits  of  the 
past,  for  he  is  a representative  Montanian,  whose  eyes 
are  fixed  upon  the  future  and  whose  hands  and  heart 
are  given  unreservedly  to  the  present. 

John  M.  Evans,  unlike  most  of  the  prominent  citi- 
zens of  Missoula,  was  not  obliged  to  come  west  alone 
in  his  early  boyhood  to  coax  the  smile  of  fortune.  His 
father,  Philip  E.  Evans,  was  a prominent  farmer  and 
stock  raiser  of  Missouri,  living  most  of  his  young 
manhood  near  Sedalia.  He  married  Mary  B.  Powel 
of  Virginia  and  together  they  started  for  the  west, 
immediately  after  the  close  of  the  late  war.  Their 
first  stopping  place  was  Adler  Gulch,  Montana.  Here 
they  took  up  a claim  which  they  farmed  until  the 
spring  of  1870,  when  they  moved  to  Deer  Lodge,  where 
they  remained  until  the  death  of  the  father  in  1889. 
He  passed  away  at  the  early  age  of  fifty-five  years. 
Mrs.  Philip  Evans,  his  wife,  still  lives,  a joy  to  her 
children,  with  whom  she  makes  her  home. 

Thus  the  son,  John  M.  Evans,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  may  almost  be  considered  as  a Montana  prod- 
uct. During  his  boyhood,  he  attended  the  public 
schools  of  Deer  Lodge  and  later  obtained  the  appoint- 
ment to  West  Point.  Here  he  remained  for  only  one 
term  as  that  seemed  quite  a sufficient  leno-th  of  time  in 
which  to  convince  him  that  the  life  of  the  army  officer 
would  never  be  to  his  liking.  Even  then,  he  seemed  to 
realize  that  his  calling  in  life  was  to  mingle  with  his 
fellow  men.  to  work  toward  the  betterment  of  social 
and  political  conditions.  On  hTs  return  from  his  year 
at  West  Point,  his  parents  desired  that  he  should  return 
to  their  native  state  for  the  completion  of  his  educa- 
tion. Hence,  the  following  autumn,  he  left  for  Colum- 
bia, Missouri,  to  enter  the  state  university  situated 
at  that  place.  He  was  graduated,  in  1887,  from  the 
law  department  of  this  university  and  returned  to  Mon- 
tana to  begin  the  practice  of  his  profession.  For  the 
first  year  he  practiced  in  Butte  in  the  office  of  Judge 
W.  H.  DeWitt,  but  seeing  an  opening  in  Missoula  and 
desiring  to  establish  an  office  of  his  own,  he  made  the 
change  in  1888.  The  very  next  year  he  was  chosen 
police  judge,  so  soon  was  his  ability  recognized.  This 
office  he  filled  for  five  years  and  might  have  held  for 
a much  longer  time  had  not  President  Cleveland,  of 
whom  Mr.  Evans  was  always  an  ardent  admirer, 
asked  him  to  serve  as  registrar  of  deeds  in  the  United 
States  land  office.  At  the  close  of  the  administration 
he  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession,  gathering 
up  without  difficulty  the  loose  threads  of  his  practice. 

When  the  first  election  was  held  in  Missoula  under 
the  commission  form  of  government  the  people  were 
enthusiastic  in  their  desire  to  place  iMr.  Evans  as  one 
of  its  heads.  They  knew  that  he  would  bend  every 
effort  to  give  their  city  a clean,  fair  and  prosperous 
city  government.  This_  time,  the  people  triumphed 
over  all  political  machines  and  John  M.  Evans  was 
elected  from  a field  of  eight  candidates  and  by  an 
immense  majority.  He  is  still  serving  in  this  capacity 
and  although  a loyal  Democrat,  he  permits  no  party 
politics  to  enter  into  his  decisions  or  to  bias  his  judg- 
ments. In  1902  he  was  the  candidate  of  the  Demo- 


998 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


cratic  party  for  congress,  and  in  1912,  on  November  5th, 
he  was  elected  to  the  United  States^  congress  from 
Montana.  For  ten  years  he  served  his  state  as.  vice 
president  of  the  state  board  of  education. 

Shortly  after  coming  to  Missoula,  he  was  married, 
in  Helena,  Montana,  to  Miss  Helena  G.  Hastings,  a 
native  daughter  of  sunny  California.  They  are  now 
the  parents  of  two  sturdy  sons,  Beverly  P.,  and  Philip 
C.  Evans.  These  lads  are  enthusiastic  little  citizens  of 
their  state  and  their  city — the  sort  of  material  that 
is  building  up  a powerful  west. 

Mr.  Evans  is  interested  in  a number  of  secret  organ- 
izations. Although  a member  of  the  Masonic  order, 
it  is  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  that  he  has  devoted 
most  of  his  time  and  service.  For  four  years  he  was 
head  of  the  order  for  the  state  of  Montana  and  for 
eight  years  has  been  a delegate  to  the  supreme  lodge. 

Mr.  Evans’  chief  interest  at  the  present  time,  aside 
from  his  ambitions  for  his  sons,  seems  to  be  to  make 
Missoula  a city  that  will  stand  among  her  peers  for 
progress  and  clean  government. 

Hon.  Thomas  C.  Power.  One  of  the  most  success- 
ful business  men  in  the  northwest  and  one  whose  con- 
structive ability  and  far-reaching  enterprises  are  con- 
ducted on  a gigantic  scale,  is  the  Hon.  Thomas  C. 
Power,  of  Helena,  Montana.  His  influence  in  the  up- 
building  of  the  state  has  been  conspicuous  and  never 
flagging  from  the  time  of  his  advent  into  Montana  as 
a permanent  resident  in  1867.  Three  years  before  that 
time  he  had  touched  the  eastern  boundaries  of  the  state 
and  was  from  that  time  on  identified  with  it  as  a whole- 
sale shipper  of  goods  and  merchandise  from  points  in 
Nebraska. 

Identified  with  the  west  from  his  early  youth,  Mr. 
Power  has  known  its  needs  and  been  able  in  a large 
measure  to  supply  them  and  not  only  that,  but  to  map 
out  a line  of  future  activity  and  usefulness  that  would 
and  did  redound  to  his  own  credit  and  to  the  credit 
of  the  people  and  to  the  state  at  large.  He  had  few 
advantages  in  early  life,  but  made  the  most  of  those 
which  were  available,  which,  coupled  with  a will  and  a 
determination  to  excel  in  his  particular  line  of  endeavor, 
served  to  carry  him  to  the  highest  pinnacle  of  success. 
He  has  been  above  all  a leader  in  thought  and  action  in 
all  of  the  many  indispcnsaljle  things  that  were  essential 
in  establishing  a great  state  of  the  Union,  and  his 
name  is  engraved  on  the  scroll  of  fame  in  endurable 
work  and  achievement  well  conceived  and  nobly 
wrought  that  will  benefit  his  fellow  man  for  genera- 
tions. 

Mr.  Power  was  born  in  Dubuque,  Iowa,  May  22,  1839. 
His  father,  Michael  W.  Power,  was  born  in  Ireland,  and 
his  mother,  who  w'as  Catherine  McLeer  before  her  mar- 
riage, was  born  in  Hagerstown,  Maryland.  Michael  W. 
Power  came  to  the  United  States  when  a boy  and  settled 
in  Iowa,  at  that  time  one  of  the  frontier  districts,  new 
and  undeveloped,  and  in  1836  was  married  to  Miss  Mc- 
Leer in  the  village  of  Peru,  a suburb  of  Dubuque.  By 
occupation  he  was  a farmer  and  also  conducted  mer- 
chandising for  some  years,  besides  engaging  in  lead 
mining.  He  was  a true  type  of  the  industrious  and  en- 
terprising emigrant  from  the  Emerald  Isle  and  did  his 
full  share  in  introducing  civilization  into  what  is  now 
one  of  the  most  prosperous  states  of  the  Lhiion.  He  died 
near  the  site  of  his  original  settlement  in  the  fiftieth 
year  of  his  life.  Mrs.  Power  survived  her  husband  for 
years,  reaching  the  age  of  seventy-five  years  before 
passing  into  the  beyond.  They  were  the  parents  of  four 
children;  John  W. ; Sarah  E. : Mrs.  T.  L.  IMartin,  of 
Helena:  and  Thomas  C.  Power. 

The  childhood  and  youth  of  Mr.  Power  were  passed 
on  the  farm  in  Iowa,  and  he  being  the  eldest  of  the 
children  his  services  w'cre  early  requisitioned  for  farm 
work.  In  the  country  schools  of  those  days  he  received 
the  rudiments  of  an  education  and  being  of  a studious 


mind  and  a natural  lover  of  books,  he  determined  to 
supplement  his  early  advantages  in  education  with  a 
term  at  college.  He  completed  a three  years’  course  in 
the  Sissinawa  Mound  College  in  Wisconsin,  during 
■which  he  gave  special  attention  to  the  sciences  and 
civil  engineering.  After  his  term  at  college  he  engaged 
in  teaching  school  and  followed  this  occupation  for 
some  time.  In  i860,  however,  he  found  an  opportunity 
to  embark  in  an  enterprise  more  to  his  liking  and  gave 
up  the  business  of  teaching  school  to  join  a surveying 
party  in  the  Dakotas.  This  wild  life  on  the  plains  ap- 
pealed to  hiin  and  lie  was  never  more  in  his  element 
than  when  with  the  surveying  and  engineering  squads, 
exploring  new  land  and  setting  monuments  for  the  guid- 
ance of  future  settlers.  He  followed  the  business  of 
surveying  for  the  government  and  private  parties  for 
a period  of  two  years,  finally  joining  an  expedition  that 
ascended  the  Missouri  river.  In  1867  he  opened  a gen- 
eral merchandise  store  .in  Fort  Benton  for  the  accom- 
modation of  the  settlers  and  the  military  garrison,  and 
also  traded  extensively  with  the  Indians  for  furs  and 
pelts.  Finding  that  there  was  a good  profit  in  the 
freighting  business  to  inland  points  and  having  large 
consignments  of  goods  to  deliver,  he  added  freighting 
to  his  rapidly  growing  business.  At  that  time  all  freight 
to  P'ort  Benton,  which  was  transported  thence  to  all  the 
various  settlements  and  mining  camps  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  state,  came  by  steamboat  from  shipping 
points  tributary  to  the  Missouri  and  Mississippi  rivers. 
As  this  business  appeared  lucrative  and  profitable  Mr. 
Power  conceived  the  idea  of  building  steamers  to  enter 
that  trade  and  he,  together  with  I.  G.  and  George  A. 
Baker,  of  the  firm  of  I.  G.  Baker  & Brother,  of  Fort 
Benton,  built  the  steamer  Benton.  The  venture  proved 
all  that  was  anticipated  for  it  and  in  1876  Mr.  Power 
had  constructed  and  launched  on  the  upper  Missouri 
river  the  steamer  Helena,  and  followed  this  with  an- 
other boat  called  the  Butte.  No  one  in  the  territory  was 
quicker  to  see  and  grasp  an  opportunity  for  extending 
his  business  than  was  Mr.  Power.  The  overland  ex- 
press and  passenger  service  between  Fort  Benton  and 
Helena  was  very  e.xtensive,  especially  during  the  au- 
tumn, when  a large  number  of  miners  left  for  the  eastern 
states  by  way  of  Fort  B»nton  and  the  steamboat  and 
Mackinac  routes.  During  this  period  he  operated  stage 
lines  between  Helena  and  Fort  Benton,  and  Fort  Ben- 
ton and  Billings,  which  proved  successful  enterprises. 
He  also  greatly  extended  his  merchandise  business  by 
establishing  stores  at  Helena  and  other  localities.  In 
1878  he  established  his  home  in  Helena  and  has  been  a 
resident  of  this  city  ever  since.  Mr.  Power’s  efforts  in 
behalf  of  his  home  town  have  been  far-rgaching  and 
effective  in  all  directions  looking  to  its  advancement. 
He  was  among  the  first  to  recognize  its  future  possi- 
bilities and  showed  his  faith  by  investing  large  capital 
in  substantial  and  enduring  business  blocks  which  are 
a source  of  pride  to  the  citizens  and  which  are  of  use 
and  beauty  as  well.  One  of  the  buildings  erected  by  Mr. 
Power  is  occupied  by  the  American  National  Bank,  a 
fiduciary  institution  of  which  he  is  president  and  one  of 
its  principal  founders,  and  which  ranks  with  the  best 
institutions  of  the  kind  in  the  country.  Mr.  Power  pos- 
sesses a genius  for  large  affairs  but  always  has  an  eye 
to  the  progress  and  welfare  of  his  home  city  and  has 
contributed  greatly  to  its  grow'th  and  prosperity.  He 
was  a leading  factor  in  the  successful  construction  of 
the  water  works  of  the  city,  now  owned  by  the  munici- 
pality by  purchase.  He  is  identified  with  stock  growing 
activities  to  a large  extent  and  is  interested  in  some  of 
the  best  equipped  stock  farms  in  Alontana. 

Mr.  Power  has  been  more  or  less  connected  with  poli- 
tics since  he  first  entered  the  state  and  has  been  a con- 
sistent Republican  and  counted  as  one  of  the  party 
leaders  ancl  an  adviser  whose  careful  judgment  and  keen 
perceptions  have  assisted  in  turning  many  contests  into 
victory  when  defeat  seemed  almost  certain.  He  has 


■1-  P.’'n 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


999 


been  a candidate  for  office  on  several  occasions  and  has 
known  defeat  but  once.  In  1878  he  was  elected  to  the 
first  territorial  constitutional  convention  and  in  1884 
was  chosen  delegate  to  the  Republican  national  conven- 
tion. He  was  defeated  for  governor  owing  to  the 
strength  of  the  opposition  in  1888,  but  on  the  admission 
of  the  territory  as  a state  he  was  one  of  the  logical 
candidates  for  the  office  of  United  States  senator  of  his 
party  and  was  elected  by  the  Republican  party  leaders 
after  a spirited  contest  on  the  part  of  other  aspirants, 
but  without  any  especial  effort  on  his  part.  He  and 
Hon.  Wilbur  F.  Sanders  w'ere  the  first  United  States 
senators  from  Montana,  being  chosen  to  the  offices  in 
1889.  He  served  six  years  in  the  upper  house  of  con- 
gress and  proved  one  of  the  most  practical  statesmen 
and  legislators  in  that  distinguished  body.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  most  important  committees  while  in  the 
senate  and  was  enabled  to  do  effective  service  and  to 
shape  legislation  relating  to  the  northwest.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  committee  on  public  lands,  mines  and 
mining,  transportation,  railroads,  and  others  of  equal 
importance.  He  brought  about  the  appropriation  for 
the  locating  and  building  of  Fort  Harrison ; the  federal 
building  in  Helena,  the  first  of  its  kind  in  the  state ; the 
fish  hatchery  near  Bozeman ; the  Indian  school  on  Gun 
river,  near  Great  Falls;  and  various  land  bills  assisf- 
ing  early  settlers  of  the  whole  northwest,  also  assisting 
the  growth  of  the  Bozeman  Agricultural  College  by  se- 
curing needed  appropriations.  On  the  expiration  of  his 
term  in  the  senate  Mr.  Power  returned  to  Helena  and 
since  that  time  has  devoted  his  energies  to  the  super- 
vision  of  his  wide  and  far-reaching  interests,  at  the 
same  time  taking  an  active  and  always  perceptible  in- 
terest in  the  affairs  of  the  ctiy  and  of  the  Republican 

^^Mr'.  Power  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  G.  Flanna- 
gen  of  Dubuque,  Iowa,  in  1867.  One  son  has  been  born 
To  them,  Charles  Benton  Power,  now  connected  with 
his  father  in  his  vast  business  enterprises,  and  who  was 
educated  at  Georgetown  College,  Washington,  D.  C., 
and  at  Columbia  College,  New  York  City.  Too  rnuch 
praise  cannot  be  accorded  to  Mr.  Power  for  his  long 
life  of  endeavor  successfully  conducted  in  the  upbuild- 
ing of  a great  state  and  to  the  conservation  and  foster- 
ing of  civic  enterprise  and  that  right  and  beneficent  use 
of  private  capital  for  great  undertakings  for  public  and 
semi-public  use.  As  a business  man  of  honor  and  in- 
tegrity he  ranks  among  the  highest  in  the  land  and  in 
the  field  of  politics  his  sagacity  and  wisdom  stamp  him 
as  a leader  of  force  and  character.  ^ Not  only  in  the 
v'arious  spheres  which  have  been  mentioned  has  Senator 
Power  achieved  distinction,  but  in  the  common  affairs 
of  life  he  discharges  every  duty  and  contributes  largely 
of  his  means  to  religion  and  charity.  In  private  social 
relations  he  is  companionable  and  most  agreeable  as  a 
neighbor  and  friend.  By  force  of  character  and  un- 
bending  will  he  has  been  able  to  follow  a career  of  his 
own  choosing  to  a successful  conclusion  and  history  ac- 
cords to  him  a place  as  one  of  the  strong  characters  who 
stand  out  in  bold  relief  in  the  great  northwest. 

Austin  C.  Gormley.  In  1909  there  was  removed 
from  the  scene  of  eminently  useful  and  distinguished 
services  one  of  Great  Falls  foremost  citizens,  Austin 
C Gormley,  attorney-at-law.  Mr.  Gormley  was  a 
man  of  splendid  legal  attainments  and  was  one  of  the 
most  gifted  orators  in  this  section  of  the  state.  Very 
truly  might  it  be  said  in  this'  case.  Death  loves  a 
shining  mark,”  and  he  was  in  the  very  prime  of  life 
when  summoned  to  the  Great  Beyond. 

Mr.  Gormley  was  born  in  Helena,  ^lontana,  April 
23,  1867,  the  son  of  James  and  Julia  (Cook)  (Jormley. 
For  several  generations  his  forbears  resided  in  New 
England,  that  cradle  of  so  much  of  our  national  his- 
tory. His  father  was  a native  of  New  Jersey,  however, 
and  he  came  to  Montana  among  the  pioneers,  following 


in  the  new  country,  mercantile  pursuits  and  later  min- 
ing. He  died  in  Virginia  City,  I^Iontana,  in  1879,  when 
about  sixty  years  of  age,  and  there  the  remains  of  that 
excellent  citizen  are  interred.  He  married  his  wife 
in  Springfield,  Illinois,  and  she  survives,  making  her 
home  in  White  Sulphur  Springs.  There  _ were  five 
children  in  the  elder  Gormley  family,  the  subject  of  this 
brief  memoir  being  the  third  in  order  of  nativity.  There 
is  also  one  sister  in  Montana,  Mrs.  Richard  Collins, 
who  resides  in  this  city,  the  mother  making  her  home 
in  her  household. 

Austin  C.  Gormley  was  a young  lad  when  his  parents 
removed  to  Virginia  City,  Montana.  In  that  place  he 
grew  to  young  manhood  and  secured  his  education  in 
the  public  schools.  In  1886,  when  nineteen  years  of 
age,  he  matriculated  in  the  University  of  Michigan  at 
Ann  Arbor,  that  state,  and  there  finished  a collegiate 
course,  graduating  with  the  class  of  1891.  After  re- 
ceiving his  degree  of  LL.  B.  at  Ann  Arbor  he  also 
took  post-graduate  work  before  going  to  White  Sul- 
phur Springs,  where  in  the  manner  of  young  lawyers, 
newly-fledged,  he  proudly  displayed  his  professional 
shingle.  Here  he  encountered  great  success,  profes- 
sional honors,  general  respect  and  domestic  happiness. 
He  was  county  attorney  of  IMeagher  county  for  two- 
terms,  acquitting  himself  in  this  important  capacity 
with  the  greatest  credit.  In  1897  he  removed  to  Great 
Falls  and  was  county  attorney  of  Cascade  county  for 
another  two  terms.  He  was  one  of  the  leaders  of  the 
Democratic  party  and  took-  an  active  interest  in  poli- 
tics, his  oratorical  gifts  making  him  particularly  valuable 
as  a campaigner.  He  was  a practical  orator,  schooled 
in  all  the  principles  of  platform  address,  rich  and  fluent 
of  speech  and  possessing  the  rare  ability  to  baptise 
himself  in  his  subject  and  carry  his  audience  with  him 
to  each  climax.  His  popularity  always  preceded  him 
to  any  gathering  and  he  acquitted  himself  amid  the 
enthusiastic  acclaim  of  a satisfied  audience. 

]Mr.  Gormley  made  his  first  money  as  a boy  in  the 
printing  business,  following  this  on  a modest  scale  for 
a number  of  years  and  saving  enough  in  this  way  to 
begin  his  college  education.  As  his  father's  circum- 
stances were  modest  it  was  necessary  for  him  to  work 
his  way  through  the  celebrated  institution  of  learning, 
which  was  his  alma  mater.  When  first  a student  at 
Ann  .Trbor  his  gifts  as  an  orator  became  known  in  an 
inter-collegiate  contest  in  which  he  won  the  prize  for 
^Michigan. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Gormley  was  an  Elk.  He  was  an 
eager,  but  discriminating  reader  and  a man  of  remark- 
able culture.  His  loyalty  to  his  native  state  knew  no 
bounds  and  he  was  ready  at  any  time  to  lend  his 
support  to  all  altruistic  movements,  to  all  that  in  his 
judgment  looked  towards  the  general  advancement  and 
welfare.  He  was  a staunch  advocate  of  the  cause  of 
the  laboring  man  and  labor  had  no  warmer  friend  in 
the  state.  Instinctively  he  took  the  side  of  the  un- 
fortunate and  down-trodden,  his  charity  being  bountiful 
and  his  tender  heart  ever  alive  to  the  world’s  cry  of 
pain. 

Mr.  Gormley  w'as  married  at  White  Sulphur  Springs, 
August  9,  1898,  Irene  Spencer,  daughter  of  Almon  and 
Alargaret  Spencer,  of  this  city,  becoming  his  wife. 
The  Spencers  are  an  old  pioneer  family.  This  union, 
which  was  in  every  respect,  the  fruition  of  his  youthful 
dreams,  was  blessed  by  the  birth  of  two  daughters ; 
Margaret  and  Doris,  both  in  school.  Mrs.  Gormley's 
father  was  born  in  Canada  and  came  to  Montana  in 
1863,  locating  in  Meagher  county,  and  engaging  in 
mercantile  business  until  his  death  in  February,  1909, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-one  years.  The  wife  and  mother, 
w'hose  maiden  name  was  Margaret  Stitt,  survives  and 
makes  her  home  in  White  Sulphur  Springs. 

Mr.  Gormley’s  demise  occurred  August  14,  1909,  and 
thereby  Cascade  county  lost  a valued  and  noble  citizen. 


JOOO 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


Halver  O.  LvnGj  of  Highland,  Chouteau  countj^  Mon- 
tana, lias  been  a resident  of  the  state  since  1867,  and  his 
accomplishments  in  the  forty-five  years  that  have  elapsed 
since  he  first  cast  in  his  lot  with  the  pioneers  of  the 
state  have  been  of  a varied  and  altogether  worthy 
nature,  entitling  him  beyond  any  question  to  a specific 
place  in  this  biographical  and  historical  record  of  Mon- 
tana. He  came  to  the  west  in  his  early  manhood,  and 
he  may  be  virtually  said  to  have  grown  up  with  the 
state  of  IMontana,  for  the  passing  years  have  developed 
and  rounded  out  his  wholesome  and  genuine  nature  as 
surely  as  they  have  brought  Montana  from  a state  of 
barren  wilderness  to  one  of  almost  cosmopolitan 
serenity,  and  fruitfulness  beyond  compare.  The  record 
of  his  life  is  one  replete  with  the  frontier  experiences 
which  many  of  the  pioneers  of  the  state  shared  in  com- 
mon with  him,  and  while  it  would  be  impossible  to  give 
in  a brief  sketch  of  this  nature  any  adequate  idea  of 
the  vicissitudes  and  hardships  of  early  life  in  a new 
country,  incidents  of  peculiar  interest  may  be  lightly 
sketched  into  the  faljric  of  his  life  story  as  a whole. 

A native  of  Norwa3%  Halver  O.  Lyng,  was  born  in 
Kongsberg  Norge,  on  September  10,  1842,  and  is  the 
son  of  Ole  and  Enger  Lyng.  The  father  was  a miner 
by  occupation  in  his  native  land,  finding  ample  employ- 
ment in  the  silver  mines  of  his  district,  and  he  married 
there  in  his  young  life  and  reared  a family  of  five 
sturdy  sons  and  daughters.  In  1861  the  family  emigrated 
to  America  and  settled  first  in  Nebraska.  There  the 
mother  died,  and  in  1867  Halver  Lyng  left  home  and 
came  to  Montana.  He  secured  work  on  the  ranch  of 
Colonel  Roosevelt,  a cousin  of  Theodore  Roosevelt, 
soon  after  taking  over  the  Overland  Hotel  at  Benton, 
which  he  ran  for  about  six  months,  and  later  operating 
a restaurant  for  a few  months.  Llis  next  venture  was 
in  Chouteau  county,  where  he  erected  buildings  for  an 
Indian  Agency  there  for  the  government.  He  was 
occupied  nine  months  in  this  enterprise,  after  which  he 
went  down  the  Missouri  river  and  started  a wood 
yard,  with  a view  to  furnishing  wood  to  the  boats  on 
the  river.  It  was  in  1872  that  he  came  to  Benton  and 
started  up  in  the  cattle  business,  and  so  well  did  he 
succeed  that  he  has  continued  in  that  typically  western 
enterprise  to  the  present  time,  and  Chouteau  county  has 
nearly  always  been  the  scene  of  his  ranching  activities, 
and  holds  bis  chief  interests  of  whatever  nature. 

In  1872  Mr.  Lyng  went  into  a partnership  arrange- 
ment with  Ed.  Kelly  on  what  was  known  as  Twenty- 
eight  Mile  Spring,  and  for  two  years  they  continued 
to  be  associated  together,  at  the  end  of  which  time  Mr. 
Lyng  sold  his  interest  in  the  business  to  Mr.  Kelly  and 
withdrew.  He  then  went  to  Fort  McLeod,  in  Cascade 
county,  and  began  operations  on  his  own  responsibility, 
continuing  there  until  1880,  when  he  disposed  of  his 
interests  in  that  district  and  returned  to  his  original 
■“stamping  ground,”  Chouteau  county,  and  here  he  has 
been  actively  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising  on  a 
generous  scale.  His  ranching  activities  have  been  from 
time  to  time  interspersed  with  other  occupations,  from 
all  of  which  he  reverted  to  ranch  life  in  due  time.  In 
187,3  he  drove  stage  between  Sun  River  and  Benton 
for  three  months,  being  in  the  employ  of  Gilmore  & 
Salisburj',  for  many  years  prominent  stage  line  people, 
and  this  little  deviation  from  ranch  life  gave  him  an 
introduction  to  another  phase  of  western  existence, 
which  he  found  interesting,  if  not  highly  profitable. 

Ifike  all  westerners,  Mr.  Lyng  has  had  his  experiences 
with  Indians,  any  of  which  would  be  sufficient  to  inocu- 
late the  average  man  with  a healthy  fear  of  the  Redman. 
Among  his  many  encounters  with  them  in  the  early 
days.  Mr.  Lyng  recounts  one  which  took  place  in  1869, 
and  which,  told  in  brief,  will  suffice  to  convey  some  idea 
of  what  the  Montana  pioneer  was  called  upon  to  combat 
in  those  early  days.  Mr.  Lyng  and  a number  of  men 
acquaintances  had  gathered  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mus- 
selshell river,  where  a little  log  village  was  being 


started.  One  day  while  the  men  were  at  dinner  in  the 
little  cabin  of  the  Smiths,  Mrs.  Smith  left  the  room  to 
gather  some  chips  at  the  back  of  the  cabin.  She  was 
attacked  by  Indians,  shot  and  wounded,  and  then 
scalped.  Although  the  men  heard  the  shot,  they  were 
not  alarmed,  and  thought  nothing  of  it  until  Mr.  Smith 
began  to  search  for  his  wife.  When  they  discovered 
what  had  happened,  the  men  of  the  camp  supplied  them- 
selves generously  with  ammunition  and  set  out  on  a 
grim  hunt  for  the  marauders.  They  finally  located  the 
Indians  on  the  opposite  shore  of  the  river,  hidden  in  the 
vvillows,  and  behind  its  banks,  so  that  they  were  inacces- 
sible to  their  white  pursuers.  Smith  and  a companion 
after  some  debate  bit  upon  a plan  to  cross  the  river  at 
a distant  spot,  and  fire  upon  the  Indians  from  the  rear. 
I'he  ruse  worked  admirably,  and  the  Redmen  stampeded 
at  the  first  shot,  upon  which  the  rest  of  the  party  opened 
fire.  When  the  smoke  cleared  away  thirt3^-three  Indians 
had  payed  for  the  scalp  of  Mrs.  Smith  with  their  lives, 
and  many  others  lay  wounded  and  dying.  The  sur- 
vivors fled  precipitately,  leaving  beside  their  dead,  wagon 
loads  of  robes,  blankets,  bows  and  arrows  and  Indian 
paraphernalia  of  every  known  variety,  which  the  aveng- 
ing party  seized  and  conveyed  by  boat  to  Fort  Benton, 
where  it  was_  sold  for  souvenirs.  The  Indians  were 
slow  to  admit  themselves  beaten,  however,  and  for 
fully  eight  months  not  a week  passed  but  a deputation 
came  back  in  the  hope  that  they  would  find  the  white 
settlers  off  their  guard.  They  finally  did  succeed  in 
killing  tw'o  and  wounding  others,  after  which  they  left 
the  little  cominunity  in  comparative  peace.  At  one  time, 
Mr.  Lyng,  while  taking  into  camp  the  meat  of  an  elk 
that  he  had  brought  down,  suddenly  found  himself  sur- 
rounded bv  a dozen  Indians  on  horseback,  some  within 
a rod  of  him.  They  fired  on  him,  but  missed,  and 
throwing  himself  into  the  brush  close  at  hand,  he  took 
careful  aim  and  fired,  killing  one  of  their  horses.  He 
then  jumped  into  the  river  and  made  good  his  escape 
in  a most  miraculous  manner.  It  is  a fact  that  this 
pioneer  Montanian  can  relate  and  give  the  names  of 
reputable  witnesses  for  more  Indian  skirmishes  than 
perhans  anv  other  man  living  in  the  state  today. 

In  _T88o  Mr.  Lyng  was  united  in  marriao-e  with  Miss 
Jennie  Thomson,  a native  of  Norway,  but  reared  at 
Neenah,  Wisconsin,  in  Winnebago  county.  Three  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  thetn:  Hilman  C.,  the  eldest, 
is  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  and  lives  at  Geiser,' 
Montana;  Jennie  M.,  the  wife  of  B.  F.  Kitt,  is  a resi- 
dent of  Missoula.  Montana ; Clara,  the  youngest  of  the 
three,  is  yet  in  the  parental  home. 

_ Mr.  T yng  is  a Republican,  and  takes  an  active  and 
citizenlike  interest  in  all  affairs  of  a political  or  mirely 
civio  nature,  and  is  known  for  one  of  the  valued  citizens 
of  the  county.  He  is  a member  of  the  Lutheran  church, 
in  whHi  he  was_  reared  bv  his  Lutheran  narents,  but 
his  wife  and  children  affiliate  with  the  Presbvterian 
church.  The  familv  is  one  which  holds  the  esteem  and 
confidence  of  all  who  share  in  their  acouaintance,  and 
thev  have  many  friends  in  the  community  which  has 
so  long  represented  their  home. 

John  C.  Houck.  To  say  that  a man  is  a typical  Mon- 
tana pioneer  is  to  pay  him  the  highest  of  comoliments, 
for  as  a class  the  Montana  pioneer  stands  above  par 
and  has  indelibly  impressed  his  sound  ideals  of  cltizen- 
ship  upon  the  state  which  enjoys  a narticularly  high  rep- 
utation among  commonwealths.  No  man  is  worthier 
of  being  classed  as  a representative  pioneer  than  John 
C.  Houck,  who  has  resirled  within  the  boundaries  of 
the  state  since  1867.  and  here  the  best  of  fortunes  have 
come  to  him — wealth,  honor,  position  and  domestic  hap- 
oiness.  and  he  is  today  identified  with  several  of  the 
largest  enterprises  in  this  section  of  the  state.  His 
ranch,  situated  some  ten  miles  out  of  Moore,  is  of  the 
vast  proportions,  which  makes  the  easterner  gasp  to 
contemplate  it,  for  it  comprises  no  less  than  2,200  acres, 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1001 


which  are  largely  devoted  to  sheep  and  wool  raising, 
for  which  Mr.  Houck  is  widely  known.  There  is  lo- 
cated his  splendid  home,  where  reigns  the  true  spirit 
of  hospitality,  in  the  center  of  a domain  of  princely 
proportions.  But  his  interests  are  by  no  means  bounded 
by  its  limits,  for  he  is  president  of  the  Moore  Mercan- 
tile Company,  the  largest  established  business  here;  is 
president  of  the  State  Bank  of  Moore;  and  this  is  by 
no  means  to  complete  the  enumeration. 

Mr.  Houck  is  one  of  the  good  citizens  the  Keystone 
state  has  given  to  Montana,  his  birth  having  occurred 
in  Lancaster  county,  that  state,  October  25,  1844.  There 
he  resided  until  about  the  age  of  twenty-two  years, 
when  he  answered  the  call  of  the  west,  which  has  sent 
-.0  many  young  men  across  the  continent,  and  came  to 
Montana,  reaching  here  on  June  12,  1867.  He  found  his 
expectations  more  than  realized  and  has  ever  since 
remained  here. 

Mr.  Houck  received  his  early  education  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  and 
having  taken  advantage  of  all  that  they  offered,  he  en- 
tered the  State  Normal  College  at  Millersville.  that 
state.  At  the  age  of  about  nineteen  years  he  began 
school  teaching  and  occupied  the  instructor’s  desk  for 
some  years.  If  did  not  take  him  that  long,  however,  to 
find  that,  although  he  could  do  the  work  successfully, 
it  was  not  congenial,  his  field  of  endeavor  being  too 
restricted  and  his  soul  yearning  for  the  life  which  took 
him  out  into  the  world  among  men.  Very  sensibly, 
he  gave  it  up  and  came  west,  where  he  was  to  become 
one  of  his  community’s  leading  citizens.  It  is  safe  to 
say  that  no  matter  where  he  might  have  lopted  he 
would  in  due  time  have  become  a leading  citizen,  for 
he  possesses  in  abundance  the  requisite  qualities. 

Upon  coming  to  Montana  Mr.  Houck  first  settled 
near  Helena  in  a little  mining  camp  called  French  Bar, 
and  he  engaged  in  mining  there  for  about  six  months. 
Following  that  he  lived  for  sixteen  years  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Canon  Ferry  and  Helena,  and  during  this 
period  he  devoted  his  energies  to  contracting  and  min- 
ing. In  1881  he  set  stakes  in  the  Judith  Basin  in 
Fergus  county  and  embarked  in  his  present  business  of 
sheep  and  wool  growing.  He  has  been  in  the  county 
ever  since  and  has  steadily  progressed,  until  he  is 
known  far  and  wide  for  his  business  ability  and  suc- 
cess, as  well  as  for  good  principles.  The  fact  that  he  is 
president  of  the  Moore  Mercantile  Company  has  al- 
. ready  been  noted.  He  is  also  president  of  the  State 
Bank  at  Moore  and  is  interested  in  the  Bank  of  Fergus 
County  at  Lewistown,  and  it  is  in  no  small  part  due 
to  his  discrimination  and  executive  ability  that  these  in- 
stitutions have  come  to  be  among  the  substantial  and 
popular  banking  houses  of  the  west. 

Mr.  Houck  is  one  of  the  influential  Republicans  of 
Fergus  county  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  politics. 
However,  he  has  never  been  lured  by  the  honors  and 
emoluments  of  office,  and  although  often  solicited,  has 
always  refused  to  accept  office  himself.  He  is  a mem- 
ber of  no  church,  but  is  genuinely  in  sympathy  with  the 
good  causes  represented  by  all  and  contributes  liberally 
to  the  support  of  all.  In  a quiet  way  he  does  a good 
deal  of  charitable  work  and  does  not  turn  a deaf  ear 
to  the  case  of  his  less  fortunate  brother.  _ He  has  few 
affiliations,  his  great  business  interests  leaving  him  little 
time  for  outside  affairs,  but  he  holds  membership  in 
the  Judith  Club.  He  has  a number  of  enthusiams.  He 
enjoys  whirring  past  the  beautiful  Montana  scenery  in 
an  automobile  with  congenial  company  and  owns  a 
fine  car.  He  is  by  no  means  bored  by  a good  game  of 
"baseball,  good  music  or  a clever  play.  The  subject  of 
Montana  is  one  upon  which  he  waxes  eloquent.  When 
asked  for  his  opinion  of  Montana,  he  returned  lacon- 
ically: “I  have  been  in  Montana  forty-five  years — 

that’s  what  I think  of  it.” 

Mr.  Houck  was  married  in  this  county  about  fifteen 
years  ago,  the  lady  to  become  his  wife  and  the  mistress 


of  his  household  being  Miss  DeLes  Palmer,  a native 
of  this  county.  Their  home,  located  upon  a beautiful 
portion  of  the  subject’s  great  ranch,  is  commodious, 
modern  and  hospitable  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Houck  are 
among  the  popular  citizens  of  the  county.  They  have 
no  children. 

Glancing  at  Mr.  Houck’s  parentage,  we  find  that  his 
father,  David  Houck,  was  a native  Pennsylvanian  and 
lived  in  that  state  all  his  life,  following  farming  and 
stock  raising  until  his  death  in  1880,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-five  years.  The  mother,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Mary  Coover,  survived  him  for  a few  years,  dying 
also  at  the  age  of  seventy-five.  They  are  buried  side 
by  side  near  the  old  home,  but  they  are  still  remem- 
bered as  people  of  fine  character  and  high  principles. 
They  reared  ten  children,  Mr.  Houck,  of  this  review, 
being  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth. 

The  subject  may  look  back  over  an  honorable  career 
and  success  well  won  and  it  is  with  pleasure  that  the 
editors  of  this  work  incorporate  a review  of  his  life 
among  those  of  the  representative  men  and  women  of 
the  state. 

James  A.  Murray  went  to  California  from  Canada, 
his  native  country,  in  1862,  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  and 
came  to  Montana  in  1867.  He  is  a citizen  of  Montana, 
but  a resident  of  California,  residing  on  the  Bay  of 
Monterey,  in  one  of  the  most  beautiful  homes  in 
America  the  “Hacianda  Grande.”  He  has  been  very 
successful  financially.  He  has  been  identified  with  the 
development  of  the  best  interests  of  the  state,  and  has 
taken  a prominent  place  in  the  business,  banking  and 
mining  circles  of  Montana.  He  enjoys  the  highest  es- 
teem and  regard  of  all  who  have  come  to  be  associated 
with  him  in  matters  of  business  or  in  other  relations  of 
life. 

Mr.  Murray  was  married  in  1896  to  Miss  Mary  H. 
Coulter,  of  Pottstown,  Pennsylvania. 

M.  M.  Lockwood.  As  the  woodman  in  clearing  his 
land  leaves  here  and  there  some  stalwart  elm  or  oak, 
which  long  years  after  stands  alone  in  the  midst  of 
some  green  and  fertile  field,  a solitary  representative 
of  the  past,  so  the  grim  Reaper,  in  his  relentless  harv- 
est of  men,  has  spared  here  and  there  a pioneer  who 
forms  a connecting  link  between  the  past  and  the 
present.  The  honored  subject  of  this  sketch  is  one 
of  the  few  surviving  pioneers  of  Chouteau  county,  and 
his  name  is  indelibly  written  on  the  pages  of  Montana 
history,  and  in  the  military  record  of  his  country.  M. 
M_.  Lockwood  was  born  in  1842,  at  Madrid,  New  York. 
His  education  was  secured  during  the  winter  terms  in 
the  district  schools,  as  during  the  summer  months  he 
was  kept  busily  emoloyed  on  the  field  and  in  the  for- 
ests of  his  father’s  farm.  A vigorous  youth,  of  patri- 
otic spirit,  when  President  Lincoln  issued  his  first 
call  for  volunteers,  he  was  one  of  the  first  to  lay 
dowm  his  axei  to  enter  the  famous  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  the  great  military  body  organized  by  Gen. 
George  B.  McClellan  in  1861.  As  a member  of  Com- 
pany F,  Fifth  Regiment,  ’Vermont  Volunteer  Infantry, 
he  served  under  “Little  Mac”  in  the  Peninsular  cam- 
paign and  later  in  that  of  Antietam,  was  under  Gen- 
erals Burnside  and  McDowell  in  1862.  and  General 
Hooker  in  1863,  in  July  of  which  year  General  Meade 
was  in  command  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  Eventu- 
ally General  Grant  succeeded  to  the  command,  and 
under  him  Mr.  Lockwood  served  until  securing  his 
honorable  discharge.  On  completing  his  three  years’ 
service,  Mr.  Lockwood  became  a veteran  by  re-enlist- 
ing, and  when  he  finally  received  his  papers  had  attained 
the  rank  of  sergeant.  At  the  Battle  of  the  Wilderness 
he  received  a severe  wound  from  a rifle  bullet  in  the 
hip,  and  for  a number  of  months  he  lay  between  life 
and  death  in  the  hospital,  and  the  bullet  was  not 
extracted  for  a number  of  years.  On  the  close  of  hos- 


1002 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


tilities,  Mr.  Lockwood,  then  fully  recovered,  journeyed 
west  to  Omaha,  Nebraska,  and  thence  overland  to  Fort 
Benton,  reaching  this  city,  then  only  a stage  station, 
June  15,  1867.  He  secured  a position  on  the  Clee 
farm  in  the  Prickly  Pear  valley,  and  worked  there 
until  the  stampede  to  Iowa  Gulch,  which  he  joined  as 
a gold  seeker  and  was  moderately  successful.  At  one 
time  he  received  a handsome  offer  for  his  holdings, 
but  believed  they  were  of  considerable  value  and  refused 
to  sell.  Later,  his  mines  not  proving  up  to  his  expecta- 
tions, he  started  a dairy  farm  in  the  Prickly  Pear  val- 
ley, and  subsequently  received  one  dollar  per  pound 
for  the  butter  he  made,  but  when  he  had  saved  a con- 
siderable sum  his  partner  in  business  went  to  Helena, 
then  a wide-open  mining  camp,  and  lost  all  the  money 
over  the  gaming  table.  Somewhat  discouraged,  but 
not  disheartened,  Mr.  Lockwood  then  secured  oxen 
and  took  up  freighting  between  Helena  and  Fort  Ben- 
ton, and  was  on  the  fair  road  to  success  again,  but 
just  at  the  height  of  his  prosperity  he  was  attacked  by 
a band  of  hostile  Indians,  his  outfit  was  burned,  and 
he  barely  escaped  with  his  life.  This  occurrence  took 
place  on  Gallatin  Bar,  in  1869,  the  same  year  that 
Clark  met  his  death  at  the  hands  of  the  redskins. 
On  December  15th  of  the  same  year  Air.  Lockwood 
went  with  the  stampede  to  Cedar  Creek,  but  the  dig- 
gings not  panning  out  he  returned  to  French  Town 
and  again  took  up  dairying.  This  again  proved  suc- 
cessful and  for  three  years  he  continued  to  supply  the 
citizens  of  his  locality  with  dairy  products,  but  in  1873 
went  to  the  Bitter  Root  valley  and  engaged  in  stock 
raising  and  farming.  During  the  summer  of  1877 
Chief  Joseph  and  his  band  of  hostile  warriors  passed 
up  the  Alissoula  valley  and  through  Alissoula,  claiming 
to  be  peaceful,  but  when  (hey  reached  Air.  Lockwood’s 
farm  they  began  their  pillaging.  Air.  Lockwood  was 
in  Missoula  on  business,  and  his  wife,  with  the  baby 
in  her  arms,  fled  to  the  home  of  a distant  neighbor, 
where  she  found  safety.  When  he  returned  to  his 
home  he  found  his  stock  all  killed  and  his  house  and 
barns  burned  to  the  ground,  and  received  reports  of 
the  Indians’  attack  on  the  settlers.  Thinking  that  his 
family  had  been  murdered,  he  made  his  way  rapidly 
back  toward  Alissoula  to  give  the  alarm,  but  before 
arriving  there  was  met  by  Colonel  Elliot  and  the  Sev- 
enth United  States  Cavalry,  which  troop  had  been  on 
the  trail  of  the  treacherous  old  Chief  Joseph  for  some 
time.  He  was  immediately  engaged  as  guide,  and  Gen- 
eral Gibbon  having  joined  the  party  in  the  meanwhile, 
he  was  ordered  to  lead.  The  party  at  once  struck  the 
trail,  and  at  four  o’clock  in  the  morning  of  August  9, 
1877,  the  avenging  body  of  soldiers  came  upon  the 
Indians’  camp  in  the  Big  Hole  country.  The  engage- 
ment which  followed  was  a vicious  and  bloody  one,  in 
which  the  Indians  lost  eighty-nine  killed,  while  the 
whites  had  forty  killed  and  twenty-nine  wounded. 
Only  the  opportune  arrival  of  General  Howard’s  com- 
mand saved  General  Gibbons’  troops  from  meeting  the 
fate  of  General  Custer’s  men.  for  they  were  greatly 
outnumbered,  they  were  cut  off  from  their  ammunition 
and  supply  wagons,  and  their  retreat  would  have  been 
an  impossibility.  Even  when  the  battle  was  practically 
over,  bullets  kept  coming  from  some  unseen  point,  and 
finally  an  Indian  was  discovered  ensconced  in  a tree, 
some  thirty  feet  from  the  ground,  from  whence  a well 
directed  bullet  brought  him  headlong  to  the  ground. 
Among  those  severely  wounded  was  Air.  Lockwood, 
who  had  been  struck  twice  by  rifle  bullets,  one  of 
which,  the  most  serious,  had  passed  through  and  killed 
Colonel  Elliot.  He  lay  on  the  field  throughout  the 
night,  unconscious,  and  was  discovered  during  the  next 
morning  and  taken  to  the  hospital,  where  for  seven 
months  he  lay  with  a shattered  hip  joint.  When  Gen- 
eral Sherman  was  on  his  tour  to  the  western  division 
of  the  war  department,  he  visited  Mr.  Lockwood  on 
a number  of  occasions,  and  offered  him  a life  position 


at  Washington,  D.  C.,  which,  however,  was  gratefully 
refused  by  Air.  Lockwood,  who  preferred  to  spend  the 
remainder  of  his  life  in  the  west.  His  injuries,  while 
not  fatal,  have  been  of  such  a nature  as  to  make  it 
impossible  for  him  to  engage  in  activities  of  any  kind, 
although  he  acted  as  guard  at  the  penitentiary  for  four 
years.  In  political  matters  he  is  a Republican.  He 
takes  a keen  and  active  interest  in  all  matters  pertain- 
ing to  the  welfare  of  his  community,  where  as  one  of 
those  who  sacrificed  his  future  that  the  new  state 
might  advance,  he  is  honored  and  respected  by  all 
who  know  him.  With  a clear  and  alert  mind,'  and 
possessed  of  a retentive  memory,  he  has  a large' fund 
of  anecdotes  and  delights  to  recall  those  stirring  times 
when  the  young  commonwealth  was  in  the  making  and 
men’s  hearts  tried. 

Air.  Lockwood  was  married  January  6,  1863,  at  Comp- 
ton, New  York,  to  Miss  Amanda  P.  Gordon,  who  died 
at  Hamilton,  Alontana,  in  1904,  and  of  their  four 
children,  Frank,  a native  of  Helena,  now  resides  in 
Portland,  Oregon;  William  Reuben  is  now  a resident 
of  the  Bitter  Root  valley,  where  he  is  engaged  in 
ranching;  Mrs.  Maude  "Van  Duberg  is  a resident  of 
Chicago,  Illinois ; and  D.  G.  is  one  of  the  leading  busi- 
ness men  of  Fort  Benton. 

D.  G.  Lockwood.  Everywhere,  the  better  class  of 
druggists  are  men  of  scientific  attainments  and  high 
integrity,  who  devote  their  activities  to  the  welfare  of 
their  fellow  men  in  supplying  the  best  of  remedies  and 
purest  medicinal  agents  of  known  value,  in  accordance 
with  physicians’  prescriptions,  and  scientific  formula. 
The  earning  of  a fair  living,  with  the  satisfaction  which 
arises  from  a knowledge  of  the  benefits  conferred  upon 
their  patrons  and  assistance  rendered  the  medical  pro- 
fession, is  usually  their  greatest  reward  for  long  years 
of  study  and  many  hours  of  daily  toil,  but  occasionally 
one  arises  whose  ability  and  progressive  ideas  advance 
him  to  a place  in  the  forefront  of  those  of  his  voca- 
tion, and  prominent  among  these  may  be  mentioned  D. 
G.  Lockwood,  of  Fort  Benton,  president  of  the  Hilger 
Drug  Company,  and  proprietor  of  the  leading  pharmacy 
of  the  northwest.  Air.  Lockwood  was  born  at  Prince- 
ton, Alontana,  Alarch  19,  1871,  and  is  a son  of  M.  AI. 
and  Amanda  P.  (Gordon)  Lockwood. 

M.  M.  Lockwood  was  born  at  Aladrid,  New  York, 
and  served  during  the  Civil  war  as  a member  of  a 
■Vermont  regiment  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  He 
was  severely  wounded  in  the  Battle  of  the  Wilderness, 
but  after  many  months  in  the  hospital  recovered.  After 
the  close  of  the  war  he  came  west,  via  Omaha,  Nebraska, 
and  after  a number  of  years  spent  in  farming,  dairy- 
ing, prospecting  and  mining,  finally  settled  down  as  a 
rancher  and  cattle  raiser  in  the  Bitter  Root  valley. 
There  the  misfortunes  which  had  attended  him  almost 
from  the  start  of  a stormy  career,  culminated  in  his 
ranch  being  pillaged  by  a band  of  Indians  under  Chief 
Joseph,  and  when  he  guided  the  soldiers  of  the  Seventh 
United  States  Cavalry  to  the  camp  of  the  savages, 
received  wounds  in  the  battle  which  made  him  a lifelong 
cripple.  He  now  resides  at  Fort  Benton,  one  of  the 
highly  honored  citizens  of  the  city.  A more  thorough 
record  of  his  stirring  career  will  be  found  on  another 
page  in  this  volume.  His  wife  passed  away  in  1902, 
the  mother  of  four  children,  of  whom  D.  G.  was  the 
youngest. 

D.  G.  Lockwood  received  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Ohio,  where  he  graduated  from  the 
Ada  high  school,  and  subsequently  entered  the  Ohio 
Normal  University,  where  he  was  graduated  from  the 
pharmaceutical  department  and  also  took  a classical 
course.  He  subsequently  secured  employment  in  the 
pharmacy  of  A.  AI.  Flanigan,  and  after  four  years 
bought  his  employer’s  interests  and  began  to  conduct 
the  business  on  his  own  account.  During  the  fifteen 
years  that  this  establishment  has  been  in  existence,  it 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1003: 


has  grown  from  a modest  venture  into  the  leading  busi- 
ness of  its  kind  in  the  northwest.  Mr.  Lockwood  has 
spent  these  fifteen  years  in  building  up  a reputation,  and 
this  reputation  is  back  of  every  sale  he  makes.  It  is 
his  boast  that  no  goods  goes  into  his  house  that  are  not 
right,  and  as  a consequence  no  article  can  leave  his 
establishment  which  will  not  stand  the  test  of  fair  and 
honest  merchandising.  In  addition  to  a full  stock  of 
standard  drugs  and  medicines,  Mr.  Lockwood  carries  a 
complete  line  of  optical  goods.  He  has  interested  him- 
self in  various  business  enterprises,  being  identified  with 
the  ranching  and  stock  raising  activities  of  Chouteau 
county,  a director  in  the  State  Bank  and  president  of 
the  Hilger  Drug  Company.  A Republican  in  his  poli- 
tical views,  from  1898  to  1902  he  served  very  acceptably 
as  treasurer  of  Chouteau  county,  and  takes  an  active  in- 
terest in  the  work  of  his  party  in  this  section.  In  fra- 
ternal circles  he  is  known  as  a member  of  the  Odd  Fel- 
lows, and  he  also  belongs  to  the  Montana  State  Pharma- 
ceutical Association. 

Mr.  Lockwood  was  married  at  Fort  Benton,  m 
September,  1898,  to  Miss  Belle  Freals,  daughter  of 
George  W.  Freals,  a well  known  Fort  Benton  citizen. 
IMrs.  Lockwood  is  a member  of  the  Episcopal  church 
and  is  well  known  in  religious  and  social  circles  of  Fort 
Benton,  where  she  has  numerous  friends. 

David  Hilger.  In  almost  every  new  community  there 
is  one  man  or  a group  of  men  who  organize  and  develop 
and  encourage  the  founding  of  new  enterprises,  who 
with  unsurpassed  energy  and  unsparing  selfishness  work 
unceasingly  to  forward  the  growth  of  the  community 
and  improve  its  social  and  economic  conditions.  Such 
a man  as  this  is  David  Hilger  of  Lewistown,  Montana. 
He  has  been  the  heart  and  soul  of  every  big  project 
launched  in  Lewistown  and  in  the  Judith  Basin  since 
he  came  here  to  live.  Realizing  that  no  town,  no  matter 
how  great  her  resources  or  natural  advantages,  could 
grow  without  railroads  he  put  forth  every  effort  to 
connect  Lewistown  with  the  world  by  this  means.  Such 
a story  is  not  unusual  in  the  rapidly  growing  com- 
munities of  the  West,  and  in  the  case  of  Mr.  Hilger, 
while  prosperity  must  necessarily  be  his,  he  has  never 
in  all  his  dealings  deviated  from  the  path  of  honor,  and 
those  who  know  him  declare  that  when  David  Hilger 
gives  his  word  it  is  final.  This,  perhaps,  this  high  moral 
ideal  to  which  he  holds  so  closely,  this  strength  of 
character,  and  nobility  of  purpose,  is  what  has  made 
him  not  only  the  best  known  in  this  section  of  Mon- 
tana, but  also  has  made  him  one  of  the  best-loved. 

In  the  year  1867,  there  arrived  in  Montana,  under 
the  leadership  of  Captain  Davies,  a company  of  sixty 
families  and  three  hundred  single  men ; prospective 
citizens  of  the  territory.  They  were  men  and  women 
not  unacquainted  with  the  aspects  of  life  in  new  settle- 
ments, for  they  had  come  from  Minnesota,  which  had 
been  a state  for  less  than  ten  years.  They  had  known 
what  it  meant  to  carve  a civilization  out  of  the  wilder- 
ness, and  to  live  unafraid  in  the  constant  menace  of 
death  at  the  hands  of  the  merciless  savage.  When  it 
is  remembered  that  the  census  of  Montana  for  i860 
showed  a population  of  two  hundred  and  eighty-eight 
white  men,  it  will  be  understood  that  an  influx  of  such 
proportions  was  a matter  of  import.  The  company  came 
by  the  northern  route,  and  enjoyed  a peaceful  journey 
during  the  entire  quarter  of  a year  which  the  trip  con- 
sumed. At  Fort  Union,  four  companies  of  federal 
troops  escorted  the  emigrants  through  what  they  feared 
might  be  a dangerous  stage  of  their  journey. 

Among  the  families  of  this  party  was  that  of  Nicholas 
Hilger,  who  was  formerly  a resident  of  Sibley  county, 
Minnesota.  Probably  no  one  in  the  whole  company 
enjoyed  the  trip  as  did  the  nine  year  old  David,  his 
son,  for  feafless  of  the  dangers  and  unconscious  of 
the  real  perils,  he  abandoned  himself  to  the  novelty 
and  strangeness  of  it  all  with  the  carefree  joy  of  a 


child.  He  had  celebrated  his  ninth  birthday  on  New 
Year’s  day  of  the  year  1867,  and  that  twelve  month  was 
a veritable  wonder  year  for  him.  The  Hilger  family 
settled  in  Helena  and  their  name  has  ever  since  been 
associated  with  the  growth  of  the  city.  There  are  few 
of  the  older  residents  who  do  not  remember  Judge 
Hilger,  so  long  a prominent  figure  in  the  life  of  the 
capital. 

David  Hilger  grew  up  in  the  city,  and  upon  finishing 
school  began  his  economic  career  in  the  cattle  business. 
He  located  at  the  famed  "Gate  of  the  Mountains,’’ 
situated  in  the  county  of  Lewis  and  Clark  and  so  named 
by  the  great  explorers  themselves.  From  cattle  raising 
Mr.  Hilger  turned  his  attention  to  sheep,  and  it  was 
this  interest  which  brought  him  to  Fergus  county,  a 
more  suitable  territory  for  such  an  enterprise.  In  1881 
Mr.  Hilger  located  on  Dog  creek,  in  the  northern  part 
of  the  county.  He  had  bought  a small  band  of  sheep 
and  an  outfit  consisting  of  one  wagon  and  tw'o  horses,, 
and  with  this  equipment  he  began  what  w'as  something- 
in  the  nature  of  an  experiment.  Sheep-raising  was  a. 
new  industry  in  that  region,  but  it  proved  a profitable 
one,  and  for  twelve  years  Mr.  Hilger  continued  to- 
carry  on  his  operations  in  this  phase  of  the  business  of 
ranching  on  a constantly  increasing  scale. 

In  the  meantime  the  county  had  been  settling  up 
rapidly,  and  -Lewistowm  had  become  important  as  the 
commercial  center  of  a large  and  thriving  territory. 
Mr.  Hilger  had  from  the  first  taken  a leading  part  In 
public  affairs,  and  in  the  spring  of  1894,  he  was  ap- 
pointed register  of  the  United  States  land  office.  He 
took  up  his  residence  in  Lewdstown  when  he  entered 
upon  his  duties  of  this  office  and  he  has  made  the  city 
his  home  ever  since.  When  the  four  years  of  his  serv- 
ice in  the  register’s  office  expired,  Mr.  Hilger  and  George 
W.  Cook,  formed  a partnership  in  the  real  estate  busi- 
ness, with  a land  office  in  connection  with  it.  This 
partnership  was  very  successful  and  was  continued  for 
some  time  before  it  was  dissolved.  Following  this  the 
Hilger  Loan  and  Realty  Company,  one  of  the  largest 
concerns  of  the  kind  in  Montana,  was  organized  by 
him,  and  he  has  been  the  president  from  the  first. 

From  a grazing  country,  the  Judith  district  has  be- 
come one  of  the  rich  agricultural  sections  of  the  state 
and  accordingly,  the  county  has  become  a place  of  smaller 
ranches,  instead  of  vast  ranges.  Mr.  Hilger  has  sold  his 
extensive  ranch  properties,  but  retains  his  interest  in 
the  business  project  which  he  has  put  into  successful 
operation. 

What  Mr.  Hilger  has  done  for  Lewistown  is  a story 
in  itself.  The  development  of  new  communities  is  a 
work  which  might  be  said  to  be  an  inherited  taste  with 
him,  for  he  is  the  son  of  a pioneer,  and  might  easily 
have  accepted  the  achievements  of  his  father  as  a 
starting  point  for  his  own  career.  But  he  preferred  to 
follow  the_  paternal  example  and  to  leave  a new  field 
for  one  still  newer,  and  so  the  work  which  his  father 
accomplished  in  Helena,  the  son  did  in  Lewistown. 

In  1890  the  Tudith  Hardware  Company  was  organized 
throus-h  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Hilger  and  some  of  the  other 
good  business  men  of  Lewistown.  Mr.  Hilger  is  now 
president  of  this  company  which  is  the  largest  estab- 
lishment of  this  sort  in  the  county.  He  is  also  presi- 
dent of  the  First  National  Bank,  and  in  this  position 
fills  an  important  place  in  the  financial  world  of  this 
wealthy  county.  These  are  only  a few  of  his  many  in- 
terests, for  he  is  one  of  the  first  of  the  commercial 
representatives  of  Lewistown  to  come  forward  to  the 
support  of  any  enterprise  for  the  benefit  of  the  city,  and 
his  prudence  and  foresight  combined  with  his  initiative 
in  business  undertakings  have  been  of  incalculable  value 
to  the  community. 

Leadership  in  political  affairs  was  almost  inevitable 
for  Mr.  Hilger,  when  he  had  once  allied  himself  with 
the  Democratic  faction  of  Fergus  county.  He  was  se- 
lected to  preside  over  the  first  county  convention  held 


1004 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


in  the  county  by  the  party,  and  wlien  the  first  county- 
central  committee  was  appointed,  he  was  chairman  of 
that.  At  the  organization  of  the  party  in  Lewistown, 
the  chairmanship  of  the  first  Democratic  municipal 
convention  was  unanimously  assigned  to  him. 

The  marriage  of  David  Hilger  and  Christina  H. 
I''ergus  took  place  on  October  20,  1884.  Mrs.  Hilger  is 
the  daughter  of  William  Fergus,  a brother  of  James 
Fergus  of  this  county,  which  bears  his  name,  and  the 
family  is  known  to  every  old  timer  in  this  part  of  the 
state.  Two  sons,  Edward  and  David  J.,  and  three 
daughters,  Maud  H.,  Agnes  and  Christine  L.,  have 
been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Flilger.  Edward  and  Agnes 
died  in  childhood,  while  the  eldest  daughter,  Maud  H., 
was  married  in  October,  1912,  to  Mr.  George  H.  Osborne 
of  Chicago,  the  son  has  entered  upon  a business  career, 
and  the  other  daughter,  Christine  L.,  is  attending  school. 

The  only  fraternal  order  to  which  Mr.  Hilger  belongs 
is  that  of  the  Elks,  being  a charter  member  of  the 
Lewistown  Lodge  No.  456,  and  he  was  district  deputy 
of  this  order  for  Montana  in  1906. 

The  belief  which  Mr.  Hilger  has  in  the  future  of 
Montana  is  founded  not  alone  upon  his  knowledge  of 
her  great  resources,  but  also  upon  his  acquaintance 
with  the  citizenship  of  the  state  and  its  high  average 
of  industrial  efficiency,  of  which  he  is  himself  an  ex- 
cellent example. 

No  sketch  of  Mr.  Hilger’s  career  would  be  complete 
without  some  reference  to  his  public  services,  given  not 
only  without  remuneration  but  at  an  actual  loss  of 
time  and  money  to  him.  He  served  as  a representative 
Dom  Fergus  county  in  the  eighth  legislative  assembly 
in  iQO,V4  and  aside  from  the  regular  session,  took  part 
in  two  extra  sessions,  one  to  appropriate  money  for  a 
Montana  exhibit  at  the  St.  Louis  International  Expo- 
sition, and  the  other  to  consider  the  fair  trial  bill,  which 
was  enacted  into  law, 

Mr.  Hilger’s  legislative  services  were  given  during 
a most  important  and  interesting  period  of  the  state’s 
history,  and  the  record  made  by  him  is  one  in  which 
his  friends  take  just  pride. 

He  was  one  of  a group  of  men  who  succeeded  in 
getting  the  proposition  for  the  creation  of  a county 
high  school  before  the  people  and  did  his  full  share  to 
accomplish  that  object.  He  then  served  as  chairman  of 
the  board  of  trustees  while  the  high  school  building 
was  under  construction,  and  devoted  much  of  his  time 
and  energy  in  getting  the  school  fairly  established. 

He  also  served  as  a member  of  the  board  of  trustees 
of  the  Carnegie  library  and  had  active  charge  during 
the  neriod  that  the  library  building  was  under  con- 
struction. At  this  writing  Mr.  Hilger  is  still  a member 
of  the  board,  having  tendered  his  resignation  several 
times  only  to  have  it  refused. 

As  a member  of  the  commission  anpointed  by  Gov. 
F.  T„  Norris  on  the  conservation  of  our  natural  re- 
sources, and  drafting  the  present  laws  governing  the 
state  land  of  Montana,  Mr.  Hilger  again  rendered  the 
state  valuable  service.  The  task  was  a particularly 
difficult  one,  and  in  the  solution  of  the  many  problems 
presented,  Mr.  Hilger’s  intimate  knowledge  of  the  land 
laws  and  of  the  needs  of  the  people  proved  invaluable. 

Duncan  Dingwall  is  the  owner  of  one  of  the 
finest  general  merchandise  establishments  in  Drum- 
mond, where  he  has  maintained  his  home  since  1907. 
He  came  to  Montana  in  1868  and  has  been  a promi- 
nent and  influential  citizen  of  this  state  during  the 
long  intervening  years  to  the  present  time,  in  1912. 
The  best  evidence  Mr.  Dingwall  can  give  of  his  faith 
in  Montana  is  that  he  has  invested  considerable  money 
in  ranching  property,  his  holdings,  mostly  in  Granite 
county,  amounting  to  four  thousand  acres.  His  land 
is  in  a fertile  section  of  the  country  and  has  proved 
wonderfully  productive  for  the  raising  of  grain  and 
for  grazing  purposes. 


A native  of  Canada,  Duncan  Dingwall  was  born 
in  the  province  of  Ontario,  March  31,  1847,  and  he  is 
a son  of  John  and  Catherine  (McGruer)  Dingwall,  the 
former  of  whom  was  a native  of  Scotland  and  the 
latter  of  whom  was  born  and  reared  in  Canada.  John 
Dingwall  came  to  America  as  a young  man  and  settled 
in  the  province  of  Ontario,  Canada,  there  engaging  in 
farming  and  stock-raising,  which  lines  of  enterprise 
he  followed  until  his  demise,  in  1867,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-four  years.  His  cherished  and  devoted  wife 
passed  away  in  1885,  aged  seventy-eight  years.  They  are 
buried  side  by  side  in  Canada.  The  Dingwall  family 
consisted  of  eleven  children,  of  whom  Duncan  was 
the  tenth  in  order  of  birth.  Mr.  Dingwall  has  one 
brother  in  Montana,  William,  who  is  married  and  re- 
sides in  Granite  county,  where  he  is  a rancher  of  prom- 
inence. 

Mr.  Dingwall,  of  this  notice,  received  his  educational 
training  in  the  public  and  high  schools  of  his  native 
place  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years  began  to  teach 
school,  following  that  occupation  for  two  years  in 
Canada.  Eor  a short  time  he  also  worked  in  a hard- 
ware store  and  when  he  had  reached  his  legal  major- 
ity he  came  to  Montana.  His  route  was  by  train  to 
Sioux  City,  Iowa,  thence  up  the  Missouri  river  to  Eort 
Benton,  and  from  the  latter  place  overland  to  Helena. 
He  remained  in  and  around  Helena  for  six  months, 
working  in  a saw  mill,  and  he  then  went  to  Henderson 
Gulch,  where  he  was  engaged  in  mining  operations  for 
a period  of  three  years,  at  the  end  of  which  he  turned 
his  attention  to  ranching  and  stock-raising  in  Granite 
county,  where  he  is  the  owner  of  four  thousand  acres 
of  land,  which  is  now  under  the  management  of  his 
brother,  William  Dingwall.  In  March,  1873,  Mr.  Ding- 
wall accepted  a position  at  Henderson  Gulch  as  man- 
ager of  a general  mercantile  establishment  there  and  he 
continued  to  conduct  that  concern  until  the  business 
was  sold  out,  six  years  later.  This  experience  was  what 
interested  Mr.  Dingwall  in  the  mercantile  business, 
and  he  went  from  Henderson  Gulch  to  New  Chicago, 
and  there  started  a business  of  his  own.  In  1907  he 
came  to  Drummond  and  opened  a general  store,  which 
with  the  passage  of  time  has  grown  to  be  one  of  the 
most  important  business  enterprises  in  this  city.  Mr. 
Dingwall  is  the  first  president  of  the  Drummond  Com- 
mercial Club,  organized  in  1912,  and  is  also  a member 
of  the  Society  of  Montana  Pioneers. 

In  politics  Mr.  Dingwall  is  an  uncompromising  Re- 
publican, and  while  he  manifests  a deep  and  sincere 
interest  in  public  affairs  he  does  not  have  any  desire 
for  the  honors  or  emoluments  of  public  office  of  any 
description.  In  religious  matters  he  and  his  wife  are 
devout  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
in  the  various  departments  of  whose  work  they  are  ac- 
tive factors.  Camping-out  has  its  attractions  for  Mr. 
Dingwall  and  he  is  very  fond  of  horses  and  stock  of 
all  kinds.  He  shows  by  his  actions  that  he  has  abso- 
lute confidence  in  the  Treasure  state.  He  says:  “If 

you  have  ambition  in  your  system  and  the  courage  to 
back  it  up  and  will  work — if  you  believe  in  honor  and 
honesty  and  real  success — move  to  Montana  and  your 
dreams  will  come  true.” 

In  the  city  of  Helena,  Montana,  in  April,  1890,  Mr. 
Dingwall  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Lodema  Bing- 
ham, who  was  born  in  Canada  in  i8s7  and  reared  in 
Minnesota  and  who  came  to  Montana  in  1880.  They 
are  the  parents  of  one  child,  Earl  D,.  who  was  grad- 
uated from  Wesleyan  University,  Helena,  in  1911, 
and  who  is  now  associated  with  his  father  in  business 
at  Drummond. 

William  Dingwall.  Prominent  in  the  public  affairs 
of  Granite  countv  as  chairman  of  the  boacd  of  county 
commissioners,  William  Dingwall  is  one  of  the  state’s 
pioneers  and  for  more  than  forty-four  years  has  been 
identified  with  business  and  the  development  of  the  great 


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HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1005 


material  resources  of  the  Treasure  state.  He  came  here 
a young  man,  with  the  strength  and  enthusiasm  required 
for  th^  best  pioneer  achievements,  and  the  sum  of  his 
accomplishments  and  his  standing  and  influence  in  his 
-county  are  worthy  subjects  for  pride.  „ 

Bom  in  Ontario,  Canada,  on  the  14th  of  October,  1644, 
he  is  a son  of  John  and  Catherine  (McGruer)  Ding- 
Avall,  and  a brother  of  Duncan  Dingwall  of  Drummond. 
William  Dingwall  spent  the  first  seventeen  years  of  his 
life  in  his  native  locality,  where  he  attended  the  public 
schools  through  the  grades  and  two  years  in  high  school. 
His  practical  career  began  at  Buftalo,  New  York,  where 
for  six  years  he  was  a clerk  in  a lumber  company  s 
office.  By  the  end  of  that  time  he  was  prepared  for 
larger  adventures,  and  he  possessed  the  spirit  of  cour- 
age and  resourcefulness  which  is  in  its  proper  element 
when  in  contact  with  the  fresh  and  undeveloped  great- 
ness of  the  west, 

After  a short  visit  to  his  parents  he,  with  his  brother 
Duncan,  set  out  for  Montana.  Through  Chicago  and 
to  Sioux  City  their  journey  was  by  rail,  thence,  over- 
land to  the  Missouri  river,  where  they  took  a boat  to 
Fort  Benton.  At  this  old  frontier  post  the  brothers 
joined  a party  of  eighteen  in  engaging  a freighting  out- 
fit to  take  them  on  to  Helena,  where  they  arrived  in  the 
vear  1868  For  three  years  Mr.  Dingwall  was  employed 
in  the  lumber  business  at  Helena,  his  previous  experi- 
ence proving  valuable  in  this  connection.  He  and  his 
brother  then  bought  a herd  of  cattle  and  came  into  the 
Flint  creek  valley,  which  for  more  than  forty  years  has 
been  the  scene  of  his  varied  endeavors.  He  has  been 
a continuous  witness  of  the  development  which  has 
brought  this  part  of  the  state  out  of  wilderness  con- 
ditions into  one  broad  area  of  fertile  productiveness, 
and  few  men  have  done  more  in  a practical  way  to  bring 
about  this  modern  prosperity.  He  has  followed  mer- 
chandising and  ranching  and  stock  raising,  and  has  m^h 
to  show  for  his  labor  and  business  management  His 
home  ranch  at  New  Chicago,  four  miles  from  Drum- 
mond, consists  of  over  three  thousand  acres,  while  he 
and  his  brother  have  a separate  holding  of  five  thousand 


^'^Mr  Dingwall  was  married  in  Deer  Lodge,  Moffipa, 
December  20,  1877,  to  Miss  Katie  Price.  Mrs.  Ding- 
wall’s parents  were  James  and  Amanda  Price  whose 
home  was  formerly  in  the  state  of  Nebraska.  To  their 
marriage  four  children,  three  sons_  and  a daughter,  h^e 
been  born,  namely:  John,  who  is  associated  with  his 

father  in  the  stock  business ; Leona,  at  home,  is  a splen- 
didly educated  young  woman,  being  a graduate  of  the 
local  public  schools  and  the  Presbyterian  College  at 
Deer  Lodge,  and  also  took  a course  m the  State  Nor- 
mal at  Dillon;  William  D„  who  is  also  associated  with 
his  father’s  business;  and  James  A.,  who  after  gradu 
ating  from  the  public  schools  attended  the  State  Uni- 
versity at  Missoula  six  years  and  is  now  a senior  of 
the  Washington  State  University  at  Seattle 

In  religion  the  preference  01  Mr,  Dingwall  and  wife 
is  for  the  Presbyterian  faith.  He  takes  an  active  in- 
terest in  Republican  politics,  and  his  sterling  citizen- 
ship has  brought  him  important  official  honors  and_  re- 
sponsibilities. He  has  been  a county  commissioner  since 
igo8  and  is  now  chairman  of  the  board,  and  has  been 
a member  of  the  local  school  board  for  the  past  sixteen 
years.  He  is  a director  and  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
new  First  State  Bank  of  Philipsburg,  and  is  a member 
of  the  Society  of  Montana  Pioneers.  Though  most  of 
his  life  has  been  occupied  with  the  serious  practical 
affairs,  he  has  many  diversions.  The  national  game 
of  baseball,  hunting,  horses  and  music  and  drama  all 
appeal  to  him,  and  in  his  own  home  he  passes  many 
profitable  and  pleasurable  hours  with  his  books,  Mon- 
tana during  more  than  forty  years  of  residence  has 
given  him  the  satisfaction  and  contentment  which  are 
among  the  greatest  prizes  of  human  life,  and  no  more 


loyal  citizen  of  the  state  could  be  found  than  William 
Dingwall  of  Drummond, 

John  P.  Reins,  one  of  the  old  time  pioneers  of 
Montana  who  crossed  the  plains  with  a mule  team 
before  the  days  of  railroads,  and  who  has  lived  to  see 
the  Treasure  state  take  a foremost  place  among  the 
commonwealths  of  the  great  west,  has  been  a resident 
of  Butte  for  well  on  to  forty  years,  and  has  seen  that 
city  grow  from  a typical  mining  camp  to  one  of  the 
most  progressive  and  up  to  date  cities  of  the  north- 
west. Mr.  Reins  has  attained  the  Psalmist’s  alloted 
three  score  and  ten  years  of  life,  and  is  yet  possessed 
of  alert  mentality,  and  a physical  vigor  well  becoming 
one  many  years  his  junior. 

He  comes  from  a fine  old  Virginia  family  that  has 
long  been  identified  with  the  growth  and  development 
of  that  state,  where  he  was  born  September  10,  1842, 
a son  of  William  H.  and  Susan  (Ashworth)  Reins. 
The  father,  also  a Virginian,  was  born  on  March  6, 
1810,  and  by  occupation  was  a farmer.  He  lived  to  the 
age  of  more  than  eighty-six.  He  married  Miss  Susan 
Ashworth,  whose  father,  Louis  Ashworth,  was  a min- 
ister of  the  gospel. 

John  P.  Reins  was  the  younger  of  the  two  children 
of  his  parents,  and  like  most  of  the  sons  of  well  to  do 
parents  in  that  section  of  the  country,  had  the  advan- 
tage of  a good  education.  He  passed  through  the  pub- 
lic schools  and  graduated  from  Hillsville  Academy. 
At  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war  he  was  not  yet 
nineteen,  but  at  the  beginning  of  that  great  struggle 
in  1861  he  joined  Company  H,  Twenty-fourth  Vir- 
ginia Infantry,  made  up  from  students  of  his  alma 
mater.  He  participated  in  the  first  and  second  battles 
of  Manassas,  the  siege  of  Knoxville,  the  battles  of 
Saitville,  Crow’s  Nest,  Charleston,  West  Virginia,  Salt 
pond  Mountain,  Cloyd’s  Farm  and  Cawley  River.  Sub- 
sequently he  joined  the  Eighth  Cavalry,  under  General 
Eckels,  commander  of  the  Department  of  Southwest- 
ern Virginia.  During  this  service  he  was  wounded  by 
a saber  cut  in  the  knee  at  Clinch  river. 

In  1865  he  began  the  study  of  medicine,  which  he 
pursued  for  one  year,  when  he  was  obliged  to  give 
up  further  work  along  that  line,  owing  to  the  loss  of 
his  right  eye.  In  1867  he  removed  west  and  located 
in  Kansas,  where,  for  a year  he  engaged  in  farming. 
In  1868  Mr.  Reins  came  to  Deer  Lodge,  Montana,  by 
mule  team  across  the  plains,  via  Poll  Creek,  and 
shortly  afterward  located  in  what  is  now  Powell 
county,  where  he  was  employed  in  the  stock  business 
for  about  twelve  months.  During  the  next  two  years 
he  was  prospecting  and  mining,  after  which  he  went 
to  Butte  and  subsequently  to  Philipsburg  and  Deer 
Lodge  county,  still  engaged  in  mining,  and  in  1875  he 
returned  to  Butte,  where  he  has  ever  since  resided. 

Mr.  Reins  has  had  varied  interests  since  his  coming 
to  Montana,  his  first  business  venture  in  the  territory 
being  in  the  butcher  business,  which  he  followed  for 
about  one  year.  Subsequent  years  found  him  in  other 
lines,  being  heavily  interested  in  real  estate,  mercan- 
tile, mining  and  for  a while  in  the  wholesale  liquor 
business.  But  during  his  entire  business  career  in 
Montana  he  has  always  been,  more  or  less,  interested 
in  mining.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Reins 
Copper  Company,  of  which  he  is  the  vice-president. 

In  1884  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mrs.  Mary 
E.  Rumans,  of  Missouri,  who  died  in  1894.  They  were 
the  parents  of  a daughter,  Mary  E.,  who  died  May  18, 
1894.  Mr.  Reins  is  a member  of  Butte  Lodge,  No.  22, 
A.  F.  & A.  M.  His  political  associations  have  always 
been  with  the  Democratic  party,  and  he  has  served 
three  terms  with  credit  to  himself  and  satisfaction  to 
his  constituents  as  alderman  . from  the  second  and 
eighth  wards  of  Butte. 

Doctor  Reins,  as  he  is  known  and  addressed  by  a 
wide  acquaintance,  is  one  of  the  substantial  citizens  of 


1006 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


Butte,  whose  sterling  character  and  superior  business 
ability  have  gained  for  him  a foremost  position  among 
the  most  highly  respected  residents  of  his  city. 

Reinhold  Henry  Kleinschmidt.  Among  the  pro- 
gressive men  of  Montana,  big  both  mentally  and  physi- 
cally, who  have  played  a prominent  part  in  the  affairs 
of  the  territory  and  state  is  Reinhold  H.  Kleinschmidt, 
from  1866  to  1900  a successful  and  dominating  figure  in 
the  commercial  life  of  the  capital  city  of  Helena,  and 
whose  business  extended  throughout  the  length  and 
breadth  of  Montana. 

From  the  time  he  first  entered  the  confines  of  the 
state  in  1867  he  has  been  a force  to  reckon  with  in 
commercial  affairs  and  a most  dependable  and  able  man 
to  respond  to  the  needs  of  the  commonwealth.  As  a 
business  man  be  stands  without  a superior  in  the  north- 
west and  has  been  able  to  maintain  his  position  by 
square  dealing  and  an  unfailing  observance  of  all  the 
amenities  due  between  men  of  honor.  Mis  business  ex- 
perience in  the  state  extends  over  nearly  half  a century 
and  covered  all  of  the  settled  portions.  His  executive 
ability  has  been  proven  beyond  the  capacity  of  ordinary 
men  and  stamps  him  as  of  extraordinary  mold.  His 
entire  interests  extended  over  several  states  and  terri- 
tories and  embraced  everything  from  large  comnrercial 
enterprises  to  mining,  freighting,  stock  raising,  irrigat- 
ing and  so  on.  In  all  of  these  he  was  successful,  at  the 
same  time  having  leisure  to  assist  in  promoting  the  wel- 
fare of  his  state  and  city,  in  both  of  which  he  takes  a 
just  and  honorable  pride  as  having  been  instrumental  in 
their  establishment  upon  sound  principles  of  business 
and  morality. 

Reinhold  H.  Kleinschmidt  is  of  sterling  German  stock 
and  comes  of  that  virile  race  which  has  done  so  much 
to  infuse  the  spiVit  of  independence  and  character  into 
the  life  and  institutions  of  his  adopted  country.  He 
was  born  near  Madgeburg,  Prussia,  November  4,  1847, 
and  is  a son  of  Carl  and  Elizabeth  (Kuphal)  Klein- 
schmidt, the  former  from  the  Hartz  Mountains  and  of 
Hanoverian  birth,  and  the  latter  a native  of  Prussia. 
The  father  dying  and  leaving  the  widow  with  orphaned 
children  to  make  their  own  way  in  the  world,  she  soon 
determined  that  she  and  her  children  would  have  a 
better  chance  to  succeed  in  a new  country,  so  she  deter- 
mined to  immigrate  to  the  United  States  and  she  pos- 
sessed the  true  Spartan  spirit  and  daring  and  was  soon 
aboard  a sailing  ship  bound  for  the  new  world,  accom- 
panied by  her  children.  They  landed  in  the  city  of 
Baltimore  in  1856  and  soon  after  began  farming  in 
Allegany  county,  Maryland.  Not  long  afterward  they 
determined  to  move  west  and  established  a home  in 
Bloomington,  Illinois.  In  that  town  the  subject  of  our 
sketch  obtained  employment  in  a nursery.  Conditions 
proving  unsatisfactory  in  Bloomington,  the  family  re- 
moved to  Hermann.  Missouri,  and  resumed  farming, 
Reinhold  Kleinschmidt  again  securing  employment  in 
a nursery.  In  i860  the  family,  which  still  kept  together, 
located  in  Boonville  in  the  same  state.  Plere  Mr.  Klein- 
schmidt attended  school  for  about  six  months.  This 
schooling,  which  supplemented  the  groundwork  of  an 
education  received  at  excellent  schools  in  the  old  coun- 
try, together  with  a wide  and  varied  business  experi- 
ence, made  of  him  a very  well  informed  man,  indeed. 
Lexington,  Missouri,  was  the  next  home  of  the  family, 
and  in  that  place  Mr.  Kleinschmidt  found  employment 
in  a printing  office,  where  he  remained  until  the  be- 
ginning of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion.  Then  the  family 
moved  to  Liberty,  Missouri,  and  later  on  Mr.  Klein- 
schmidt went  to  Liberty  and  secured  a clerkship  in  a 
store,  which  was  his  first  experience  in  a business  that 
he  was  later  to  make  illustrious  in  the  Rocky  Mountains. 
He  went  to  Leavenworth  for  a short  time  and  on  re- 
turning to  his  home  in  Liberty  volunteered  for  enlistment 
as  a soldier  in  the  Union  army.  He  was  little  more 
than  a boy,  but  his  spirit  of  patriotism  and  love  of 


country  was  paramount  and  he  desired  to  march  to  the 
front  and  help  repel  the  foes  of  the  government.  He  was 
sworn  in  and  his  name  was  placed  on  the  muster  rolls, 
but  he  was  not  permitted  to  remain  in  the  service  owing 
to  his  youth,  he  being  only  fifteen  years  old  at  the  time 
of  his  enlistment.  He  received  his  discharge  and  at 
once  sought  employment,  which  he  secured  in  a con- 
fectionery store,  where  he  remained  until  1863  when 
he  and  his  brothers  started  a store  in  Liberty.  They 
later  had  a store  in  Leavenworth,  Kansas,  and  at  Law- 
rence in  the  same  state  which  they  conducted  until 
the  close  of  the  war.  In  i86,S  the  brothers  extended 
their  business  to  Las  Vegas,  New  Mexico.  By  this 
time  Mr.  Kleinschmidt  and  his  brothers  had  acquired 
a good  knowledge  of  the  grocery  business  and  felt  able 
to  compete  in  that  line  anywhere.  In  1867  they  deter- 
mined to  try  their  fortune  in  the  gold  fields  of  Mon- 
tana and  in  the  following  year  established  a store  of 
general  merchandise  in  Helena,  which  was  owned  and 
conducted  by  R.  LI.  Kleinschmidt  and  his  brother  Albert.. 
This  store  was  a success  from  its  inception  and  estab- 
lished a record  that  is  unsurpassed  in  the  annals  of 
commercial  enterprise  in  Montana.  Its  prosperity  con- 
tinued to  grow  with  the  passing  years  and  established 
the  character  of  Mr.  Kleinschmidt  as  a careful  busi- 
ness man  and  an  executive  of  high  and  commanding 
ability.  He  possessed  great  sagacity  and  strong  organ- 
izing powers  together  with  his  other  business  traits  of 
recognized  merit.  The  necessity  for  expanding  the 
business  he  saw  at  a glance  and  it  was  not  long  before 
the  firm  had  thirteen  separate  and  distinct  stores  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  state.  In  addition  to  this  they  added 
mules  and  cattle  trains  for  the  transportation  of  mer- 
chandise to  points  where  needed.  The  wagon  trains 
had  a capacity  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  tons  and  con- 
sisted of  about  eighty  wagons. 

May  19,  1880,  Mr.  Kleinschmidt  was  married  to  Miss 
Amelia  Man,  in  San  Francisco,  a daughter  of  H.  Albert 
Mau.  They  occupy  a spacious  and  comfortable  home  in 
Flelena,  where  they  delight  to  entertain  their  friends 
and  where  Mrs.  Kleinschmidt  rriakes  an  ideal  hostess. 
Mr.  Kleinschmidt  is  an  honored  member  of  Wadsworth 
Post,  G.  A.  R.,  is  a Republican  in  politics  and  has  always 
advocated  the  principles  of  that  party,  although  he  has 
never  sought  public  office.  He  made  frequent  visits  to 
the  principal  eastern  cities  while  engaged  in  business 
and  became  acquainted  with  cosmopolitan  commercial 
life  and  the  conductors  of  big  business,  purchasing 
largely  for  his  extensive  trade  in  Montana.  He  found 
time  to  also  make  frequent  visits  to  California  and 
became  familiar  with  the  beautiful  scenery  and  life  of 
the  Pacific  coast.  In  1872  he  visited  the  Exposition  in 
Vienna,  Austria  and  the  Centennial  Exposition  at  Phila- 
delphia in  1876.  After  his  marriage  he  visited  in  com- 
pany with  his  wife  the  greater  part  of  Europe  and  en- 
joyed a most  delightful  time.  They  also  made  a tour 
of  the  United  States  in  1883  and  extended  their  visit 
to  Alaska.  The  Columbian  Exposition  in  Chicago  was. 
also  visited  and  the  Midwinter  Fair  at  San  Francisco  and 
the  Yellowstone  National  Park.  Altogether  Mr.  Klein- 
schmidt has  been  one  of  the  most  extensive  travelers 
in  the  state  and  has  gained  much  information  and  a 
knowledge  of  other  peoples  and  lands  that  are  a source 
of  satisfaction  and  of  pleasure.  In  1908  he  made  a 
tour  of  Mexico  in  company  with  Mrs.  Kleinschmidt, 
visiting  the  principal  cities  of  that  country. 

His  business  has  included  every  enterprise  worth 
mentioning  in  the  state  of  Montana.  He  owns  exten- 
sive mining  interests' both  in  Montana  and  Idaho.  In 
the  latter  state  in  the  Seven  Devils  country  he  is  the 
principal  owner  of  what  are  considered  the  richest  and 
most  extensive  copper  mines  in  the  world.  He  assisted 
greatly  in  locating  the  permanent  capital  at  Helena  and 
has  contributed  of  his  means  in  many  other  ways  to- 
ward the  advancement  of  his  home  city  and  has  always 
been  a decided  factor  in  the  advancement  of  "the  state. 


V " •'  ■ 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1007 


At  the  present  time  Mr.  Kleinschmidt  is  not  engaged  in 
mercantile  pursuits,  havina;  retired  from  that  line  sorne 
years  ago.  He  still  has  large  business  interests  in 
Helena  and  throughout  the  state  that  occupy  his  time 
and  he  is  quite  extensively  interested  in  real  estate. 
He  is  the  owner  of  some  of  the  finest  city  property, 
including  the  Granite  block,  a substantial  structure  on 
Main  street.  He  is  a conspicuous  figure  and  a force 
in  the  affairs  of  his  state  and  city  and  possesses  many 
friends.  He  is  active,  energetic  and  contrives  to  derive 
a great  deal  of  pleasure  out  of  life. 

Jacob  M.  Schiffman,  of  Butte,  Montana,  repre- 
sents that  type  of  the  well-bred  foreign-born  Ameri- 
can citizen  whose  inherited  tendencies  of  industry 
and  frugality  have  added  so  much  to  the  growth  and 
prosperity  of  our  nation.  He  was  born  at  Zoludok, 
in  the  province  of  Wilner,  Russia,  August  20,  1868, 
and  is  the  son  of  the  late  Moses  and  Mary  Schiffman 
of  Zoludok,  the  former  of  whom  was  a well-known 
and  wealthy  dealer  and  exporter  of  lumber  and  grain 
of  that  city.  Moses  Schiffman  was  born  in  Zoludok 
in  1827,  and  after  a long  and  active  career,  he  died 
in  his  native  city  in  1907.  He  gained  prominence  and 
wealth  as  a dealer  in  lumber  and  grain,  which  he 
exported  to  foreign  countries  by  the  shipload.  Mary 
Schift'man  also  a native  of  Lida,  province  of  Wilna, 
Russia,  born  in  1841,  and  died  there  in  1901.  It  will 
thus  be  noted  that  the  boyhood  and  youth  of  Jacob 
M.  Schiffman  w'ere  spent  in  the  environment  of  a well- 
regulated  home.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  Zoludok,  and  during  his  youth  he  assisted  his 
father  and  in  that  manner  gained  a practical  knowl- 
edge of  the  lumber  and  grain  business,  a knowledge 
that  proved  a valuable  asset  to  him  in  after  years. 

In  1868,  or  when  eighteen  years  of  age,  he  resolved 
to  seek  his  fortunes  in  the  New  World,  and  bidding 
farewell  to  his  parents  and  his  native  land,  he  took 
passage  for  New  York.  He  soon  found  employment 
at  various  kinds  of  work,  for  he  was  willing  to  engage 
in  any  toil  that  assured  him  an  honest  dollar.  How'- 
ever,  he  did  not  remain  long  in  New^  York,  as  he 
learned  that  he  could  secure  more  work  and  better 
pay  in  the  West.  His  first  stop  on  his  way  westward 
was  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  a short 
time  and  there  learned  of  the  many  advantages  await- 
ing an  energetic  young  man  in  ^Montana.  Therefore, 
within  a year  of  his  arrival  in  New  York,  he  became 
a resident  of  Butte,  and  from  the  day  of  his  arrival 
to  the  present  time  he  has  been  convinced  that  nowhere 
else  in  this  country  are  there  so  many  opportunities 
open  to  the  young  man  of  merit  as  there  are  in  Butte 
and  its  vicinity. 

On  his  arrival  there,  Mr.  Schiffman  secured  employ- 
ment in  a small  store,  but  he  soon  resigned  his  posi- 
tion to  open  up  a confectionery  establishment  of  his 
own.  This  business  nroved  a success  from  the  start 
and  when  he  disposed  of  it  in  igoi,  he  was  regarded 
as  one  of  the  successful  confectioners  of  that  city. 

Mr.  Schiffman  decided  that  ere  he  again  embarked 
in  business  he  would  see  a little  more  of  the  New 
World,  and  made  a prospecting  tour  to  Central  and 
South  America.  He  found  in  those  countries  many 
opportunities  for  a man  of  large  capital,  but  he  found 
no  place  that  suited  him  as  well  as  Butte,  and  after 
an  eight  months’  trip  he  returned  there  and  again 
engaged  in  the  confectionery  business.  He  continued 
in  that  line  until  1903,  when  he  disposed  of  it  at  a 
large  profit  and  became  a traveling  salesman  for  a 
cigar  manufacturer.  After  one  year  on  the  road,  he 
resigned  his  position  to  engage  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness at  Gregson  Sorings,  Montana.  In  1903.  Presi- 
dent Roosevelt  appointed  him  postmaster  at  Gregson 
Springs,  and  he  held  that  position  until  1907.' 

As  early  as  1895,  Mr.  Schiffman  had  become  inter- 
ested in  mining  timber  and  engaged  actively  in  the 


business  at  Gregson  Springs.  But  believing  the  city 
of  Butte  to  be  a better  location,  he  removed  there  and 
opened  a finely  equipped  office  in  the  Owsley  building. 
Besides  handling  mining  timber  on  an  extensive 
scale,  he  also  handles  grain  and  hay  in  carload  lots. 
His  business  has  grown  by  leaps  and  bounds  and 
among  his  many  large  customers  is  the  Anaconda 
Copper  Company  of  Butte,  which  he  furnishes  with 
all  of  its  mining  timber. 

At  Spokane,  Washington,  on  October  ii,  1910,  Mr. 
Schiffman  married  Itliss  Nellie  Kilburn,  a native  of 
Westfield,  Massachusetts.  She  is  the  daughter  of 
Charles  Kilburn,  also  a native  of  Massachusetts  and 
a prominent  whip  manufacturer.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schiff- 
man have  a son,  Moses  J.  Schiffman,  born  September 
6,  1911. 

Mr.  Schiffman  is  a stanch  Republican,  and  during 
campaigns  he  is  ever  alert  and  active  in  the  interests  of 
his  party.  He  has  served  as  a delegate  to  state  con- 
ventions and  is  prominent  in  the  councils  of  the  party. 
Mr.  Schiffman  gives  liberally  to  charity  and  is  one 
of  the  directors  of  Jewish  Charities  in  the  city  of 
Butte.  He  frequently  contributes  to  the  poor  and  lowly, 
quietly  and  without  ostentatious  display.  While  Mr. 
Schiffman  devotes  the  most  of  his  time  and  attention 
to  his  large  and  increasing  business  interests,  yet  he 
is  fond  of  various  sports,  especially  of  hunting  and 
fishing.  He  is  prominently  affiliated  with  several  fra- 
ternal orders,  having  attained  the  32nd  degree  of  the 
Ancient  and  Accepted  Scottish  Rite  in  the  Masonic 
order  and  being  a Noble  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  He 
is  also  a member  of  Damon  Lodge.  Knights  of  Pyth- 
ias, at  Butte,  and  of  the  Jewish  society,  the  Indepen- 
dent Order  of  B'nai  B'rith. 

GA^fER  Brothers.  Among  the  prosperous  and  en- 
terprising business  men  of  Butte  may  be  mentioned 
Messrs.  Charles  W.,  J.  Fred,  and  E.  Walter  Gamer, 
who  conduct  the  oldest  established  retail  shoe  store  in 
Butte,  and  who  are  also  proprietors  of  a tliriving  con- 
fectionery business  in  the  same  city.  These  gentlemen 
are  natives  of  Montana,  and  are  the  sons  of  Fred  and 
Emma  M.  (Fink)  Gamer.  The  father  was  a native  of 
Germany,  born  in  Baden  Baden,  and  he  emigrated  to 
America  when  he  was  a youth  of  seventeen  years, 
coming  with  his  parents  and  settling  on  a farm  in  the 
immediate  vicinity  of  the  city  of  Chicago.  In  that  city 
Fred  Gamer  learned  the  shoemaking  trade,  and  after 
the  Chicago  fire  he  went  to  St.  Joseph.  Missouri,  where 
he  took  employment  with  John  P.  Fink,  who  operated 
one  of  the  first  shoe  factories  in  Missouri,  and  who 
had  a chain  of  stores  located  at  various  points  in  the 
territories.  He  was  a man  of  excellent  business  ability, 
and  he  kept  the  shoe  stores  stocked  with  merchandise 
hauled  from  his  factory  by  mule  teams  which  he  owned. 
He  had  stores  in  Denver,  Georgetown,  and  other  points 
in  Colorado,  and  later  operated  stores  at  Deer  Lodge 
and  Helena  in  Montana,  on  every  occasion  the  estab- 
lishment of  his  shoe  stores  following  the  discovery  of 
gold  in  these  places. 

Fred  Gamer  was  sent  to  Georgetown.  Colorado,  to 
take  charge  of  one  of  these  stores,  and  later,  in  1868. 
was  sent  to  Deer  Lodge,  Montana,  and  a little  later  to 
Helena,  Montana,  where  he  managed  the  Fink  shoe 
stores.  In  1873  he  was  married  in  St.  Joseph,  Mis- 
souri, to  Miss  Fink,  as  previously  mentioned.  She  was 
the  daughter  of  his  employer,  John  P.  Fink.  Imme- 
diately following  their  marriage  they  came  to  Helena, 
the  nearest  railroad  point  to  that  city  being  Corine, 
Utah,  and  from  there  the  trip  to  Helena  was  made 
overland  by  stage.  Less  than  a year  after  their  mar- 
riage, John  P.  Fink  died  suddenly  in  St.  Joseph,  and 
Fred  (5amer  purchased  the  Helena  store  from  the  es- 
tate. Some  little  time  later,  when  ore  was  discovered 
in  Butte,  he  started  a branch  store  in  the  then  mining 
camp.  This  store  was  a success  from  the  first  days  of 


1008 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


its  existence,  and  it  has  been  in  constant  operation  since 
that  time,  being  the  oldest  store  of  its  kind  in  Butte  to- 
day. It  has  grown  consistently  with  the  development 
and  growth  of  Butte,  and  is  a representative  and  pros- 
perous shoe  shop,  which  has  been  operated  in  its  pres- 
ent location  for  more  than  thirty  years.  Besides  oper- 
ating these  two  stores,  Mr.  Gamer  owned  and  managed 
a horse  ranch  ten  miles  north  of  Helena  for  many 
years,  in  which  business  he  was  also  successful  and 
prosperous.  The  shoe  store  at  Helena  he  eventually 
sold  to  S.  L.  Smithers  Company,  and  the  ranch  was 
purchased  by  the  Masonic  fraternity  of  Montana,  where 
is  now  located  the  Masonic  Home  for  Aged  Masons. 
The  Butte  store  is  still  owned  and  operated  by  his  two 
sons,  Charles  W.  and  J.  Fred  Gamer. 

In  1906  the  three  sons  enlarged  their  business  inter- 
ests by  launching  a confectionery  establishment  at  133 
West  Park  street.  They  have  a thoroughly  modern  and 
sanitary  plant  where  they  make  all  the  confections  used 
and  sold  in  the  place.  The  store  has  proved  a great 
success,  filling  a well  defined  want  in  the  city,  and  is 
one  of  the  most  popular  resorts  in  Butte  today. 

Fred  Gamer  and  his  wife  became  the  parents  oI  six 
children,  four  sons  and  two  daughters.  They  are  here 
named : Milton  A.,  Charles  W.,  J.  Fred,  E.  Walter, 
Ada  M.,  and  Sarah  Emma.  Milton  A.  died  suddenly 
in  April,  1912.  Ada  is  the  wife  of  W.  R.  Miles  of 
Helena;  Emma  married  Percy  W.  Holter,  of  the  same 
city,  where  they  now  reside;  Fred  married  Sophia 
Schwab,  and  Walter  married  Stella  Goodnow,  both 
being  daughters  of  Helena  families. 

Early  in  1911  Fred  Gamer,  Sr.,  met  with  an  acci- 
dental death  in  Anaconda,  Montana.  His  widow  still 
survives  and  lives  in  the  old  home  at  Helena,  having 
lived  in  the  same  house  since  1874.  This  home  is  lo- 
cated next  door  to  the  residence  of  W.  A.  Chesman 
on  the  one  side  and  of  Col.  W.  F.  Sanders  on  the 
other,  while  Benjamin  F.  Potts,  one  of  Montana’s  first 
governors,  lived  for  many  years  directly  across  the 
street  from  the  Gamer  residence. 

Charles  Callaghan.  Since  the  days  of  the  stage 
coach,  when  he  drove  between  Bozeman  and  Helena, 
Charles  Callaghan  has  been  identified  with  pursuits  of 
a varied  nature,  and  through  industry,  energy  and  the 
ability  to  recognize  and  grasp  opportunities,  has  ad- 
vanced himself  to  a position  of  prominence  among  the 
citizens  of  his  community,  where  he  is  known  as  an 
excellent  business  man  and  a public  official  of  irre- 
proachable integrity.  Mr.  Callaghan  was  born  in  Joliet, 
Will  county,  Illinois,  April  22,  1850,  and  is  a son  of  Pat- 
rick and  Mary  (Quinn)  Callaghan,  natives  of  County 
Monaghan,  Ireland.  Patrick  Callaghan  came  to  this 
country  as  a young  man  by  sailing  vessel,  landing  in 
New  York  and  drifting  thence  to  Illinois,  where  he 
opened  one  of  the  first  stone  quarries  in  Joliet.  He  con- 
tinued in  the  business  until  1855,  when  he  'removed  to 
Cass  county,  Michigan,  there  engaging  in  agricultural 
pursuits,  and  clearing  a farm  from  the  wildnerness. 
He  died  in  1859,  at  the  age  of  fifty-five  years,  having 
been  the  father  of  eight  children,  three  of  whom  are 
living:  Charles;  Katherine,  the  widow  of  John  Glass; 
and  Thomas,  a resident  of  Seattle.  Mrs.  Callaghan 
was  married  (second)  to  Martin  Gill,  and  two  chil- 
dren were  born  to  them:  Edward  and  John  J.  In  1905 
a family  reunion,  the  first  in  twenty  years,  was  held 
at  the  home  of  Mrs.  Gill,  in  Seattle,  Washington,  and 
her  death  occurred  October  27,  1910,  when  she  was 
eighty-four  years  of  age. 

The  boyhood  days  of  Charles  Callaghan  were  spent 
under  the  parental  roof,  but  when  he  was  sixteen  years 
old  he  started  working  in  the  Ewing  Hotel,  Joliet, 
Illinois,  where  he  spent  two  years.  In  the  spring  of 
1868  he  came  west  as  far  as  Omaha,  Nebraska,  where 
he  secured  employment  with  the  Union  Pacific  Rail- 
road, and  was  connected  with  its  construction  depart- 


ment while  the  road  was  being  built  through  to  Wy- 
oming. He  subsequently  went  to  Ewing  Canyon,  Utah, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  cutting  wood  for  Camp 
Douglas,  and  later  became  a driver  of  a bull  team, 
which  he  brought  overland  to  Silver  Star,  Madison 
county,  Montana.  Arriving  in  the  fall  of  1868,  he  be- 
gan work  as  a miner  in  the  Green  Camel  mine,  and 
worked  there  until  1871,  when  he  became  proprietor 
of  the  Silver  Star  Hotel,  a hostelry  which  he  conducted 
for  one  year.  In  the  fall  of  1875  he  resumed  mining 
operations,  but  subsequently  went  overland  to  Nevada,, 
and  was  engaged  in  mining  and  working  in  a smelter 
until  the  fall  of  1878.  At  that  time  he  returned  east  to 
Indiana,  and  in  the  spring  of  1879  went  to  Pottawa- 
tomie county,  Kansas,  and  followed  farming  for  about 
one  year.  ’ During  the  spring  of  1880  he  came  to  Mon- 
tana, and  went,  up  the  Missouri  river  to  Fort  Benton, 
then  to  Three  Forks,  where  he  continued  prospecting 
for  about  one  year.  During  the  summer  and  winter  of 
1881  and  1882  he  drove  the  stage  between  Helena  and 
Bozeman,  and  in  the  spring  of  1883  established  him- 
self in  the  liquor  business  in  Three  Forks,  but  disposed 
of  his  interests  therein  in  1892.  From  the  fall  of  1889 
to  1895  he  was  also  engaged  in  horse  dealing,  but  in 
the  latter  year  became  identified  with  the  ranching 
business  in  Gallatin  county,  having  a property  three 
miles  from  Bozeman.  This  he  sold  in  1899  to  purchase 
another  property  thirty  miles  north  of  Bozeman,  and 
also  engaged  in  the  livery  business  in  this  city,  but  sold 
out  after  one  year.  Pie  still  owns  his  ranch,  the  opera- 
tion of  which  he  superintends,  and  from  1902  to  1909 
was  engaged  in  railroad  contracting,  but  since  the  lat- 
ter year  has  been  practically  retired  from  business  pur- 
suits. 

Mr.  Callaghan  is  a stanch  Democrat  in  his  political 
views  and  in  1910  was  elected  county  commissioner  for 
a six-year  term.  He  is  giving  the  citizens  of  his  com- 
munity an  excellent  administration  and  has  demon- 
strated that  he  possesses  abilities  of  a high  order.  With 
his  family  he  attends  the  Roman  Catholic  church,  be- 
longs to  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  No.  1413,  and  also 
holds  membership  in  Bozeman  Lodge  No.  463,  B.  P. 
O.  E.,  and  Bozeman  Lodge  No.  64  Woodmen  of  the 
World,  in  which  he  is  very  popular.  Mr.  Callaghan 
was  married  May  i,  1883,  to  Miss  Lucille  B.  Monroe, 
who  \vas  born  in  Pottsville,  Pennsylvania,  daughter  of 
William  and  Bridget  Monroe,  natives  of  County  Gal- 
way, Ireland.  Mr.  Monroe  came  to  the  United  States 
as  a young  man,  and  was  married  in  Pennsylvania. 
After  residing  for  some  time  in  that  state  he  removed 
to  Pottawatomie  county,  Kansas,  became  a pioneer 
farmer,  and  there  spent  the  rest  of  his  life,  dying  in 
1877,  in  the  faith  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church.  He 
and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  seven 
of  whom  are  still  living,  as  follows:  Mrs.  Callaghan, 

Rosa,  Matilda,  Agnes  and  Elizabeth,  twins,  Ellen  and 
James.  Of  the  eleven  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Callaghan,  nine  are  still  living:  Charles  H.,  who  mar- 
ried Hattie  Lyons ; William  E.,  who  married  Mary 
McAtee;  and  Margaret,  Mary,  Agnes,  Eugene,  Law- 
rence, Leo  and  Anna. 

Everett  Hiram  Brundage.  Among  the  men  who 
have  acted  prominent  parts  in  the  business  and  finan- 
cial history  of  the  Beaverhead  valley,  Everett  Hiram 
Brundage,  of  Dillon,  is  conspicuous.  Honored  and 
respected  by  the  people  of  city  and  county,  he  enjoys 
a large  measure  of  public  esteem,  not  alone  on  account 
of  his  prestige  in  financial  circles,  but  also  by  reason 
of  the  straightforward  business  policy  he  has  ever  fol- 
lowed and  the  worthy  _ standing  he  has  achieved  in 
the  domain  of  private  citizenship.  Mr.  Brundage,  who 
has  resided  here  since  May,  1869,  conducts  the  largest 
undertaking  business  in  all  the  Beaverhead  valley. 

Mr.  Brundage  was  born  at  Fort  Bridger,  Wyoming, 
April  13,  1863.  When  an  infant  he  removed  with  his 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1009 


parents  to  Pennsylvania,  where  he  remained  until  about 
six  years  of  age.  In  May,  1869,  they  came  west  again, 
locating  in  Virginia  City,  Montana,  w'here  they  re- 
sided for  about  nine  years  and  then  went  to  Sheridan, 
Montana,  where  they  remained  for  some  two  years.  In 
1880,  Mr.  Brundage  came  to  Dillon  and  he  has  been  here 
off  and  on  ever  since  that  time.  His  first  experience 
in  business  was  in  his  father’s  machine  shop  at  Virginia 
City  and  subsequent  to  that  he  w^as  engaged  in  the 
printing  business  with  his  father  at  Sheridan,  Montana. 
He  then  tried  ranching  for  a time,  experiencing  the 
free  life  of  the  plains  for  over  five  years.  He  then 
came  back  to  Dillon  and  again  became  identified  with 
the  printing  business.  He  then  became  an  editor,  and 
for  three  years  managed  the  Dillon  Tribune,  but  he 
did  not  remain  permanently  engaged  with  the  Fourth 
Estate,  and  at  the  end  of  the  period  above  mentioned  he 
embarked  in  the  furniture  and  grocery  business  with 
O.  E.  Morse.  Upon  the  demise  of  Mr.  Morse  he  de- 
cided to  establish  himself  in  business  independently, 
and  bought  the  furniture  stock  of  the  late  firm.  How-- 
ever,  at  the  time  of  starting  in  business  he  traded  his 
furniture  stock  to  another  dealer  and  took  over  his 
undertaking  department,  and  now  conducts  the  latter 
department  exclusively.  He  has  a fully  equipped  and 
up-to-date  business  making  use  of  the  finest  and  most 
scientific  mortuary  methods,  his,  in  truth,  being  the 
leading  undertaking  business  in  Beaverhead  valley.  He 
has  also  a special  department  for  cabinet  workframing, 
etc. 

Mr.  Brundage  earned  his  first  money  as  a boy  at  the 
age  of  about  twelve  years  by  herding  the  town  cows 
during  vacation  time,  and  proved  such  an  efficient 
capitalist  that  he  made  from  fifty  to  sixty  dollars  a 
month.  Thus  his  unusual  executive  ability  was  mani- 
fest at  an  early  age.  He  is  an  active  member  of  the 
Episcopal  church,  as  is  also  Mrs.  Brundage,  and  his 
political  faith  is  that  of  the  Republican  party,  al- 
though he  takes  no  active  part  in  politics.  He  is  a 
Mason,  being  master  of  the  blue  lodge,  and  he  has 
filled  nearly  every  other  office  in  the  fraternity.  He 
is  also  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  has 
filled  all  the  chairs  in  this  organization.  _ He  finds  his 
favorite  diversion  in  hunting  and  fishing,  being  an 
expert  with  rod  and  gun,  and  he  is  an  enthusiast  on  the 
subject  of  baseball;  in  fact  he  used  to  play  the  game 
and  was  at  one  time  quite  a hero  among  the  fans. 
He  is  never  happier  than  when  listening  to  good 
music. 

Mr.  Brundage  is  one  of  the  loyal  sons  of  Montana, 
having  absolute  confidence  in  the  future  of  the  Treas- 
ure state  and  it  has  been  proved  that  nothing  could 
induce  him  to  become  a citizen  of  any  other  state. 
He  once  visited  his  father  in  California  and  the  elder 
gentleman  put  forth  many  good  arguments  to  get  him 
to  come  there  to  live.  Mr.  Brundage,  however,  sang 
a little  song,  beginning, 

“Take  me  back  to  old  Montana 

Where  there’s  lots  of  room  and  air,” 

and  proved  impervious  to  all  inducements. 

He  • belongs  to  that  typical  American  product-— the 
self-made  men,  and  has  made  his  own  way  quite  with-, 
out  assistance  since  the  age  of  fourteen,  and  in  him 
the  fine  results  of  industry,  thrift  and  good  manage- 
ment are  very  apparent,  for  he  is  one  of  the  leading 
business  men  of  Dillon. 

Mr.  Brundage  was  married  in  Montana,  the  young 
woman  who  became  his  wife  bejng  Louise  C.  Stau- 
daher.  Four  sons  and  a daughter  have  been  born  to 
the  union;  Everett  D.,  born  in  Dillon,  now  resides  in 
Butte;  Hiram  M.,  a native  to  Dillon,  is  .associated 
with  his  father  in  business;  Thomas,  born  in  Dillon, 
died  at  the  age  of  ten  years;  Justin,  no\v  attending 
school,  as  is  Dorothy,  the  baby,  are  like  their  brothers, 


natives  of  Dillon.  Their  home  is  a very  popular  and 
pleasant  one. 

Mr.  Brundage’s  father,  Hiram  Brundage,  was  born 
in  Canada,  came  to  the  United  States  when  a boy  and 
first  settled  in  Indiana.  He  came  to  this  state  in  1863, 
and  has  ever  since  been  in  the  west.  During  Indian 
war  times  he  was  telegraph  operator  at  Bridger,  driv- 
ing through  the  country  under  the  escort  of  soldiers 
and  assisting  in  getting  the  first  telegraph  line  through 
to  Salt  Lake  City.  It  was  he  who  established  the 
Dillon  Tribune,  one  of  the  leading  newspapers  of  Mon- 
tana. Now  retired,  he  resides  in  Lower  California, 
and  enjoys  universal  respect.  The  mother,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Holiday,  married  in  Penn- 
sylvania and  died  in  Virginia  City,  Montana,  where 
she  is  interred.  There  were  five  children  in  the  elder 
Brundage  family,  the  subject  being  next  to  the  eldest. 
The  remainder  are  located  as  follows : John  is  mar- 

ried and  resides  in  Beaverhead  county ; Anna,  now  the 
wife  of  Thomas  Shaw,  resides  in  Madison  county, 
Montana ; Adelaide  is  married  and  makes  her  home  in 
the  state  of  Washington;  an  infant  sister,  Elizabeth, 
died  at  the  age  of  two  years. 

Henry  Buck.  The  story  of  the  life  work  of  Henry 
Buck,  one  of  the  best  known  and  most  influential  citi- 
zens of  the  Bitter  Root  valley,  is  a thrilling  narrative, 
the  chapters  of  which  mark  the  way  from  a little 
country  school  in  Michigan  to  the  ownership  of  one 
of  the  finest  orchards  in  the  state  of  Montana.  Start- 
ing as . a ranchman  near  Florence,  some  forty  years 
ago,  he  reached  a proud  position  of  commercial  suprem- 
acy by  methods  which  in  these  days  of  higher  criticism 
of  business  practice  have  never  been  assailed,  and  his 
achievements  are  ascribed  by  those  who  know  him 
commercially  to  strict  and  conscientious  attention  to 
business  coupled  with  honor  and  rectitude  of  a high 
order.  Mr.  Buck  is  a native  of  Ohio,  having  been  born 
in  Sandusky  county,  near  Bellevue,  August  13,  1846. 
and  is  a son  of  George  and  Susan  (Shell)  Buck,  na- 
tives of  Pennsylvania.  Some  time  after  their  marriage, 
Mr.  Buck’s  parents  removed  to  Monroe,  Michigan, 
and  there  Henry,  the  youngest  of  thirteen  children, 
secured  a primary  and  high  school  education,  an<^  sup- 
plemented this  training  with  a year  in  Albion  Commer- 
cial College,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1867. 

For  the  two  years  that  followed  Mr.  Buck  was  en- 
gaged in  teaching  school  in  Michigan,  but  believed  that 
greater  opportunities  awaited  him  in  the  west,  and 
accordingly  came  to  Montana,  making  the  trip  up  the 
Missouri  river  on  the  steamer  “Nile,”  to  Fort  Benton. 
In  1868,  he  moved  to  Lincoln  gulch,  where  he  spent 
two  years  in  mining,  and  then  went  to  Cedar  creek 
with  his  brothers  and  spent  another  year  as  a miner. 
At  that  time  (in  1871),  Mr.  Buck  purchased  a ranch 
in  the  Bitter  Root  country  near  Florence,  and  for 
two  years  followed  farming  and  stock-raising,  but  at 
the  end  of  that  time  returned  to  Cedar  creek,  his 
brothers  having  developed  valuable  mining  interests. 
During  the  fall  of  1875,  Buck  returned  to  his 

ranch,  but  in  the  following  spring,  in  company  with 
his  brothers,  Amos  and  Frederick,  bought  a general 
store  at  Stevensville,  and  under  the  name  of  Buck 
Brothers  conducted  the  establishment  until  Amos  sold 
his  interests,  at  which  time  the  firm  style  was  changed 
to  F.  & H.  Buck.  On  January  31,  1890,  Fred  Buck 
passed  away,  but  the  firm  name  continued  the  same 
until  an  interest  was  purchased  by  a nephew,  Charles 
Buck,  when  the  concern  became  known  as  H.  Buck  & 
Company.  In  1911  Henry  Buck  disposed  of  his  in- 
terest in  the  store  in  order  to  give  his  entire  atten- 
tion to  the  cultivation  of  his  orchard  of  six  thousand 
bearing  apple  trees,  adjoining  Stevensville,  one  of  the 
finest  in  the  state._  As  early  as  1872,  Mr.  Buck  was 
one  of  the  first  to  introduce  apple-growing  in  the  Bitter 
Root  valley,  and  the  crabs  and  other  varieties  on  the 


1010 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


Bass  ranch,  and  found  all  over  this  section,  had  their 
parent  stock  in  his  orchard.  In  1894  he  started  an 
orchard  of  forty  acres,  given  principally  to  apples, 
and  since  that  time  he  has  been  engaged  in  experiment- 
ing in  numerous  varieties.  He  has  had  more  than  ordi- 
nary success,  and  in  1909  was  the  recipient  of  the  silver 
trophy  cup,  first  prize  for  McIntosh  apples  grown  in 
the  state.  In  addition,  Mr.  Buck  is  energetic,  eager, 
enthusiastic,  broad-minded  and  ready  to  do  large 
things  in  a large  way.  Like  many  others,  he  has  risen 
step  by  step,  by  reason  of  sterling  integrity  and  busi- 
ness methods  that  have  been  above  reproach.  However, 
he  has  not  been  content  with  the  mere  attainment  of 
success,  as  education,  charity  and  morality  have  all 
found  a place  in  his  life.  Any  movement  that  has  for 
its  object  the  betterment  of  his  community  always  re- 
ceives his  heart)'  support,  and  during  the  building  of 
the  training  school  at  Stevensville,  he  gave  both  of  his 
means  and  of  his  services  as  treasurer  to  its  successful 
completion.  In  political  matters  he  is  a stalwart  Pro- 
gressive. Fraternally,  he  is  connected  with  the  Ala- 
sons.  Mr.  Buck  can  review  a long  and  active  life,  back 
to  the  days  of  the  outbreak  of  the  “non-treaty”  Nez 
Perces  Indians,  in  1877,  when,  on  the  arrival  of  Gen. 
O.  O.  Ploward  in,  Stevensville,  Air,  Buck  took  his 
own  four-horse  term  and  wagon  and  carried  provisions 
for  the  soldiers.  He  remained  with  the  command  for 
about  two  months,  and  was  discharged  at  Bozeman. 

On  April  2,  1878,  Air.  Buck  was  married  (first)  to 
Aliss  Clara  E,  Elliott,  of  Hamilton,  who  died  March 
28,  1897,  leaving  two  children,  Fred  E.  and  Clarence 
H.  On  April  5,  1900,  Mr.  Buck  married  Aliss  Nellie 
Belle  Haynes,  a daughter  of  William  Haynes,  a farmer 
near  Aliles  City,  and  a native  of  Iowa  City,  Iowa. 

Hon.  Ch.\rles  W.  Hoffman.,  Every  hamlet  has  its 
rejjrcsentative  and  efficient  men,  and  as  the  community 
■enlarges  and  the  responsibilities  grow  greater,  here  and 
there  come  forward  from  the  masses,  men  of  peculiar 
fitness  for  public  duties  and  business  enterprises.  Mon- 
tana has  been  rapidly  and  wonderfully  developed,  not 
only  because  of  her  natural  resources  and  vast  mineral 
wealth  but  rather  from  the  fact  that  she  early  became 
the  chosen  home  of  men  of  energy  and  foresight,  of  dis- 
criminating judgment  and  of  a public  spirit  that  has  been 
exercised  to  win  her  a prestige  wide  and  permanent.  To 
this  class  particularly  belongs  Hon.  Charles  W.  Ploff- 
man,  who,  for  many  years  was  closely  identified  with 
banking  and  ranching  interests  and  whose  public  duties 
made  his  name  familiar  from  one  end  of  the  state  to  the 
other.  His  home  has  been  maintained  at  Bozeman  for 
more  than  forty  years  and  Gallatin  county  has  frequently 
honored  him  with  election  to  important  offices. 

Charles  W.  Hoffman  was  born  at  Niles,  Michigan, 
September  2,  1846,  and  is  a son  of  George  W.  and 
Esther  Louise  (Wheeler)  Hoffman,  a grandson  of  Will- 
iam and  a great-grandson  of  John  Conrad  Hoffman. 
This  last  named  ancestor  was  born  in  Germany  in  1750 
and  he  was  the  pioneer  of  the  family  in  America.  In 
1781  he  was  m.arried  at  Halifax,  Nova  Scotia,  to  a 
daughter  of  Sir  John  Steinfort,  king’s  commissioner  at 
Halifax,  and  widow  of  Colonel  Allgood,  a British  officer. 
Their  two  children,  William  and  Leonard  Floffman, 
were  born  at  Plalifax  and  accompanied  them  to  New 
York  City. 

William  Hoffman,  grandfather  of  Senator  Floffman, 
was  born  September  29,  1782,  and  in  1803,  in  the  city 
of  New  York,  he  married  Catherine  Driscoll,  who  was 
a daughter  of  Adam'  and  Alary  Driscoll,  native  of  Nor- 
wich, Connecticut.  Of  their  eleven  children,  George 
Washington,  father  of  Senator  Hoffman,  was  the  fourth 
in  order  of  birth.  William  Hoffman  was  a military  man. 
He  entered  the  service  of  the  United  States  and  was 
commissioned  first  lieutenant  in  Captain  Gilbert's  com- 
pany, Forty-first  Regiment,  United  States  Infantry, 


Col.  Robert  Bogardus  commanding,  in  November, 
1813,  and  served  in  that  arm  of  the  service  until  his 
death  on  November  26,  1845,  at  Corpus  Christi,  Texas, 
his  official  rank  being  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Seventh 
Infantry,  United  States  army.  During  this  long  period 
of  military  service  he  saw  much  of  the  danger  and  hard- 
ship of  frontier  campaigning,  serving  in  such  frontier 
outposts  as  Sackett’s  Flarbor,  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  Fort  Ni- 
agara, Fort  Alackinaw  and  during  the  Seminole  war  was 
at  Fort  Smith,  Arkansas.  One  of  his  sons,  William 
Hoffman,  served  forty  years  as  a soldier  and  was  then 
retired  at  his  own  request  and  received  the  brevets  of 
brigadier  and  major-general.  United  States  army.  An- 
other son,  Ale.xander  T.  Hoffman,  was  second  lieuten- 
ant of  the  Sixth  Infantry,  at  the  time  of  his  death  after 
serving  in  the  Seminole  war.  Satterlee,  the  youngest 
son,  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Churubusco,  in  the  Alexi- 
can  war. 

George  Washington  Hoffman,  father  of  Senator  Hoff- 
man, had  less  taste  for  a military  life  than  his  father 
and  brothers,  but  became  a civil  employe  of  the  govern- 
ment in  1824  and  continued  until  1830,  at  Jefferson  bar- 
racks. He  was  born  October  10,  1809,  in  the  city  of 
New  York,  and  thus  was  but  fifteen  years  of  age  when 
responsible  duties  fell  to  his  share.  In  1831  he  went  into 
business  at  Niles,  Alichigan,  where  he  resided  until  1857, 
when  he  removed  his  family  to  Detroit  and  became 
cashier  of  the  Detroit  & Alilwaukee  Railroad.  He  left 
Detroit  in  1866,  having  accepted  the  office  of  secretary 
of  the  Corn  Exchange  Insurance  Company,  New  York 
City,  but  in  1871  returned  to  Detroit  and  became  state 
agent  for  several  old  line  insurance  companies  and 
continued  so  interested  until  his  retirement,  his  death 
occurring  January  5,  1886.  While  a resident  of  Niles, 
Alichigan,  he  served  six  terms  as  town  clerk,  was  also 
a justice  of  the  peace  and  in  1840  was  elected  probate 
judge.  Although  not  of  military  fibre,  he  was  a man  of 
sterling  qualities  and  successfully  carried  through  all 
the  responsibilities  he  assumed  throughout  a long  and 
busy  life. 

On  September  18,  1834,  at  Beardsley’s  Prairie,  Alichi- 
gan, George  W.  Hoffman  was  married  to  Miss  Esther 
Louise  Wheeler,  who  was  a daughter  of  Preserved  and 
Polly  (Johnson)  (AIcNeill)  Wheeler.  Five  children 
were  born  to  them,  as  follows : Catherine  Louisa,  Caro- 
line Amelia,  Charlotte  Williams,  George  Brown  and 
Charles  Wheeler.  This  youngest  son  was  twelve  years 
old  when  the  family  moved  to  Detroit  and  he  had 
already  made  excellent  progress  in  his  studies,  and  two 
years  later,  in  order  that  he  should  enjoy  exceptional 
advantages,  he  was  sent  east  and  continued  in  school 
at  Burlington,  Vermont,  until  1862. 

An  inherited  military  leaning,  perhaps,  led  the  young 
man  then  to  the  west  and  he  joined  the  forces  at  Fort 
Randall,  on  the  Alissouri  river,  and  when  Fort  Buford 
was  established,  in  i860,  he  was  appointed  post  sutler. 
This  was  in  the  period  of  Indian  warfare  when  the  dan- 
gerous Sioux  were  constantly  on  the  war  path  and  Air. 
Hoffman,  with  the  others  at  that  remote  outpost,  was 
constantly  in  danger  from  this  savage  tribe.  Ide  re- 
mained in  the  west  until  1868  and  then  made  a visit  to 
the  east  but  with  no  expectation  of  remaining  as  he  had 
already  been  appointed  sutler  at  Fort  Ellis,  Montana. 
When  he  returned,  however,  it  was  not  alone,  as  he  had 
been  married  at  Buffalo.  New  York,  April  27,  1869,  to 
Aliss  Elizabeth  B.  Penfield,  who  is  a daughter  of  George 
W.  and  Jane  Eliza  (Van  Ness)  Penfield.  Immediately 
afterward  Air.  and  Airs.  Hoffman  came  to  Alontana  and 
established  their  home  at  Bozeman,  with  which  city  he 
lias  ever  since  been  identified.  He  has  been  one  of  the 
founders  of  many  of  the  city’s  prospering  enterprises 
and  since  those  early  days  has  been  interested  in  mining, 
merchandising,  farming,  ranching  and  banking.  He  was 
president  of  the  Bozeman  National  Bank  until  its  merger 
in  1905  with  the  Commercial  National  Bank,  of  which 
lie  is  a stockholder. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1011 


Mr  Hoffman  was  reared  to  believe  firmly  m the  prin- 
ciples of  the  Democratic  party  and  has  never  swerved 
from  this  allegiance  and  has  aUvays  taken  active  interest 
in  public  affairs  that  marks  the  useful  and  efficient  cit- 
izen. As  alderman  of  the  city  of  Bozeman  he  has  been 
of  great  service,  on  many  occasions,  in  municipal  matters 
and  equally  valuable  to  the  public  as  county  commis- 
sioner of  Gallatin  county.  He  was  elected  to  represent 
the  fifteenth  territorial  assembly  of  Montana,  and  in  the 
sixteenth  assembly  was  a joint  member  of  the  council 
for  Gallatin  and  Meagher  counties.  He  served  with  dis- 
tinction as  senator  in  the  first  state  legislature  and  w'as 
reelected  to  the  senate  for  a second  term,  and  served 
in  the  senate  continuously  until  1904.  In  ^8  he  was 
appointed  quartermaster-general  on  the  staff  of  Gover- 
nor Leslie,  and  was  successively  re-appointed  by  Gover- 
nors White  Toole  and  Rickard,  during  the  adminis- 
tration of  the  latter  being  retired,  at  his  own  request. 

To  Senator  and  Mrs.  Hoffman  two  children  were 
born,  Eugene  B.  and  Mary  L.,  the  latter  of  v^om  is  now' 
deceased.  Eugene  B.  Hoffman  was  born  December  3- 
1870.  He  is  a graduate  of  the  law  department  of  Colum- 
bia College,  New  York,  and  at  present  is  a resident  of 
Washington,  D.  C.,  and  is  connected  with  the  interna- 
tional law  department  of  the  United  States.  He  married 
Miss  Ellen  Gottschalck,  of  Bozeman,  and  they  Imve  three 
children,  two  sons  and  one  daughter.  Mr.  Hoffman  has 
advanced  rapidly  in  his  profession  and  is  a young 
of  brilliant  parts.  Senator  Hoffman  is  mainly  occupied 
with  looking  after  his  farm  which  lies  one  mile  south 
of  Bozeman,  its  cultivation  and  improvement  being  a 
constant  source  of  pleasure  to  him. 

Weckford  Morgan.  After  spending  many  years  in 
agricultural  pursuits,  the  average^  Montana  farmer,  be 
he  enterprising  and  industrious,  is  loath  to  turn  over 
his  affairs  to  the  hands  of  others,  and  so  sturdily  keeps 
on  tilling  his  fields  and  working  energetically  even  at 
an  age  when  most  men  would  consider  they  had  earned 
a rest  from  business  cares  and  activities.  When  they 
finally  do  leave  the  country  for  their  village  or  city 
home,  however,  they  at  once  take  rank  with  their  new 
community's  citizens  and  are  a welcome  addition  to 
any  section.  In  this  connection  a brief  record  of  the 
life  and  work  of  Weckford  Morgan,  a well-known 
retired  citizen  of  Bozeman,  will  not  be  inappropriate. 
Mr.  Morgan  was  born  in  Vermilion  county,  Illinois, 
October  i,  1837,  and  is  a son  of  Josiah  and  Susanna 
(Hoskins)  Morgan.  _ ... 

Josiah  Morgan  was  born  in  the  state  of  Virginia, 
February  22,  1802,  and  as  a young  man  became  a pioneer 
farmer  of  Vermilion  county,  Illinois,  from  whence  he 
removed  in  1849  to  Garden  Grove,  Decatur_  county, 
Iowa.  He  was  one  of  the  first  county  commissioners 
of  that  county,  and  Morgan  township  is  named  in  his 
honor.  He  was  a school  director  for  many  years,  held 
numerous  other  township  offices,  and  was  known  as 
one  of  the  most  substantial  farmers  and  stock-raisers 
of  his  community  and  as  an  old  line  Whig  and  later 
as  an  influential  Democrat.  His  death  occurred  in  1865, 
while  his  widow,  born  March  6,  1813,  _ survived  him 
until  April  5,  1898.  Of  their  seven  children,  six  are 
still  living,  as  follows:  Uriah  M. ; Weckford Nancy, 

the  widow  of  James  Metier;  Phileene,  the  widow  of 
William  McVey;  Zade  S.,  and  Josiah,  Jr. 

Weckford  Morgan  secured  only  limited  educational 
advantages,  the  greater  part  of  his  boyhood  being  spent 
in  hard  work  on  his  father’s  farm.  He  was  twelve 
years  of  age  when  he  removed  with  the  family  to  Iowa, 
and  lived  on  the  homestead  there  until  the  year  1863, 
at  which  time  he  went  overland  to  Virginia  City.  From 
August  of  that  year  until  the  following  fall  Mr.  Morgan 
was  engaged  in  mining  there,  and  after  he  had  spent 
the  winter  on  the  Iowa  farm  returned  to  Montana  and 
located  on  the  Missouri  river,  between  Helena  and  old 
Diamond  Citv.  There  he  was  engaged  in  cutting  hav 
voi.  n— 1 1 


until  the  fall  of  1867,  when  he  returned  to  Iowa,  and 
was  there  married,  continued  to  reside  in  the  vicinity 
of  his  old  home  until  1869.  He  then  removed  to 
Kansas,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  until  1881, 
but  the  dry  climate  of  the  Sunflower  state  made  him 
have  but  little  success  in  spite  of  industrious  labor,  and 
he  eventually  came  overland  to  Gallatin  county,  Mon- 
tana. Locating  about  twenty-two  miles  from  Bozeman, 
he  engaged  in  farming  and  wheat-raising,  and  met  with 
such  success  in  his  efforts  that  he  was  able  to  retire 
in  1892  with  a handsome  competency,  and  since  that 
time  has  been  living  quietly  in  Bozeman,  where  he 
owns  a comfortable,  modern  residence  at  No.  202  Black 
avenue.  South.  Since  his  advent  in  this  part  of  the 
country  numerous  changes  have  taken  place,  and  he  has 
done  his  full  share  in  the  development  of  the  valley, 
being  at  all  times  ready  to  give  his  aid  to  movements 
of  a beneficial  nature.  He  is  an  honored  member  of 
the  Gallatin  County  Pioneer  Society,  and  in  his  political 
views  is  a Democrat,  but  has  never  held  nor  cared  for 
public  office.  During  his  long  residence  here  he  has 
made  numerous  friends,  and  he  is  held  in  universal 
esteem  by  the  citizens  of  the  community  in  which  he 
has  spent  so  many  years  of  his  life. 

Mr.  Morgan  was  married  December  12,  1867,  in  Iowa, 
to  Miss  Elizabeth  J.  Morgan,  who  was  born  in  Wood 
county,  Virginia,  near  Wheeling,  daughter  of  Oliver 
and  Rowanna  (Springer)  Morgan.  Her  father  was 
born  May  6,  1813,  and  was  engaged  in  farming  in 
Wood  county,  Virginia,  until  1852,  in  which  year  he 
became  a pioneer  farmer  and  stock-raiser  of  Madison 
county,  Iowa.  There  the  remainder  of  his  life  was 
spent,  his  death  occurring  November  16,  1877.  He  and 
his  wife  had  thirteen  children,  of  whom  eight  are  liv- 
ing, as  follows : Sylvester,  Beersheba,  Louise,  David, 

Elizabeth  J.,  Josephine,  Jerome  and  Albert. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weckford  )\Iorgan  there  have  been 
born  ten  children,  namely:  Bruce,  who  died  when  he 

was  seven  years  of  age;  Bertha,  the  wife  of  Perry 
Knowlton;  Kate,  who  died  in  infancy;  Oliver,  who 
died  in  1912,  when  thirty-seven  years  of  age,  he  having 
been  one  of  the  first  to  graduate  from  the  Agricultural 
College;  Josiah,  who  served  in  the  Spanish-American 
war,  and  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven  years ; Ger- 
trude, the  wife  of  Allen  Cameron,  postmaster  of  Boze- 
man, a sketch  of  whose  career  will  be  found  on  another 
page  of  this  volume;  Emma  Belle,  the  wife  of  Charles 
Cameron,  residing  in  Bozeman;  Herbert,  residing  in 
San  Diego,  California;  Claude  died  in  infancy;  and  Zade 
Springer,  who  graduated  from  the  Valparaiso  (Ind.) 
University,  now  in  the  employ  of  the  Milwaukee  Rail- 
road. 

Frank  L.  Reece.  The  present  clerk  of  the  district 

court  at  Helena  has  spent  thirty  years  of  his  life  in 

Montana,  and  his  family  is  among  the  older  residents  of 
this  state,  dating  back  to  the  days  of  pioneer  settlement 
and  development. 

Frank  L.  Reece  was  born  in  Wales.  September  3. 
1864,  a son  of  Dr.  Thomas  and  Mary  E.  (Charles) 
Reece.  The  mother  was  a daughter  of  Henry  Charles. 
Dr.  Thornas  Reece  was  born  in  Wales  in  1833,  ^nd  he 
and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of  three  sons.  The  oldest, 
Thomas  H.  Reece,  died  in  Butte,  I^Iontana.  in  1908. 
Edward  D.,  who  was  born  in  Wales  in  1866  is  now  a 

resident  of  Seattle.  Frank  L..  is  clerk  of  the  district 

court  and  the  second  of  the  family.  Dr.  Reece  in  1868 
sold  his  practice  and  closed  up  his  business  affairs  and 
came  to  America.  The  following  year  he  established  his 
home  in  Helena,  Montana,  where  he  resumed  the 
practice  of  his  profession. 

Dr.  Reece  was  one  of  the  early  physicians  of  Helena, 
and  a man  highly  esteemed  for  his  thorough  professional 
ability  and  his  quiet  unassuming  citizenship.  He  was 
never  interested  in  political  life  but  enjoyed  his  Masonic 
relations,  having  been  past  master  of  the  Royal  Arch 


1012 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


• 1“.' 


Masons,  in  his  native  country,  and  active  in  the  order 
in. Montana.  Dr.  Reece  died,  at  liis  Montana  home  in 
i88[,  and  his  widow  passed  away  on  the  eighteenth  of 
February,  igo6.  ‘i 

Frank  L.  Reece  was  two  years  of  age  when  the  family 
came  to  America,  and  durin^j  his  boyhood  in  Montana 
))egan  his  education  under  private  tutors,  later  attend- 
ing the  public  schools.  At  the  'age  of  sixteen  years  he 
left  school  and  has  since  then  been  self-supporting. 
From  1884  to  the  fall  of  1901  he  was  connected  with  the 
United  States  land  office,  and  when  he  left  that  office 
was  chief  clerk.  In  association  with  Mr.  S.  W.  Lang- 
horne,  he  became  an  authority  on  the  land  and  mining 
laws  of  this  state  and  is  still  regarded  as  one  of  the 
most  capable  advisers  on  all  matters  and  subjects  con- 
nected with  the  interpretation  of  these  laws  of  Montana. 
For  five  years,  Mr.  Reece  was  a justice  , of  the  peace 
in  his  community  and  in  1906  was  elected  oh  the  Repub- 
lican ticket  to  the  office  of  clerk  of  the  district  court  at 
Helena. 

Mr.  Reece  is  a member  of  the  Elks’  Club,  the  Fra- 
ternal Order  of  Eagles,  and  the  Woodmen  of  the  World. 
His  father  and  mother  had  long  been  members  of  the 
Congregational  and  it  is  with  that  denomination  that 
his  own  church  affiliations  remain.  Outside  of  his 
career  in  public  business  he  has  given  considerable 
attention  to  horse  ranching  and  .is  general  manager  of 
the  Flouse  Mining  Company  at  Maryville,  Montana. 

Mr.  Reece  was  married  on  May  12,  1891,  to  Miss 
Marguerite  Southerland,  a daughter  of  John  Souther- 
land, who  was  a native  of  Canada.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Reece,  who  have  no  children,  have  an  atractive  resi- 
dence on  Benton  avenue  in  Flelena. 

Walter  Cooper.  Since  earliest  youth,  when  as  a lad 
of  twelve  years  he  became  self-supporting,  the  career  of 
Walter  Cooper,  one  of  the  most  prominent  figures  in  the 
business  world  of  Bozeman,  and  Eastern  Montana  has 
been  strikingly  illustrative  of  well-defined  purpose,  stead- 
fast endeavor  and  persistent  adherence  to  principle.  As 
the  years  have  passed  it  has  been  marked  by  successful 
business  ventures,  large  accomplishments  in  various 
fields  and  the  gaining  and  maintaining  of  a reputation 
for  probity  and  integrity  in  all  the  walks  of  life,_  while 
the  benefits  derived  from  his  activities  in  the  line  of 
public  service  have  been  of  incalculable  .value  to  the 
state  and  community  in  which  he  has  resided  for  more 
than  forty  years.  Mr.  Cooper  is  a native  of  the  Empire 
State,  having  been  born  in  the  town  of  Sterling,  Cayuga 
county,  New  York,  the  third  son  of  Andrew  H.  and 
Sarah  E.  Cooper,  of  Argyle,  Washington  county.  New 
York. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  Mr.  Cooper  was  of  Irish 
descent,  while  on  his  mother's  side  the  family  originated 
in  Scotland.  Argyle,  New  York,  was  founded  by  Don- 
ald McGillvra,  the  great-grandfather -of  Mr;  Cooper,  and 
was  named  by  him  for  his  birthplace,  Argyle  county. 
Isle  of  Mull,  Scotland,  where  he  was  born  in  172,3,  and 
whence  -he  came  to  Canada  as  a private  soldier  in  the 
British  army.  He  served  with  General  Wolfe  during 
the  latter’s  campaign  against  the  French,  participating 
in  the  struggle  of  the  Plains  of  Abraham,  September  13, 
1759.  This  sturdy  Scotch  sol-dier  gained  an  enviable 
reputation  for  courage  and  stability,  and  was  honorably 
discharged  with  the' rank  of  lieutenant  September'  14, 
1763,  the  original  discharge  being  still  in  the  possession 
of  the  family.  After*  completing  his  service  he  went 
directly  to  New  York  City,  where  he  remained  three 
years,  and  then  located-at  the  town  of  Hebron,  Wash- 
ington county,  continuing  to  reside  there  a number  of 
years.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution,  he  joined  the 
army  of  patriots  and  fought  gallantly  in  the  struggle 
for  independence,  and  in  1789  again  settled  in  Washing- 
ton county,  founded  the  town  of  Argyle,  and  there  died 
in  iSia,--  aged  eighty-nine  years. 

George  Cooper,  paternal  grandfather  of  Walter 


Cooper,  and  Daniel  McGillvra,  son  of  Donald,  emigrated 
from  Washington  county  to  the  town  of  Sterling,  Cay- 
uga county.  New  York,  where  they  arrived  April  27, 
1827,  being  among  the  early  settlers  of  that  sectiom 
George  Cooper  served  in  the  War  of  1812,  being  sta- 
tioned at  Fort  Oswego,  where  he  was  taken  prisoner  by 
the  British  squadron  under  Sir  James  Yeo,  who  captured 
the  fortress  in  1814.  His  son,  Andrew  H.,  father  of 
Walter  Cooper,  was  born  at  Argyle,  Washington  county. 
New  York,  in  1813,  and  married  Sarah  E.  McGillvra, 
daughter  of  Daniel  McGillvra,  at  the  town  of  Sterling, 
Cayuga  county,  October  30,  1832.  She  was  born  in 
Washington  county,  November  29,  1814.  Mr.  Cooper 
lived  in  the  near  vicinity  of  Sterling  until  1845,  when  he 
emigrated  with  his  family,  consisting  of  wife  and  four 
sons  to  Shiawassee  county,  Michigan,  and  there  his  death 
occurred  June  24,  1851,  when  he  left  a widow  and  six 
sons. 

When  he  was  eight  years  of  age,  shortly  after  the 
death  of  his  father,  Walter  Cooper  was  sent  to  Lansing, 
Michigan,  to  live  with  a maternal  aunt,  his  mother  suR 
sequently  returning  to  New  York  with  her  second  and 
three  youngest  sons.  After  he  had  continued  to  reside 
with  his  aunt  for  something  more  than  three  years, 
young  Cooper  became  dissatisfied,  and  when  he  was  only 
twelve  years  of  age  ran  away  to  make  his  own  way  in 
the  world,  and  during  the  three  years  that  followed  he 
worked  as  a farm  hand  during  the  summer  months 
and  in  the  logging  camps  in  winters.  During  the  fall 
of  1858  he  started  West,  reaching  Leavenworth,  Kansas, 
in  the  month  of  November,  and  there  devoted  himself 
to  whatever  occupation  presented  itself  until  February, 
1859,  when  he  joined  a party  that  crossed  the  plains  to 
Pike’s  Peak.  In  the  spring  of  i860  he  became  a mem- 
ber of  an  expedition  that  was  organized  at  Denver, 
Colorado,  for  the  purpose  of  prospecting  in  the  San  Juan 
mountains,  but  failing  in  the  object  of  the  expedition 
he  visited  Old  Mexico,  returning  to  Colorado  in  the 
winter  of  1861.  Mr.  Cooper  spent  the  summer  and  fall 
of  1862  near  Colorado  Springs,  acting  at  times  as  scout 
for  the  First  Colorado  Regiment,  and  in  November, 
i863,_  started  for  Montana  (then  Idaho),  arriving  at 
Virginia  City  in  February,  1864,  and  engaging  in  mining 
in  Alder  Gulch.  In  May  he  became  interested  in  a 
freight  train,  with  which  he  started  for  Fort  Benton 
to  meet  the  steamboats,  expecting  to  return  to  Virginia 
City  with  freight,  but  during  that  vear  the  water  was 
so  low  in  the  Missouri  river  that  little  freight  reached 
Fort  Benson  and  he  was  forced  to  return  with  his  teams 
empty.  Arriving  at  Virginia  City  in  August,  he  disposed 
of  his  train,  fitted  out  a team  with  supplies  for  winter, 
and  passed  the  winter  of  1864-5  in  the  Missouri  river 
valley,  spending  his  time  in  hunting.  In  the  spring  of 
the  latter  year  he  engaged  in  mining  and  until  the  fall 
of  1869  met  with  varying  success,  at  that  time  settling 
in  Bozeman,  Gallatin  county. 

The  year  1870  saw  Mr.  Cooper  engaged  in  a mercantile 
business  at  Bozeman,  and  he  also  interested  himself  ex- 
tensively in  the  fur  business  in  1872,  giving  this  branch 
of  the  business  such  energy  and  attention  that,  as  a re- 
sult of  his  efforts,  Bozeman  in  three  years  became  second 
in  importance  in  Montana  as  a shipping  point  for  furs, 
robes  and  skins.  Mr.  Cooper  invented  and  patented 
many  improvements  in  fire-arms,  and  at  one  time  manu- 
factured the  most  famous  long  range  hunting  rifle  ever' 
used  in  the  west.  He  was  selected  one  of  the  incor- 
porators of  the  city  of  Bozernan  in  1883  and  was  a mem- 
ber of  the  first  city  council,  and  was  nominated  for 
mayor  of  the  city  in  1888,  but  declined  on  account  of 
business  reasons.  On  the  organization  of  the  board  of 
trade,  in  1883,  he  became  its  first  president.  In  1884  he 
was  elected  to  the  constitutional  convention  as  delegate 
at  large,  and  was  made  chairman  of  the  committee  on 
Rights  of  Suffrage  and  a member  of  the  committee  on 
address,  and  was  again  elected  to  the  constitutional  con- 
vention in  1889  on  the  admission  of  Montana  to  the 


I 

! 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


lOia 


Union,  and  was  made  chairman  of  the  committee  on 
appointment  and  representation.  As  chairman  of  this 
committee  Mr.  Cooper  reported  and  advocated  the  adop- 
tion of  an  article  giving  one  senator  to  each  county,  this 
being  ratified  by  the  convention  and  becoming  a part  of 
the  constitution,  and  has  been  greatly  appreciated,  being 
considered  a safeguard  against  reckless  legislation.  _ Mr. 
Cooper  was  selected  as  delegate  at  large  to  the  national 
Democratic  convention  held  at  Chicago  in  1892  and 
served  on  the  committee  on  credentials,  and  in  the  same 
year  was  nominated  as  an  elector  on  the  Democratic 
ticket.  He  was  elected  president  of  the  State  Pioneer 
Society  in  1892,  serving  two  years,  and  has  acted  as 
president  of  the  Gallatin  County  Pioneer  Society  three 
terms.  He  is  also  ex-president  of  the  Gallatin  Valley 
Club.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Yellowstone 
Expedition  of  1874  and  chairman  of  the  executive  com- 
mittee, also  chairman  of  the  ordinance  committee,  in 
1883-4  and  in  1884  and  1889  was  a member  of  the  State 
Central  committee.  In  1895  he  was  elected  to  the  State 
Legislative  Assembly  from  Gallatin  county,  as  the  only 
member  of  the  legislature  elected  by  a straight  Demo- 
cratic vote,  and  secured  the  passage  of  an  act  which 
made  possible  the  erection  and  equipment  of  the  build- 
ings now  occupied  by  the  Montana  State  College  of 
Agriculture  and  Mechanic  Arts.  In  1892  he  was  made 
a member  of  the  first  executive  board  of  this  institu- 
tion, and  served  six  years  in  that  capacitj^  In  1910  he 
was  chosen  president  of  the  Bozeman  Chamber  of 
Commerce. 

In  1889  Mr.  Cooper  rendered  a valuable  service  to 
the  city  of  his  adoption  by  organizing  the  Bozeman 
Water  Works  Company,  which  under  his  direction 
caused  the  erection  of  the  most  perfect  system  of  water- 
works in  the  northwest,  assuring  Bozeman  of  a plenti- 
ful supply  of  water  for  fire  protection  and  domestic 
use.  He  became  vice-president  and  one  of  the  largest 
stockholders  in  this  firm.  In  1884  he  secured  control 
of  the  coal  fields  of  Rocky  Fork,  and  with  his  associates 
brought  about  the  building  of  the  Rocky  Fork  & Cooke 
City  Railway,  and  the  development  of  this  great  coal 
field,  with  its  unlimited  supply  of  fuel.  As  an  enter- 
prise bearing  upon  the  development  of  the  state  it 
will  doubtless  rank  among  the  most  important  achieve- 
ments of  the  last  three  decades.  i\Ir.  Cooper  was  the 
founder  of  the  town  of  Red  Lodge,  which  now  has  a 
population  of  4,860  people,  Bridger  with  514  inhabit- 
ants, and  Laurel,  which  has  a population  of  806. 
Among  other  things,  he  has  devoted  some  of  his  atten- 
tion to  mining,  and  was  also  instrumental  in  organizing 
the  Bozeman  Milling  Company,  operating  one  of  the 
largest  flouring  mills  in  the  state,  of  which  firm  he  was 
the  first  president  and  a heavy  stockholder.  He  is 
identified  with  several  other  enterprises  of  a public  and 
private  nature.  In  politics  a stanch  Democrat,  he  has 
taken  a prominent  part  in  the  councils  of  his  party 
since  the  formation  of  Montana  as  a territory,  and  was 
actively  identified  with  the  political  affairs  which  agi- 
tated the  state  in  1898  and  1900,  conducting  the  pre- 
liminary campaign  which  culminated  in  seating  the 
regular  Democratic  delegates  at  the  Kansas  City  con- 
vention, July  4,  1900.  He  also  served  as  a member  of 
the  notification  committee  from  Montana  which  noti- 
fied Mr.  Bryan  of  his  nomination  in  1900.  Later  he 
successfully  conducted  the  preliminary  contest  by  which 
the  regular  Democratic  party  secured  control  of  the 
state  convention,  and  was  made  its  chairman.  He  was 
elected  by  the  state  convention  chairman  of  the  State 
Central  committee,  and  conducted  the  great  campaign 
of  1900,  which  resulted  in  a complete  victory  for  the 
regular  Democratic  national  and  state  tickets,  and  the 
election  of  a large  majority  of  the  legislature,  insuring 
the  election  of  two  Democratic  LInited  States  senators. 
Mr.  Cooper  is  a member  of  the  Montana  and  Bozeman 
Commercial  Clubs,  and  is  fraternally  connected  with 
Gallatin  Lodge  No.  6.  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  of  which  he  is 
a past  master. 


On  April  19,  1870,  Mr.  Cooper  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Mariam  D.  Skeels,  only  daughter  of 
Nelson  Skeels,  of  Boulder  Valley,  Jefferson  county, 
Montana,  the  latter  born  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  in  1822. 
His  father,  Reuben  Skeels,  was  born  in  the  state  of 
New  York,  a son  of  Lanman  Skeels,  a Revolutionary 
soldier  who  was  born  in  New  York  in  1753  and  died 
near  Colurt^us,  Ohio,  in  1804.  The  family  has  since 
resided  at  Bozeman.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cooper  have  been 
the  parents  of  one  son  and  two  daughters,  of  whom 
one  survives,  Mariam,  the  other  two  having  died  in 
mtancy  Mrs.  Cooper  has  long  been  a prominent  worker 
m the  Presbyterian  church,  was  one  of  the  founders  of 
the  Bozeman  Free  Library,  and  served  as  alternate  lady 
manager  at  the  World’s  Columbian  Exposition  at  Chi- 
cago m 1893. 

, A ViCKras  is  editor  and  general  manager  of 

the  l imes  Publishing  Company  at  Virginia  City  and  he 

u^u-  with  local  journalism  practically 

all  his  life.  The  dissemination  of  news,  the  discussion 
ot  public  questions  and  the  promotion  of  the  general 
welfare  of  his  community  through  the  columns  of  the 
Ivnes  constitute  life’s  object  with  him  as  a private 
citizen.  He  is  strictly  a self-made  man,  and  as  such 
the  success  which  crowns  his  efforts  in  a business  way 
is  the  more  gratifying  to  contemplate.  In  addition  to 
his  interest  m the  newspaper  business  he  is  the  owner 

-v-  ranch  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-three  acres 
in  y ellowstone  county. 

Mr.  Vickers  rvas  born  in  Virginia  City,  [Montana,  the 
date  of  his  nativity  being  the  30th  of  January,  1870 
and  with  the  exception  of  seven  years  he  has  passed 
Ms  entire  lifetime  thus  far  in  the  place  of  his  birth. 
His  father,  Robert  Vickers,  is  a native  of  England, 
where  he  was  born  in  1830  and  whence  he  immigrated 
to  the  United  States  in  the  year  1854.  In  England  he 
was  engaged  along  marine  lines  for  eight  years  prior 
to  coming  to  America,  visiting  the  principal  ports  of  the 
world,  and_  after  his  arrival  in  this  country  he  settled 
m California,  where  he  followed  mining  and  mercantile 
lines  for  the  ensuing  eight  years  at  the  expiration  of 
which  he  located  in  Austin,  Nevada,  remainincr  there 
1865,  which  date  marks  his  advent  in 
Virginia  City.  Here  he  has  resided  continuously  ever 
since  and  it  is  interesting  to  note  that  he  came  to 
this  place  on  the  stage  that  bore  the  sad  news  of 
Lincoln  s assassination  to  the  citizens  of  the  far  west. 
His  interest  in  business  has  been  along  mercantile  lines 
active  and  capable  citizen  in  spite 
ot  his  venerable  _ age  of  eighty-three  years.  He  is 
interested  in  politics  as  a Democrat  and  has  served  as 
city  alderman  and  as  county  assessor  on  different  occa- 
sions. ^ He  is  very  prominent  in  the  time-honored 
Masonic  order,  in  which  he  has  passed  through  the 
circle  of  the  York  Rite  branch  and  in  which  he  has 
held  many  important  official  positions.  His  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Martha  E.  T.  Borrell,  was  likewise 
born  in  England,  where  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Vickers 
was  solemnized  and  whence  they  came  to  America 
immediately  after  their  wedding.  She  is  still  living 
and  has  reached  the_  age  of  sixl^-six  years.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Vickers  have  nine  children,  concerning  whom  the 
following  brief  data  are  here  incorporated, — Robert 
A.  is  the  immediate  subject  of  this  review;  Mary  F. 
is  the  wife  of  George  E.  Gohn  and  they  live  in  Virginia 
City  ; Dean  W.  is  married  and  resides  in  Weed,  Cali- 
fornia; Nellie  E.  is  the  wife  of  Luther  V.  Buford  and 
they  are  residents,  of  Long  Beach,  California;  George 
D.  is  married  and  lives  in  Virginia  City;  Bessie  M. 
rnarried  Walter  M.  Brown  and  their  home  is  at  Search- 
light, Nevada;  Martha  F.  is  the  wife  of  Ben  H.  Stuten- 
burg,  of  Seattle;  Richard  B.  is  married  and  resides  in 
Butte;  and  Ella  R.  is  the  wife  of  Paul  L.  Mitchell,  of 
Miles  City,  Montana. 

To  the  public  schools  of  Virginia  City  Robert  A. 


1014 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


Vickers  is  indebted  for  his  preliminary  educational 
training,  which  discipline  was  later  supplernented  by  a 
course  of  study  in  the  Valparaiso  University;,  at  Val- 
paraiso, Indiana.  He  earned  his  first  money  as  a boy 
of  sixteen  years  of  age,  when  he  began  to  serve  a three- 
year  apprenticeship  at  the  printing  trade  in  Virginia 
City.  With  the  money  earned  in- this  way  he  paid  his 
■way  through  college.  In  1892  he  went  to  Monroe, 
Nebraska,  where  he  ran  a drug  store,  engaged  m the 
newspaper  business  and  acted  as  postmaster  for  a short 
period.  In  1895  he  returned  to  Virginia  City  and 
■entered  the  printing  business.  In  the  spring  of  1896 
he  was  appointed  postmaster  to  fill  out  an  unexpired 
term  and  he  served  in  that  capacity  until  January  i, 
1898.  He  then  turned  again  to  the  printing  business 
and  in  June,  1899,  in  company  with  Fred  L.  Gibson, 
now  a prominent  attorney  of  Livingston,  Montana, 
he  established  the  Alder  Gulch  Tunes.  A coincidence 
in  this  connection  is  the  fact  that  this  paper  was  started 
in  the  building  in  which  the  first  paper  in  Montana,  the 
Montana  Post,  was  published.  Two  years  later  Mr. 
Vickers  bought  out  his  partner  and  ran  the  paper  alone 
for  the  next  two  years,  when  he  disposed  of  his  plant 
to  the  Times  Publishing  Company,  of  which  prominent 
concern  he  is  now  editor  and  general  manager.  Mr. 
A.  J.  Bennett  is  president  of  the  above  company,  which 
publishes  the  Virginia  City  Times  and  also  does  a great 
deal  of  jobbing  work. 

In  Virginia  City,  February  26,  1891,  Air.  Vickers 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Selma  C.  Nelson,  a 
daughter  of  John  Nelson,  of  Alonroe,  Nebraska.^  ^ Of 
the  nine  children  born  to  this  union  seven  are  living, 
in  1912,  namely;  Robert  A.,  Jr.,  who  is  running  a 
ranch  for  his  father  at  Waco,  Yellowstone  county, 
Montana;  and  Ellen  I.,  J.  LeRoy,  Llewellyn  N.,  S. 
Edna,  J.  Russell  and  Dorris  M.,  all  of  whom  are 
at  the  country  home  at  Waco.  Mr  and  Airs.  Vickers 
are  devout  communcants  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
church,  in  which  he  is  treasurer  of  the  vestry  com- 
mittee, in  1912. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Vickers  is  a valued  member  of  the 
time-honored  Masonic  order,  being  a past  master_  of 
Virginia  City  Lodge  No.  i and  past  patron  of  Virginia 
Chapter  No.  9,  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star.  He  is 
likewise  affiliated  with  the  Woodmen  1 of  the  world,  in 
which  he  has  passed  all  the  official  chairs  ; .the  Brother- 
hood of  American  Yeomen,  in  which  he  is  present  cor- 
respondent; and  the  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles,  of 
which  he  is  a charter  member.  In  politics  he  is  an 
ardent  Republican  and  he  has  filled  the  offices  of  public 
administrator  and  city  alderman.  He  enjoys  hunting 
and  fishing  and  is  a great  baseball  fan.  He  is  a highly 
cultured  gentleman  and  is  a member  of  the  local  Dra- 
matic Club.  He  says  that  Montana  will  soon  rank 
as  one  of  the  greatest  agricultural  states  in  the  Union 
and  that  her  water  power  for  the  various  great  mdus- 
tries  is  unlimited.  He  is  an  earnest  and  enthusiastic 
citizen  and  one  of  whom  any  community  would  have 
good  reason  to  be  proud. 

Henry  O.  Worden.  At  this  juncture  in  a volume 
devoted  to  the  careers  of  representative  citizens  of 
Alontana  it  is  a pleasure  to  Insert  a brief  history  of 
Henry  O.  Worden,  who  has  ever  been  on  the  alert 
to  forward  all  measures  and  enterprises  projected  for 
the  good  of  the  general  welfare  and  who  is  a prom- 
inent and  influential  citizen  at  Ravalli,  where  he  man- 
ages his  brother’s  mercantile  establishment  and  fills  the 
office  of  assistant  postmaster. 

Henry  O.  Worden  was  born  in  the  city  of  Missoula, 
Montana,  April  26,  1869,  and  he  is  a son  of  Frank  L. 
■and  Lucretia  (Miller)  Worden,  the  former  of  whom 
was  born  and  reared  in  Vermont.  Mr.  and  Airs. 
Worden  came  to  Montana  as  pioneers  and  settled  in 
Missoula,  where  he  followed  the  general  merchandise 


business  during  the  greater  part  of  his  active  career. 
Mr.  Worden  was  summoned  to  the  life  eternal  in 
1887,  at  the  age  of  fifty-three  years,  and  his  cherished 
and  devoted  wife,  who  still  survives  him,  is  a resident 
of  Missoula.  Seven  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Worden  and  concerning  them  the  following  brief 
data  are  here  incorporated ; Lucina  is  the  wife  of 
Fred  T.  Sterling  and  resides  in  Missoula,  as  does 
also  Caroline,  whose  husband  is  United  States  sena- 
tor, Joseph  Al.  Dixon;  Frank  L.  is  a prominent  mer- 
chant and  rancher  and  makes  his  home  at  Missoula; 
Louise  M.  is  deceased;  Horace  B.  is  the  owner  and 
operator  of  a fine  ranch  in  the  vicinity  of  Ravalli ; 
Ruth  remains  at  home  with  her  mother ; and  Henry  O. 
is  the  immediate  subject  of  this  review. 

To  the  public  schools  of  Missoula  Henry  O.  Worden 
is  indebted  for  his  early  educational  training,  which 
discipline  he  has  since  supplemented  with  extensive 
reading  and  home  study.  He  earned  his  first  money  at 
the  age  of  fifteen  years,  when  he  began  to  work  in  a 
store  as  delivery  boy,  with  a salary  of  ten  dollars  per 
month.  He  has  always  been  interested  in  the  general 
merchandise  business  and  in  1911  came  to  Ravalli  to 
assume  charge  of  his  brother’s  large  mercantile  es- 
tablishment here.  He  is  a business  man  of  fair  and 
straightforward  methods  and  is  honored  and  esteemed 
by  all  with  whom  he  has  dealings.  In  politics  he  is 
aligned  as  a stalwart  in  the  ranks  of  the  Republican 
party  and  while  he  does  not  participate  actively  in 
public  affairs  he  gives  freely  of  his  aid  and  influence 
in  support  of  all  projects  advanced  for  progress  and 
improvement.  He  was  appointed  assistant  postmaster 
at  Ravalli  and  as  the  incumbent  of  that  office  is  dis- 
charging his  duties  with  the  utmost  efficiency.  Mr. 
Worden  says;  “I  was  born  and  raised  in  Montana  and 
any  one  in  my  position  knows  there  is  no  state  in  the 
Union  like  it.  It  is  substantially  prosperous  and  pro- 
gressive and  its  natural  and  numerous  advantages 
excel  in  every  way.”  Mr.  Worden  does  not  affiliate 
with  any  fraternal  organizations  or  clubs,  preferring 
to  spend  all  his  leisure  time  in  his  attractive  home  in 
the  company  of  jiis  family  and  numerous  friends.  He 
is  a man  of  broad  sympathy  and  innate  kindliness  of 
spirit  and  is  always  ready  to  lend  a helping  hand  to 
those  less  fortunately  situated  in  life  than  himself. 

In  Missoula,  in  February,  1895,  was  solemnized  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Worden  to  Miss  Alary  Jorden,  who 
was  born  and  reared  in  Indiana  but  who  came  to 
Montana.  To  this  union  has  been  born  one  child, — 
Frank,  who  is  a student  in  the  high  school  at  Missoula. 

Hon.  Ernest  O.  Selway.  In  the  recent  political 
annals  of  Beaverhead  county  no_  name  has  figured  in 
a more  prominent  and  praiseworthy  manner  than  that 
of  Hon.  Ernest  O.  Selway,  state  senator  and  former 
state  representative,  now  serving  his  seventh  continuous 
year  in  the  state  assembly.  To  him  may  be  paid  that 
highest  praise — that  he  is  a typical  westerner,  inde- 
pendent, democratic,  able,  clean ; his  personality  is 
strong  and  fine  and  the  people  instinctively  grant  him 
perfect  confidence.  The  Hon.  Mr.  Selway,  it  must  be 
mentioned,  has  two  passions ; for  great  as  may  be  his 
love  for  and  knowledge  of  Republican  principles,  they 
are  equalled  in  degree  by  what  he  knows  about  sheep 
raising  in  Montana.  He  is  president  of  the  Selway 
Sheep  Company,  breeders  of  Hampshire  and  Cotswold 
sheep,  and  in  his  company’s  flocks  are  found  the  finest 
blooded  sheep  in  the  west.  As  some  one  has  said ; 
“Sheep  are  his  hobby.  He  knows  the  sheep  business 
from  the  bottom  up.  While,  others  are  predicting  that 
the  sheep  business  will  soon  be  on  the  wane,  Mr.  Sel- 
way takes  an  entirely  opposite  view  of  it,  and  know- 
ing Air.  Selway  to  be  a far-sighted  man  when  looking 
into  the  future  of  such  business  and  knowing  that  his 
judgment  during  past  years  has  not  erred,  we  are  con- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1015 


vinced  that  the  sheep  business  is  destined  to  grow  in 
, Beaverhead  county.” 

Mr.  Selway  is  one  of  Beaverhead  county's  native  sons, 

:■  his  life  record  having  begun  within  its  boundaries  Oc- 
tober  14,  1870.  Here  he  has  lived  all  his  life  and  he 
4'  has  acquired  a deep  love  of  its  institutions.  He  re- 
4:  ceived  his  early  education  in  the  county  public  schools 
: and  then  pursued  a commercial  course  at  Albion  Col- 
, lege,  Albion,  Michigan.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he 
■ first  became  interested  in  the  cattle  and  stock-raising 
I business,  and  he  has  ever  since  been  identified  with  it. 

' Mr.  Selway  is  a most  loyal  disciple  of  the  policies 
and  principles  of  the  Republican  party.  He  has  al- 
ways delighted  in  its  honorable  history  and  held  its 
articles  of  faith  in  high  affection.  Since  first  attain- 
ing to  his  majority  he  has  been  actively  interested  in 
politics  and  ever  since  casting  his  maiden  vote  he  has 
laeen  a fighter  in  the  ranks  and  taken  an  active  part  in 
every  campaign.  He  is  a born  politician,  but  happily 
of  the  clean  and  honest  type.  He  was  first  elected  to 
the  legislature  in  1904  and  he  served  two  terms  as 
such  and  immediately  following  he  was  elected  to  the 
senate.  He  rvas  re-elected  upon  the  termination  of  his 
first  term  and  is  now  upon  his  seventh  year  in  the 
legislature.  In  the  best  possible  manner  he  has  repre- 
sented the  interests  of  his  constituents  and  has  been 
effective  in  bringing  about  considerable  wise  legislation. 
It  is  probable  that  even  higher  preferment  lies  before 
him  and  he  is  fitted  for  big  responsibilities  and  hon- 
ors. He  has  a trio  of  affiliations,  being  a Mason,  an 
Elk  and  a member  of  the  Beaverhead  Club. 

The  subject's  father,  John  R.  Selway,  was  -born  in 
England  and  came  to  America  when  a boy.  In  1866  he 
arrived  at  Montana  and  located  in  Beaverhead  county, 
following  stock  business  and  ranching.  He  was  one 
of  the  county’s  pioneers  and  of  the  staunch  stock  which 
insured  the  future  high  standing  of  the  section,  morally 
and  materially.  He  was  summoned  to'  the  “Undis- 
covered Country’’  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years.  The 
mother,  Jane  Selway,  was  born  in  Wales  and  came 
across  the  Atlantic  with  her  parents  when  a baby.  She 
met  and  married  Mr.  Selway  in  Wisconsin  and  it 
was  subsequent  to  that  they  came  to  iMontana.  She 
passed  away  in  July,  1890,  aged  fifty-two,  and  she  and 
her  cherished  and  devoted  life  companion  are  buried 
side  by  side  in  Dillon.  They  became  the  parents  of 
eight  children,  six. being  boys  and  two  girls,  and  the 
immediate  subject  of  this  brief  biography  is  the  fourth 
in  order  of  nativity.  The  two  sisters  are  deceased ; 
Charles  resides  in  California ; Lloyd  is  married  and 
a citizen  of  Custer  count}-,  Montana ; Robert,  married, 
is  established  in  Sheridan,  Wyoming;  Delos,  married, 
resides  in  Custer  county ; and  Richard,  married,  main- 
tains his  home  at  Albuquerque,  New  Mexico. 

The  Hon.  Mr.  Selway  was  married  in  Kansas  City, 
Missouri,  December  30,  1897,  his  chosen  lady  being 
Lillian  M.  Bulla.  Thei^  are  both  popular  and  charm- 
ing members  -of  society,  held  in  confidence  and  esteem 
by  “all  sorts  and  conditions  of  men.’’ 

Dan  Lia'alley.  The  various  changes  that  have 
marked  the  advance  and  development  of  iMontana  from 
an  untamed  wilderness  to  civilization  and  commercial 
and  industrial  activity  are  vividly  illustrated  in  the 
career  of  Dan  Levalley,  one  of  the  leading  business 
men  of  Miles  City.  Coming  to  this  state  more  than 
forty  years  ago  as  a hunter  and  trapper,  he  subse- 
‘ quently  drifted  into  the  cattle  business,  and  when  the 
value  of  this  section  as  a sheep  growing  locality  was 
demonstrated  he  cast  his  fortunes  with  the  pioneers  in 
this  line,  and  is  now  widely  known  in  the  sheep  raising 
industry.  Mr.  Levalley  is  an  excellent  type  of  the 
. sturd}q  industrious  class  of  men  who  have  brought  the 
state  to  its  present  prosperity.  He  was  born  on  his 
father’s  farm,  twenty  miles  from  the  city  of  Quebec, 
in  the  Province  of  Quebec,  Canada,  January  15,  1849, 


and  is  a son  of  John  and  Jennett  (McCartney)  Leval- 
ley. 

John  Levalley  was  born  on  the  Isle  of  Guernsey,  in 
the  English  Channel,  in  1817,  his  parents,  Daniel  and 
Mary  Levalley,  being  of  French  birth.  When  he  was 
still  a lad  he  was  brought  to  America,  and  his  educa- 
tion was  secured  in  the  schools  of  the  Province  of 
Quebec,  where  as  a young  man  he  was  engaged  in  fish- 
ing, often  traveling  up  the  coast  as  far  north  as  Labra- 
dor. In  his  later  years  he  turned  his  attention  to 
agricultural  pursuits,  and  his  death  occurred  on  the  old 
homestead,  December  24,  1908.  Mr.  Levalley  was  a 
home-loving  man,  rarely  ventured  beyond  his  own 
estate,  and  never  rode  on  a steam-boat,  railroad  train 
or  electric  car  in  his  life.  His  wife,  who  was  born  at 
Ayreshire,  Scotland,  in  1822,  lived  to  be  seventy  years 
of  age.  Of  their  nine  children,  eight  still  survive,  as 
follows;  Dan,  John,  Thomas,  Jennett,  James,  David, 
Benjamin  and  Ale.xander. 

Like  many_  farmers’  sons  of  his  day  and  localit}-,  Dan 
Levalley  divided  his  youth  between  the  farm  and  the 
district  schools,_  attending  ^ the  latter  until  he  was 
eighteen  3'ears  of  age,  at  which  time  he  left  the  parental 
roof  and  went  to  Detroit,  Michigan.  Subsequently 
he  went  to  Alpena,  Michigan,  on  Lake  Huron,  where 
for  three  years  he  worked  in  the  lumber  camps,  then 
removing  to  Omaha,  Nebraska,  where  he  spent  a short 
time.  From  Omaha  he  went  by  rail  to  Salt  Lake  City, 
Utah,  and  on  IMay  3,  1870,  le’ft  the  latter  place  with 
a party  of  ten  or  twelve  men,  having  a small  mule  team 
to  haul  their  goods,  while  the  men  traveled  on  foot. 
About  the  last  of  IMay,  1870,  this  little  party  reached 
Helena,  Montana,  and  at  that  city  Mr.  Levalley  secured 
employment  chopping  wood  for  the  United  States  gov- 
ernment_  to  supply  Fort  Shaw.  After  working  on  the 
■Missouri  river  for  about  six  months,  he  joined  several 
others  and  went  to  Fort  Benton,  where  a party  of 
about  a dozen  was  organized,  and  during  the  next 
six  or  seven  years  jMr.  Levalley  was  engaged  in  hunt- 
ing in  the  United  States,  British  Columbia  and  the 
Alberta  country  in  Canada,  and  also  carried  on  con- 
siderable trading  with  the  Indians.  His  next  employ- 
ment was  carrying  the  mail  for  the  Northwest  Mounted 
Police  from  Fort  McCloud,  Canada,  to  Fort  Shaw, 
Montana,  but  after  about  six  months  gave  up  his  posi- 
tion, came  down  the  Yellowstone  river,  and  assisted 
in  building  Fort  Custer,  on  the  Bighorn  river.  When 
the  fort  had  been  completed,  Mr.  Levalley  continued 
in  the  employ  of  the  government  for  some  time  in  hay 
cutting,  but  later  again  turned  his  attention  to  hunting, 
and  became  very  successful  in  securing  hides  of  buf- 
faloes and  wolves.  In  1883  he  invested  his  small  capital 
in  a bunch  of  cattle  and  for  a number  of  years  ran  his 
stock  on  the  range  on  Powder  river,  in  Custer  county, 
but  with  the  advent  of  the  sheep  herders  he  sold  his 
cattle  and  gave  his  attention  entirely  to  the  sheep 
business  in  Dawson  county,  in  which  he  is  engaged  at 
the  present  time,  owning  three  fine  bands.  Although 
Mr.  Levalley  makes  his  home  in  Miles  City,  he  still 
superintends  the  running  of  his  sheep  and  gives  his 
careful  attention  to  every  detail  of  his  business.  He 
has  interested  himself  in  a number  of  business  enter- 
prises, andjis  a director  of  the  Commercial  State  Bank 
of  Miles  City,  _ in  which  he  owns  considerable  stock. 
Politically  he  is  ^ independent,  and  takes  but  a good 
citizen’s  interest  in  public  matters,  his  own  enterprises 
always  having  claimed  too  much  of  his  attention  for 
him  to  enter  the  political  arena.  However,  he  is  always 
ready  to  assist  in  advancing  movements  for  the  better- 
ment of  his  community,  and  can  be  r^ied  upon  to  give 
his  influence  to  anything  that  promises  to  be  for  the 
public  welfare. 

On  December  5,  1891,  Mr.  Levalley  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Amelia  Pitcher,  in  Miles  City,  she 
being  a native  of  England,  and  a daughter  of  Robert 
Pitcher.  Three  children  have  been  born  to  this  union: 


1016 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


Mina,  who  died  when  two  years  old,  John  and  Thomas. 
They  also  have  a step-daughter,  Annie,  who  became 
a member  of  the  household  when  three  or  four  yearsold. 

Dr.  Rudolph  Horsky.  The  family  of  Horsky  has 
been  prominent  in  Helena  from  1865  until  the  present 
time,  the  worthy  lives  of  a father  and  three  sons  con- 
tributing much  to  the  advancement  and  growth  of  the 
city  in  divers  manners.  Dr.  Rudolph  Horsky  has  been 
busily  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  in 
Helena  since  1895,  and  has  in  the  years  that  have 
elapsed  since  that  time  made  rapid  strides  in  the  es- 
tablishing of  himself  in  his  work  in  Helena.  His 
ascent  during  the  first  few  years  of  practice  was  in  no 
sense  meteoric,  but  a gradual  rise  marked  his  endeav- 
ors, and  today  his  place  is  secure  and  his  reputation 
among  the  medical  fraternity  is  one  of  considerable 
satisfaction  to  the  doctor. 

Born  November  27,  1870,  in  Helena,  Montana, 
Rudolph  Horsky  is  the  son  of  John  and  Louise  (Sey- 
kora)  Horsky,  both  natives  of  Austria.  The  father 
was  born  in  that  far  off  land  on  May  15,  1838.  He 
came  to  America  in  1864,  locating  first  in  Virginia 
City  and  later  in  Helena,  in  which  city  he  has  made  his 
home  continuously  since  that  time.  The  marriage  oi 
the  young  immigrants  occurred  in  December,  1869,  in 
Iowa,  and  of  their  union  three  sons  were  born.  Edward 
the  eldest,  is  at  present  the  mayor  of  Helena  and  enjoys 
an  enviable  reputation  in  that  city ; Rudolph,  a prac- 
ticing physician  of  Helena  and  the  subject  of  the  re- 
view; and  John  Jr.,  engaged  in  the  drug  business  in 
Helena. 

Rudolph  Horsky  as  a boy  attended  the  grade  a.nd 
high  schools  of  Helena,  and  following  his  graduation 
from  the  latter  school  he  was  entered  in  the  Iowa  City 
Academy  preparatory  to  the  State  University  of  Iowa, 
after  which  he  returned  to  Montana  and  entered  the 
Wesleyan  University  at  Helena,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  in  due  season.  He  then  entered  the  Phila- 
delphia school  of  pharmacy  and  took  a preparatory 
medical  course  between  the  years  of  1891-92,  followed 
by  a medical  course  in  the  University  of  Pennsylvania, 
from  which  fine  old  institution  he  was  graduated  with 
high  honors  in  1895.  Immediately  after  his  graduation 
Dr.  Horsky  returned  to  his  home  in  Helena,  where  he 
began  the  active  practice  of  the  profession,  in  the  prep- 
aration for  which  he  had  spent  so  many  years  of  close 
and  careful  study.  The  advance  of  the  doctor  in  the 
first  years  of  his  practice  was  but  gradual,  and  he  ad- 
mits that  the  first  six  months  of  his  practice  did  not 
bring  him  more  than  thirty  dollars  monthly.  He  was 
able  to  bide  his  time,  however,  and  after  the  first  year 
or  two  of  up-hill  work  was  over  he  has  made  large  and 
worthy  advancement  in  his  chosen  profession,  and  is 
ranked  among  the  leading  physicians  of  the  state.  He 
maintains  an  elaborate  suite  of  offices  in  the  Horsky 
block,  and  is  the  owner  of  an  extensive  and  valuable 
medical  library. 

Dr.  Horsky  is  prominent  in  fraternal  circles,  being 
a member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks  and  the 
Sons  of  Hermann.  He  is  a member  of  the  Montana 
Club,  and  is  an  enthusiastic  sportsman.  Automobiling 
is  one  of  his  favorite , diversions.  He  is  affiliated  with 
the  Republican  party  and  casts  his  vote  in  the  inter- 
ests of  that  party,  but  further  than  that  he  does  not  go 
in  political  matters.  He  is  a member  of  the  County 
State  American  and  National  Medical  Associations,  in 
the  line  of  his  profession,  and  is  actively  interested  in 
the  movements  of  all  these  societies. 

On  October  5,  4898,  Dr.  Horsky  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Annie  E.  Brooke,  the  daughter  of  Dr.  Ben- 
jamin C.  Brooke.  One  child  has  blessed  their  union, 
Brooke  R.,  born  August  6,  1899,  at  Helena. 

Ira  T.  Wight,  attorney-at-law,  was  born  in  Grand 
Rapids,  Michigan,  April  21,  1879.  After  completing 


the  usual  public  school  education  he  attended  the  law 
department  of  the  Lake  Forest  University  at  Chicago, 
and  was  graduated  from  that  institution  in  1901.  In 
1902  he  began  the  active  practice  of  his  profession  with 
the  law  firm  of  Toole  & Bach,  of  Helena,  Montana. 
Upon  the  death  of  Mr.  E.  W.  Toole,  Mr.  Wight  became 
the  partner  of  Judge  Thomas  C.  Bach,  which  relation 
continued  until  the  elevation  of  the  latter  to  the  bench. 
Mr.  Wight  entered  into  partnership  with  Mr.  Charles 
E.  Pew  in  1907,  under  the  firm  name  of  Wight  & Pew. 

Mr.  Wight  is  the  son  of  Henry  T.  Wight,  who  was 
born  in  Michigan,  in  1850.  He  is  now  retired  from 
active  busines  life  and  with  his  wife  resides  in  Chicago. 
In  Michigan  he  wedded  Miss  Amanda  Scofield,  a native 
of  Vermont,  in  which  state  she  was  born  in  1850.  To 
their  union  were  born  five  children,  of  whom  Ira  T. 
Wight,  our  subject,  is  the  eldest.  The  others  are  Mrs. 
C.  T.  Christensen,  Mrs.  Ella  Borst,  Mrs.  E.  M.  Cheney, 
and  H.  L.  Wight,  all  of  Chicago. 

On  May  6,  1903,  at  Helena,  Montana,  Ira  T Wight 
was  united  in  marriage  to  MisS  Marjorie  Tipton,  a 
daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  C.  Tipton,  of  White  Sul- 
phur Springs,  Montana.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wight  have 
three  children,  as  follows : Craig  T.  Wight,  born  in 
Helena,  February  29,  1904;  Edward  Scofield  Wight, 
born  at  Helena  March  12,  1906;  and  Doris  Wight, 
born  in  the  same  city  on  October  21,  1907. 

Mr.  Wight  is  a member  of  the  Montana  Club,  the 
Lambs  Club  and  the  Helena  Athletic  Association  and 
in  politics  is  a Democrat. 

William  P.  Gwin.  Among  the  men  still  living 
who  bore  conspicuous  parts  in  the  eventful  pioneer  era 
of  Montana’s  history,  perhaps  none  is  better  known  and 
more  highly  honored  by  his  community  and  state  than 
William  P.  Gwin,  of  Anaconda.  Nearly  eighty  years 
of  age,  and  remarkably  well  preserved,  Mr.  Gwin  is 
one  of  the  grand  old  men  of  Montana.  He  stood  side 
by  side  with  other  of  the  notable  and  historic  per- 
sonalities of  the  state.  His  own  activities  had  a wide 
range,  and  the  generous  success  that  rewarded  his  ef- 
forts and  judgment  was  never  tainted  by  a single  dis- 
honorable act.  Those  who  know  him  well  and  those 
who  have  had  only  occasional  business  or  personal  rela- 
tions with  him  would  unite  in  voicing  a tribute  of  re- 
spect and  esteem  for  him  such  as  any  man  might  regard 
as  the  finest  element  of  success. 

William  P.  Gwin  was  born  on  a farm  back  in  New 
York  state,  on  December  14,  1832.  His  early  life  was 
spent  among  conditions  far  removed  from  those  of  the 
modern  age,  and  he  has  really  been  on  the  line  of 
frontier  advance  most  of  his  career.  As  there  were  no 
public  schools  in  the  neighborhood,  in  fact  none  in 
New  York  state  at  that  time,  he  was  educated  in  a 
private  school  and  in  a Brothers  school.  Work  on  a 
farm  at  about  twenty-five  cents  a day  gave  him  his 
first  earnings.  Then  as  he  became  older  he  found  em- 
ployment on  that  great  thoroughfare  of  those  days, 
the  Erie  Canal,  working  on  the  boats  in  various  capac- 
ities, and  running  from  Buffalo  to  the  Hudson  river, 
and  to  New  York  city.  In  this  way  he  continued  until 
he  was  twenty-five  years  old,  and  by  training  and  ex- 
perience was  ready  for  the  career  that  awaited  him 
in  the  west.  He  early  learned  to  be  careful  in  busi- 
ness ventures,  and  to  see  clear  to  the  end  of  every 
move.  To  this  has  been  due  his  success  in  material 
affairs. 

Mr.  Gwin’s  parents  were  both  natives  of  Ireland. 
His  father,  Michael  J.  Gwin,  brought  his  wife  to 
America  in  1831,  settling  in  New  York  state,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  different  occupations  during  the  rest 
of  his  life.  He  died  in  1866,  while  the  wife  and 
mother  passed  away  in  1835,  and  they  are  buried  side 
by  side  in  New  York  state.  There  were  only  two 
children,  and  William  is  the  older.  Catharine  married 
Christopher  Johnson. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1017 


In  1857  William  P.  Gwin  embarked  on  a steamer 
at  New  York  City  and  made  the  long  journey  around 
the  continent  to  California.  He  was  a resident  and 
particioant  in  the  golden  activities  of  that  state  until 
1865,  engaged  in  mining  chiefly,  and  was  a member 
of  the  famous  Eureka  Mining  Company  in  Placer 
county. 

On  the  4th  of  August,  1865,  after  an  overland  jour- 
ney, Mr.  Gwin  arrived  in  Virginia  City,  which  was  his 
first  introduction  to  the  pioneer  region  that  has  since 
blossomed  into  the  Treasure  state.  With  Virginia  City 
as  his  headquarters,  during  the  next  few  months  he 
took  part  in  every  stampede  to  the  different  discoveries 
or  reported  finds.  Later  he  went  to  Colorado,  where 
he  mined  and  was  also  in  the  government  service,  in 
the  quartermaster"s  department.  In  1870  occurred  his 
return  to  Montana,  but  the  Corte  country  rnines  where 
he  located,  proved  a failure,  and  he  left  with  most  of 
the  other  inhabitants  of  that  region.  In  South  Dakota 
he  again  entered  the  government  quartermaster  s de- 
partment, at  Fort  Laramie  and  was  also  a sub-con- 
tractor for  supplying  wood  and  hay  to  the  army  posts. 
This  was  a period  of  active  hostility  from  the  Indians, 
and  Mr.  Gwin  and  his  associates  had  many  unpleasant 
e.xperiences. 

After  a visit  to  his  old  home  in  New  York  he  came 
out  to  Omaha,  and  as  merchant  and  trader  followed 
alortg  the  route  of  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad,  opening 
an  establishment  in  each  new  town.  Finally  at  Corinne, 
Utah,  he  abandoned  merchandising  and  went  to  the 
mines  of  that  territory:  While  at  Ophir.  Utah,  he  served 
as  deputy  sheriff  seven  years,  finally  resigning  the  posi- 
tion. Then,  in  March,  1877,  at  the  solicitation  of  the 
late  Marcus  Daly,  with  whom  he  enjoyed  a warm 
friendship,  he  located  in  Butte,  and  has  been  a per- 
manent resident  of  this  state  ever  since.  In  all  these 
years  he  has  been  engaged  in  mining,  ranching,  real 
estate  dealings,  merchandising,  etc.  ^ He  now  gives 
only  casual  attention  to  business  and  is  leading  a quiet 
life  retired  from  the  strenuous  activities  of  former 
days. 

During  the  historic  Dalv  and  Clark  political  fight, 
Mr.  Gwin  as  a Democrat  took  an  active  part  in  poli- 
tics, but  now  for  some  years  has  interested  himself 
as  a good  citizen  will  in  local  and  general  public 
affairs.  He  and  the  late  Colonel  Sanders  were  personal 
friends,  though  of  opposing  political  faith.  During 
campaigns  they  fought  each  other  unsparingly,  but 
when  each  contest  was  decided  thej’  shook  hands  and 
either  one  would  go  to  a great  deal  of  trouble  in  order 
to  favor  the  other.  In  religion  IMr,  Gwin  is  a Cath- 
olic. During  his  residence  in  Butte  he  was  a member 
of  the  Silver  Bow  Club. 

As  a venerable  citizen  who  has  been  identified  with 
Montana  from  the  days  when  it  was  an  unorganized 
territory,  Mr.  Gwin  has  a fond  affection  for  the  state. 
He  says ; “I  love  Montana  for  many  reasons,  mainly 
because  it  is  my  home.  I love  its  exhilarating  atmos- 
phere; its  miles  and  miles  of  beautiful  valleys,  its 
hills  and  mountains  so  grand  and  picturesque,  its  fabu- 
lous mines  of  precious  metals,  and  above  all  the  sincere 
brotherhood  between  man  and  man.  To  my  mind  Mon- 
tana’s future  will  be  greater  than  its  past." 

Many  men  have  cause  for  practical  gratitude  to  the 
sturdy  character  and  liberality  of  Mr.  Gwin,'  who  has 
furnished  to  them  the  means  of  financial  recuperation 
when  they  most  needed  it.  Loyalty  to  friends,  a splen- 
did integrity  in  every  transaction,  and  high  ideals  of 
duty  and  action,  have  gained  for  him  a peculiar  place 
in  the  affection  of  the  people,  and  when  they  familiarly 
speak  of  “Billy”  Gwin  it  is  with  a sincere  regard  that 
is  more  eloquent  than  official  dignities  and  honors. 
Mr.  Gwin  is  unmarried  and  resides  at  316  W.  Park 
avenue  in  Anaconda,  at  the  home  of  his  niece,  Cath- 
arine. who  is  Mrs.  Leo  La  Salle,  and  a daughter  of 
Christopher  Johnson. 


John  E.  Forrest.  ' There  are  comparatively  few 
families  of  the  west  whose  history  in  this  part  of  the 
country  deals  with  three- continuous  generations.  That 
of  John  E.  Forrest,  Butte's  well-known  groceryman.  -is 
one  of  those  few.  Mr.  Forrest’s  grandparents  of  that 
name  were  among  the  ’qgers  who  made  that  long, 
tedious  trip  across  the  plains  to  California  by  team. 
The  party  met  with  misfortune  on  the  way,  however, 
and  the  grandfather  died  en  route  to  the  Golden 
state.  The  mother  of  the  family  thus  left  fatherless 
did  not  remain  long  in  California,  however,  and  soon 
removed  to  Deer  Lodge  county,  Montana,  she  be- 
coming one  of  the  earliest  settlers  there.  She  later 
married  a Mr.  Stone,  also  an  did  Deer  Lodge  set- 
tler, and  a ranchman  of  large  property.  They  lived 
happily  together  for  many  years,  their  home  being 
located  on  the  site  which  is  now  the  town  of  Melrose, 
where  Mrs.  Stone  died.  Mr.  Stone  resides  in  the 
state  of  Arkansas. 

William  Forrest  was  one  of  the  members  of  the 
family  that  made  the  California  trip  from  Illinois,  in 
which  state,  near  Woodstock,  he  was  born  October  ti, 
1841.  In  1867  he  went  to  Montana  as  a prospector 
seeking  gold,  following  on  his  trip  the  Missouri  river 
to  Fort  Benton,  thenqe  overland  to  Deer  Lodge  county. 
His  mining  operations'  were  not  highly  successful  and 
in  1S70  he  started  out-  as  proprietor  of  a stage  sta- 
tion, thus  becoming  one  of  the  pioneer  men  of  Alon- 
tana  in  that  line.  He  also  conducted  a hotel  at  the 
home  station  which  was  located  in  Deer  Lodge  county 
and  known  as  Forrest  station.  Mr.  Forrest  conducted 
the  station  until  1878,  three  years  before  the  advent 
of  the  railroads  to  that  section  of  the  state,  and  then 
engaged  in  ranching  and  stock  raising.  This  ranch, 
comprising  four  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land,  is 
located  in  township  i,  range  9,  Silver  Bow  county, 
and  Mr.  Forrest,  who  still  resides  there  with_  his 
wife,  is  accounted  one  of  the  leading  stock-raisers 
of  this  state.  Assisting  him  in  the  operation  of  the 
ranch  are  his  daughter,  Mary  A.,  and  her  husband, 
Getford  Lindlief.  The  mother,  who.  was  in  maiden- 
hood Mary  Deno,  is  a native  of  Canada,  born  in  Au- 
gust, 1843,  and  was  taken  by  her  parents  to  Illinois 
when  she  was  a child  of  two  years  of  age. 

John  E.  Forrest  was  born  at  German  Gulch,  Mon- 
tana, May  31,  1870,  of  Scotch  and  French  Canadian 
ancestry,  a son  of  William  and  Mary  (Deno)  For- 
rest, an  outline  of  whose  lives  has  just  been  sketched. 
He  was  a member  of  a family  of  three  children.  His 
older  brother,  Henry,  died  in  1879.  He  attended  the 
country  school  near  his  home  until  sixteen  years  old 
then  continued  to  assist  in  the  conduct  of  the  ranch 
of  his  father  until  his  marriage,  July  21,  1891,  to 
Miss  Mary  J.  McMurrin,  daughter  of  Robert  Mc- 
IMurrin,  a native  of  Sheffield,  England,  but  of  Scotch 
descent,  her  parents  being  natives  of  Glasgow,  Scot- 
land. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Forrest  have  one  daughter,  Mary 
Louise,  born  at  Divide,  November  ii.  1893,  and  at 
present  a popular  student  at  the  Butte  high  school. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Forrest  settled  with  his  wife 
at  Anaconda  and  for  nine  years  held  a responsible 
position  with  the  Anaconda  Copper  Smelting  Com- 
pany in  that  city.  In  1903,  however,  he  decided  to 
make  a change  of  location  and  employment,  and  re- 
signed his  Anaconda  connection  and  went  to  Butte. 
The  first  year  and  a half  that  he  resided  in  this  city 
Mr.  Forrest  was  connected  with  the  International  Com- 
mercial Company.  He  was  seeking  for  an  opportunity 
to  establish  himself  in  business  for  himself,  however, 
and  soon  succeeded  in  purchasing  a half  interest  in 
what  was  then  the  Rhodes  Grocery  Company,  but 
since  his  admittance  to  the  firm  it  has  been  known  as 
Forrest  & Hauswirth.  The  firm  is  dealers  in  gro- 
ceries, produce,  etc.,  and  the  business  which  is  con- 
ducted under  the  executive  management  of  Mr.  For- 
rest is  one  of  the  most  healthy  and  prosperous  of  its 


1018 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


kind  in  the  city.  The  firm  carries  a large,  well  as- 
sorted stock  of  the  best  grade  of  goods  and  enjoys 
the  patronage  of  many  of  the  leading  citizens  here. 
The  store  is  located  at  715  Utah  street. 

Mr.  Forrest  is  a man  of  many-sided  interests  and 
takes  part  in  the  numerous  activities  that  go  to  make 
up  the  life  of  an  up-to-date  city  of  the  first  class.  Re- 
ligious, social  and  civic  matters  all  receive  their  share 
of  attention  and  contribute  toward  making  him  the 
broad-minded,  progressive  citizen  he  is.  He  is  an  in- 
fluential member  of  Grace  Methodist  church,  of  which 
he  is  a trustee,  and  is  a generous  contributor  to  the 
support  of  that  institution,  as  well  as  many  charitable 
and  benevolent  causes  that  are  presented  to  his  at- 
tention. His  lodge  connections  are  numerous  and  in- 
clude the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  of  which 
he  is  past  grand  master;  the  Woodmen  of  the  World, 
in  the  council  of  which  he  has  served  as  commander 
for  two  terms;  also  the  Alodern  Woodmen  of  America. 
He  belongs  to  the  society  of  Sons  and  Daughters  of 
Montana  Pioneers,  and  is  accounted  one  of  the  valued 
members  of  the  executive  committee  of  the  Butte 
^Merchants  Association,  ready  to  give  his  support  to 
all  measures  that  have  for  their  object  the  promotion 
of  the  commercial  prestige  and  influence  of  this  city 
and  state.  He  is  a man  of  unimpeachable  personal 
integrity  and  enjoys  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  a 
wide  circle  of  friends  and  accptaintances  throughout 
this  section  of  the  state. 

Albert  B.  Knight.  As  the  years  relentlessly  mark 
the  milestones  on  the  pathway  of  time,  the  older  gen- 
eration slowly  gives  way  to  the  new  and  gradually 
there  passes  from  our  midst  the  men  who  made  our 
country  what  it  is  and  who  built  up  this  western 
empire  for  the  men  of  now.  In  every  generation  and 
in  every  community  some  few  men  leave  an  indelible 
imprint  upon  the  history  of  that  community  and  upon 
the  memories  of  those  who  have  known  them  by  their 
ability  to  fight  and  win  even  against  great  odds,  and 
by  that  kind  of  character  which  wins  lasting  friends 
because  of  that  innate  quality  which  people  know  as 
loyalty.  Albert  B.  Knight,  who  passed  into  the  great 
beyond  on  the  26th  of  September,  1904,  was  one  of 
those.  Mr.  Knight  came  to  Montana,  in  1870,  and  was 
identified  with  mining  and  other  interests  in  this  state 
from  that  time  until  his  demise.  He  was  a man  of 
broad  and  noble  ideals  and  he  never  neglected  an 
opportunity  to  advance  the  general  welfare  of  Butte 
and  Montana  at  large. 

A native  of  the  fine  old  Empire  state  of  the  Union, 
Albert  B.  Knight  was  born  at  Livingstone,  New  York, 
on  the  23d  of  February,  1844.  His  father  was  identified 
with  agricultural  pursuits  during  the  greater  part  of 
his  active  career  and  he  died  in  the  state  of  Michigan. 
Mr.  Knight,  of  this  notice,  received  his  elementary 
educational  training  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
place  and  later  at  Utica,  Michigan,  and  subsequently 
he  was  matriculated  as  a student  in  the  celebrated 
University  of  Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor,  from  which 
institution  he  was  graduated.  Just  after  Mr.  Knight 
had  initiated  his  college  career  the  national  horizon 
was  darkened  with  clouds  of  Civil  war  and  on  the  31st 
of  August,  i86i,  while  visiting  a brother  in  Indiana,  he 
enlisted  as  drummer  boy,  being  under  age,  in  Company 
E,  Eleventh  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  under  com- 
mand of  Gen.  Lew  Wallace.  Fie  served  throughout  the 
entire  period  of  the  war,  participating  in  a number  of 
representative  engagements  and  being  severely  wounded 
on  a couple  occasions.  He  was  mustered  out  of  serv- 
ice on  the  7th  of  August,  1865,  being  then  but  a little 
over  twenty-one  years  of  age.  After  the  close  of  hos- 
tilities he  returned  to  college  and  completed  his  univers- 
ity course,  as  above  noted.  From  the  time  of  his  grad- 
uation until  1870  Mr.  Knight  was  variously  engaged  and 
in  that  year  he  came  west  to  Montana,  locating  first  in 


Virginia  City,  where  he  established  the  first  signal  sta- 
tion in  Montana,  and  also  engaged  at  civil  and  mining 
engineering.  He  came  to  that  place  overland  from  Salt 
Lake  City,  the  terminus  of  the  railroads  in  those  early 
days.  After  a time  in  Virginia  City  he  located  at  Butte 
for  a short  time,  later  returning  to  Virginia  City  and 
again  removing  to  Butte  in  1885  which  city  was  his 
home  until  his  death.  He  followed  civil  and  mining  en- 
gineering in  Butte  and  vicinity.  Was  very  competent 
and  widely  known.  For  one  year,  until  failing  health 
caused  him  to  resign,  he  was  a professor  in  the  School 
of  Mines.  In  politics  Mr.  Knight  was  aligned  as  a 
stalwart  supporter  of  the  principles  and  policies  for 
which  the  Republican  party  stands  sponsor  and  while 
he  was  never  incumbent  of  any  public  offices  he  was 
ever  on  the  alert  and  enthusiastically  in  sympathy  with 
all  measures  projected  for  the  good  of  the  general  wel- 
fare. In  a fraternal  way  he  was  affiliated  with  the 
Free  & Accepted  Masons,  and  he  was  also  a valued 
and  appreciative  member  of  the  local  lodge  of  the 
Woodmen  of  the  World. 

At  Butte,  in  December,  1881,  Mr.  Knight  was  united 
in  rnarriage  to  Miss  Maria  P.  Purmort,  a descendant 
of  fine  old  French-Huguenot  ancestry.  The  original 
progenitor  of  the  Purmort  family  in  America  came  to 
this  country  about  the  year  1630.  Mrs.  Knight  is  a 
daughter  of  Nathaniel  and  Pamelia  (Harwood)  Pur- 
mort, the  latter  of  whom  was  born  in  Vermont,  in  1807, 
and  the  former  of  whom  was  a native  of  New  Hamp- 
shire where  his  birth  occurred  in  1709.  There  were 
no  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Knight.  Mrs.  Knight 
is  a woman  of  most  gracious  personality  and  rare  in- 
tellectual attainments.  About  the  year  1907  she  took 
up  the  practice  as  attorney  before  the  general  land  of- 
fice. She  has  been  successful  and  has  made  considerable 
money  in  her  profession  as  an  attorney.  Mrs.  Knight 
is  a devout  member  of  the  Baptist  church. 

Hon.  Llewellyn  L.  Callaway.  Even  as  his  father. 
Col.  James  E.  Callaway,  is  regarded  with  pride  by 
the  states  he  so  nobly  served,  so  does  Montana  value 
the  character  and  service  of  that  distinguished  son  of 
her  adoption,  Llewellyn  L.  Callaway.  His  legal  talent, 
his  administrative  ability  and  his  judicial  acumen  have 
here  been  demonstrated,  and  his  growing  and  broaden- 
ing importance  as  a statesman  is  here  anticipated.  To 
speak  of  his  immediate  progenitors  at  length  is  per- 
haps needless,  in  view  of  the  distinction  of  Colonel 
Callaway  and  his  noble  Kentucky  ancestors. 

While  the  Colonel  and  his  wife.  Mary  (Link)  Calla- 
way, were  living  in  Tuscola,  Illinois,  the  scene  of 
James  Edmund  Callaway’s  earliest  successes  as  a law- 
yer, the  son  was  born  who  was  named  Llewellyn  L. 
The  date  of  his  birth  was  December  15,  1868,  and  he 
was  but  a babe  of  two  years  when  his  parents  removed 
to  Montana,  which  has  ever  since  been  his  home. 
His  earlv  education  was  that  obtained  from  the  public 
schools  of  Virginia  City,  and  was  succeeded  by  two 
years  of  study  in  private  schools.  In  spite  of  his  in- 
tellectual interests  at  this  and  later  periods,  it  is  never- 
theless not  to  be  thought  that  Llewellyn  Callaway  lived 
the  life  of  books  alone.  Every  phase  of  practical  life 
has  ever  held  attractions  for  him.  At  the  early  age 
of  nine  he  began  riding  the  range  for  his  father  during 
the  spring  and  summer  months,  and  by  the  time  he 
was  eleven  years  old  he  took  in  all  the  round-ups. 

At  the  age  of  sixteen  Llewellyn  Callaway  entered 
the  Hamilton  Preparatory  School  in  Philadelphia  and 
two  years  later  was  graduated  from  that  Institution. 
The  following  autumn,  that  of  1886,  he  became  a student 
in  the  University  of  Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor.  His 
freshman  year  here  was  followed  by  a period  of  ranch- 
ing on  his  father's  land,  that  he  might  be  financially 
independent  in  pursuing  his  professional  course.  Re- 
turning to  the  University,  he  became  a law  student, 
and  from  that  famous  school  he  received  his  degree  in 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1019 


the  year  1891,  being  honored  at  the  time  with  the  highest 
recommendation  of  the  legal  faculty.  In  May  of  that 
year  he  was  admitted  to  practice  in  the  superior  and 
supreme  courts  of  the  state  of  Michigan,  receiving 
similar  admission  in  the  state  which  became  his  home 
a few  months  later. 

In  August,  1891,  Mr.  Callaway  began  his  legal  career 
in  White  Sulphur  Springs,  Montana.  He  began  work 
as  an  assistant  of  Mr.  Ma.x  Waterman,  and  three 
months  later  became  his  partner.  In  1894,  when  he 
visited  his  former  home  at  Virginia  City,  Mr.  Callaway 
was  there  requested  to  become  a nominee  for  the  office 
of  county  attorney.  He  accepted,  but  returned  to 
White  Sulphur  Springs  to  continue  his  professional 
work  at  that  time.  He  presently  received  the  nomi- 
nation, after  which  he  went  again  to  Virginia  City, 
where  he  conducted  a six  weeks’  campaign  for  the 
Madison  county  office.  He  was  elected  by  a majority 
of  four  hundred  and  twelve  out  of  seventeen  hundred 
and  ninety-one  votes.  Entering  upon  the  duties  of 
that  office,  he  again  located  in  Virginia  City  as  a per- 
manent resident.  He  was  re-elected  to  the  office  of 
countv  attorney  in  1896,  by  a majority  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty-four  votes  over  the  combined  fusion  forces. 
This  office  was  one  carrying  with  it  heavy  responsibil- 
ity and  requiring  penetration  and  force.  Of  the  many 
important  cases  in  criminal  litigation,  despite  their 
difficult  nature,  Mr.  Callaway  failed  but  four  times  to 
convict  during  the  combined  years  of  his  two  terms 
in  office. 

In  1900  a new  honor  came  to  him  in  his  election  to 
the  office  of  mayor  of  Virginia  City.  A second  time 
and  yet  a third  was  he  asked  to  assume  this  respons- 
ibility, and  during  his  incumbency  of  this  office  his 
administrations  met  with  the  most  exceptional  ap- 
proval, for  his  comprehension  of  the  general  municipal 
needs,  clear  and  inclusive  as  it  was,  never  prevented 
his  appreciation  of  individual  situations. 

Again  was  a high  tribute  paid  to  Mr.  Callaway's 
ability  when  in  March,  1903,  the  supreme  court  of 
Montana,  pursuant  to  an  act  of  the  legislature,  ap- 
pointed Mr.  Callaway,  together  with  Judge  John  B. 
Clayberg  and  Judge  W.  H.  Poorman,  as  supreme  court 
commissioners.  They  served  with  the  court  for  two 
years,  performing  the  same  service  as  justices.  In 
1904  Mr.  Callaway  was  elected  district  judge,  and  at  a 
judicial  convention,  composed  of  the  delegates  from 
the_  three  counties  comprising  his  district,  Madison, 
Jefferson  and  Beaverhead,  he  was  re-nominated  for 
the  office  of  district  judge  by  acclamation.  After  that, 
over  his  own  protest,  he  was  nominated  by  acclamation 
for  the  office  of  associate  justice  of  the  supreme  court 
by  the  state  convention.  While  he  made  a strong  race, 
being  one  of  the  leaders  upon  his  ticket,  the  entire 
Republican  state  ticket  was  defeated.  He  however, 
received  more  votes  than  any  one  else  on  the  Republi- 
can ticket.  At  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office  he 
resumed  the  practice  of  law. 

Judge  Callaway’s  ability  is  such  as  to  make  inevi- 
table the  extension  of  his  service  into  a field  as  wide 
as  the  state;  even  now  its  probable  transcending  of 
those  limits  is  discussed  among  those  who  have  skill 
in  reading  a political  horoscope.  In  tgoS  Governor 
Norris  appointed  him  in  conjunction  with  Rudolph 
Van  Tobel  and  David  Hilger  the  Montana  Conservation 
Commission,  and  in  this  capacity  he  played  an  impor- 
tant part  in  the  preparation  of  the  conservation  laws 
of  this  state.  A further  legal  service  to  this  com- 
monwealth has  been  rendered  bv  Judge  Callaway  in 
his  formulating,  with  E.  B.  Howell  of  Butte,  of  the 
present  mining  laws  of  Montana.  He  has  furthermore 
presented  to  the  legislature  various  bills,  many  of  which 
are  now  incorporated  in  the  laws  of  Montana.  A high 
value  is  set  upon  the  Judge's  legal  opinions  and  his 
decisions  in  typical  cases.  Since  he  has  held  the  office 
of  district  judge  he  has  been  twice  called  upon  to  sit 


in  the  supreme  court  of  the  state  as  justice  pro  tempore. 
A number  of  his  opinions  have  been  reprinted  and 
annotated  as  selected  cases,  because  of  his  superior 
judicial  estimate  in  regard  to  each.  Opinions  of  his 
are  to  be  found  in  Volumes  28  to  31,  inclusive,  of  the 
supreme  court  reports  of  the  state  of  Montana. 

The  judge’s  political  affiliations  have  always  been 
emphatically  those  of  the  Republican  party,  and  yet  it 
must  be  said  that  to  bound  his  economic  ideal  by 
party  lines  would  be  doing  injustice  to  the  breadth  of 
his  political  understanding  and  his  judicial  perception. 
Partisan  he  is,  but  withal  of  a political  status  much 
larger  than  that  of  any  faction,  however  rational  and 
powerful. 

At  that  period  of  his  life  when  his  legal  career  was 
beginning  to  be  merged  into  that  of  his  public  service, 
Llewellyn  Callaway’s  home  was  established.  At  White 
Sulphur  Springs,  on  December  12,  1894,  he  married 
Miss  'Ellen  N.  Badger,  the  daughter  of  Baker  W.  and 
Frances  L.  (Woodson)  Badger,  of  that  place.  The 
children  of  the  judge  and  his  wife  are  a quartette  of 
two  sons  and  two  daughters, — Aliriam,  James  E., 
Frances  L.  and  Llewellyn  L.,  Jr.,  the  three  eldest  of 
whom  are  now  in  school. 

In  fraternal  societies  Judge  Callaway  holds  rank  of 
e.xceptional  dignity.  In  the  Masonic  series  he  is  a 
member  of  the  blue  lodge,  the  Royal  Arch  Masons, 
the  Knights  Templar,  and  the  Mystic  Shrine,  and  he 
is  at  present  chairman  of  the  committee  on  jurispru- 
dence in  the  Grand  Lodge,  a post  which  he  has  held 
since  1905.  He  was  grand  master  in  1904-05.  and  is 
present  grand  scribe  of  the  Grand  Chapter  of  the  R. 
A.  M.  He  is  also  grand  standard  bearer  of  the  Grand 
Commandery  of  Montana.  In  the  order  of  the  Eastern 
Star  he  is  past  grand  patron.  The  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks  claims  him  as  past  exalted 
ruler,  and  he  was  in  1893  the  president  of  the  state 
association  of  that  order. 

It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  in  every  capacity  in 
which  Judge  Callaway  has  met  the  public  he  has  re- 
flected high  honor  upon  his  distinguished  family,  his 
home  locality  and  his  state.  In  view  of  his  brilliant 
successes,  past,  present  and  in  anticipation  of  those 
yet  to  come,  it  is  quite  within  reason  to  look  to  see 
him  take  a much  higher  place  than  he  has  yet  achieved. 

Robert  E.  Gruwell.  Business  enterprise  has  marked 
the  career  of  Robert  E.  Gruwell,  a representative  busi- 
ness man  of  Billings,  Montana,  ever  since  his  school 
days  ended,  and  he  is  an  important  factor  in  the  gieat 
livestock  industry  of  this  section,  his  name  being  as 
well  known  in  the  eastern  markets  as  it  is  on  the 
western  ranges.  He  is  a native  of  Montana,  born  in 
Deerlodge  county.  December  28,  1870,  and  is  a son 
of  Oscar  C.  and  Sarah  Jane  (Bohannon)  Gruwell,  and 
a grandson  of  Robert  and  Melissa  (Davis)  Gruwell. 

In  tracing  the  history  of  many  families,  very  little 
can  be  found  differing  in  great  degree  from  that  of 
thousands  of  others,  but  this  can  scarcely  be  sail  of 
the  Gruwell  family.  The  men  of  this  name  have  never 
been  commonplace;  on  the  other  hand,  they  have  been 
unusuallv  energetic,  enterprising  and  courageous.  The 
.grandfather,  Robert  Gruwell.  who  once  owned  a farm 
on  which  a part  of  the  city  of  Quincy,  Illinois,  now 
stands,  disposed  of  it  for  what  he  considered  a satis- 
factory compensation,  and  moved  to  Iowa.  In  1849, 
with  his  family  and  neighbors,  he  started  for  California, 
and  after  reaching  Salt  Lake.  Utah,  continued  to  Los 
Angeles  over  what  was  known  as  the  southern  route, 
his  train  of  sixty  wagons  being  the  first  to  cover  this 
trail,  having  made  the  whole  distance  between  April  22 
and  December  22,  1849.  In  California  he  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  life,  following  farming,  mining  and 
stock  raising,  in  1861  acquiring  an  excellent  farm  near 
San  Jose.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  Ohio  people. 


1020 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


solid,  thrifty  and  resourceful,  and  their  children  inher- 
ited many  of  their  best  traits. 

C.  Oscar  Gruwell,  son  of  Robert  and  the  father  of 
Robert  E.  Gruwell,  is  well  known  to  the  people  of 
Montana,  both  for  his  years  of  useful  public  service  and 
for  his  business  activities  in  different  sections.  He 
now  lives  retired  at  Billings,  one  of  the  city's  most  sub- 
stantial citizens.  He  was  born  on  December  i8,  1837, 
in  Lee  county,  Iowa,  accompanied  his  parents  to  Cali- 
fornia and  was  educated  at  Santa  Clara  College.  In 
those  days  adventure  .awaited  almost  every  young  man 
who  endeavored  to  establish  himself  in  business  in  the 
territories  west  of  the  Mississippi  river  and  Mr.  Gru- 
well had  many  exciting  experiences.  After  reaching 
Helena,  Montana,  in  July,  1865,  in  prospecting  he  dis- 
covered and  opened  a mine,  and  by  its  sale  was  assisted 
to  a transportation  business  between  Helena  and  Fort 
Benton.  In  the  following  year  he  conducted  a stable 
at  Fort  Benton  and  afterward  entered  the  employ  of  Car- 
roll  & Steel,  of  the  Diamond  R.  Freighting  Company. 
He  remained  with  this  company  as  wagon  boss,  haul- 
ing government  supplies  from  Camp  Cook  to  Sun  River 
Crossing  until  January,  1867,  when  he  went  to  the  Sal- 
mon River,  Idaho,  mining  fields,  and  from  there 
returned  to  Montana,  locating  in  Deerlodge  county. 
Between  1867  and  1870  he  was  variously  engaged,  oper- 
ating hotels,  cutting  hay  for  the  government  at  Fort 
Benton  and  conducting  stables  and  also  dairies.  In  the 
fall  of  the  latter  year  he  bought  a ranch  of  si.x  hundred 
and  forty  acres,  on  Flint  creek,  on  which  he  carried  on 
farming  and  stock  raising  until  1883,  when  he  sold  it, 
afterward  driving  his  sheep  and  cattle  to  the  Big  Horn 
Basin,  in  Wyoming,  where  he  remained  for  one  year, 
and  then  bought  a ranch  in  Custer  county.  Two  years 
later  he  sold  this  property,  at  the  same  time  purchas- 
in.g  land  near  Junction  City,  on  which  he  continued  to 
raise  stock  until  1893,  when  he  secured  a tenant  “and 
took  up  his  residence  in  the  city  of  Billings.  Here  he 
has  been  a very  useful,  public-spirited  and  active  citi- 
zen. In  1901  he  erected  the  Gruwell  business  block, 
one  of  the  best  at  that  time  in  the  city. 

As  a public  man  and  a leader  in  the  Democratic 
party  he  has  gained  considerable  distinction.  He  served 
for  four  years  with  the  greatest  efficiency  as  commis- 
sioner for  Yellowstone  county,  and  in  1898  was  elected 
state  senator  and  served  through  two  terms.  His  ster- 
ling honesty  and  his  determination  to  live  up  to  his 
convictions  and  give  his  support  only  to  those  measures 
which  he  deemed  beneficial  to  his  constituents,  made 
Senator  Gruwell  valuable  as  a statesman. 

On  October  7,  1867,  Senator  Gruwell  was  married  to 
Sarah  Jane  Bohanon,  at  Leesburg,  Idaho,  and  seven 
children  were  born  to  them,  namely:  Frances,  who  was 
born  in  July,  1868,  was  the  second  white  child  born  at 
Fort  Benton,  and  is  now  the  wife  of  Charles  Spear  of 
Billings,  Montana;  Nettie,  who  died  at  Butte,  in  Feb- 
ruarv,  1900,  was  the  wife  of  Dr.  Johnson ; Robert  E., 
of  this  review ; Oscar,  who  died  at  Billings,  in  his 
nineteenth  year;  Dora,  who  died  in  May,  1906,  was  the 
wife  of  Arthur  Blair,  of  Butte;  Maude,  who  is  the  wife 
of  a Mr.  Ferris ; and  Warren,  who  is  in  the  stock  busi- 
ness in  Oneida  county,  Idaho. 

Robert  E.  Gruwell  was  given  excellent  educational 
advantages,  including  attendance  at  Montana  College 
and  a course  at  the  Helena  Business  College,  and  was 
then  associated  until  1897  with  his  father  in  the  live- 
stock business  in  Yellowstone  county.  He  then  turned 
his  attention  to  merchandising,  purchasing  Paul  McCor- 
mick’s general  store  at  Junction  City,  Yellowstone 
county,  and  continued  for  about  three  years  under  the 
firm  style  of  Spear  & Gruwell,  and  after  disposing  of 
his  interest  visited  Alaska,  on  a prospecting  tour.  He 
remained  in  the  far  north  for  a year  and  then  returned 
to  Montana,  taking  up  his  residence  at  Billings.  He 
resumed  his  former  stock  activities,  and  ever  since  has 


been  extensively  engaged  in  buying  and  selling  cattle, 
sheep  and  horses. 

On  October  22,  1900,  Mr.  Gruwell  was  married  to 
Miss  Helen  Orrick,  and  they  have  four  children : Oscar 
Orrick,  Margaret,  Marian  and  Roberta.  Mr.  Gruwell  is 
a member  of  Billings  Lodge  No.  394,  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks. 

: Henry  F.  Wellhouser.  The  great  big  historical 
story  of  how  the  continent  has  been  cleared  is  an  epic 
too  boundless  for  one  generation  to  absorb,  but  the 
separate  tales  of  individual  heroism,  of  achievement,  of 
adventure  and  of  unending  struggle  possess  a-  value 
that  can  not  be  overestimated.  Thus  it  is  singularly 
appropriate  that  the  biographies  of  Montana’s  leading 
citizens  should  contain  the  records  of  the  pioneers, 
those  who  furnished  here  the  real  foundations  on 
which  were  built  the  great  structure  of  statehood,  the 
men  who  made  possible  the  work  that  has  been  prose- 
cuted by  the  succeeding  generations.  Prominent  in  this 
class  may  be  mentioned  Llenry  F.  Wellhouser,  citizen 
and  patriot,  who  after  completing  a valiant  service  in 
the  Civil  war  came  to  the  west  as  an  Indian  fighter, 
and  remained  to  engage  in  and  assist  to  develop  the 
great  industry  of  stock  raising,  and  who  is  now  living 
retired  in  Cascade.  Mr.  Wellhouser  was  born  at 
Newark,  New  Jersey,  February  15,  1847,  and  is  a son 
of  William  and  Mary  (Roemer)  Wellhouser.  William 
Wellhouser  was  born  at  Hessen  Kassel,  Germany;  and 
during  the  early  forties  came  to  the  United  States, 
settling  in  Newark,  where  he  followed  the  trade  of 
carpenter  until  his  death,  March  4,  1847.  His  wife,  a 
native  of  Schwartzburg,  Germany,  died  in  1851. 

Left  an  orphan  when  only  four  years  old,  Mr.  Well- 
houser was  reared  in  the  Newark  Orphan  Home  until 
fourteen  years  of  age,  at  which  time  he  was  bound  out 
to  a farmer,  with  whom  he  remained  until  January, 
1864.  At  that  time  he  enlisted  in  Company  F,  Fifth 
Regiment,  New  York  Heavy  Artillery,  with  which  he 
served  for  seventeen  months  under  General  Sheridan. 
He  participated  in  the  battle  of  Harper’s  Ferry,  Virginia, 
in  1864,  Maryland  Heights,  July  4th,  5th  and  6th  of  that 
year;  Opyuam  Creek,  Winchester,  September  19th,  Fish- 
er’s Hill,  September  22d,  and  Cedar  Creek,  October  13th, 
where  he  was  taken  prisoner,  and  continued  to  be  de- 
tained in  Libby  Prison,  Richmond,  Virginia,  until  Febru- 
ary 15,  1865.  When  released  he  was  so  emaciated  from 
lack  of  proper  food  and  care,  and  so  weak  in  body  from 
ill  treatment,  that  he  had  to  spend  two  months  in  the 
hospital  before  he  had  recuperated  sufficiently  to  rejoin 
his  regiment.  Lie  was  discharged  June  10,  1865,  at 
Fort  Stone,  and  on  July  10  following  was  mustered  out 
of  the  service  at  Harper’s  Ferry.  The  greater  part  of 
Mr.  Wellhouser’s  service  was  in  the  service  in  the 
Shenandoah  valley,  in  the  campaign  against  Early, 
and  he  proved  a faithful,  willing  and  gallant  soldier. 
When  he  had  completed  his  three  inonths’  service  he 
learned  the  plumber’s  trade,  but  received  only  five  dol- 
lars a week  for  his  work,  and  decided  to  apply  himself 
to  something  that  promised  greater  remuneration.  On 
August  I,  1866,  he  again  entered  the  service  of  his 
country,  enlisting  in  the  Thirteenth  Regiment,  Regular- 
United  States  Infantry,  with  which  organization  he  came 
to  regimental  headquarters  at  Fort  Shaw,  Montana. 
He  continued  in  the  service  three  years,  during^  which 
time,  on  January  22,  1870.  he  had  a brush  with  the 
Blackfoot  Indians  in  which  180  of  the  hostiles  were 
killed,  while  the  soldiers  lost  only  one  man  in  four 
companies.  Mr.  Wellhouser  received  his  honorable  dis- 
charge March  18,  1870,  and  at  that  time  took  em- 
ployment'on  the  ranch  of  a Mr.  Ford  until  December, 
when  he  removed  to  the  Missouri  river  with  two  army 
comrades,  locating  near  the  town  of  Cascade.  Engag- 
ing in  the  timber  business,  he  worked  in  the  woods  un- 
til the  following  spring,  and  then  returned  to  ranch- 
ing and  worked  for  Nimrod  Ford  during  the  summer. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1021 


Subsequently  he  went  to  Helena,  and  there  was  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  charcoal  used  in  black- 
smithing,  and  for  a long  period  continued  to  work  in 
and  about  Helena.  In  1874  he  left  for  the  east,  and  until 
the  spring  of  1877  remained  in  New  Jersey,  then  re- 
turning to  Sun  river,  where  he  worked  for  Nimrod 
Ford  in  1877,  1878  and  1879,  and  in  the  latter  year 
took  up  a ranch  in  that  locality,  purchased  dairy  stock, 
and  engaged  in  the  dairy  business  on  his  own  account. 
During  the  fall  of  1881  he  returned  to  New  Jersey, 
where  he  was  married,  and  on  March  29,  1882,  brought 
his  wife  back  to  Montana  with  him,  and  continued 
the  dairy  and  stock  business  until  March,  1886.  Sell- 
ing out  this  property,  he  then  moved  to  Antelope  Creek, 
three  miles  west  of  Cascade,  taking  up  land  on  pre- 
emption and  residing  there  until  February  i,  1910,  be- 
ing engaged  in  raising  cattle  and  hogs,  and  also  carry- 
ing on  diversified  farming  on  his  tract  of  320  acres. 
His  next  venture  was  in  the  City  Stables,  which  he 
purchased,  but  seeing  a good  opportunity  of  dispos- 
ing of  this  acquisition  at  a profitable  figure,  and  feeling 
that  he  had  earned  a rest,  he  sold  this  establishrnent 
April  20,  1911,  since  which  time  he  has  lived  a retired 
life.  Mr.  Wellhouser  is  a stockholder  and  director  in 
the  Cascade  Lumber  Company.  In  political  matters  he 
is  a Republican,  and  takes  a keen  interest  in  the 
success  of  his  party’s  candidates,  although  never  him- 
self an  office  seeker.  He  belongs  to  Sheridan  Post 
No.  18,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  is  a member  of 
the  Montana  Pioneers,  and  attends  the  Methodist  church. 
He  is  junior  commander  of  his  Grand  Army  post. 

On  February  2,  1882,  Mr.  Wellhouser  was  married 
at  Lyons  Farms,  Union  county.  New  Jersey,  to  Miss 
Sarah  M.  Frazee,  born  in  Washington  Valley,  May 
31,  1851,  daughter  of  Moses  and  Susanna  Frazee,  and 
a member  of  an  old  and  prominent  family,  her  great- 
grandfather, Joseph  Frazee,  being  the  American  founder. 
Four  children  have  been  born  to  this  union : Howard 

F.,  born  on  Sun  river,  December  i7>  1883,  who  died 
November  20,  1886;  Jay  Grant,  born  August  i,  1885, 
engaged  in  ranching  in  Mid  Canyon,  married  Sadie 
Augerbright,  and  has  one  child,  Bertha  Mabel ; 
Frank  H.,  born  on  Antelope  creek,  April  25,  1888,  mar- 
ried Laura  Craig,  of  Craig,  Montana,  and  has  a son, 
Henry  F. ; and  Henry  Miller,  born  December  25,  1889, 
on  Antelope  creek,  single. 

Mr.  Wellhouser’s  life  is  strikingly  illustrative  of  the 
reward  that  comes  after  years  of  faithful  endeavor. 
Thrown  upon  his  own  resources  at  a time  in  his  life 
when  most  boys  are  receiving  the  solicitude  _ and  care 
of  loving  parents,  he  bravely  did  what  he  believed  was 
his  duty  to  his  country  and  himself,  nor  did  he  fail  when 
the  real  test  of  manhood  came.  As  he  was  a faithful, 
brave  and  gallant  soldier,  so  he  became  a good  and  loyal 
citizen,  performing  the  duties  of  peace  as  well  as  those 
of  war."  Now,  looking  back  over  a long  and  useful 
career,  in  the  evening  of  life  he  can  have  no  regrets. 
His  activities  have  benefited  those  about  him  and  he 
is  honored  and  esteemed  as  a man  who  has  not  lived 
his  life  in  vain. 

George  Herbert.  One  of  the  old  and  honored  resi- 
dents of  the  Yellowstone  valley,  now  living  somewhat 
retired  at  the  age  of  eighty  years  on  Ins  160-acre  tract 
of  land  near  Laurel,  has_  during  a long  and  active 
career  experienced  the  vicissitudes  that  have  attended 
the  careers  of  many  of  Montana’s  pioneers,  although 
at  the  present  time  no  citizen  is  held  in  higher  esteem 
in  his  section  or  has  more  friends  than  George  Herbert. 
He  was  born  in  1833,  in  Franklin  county,  Pennsylvania, 
the  eighth  in  order  of  birth  of  the  eleven  children  of 
John  B.  and  Martha  Herbert,  natives  of  Germany  and 
England,  respectively, 

Mr.  Herbert  secured  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  and  worked  on  his  father’s  farm  until  he  was 
seventeen  years  of  age,  at  which  time  he  went  to 


Franklin  county,  Kentucky,  and  there  attended  school 
for  six  years.  Lie  spent  the  following  four  years  in 
working  on  a Kentucky  farm  for  wages,  and  continued 
to  follow  that  vocation  until  1863  in  the  neighborhood 
of  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  from  which  section  he  went  to 
Salt  Lake  City.  After  spending  two  years  in  driving 
stage  between  Muddy  Station  and  Green  River,  Mr. 
Herbert  removed  to  Virginia  City,  Montana,  and  sub- 
sequently located  in  Alder  Gulch,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  mining  for  gold.  He  was  successful  in  these 
operations,  but  later  lost  -his  fortune  in  mine  specula- 
tions. In  the  fall  of  1866  he  went  to  Norwegian  Gulch, 
thirty  miles  west  of  Virginia  City,  where  he  mined  un- 
til 1868.  In  July,  1867,  in  company  with  four  others, 
he  made  a trip  to  what  is  now  the  Yellowstone  park, 
spending  about  three  months  prospecting.  This  was 
one  of  the  earliest  prospecting  parties  to  visit  that  local- 
ity, and  the  journey  was  attended  by  many  dangers 
from  the  Indians,  as  well  as  many  hardships  and  pri- 
vations. In  1870  he  prospected  at  Cedar  creek,  but 
without  success,  and  the  same  year  came  to  Gallatin 
valley  and  purchased  some  land  which  he  cultivated 
until  1879,  in  which  year  he  sold  it,  and  removed  to 
his  present  location  in  1880.  While  farming,  in  1874. 
prior  to  leaving  the  Gallatin  valley,  he  joined  a gold- 
hunting expedition  to  Big  Porcupine,  on  the  Yellow- 
stone, and  had  constant  trouble  with  the  Indians.  The 
expedition  had  to  be  fighting  them  nearly  all  the  time. 
On  one  occasion  it  was  attacked  by  1,500  of  them  in 
one  body,  but  succeeded  in  repulsing  them.  In  1880 
Mr.  Llerbert  came  to  Laurel,  as  has  been  noted,  and 
took  up  160  acres  of  land,  through  which  the  Northern 
Pacific  now  runs.  He  erected  good  buildings,  and  for 
many  years  followed  agricultural  pursuits,  but  of  recent 
years  has  lived  a somewhat  retired  life.  He  has  seen 
numerous  changes  since  the  days  when  he  was  com- 
pelled to  ride  heavily  armed  to  resist  the  attacks  of 
highwaymen  bent  on  holding  up  the  stage,  and  can 
remember  vividly  an  experience  he  once  had  with 
desperadoes,  the  robbers  coming  out  second  best  in 
the  encounter. 

Mr.  Herbert  was  married  in  1881  to  Miss  Nancy 
Seright,  who  was  born  in  Illinois,  and  six  children 
have  been  born  to  this  union : George,  Arthur  J.,  Emma, 
Martha,  Joseph  and  Henry,  all  of  whom  were  given 
good  educational  advantages.  Their  mother  died  in 
1889.  In  politics  Mr.  Herbert  is  an  old  line  Democrat, 
but  being  personally  acquainted  with  Mr.  Lincoln  be- 
fore he  was  elected  president,  voted  for  him  on  per- 
sonal grounds.  In  religious  matters  he  favors  a uni- 
versal church.  During  his  long  residence  in  his  pres- 
ent locality  he  has  made  numerous  friends,  who  know 
him  as  a whole-souled,  big-hearted  man,  thoroughly 
typical  of  the  generous  West. 

Shelby  Irvine.  Born  and  reared  in  the  state  of 
Montana,  Shelby  Irvine  is  a distinctly  western  product 
and  his  nature  partakes  freely  of  those  characteristics 
of  breadth  and  freedom  which  have  rendered  that  state 
so  charming  to  all  who  have  come  within  its  influence. 
Himself  the  son  of  a man  who  was  for  years  identified 
with  the  big  mining  interests  of  Montana,  Shelby  Irvine 
has,  since  reaching  man’s  estate,  been  connected  with 
mining  affairs,  and  for  fourteen  years  has  been  affiliated 
with  the  Boston  & Montana  Mining  Company,  his  pres- 
ent position  with  that  company  being  that  of  cashier. 
Beginning  as  a surface  laborer,  he  has  advanced  rapidly 
from  onb  position  to  another  until  two  years  ago  he  was 
appointed  to  his  present  responsible  position,  which  he 
has  since  filled  with  a high  degree  of  efficiency  and  with 
satisfaction  to  all. 

Born  at  Deer  Lodge,  Montana,  May  24,  1871,  Shelby 
Irvine  is  the  son  of  Edwin  H.  and  Anna  E.  (Forbis) 
Irvine.  The  father  was  a native  of  Kentucky,  born  in 
that  state  on  the  iith  of  October,  1837.  He  died  on 
December  12,  1898,  at  Butte,  and  is  there  buried.  He 

s 


]()22 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


was  an  early  pioneer  of  Montana,  and  was  engaged  in 
mining  and  real  estate  up  to  the  last  few  years  of  his 
life.  He  came  to  Alontana  in  1864  and  settled  in  Vir- 
ginia City.  His  mining  ventures  were  eminently  suc- 
cessful and  he  was  connected  with  some  of  the  best 
paying  enterprises  in  the  state  up  to  the  time  of  the 
jianic  of  1893-94,  when  he  lost  practically  everything  he 
possessed.  He  owned  a one-third  interest  in  the  Eve- 
line mine  and  was  identified  as  a stockholder  in  many 
iinother  mining  enterprise  of  note  in  the  days  previous 
to  the  panic.  Mr.  Irvine  was  always  active  and  fore- 
most in  the  good  works  of  Butte,  and  in  his  duty  as  a 
loyal  citizen  he  was  faithful  to  the  tittermost.  He  was 
one  of  the  founders  of  the  Christian  church  in  Montana 
and  was  an  earnest  member  of  that  body  in  Deer  Lodge 
and  Butte.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  president 
of  the  Alontana  Christian  Association. 

The  death  of  h'.dwin  H.  Irvine  was  felt  keenly  in 
the  city  where  he  had  made  his  home  for  so  many  years, 
and  he  is  still  remembered  with  tenderness  by  a large 
circle  of  old-time  friends.  Anne  E.  Eorbis,  his  wife  and 
the  mother  of  the  subject,  was  a native  of  Kentucky,  like 
her  husband,  and  was  born  there  on  April  7,  1839.  She 
was  the  daughter  of  Jonothan  F.  Forbis,  who  came  to 
Alontana  in  1864  and  engaged  in  stock-raising.  He  died 
in  Helena  in  1877.  Air.  and  Mrs.  Irvine  became  the 
parents  of  seven  children ; four  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters. They  are : Forbis  F.,  a resident  of  Cardwell, 

Jefferson  county,  Alontana;  Ella,  the  wife  of  Wiley 
Alountjoy,  of  Cardwell,  Alontana;  Agnes,  who  married 
Galen  Wood,  of  Seattle,  Washington;  Alay,  widow  of 
W.  H.  Haviland,  also  of  Seattle,  Washington  ; Kathe- 
rine, the  wife  of  J.  O.  Bender,  resident  of  Holywood, 
California;  Edwin,  died  at  the  age  of  four  years,  and 
Shelby,  who  was  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth. 

Shelby  Irvine  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Deer  Lodge,  Alontana,  and  in  the  University  of  Ken- 
tucky, finishing  his  studies  at  the  age  of  twenty-one. 
When  he  returned  from  college  he  entered  the  real 
estate  and  mining  business  with  his  father,  with  whom 
he  was  thus  associated  for  about  four  years,  after  which 
he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Boston  & Alontana  Min- 
ing Company  in  a humble  capacity  and  he  has  continued 
with  them  up  to  the  present  time. 

Like  his  father.  Air.  Irvine  is  a man  highly  respected 
in  his  community,  and  occupies  a high  place  in  the 
esteem  of  all  who  come  within  the  influence  of  his  per- 
sonality. He  is  a member  of  the  Christian  church,  in 
further  accord  with  the  precepts  and  examples  of  his 
honored  father,  and  his  sturdy  Scotch  ancestry  stands 
forth  in  his  worthy  citizenship  and  his  high  moral  char- 
acter. 

On  April  12,  1893,  Mr.  Irvine  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Lillian  De  Alordaunt,  a native  of  Virginia 
City,  Nevada,  and  a daughter  of  Julius  and  Delphine 
fColby)  De  Mordaunt,  the  latter  being  of  Russian 
extraction,  and  the  scion  of  a family  of  noble  birth. 
Two  children  have  been  born  of  their  union,  Willis 
De  Mordaunt  Irvine,  born  in  Butte,  on  the  i6th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1894,  and  Mildred  D.  Irvine,  born  October  18, 
I 895- 

Henry  Burmeister.  Although  Henry  Burmeister 
had  been  a resident  of  the  west  for  a number  of  years 
previous  to  1881,  it  was  not  until  that  year  that  fortune 
deigned  to  smile  upon  him.  His  business  experience 
since  that  time  has  been  the  exact  opposite  of  his  expe- 
riences of  former  years,  and  he  became  one  of  the  pros- 
perous ranchmen  of  the  state,  sheep  raising  being  his 
main  activity,  but  is  now  retired  from  business  and 
makes  his  home  in  Great  Falls,  where  he  is  the  owner 
of  valuable  realty  properties. 

Born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  on  November  27,  1841, 
Henry  Burmeister  is  the  son  of  John  and  Katherine 
Burmeister,  both  natives  of  Germany,  where  they  passed 
their  lives  and  died,  the  father  passing  away  in  1850 


and  the  mother  in  186S.  Henry  Burmeister  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools  of  Germany,  and  when  he 
was  fifteen  years  old  left  school  and  engaged  in  farm 
work.  In  1862  he  was  drafted  into  the  service  of  his 
country  in  a military  way,  and  he  became  a member 
of  grenadiers  in  the  city  of  Hanover,  in  which  he 
served  until  1867.  He  came  to  America  in  1867,  and 
he  first  settled  in  Cook  county,  Illinois,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  farm  work  for  a year,  but  left  the  farm  to  gO' 
to  Burlington,  Iowa,  there  securing  a position  first  as 
brakeman  on  the  railroad,  and  then  as  fireman,  in  the 
employ  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  & Quincy  Railroad. 
He  remained  thus  employed  until  the  winter  of  1870, 
when  he  came  to  Helena,  Alontana,  and  there  secured 
work  in  the  mines.  He  worked  in  the  mines  for  two 
seasons,  then  went  to  the  Prickley  Pear  valley,  in  the 
vicinity  of  Flelena,  there  securing  a position  as  fore- 
man of  the  ranch  of  John  Thomas.  He  remained  there 
until  the  spring  of  1876,  when  he  wearied  of  the  quiet 
life  and  joined  one  of  the  first  prospecting  parties  bound 
for  the  Black  Hills.  FI  is  success  as  a prospector  was 
nil,  and  in  1879  he  returned  to  Helena,  and  once  more 
he  united  himself  with  John  Thomas  as  the  foreman 
of  his  ranch,  in  which  work  he  was  successful  enough. 
He  then  operated  the  ranch  for  a time  on  shares,  con- 
tinuing until  1881,  when  he  moved  to  Chestnut  valley,, 
five  miles  south  of  Cascade,  and  there  became  asso- 
ciated with  F.  S.  Reed  in  the  sheep  business.  They 
started  with  one  thousand  head  of  sheep,  with  a winter 
pastorage  of  three  thousand  and  two  hundred  acres. 
Success  has  ever  since  attended  his  efforts,  and  he  and 
his  partner  became  known  far  and  near  as  being  among 
the  biggest  sheep  men  of  the  Alontana  region.  When 
he  had  accumulated  a competency,  however,  Air.  Bur- 
meister was  willing  to  retire  from  active  business,  and 
he  is  now  making  his  home  in  Great  Falls,  where  he  is 
enjoying  to  the  full  the  results  of  his  years  of  stren- 
uous activity. 

Mr.  Burmeister  owns  considerable  real  estate  in 
and  about  Great  Falls,  and  at  one  time  owned  the  site 
of  the  Rainbow  Hotel,  selling  it  to  the  company  which 
reared  that  building.  The  political  affiliations  of  the 
subject  are  with  the  Republican  party,  and  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  affiliating  with  the 
Knights  Templar  and  commandery  of  Great  Falls. 
He  is  a man  well  beloved  of  all  who  know  him,  and 
his  reputation  for  straightforwardness  and  uprightness 
in  all  his  relations  with  his  fellow  men  is  one  which 
speaks  most  eloquently  for  his  splendid  character.  In 
1903  Air.  Burmeister  sold  his  ranch  and  invested  the- 
proceeds  in  Great  Falls  property,  which  now  yields  him 
a handsome  return.  His  winters  for  the  most  part  are 
spent  in  California,  Los  Angeles  and  San  Diego  being 
his  usual  wintering  places.  He  has  traveled  a great 
deal  in  the  years  that  have  passed  since  his  retirement 
from  active  business  made  it  possible,  and  while  he  has 
found  many  a pleasant  spot,  Montana  still  retains  her 
hold  upon  his  affections,  and  he  will  make  this  state 
his  home  as  long  as  he  lives. 

He  has  never  married. 

Simeon  V.  Kemper.  One  of  the  strong  and  resource- 
ful characters  which  have  been  so  distinctively  in  evi- 
dence in  connection  with  the  development  and  progress 
of  the  great  state  of  Alontana  is  this  well  known  and 
essentially  representative  citizen  of  the  metropolis  of 
the  state.  A/Ir.  Kemper  has  been  a resident  of  Montana 
since  his  boyhood  days  and  has  had  the  prescience  to 
determine  opportunities  and  advantages  and  to  make 
such  use  of  the  same  as  to  give  him  consecutive  advance- 
ment and  to  place  him  eventually  among  the  substantial 
capitalists  and  influential  citizens  of  the  state,  his  suc- 
cess being  the  direct  result  of  his  own  efforts.  He  has 
been  specially  prominent  in  connection  with  the  develop- 
ment and  upbuilding  of  the  city  of  Butte,  where  his- 
interests  are  large  and  varied  and  where  he  has  fostered'; 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1023 


progress  in  a significant  degree  through  his  well  directed 
operations  in  the  handling  and  development  of  real  estate. 
He  has  not  only  been  the  architect  of  the  splendid 
structure  of  his  business  and  material  prosperity,  but 
has  stood  exponent  of  those  sterling  principles  which 
ever  beget  objective  confidence  and  esteem.  His  career 
well  represents  how  manifold  have  been  the  opportu- 
nities offered  in  Montana  to  men  of  courage,  determina- 
tion and  industry,  and  as  one  of  the  honored  and 
representative  citizens  of  this  commonwealth  he  is 
eminently  entitled  to  specific  recognition  in  this  his- 
torical work. 

Simeon  Vandeventer  Kemper  was  born  in  the  city  of 
St.  Joseph,  the  metropolis  and  judicial  center  of 
Buchanan  county,  Missouri,  and  the  date  of  his  nativity 
was  June  21,  1855.  He  is  a scion  of  families  whose 
names  have  been  identified  with  the  annals  of  American 
history  since  the  colonial  epoch,  and  the  genealogical 
record  is  one  in  which  he  may  well  take_  pride,  the 
while  his  course  has  been  such  as  to  make  his  a worthy 
contribution  to  the  history  of  the  family  of  which  he  is 
a member.  Mr.  Kemper  traces  his  ancestry  in  the  pater- 
nal line  back  to  stanch  German  origin,  and  the  authentic 
record  covers  a period  of  fully  three  centuries,  with  its 
initiation  in  the  person  of  Johann  Kemper,  a resident 
of  the  village  of  Musen,  near  Siegen,  province  of  West- 
phalia, Germany,  and  about  sixty  miles  southeast  of  the 
historic  old  city  of  Cologne.  Representatives  of  the 
Kemper  family  immigrated  from  Germany  to  America 
in  the  early  part  of  the  eighteenth  century,  and  records 
extant  show  that  some  of  them  settled  in  Fauquier 
county,  Virginia,  about  the  year  1714.  They  became 
substantial  planters  of  the  Old  Dominion  and  several 
representatives  of  the  name  were  found  enrolled  as 
valiant  soldiers  in  the  Continental  line  in  the  war  of  the 
Revolution,  after  the  close  of  which  one  of  the  number 
served  as  governor  of  Virginia. 

William  Kemper,  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this 
review,  was  born  in  Virginia,  as  was  also  his  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Rogers  and  who  was  of  Scotch 
descent.  They  removed  to  Kentucky  in  an  early 
day  and  were  numbered  among  the  pioneers  of  that 
state.  There  William  Kemper  became  a successful 
planter  and  an  influential  citizen  of  his  community. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  were  most  zealous  and  devout 
members  of  the  Baptist  church,  and  thier  lives  were 
spent  in  accordance  with  the  faith  which  they  thus  pro- 
fess, so  that  they  merited  and  received  the  high  regard 
of  their  fellow  men.  Both  attained  to  venerable  age, 
Mr.  Kemper  being  eighty-four  years  old  at  the  time  of 
his  death.  Of  their  eleven  children,  Thompson  Kemper 
was  one,  and  he  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  the  year  1806. 
He  was  there  reared  and  educated  and  in  1845  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Lucy  Ann  Smiley,  who  was 
born  in  Nelson  county,  Virginia,  in  1821,  she  likewise 
having  been  a representative  of  one  of  the  sterling  old 
families  of  Virginia,  where  she  continued  to  reside  until 
her  marriage.  Her  father  was  of  Irish  extraction  and 
her  mother  was  of  stanch  Scotch  lineage.  Thompson 
and  Lucy  Ann  (Smiley)  Kemper  became  the  parents  of 
three  sons  and  one  daughter,  and  all  of  the  sons — James 
W.,  Edward  W.,  and  Simeon  V. — are  now  residents  of 
Montana.  The  two  former  maintain  their  horpes  in  Dil- 
lon, and  the  latter  is  a resident  of  Butte,  the  youngest  of 
the  three  being  him  to  whom  this  review  is  dedicated. 
The  sister,  Virginia  Ann,  who  died  in  Montana,  Febru- 
ary 10,  187s,  had  married  Milton  Provence.  Thompson 
Kemper  passed  the  closing  years  of  his  long  and  use- 
ful life  in  the  city  of  Butte,  where  he  died  on  the  21st 
of  March,  1891,  and  here  his  cherished  and  devoted 
wife  was  summoned  to  eternal  rest  in  1895,  so  that  in 
death  they  were  not  long  divided.  Mrs.  Kemper  was  a 
devout  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
from  her  girlhood  days  until  her  death  and  soon  after 
their  marriage  her  husband  became  a member  of  the 
same  church,  in  the  activities  of  which  he  continued  to 


be  most  earnestly  concerned  during  the  residue  of  his 
life.  He  filled  various  official  positions  in  the  church,  in- 
cluding those  of  class-leader  and  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday  school,  and  the  lives  of  both  him  and  his  noble 
wife  were  marked  by  concentration  and  by  observance 
of  those  high  ideals  which  make  human  existence 
justify  itself.  In  his  early  life  Thompson  Kemper  had 
been  a successful  teacher,  his  education  having  been  of 
considerable  scope  and  his  intellectual  ken  one  of  broad 
horizon.  The  names  of  this  honored  pioneer  and  his 
wife  merit  enduring  place  on  the  roll  of  those  who  have 
aided  in  the  development  of  the  state  of  Montana,  and 
their  memories  are  revered  by  all  who  came  within  the 
sphere  of  their  gracious  and  kindly  influence. 

In  the  early  ’50s  Thompson  Kemper  established  his 
home  at  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  and  in  1862  he  removed 
with  his  family  to  Kansas.  Later  he  made  the  over- 
land trip  to  Colorado,  in  which  state  the  family  home 
was  maintained  until  1865.  Thereafter  the  migrations 
of  the  family  continued  from  state  to  state  in  the  west 
until  1871,  when  a permanent  location  was  made  in 
Montana,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  having  been  a lad 
of  sixteen  years  at  the  time.  The  journey  to  Montana 
was  made  by  rail  to  Corinne,  Utah,  from  which  point 
it  was  continued  with  team  and  wagon  to  Radersburg, 
Broadwater  county,  Montana.  Near  that  place  Thomp- 
son Kemper  entered  claim  to  a tract  of  government  land 
and  during  the  ensuing  five  years  he  put  forth  stren- 
uous efforts  to  develop  the  same  into  a productive  farm. 
The  farnily  endured  many  trials  and  vicissitudes  during 
this  period,  as  the  grasshoppers  destroyed  the  crops  for 
three  successive  years  and  the  financial  resources  reached 
a low  ebb.  Under  these  conditions  Simeon  V.  Kemper, 
the  youngest  of  the  three  sons,  assisted  in  providing  for 
himself  and  his  parents  by  working  for  wages.  He  was 
thus  employed  at  carpenter  work,  mining,  shearing 
sheep,  etc.,  but  found  none  of  these  occupations  specially 
productive  in  a financial  way.  Owing  to  the  various  re- 
rnovals  of  the  family  from  state  to  state,  his  early  educa- 
tional advantages  had  been  very  limited,  but  his  was  not 
a mentality  to  make  this  handicap  a great  one.  Through 
self-application  and  through  the  lessons  gained  under 
the  direction  of  that  wisest  of  all  headmasters, 
experience,  he  has  become  a man  of  broad  and  accurate 
knowledge  and  really  may  be  said  to  have  a liberal 
education. 

In  1875,  when  twenty  years  of  age,  Simeon  V. 
Kemper  decided  to  seek  more  attractive  fields  of 
ei  deavor  than  those  in  which  he  had  previously  directed 
his,  efforts.  He  had  a seeming  prescience  of  the  splen- 
did growth  and  development  in  store  for  Butte,  which 
was  then  a mere  mining  town,  and  in  1877  he  here 
established  his  permanent  home.  He  purchased  forty 
acres  of  land  near  the  town  and  turned  his  attention  to 
market-gardening,  in  connection  with  which  he  gave 
special  attention  to  the  propagation  of  strawberries. 
Soon  afterward  the  other  members  of  the  family  joined 
him  in  the  new  home  and  they  continued  a successful 
gardening  business  for  five  years.  The  smoke  from  the 
many  smelters  in  the  vicinity  eventually  interfered  with 
this  industry,  as  plant  life  withered  under  the  con- 
ditions. The  rapid  growth  of  the  city  thus  led  the 
Kemper  family  to  subdivide  their  land  and  place  the  same 
in  the  market.  The  lands  were  platted  into  city  lots, 
under  the  title  of  the  Kemper  addition,  and  from  this 
beginning  Simeon  V.  Kemper  finally  became  one  of  the 
leading  factors  in  the  real  estate  business  in  the  Mon- 
tana metropolis.  He  rapidly  acquired  other  realtv  and 
soon  gained  prestige  as  one  of  the  most  enterprising 
and  influential  business  men  of  Butte.  In  an  individual 
way  he  continued  his  successful  operations  in  the  real 
estate,  loan  and  insurance  business  until  1895,  when  he 
effected  the  organization  of  the  Butte  Land  & Invest- 
ment Co.,  which  is  incorporated  under  the  laws  of  the 
state  and  of  which  he  is  vice-president.  His  son,  Wil- 
liam A.,  is  president  of  the  company,  and  E.  Sterrett 


1024 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


Shields  is  secretary.  This  concern  has  wielded  great 
influence  in  the  development  and  upbuilding  of  Butte 
and  in  the  handling  of  realty  in  other  parts  of  the_  state. 
Mr.  Kemper  was  associated  with  W.  V.  Lawler,  in  the 
platting  of  the  Lawler  & Kemper  addition,  on  the  west 
side  of  the  city  .of  Butte.  In  initiating  this  noteworthy 
enterprise  they  purchased,  for  a consideration  of  seven- 
teen thousand  dollars,  a tract  of  eleven  acres,  and  from 
the  sale  of  lots  in  the  first  year  they  realized  sufficient 
money  to  pay  for  the  entire  tract,  while  they  retained, 
in  that  addition,  property  which  was  valued  at  thirty 
thousand  dollars.  Mr.  Kemper  and  his  brother,  J.  W., 
had  the  good  fortune  to  locate  the  famous  Ground 
Squirrel  mine,  which  they  eventually  sold  for  two  hun- 
dred and  thirty  thousand  dollars.  Mr.  Kemper  was  one 
of  the  organizers,  in  1891,  of  the  State  Savings  Bank 
of  Butte,  which  became  .the  strongest  bank  in  the  state 
prior  to  1906.  He  is  now  a director  in  the  Miners’ 
Savings  Bank  & Trust  Company,  of  which  he  was  one 
of  the  organizers.  He  also  assisted  in  the  organization 
of  the  Montana  Land  & Security  Company,  of  which  he 
is  president,  and  is  vice-president  of  the  Washington, 
Butte  Mining  Company.  His  mining  interests  are  of 
important  order  and  it  may  be  noted  that  he  is  presi- 
dent of  the  Brooklyn  Mining  Company  and  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  Salmon  River  Mining  Company. 

The  career  of  Mr.  Kemper  has  been  such  as  to  offer 
both  lesson  and  incentive.  He  had  as  his  available  finan- 
cial resources  when  he  arrived  in  Butte,  less  than  ten 
dollars,  and  he  was  further  burdened  by  an  indebtedness 
of  several  hundred  dollars.  He  had  determination  and 
ambition,  and  with  increasing  success  and  responsibil- 
ities he  developed  admirable  powers  in  the  mastering  of 
expedients  and  in  the  handling  of  affairs  of  broad  scope 
and  importance.  In  his  youth  he  felt  the  lash  of  neces- 
sity, but  this  spurred  him  to  further  effort,  and  he  has 
won  large  and  definite  success,  the  while  it  has  been 
gained  by  honest  and  straightforward  means,  so  that  no 
shadow  rests  on  any  portion  of  his  singularly  active  and 
productive  career.  He  is  one  of  the  sterling  citizens  of 
the  state  in  which  he  has  found  it  possible  to  win  such 
large  and  worthy  success  and  in  which  his  circle  of 
friends  is  coincident  with  that  of  his  acquaintances. 
For  the  past  decade  Mr.  Kemper  has  lived  virtually 
retired  from  active  business,  and  has  given  over  to 
E.  S.  Shields,  secretary  of  the  Butte  Land  and  Invest- 
ment Co.,  and  his  son,  William  Arthur  Kemper,  much 
of  the  responsibility  of  his  extensive  interests — a trust 
to  which  they  have  proven  fully  equal. 

Though,  as  already  stated,  Mr.  Kemper  received  but 
limited  educational  advantages  in  his  youth,  he  has 
ever  been  an  appreciative  student  and  reader  and  has 
become  known  as  a man  of  broad  views  and  well  forti- 
fied convictions.  His  range  of  reading  has  covered  the 
best  in  literature  and  he  keeps  in  close  touch  with  the 
vital  questions  and  topics  of  the  hour.  He  finds  great 
pleasure  in  the  attractions  of  the  large  and  select  private 
library  of  his  home  and  has  made  a special  study  of 
mathematics,  ethical  and  philosophical  subjects  and  also 
theology.  His  life  has  been  guided  and  governed  by 
strict  principles  of  integrity  and  while  he  is  not  formally 
identified  with  any  religious  organization  he  has  a deep 
reverence  for  moral  rectitude.  In  politics  he  maintains 
an  independent  attitude  and  gives  his  support  to  men 
and  measures  meeting  the  approval  of  his  judgment,  the 
while  he  has  shown  himself  to  be  signally  progressive 
and  public-spirited  as  a citizen.  Mrs.  Kemper  is  an 
active  member  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of 
Butte,  and  is  a popular  factor  in  the  social  life  of  the 
community. 

At  Butte,  on  the  19th  of  November,  1880,  was  sol- 
emnized the  marriage  of  Mr.  Kemper  to  Miss  Sallie 
B.  Shields,  who  was  born  at  Highland,  Doniphan  county, 
Kansas,  and  who  is  a daughter  of  William  Shields,  who 
was  a prominent  resident  of  the  state  of  Kansas. 

In  conclusion  is  entered  brief  record  concerning  the 


children  of  Mir.  and  Mrs.  Kemper : William  Arthur  who 
IS  more  familiarly  known  by  his  second  name,  was' born 
on  the  2ist  9f  August,  1881,  and  is  one  of  the  repre- 
sentative business  men  of  the  younger  generation,  in  his 
native  state,  being  closely  identified  with  his  father’s 
extensive  interests,  as  has  previously  been  noted ; Mary 

o’  o the  1st  of  July,  1883,  died  in  July, 

1899;  balhe  Virginia,  who  was  born  on  the  21st  of  Sep- 
tember, 1^5.  IS  the  wife  of  Claude  Wheeler,  of  Los 
Angeles,  California;  Helen  E.,  was  born  July  15  1892 
and  remains  at  the  parental  home;  and  Simeon  V Jr’ 
who  was  born  October  20,  189S,  is  now  a resident  of 
The  older  son,  W.  Arthur  Kemper,  married 
Constance  Richardson,  of  Boston,  Massachusetts 
and  Richardson  Vandeventer  Kemper,  was  born  to 
them  May,  12,  1912.  Merrie  Frances  Wheeler,  daughter 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Claude  Wheeler,  was  born  May  i,  1912. 

John  W.  Duffy,  commissioner  of  Granite  county 
and  a well-known  rancher  of  Philipsburg,  has  been  a 
resident  of  the  state  of  Montana  since  1871.  He  settled 
first  in  Granite  county,  has  remained  within  its  borders 
during  the  years  that  have  intervened,  and  in  that  time 
has  been  actively  identified  with  the  live  stock  business. 
He  has  also  found  time  to  take  a lively  interest  in 
mining  activities,  and  since  1903  has  been  a member 
of  the  board  of  county  commissioners,  during  six  years 
of  that  period  having  been  president  of  the  board. 

Mr.  Duffy  was  born  in  Minneapolis,  Minnesota,  on 
October  9,  1858,  and  is  the  son  of  Michael  and  Mary 
(Cleary)  Duffy.  The  father  was  born  in  Ireland,  com- 
ing to  the  United  States  when  a mere  boy.  He  saw 
considerable  of  the  United  States  before  he  finally 
settled  in  Montana  in  1865.  In  Granite  county  he  fol- 
lowed mining  for  some  years  and  later  became  inter- 
ested in  ranching.  He  was  a man  of  considerable  prom- 
inence in  Granite  county  and  held  a prominent  posi- 
tion in  the  political  life  of  the  community.  He  died  in 
April,  1887,  aged  fifty-six.  His  wife,  whom  he  met  and 
married  in  Minnesota,  survived  him  until  1909,  aged 
seventy-eight  years,  and  both  are  buried  in  Philips- 
burg.  They  were  the  parents  of  but  one  child,  John 
W.  of  this  review. 

Until  he  was  thirteen  years  of  age  John  Duffy  at- 
tended the_  public  schools  of  Minneapolis.  In  that  year 
(1871),  his  mother  moved  to  Montana,  locating  in 
Philipsburg,  and  there  he  continued  his  studies  in  the 
public  schools  for  a year  or  two.  When  he  was  about 
fourteen  he  earned  his  first  money  working  for  his 
father  on  the  ranch,  and  it  was  under  the  care  and 
guidance  of  his  father  that  John  Duffy  learned  the 
ranching  business,  in  which  he  eventually  engaged  on 
his  own  responsibility.  For  some  time  he  followed  min- 
ing and  at  one  time  he  carried  the  mail  between  Philips- 
burg and  Cable  City  under  contract.  It  was  after  these 
experiences  that  he  became  identified  with  the  ranching 
industry,  and  he  has  in  recent  years  reached  a place  of 
prominence  and  importance  in  that  business. 

Mr.  Duffy  is  a Democrat  in  strength  and  assurance 
and  is  active  in  the  political  affairs  of  the  county.  As 
previously  noted,  he  has  been  a member  of  the  board  of 
county  commissioners  since  1903,  and  was  chairman  of 
the  board  for  six  years.  He  is  a member  of  the  Yeo- 
men and  of  the  Catholic  church. 

In  June,  1881,  at  Deer  Lodge,  Montana,  was  solem- 
nized the  marriage  of  Mr.  Duffy  with  Miss  Winnifred 
Murphy,  the  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Bridget  Mur- 
phy, of  Minneapolis,  Minnesota.  Twelve  sons  and 
daughters  have  been  born  to  them,  named  as  follows : 
Mary  Estella,  deceased;  Benjamin  Harrison,  died  in  in- 
fancy; Thomas  F.,  resident  of  Philipsburg;  John  P., 
married  and  living  at  Philipsburg  also;  Edward  M., 
Nellie;  Michael;  Annie;  Nora;  Joseph;  William;  and 
Margaret.  All  the  unmarried  members  of  the  family 
are  living  at  home,  and  such  of  the  number  as  are  of 


■ I 


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i- 

}. 


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t 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1025 


school  age  in  attendance  at  the  Philipsburg  public 
schools. 

Hon.  John  W.  Blair.  Distinguished  among  Mon- 
tana’s pioneers  is  the  Honorable  John  W.  Blair  of 
Helmville,  Powell  county, — a man  who  has,  without 
self-seeking,  attained  political  prominence;  without 
blemish  of  integrity  has  achieved  material  success;  and, 
without  egotism,  has  won  a high  reputation  through- 
out the  region  where  he  is  best  known. 

A native  of  the  middle  west,  Mr.  Blair  is  of  Scotch- 
Irish  ancestry  in  his  father’s  line  and  of  Virginia  an- 
cestry through  the  Saylor  lineage  of  his  mother’s  side 
of  the  family.  The  latter  branch  were  closely  related 
to  the  Ball  family,  of  which  Martha  Washington  was  a 
representative,  and  with  that  family  shared  in  the 
famous  Ball  estate,  including  much  valuable  property 
in  Washington  and  other  great  eastern  cities.  Of 
this  relationship  was  Samuel  Saylor  of  Virginia,  the 
father  of  Mary  Saylor,  who  was  born  in  Ohio.  In 
that  state  she  married  Thomas  Blair,  also  a native  of 
the  Buckeye  state.  They  resided  near  Berwick,  in 
Seneca  township,  Seneca  county,  Ohio,  for  many  years, 
and  there  to  them  was  born  in  October,  1841,  the  son 
whom  they  named  John  W 

As  a youth,  John  W.  Blair  was  given  the  opportu- 
nities of  the  public  schools,  which  he  attended  until  he 
had  acquired  a general  education,  sufficient  for  all 
practical  purposes.  He  was  a young  man  of  energy 
and  initiative,  and  had  a lively  interest  in  the  unde- 
veloped west.  When  he  had  reached  his  majority  he 
entered  upon  an  adventure  which  defined  the  entire 
course  of  his  subsequent  life. 

This  project  with  which  he  identified  himself  was 
a migration  to  Alder  Gulch,  Montana,  In  which  he 
made  one  of  three  hundred  men  who  traveled  over- 
land with  mule  teams.  The  journey  was  a memorable 
one,  with  many  privations  and  risks,  but  they  finally 
reached  their  objective  point,  arriving  at  Virginia 
City,  Montana,  on  July  12,  1864.  Mr.  Blair  spent 
several  months  among  the  novel  scenes  and  exciting 
activities  of  a mining  camp  in  which  gold  was  found  in 
abundance.  The  winter  of  that  year  he  spent  in  Utah 
and  in  the  spring  he  made  his  way  to  Last  Chance 
gulch.  He  remained  there'  for  six  years,  at  the  end 
of  which  time  he  came  to  Helmville,  reaching  there 
in  the  autumn  of  1871,  and  that  place  has  ever  since 
represented  his  home. 

Here  Mr.  Blair  developed  a fine  ranch  two  miles 
from  the  town  and  gradually  expanded  his  possession 
of  land  until  he  has  become  the  proprietor  of  a ranch 
of  28,000  acres,  one  of  the  most  extensive  in  the  state 
of  Montana.  His  great  specialty  was  the  raising  of 
sheep,  for  which  he  is  quite  famous  throughout  the 
state,  and  his  large  herds  of  Shorthorn  cattle,  kept  for 
breeding  purposes,  was  one  of  his  chief  interests.  Ac- 
cessory to  these  interests  Mr.  Blair  also  pursued  the 
various  lines  of  general  ranching.  His  building  erected 
for  that  purpose  and  the  residences  he  occupies  are 
spacious  and  well  planned,  giving  a most  inviting  as- 
pect to  the  place. 

In  1910  Mr.  Blair  sold  out  his  large  holdings  of 
ranch  propertv.  which  the  purchasers.  The  Day  & Han- 
son Security  Company,  of  Spokane,  Washington,  plan 
to  dispose  of  in  small  tracts. 

Aside  from  his  landed  interests  and  those  which 
accompanied  them,  Mr.  Blair  has  successfully  parti- 
cipated in  other  enterprises  of  commercial  advantage. 
In  1910  he  established  the  banking  business  of  Blair 
& Company,  of  Helmville,  and  from  that  time  he  has 
been  president  of  the  company.  He  is  also  joint 
owner  with  John  A.  Featherman  of  Drummond,  of 
the  Palace  Hotel,  which  is  spoken  of  as  the  finest 
structure  of  its  kind  in  any  town  of  the  size  of  Drum- 
mond in  the  northwest.  This  hotel  was  erected  in 


1911,  and-Mr.  Blair  is  vice-president  and  a director 
of'  the  company,  as  well  as  being  one  of  the  organizers 
of  the  Drummond  State  Bank  at  Drummond,  Mon- 
tana. Altogether,  Mr.  Blair  is  rated  as  a man  of  ex- 
ceptional wealth,  and  his  holdings  of  deeded  land 
probably  were  larger  than  those  of  any  other  individual 
in  the  state.  He  is  respected,  moreover,  in  a degree 
not  possible  to  the  man  whose  riches  are  the  result 
of  chance  or  of  unfair  measures. 

Mr.  Blair’s  political  attitude  is  most  clearly  defined 
by  the  theories  and  aims  of  the  Republican  p.arty,  of 
which  he  is  an  advisor  and  counsellor  m this  section 
of  the  state.  Until  1889  he  had  never  taken  any  active 
part  in  politics,  but  at  that  time,  through  a train  of  cir- 
cumstances somewhat  unusual,  he  was  called  upon  to 
serve  his  state  in  one  of  his  highest  bodies.  Mr.  Blair 
in  one  of  the  few  who  have  actually  had  such  honor 
thrust  upon  them,  and  among  those  is  unique  as  one 
to  whom  such  honor  came  as  a complete  surprise.  When 
the  nominations  were  made  for  Montana’s  first  leffis- 
lature,  Mr.  Blair  was  not  notified  of  the  fact  tha^he 
was  one  of  those  chosen  as  a candidate  for  the  office 
When,  therefore,  he  examined  the  tickets  and  saw  a 
name  that  corresponded  to  his,  he  supposed  that  it 
represented  an  ^ acquaintance  bearing  that  same  pat- 
ronymic,  but  living  in  another  part  of  the  county.  It  is 
said  that  he  all  but  entered  the  polls  without  knowing 
of  his  candidacy.  He  was  among  those  elected  and 
participated  in  the  rather  dramatic  events  of  that  as- 
sembly his  service  including  activity  on  the  Labor 
committee  and  others. 

In  the  campaign  of  1912,  Mr.  Blair  was  elected  a 
dclSt^^  legislature  on  the  Republican 

Mr.  Blair  is  a veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  having  en- 
listed for  a three  year  term  on  October  3,  i86s  as  a 
member  of  the  Forty-ninth  Ohio  Regiment  of  Minute 
Men  from  which  service  he  was  honorably  discharged 
on  May  i,  1866.  He  is  an  honored  member  of  the 
Society  of  Montana  Pioneers,  and  none  among  them 
or  among  the  more  recent  citizens  of  the  state,  has 
more  worthily  advanced  from  the  status  of  emotv 
pockets  to  that  of  well  filled  coffers;  none  has  more 
intelligently,  sanely  and  unpretentiously  made  for  him- 
self  a place  among  the  state’s  representatives  of  capital 
and  industry;  none  has,  through  years  of  purposive 
acquisition,  more  frankly  won  and  kept,  not  only  his 
own  self-respect,  but  the  sincerely  high  regard  of  the 
citizens  of  Powell  county  and  of  the  surrounding 
region.  Mr.  Blairs  success  has  not  been  the  result  of 
luck  or  chance.  He  has  always  been  a man  of  great 
energy,  and  it  has  been  said  of  him  “there  is  not  a 
lazy  bone  in  his  body.”  A hard  worker,  he  was  al- 
ways content  if  his  help  performed  the  same  amount 
of  work  as  he  himself.  The  care  and  handling  of 
ns  extensive  ranch  interests,  to  which  he  always  gave 
his  personal  attention,  became  too  arduous,  and  when  he 
had  an  opportunity  to  dispose  of  them  advantageously, 
he  parted  entirely  with  his  ranch  interests,  as  stated 
previously,  giving  his  time  to  other  interests. 

Notwithstanding  his  more  than  three  score  and  ten 
J^ears,  Mr.  Blair  is  a well  preserved  man.  His  natur- 
ally strong  constitution  has  stood  by  him  well  through 
the  years,  and  though  he  is  small  of  stature,  he  has 
ever  been  strong  and  wir\'.  He  is  a man  well  informed 
upon  current  topics,  and  is  an  acknowledged  author- 
ity upon  lines  of  business  with  which  he  has  been 
identified,  so  that  his  advice  and  judgment  upon  busi- 
ness rnatters  are  frequently  called  into  play  by  his  fel- 
low citizens.  He  is  highly  esteemed,  and  a man  of 
the  strictest  character  and  integrity,  and  Montana 
has  had  no  better  citizen  than  he. 

CoL.  James  E.  _C.‘\ll.'\way.  In  spite  of  the  fre- 
quently asserted  claims  of  heredity,  it  is  the  exception 
rather  than  the  rule  when  from  ancestry  so  distin- 


1026 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


guishecl  as  that  of  Colonel  Callaway  springs  posterity 
of  such  distinction  as  we  have  herein  to  record;  when 
brilliant  names  of  the  Revolution  are  repeated  as  bril- 
liant names  of  the  Rebellion ; when  those  who  are 
associated  closely  with  the  makers  of  one  great  state 
should  be  authors  of  a line  yielding  makers  of  another 
great  state.  It  is  therefore  worthy  of  some  comment 
that  Colonel  Callaway's  genealogy  contains  the  names 
of  Col.  Richard  Callaway,  of  Edmund  Callaway  and 
of  James  Hamilton. 

Col.  Richard  Callaway,  a great-great-uncle  of  our 
subject,  was  a partner  of  the  famous  Daniel  Boone  and 
with  him  served  in  the  first  state  legislature  of  Ken- 
tucky. Of  the  many  interesting  incidents  of  their  as- 
sociated lives,  the  one  most  frequently  recounted  in  the 
Callaway  family  is  that  of  the  capture  of  the  little 
daughters  of  these  two  men  by  Indians.  'While  Fannie 
and  Betsey  Callaway  and  Jemima  Boone  were,  one 
apparently  peaceful  day,  boating  on  the  Kentucky  river 
near  Fort  Boone,  the  courageous  but  panic-stricken 
trio  were  captured  by  savages.  Little  Margaret  Ham- 
ilton, or  “'Peggy'’  as  she  was  always  called,  hurriedly 
gave  the  alarm  and  Colonel  Callaway,  with  thirty 
men,  made  ready  for  immediate  pursuit.  After  four 
days  of  swift  riding  and  clever  circumvention,  the 
Indians  were  encountered  and  the  children  brought 
back  to  safety.  One  of  them,  later  Fannie  Callaway 
Henderson,  was  the  first  white  bride  in  Kentucky. 

Her  sister  Betsey  became  the  daughter-in-law  of  Dan- 
iel Boone,  and  among  her  descendants  are  included 

the  Irwin  Brothers  of  Deer  Lodge  and  Edward 

Lamme  of  Bozeman.  Most  noteworthy  in  Col.  James  E. 
Callaway’s  direct  line  of  progenitors  on  the  paternal 
side  is  his  grandfather,  Edmund  Callaway,  who,  as  a 
mere  youth  rendered  distinguished  service  to  the  Con- 
tinental army,  was  prominent  in  the  War  of  1812,  and 
has  received  tribute  as  an  honored  pioneer  of  _ Ken- 
tucky in  the  Frankfort  monument;  his^  name  is  es- 
pecially associated  with  the  battles  of  Raisin  River  and 
Tippecanoe,  on  which  occasions  he  was  in  command 
of  a troop  of  brave  Kentuckians.  In  the  maternal 

ancestry  of  Colonel  Callaway,  the  name  of  Col.  James 
Hamilton  is  one  of  particular  importance.  He 

was  born  on  the  Island  of  Nevis  in  the  West  Indies, 
removing  to  Georgia  at  the  approximate  date  of  1767. 
During  the  War  of  the  Revolution  he  commanded  a 
regiment  of  Georgia  volunteers,  but  his  life  was  sac- 
rificed early  in  the  conflict.  It  was  his  daughter,  who, 
a resident  of  Kentucky,  at  the  age  of  four,  was  assoc- 
iated with  the  Boone  and  Callaway  families  as  Peggy 
Hamilton  ; who  grew  up  and  married,  in  the  Blue  Grass 
state,  a Virginian  named  William  Means,  the  first 
sheriff  of  Christian  county ; and  whose  daughter,  Mary 
Hamilton  Means,  married  Samuel  T.  Callaway,  the 
father  of  James  Edmund  Callaway.  Samuel  Callaway 
was  born  in  Kentucky  and  was  a physician  of  remark- 
able energy,  which  nevertheless  presently  failed  him, 
as  a result  of  the  strenuous  practice  of  that  period 
and  locality.  He  therefore  turned  from  it  to  another 
form  of  service  to  humanity,  one  requiring  less  ex- 
posure and  irregularity  of  hours,  yet  no  less  an  outlet 
for  devoted  enthusiasm.  As  a clergyman  of  the  Chris- 
tian church  he  lived  in  Illinois  from  the  year  1848 
until  his  death.  He  was  in  early  years  an  old-line 
Whig,  later  a Republican. 

In  Krigg  county,  Kentucky,  on  July  7,  1835,  James 
Edmund  Callaway  was  born  to  Dr.  Samuel  Taylor 
Callaway  and  his  wife,  Mary  Hamilton  Means  Calla- 
way. He  was  thirteen  years  of  age  when  the  family 
home  was  changed  to  Illinois,  and  his  subsequent 
youthful  years  were  spent  in  the  vicinity  of  Jackson- 
ville and  in  Tuscola,  Illinois,  until  the  period  of  his 
college  and  professional  study.  His  educational  de- 
velopment was  that  provided  by  the  public  schools  of 
Jacksonville  and  Tuscola,  of  the  academy  at  Jackson- 
ville and  later  of  Eureka  College.  He  thereupon  be- 


gan the  study  of  law,  being  so  fortunate  as  to  be  a 
student  in  the  office  of  the  brilliant  Richard  Yates, 
later  notable  as  war  governor  and  United  States  sen- 
ator^ from  niinois.  Under  that  famous  jurist  his 
reading  continued  until  his  admission  to  the  bar.  His 
preliminary  practice  was  in  Jacksonville,  but  he  pres- 
ently located  at  Tuscola:  His  promising  beginning  of 
a legal  career  was  soon  interrupted  by  events  which 
provided  the  inception  of  his  distinguished  military 
record. 

When  in  April,  1861,  the  news  was  flashed  over  the 
country  of  the  attack  on  Fort  Sumter,  the  soldierly 
heart  of  James  Edmund  Callaway  awoke  to  such  dy- 
namic enthusiasm  that  in  the  public  meeting  held  in 
Tuscola  his  influence  was  a large  factor  in  the  im- 
mediate result.  Within  an  hour  a company  was  or- 
ganized and  he  was  chosen  to  be  its  captain.  Two 
hours  later  he  was  on  his  way  to  Springfield  to  tender 
its  services  to  the  government.  It  was  therefore  mus- 
tered into  state  service  by  U.  S.  Grant  on  May  9,  and 
into  the  United  States  service  in  June  of  the  same 
year,  1861.  It  was  listed  as  Company  D of  the  Twen- 
ty-first Illinois  Volunteers,  that  famous  fighting  regi- 
ment under  Colonel — later  General  Grant,  Captain 
Callaway’s  regiment  left  Springfield  July  4,  1861,  and 
as  it  was  soon  attached  to  the  Army  of  the  West  it 
was  eventually  not  in  the  battle  under  General  Grant. 
In  Fredericktown,  Missouri,  its  first  engagement  oc- 
curred ; and  such  was  the  conduct  of  the  captain 
and  company  in  this  and  related  encounters  that  Cap- 
tain Callaway  was,  in  September  of  1862,  commis- 
sioned as  major. 

During  the  battle  of  Chickamaiiga  the  colonel  of 
the  Twenty-first  Illinois,  J.  W.  Alexander,  was  killed 
and  the  lieutenant  colonel  was  wounded,  whereupon 
Major  Callaway  was  made  its  commander.  And  when, 
as  a result  of  the  demoralization  of  the  Eighty-first 
Indiana  Regiment  on  the  day  previous.  Major  Calla- 
way was  sent  to  take  command  of  this  also,  he 
undertook  this  double  command  in  both  the  battle  of 
Chickamaiiga  and  the  siege  of  Chattanooga.  It  was 
told  of  him  that  in  the  former  engagement  he  wa.s  the 
last  man  to  cross  the  Chickamaiiga  bridge,  when  the 
Twenty-first  Illinois  was  assigned  to  cover  the  re- 
treat, on  the  occasion  of  that  barely  averted  disaster 
to  the  Union  army.  The  record  of  the  Eighty-first 
Indiana  was  so  praiseworthy  after  his  assumption  of 
its  command  that  it  received  special  mention  from 
headquarters.  He  was  later  the  recipient  of  a beautiful 
trilnite  from  the  regiment.  He  was  presented  with 
a gold  and  silver  mounted  sword,  bearing  on  its  blade 
the  inscription:  “Presented  to  Major  James  E.  Call- 
away, 2ist  Regiment  Illinois  Infantry  Volunteers,  by 
the  Non-commissioned  Officers  and  Privates  of  8ist 
Regiment  Indiana  Infantry  Volunteers,  Chickamaiiga, 
19th  and  20th  September,  1863,”  and  elsewhere  on  its 
rich  metal  surface  the  words,  “As  a token  of  the 
respect  we  entertain  for  him  as  an  Officer  and  a 
Soldier  and  for  the  gallant  manner  in  which  he  com- 
manded us  in  the  memorable  battle  of  Chickamauga, 
on  the  19th  and  20th  September,  1863.”  That  gift  and 
memento  was,  during  Colonel  Callaway’s  life,  a much 
prized  treasure  and  an  object  of  much  interest  and  ad- 
miration, even  of  reverence,  to  his  friends.  It  has 
hung  for  many  years  on  the  walls  of  the  dining-room 
in  the  Callaway  home,  and  is  still  guarded  by  the 
family  as  a priceless  relic. 

The  above-mentioned  battles  were  by  no  means  Col- 
onel Callaway’s  sole  or  final  claim  to  military  dis- 
tinction. During  the  siege  of  Chattanooga  he  was  sent, 
with  his  two  regiments  and  some  cavalry  and  artillery, 
on  a foraging  expedition  nearly  forty  miles  up  the 
Sequatchie  valley.  Seizing  all  the  mills  in  the  valley, 
he  ran  them  for  a week,  gathering  and  grinding 
thousands  of  bushels  of  corn;  he  then  loaded  his  three 
hundred  wagons  with  provisions  and  returned  with- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1027 


out  losing  man  or  wagon,  although  closely  pursued  by 
Wheeler’s  cavalry.  Major  Callaway  was  again  dis- 
tinguished by  especial  compliment,  when  after  the  battle 
of  Stone  River,  General  Rosecrans  ordered  the  forma- 
tion from  each  division  of  a light  brigade  composed  of 
officers  and  men  distinguished  for  bravery  and  sol- 
dierly qualities.  Their  names  were  placed  on  a roll  of 
honor;  and  not  only  was  Major  Callaway’s  one  of  the 
list,  but  he  was  made  commander  of  one  of  these  light 
brigades.  After  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  the  Eighty- 
first  Indiana  had  so  few  men  that  it  was  not  entitled 
to  a colonel  and  as  it  had  no  field  officer,  Governor 
Morton  offered  Major  Callaway  its  colonelcy.  But  he 
preferred  to  remain  with  his  own  regiment  and  \vas 
made  its  colonel  in  November  of  1864.  It  is  pertinent 
to  conclude  these  comments  on  his  military  record  by 
adding  that  Colonel  Callaway’s  regiment  holds  very 
high  rank  in  the  official  mention  of  those  having  ren- 
dered distinguished  service.  Having,  through  this  long 
and  strenuous  period  of  heroic  service,  led  his  men 
with  the  utmost  courage,  judgment  and  skill,  the  sur- 
render of  the  Confederate  army  left  nothing  for  the 
brave  Callaway  to  do  but  resign  “by  reason  of  the 
close  of  the  war,”  and  to  accept  his  honorable  dis- 
charge. 

Then  came  the  era  of  his  legal  success  which  dem- 
onstrated the  caliber  of  the  man  no  less  clearly  than 
did  his  military  career.  During  the  year  1864  he  had 
been  detached  from  his  regiment  for  a time  in  order 
to  fulfill  the  duties  of  judge  advocate  general  for  the 
department  of  the  Etowah,  a signal  recognition  of 
his  professional  ability  and  an  honor  contributing  not 
a little  to  his  prestige  when  he  returned  to  Tuscola  to 
resume  his  regular  practice.  With  another  brilliant 
young  lawyer  Thomas  H.  McCoughtry,  he  formed  a 
partnership,  their  legal  firm  name  being  Callaway  and 
McCoughtry.  Together  they  achieved  a notably  high 
standing'  in  the  community  and  in  their  profession  at 
large.  Their  services  were  employed  on  one  side  or  the 
other  of  almost  all  the  important  litigation  in  that 
section  of  Illinois ; and  it  is  of  peculiar  interest  to 
note  that  the  opposing  side  was  usually  represented  by 
an  able  young  man  named  Joseph  G.  Cannon,  who  has 
since  then  served  for  so  many  years  as  speaker  of  the 
house  of  representatives,  but  who  was  at  that  time  a 
young  and  rising  barrister  of  Tuscola. 

An  able  and  ambitious  lawyer  with  a gift  for  polit- 
ical procedure,  usually  finds  it  but  a step  from  legal 
practice  to  statesmanship  of  one  kind  or  another.  Con- 
sidering his  legal  talent  and  his  military  reputation, 
it  was  quite  natural  that  he  should  soon  be  chosen  as 
a member  of  the  Illinois  legislature.  In  spite  of  his 
success  and  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  was  held, 
all  was  not  well  with  him,  for  his  health  was  suffer- 
ing from  disabilities  left  by  his  strenuous  martial 
endeavors.  A change  of  climate  seemed  advisable, 
and  for  some  time  the  colonel  had  been  keenly  con- 
scious of  the  call  of  the  great  and  growing  west.  It 
was  therefore  with  satisfaction  that  he  accepted,  in 
1871,  an  appointment  from,  his  friend.  President  Grant, 
as  secretary  of  Montana,  and  he  thereupon  removed 
with  his  family  to  this  state  in  March  of  that  year.  He 
held  the  office  also  through  the  second  term,  having 
been  re-appointed  in  1875.  In  March  of  the  year  1877 
he  resigned,  on  the  occasion  of  the  inauguration  of 
President  Hayes.  As  the  office  had  not  required  his 
entire  time  nor  repaid  the  service  with  adequate  pe- 
cuniary return.  Colonel  Callaway  had  continued  the 
practice  of  law  when  time  permitted  and  opportunities 
presented  themselves.  It  was  not  long  before  his 
talents  were  recognized  in  his  being  elected  to  the 
legislature  of  Madison  county.  In  January  of  1885  he 
was  chosen  speaker  of  the  Montana  house  of  repre- 
sentatives, being  the  first  Republican  to  hold  that  office 
in  Montana.  He  was  furthermore  a member  of  the 
constitutional  conventions  of  both  1884  and  1889,  and 
voi.  11—12 


was  thus  a prominent  factor  in  the  formulating  of  the 
state  constitution.  In  the  former  of  these  conventions 
it  was  granted  that  he  had  but  one  superior  as  a debater 
and  that  no  one  could  surpass  or  even  equal  him  as 
a parliamentarian.  He  was  one  of  the  only  five  men 
who  were  memibers  of  both  these  important  bodies  and 
also  one  of  the  seven  who  prepared  the  address  to  the 
people  when  the  present  constitution  was  submitted. 
Another  honor  accorded  him  at  this  period  was  his 
being  made  commander  of  the  Montana  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic,  an  appointment  which  came  to  him  in 
1889.  He  had  also  served  in  1878  and  1879  as  United 
States  district  attorney  for  the  first  judicial  district  of 
Montana,  having  received  that  appointment  from  Judge 
Blake. 

Throughout  a quarter-century  era  of  his  life  the 
colonel’s  interests  were  woven  through  the  sturdy  and 
sometimes  rough  warp  of  Montana  public  life  in  one 
capacity  or  another.  His  courage  and  enterprise  made 
him  one  of  the  first  parties  that  entered  National 
Park,  the  date  of  that  investigation  being  1871.  The 
evenness  and  steadiness  of  his  character  through  these 
political  events  recounted  gave  tone  to  the  fabric  of 
the  evolving  state.  The  brilliancy  of  his  mind  light- 
ened the  dullness  of  the  formative  drudgery  of  the 
creation  of  a commonwealth.  And  the  delicate  quality 
of  his  conscience  counteracted  some  of  the  garish  self- 
seeking  of  many  participants  in  that  task. 

But  his  physical  nature,  never  so  strong  as  his  will 
or  his  ambition,  and  his  financial  affairs,  never  quite 
first  in  his  motives  could  not  longer  stand  the  strain  of 
this  constant  giving  out  of  self.  From  1871  he  had 
made  his  home  in  Virginia  City,  and  there  he  had 
performed  his  public  duties  while  he  had  strength 
enough  for  these  and  his  legal  practice.  He  gradually 
discontinued  the  former  and  again  gradually,  from  the 
year  1887,  when  both  physique  and  property  were 
noticeably  failing  him,  he  withdrew  from  professional 
life,  until  in  1896  he  had  practically  retired.  In  18^ 
his  physicians  ordered  him  “off  duty”  entirely,  but  in 
1901  his  valiant  heart  pushed  him  once  more  into  the 
professional  world  that  had  meant  so  much  to  his 
splendid  impulses  toward  action.  It  fought  bravely  on, 
against  odds  as  great  as  those  of  Chickamauga,  until 
in  1905  the  Great  Commaflder  offered  honorable  dis- 
charge. And  so,  after  seventy  years  of  gallant  service 
in  life’s  earthly  detachment,  James  Edmund  Callaway 
returned  home. 

For  nearly  forty  years  he  had  lived  with  his  wife, 
Mary  E.  Link  Callaway,  whom  he  had  married  at  Paris, 
Illinois,  on  January  16,  1866,  and  who  was  a daughter 
of  Nehemiah  and  Emeline  Vaught  Link,  the  family 
being  one  of  the  old  and  prominent  ones  of  Paris. 
Mrs.  Callaway  still  resides  in  Virginia  City.  The  chil- 
dren of  whom  she  and  the  colonel  were  the  parents  were 
four  in  number,  three  sons  and  a daughter.  Llewellyn 
L.  Callaway,  who  was  born  December  15.  1868,  has 
gratified  his  father  by  also  following  the  profession  of 
law,  in  which  he  has  been  signally  successful.  He  re- 
sides at  Virginia  City  and  is  now  judge  of  the  fifth 
judicial  district.  The  daughter,  Mary  Ethelwyn,  who 
was  born  December  26,  1872,  died  February  10,  1878. 
Edmund  J.,  born  December  31,  1880,  was  graduated 
from  the  law  school  of  the  University  of  Nebraska  at 
Lincoln,  has  since  been  married  and  now  resides  at 
Dillon,  where  he  is  a prominent  attorney.  George  R., 
the  third  son,  who  was  born  September  14,  1^3,  is 
secretary  of  the  Montana  State  College  at  Bozeman. 

Colonel  Callaway’s  social  attitude  and  the  quality 
of  social  esteem  of  which  he  was  the  recipient  call 
for  especial  remark.  Radical  Republican  though  he 
was,  never  did  he  permit  political  differences  to  inter- 
fere with  or  to  limit  his  friendships,  and  he  experienced 
peculiar  joy  in  the  fact  that  he  had  as  many  friends 
among  the  Democrats  as  amonsf  those  of  his  own 
party.  As  a member  of  the  fraternal  society  of  the 


1028 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


Masons,  he  was  of  most  exceptionally  high  rank,  be- 
ing a member  of  the  blue  lodge  and  of  the  com- 
mandery;  holding  the  position  of  grand  lecturer  of  the 
Montana  jurisdiction;  serving  as  junior  grand  warden 
for  one  year  and  as  worshipful  master  of  his  lodge  for 
four  years;  and  taking  class  generally  as  a very  prom- 
inent Mason.  His  friendships,  however,  were  liinited 
by  socially  conventional  lines  no  more  than  by  political 
limitations.  All  men  with  morally  clean  hands  he  was 
glad  to  count  within  the  bounds  of  bis  comradeship. 
Southern  to  the  core,  he  was  quick  to  resent  an  injury, 
but  was  also  quick  to  forget  and  was  generous  to 
enemies  as  to  friends.  As  an  officer  honored  by  nation, 
state  and  private  soldier;  as  a lawyer  of  bigh_  rank 
in  the  exceptionally  able  bar  of  Montana’s  territorial 
days ; as  a statesman  and  parliamentarian  invaluable 
in  the  era  of  our  voung  statehood ; but,  most  of  all,  as 
a man,  genuine  in  fibre  and  white  in  the  soul  of  him, 
do  friends,  acquaintenances,  colleagues  speak  with 
something  more  than  ordinary  affection  the  name  of 
James  Edmund  Callaway. 

March  Sorenson.  Ten  miles  west  of  the  city  of 
Billings,  Montana,  lies  the  256-acre  ranch  of  Marce 
Sorenson,  one  of  the  prominent  agriculturists  of  the 
Yellowstone  valley,  who  after  many  years  of  hard,  in- 
dustrious labor  and  many  discouragements  has  achieved 
success  in  his  chosen  line  of  endeavor.  Mr.  Soren- 
son is  a native  of  that  country  which  has  contributed 
largely  to  the  best  citizenship  of  this  section,  having 
been  born  at  Jylland,  Denmark,  August  25,  1855,  a 
son  of  Marce  and  Anna  Marie  (Olson)  Sorenson. 
Mr.  Sorenson’s  father  was  a weaver  by  trade,  and 
also  served  as  a soldier  in  the  Danish  army,  during 
the  war  between  Prussia  and  Denmark  in  1847-49. 
and  his  wife,  who  died  when  Marce  was  eleven  jears 
old,  had  six  children,  of  whom  two  are  living:  Marce, 
and  Marie,  who  is  the  wife  of  John  Johnson  and  re- 
sides in  Montana. 

Marce  Sorenson  received  his  elementary  education  • 
in  the  schools  of  his  native  country,  but  when  he  was 
only  fifteen  years  of  age,  accompanied  by  his  small 
sister,  Marie,  he  took  passage  in  the  steamship  “Col- 
orado,” and  eventually  landed  at  New  York  City.  At 
that  time  he  had  an  aunt  living  in  Montana,  Mrs. 
Anna  Martin,  who  owned  a ranch  at  Jefferson  Island 
and  the  little  emigrants  started  for  the  west,  taking 
the  train  to  Ogden,  Utah,  at  that  time  the  terminus 
of  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad.  There  they  were  met 
by  S.  R.  Miller  and  his  wife,  who  had  come  to  meet 
them  from  Jefferson  Island,  Montana,  and  at  that  place 
Mr.  Sorenson  worked  for  Mr.  Miller  for  two  years, 
being  the  only  boy  herding  cattle  in  the  Butte  valley 
in  1871.  During  this  time  he  made  the  acquaintance 
of  a number  of  men  who  became  prominent  in  later 
years,  among  them  being  John  Noyes,  Myron  Bijnard, 
Sen.  W.  A.  Clark  and  Wilbur  Fisk  Sanders,  and  di;ove 
the  eminent  Dr.  Tracey,  one  of  the  pioneer  physicians 
of  Montana,  over  the  mountains  from  Butte  to  Harrison. 
After  he  had  left  Mr.  Miller’s  employ,  Mr.  Soren- 
son secured  work  at  day  wages,  and  as  he  was  thrifty 
and  economical  soon  saved  enough  to  invest  in  a few 
calves.  To  these  he  added  as  rapidly  as  he  could 
secure  funds,  and  eventually  engaged  in  the  cattle  busi- 
ness on  his  own  account,  continuing  successfully  , there- 
in in  the  counties  of  Jefferson  and  Madison  until  1884. 
At  that  time  Mr.  Sorenson  went  to  southern  Iowa, 
where  he  purchased  a farm  and  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits,  but  there  he  encountered  a number  of  dis- 
couragements and  misfortunes,  and  eventually  lost  all 
that  his  hard  labor  bad  earned  for  him.  Although  some- 
what disheartened,  he  did  not  give  up,  but  in  June,  1895, 
returned  to  Montana  and  again  began  to  work  for 
wages,  after  he  had  spent  two  years  in  a visit  to 
Denmark.  In  1896  he  located  on  his  present  property, 
situated  in  the  Yellowstone  valley,  ten  miles  from 


Billings,  where  he  now  has  his  256  acres  in  a fine 
state  of  cultivation  and  thoroughly  irrigated.  His 
buildings  are  substantial  and  of  modern  architecture, 
and  are  supplied  with  all  equipment  and  appurtenances 
necessary  to  carrying  on  the  business  of  ranching.  He 
has  a young  orchard  of  two  hundred  apple  trees,  raises 
wheat,  oats  and  alfalfa,  and  also  gives  a great  deal  of 
attention  to  raising  fine  horses.  Mr.  Sorenson  has  given 
his  children  a good  educational  training,  and  that  he 
has  not  neglected  to  fit  them  for  the  serious  business 
of  life  was  demonstrated  in  the  summer  of  1911,  when 
his  two  sons,  Harry  and  Lester,  aged  fourteen  and 
fifteen  years,  respectively,  raised  over  $3,500  worth  of 
wheat,  oats  and  alfalfa  on  156  acres  of  land.  In 
political  matters  Mr.  Sorenson  is  a stanch  Democrat, 
and  that  he  stands  high  in  the  esteem  of  his  fellow 
citizens  was  made  evident  in  November,  1910,  when 
he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  county  commissioner. 
Yellowstone  county  is  one  of  the  leading  strongholds 
of  Republicanism  in  the  state,  and  Mr.  Sorenson  was 
the  only  Democrat  on  the  ticket  to  be  elected  to  county 
office.  He  is  a member  of  Billings  Lodge  No.  394, 
B.  P.  O.  E.,  and  for  several  years  has  belonged  to  the 
Brotherhood  of  American  Yeomen. 

In  1884  Mr.  Sorenson  was  married  (first)  to  MisS 
Lizzie  Gaulter,  who  was  born  in  Utab  and  died  in 
1891,  having  been  the  mother  of  three  children : Lewis 
M.,  who  is  engaged  in  beet  raising  on  an  eighty-acre 
tract  situated  five  miles  from  the  city  of  Billings,  and 
married  Hazel  Brennan ; Frederick,  who  died  when 
seven  years  of  age ; and  Phoebe,  who  died  in  infancy. 
After  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  who  passed  away  at 
Lamoni,  Iowa,  Mr.  Sorenson  left  his  two  sons,  Lewis 
M.  and  Frederick,  at  Lamoni,  and  took  a trip  to  his 
native  place.  He  was  there  married  in  1894  to  Miss 
Sophy  Amalie  Jacobsen,  who  was  born  in  Denmark, 
and  they  have  had  three  children : Harry  Clay,  Lester 
and  Christina  A.,  all  at  home. 

In  the  life  of  Marce  Sorenson  there  is  presented  a 
lesson  for  the  youth  of  any  land;  something  to  be 
found  in  it  of  a nature  encouraging  to  the  yt  ung  as- 
pirant, who,  without  friends  or  fortune,  is  struggling 
to  overcome  obstacles  in  his  efforts  to  acquire  a com- 
fortable competence,  if  not  absolute  wealth.  Mr.  Sor- 
enson has  met  his  share  of  discouragements  and  dis- 
appointments, but  has  never  allowed  bimself  to  falter, 
and  the  poor  emigrant  youth  of  forty  years  ago  has 
developed  into  one  of  the  most  substantial  and  highly 
esteemed  men  of  his  community.  While  his  business 
activities  have  kept  him  very  busy,  he  has  not  denied 
himself  the  pleasure  of  companionship  with  his  fellow 
men,  and  in  his  wide  circle  of  acquaintances  there  are 
many  who  recognize  his  admirable  qualities  and  are 
proud  to  call  him  friend. 

William  Coleman.  Coming  as  a boy  into  the  state 
of  Montana  and  immediately  identifying  himself  with 
the  life  that  was  most  typically  hers  during  pioneer 
days,  by  becoming  a miner,  William  Coleman  has  been 
for  forty-six  years  a resident  of  the  state.  From 
mining  he  drifted  into  a branch  of  the  mercantile 
trade  and  has  made  an  unquestionable  success  of  bis 
business.  Not  only  a pioneer  in  the  commonwealth 
and  in  a business  way,  but  also  in  matters  pertaining 
to  the  welfare  of  the  community,  Mr.  Coleman  through 
his  progressive  ideas  and  his  energy  in  carrying  them 
out  has  done  much  for  Deer  Lodge,  where  he  makes 
his  home. 

William  Coleman  was  born  in  Germantown,  Ohio, 
January  25,  1847,  the  third  son  and  fourth  child  in  a 
family  of  six  children.  Plis  parents  were  John  and 
Mary  (Boyer)  Coleman  and  he  is  descended  from  a 
long  line  of  pioneer  ancestors.  His  grandmother, 
Mary  Schaeffer  Boyer,  was  a granddaughter  of  that 
early  Pennsylvanian,  who  owned  and  sold  the  large 
tract  of  land  now  largely  occupied  by  the  present  city 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1029 


of  Germantown,  Pennsylvania.  Selling  this  land  at 
what  he  considered  an  advantageous  price,  he  removed 
his  family  and  effects  to  another  extensive  tract  which 
he  had  purchased  in  the  interior  of  the  state.  That 
region  was  at  the  time  of  his  locating  within  it  a 
frontier  section  of  Pennsylvania.  Indian  raids  were 
not  unusual  and  one  such  attack  resulted  in  the  death 
of  this  pioneer  and  his  wife  at  the  hands  of  the  sav- 
ages. Their  two  children,  Catherine  and  an  infant 
sister,  were  seized  by  the  Indians  and  carried  away 
by  them.  The  younger  sister  soon  died  from  exposure, 
but  the  girl  Catherine  for  seven  years  remained  in 
captivity.  Being  a young  woman  of  more  than  ordi- 
nary intelligence  and  force  of  character,  she  won  a 
remarkable  degree  of  respect  and  deference  frorn  her 
wild  captors.  Her  understanding  of  the  medicinal 
efficacy  of  various  herbs  added  to  the  high  esteem  in 
which  she  was  held  and  she  became  a noted  doctress 
among  the  members  of  the  tribe,  who  greatly  prized 
her  services.  This  band — probably  the  Miami  In- 
dians— in  their  wanderings  traversed  an  extensive  part 
of  southern  Ohio.  It  was  while  they  were  in  that  part 
of  the  country  that  the  Pennsylvaiiia  girl  captive,  who 
was  permitted  much  liberty  in  going  about  to  gather 
her  herbs,  was  one  day  surprised  to  hear  the  sound  of 
hammering.  Tracing  the  sound  for  some  distance, 
she  came  to  the  bank  of  a stream,  down  which  a raft 
was  about  to  be  floated  by  some  white  men.  Aston- 
ished to  see  a young  white  woman  in  Indian  garb,  they 
listened  with  eager  interests  to  the  story  of  her  cap- 
tivity and  endeavored  to  persuade  her  to  join  them 
in  order  to  secure  her  liberty.  But  she  preferred  re- 
maining among  her  respectful  and  considerate  captors 
to  joining  strangers  of  whom  she  knew  nothing.  She 
requested  these  men,  however,  to  report  her  predic- 
ament to  authorities  who  should  enter  into  negotia- 
tions with  the  Indians  for  her  release.  In  the  course 
of  time  that  end  was  accomplished,  her  leave  taking  of 
this  Miami  band  being  accompanied  with  gifts  of  valu- 
able trinkets  and  other  highly  prized  articles.  Return- 
ing to  the  friends  of  her  family  in  Pennsylvania,  she 
resurned  the  habits  of  civilization  and  was  later  married 
to  a young  man  named  Schaeffer.  One  of  her  daugh- 
ters, Mary  Schaeffer,  became  Mrs.  George  Boyer,  and 
with  her  Catherine  Schaeffer  lived  in  the  days  of  her 
widowhood.  It  was  then  that  her  reminiscences  of  the 
fine  country  to  the  west,  in  which  the  Indians  had 
lived  and  hunted,  aroused  such  interest  that  in  1804 
a colony  of  emigrants  from  that  section  of  Pennsyl- 
vania migrated  to  Ohio.  Their  long  journey  by  wagon 
was  one  in  which  this  lady  acted  to  a great  extent  as 
guide.  She  it  was  who  named  the  new  settlement 
in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  with  the  same  name  as 
that  given  to  the  village  of  her  father’s  early  com- 
munity. Catherine  Schaeffer  lived  in  Germantown, 
Ohio,  to  the  end  of  her  life,  rendering  valuable  service 
through  her  knowledge  of  medicine  and  of  life  in  a 
new,  wild  region.  That  colony  included  among  its 
other  settlers  George  Coleman,  whose  son,  John,  later 
married  Mary  Boyer,  a daughter  of  Mary  Schaeffer 
Boyer  and  a eranHaughter  of  Catherine  Schaeffer. 

George  Coleman  was  the  father  of  eleven  children, 
among  them  five  sons,  of  whom  John  Coleman  was 
the  third.  His  marriage  to  Mary  Boyer  took  place 
on  April  15,  1835.  Of  the  six  children  of  John  and 
Mary  Coleman,  two  sons,  William  and  Lewis,  became 
Montana  pioneers,  thus  continuing  the  family  tradi- 
tion made  notable  by  their  grandfather,  George  Cole- 
man, their  distinguished  ancestress,  Catherine  Schaef- 
fer, and  their  earlier  progenitor  of  Germantown  his- 
tory. 

William  Coleman  was  a student  in  the  public  schools 
of  Germantown.  Ohio,  until  he  reached  the  age  of 
seventeen,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  Federal  army,  first  as 
a drummer,  but  soon  discarding  the  drum  for  the  rifle, 
he  became  a member  of  Company  E,  One  Hundred 


and  Thirty-first  Regiment  of  Ohio  Volunteers.  He  re- 
mained with  this  company  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
being  so  fortunate  as  to  receive  only  one  wound,  a 
slight  one  obtained  in  a skirmish.  At  the  end  of  the 
war  he  returned  home  and  with  his  older  brother, 
Lewis,  set  out  for  Montana  in  March,  1866.  They 
went  by  rail  as  far  as  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  and  were 
joined  there  by  a comrade  of  Lewis  Coleman’s,  J.  T. 
Clark,  of  the  Second  Colorado  Cavalry.  They  pur- 
chased between  them  a mule  team  and  outfit,  and  on 
the  i2th  of  March,  1866,  they  left  Kansas  City  en 
route  for  Montana.  Their  way  led  them  along  the 
famous  old  Santa  Fe  trail  as  far  as  Pueblo,  Colorado. 
There  they  crossed  to  Cherry  Creek,  thence  to  Den- 
ver, where  they  secured  more  supplies  and  after  a 
rest  of  several  days,  a respite  of  which  both  their  mules 
and  they  themselves  stood  in  sore  need,  they  started 
on  again,  over  the  emigrant  (Mormon)  road,  head- 
ing for  Salt  Lake.  From  the  latter  place  they  fol- 
lowed the  Cash  Valley  to  Alder  Gulch,  Virginia  City, 
arriving  in  the  mining  town  in  July,  1866,  having 
been  four  months  and  four  days  in  making  the  jour- 
ney. During  this  long  trip  each  night  they  were  com- 
pelled to  picket  their  mules  and  mount  guard  over  the 
wagon  and  outfit,  each  taking  turn  at  this  duty. 

At  this  time  gold  had  just  been  discovered  at  High- 
land Gulch,  and  the  team  of  the  brothers  was  the  fifth 
to  cross  the  hills  into  that  section  of  the  country. 
Leaving  his  brother  Lewis  at  Highland  Gulch,  William 
Coleman  with  a party  of  four  went  into  the  Big  Hole, 
and  until  fall  prospected  the  tributaries  of  the  Wise 
river,  but  finding  that  gold  was  not  to  be  had  in  pay- 
ing quantities  he  returned  to  Highland.  It  was  while 
on  this  trip  that  Mr.  Coleman  discovered  the  Ruby 
Gulch,  and  it  was  while  he  was  away  from  his  brother 
that  he  prospected  in  Rochester,  Camp  Creek  and 
Soap  Gulch.  In.  1868  he  made  another  trip  into  the  Big 
Hole  country,  which  at  the  time  was  alive  with  game 
of  every  description  and  infested  with  Indians,  who 
were,  however,  peaceably  inclined.  He  had  the  mis- 
fortune to  be  taken  ill  with  mountain  fever,  and  the 
party  was  forced  to  camp  under  a fir  tree  for  two 
weeks  or  more,  the  sick  man  being  made  as  comfortable 
as  possible  on  a bed  of  pine  boughs.  As  soon  as  he 
was  able  to  be  moved  they  carried  him  for  thirty 
miles,  taking  ten  days  to  make  the  journey,  to  a house 
occupied  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Forest.  There  he  slowly 
recovered  and  when  he  was  able  to  sit  on  a horse’s 
back,  made  his  way  once  more  to  Highland  Gulch. 

His  next  mining  venture  was  to  Loom  Creek,  Idaho, 
where  with  two  other  men,  Charles  Ladeau  and  Dan 
McKeever,  he  prospected  for  a time  but  found  nothing. 
He  then  returned  for  supplies  to  Salmon  City,  and 
while  there  was  joined  by  Dr.  McCann,  and  together 
they  prospected  the  tributaries  of  the  Lemhi  river, 
but  were  not  successful  and  returned  by  way  of  Fort 
Lemhi  over  the  Range.  He  then  prospected  with 
equal  lack  of  success  about  the  headquarters  of  Horse 
Prairie.  Coming  thence  to  Bannack  City,  he  began 
mining  alone,  and  building  a suction  pump,  which  was 
the  first  introduced  in  this  region,  he  succeeded  in 
reaching  bed  rock  or  .the  main  channel  of  Grasshop- 
per Creek,  being  the  first  miner  who  had  ever  accom- 
plished this  feat.  Here  he  was  successful,  and  here  he 
remained  until  July  i,  1871.  In  spite  of  all  these  ex- 
periences he  was  only  twenty-four  years  of  age,  and 
was  widely  known  as  the  “Boy  Miner.”  In  1871  he  sold 
his  claims  and  came  to  Deer  Lodge,  Montana,  where 
he  opened  a jewelry  store,  just  a small  place  at  first, 
but  the  pioneer  in  the  town.  His  trade  grew  and  now 
it  is  the  most  important  business  of  its  kind  in  the 
city  and  may  be  compared  favorably  with  any  store  of 
its  kind  in  much  larger  cities. 

In  1872  ]\Ir.  Coleman  established  his  first  branch 
store  at  Pioneer,  and  in  1875  be  established  a second 
at  Philipsburg,  following  these  by  one  in  Butte  in 


1030 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1877  and  another  in  Anaconda  in  1884.  He  has  since 
closed  out  his  branch  stores,  finding  his  business  at 
Deer  Lodge  about  as  much  as  he  cares  to  handle. 

Mr.  Coleman  has  not  given  his  entire  time  to  the 
management  of  his  own  business  by  any  means.  He 
was  instrumental  in  bringing  about  the  present  fine 
water  system  of  the  city,  working  for  six  months  in 
the  organization  and  promotion  of  the  company.  The 
Water  Company  was  organized  on  the  ist  of  Octo- 
ber. 1886,  the  officers  now  being  N.  J.  Beilenberg,  presi- 
dent; Willard  Bennett,  vice-president;  and  William 
Coleman,  secretary  and  treasurer.  He  evinced  the 
greatest  activity  in  this  work,  giving  the  erectiori  of 
the  works  his  personal  attention.  He  later  aroused 
interest  in  the  prospect  of  bringing  electricity  to  the 
city,  and  worked  as  hard  in  behalf  of  the  Electric 
Light  Company  as  he  had  for  the  water  company. 

Mr.  Coleman  has  many  other  interests,  including 
valuable  mining  interests  in  Montana,  and  particularly 
near  Butte.  He  is  also  the  owner  of  much  valuable 
landed  property  throughout  the  state,  and  owns  con- 
siderable city  realty,  including  his  handsome  home  in 
Deer  Lodge.  His  life  has  been  eminently  successful, 
not  only  as  a business  man,  but  in  other  ways  that  are 
more  important,  in  the  winning  of  friends  and  the 
regard  of  the  people  with  whom  he  has  been  associated. 

Mr.  Coleman  is  a Republican  and  is  active  in  ad- 
vancing the  interests  of  his  party.  He  married  Miss 
Lucy  Hammond,  of  Grant  county,  Wisconsin,  who 
was  born  November  i,  1858.  They  were  married  on  the 
2nd  of  August.  1875.  Two  children  have  been  horn 
to  them:  Alice,  now  Mrs.  J.  A.  Mulcahy  of  Deer 

Lodge,  and  Joseph  Coleman,  of  Deer  Lodge.  This 
son  married  Miss  Marie  Estelle  Reede,  and  they  have 
■one  child,  Dorothy  Loretta.  The  daughter.  Mrs.  Mul- 
cahy, has  two  children.  Coleman  and  Kathleen. 

The  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  John  Cole- 
man, was  a native  of  Ohio.  He  was  a veteran  of  the 
Mexican  war,  and  served  throughout  that  struggle. 
He  was  a wagon  and  carriage  nianufacturer  and  is 
now  deceased.  The  six  children  of  his  father  and 
mother  were : George  F.,  who  is  now  a retired  farmer 
of  Winchester,  Ohio;  Lavinia,  who  is  Mrs.  Alonzo 
Law,  of  Germantown ; Lewis,  who  died  at  Deer  Lodge 
in  igo8;  Maria,  now  Mrs.  Dan  Kindig,  of  German- 
town ; and  Sarah,  who  married  Peter  E.  Hart,  of  Ger- 
mantown ; William  was  the  fourth  child. 

In  his  early  days  Mr.  Coleman  enjoyed  hunting  and 
fishing  and  all  kinds  of  active  sports.  Now  he  gives 
much  time  to  his  fraternal  and  social  interests.  He 
has  always  been  active  in  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  and  was  the  first  Federal  soldier  who  deco- 
rated a Confederate  soldier's  grave  in  Montana.  BTe 
is  a Mason  and  has  been  treasurer  of  his  lodge  for 
nineteen  years.  He  is  also  an  Odd  Fellow  and  has  been 
treasurer  of  this  lodge  for  twenty-two  years.  His 
wife  and  daughter  and  his  son  and  daughter-in-law 
are  also  communicants  of  the  Episcopal  church  and 
active  workers  in  the  same. 

Mr.  Coleman  and  family  are  representatives  of  the 
highest  type  of  a cultured  family  in  the  state.  He  is 
a pleasing  and  courteous  gentleman.  With  the  wealth 
and  culture  of  himself  and  household  go  also  those 
traits  of  character  that  win  and  keep  the  esteem  of  all 
who  know  them. 

Bismark  Williams.  Among  the  leading  men  of 
Montana  may  be  found  numbers  who  oroudlv  claim 
this  great  state  as  their  native  one.  and  as  they  owe 
a son’s  allegiance,  it  is  given  with  enthusiasm  and 
patriotism,  for  the  loyal  sentiment  of  love  of  birth- 
place is  essentially  American.  Broadwater  county  has 
a notable  native  citizenship  and  a leading  representa- 
tive of  this  class  is  Bismark  Williams,  who  is  serving 
in  the  office  of  county  treasurer  of  Broadwater  county 
and  is  a member  of  the  society  of  Sons  and  Daugh- 


ters of  Montana  Pioneers.  Mr.  Williams  is  a resident 
of  Townsend,  Montana,  but  was  born  at  Radersburg, 
Montana,  January  10,  1871.  He  is  a son  of  W.  U.  and 
Mrs.  Malicia  (Pool)  Williams. 

W.  U.  Williams  was  born  in  1838,  in  Alaine,  of  an 
early  settled  family  of  the  Pine  Tree  state.  He  re- 
mained on  his  father’s  farm  until  old  enough  to  safely 
handle  tools  and  then  learned  the  cabinetmaking  trade, 
which  he  followed  until  his  attention  became  attracted 
toward  the  west.  In  1867  he  accompanied  a wagon 
train  that  crossed  the  plains  to  Alder  Gulch,  now  Vir- 
ginia City,  and  suffered  many  of  the  hardships  that 
attended  the  early  pioneers.  For  one  year  he  pros- 
pected around  Alder  Gulch  and  in  1868  took  up  a 
claim  in  what  is  now  Broadwater  county  and  for  a 
number  of  years  afterward  engaged  in  stock  raising 
in  Crow  Creek  valley.  After  selling  his  ranch  he 
retired  to  Radersburg,  where  he  still  resides. 

W.  _U.  Williams  married  Mrs.  Malicia  Pool,  who 
died  in  March,  1893,  on  her  husband’s  ranch  in  Crow 
Creek  valley.  She  was  a widow  at  time  of  marriage 
to  Air.  Williams  and  had  two  daughters : Laura,  who  is 
now  Mrs.  John  Ross,  of  Tostan,  Montana;  and  Alice, 
who  is  Mrs.  Aaron  Schaaf.  residing  at  Lewistown, 
Montana.  To  her  second  marriage  three  sons  were 
born,  namely : William  S.,  who  is  a mine  owner  liv- 
ing at  Radersburg;  Frank  L.,  who  is  a mine  foreman 
and  superintendent,  residing  at  Radersburg;  and  Bis- 
mark. 

Bismark  Williams  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Radersburg  and  Crow  Creek  and  at  the  age  of  nineteen 
years  became  a farmer  and  stock  raiser  on  his  own 
account.  He  operated  in  Broadwater  county  for  four 
years  by  himself  and  then  sold  a one-half  interest  in 
his  ranch  and  stock  to  his  brother,  William  S.  He 
was  then  appointed  rural  mail  carrier  and  served  in 
that  capacity  for  four  years,  until  1896,  and  afterward, 
for  two  years  devoted  himself  entirely  to  work  on 
his  ranch.  From  1898  until  1900  he  served  as  post- 
master at  Radersburg,  and  from  1900  until  1904  fol- 
lowed mining  and  prospecting  in  Broadwater  county. 
In  the  fall  of  the  latter  year  he  was  elected  assessor 
for  the  county  and  served  out  a term  of  four  years 
and  then  resumed  private  business,  moving  to  the 
National  Park  and  embarking  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness, which  he  conducted  successfully  for  two  years, 
at  the  end  of  which  time  he  was  again  called  to  public 
office,  being  elected  county  treasurer.  For  this  impor- 
tant office  he  is  well  qualified  in  every  way  and  is  a 
man  of  responsibility  and  of  ample  means,  owning,  in 
addition  to  his  ranch  lands,  valuable  realty  at  Raders- 
burg and  at  Townsend. 

On  January  19,  1898,  Mr.  Williams  was  married  to 
Aliss  Mertie  Doughty,  a native  of  Radersburg,  like 
himself,  and  they  have  an  interesting  little  school-girl 
daughter  of  eleven  years.  Hattie  AI.  Mr.  Williams  is 
active  in  the  order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  has  passed  all 
the  chairs  in  the  local  lodge.  He  is  one  of  the  influen- 
tial members  of  the  Democratic  party  in  this  section. 

Epgar  Moore  Hall,  of  the  firm  of  Gunn,  Rasch  & 
Hall,  one  of  the  leading  law  firms  of  this  part  of  the 
state,  is  a native  son  of  Montana  and  of  the  type  which 
the  commonwealth  is  particularly  proud  to  claim  as  its 
own.  His  father,  Joseph  E.  Hall,  became  identified 
with  Montana  some  twenty-five  years  before  it  was  ad- 
mitted to  statehood,  and  by  heritage  and  personal  in- 
clination the  subject  is  loyal  to  its  institutions.  He  is 
the  scion  of  one  of  the  oldest  American  families,  the 
arrival  of  the  Halls  on  these  shores  having  little  ante- 
dated the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims  and  the  records  bear 
the  names  of  a goodly  number  of  soldiers  and  patriots, 
whose  staunch  characteristics  are  reflected  in  the  per- 
sonality of  the  gentleman. 

Air.  Hall  was  born  in  Diamond  City,  January  1871. 
His  father,  Joseph  E.  Plall,  was  a native  of  Holmes 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1031 


county,  Ohio,  born  July  23,  1834,  and  this  venerable 
gentleman  is  now  a resident  of  Bozeman,  Montana.  He 
came  to  the  state  in  1864  and  first  located  in  Virginia 
City,  but  left  there  in  the  following  year  and  pme 
overland  to  Diamond  City,  where  he  engaged  in  mining 
until  1875.  During  later  years  he  followed  ranching  and 
real  estate,  and  for  some  time  past  has  been  retired. 
He  has  been  a prominent  man  and  has,  with  credit,  held 
several  important  public  trusts.  In  Meagher  county, 
when  Diamond  City  was  the  county  seat,  he  was  for  five 
years  clerk  of  the  court  and  in  his  earlier  life  he  was  at 
all  times  active  and  interested  in  politics.  He  was  the 
friend  and  supporter  of  Colonel  Sanders,  his  loyalty  to 
that  gentleman  being  of  the  highest  type.  He  was  an 
adherent  of  the  men  and  measures  of  the  Republican 
party,  a member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  and  a 
Mason,  belonging  to  Diamond  City  Lodge,  No.  7.  He 
went  west  in  1859,  when  great  sections  of  the  country 
were  still  wilderness  and  adventure  lay  waiting  at  every 
turn  in  the  road,  and  he  lived  the  life  of  the  western 
pioneer  with  its  attending  hardships  and  deprivations. 
He  lived  in  New  Mexico  for  a time  and  then  removed  to 
Colorado,  where  he  engaged  in  mining  and  prospecting. 
He  took  as  his  wife  Nannie  Moore,  who  was  born  in 
Shelby  county,  Missouri,  April  8,  1839,  his  union  to  her 
being  celebrated  in  Helena  in  1868.  Mrs.  Hall  came  to 
Montana  in  1865,  with  her  widowed  mother  and  a 
younger  brother,  then  seventeen  years  of  age,  the  jour- 
ney having  been  made  overland  with  ox-teams  and 
having  been  attended  with  many  hardships.  They  came 
direct  to  Diamond  City.  The  grandmother  died  No- 
vember 16,  1868,  in  Diamond  City,  and  there  the  re- 
mains of  that  good  and  brave  woman  are  interred.  Mrs. 
Hall  is  a woman  of  strong  character,  an  advocate  of 
temperance  and  one  of  the  sturdy  pioneer  women  of 
Montana.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hall  are  members  of  the 
Society  of  Montana  Pioneers.  Edgar  Moore  is  the 
eldest  of  the  three  children  born  to  them.  The  second 
son,  Fred  Brant,  born  June  12,  1874,  in  Diamond  City, 
resides  with  his  parents  at  Bozeman  and  the  youngest, 
Harry,  born  at  Hall’s  Ranch  on  the  Musselshell,  October 
I,  1880,  met  with  a tragic  death  by  drowning  in  the 
Musselshell  river  at  the  age  of  two  and  a half  years. 

Edgar  Moore  Hall  received  his  early  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  White  Sulphur  Springs  and  was 
graduated  from  the  high  school  with  the  class  of  1891. 
In  the  meantime  he  had  come  to  the  decision  to  adopt 
the  law  as  his  profession,  and  in  the  fall  of  the  year 
mentioned  he  entered  the  law  department  of_  the  Uni- 
versity of  Michigan,  and  from  that  noted  institution 
received  the  degree  of  LL.  B.  in  1893'.  He  was 
a member  of  Delta  Chi  fraternity  in  the  University  of 
Michigan.  Subsequent  to  that  he  removed  to  Lewiston, 
Montana,  and  there  hung  out  his  professional  shingle  in 
association  with  E.  W.  Morrison,  one  of  the  mosj  prom- 
ising of  Lewiston  attorneys,  with  whom  he  remained  as- 
sociated for  a short  period.  He  next  removed  to  Nei- 
hart.  Cascade  county,  and  practiced  there  for  a year, 
but  in  May,  1895,  went  to  Big  Timber,  shortly  after  the 
creation  of  Sweetgrass  county.  He  continued  in  Big 
Timber  for  a decade,  until  January,  I905>  'p  that  place 
developing  his  legal  powers  and  enjoying  high  standing 
in  the  community,  which  looked  upon  his  departure  as 
in  the  nature  of  a calamity.  . . 

On  the  first  of  January,  1905,  Mr.  Hall  became  a citi- 
zen of  Helena,  entering  the  office  and  becoming  assistant 
to  Attorney  General  Albert  J.  Galen,  and  filling  the 
position  of  assistant  attorney  general  until  July  p 
Since  then  he  has  been  engaged  in  private  practice  and 
formed  a partnership  with  M.  S.  Gunn,  the  firm  now  be- 
ing known  as  Gunn,  Rasch  & Hall,  with  offices  in  the 
Treacy  building.  They  carry  on  a general  practice  and 
the  firm  is  also  counsel  for  the  Northern  Pacific  Rail- 
road Company,  for  the  state  of  Montana,  and  the  fame 
of  their  ability  is  by  no  means  bounded  by  the  limits  of 
Helena  or  Lewis  and  Clarke  county.  i\Ir.  Hall  had 


known  preferment  before  coming  to  Helena  and  wasi 
county  attorney  of  Sweetgrass  county  for  three  terms, 
being  elected  in  the  fall  of  1898  and  serving  until  Jan- 
uary I,  1905.  Preceding  that,  he  was  deputy  county 
clerk  at  Big  Timber. 

Mr.  Hall  is  a leading  member  of  the  ancient  and 
august  Masonic  order,  belonging  to  Doric  Lodge,  No.  53, 
at  Big  Timber,  where  he  is  a charter  member.  He  has 
passed  all  the  chairs  and  is  a past  master,  but  is  affiliated 
only  with  the  Blue  Lodge.  He  is  also  a member  of  the 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks  and  belongs 
to  the  Montana  Club.  His  faith  is  that  of  the  Presby- 
terian church.  In  politics  he  is  of  Republican  convic- 
tion and  until  within  the  past  year  and  a half  was 
active  in  party  affairs,  his  influence  being  very  definite. 
His  practice,  however,  has  grown  to  such  proportion 
that  he  has  little  time  for  anything  else. 

Mr.  Hall  was  married  June  5,  1907,  at  Helena,  Mon- 
tana, to  Agnes  May  MacDonald,  daughter  of  Alexander 
MacDonald,  a Montana  pioneer.  That  gentleman,  now 
deceased,  constructed  and  operated  what  was  known  as 
MacDonald’s  pass  toll  road  between  Helena  and  Mis- 
soula. He  was  formerly  engaged  in  mining.  Mrs. 
Hall  was  born  in  Lewis  and  Clarke  county  May  29,  1881. 
They  have  two  interesting  children : Genevieve,  born 
January  10,  ic^,  and  Edgar  MacDonald,  born  April  4, 
1911,  both  natives  of  Helena. 

The  subject’s  paternal  ancestors  were  of  English  ex- 
traction and  Thomas  Hall,  the  founder  of  the  American 
branch  of  the  family,  crossed  the  Atlantic  early  in  the 
seventeenth  century,  locating  in  Connecticut.  The  great- 
grandfather and  the  grandfather  served  in  the  Revolu- 
tion and  the  War  of  1812,  respectively.  Mr.  Hall  has  in 
his  possession  an  original  document  of  discharge  for 
the  great-grandfather,  Thomas  Hall,  after  seven  years’ 
service  in  the  Continental  army,  the  same  being  signed 
by  George  Washington.  The  maternal  ancestors  came 
from  Scotland  and  settled  in  America  early  in  the  eigh- 
teenth century,  making  their  home  in  Virginia. 

Mr.  Hall  is  a member  of  the  Lewis  and  Clarke  Bar 
Association  and  of  the  Montana  State  Bar  Association. 
He  has  no  particular  hobbies,  nor  is  his  happiness  de- 
pendent upon  any  particular  diversion,  his  greatest 
pleasure  being  in  his  home  in  the  company  of  his  wife 
and  children.  His  residence,  an  attractive  and  hospitable 
one,  is  located  at  443  Clark  street. 

Rev.  Lawrence  Palladino,  S.  J.  The  beloved 
father,  whose  scholarly  attainments  have  given  him  a 
place  among  the  thinkers  of  the  country.  Rev.  Law- 
rence Benedict  Palladino,  was  born  in  Dilecto,  a small 
village  in  the  Appenines,  about  thirty  miles  from 
Genoa,  Italy,  on  the  15th  of  August,  _ 1837.  His 
parents  were  Julius  and  Magdalene  (Recci)  Palladino, 
who  lived  and  died  in  their  Italian  country.  After 
a course  of  private  instruction  at  home.  Father  Pal- 
ladino entered  the  Petit  Seminaire  at  Genoa.  Owing 
to  the  fact  that  his  health  was  not  robust,  he  was  sent 
to  the  diocese  of  Tortoro,  to  continue  his  studies  at 
Stazzlus.  He  early  decided  to  take  holy  orders,  and 
in  1855  entered  the  Society  of  Jesus  as  a novice. 
His  philosophical  studies  were  conducted  in  Italy  and 
at  Felkirch  in  the  German'  Tyrol.  For  his  course  in 
theology,  he  went  to  Lyons,  France,  completing  his 
course  at  Monaco.  He  was  ordained  at  Nice  in  1863, 
and  the  same  year  was  ’ sent  to  California  to  be 
professor  of  Latin  and  Greek  at  St.  Ignatius’  College 
in  San  Francisco.  From  here  Reverend  Palladino 
was  sent  to  Santa  Clara  and  until  1867  was  minister 
in  the  college  in  that  city,  leaving  it  in  that  year  to 
engage  in  missionary  work  in  the  Flathead  country 
of  Montana. 

For  four  years.  Father  Palladino  was  in  charge  of 
the  St.  Ignatius  Mission  on  the  reservation,  and  then 
in  1871  was  sent  to  Helena,  where  he  labored  until 
1887,  when  he  was  recalled  to  St.  Ignatius  Mission, 


1032 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


and  was  given  charge  of  the  work  there  and  also  of 
the  Missoula  valley.  From  this  post,  he  was  again 
sent  to  Helena,  remaining  six  years  this  time,  when 
he  was  called  to  Spokane  to  be  president  of  Gonzaga 
College.  He  held  this  position  one  term  and  then  was 
transferred  to  Seattle  for  one  year.  For  the  following 
eight  years,  he  had  charge  of  the  parish  of  Missoula, 
and  after  a few  years  in  Idaho  and  North  Yakima, 
Washington,  he  was  sent  back  to  this  cit}^  in  1910, 
to  become  assistant  pastor  in  the  parish  in  which 
he  had  so  endeared  himself  in  previous  }'ears. 

Father  Palladino  has  been  active  in  literary  pursuits 
as  well  as  in  the  duties  of  his  priestly  office.  One  of 
his  most  interesting  works  is  “Indian  and  White  in 
the  Northwest.”  It  is  a masterly  presentation  of  the 
achievements  of  the  two  races  in  the  region,  printed 
in  an  octavo  volume.  The  first  edition  of  the  book  is 
aljout  exhausted,  and  the  second  is  in  preparation. 
In  addition  to  this  valuable  historical  work.  Father 
Palladino  has  been  a frequent  contributor  to  the  maga- 
zines and  has  written  a number  of  devotional  works. 
As  a writer,  he  is  clear  and  forceful  in  style,  and  these 
qualities  also  characterize  him  as  a speaker.  He  has 
made  a careful  study  of  the  early  history  of  the  North- 
west, and  is  a recognized  authority  on  Indian  history. 
He  was  for  some  ten  or  twelve  years  vicar  gen- 
eral in  the  diocese  of  Helena  under  Bishop  Bronder. 

The  work  of  the  early  missionaries  of  the  church 
among  the  Indians  deserves  a volume  in  itself.  Men 
of  the  highest  attainments  in  scholarship  and  of  the 
finest  culture,  cheerfully  gave  the  best  years  of  their 
lives  to  the  work  of  uplifting  the  aborigines,  and 
one  of  the  men  who  has  done  much  in  this  field  is 
Father  Palladino.  Characteristically,  he  gives  the  praise 
to  his  order,  and  claims  no  personal  credit  for  his 
years  of  sacrifice  and  toil.  From  the  earliest  begin- 
nings of  Montana  history,  there  have  been  priests  who 
have  lived  the  life  of  sacrifice,  and  who  have  con- 
secrated themselves  to  the  service  of  the  race : “re- 
joicing in  hope,  patient  in  tribulation,  continuing  in- 
stant in  prayer,  distributing  to  the  necessities  of  the 
saints,  given  to  hospitality,”  and  it  is  to  this  noble 
band  of  valiant  souls  that  Father  Palladino  belongs. 
He  felt  it  no  hardship  to  leave  the.  college  work  for 
which  his  training  and  intellect  had  so  admirably  fitted 
him.  and  to  go  among  the  savages,  and  truly  the  fruits 
of  that  ministry  have  justified  the  sacrifice.  Father 
Palladino  is  spending  his  declining  years  among  the 
people  who  love  him,  and  who  appreciate  the  achieve- 
ments of  his  noble  life,  and  who  enjoy  the  charm  of 
his  genial,  modest  and  lovable  presence. 

Richard  Lockey.  Perhaps  no  man  in  Montana  has  a 
wider  acquaintance  or  occupies  a more  pre-eminent 
position  in  the  affairs  of  that  state  than  Richard  Lockey, 
closely  identified  with  Montana  since  1866,  and  con- 
nected with  its  political  and  industrial  affairs  from  the 
beginning  of  his  acquaintance  here.  His  influence  has 
been  felt  in  nearly  every  avenue  of  public  and  private 
interests.  In  politics,  in  mining  affairs,  in  industrial 
matters,  in  educational  lines,  in  fraternal  circles,  in 
financial  institutions, — in  fact,  in  every  connection  where 
the  presence  of  a master  mind  and  willing  hand  has 
been  in  demand,  there  has  Richard  Lockey  been  found 
at  the  helm. 

Born  in  Yorkshire,  England,  June  ii,  1845,  Richard 
Lockey  was  the  third  child  of  the  nine  who  were  born 
to  his  parents,  John  and  Mary  Lockey,  who  emigrated 
to  America  when  their  son  Richard  was  one  year  old, 
settling  in  Dubuque,  Iowa.  Up  to  his  twelfth  year 
Richard  Lockey  was  permitted  such  primitive  advantages 
in  an  educational  way  as  the  then  frontier  town  af- 
forded. The  gleanings  of  those  first  few  years,  however, 
were  sufficiently  well  implanted  in  his  fertile  mind  to 
stand  him  in  good  stead  in  later  life  as  a foundation 
for  advanced  education,  and  he  has  ever  been  a student 


of  the  best,  so  that  his  earlier  lack  in  the  matter  of 
has  been  in  no  sense  a handicap  to  the  man. 
When  the  Civil  war  broke  out  Richard  Lockey  was 
sixteen  years^  old  and  looked  less.  He  offered  himself 
twice  for  enlistment  in  the  Union  army,  but  each  time 
was  refused  because  of  his  youth.  Not  to  be  frustrated 
in  his  design,  the  persistent  boy  was  finally  accepted 
m a clerical  capacity,  which  he  regarded  as  somewhat 
less  opprobrious  than  remaining  at  home  with  aged 
men  and  small  boys,  and  was  attached  to  the  Fremont 
Hussars,  at  Patterson,  Missouri.  In  November  of  that 
year  his  command  accompanied  that  of  General  David- 
son on  an  expedition  into  southeastern  Missouri  and 
Arkansas.  In  1864  he  accompanied  General  Sherman’s 
army  from  Vicksburg  in  its  march  across  Mississippi 
into  Alabama,  and  later,  returning  to  Vicksburg,  he 
joined  in  General  Banks’  farnous  Red  River  expedition, 
at_  that  time  Mr.  Lockey  being  in  charge  of  the  com- 
missary and  quartermaster  departments  of  Gen.  A. 
J.  Smith’s  command,  the  Sixth  Division,  Sixteenth 
Army  Corps.  In  the  fall  of  1864  the  unhealthful  cli- 
mate and  the  exposure  of  army  life  reduced  his  vitality 
to  such  an  extent  that  he  suffered  a dangerous  illness 
at  Memphis,  and  was  eventually  sent  home.  Upon  his 
ultimate  recovery  he  entered  Bayliss  Commercial  Col- 
lege in  Dubuque,  Iowa,  from  which  he  was  graduated. 
During  the  winter  of  1865-66  he  was  engaged  at  St. 
Louis  in  settling  up  the  books  of  the  quartermaster 
Sixth  Division,  Sixteenth  Army  Corps.  After  complet- 
ing the  work  he  came  to  Montana,  locating  almost  im- 
mediately in  Helena,  where  he  secured  employment.  For 
three  years  thereafter  he  was  engaged  as  a clerk  in 
Helena,  following  which  he  read  law  in  the  offices  of  W. 
F.  Sanders  and  Chumasero  & Chadwick  for  some  time. 

In  1871  Mr.  Lockey  engaged  in  business  in  Helena  in 
a mercantile  way,  and  in  1876  he  opened  a branch 
store  in  Bozeman,  where  he  manufactured  immense 
quantities  of  the  product  known  as  “hardtack”  for  the 
military  and  Indian  departments,  this  part  of  the  busi- 
ness being  conducted  on  contract  for  the  government. 
In  1881  he  sold  out  his  Bozeman  interests  to  his  brothers, 
John  and  George  W.,  and  disposed  of  the  Helena  store 
to  William  Ulm,  thus  freeing  himself  entirely  from  the 
demands  of  the  mercantile  business.  Following  his  with- 
drawal from  that  line  of  business,  Mr.  Lockey  began 
to  devote  his  time  to  matters  of  real  estate,  insurance 
and  abstracts,  and  in  the  years  that  have  since  elapsed 
he  has  built  up  a most  representative  clientage  and  has 
come  to  be  recognized  as  a leader  in  that  class  of  busi- 
ness. He  has  large  real  estate  holdings  and  is  the  owner 
of  some  of  the  choicest  business  and  residence  properties 
in  Helena,  including  extensive  mining  interests  and  hold- 
ings in  many  other  important  enterprises  of  a worthy 
nature.  He  is  one  of  the  organizers  and  was  for  twenty- 
one  years  a director  of  the  American  National  Bank 
of  Helena;  he  is  president  of  the  State  Investment 
Company  and  has  been  president  of  the  Helena  Trust 
Company  and  of  the  Helena  Rapid  Transit  Company; 
at  the  present  time  he  holds  important  positions  in  the 
official  administration  of  these  companies.  Mr.  Lockey 
has  ever  been  foremost  in  philanthropic  works  and  in 
measures  of  whatever  nature  calculated  to  tend  to  the 
public  good,  and  he  has  shown  his  interest  in  that 
respect  by  his  generous  contributions  on  numerous  oc- 
casions. He  was  one  of  the  largest  contributors  to  the 
Montana  Wesleyan  University  and  was  a trustee  and 
vice  president  of  its  board  of  trustees  for  many  years. 
He  donated  to  the  city  of  Helena  the  Lockey  Avenue 
Park,  and  was  one  of  the  principal  owners  of  the  land 
which  was  donated  to  the  state  of  Montana  for  the  cap- 
itol  building  site.  He  was  also  a heavy  contributor  to 
the  fund  for  enlarging  the  Lewis  and  Clark  county 
courthouse  square  or  park,  a handsome  addition  to  the 
city.  Mr.  Lockey  has  been  for  years  prominently  and 
actively  identified  with  the  various  branches  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  including  the  Knights  Templar, 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1033 


Scottish  Rite,  Mystic  Shrine  and  others,  and  has  of- 
ficiated in  many  of  their  high  offices.  He  now  fills  the 
position  of  grand  treasurer  of  the  grand  lodge  of 
Montana,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  and  is  a trustee  on  the  Mon- 
tana Masonic  home  board.  He  is  an  active  member  of 
the  Odd  Fellows  and  of  the  Sons  of  St.  George,  and  he 
served  three  years  as  grand  receiver  of  the  grand 
lodge  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen  of 
Montana.  In  1868  he  assisted  in  the  organizing  of  the 
Good  Templars  in  Helena  and  since  that  time  has  of- 
ficiated in  all  the  high  offices  of  the  order. 

Mr.  Lockey  has  been  a lifelong  Republican  and  he 
has  for  years  been  prominent  in  politics  in  his  section 
of  the  state.  In  1^2  he  was  elected  a member  of  the 
Montana  state  legislature,  in  which  body  he  distin- 
guished himself  as  a man  of  patriotic  broad-rnindedness 
and  progressive  ideas.  He  has  served  on  various  occa- 
sions in  the  city  council  of  Helena,  always  with  ex- 
cellent results  in  the  administration  of  the  affairs  of 
the  city,  in  so  far  as  the  influence  of  one  man  might 
permeate.  He  has  been  twice  a member  of  the  board 
of  education  and  has  furthered  the  best  interests  of 
the  community  in  his  official  capacity  there  as  in  many 
another  equally  important  position. 

Always  a man  of  distinction,  perhaps  Mr.  Lockey  is 
better  known  throughout  the  state  of  Montana  as  the 
■“Duke  of  Last  Chance”  than  in  any  other  capacity. 
For  more  than  a quarter  of  a century  he  has  been 
the  presiding  officer  of  the  “House  of  Lords,”  a bur- 
lesque legislative  assembly,  which  was  organized  in 
Virginia  City  many  years  ago,  and  removed  to  Helena 
when  the  capitol  was  transferred  thither.  His  natural 
adaptation  for  presiding  over  such  an  assernbly  is 
marked.  Nature  made  him  a humorist  of  a quaint  and 
unusual  order,  and  possessing,  as  he  does,  a thorough 
acquaintance  with  parliamentary  law,  he  is  quick  and 
incisive  in  his  rulings.  His  assumed  gravity  is  never 
disturbed  by  the  mirth  and  hilarity  which  is  prone  to 
mark  the  deliberations  of  the  assembly,  and  his  un- 
ruffled and  ever  serious  demeanor  lends  a grave  di^ 
nity  to  the  scenes  enacted  in  this_  mock  tribunal,  which 
has  given  him  an  added  reputation  in  the  northwest, 
and  whose  influence  upon  real  legislation  has  ever  been 
of  a most  wholesome  and  salutary  nature. 

On  June  5,  1870,  Mr.  Lockey  was  united  in  marriage 
at  Helena  to  Miss  Emily  E.  Jeffrey  of  Leavenworth, 
Kansas.  Mrs.  Lockey  died  December  26,  1907,  ^t 
Palo  Alto,  California.  They  had  five  children,  two 
of  whom,  Mary  Ishbel  and  Richard,  Jr.,  survive  their 
mother. 

Miss  Mary  Ishbel  Lockey  founded  Castilleja  School 
at  Palo  Alto,  California,  near  Stanford  University,  in 
1906,  which  has  had  a phenomenal  growth,  and  has 
become  one  of  the  best  and  most  popular  schools  for 
the  education  of  girls  on  the  Pacific  Coast.  While 
a corporation,  the  school  is  owned  by  Miss  Lockey, 
who  is  president  of  the  corporation,  and  principal  of 
the  school.  In  1910  Miss  Lockey  purchased  a tract 
of  land  upon  which  five  buildings  have  been  erected, 
•the  whole  valued  at  $100,000. 

Richard,  Jr.,  who  has  been  associated  with  his  father 
in  business  for  several  years,  is  vice  president  of  the 
State  Investment  Company.  He  married  Miss  Flor- 
ence Gage  on  June  23,  1908,  and  they  have  one  child, 
Janet,  born  December  30,  1910. 

Hon.  George  Douglas_  Pease.  Known  throughout 
Gallatin,  Park  and  Madison  counties  as  the  leading 
lawyer  in  criminal  practice,  and  recognized  as  one  of 
Montana’s  eminent  legal  practitioners,  George  Douglas 
Pease,  of  Bozeman,  maintains  a foremost  position^  in  the 
list  of  Montana’s  eminent  professional  men.  During  the 
twenty  years  that  he  has  been  engaged  in  practice  in 
this  city  he  has  been  identified  with  numerous  cases 
which  have  attracted  wide  attention,  and  the  services 
which  he  has  rendered  his  city  and  county  as  the  in- 


cumbent of  positions  of  honor  and  responsibility  have 
given  him  a wide  reputation  in  the  public  area.  He  is  a 
native  of  Montana  and  was  born  in'Gallatin  City,  Feb- 
ruary 22,  1871,  a son  of  Joseph  A.  and  Orvilla  Melissa 
(Kimpton)  Pease. 

Joseph  and  Cynthia  Ann  (Hunt)  Pease,  the  paternal 
grandparents  of  George  D.  Pease,  were  natives  of  Con- 
necticut, and  were  married  in  Clarkson  county.  New 
York,  April  22,  1827.  During  the  early  thirties  they 
removed  to  Florence,  St.  Joseph  county,  Michigan, 
where  Mrs.  Pease  passed  away  October  22,  1844,  soon 
after  which  date  her  husband  moved  with  his  children 
to  Marquette  county,  Wisconsin.  Later  he  went  to 
what  is  now  the  city  of  Eau  Claire,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  lumbering  and  farming  until  his  death  in 
1887.  He  and  his  wife  had  ten  children,  as  follows : 
Eliza  L. ; George  S. ; Joseph  Alonzo;  Mary  Eliza,  who 
became  the  wife  of  Henry  C.  Hovenberg,  of  Eau  Claire, 
now  deceased;  Cyrus  D.,  a prosperous  farmer  of  the 
Gallatin  valley;  Helen  A.,  the  wife  of  Curley  Shea, 
residing  on  the  old  Pease  homestead  near  Eau  Claire; 
Edwin  D. ; Betsie  A.,  who  married  A.  D.  Chappell,  of 
Eau  Claire,  Wisconsin ; Calista  A.  and  Cynthia  A. 

Joseph  Alonzo  Pease,  father  of  George  Douglas,  was 
born  March  17,  1831,  in  New  York,  and  as  a lad  ac- 
companied his  parents  to  the  state  of  Michigan,  and 
later  went  with  his  father  to  Wisconsin,  where  he 
was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits.  In  1861  he  crossed 
the  plains  to  Montana,  settling  in  Gallatin  county,  at 
what  is  now  known  as  Gallatin  City,  where  he  engaged 
in  farming  and  stock  growing  at  the  head  of  the  Mis- 
souri river  as  a pioneer.  In  1880  he  disposed  of  his 
interests  and  removed  with  his  family  to  Bozeman,  in 
the  vicinity  of  which  city  he  purchased  a valuable  ranch, 
on  which  he  carried  on  operations  until  his  death,  No- 
vember 10,  1901.  He  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in 
Gallatin  county  and  his  efforts  were  well  rewarded, 
his  sterling  character  and  exemplary  life  gaining  for 
him  the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens.  In 
political  matters  he  was  a Republican,  but  never  sought 
public  preferment.  He  married  Orvilla  Melissa  Kimp- 
ton, who  was  born  in  Derby  Line,  Vermont,  February 
10,  1851,  daughter  of  George  and  Sarah  (Rollins)  Kimp- 
ton, natives  respectively  of  Vermont  and  the  Dominion 
of  Canada,  their  marriage  having  taken  place  in  County 
Stanstead,  Canada.  The  Kimptons  removed  to  Wiscon- 
sin soon  after  their  marriage,  and  on  the  old  homestead 
near  the  city  of  Eau  Claire,  in  1891,  George  Kimpton 
passed  away,  his  widow  surviving  him  until  September 
13,  1906,  when  her  death  occurred.  Their  eight  chil- 
dren were  as  follows : Orvilla  Melissa ; Edward  A., 
a prosperous  farmer  of  Broadwater  county,  Montana; 
Alvin,  who  resides  near  the  old  Wisconsin  home- 
stead; Lillie,  the  wife  of  Melville  J.  Farrel,  still  re- 
siding near  the  city  of  Eau  Claire:  Archie,  who  also 
makes  his  home  in  that  locality;  Washington  I.,  who 
at  the  time  of  his  death  in  1898  was  an  influential  far- 
mer of  Broadwater  county,  Montana;  and  Emily  and 
Emma  M.,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Mrs.  Orvilla  M.  Pease  died  March  18,  1912,  having 
been  the  mother  of  nine  children,  all  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing: George  Douglas;  Joseph  Loran,  born  May  22, 

1873,  who  married  June  3,  1903,  Mabel  Thornton  Gage, 
of  Oakland,  California,  and  resides  in  that  city:  Edward 
Alonzo,  born  September  7,  1875,  residing  in  Bozeman; 
Marv  Aurelia,  born  October  10,  1877.  '"’ho  married  De- 
cember 26,  1906,  in  Bozeman,  Rutherford  B.  Ward,  and 
now  lives  in  Palouse,  Washington;  Sarah  Helen,  born 
January  8,  1881,  married  December  25,  1905,  in  Boze- 
man. B’rank  Matthew  Connelly,  and  now  lives  at  Pot- 
latch, Idaho;  Allen  Albert,  born  April  21,  1883,  'who 
married  August  15.  1905,  at  Sand  Point,  Idaho,  Bertha 
Augusta  Mergey,  and  now  resides  in  Ellensburg,  Wash- 
ington; Vern  Ashley,  born  August  24,  1885,  who  lives 
in  Bozeman;  Margaret  Isabelle,  born  January  21,  1888, 
who  married  February  12,  1908,  in  Bozeman,  Manning 


1034 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


Garland  Fanster,  and  resides  at  Potlatch,  Idaho;  and 
Bessie  Orvilla,  born  November  15,  1893,  who  is  living 
in  Bozeman. 

George  Douglas  Pease  was  brought  up  on  the  home 
farm,  and  as  his  father’s  oldest  son,  spent  much  of  his 
time  assisting  in  the  cultivation  of  the  property.  His 
preliminary  studies  were  prosecuted  in  the  district 
schools  of  the  vicinity  of  the  homestead  and  the  public 
schools  of  Bozeman,  which  he  attended  winters  until 
1888,  in  which  year  he  was  sent  to  Madison,  Wiscon- 
sin, to  take  a high  school  course,  thus  preparing  him- 
self for  collegiate  work.  In  the  fall  of  1889  he  matricu- 
lated in  the  University  of  Wisconsin,  at  Madison,  and 
graduated  therefrom  in  the  fall  of  1893,  receiving  the 
degree  of  B.  L.  During  his  last  year  in  the  university 
he  also  prosecuted  a course  of  study  in  the  law  depart- 
ment, and  in  the  spring  of  1893,  prior  to  his  gradua- 
tion, passed  an  examination  before  the  state  board  of 
Wisconsin,  being  admitted  to  the  bar  of  that  common- 
wealth on  April  26,  He  then  returned  to  his  home,  but 
in  November  opened  an  office  in  Bozeman,  where  he 
has  since  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion, having  gained  prestige  through  his  ability  as  an 
advocate  and  counselor,  and  being  recognized  as  a close 
student  of  the  science  of  jurisprudence.  Mr.  Pease  has 
carried  on  a general  practice,  but  has  given  the  greater 
part  of  his  attention  to  criminal  cases,  and  in  this  con- 
nection has  not  a peer  in  this  section  of  the  state. 
He  is  a valued  member  of  the  State  Bar  Association 
and  of  the  Gallatin  County  Bar  Association,  having 
served  for  some  time  as  president  of  the  latter  body. 

A stalwart  Republican  in  politics,  Mr.  Pease  has  long 
been  identified  with  the  work  of  that  party.  Shortly 
after  commencing  practice  in  Bozeman,  in  1894,  he  be- 
came a candidate  for  the  office  of  county  attorney,  but 
was  defeated  in  the  nominating  convention  by  a ma- 
jority of  only  two  votes.  In  April,  1895,  was  elected 
city  attorney  of  Bozeman,  in  which  capacity  he  served 
two  years,  and  in  May,  1897,  the  office  having  become 
an  appointive  one,  he  was  chosen  as  his  own  suc- 
cessor, receiving  the  appointment  from  Mayor  J.  V, 
Bogert.  Two  years  later  he  was  reappointed  by  Mayor 
Alward,  thus  being  in  continuous  service  until  January 
I,  1901,  when  he  resigned  to  assume  the  duties  of  county 
attorney,  to  which  office  he  had  been  elected  on  the  Re- 
publican ticket  in  November,  1900.  He  was  re-elected 
in  1902,  and  was  one  of  the  most  successful  county  at- 
torneys Gallatin  county  ever  had.  He  had  been  a can- 
didate for  the  same  position  in  1898,  his  name  appear- 
ing on  the  Republican,  “Silver”  Republican  and  Popu- 
list tickets,  but  he  was  defeated  at  the  polls  by  the  Dem- 
ocratic nominee.  In  1904  Mr.  Pease  was  the  Republican 
candidate  for  district  judge,  comprising  Gallatin,  Broad- 
water and  Meagher  counties,  but  after  a bitterly  con- 
tested campaign  met  defeat  at  the  hands  of  the  Demo- 
cratic candidate,  Hon.  William  R.  C.  Stewart.  In  fra- 
ternal matters  he  is  identified  with  the  Woodmen  of 
the  World,  the  Benevolent  Protective  Order  of  Elks, 
and  Western  Star  Lodge  No.  4,  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows. 

On  June  26,  1895,  Mr.  Pease  was  married  at  Eau 
Claire,  Wisconsin,  to  Miss  Nellie  Maybell  Ward,  who 
was  born  in  that  city  February  5,  1872,  daughter  of  Eben 
and  Sarah  C.  (Briink)  Ward,  and  the  eldest  of  their 
five  children,  the  others  being:  Eugenia  M.,  Ruthford 

B.,  Homer  E,  and  LeRoy  A.  Eben  Ward  was  born  at 
Springbrook,  Maine,  October  I3..i837-  being  a carpen- 
ter by  trade,  and  still  maintains  his  home  at  Eau  Claire. 
His  wife  was  born  in  Indiana,  May  10,  1849,  and  died 
June  22,  1885,  at  Eau  Claire.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pease 
have  three  children,  namely ; Edith  Emogene,  born 
October  20,  1896;  George  Douglas.  Jr.,  born  February 
5,  1898;  and  Muriel,  born  May  5,  1899. 

John  R.  Thomas,  now  one  of  the  sucessful  men  of 
Montana,  was  left  an  orphan  at  the  age  of  eight,  and 


at  the  age  of  twenty-two  came  to  Montana  with  only 
a few  dollars  in  his  pocket,  and  started  out  in  life  with 
his  capital  consisting  of  his  two  strong  hands  and  a 
determination  to  win  success,  in  the  face  of  every  dis- 
couragement. He  has  been  miner,  randier,  store- 
keeper,  indeed  nearly  everything  that  a non-profes- 
sional man  could  be  in  a rough  country  such  as  Mon- 
tana was  during  the  first  years  of  his  residence  here. 
It  IS  a story  of  a slow  and  steady  climb  up  the  ladder 
of  success.  He  never  faltered,  never  grew  discouraged 
and  each  step  was  upward  and  not  downward.  Thrown, 
upon  the  world  at  so  early  an  age  he  was  no  more 
than  a child  before  he  had  learned  the  hardest  of  life’s 
lessons,  and  as  a young  man  he  possessed  a maturity 
of  thought  and  a knowledge  of  humanity  with  all  it’s 
faults  and  virtues  that  many  a middle  aged  man  does 
not  possess.  He  thus  succeeded  where  many  a young 
inan  would  have  failed,  not  only  in  making  a success 
in  the  business  world,  but  also  in  winning  the  friend- 
ship of  men  all  over  the  state  of  Montana.  He  is  now 
the  center  of  a large  circle  of  friends,  who  admire  him 
not.  only  for  the  ability  which  he  has  shown  in  the 
management  of  his  affairs,  but  for  his  character  and 
personality. 

John  R.  Thomas  was  born  at  Wills  Rivers,  Vermont, 
on  the  i8th  of  June,  1850.  He  was  the  son  of  Ben- 
jamin L.  Thomas,  who  was  a native  of  the  state  of 
New  Hampshire.  Pie  was  killed  by  a railroad  acci- 
dent, when  only  twenty-eight  years  of  age.  His  young 
son  was  just  eighteen  months  old,  and  grew  up  never 
knowing  a father’s  love  and  care,  one  of  the  saddest 
things  that  can  happen  to  a boy.  His  father  now  lies 
buried  at  Clairmont,  New  Hampshire.  The  mother 
of  John  R.  Thomas,  was  Betsey  M.  (Anger)  Thomas, 
also  a native  of  New  Hampshire.  She  only  lived  till 
her  boy  was  eight  and  then  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
eight.  She  now  lies  at  the  side  of  her  young  husband 
in  the  quiet  New  Hampshire  cemetery.  The  orphaned! 
lad  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  his 
home,  and  even  yet  has  vivid  memories  of  the  little 
red  school  house,  and  the  agonizing  hours  spent 
therein. 

As  he  grew  to  manhood  the  lure  of  the  great  west 
became  stronger  and  stronger.  He  felt  that  some- 
where out  in  that  vast  country  he  could  find  a place, 
such  as  the  overcrowded  east  could  not  furnish.  He 
came  to  Montana,  therefore  in  1872,  arriving  with  four- 
teen dollars  and  forty  cents  in  his  pocket.  He  was 
confident  that  he  would  succeed  and  this  was  half  the 
battle.  Pie  soon  found  work  on  a ranch  in  Prickly 
Pear  valley,  and  here  he  remained  for  six  years,  ac- 
quiring an  intimate  acquiantance  with  the  country  and 
the  people.  Meanwhile  he  had  been  saving  money  and 
in  1878  resigned  the  position  that  he  had  held  for  so> 
long,  moving  to  Nevada  Creek,  where  he  bought  a 
ranch.  Pie  remained  there  until  the  spring  of  1880,  and 
then  sold  out  for  a good  price.  He  now  worked  oru 
the  opera  house  for  a time,  and  then  turned  to  “cow 
punching.”  Both  of  these  occupations  were  merely  to 
fill  in  the  time  while  he  was  looking  about  to  find  a 
ranch  suitable  for  his  purposes.  In  the  fall  of  1881  he 
found  what  he  had  been  looking  for,  and  settled  on 
the  ranch  in  question.  It  was  located  opposite  the 
mouth  of  Prickly  Pear  creek  and  here  he  settled  down 
to  stock-raising.  He  became  well  known  throughout 
the  cattle  country  as  a successful  stock  raiser,  and  it 
seemed  that  he  had  found  his  vocation.  However,  he 
was  never  the  man  to  resist  a good  bargain  and  when 
he  saw  an  opportunity  to  trade  his  ranch  for  a pros- 
perous mercantile  establishment  at  Craig,  Montana, 
he  hastened  to  close  the  deal.  This  was  in  1896,  and 
he  remained  in  the  mercantile  business  until  1900, 
when  having  another  opportunity  to  make  a good  trade, 
and  being  ready  to  go  back  to  ranching  again,  he  traded 
his  store  for  a ranch  sixteen  miles  south  of  Cascade. 
He  has  lived  here  ever  since  and  in  connection  with 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1035 


his  ranch  he  operates  the  corner  store  at  Cascade 
which  he  bought  from  Mr.  Marcom.  He  thus  is  inter- 
ested in  the  two  lines  of  business  that  have  always 
been  most  attractive  to  him,  and  he  has  proyed  that 
he  is  equally  capable  as  merchant  or  stock-raiser. 

Mr  Thomas  has  now  lived  in  Montana  for  forty 
years  and  the  changes  that  have  passed  before  his 
eyes  seem  almost  phenominal.  As  a miner  and  rancher 
in  the  early  days,  when  Montana  was  the  dumping 
ofround  for  adventurers,  idlers,  and  those  who  were 
Unwelcome  at  home,  he  shared  in  many  experiences 
that  are  surpassed  only  by  the  adventures  of  Uiamond 
Dick,”  or  others  of  the  yellow  backed  tribe.  He  had 
his  experiences  with  the  Indians  and  was  in  more  than 
one  fight.  But  perhaps  his  most  vivid  recollections 
are  of  the  blizzards,  that  in  the  days  when  long  jour- 
neys  by  horseback  were  necessary,  were  far  more 
gerous  than  they  are  today.  Once  while  crossing  the 
range  from  Helena  to  Helensville,  he  had  one  of  his 
worst  experiences  with  a blizzard.  Afraid  to  go  I'-ir- 
ther  for  fear  of  traveling  in  a circle,  he  lay  down  and 
went  to  sleep  in  the  snow.  When  he  awoke  in  the 
morning  in  found  himself  buried  under  a foot  of  snow, 
and  he  knows  just  what  the  sensation  of  being  buried 
alive  is  like.  On  another  occasion  he  left  home  to  go 
on  an  errand  that  would  take  him  to  another  ranch 
only  a few  miles  away^  One  of  these  sudden  storms 
of  snow  and  wind  came  up,  and  instead  of  the  hour  or 
so  that  the  trip  would  have  required,  he  spent  thirty- 
six  hours  in  wandering  through  the  snow  attempting 
to  find  his  destination ; even  then  it  was  the  sagacity 
of  his  horse  that  led  him  to  safety.  , 

Mr.  Thomas  is  a Republican  in  his  political  views. 
He  was  married  on  January  30,  1888,  to  IMip  Sarah 
E Billops,  who  lived  in  Cascade,  Montana.  They  have 
one  child,  David  A.  Thomas,  who  was  born  m Septem- 
ber, 1^3’,  at  Great  Falls,  Montana.  He  is  at  present 
a great  aid  to  his  father,  with  whom  he  is  m business. 

Charles  Wegner.  The  life  of  John  Francis  Wegner, 
the  father  of  Charles  Wegner,  covers  a period  made 
famous  in  the  history  of  two  nations  and  Mr.  Wegner 
played  his  part  in  the  building  of  the  history.  Born 
in  Germany,  during  the  infancy  of  the  American  na- 
tion, he  lived  in  the  Fatherland  until  the  close  of  the 
German  Revolution  of  forty-eight,  that  period  of  dark- 
ness and  pain  that  gave  birth  to  the  new  German  lib- 
erty. Mr.  Wegner  was  among  the  leading  revolutionists, 
fighting  for  the  freedom  that  might  have  been  achieved 
through  less  strenuous  methods  but  fighting  for  what 
he  knew  to  be  right.  MTien  the  Empire  seemed  to 
have  won  the  gloomy  victory,  Mr._  Wegner  was  forced 
to  flee  for  his  life  from  his  native  land  but  he  fled 
in  most  distinguished  company.  With  him  were  Franz 
Siegel,  John  Hecker  and  Robert  Blum,  the  originators 
of  the  movement— if  they  may  be  so  designated.  To- 
gether they  reached  Vienna  where  Mr.  Blum  was  cap- 
tured and  shot,  the  remaining  three  evading  the  enemy 
and  escaping  by  way  of  Switzerland  to  America. 

Mr.  Wegner  first  settled  in  New  Orleans  in  1849, 
but  after  a short  residence  moved  to  Chicago  where 
he  amassed,  what  in  those  days  was  known  as  a huge 
fortune  and  became  known  as  one  of  the  merchant  kings 
of  the  new  city.  In  the  great  money  famine  of  1857, 
his  fortune  became  dissipated,  fifty  thousand  dollars 
disappearing  at  one  time.  During  these  seven  years 
in  the  city  on  the  lake,  he  sustained  a loss  far  greater 
than  that  of  his  wealth. 

He  had  been  married  while  still  a youth  in  the  Ger- 
man home,  to  Elizabeth  Niebergall  who  was  born  in 
Frankenthal,  Baden,  Germany,  in  1825.  _ Married  in 
1843  when  the  Revolution  was  only  a tiny  murmur, 
she  had  later,  in  company  with  her  two  young  sons, 
Charles  and  John  Francis,  followed  her  husband  to 
New  York.  Going  from  New  York  to  New  Orleans, 
thence  to  Milwaukee  and  Chica.go,  she  was  only  per- 


mitted to  see  the  beginning  of  that  husband’s  financial 
success.  The  cholera  scourge  was  the  forerunner  of 
that  financial  panic.  In  July  of  1854  it  laid  its  pallid 
hand  on  this  devoted  wife  and  mother.  It  spared,  as 
she  would  have  had  it  do,  the  other  members  of  the 
little  family,  but  in  July  of  that  dread  year  the  lads 
were  motherless. 

Three  years  later,  with  his  orphaned  children  and  the 
remnant  of  his  fortune,  the  father  purchased  a hotel  in 
Kansas  City,  IMissouri.  The  misfortunes  that  pursued 
him  were  no  exception  to  the  rule.  They  seemed  to 
come  in  droves.  For  a few  short  years  he  prospered  as 
a landlord  and  there  seemed  to  be  a hope  that  he  might 
eventually  retrieve  at  least  a portion  of  the  former 
fortune.  However,  almost  before  he  could  realize  the 
calamity,  he  was  again  caught  in  the  tide  of  war  and  his 
possessions  submerged.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil 
war,  Missouri  was  the  scene  of  much  border  warfare. 
Mr.  Wenger,  although  too  old  to  himself  take  an  active 
part  in  the  struggle,  was  a strong  Union  sympathizer, 
one  of  the  boys,  born  to  him  in  the  Fatherland,  going 
to  the  front  in  his  stead.  When  then  Kansas  City 
was  overrun  with  a Rebel  host,  they  confiscated  his 
hotel  and  caused  him  to  flee  from  his  home  for  a 
second  time.  This  time  he  moved  only  across  the  Alis- 
souri  river  into  Leavenworth  county,  Kansas,  settling 
between  Leavenworth  and  Lawrence  on  the  old  De 
Compton  road.  Here  during  the  war,  he  lived  upon  a 
small  farm,  returning  when  the  land  was  once  more  at 
peace,  to  Kansas  City  where  he  entered  into  the  grocery 
business.  Success  seemed  to  elude  him  during  three 
difficult  years.  He  went  from  Kansas  City  to  Leaven- 
worth, establishing  a grocery  in  that  city.  There  he 
died,  on  the  twenty-seventh  of  October,  1877,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-seven.  His  death  closed  a career  re- 
markable even  in  that  era  of  tragic  events  when  each 
year  added  a page  to  history. 

The  son,  Charles,  attended  the  public  high  school  of 
Chicago  until  his  fourteenth  year.  Having  been  born 
in  beautiful  Baden  on  the  Rhine  on  the  i6th  day  of 
April.  1844,  he  had  reached  that  aforementioned  age 
before  his  father  met  with  the  financial  reverses.  On 
fleeing  from  Kansas  City  to  Leavenworth,  the  lad  was 
apprenticed  to  a locksmith  where  he  learned  the  lock- 
smith trade.  He  was  w'orking  at  this  trade  in  1862 
when  the  United  States  government  organized  the 
State  Volunteer  Militia  under  Colonel  Robinson  of 
Lawrence.  i\Ir.  Wegner  being  every  inch  his  father's 
son  needed  no  second  invitation  to  enlist.  He  joined 
Company  G,  under  Capt.  iMartin  Smith,  of  the  First 
Kansas  Regiment.  For  two  years  the  company  saw 
some  service  in  southwestern  Missouri  and  eastern  Kan- 
sas, much  of  the  time  being  spent  in  quelling  guerrilla 
warfare  on  the  borders. 

From  the  restoration  of  peace  until  1872,  Mr.  Wegner 
spent  his  time  on  a Kansas  farm.  In  the  spring  of  that 
year  he  made  his  way  to  Montana,  mostly  by  water,  on 
board  the  steamer.  “Nellie  Peck.”  In  iMontana,  he 
began  farming  on  the  banks  of  the  Missouri  river  near 
Craig.  For  ten  years  he  tilled  the  soil  before  assum- 
ing the  management  of  the  Holter  Brothers’  saw  mills. 
In  1885  he  moved  from  Craig  to  Great  Falls  that  he 
might  organize  the  Holter  Lumber  Company.  For 
seven  years,  iMr.  Wegner  remained  with  the  firm  in  the 
capacity  of  general  manager.  He  was  also  one  of  the 
large  stockholders.  In  1892.  he  entered  the  livery  and 
feed  business,  joining  with  Mr.  Cornelius  in  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  Axtell  stables.  In  July  of  the  following 
year  he  was  obli.ged  to  dispose  of  his  interest  in  the 
stables  that  he  might  become  postmaster  of  Great  Falls, 
that  position  having  been  tendered  him  by  President 
^Cleveland.  After  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office, 
he  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business  in  his  home  city 
in  which  line  he  has  been  more  or  less  interested  ever 
since. 

In  1885,  iMr.  Wegner  was  elected  county  commissioner 


1036 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


of  Chouteau  county,  those  associated  with  him  being 
R.  S.  Ford  and  W.  G.  Conrad.  In  1887,  on  a redivision 
of  counties  by  the  legislature,  Great  Falls  was  made 
the  county  seat  of  Cascade  county  and  Mr.  Wegner  was 
named  as  the  first  commissioner  of  Cascade  county, 
the  other  commissioners  being  J.  H.  Harris  and  E.  R. 
Clingen,  elected  twice.  He  served  on  this  board 
until  his  appointment  as  postmaster  in  1893.  Politics 
have  alw'ays  seemed  to  him  much  more  than  a diver- 
sion. The  welfare  of  the  Democratic  party  being  al- 
ways one  of  his  chief  concerns.  In  lodge  circles  he  is 
most  prominent.  He  was  one  of  the  charter  members 
of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  Lodge 
No.  214,  and  has  served  as  secretary  to  this  order  for  a 
period  of  twelve  years.  He  was  also  a charter  mem- 
ber of  the  Cataract  Lodge  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias, 
No.  18,  organized  in  April,  1887.  For  this  chapter 
he  has  been  keeper  of  the  seals  for  fifteen  years.  He 
is  a member  also  of  the  Electric  City  Club,  the  Board 
of  Trade  and  the  Commercial  Club.  In  his  church  affili- 
ations he  has  been  loyal,  always,  to  the  church  of  his 
fathers,  the  German  Lutheran, 

During  those  years  spent  on  a Kansas  farm  at  the 
close  of  the  war  Mr.  Charles  Wegner  wooed  and  won 
for  his  wife  Miss  Elizabeth  Stigers  of  Connar,  Kansas. 
They  were  joined  in  marriage  on  the  sixteenth  day  of 
May,  1869.  Miss  Stigers  was  the  daughter  of  Mr, 
Lewis  Stigers,  a Missouri  farmer.  She  was  born  in 
Platte  county,  Missouri  in  1846,  being  some  two  years 
her  husband’s  junior.  After  sharing  with  her  husband 
his  successes  and  hardships  and  becoming  the  mother 
of  his  eight  children,  she  passed  away  in  their  Mon- 
tana home  at  Great  Falls  on  the  twenty-seventh  day  of 
October,  1891,  and  was  laid  to  rest  by  the  side  of  her 
oldest  daughter  in  Highland  cemetery.  Of  the  seven 
children  now  remaining,  John  Francis  Wegner,  named 
for  his  distinguished  grandfather,  is  a resident  of  Libby, 
Montana.  Leonard,  the  second  son,  is  register  clerk  in 
the  postoffice  of  Great  Falls.  Charles  Roberts  is  travel- 
ing engineer  for  the  North  Bank  Railroad,  while  Henry 
B.  is  a rancher  in  Lincoln  county.  Percy  is  with  his 
older  brother  in  Libby.  Elizabeth,  the  oldest  daughter, 
rests  beside  her  mother.  Emma  is  the  wife  of  Mr.  E. 
E.  Wegner,  of  Butte,  Montana,  and  Pearl  is  Mrs.  M.  H. 
Millions  of  Great  Falls. 

Although  all  of  the  children  have  gone  out  into  the 
world  for  themselves,  Mr.  Charles  Wegner  still  re- 
tains his  beautiful  home  at  415  Fourth  street.  South, 
He  now  has  offices  in  the  Phelps  block.  It  was  through 
his  efforts  and  with  his  capital  that  the  first  two-story 
building  of  Great  Falls  was  erected.  It  was  built  in 
August  of  1885  and  stands  on  the  corner  of  Fifth  ave- 
nue and  Second  street. 

Gaspard  Deschamps.  The  part  which  the  French 
people  have  played  in  the  history  and  development  of 
the  whole  United  States  has  been  at  all  times  exceed- 
ingly extensive  in  its  influence  and  important  in  its  char- 
acter. While  it  is  true  that  no  part  of  the  country  is 
without  its  marks  left  by  this  sturdy  and  virile  people 
there  is,  perhaps,  no  section  more  deeply  indebted  to 
French  influence  of  the  finest  quality  wielded  by  its 
early  French  tradesmen  and  settlers  than  the  Northwest, 
and  western  Montana  numbers  among  its  most  potent 
and  desirable  citizenry  many  of  these  splendid  French 
pioneers.  . A typical  representative  of  this  class  of 
early  French  settlers  is  found  in  Mr.  Gaspard  Des- 
champs of  Missoula  who  for  many  years  has  been 
closely  identified  with  the  development  and  upbuilding 
of  this  part  of  the  state,  and  is  one  of  the  most  sub- 
stantial factors  in  the  life  of  this  community  today. 

Mr.  Deschamps  is  a native  of  Canada,  where  he  was. 
born  pn  the  8th  of  December,  1846,  and  in  which  coun- 
try his  father,  Antoine,  and  mother,  Julia  Marca,  were 
born,  lived  throughout  their  lives,  and  died.  He 
attended  the  common  schools  of  his  native  community 


and  after  completing  his  education  went  to  Montreal 
and  was  for  several  years  engaged  in  learning  the 
blacksmith  trade  through  a regular  apprenticeship. 
During  the  long  period  that  he  was  mastering  the  diffi- 
culties of  his  chosen  trade  the  sum  which  he  received 
for  his  time  could  scarcely  be  called  wages,  for  it  was 
a mere  pittance  of  one  dollar  per  month. 

Mr.  Deschamps  was  of  an  ambitious  and  energetic 
character  and  in  1865  when  eighteen  years  of  age 
although  he  did  not  know  a word  of  English  he  boldly 
set  out  to  make  his  fortune  in  the  United  States  where 
opportunities  were  greater  than  in  his  native  country. 
The  first  five  years  he  worked  at  his  trade  in  the  New 
England  states  and  during  that  time  mastered  the 
language  and  learned  the  different  manners  and  cus- 
toms of  the  people  of  that  section.  He  was  at  all  times 
frugal  and  industrious  and  saved  his  earnings  and  when 
he  again  felt  the  irresistible  desire  for  a change  in  his 
life  and  surroundings  he  decided  to  cross  the  conti- 
nent, and  in  1870  went  to  San  Francisco.  Employment 
at  his  trade  was  found  there  for  a time,  but  when  in 
the  spring  after  his  arrival  the  gold  excitement  broke 
out  at  Cedar  Creek,  Montana,  he  in  company  with  five 
other  Frenchmen  decided  to  make  an  effort  to  secure 
some  of  the  precious  metal  and  they  set  out  for  the 
excited  district. 

_ There  were  no  railroads  reaching  that  section  at  the 
time,  and  the  party  was  obliged  to  make  the  trip  by 
horseback  from  Walla  Walla.  The  journey  proved  to 
be  an  interesting  and  exciting  one,  but  they  arrived  at 
Cedar  Creek  without  serious  mishap.  There  they  se- 
cured some  claims  and  Mr.  Deschamps  worked  at  placer 
mining  for  two  and  a half  years,  during  which  time 
he  was  moderately  successful  and  saved  some  money. 
When  he  laad  secured  a considerable  sum  he  sought 
out  a location  at  the  head  of  Flathead  lake,  near  where 
the  towns  of  Kalispell  and  Somers  now  stand,  and  in 
1872  purchased  some  stock  and  went  into  the  cattle 
business.^  While  he  has  never  ceased  to  retain  his 
interest  in  this  business  and  has  ever  since  owned  cat- 
tle and  lands,  after  five  years  on  the  ranch  at  Flathead 
he  went  to  Missoula,  arriving  here  in  1877,  and  re- 
engaged in  work  at  his  old  trade.  A year  later  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Denise  Cyr,  a native  of  New  Bruns- 
wick, and^  in  1879  again  went  to  live  on  a farm,  this 
time  locating  at  Two  Creeks.  In  1881  he  removed  his 
family  to  the  home  ranch  at  Grass  Valley,  and  he  has 
.added  acreage  to  the  original  farm  by  purchase  from 
time  to  time,  until  now  it  contains  six  thousand  acres 
and  is  considered  one  of  the  most  valuable  ranches  in 
this  part  of  the  state.  It  is  completely  stocked  with 
cattle  and  horses,  and  has  a general  farming  equipment 
as_  well.  Of  late  years  the  conduct  and  management  of 
this  big  place  has  been  in  the  hands  of  his  two  sons, 
Ulrich  and  Arthur,  while  Mr.  Deschamps  devotes  his 
time  to  the  management  of  his  extensive  carriage  and 
implement  business.  This  plant  which  he  established 
in  1905  is  one  of  the  largest  and  best  equipped  in  the 
state  and  handles  a large  product  each  year.  Besides 
the  two  sons  on  the  ranch  Mr.  Deschamps  has  raised 
three  other  sons  and  seven  daughters,  three  of  the  lat- 
ter being  now  students  at  the  famous  college  at  Notre 
Dame,  Indiana.  The  family  is  one  of  the  finest  to  be 
found  anywhere,  the  children  being  without  exception 
a credit  to  their  parents  and  their  splendid  training. 

It  is  men  of  the  stamp  and  character  of  Gaspard  Des- 
champs who  are  the  real  bone  and  sinew  of  this  great 
country  and  their  value  to  the  state  and  nation  is  too 
great  to  be  adequately  expressed.  While  Mr.  Des- 
champs has  been  unaided  by  any  influence  or  power 
other  than  his  own  indomitable  will  and  pluck  and 
energy  and  determination  to  succeed  won  large  finan- 
cial rewards  and  is  today  a man  of  substantial  wealth, 
this  is  but  one  of  the  measures  of  his  ability  and  effi- 
ciency. In  other  respects  also  he  has  demonstrated 
his  right  to  be  reckoned  as  a leader  among  influential 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1037 


men  of  this  section  and  the  potency  of  his  efforts  in 
the  business,  industrial  and  commercial  worlds  are 
indicative  also  of  the  strength  of  his  personal  charac- 
ter and  his  sterling  worth  as  a man  and  a citizen  of 
the  highest  type.  Missoula  may  well  be  proud  to  claim 
Mr.  Deschamps  as  one  of  its  own  best  citizens  and 
more  men  of  his  large  caliber,  liberality  and  progres- 
siveness would  mean  indeed  a consummation  devoutly 
to  be  desired. 

Prof.  Oswald  C.  Mortson,  surveyor-scientist,  and  a 
recognized  authority  on  the  geological  and  mineral 
history  of  Montana,  of  which  state  he  had  been  a 
resident  for  forty  years,  died  on  December  ii,  1912, 
in  Great  Falls,  at  the  age  of  seventy-one  years.  Cas- 
cade county  well  recognizes  the  fact  that  in  the  passing 
of  Professor  Mortson  she  has  lost  a man  who  con- 
tributed freely  and  without  price  a great  share  of  his 
life  to  her  upbuilding  and  does  well  to  mourn  his  loss. 
In  his  capacity  as  surveyor  his  name  may  be  found 
on  practically  every  map  which  has  been  officially 
prepared  for  Cascade  county,  and  as  a mineralogist  and 
collector  of  specimens  his  reputation  is  nation-wide, 
while  his  contributions  to  scientific  publications  with 
relation  to  the  geology  and  mineralogy  of  Montana 
have  been  accepted  as  authority. 

Oswald  C.  Mortson  was  born  in  Leeds,  Yorkshire, 
England,  in  1841.  Pie  came  to  the  United  States  in 
1864,  and  after  spending  some  little  time  in  the  state  of 
New  York,  he  enlisted  in  the  army  in  1867,  and  gave 
eight  years  of  his  life  in  the  regular  service.  He  came 
to  Montana  in  1872  as  a soldier  and  for  two  years  was 
stationed  at  Camp  Cook,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Judith 
river.  Possessed  of  a remarkably  scientific  mind  and 
ever  a keen  student  of  things  scientific,  he  found  ample 
field  for  the  exercise  of  this  tendency  in  his  every-day 
life  in  Montana,  and  he  made  worthy  use  of  his  oppor- 
tunity and  his  ability. 

It  was  in  1872  while  engaged  in  surveying  from  Fort 
Benton  to  the  Sun  river  that  Professor  Mortson  dis- 
covered how  rich  Montana  is  in  fossils,  and  he  immedi- 
ately began  the  collection  which  is  now,  through  his  gift, 
the  property  of  the  Great  Falls  public  library  and  which 
it  is  safe  to  say  will  make  his  name  immortal  in  the 
state  of  Montana.  Other  collections  which  he  has  made 
up  have  gained  much  favorable  comment  at  expositions 
in  Chicago,  New  Orleans,  Minneapolis,  and  St.  Louis, 
but  the  collection  which  he  gave  to  Great  Falls  far  sur- 
passes in  completeness  and  rarity  any  of  these  others, 
and  is  adjudged  by  authorities  on  the  subject  to  be 
worth  many  thousands  of  dollars.  Prior  to  the  Cen- 
tennial exposition  in  1876  he  had  made  a most  admir- 
able collection  of  mineralogy  and  geology  specimens 
which  at  that  exposition  gained  for  him  the  distinction 
of  being  the  pioneer  herald  of  the  natural  resources  of 
Montana  in  the  mineral  line. 

Some  three  years  ago  the  professor  notified  the  Great 
Falls  library  of  his  wish  to  deed  his  collection  to  it,  pro- 
vided proper  arrangements  would  be  made  to  care  for 
it,  and  it  is  needless  to  say  that  the  city  was  not  slow 
to  avail  itself  of  the  splendid  generosity  of  the  man. 
When  the  entire  collection  is  placed,  there  will  be  found 
specimens  of  practically  all  Montana  minerals,  as  well 
as  the  fossils  of  nearly  all  classes  that  are  to  be  found 
in  the  state.  The  territory  including  Cascade  county, 
however,  is  fully  covered. 

This  unique  but  interesting  character  came  to  be  one 
of  Jhe  most  familiar  figures  in  Cascade  county.  He  lived 
quietly  and  alone  in  his-  little  cabin  home,  and  while 
his  earlier  years  were  divided  between  surveying  and 
specimen  hunting,  the  closing  years  of  his  life  were  al- 
most entirely  devoted  to  his  research  work  and  the 
preparation  of  articles  for  scientific  publications.  He 
was  peculiarly  reticent  as  to  his  family  history,  and  he 
formed  no  close  associations  in  life,  so  that  1-fis  closing 
years  were  passed  without  near  companionship.  For 


years  he  lived  in  the  little  cottage  at  Seventh  street 
South  and  Second  avenue,  and  it  was  here  that  he  was 
found  by  a friendly  visitor  on  the  Saturday  following 
Thanksgiving  day.  The  door  of  the  cottage  was  fast 
and  when  an  entrance  was  finally  forced  the  old  gentle- 
man was  found  in  a state  bordering  upon  coma.  He  was 
hurried  to  the  Deaconess  hospital,  where  every  care 
was  given  him,  but  he  failed  to  rally  from  the  attack 
and  death  claimed  him  on  Wednesday,  December  ii. 

Few  there  are,  if  any,  in  Cascade  county  who  have  not 
been  attracted  by  the  kindly  but  lonely  old  English 
gentleman,  whose  pride  was  great  enough  to  sustain 
him  through  all  his  life  without  once  divulging  the 
facts  of  his  earlier  circumstances,  and  which  was  suffi- 
cient to  restrain  even  the  most  indirect  allusions  to  his 
parentage  and  history  on  the  part  of  acquaintances.  He 
was  loved  and  honored  by 'all  who  knew  him,  and  his 
stupendous  gift  to  the  city  of  Great  Falls  bespoke  bet- 
ter than  could  any  words,  his  love  and  appreciation  for 
the  asylum  he  found  in  the  honest  hearts  of  those  among 
whom  he  was  thrown  in  Cascade  county  and  Montana. 

Sidney  M.  Logan.  Not  every  son  of  an  illustrious 
father  has  been  able  to  achieve  prominence,  but  in  the 
case  of  Sidney  i\L  Logan,  of  Kalispell,  it  would  seem 
that  the  mantle  of  his  father’s  greatness  has  fallen 
upon  his  capable  shoulders.  One  of  the  leading  repre- 
sentatives of  the  legal  profession,  he  has  held  prominent 
public  offices,  and  at  all  times  has  been  a leader  in 
movements  calculated  to  be  of  benefit  to  his  adopted 
community.  IMr.  Logan  was  born  at  St.  Augustine, 
Florida,  March  2,  1867,  and  is  a son  of  Capt.  William 
and  Odelia  (Furlong)  Logan. 

Capt.  William  Logan  was  born  in  County  Louth,  Ire- 
land, December  9,  1830,  of  Scotch-Irish  parentage,  being 
the  son  of  Thomas  D.  and  Margaret  (Rohan)  Logan, 
who  passed  their  entire  lives  in  Ireland.  Of  their 
family  of  three  sons  and  five  daughters,  Capjain  Logan 
was  the  only  one  to  emigrate  to  the  United  States.  His 
father  was  a clergyman  of  the  Church  of  England,  a 
man  of  high  intellectual  attainments  and  force  of  char- 
acter. Of  the  sons  it  is  worthy  of  record  that  Charles 
was  colonel  of  the  Sixty-first  Highlanders,  that  Archi- 
bald was  a captain  in  the  British  navy,  Thomas  is  now 
a resident  of  Scotland,  while  Captain  Logan,  the  other 
son,  acquired  national  fame  by  his  gallantry.  William 
Logan  completed  his  educational  discipline  in  famous 
old  Trinity  College,  where  he  graduated  about  1847, 
coming  to  the  LTnited  States  in  1848.  He  located  in 
New  Orleans,  where  he  first  found  work  at  railroading, 
continuing  to  advance  until  he  became  assistant  engi- 
neer. He  resigned  this  office  and  enlisted  in  Company 
I,  Seventh  LTnited  States  Infantry,  as  a private,  the 
regiment  having  been  recruited  in  New  Orleans  for 
service  during  the  Mexican  war.  Captain  Logan  served 
under  General  Taylor,  on  the  Rio  Grande,  and  later 
under  General  Scott,  with  whom  he  served  until  the 
fall  of  the  city  of  Mexico, _ participating  in  all  the  en- 
gagements_  in  which  his  command  took  part. 
He  contiued  with  his  regiment  as  first  ser- 
geant after  the  war,  his  regiment  having 
been_  assigned  to  the  work  of  guarding  the  fron- 
tier in  Texas  and  New  Mexico  and  to  opposing  the 
depredations  of  the  Indians.  The  regiment  finally  sur- 
rendered to  Gen.  Kirby  Smith,  in  1861,  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  Civil  War.  Captain  Logan  was 
paroled  and  sent  to  Rouse’s  Point,  New  York,  where 
he  remained  until  the  succeeding  fall.  He  again  entered 
the  service  in  the  spring  of  1862  with  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  and  was  with  his  regiment  until  the  battle  of 
Fredericksburg,  where  he  was  severely  wounded  in 
the  shoulder  and  conveyed  to  the  hospital  at  David’s 
Island,  in  New  York  harbor,  where  he  served  as  hos- 
pital steward  after  he  had  sufficiently  recuperated. 
Prior  to  receiving  his  wound,  Captain  Logan  had  par- 
ticipated in  the  battles  of  Chancellorsville  and  Snecker’s 


1038 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


Gap.  Having  rejoined  his  regiment,  he  was  commis- 
sioned first  lieutenant  thereof  in  1864,  and  after  the 
surrender  of  General  Lee,  he  went  to  St.  Augustine, 
Florida,  where  he  served  as  quartermaster  general 
until  1869,  at  which  time  he  accompanied  his  regiment 
to  Fort  Steele,  Wyoming,  where  it  was  engaged  in 
construction  work  and  in  guarding  the  Union  Pacific 
Railroad,  then  in  construction.  Captain  Logan  moved 
on  to  Fort  Beaufort,  North  Dakota,  in  1870,  remaining 
at  that  station  until  1872,  which  was  the  year  of  his 
advent  in  Montana,  and  here  he  was  one  of  the  number 
to  take  part  in  the  Yellowstone  e.xpedition.  Being  still 
in  the  military  deitartment  of  the  United  States  service. 
Captain  Logan  was  called  upon  to  show  his  mettle  in 
conflict  with  the  Indians,  taking  part  in  Baker's  fight, 
near  Billings,  and  was  officer  of  the  guard  on  the  night 
when  the  attack  was  made  by  tbe  hostile  Sioux,  at 
that  time  receiving  honorable  mention  for  effective 
service.  From  1872  to  1876  he  was  stationed  at  Fort 
Shaw,  doing  recruiting  service  at  Dubuque,  Iowa,  during 
the  first  two  years  of  this  time,  and  in  1875  he  was  com- 
missioned captain.  In  the  centennial  year  he  rejoined  his 
regiment,  was  with  General  Gibbon  in  the  Sioux  cam- 
paign, and  was  on  the  ground  where  Custer  was_  killed 
the  day  after  that  memorable  disaster.  Returning  to 
Fort  Shaw,  in  the  spring  of  1877,  he  was  removed  to 
Fort  Missoula,  then  in  course  of  construction,  where  he 
remained  until  he  was  called  forth  to  accompany  Gen- 
eral Gibbon  on  the  expedition  which  culminated  in 
the  battle  of  Rig  Hole,  August  9,  1877,  where  he  met 
his  death  at  the  hands  of  a vengeful  squaw.  His  death 
ended  a career  of  signal  honor  and  a valiant  service  of 
bravery  and  gallantry,  when  he  was  on  the  road  to  fur- 
ther promotion.  His  death  was  a distinct  loss  to  the 
United  States  army,  and  it  was  deeply  mourned  not 
only  by  his  companions  in  arms  but  also  by  a very  wide 
circle  of  devoted  friends.  His  remains  now  repose  in 
the  national  cemetery  on  the  Custer  battlefield,  having 
been  removed  to  that  sepulcher  in  1882. 

Captain  Logan  was  married  in  Texas,  in  1854,  to 
Miss  Odelia  Furlong,  a native  of  the  famous  old  city  of 
Strasburg,  Alsace-Lorraine,  Germany,  whence  she  came 
to  the  United  States,  the  family  settling  in  Texas. 
To  Captain  and  Mrs.  Logan  were  born  thirteen  chil- 
dren; four  sons  and  three  daughters  are  now  living; 
'William  R.,  now  dead,  was  a resident  of  Helena; 
Frances,  wife  of  Brigadier  General  Comba,  of  the 
Fifth  United  States  Infantry,  at  Fort  Sheridan,  Illi- 
nois; Thomas  A.,  late  of  the  Washington  Infantry,  and 
who  was  in  active  service  in  Manila,  now  dead;  Maggie, 
wife  of  Maj.  J.  T.  VanOrsdale,  now  at  Fort  Davis, 
near  Ft.  McPherson,  Georgia,  with  the  Seventh  United 
States  Infantry;  Sidney  M. ; Katherine,  the  wife  of  J. 
W.  Luke,  of  Helena ; and  Archie,  who  served  as  second 
lieutenant  in  the  First  Montana  Regiment  in  the  Philip- 
pines, and  now  living  in  Seattle,  Washington. 

A historian,  in  reviewing  the  career  of  Captain  Logan, 
narrated  the  following:  “A  sketch  of  the  life  of  Cap- 

tain Logan  would  not  be  complete  without  at  least  a 
passing  reference  to  a romantic  incident  following  his 
death  at  Big  Hole.  Captain  Logan  was  descended  from 
a Scotch  family,  one  of  his  anceetors  being  the  Bruce. 
Those  familiar  with  the  history  of  Scotland  will  recall 
the  ambition  of  the  Bruce  to  visit  the  holy  lands,  his 
death  with  that  ambition  unrealized,  his  request  of  the 
Douglas  that,  since  fate  had  debarred  him  from  the 
realization  of  his  most  cherished  desire,  the  latter  carry 
his  heart  to  the  scene  of  the  crucifixion;  how  the 
Douglas,  complying  with  the  dying  request  of  his 
chief,  placed  the  heart  in  a silver  casket  and  how  sub- 
sequently, in  a battle  with  the  Saracens,  he  cast  the 
casket  into  the  thick  of  the  fight,  crying : ‘Go  first, 
brave  heart,  in  battle,  as  thou  were  wont  to  do,  and 
Douglas  will  follow  thee ;’  how  the  heart  and  casket 
were  subsequently  recovered,  pierced  with  a barbarian 
spear,  and  how  the  ‘bleeding  heart’  has  ever  since  been 


a part  and  parcel  of  Scottish  history  and  tradition.  In 
that  battle  were  two  brothers  of  the  name  of  Logan 
(originally  Lagan,  meaning  a low  place),  Walter  and 
Robert.  One  of  them  was  killed  in  battle  and  the  other 
subsequently  married  a daughter  of  Robert  Bruce  and 
granddaughter  of  the  Bruce.  From  that  time  the  Logan 
crest  has  been  a heart  pierced  by  a passion  nail  sur- 
rounded by  a belt  bearing  the  inscription  In  hoc 
majorum  virtus.  When  William  Logan  started  on  his 
journey  to  America,  his  father  gave  him  a seal  ring 
which  had  been  in  the  family  for  many  generations.  The 
seal  was  the  family  crest  engraved  and  enamelled  on 
a violet  colored  stone.  During  Logan's  residence  in 
Florida  ’he  became  worshipful  master  of  the  Masonic 
lodge  and  when  he  moved  north  he  was  presented  by 
his  Masonic  friends  with  a plain  band  ring  covered  with 
Masonic  emblems  in  enamel.  Both  rings  were  on  the 
little  finger  of  his  left  hand  until  after  his  death. 
Captain  Logan  was  killed  very  early  in  the  Big  Hole 
engagement,  and  shortly  after  his  death  the  troops  were 
driven  back  from  the  main  battlefield  to  a timbered  point, 
the  bodies  of  the  slain  thus  being  left  in  the  possession 
of  the  Indians.  Captain  Logan’s  body  was  stripped 
of  its  uniform,  his  scalp  taken  off,  and  the  finger  bear- 
ing the  two  rings  removed  by  the  Indians.  His  widow 
vainly  endeavored  for  years  to  recover  these  rings,  ad- 
vertising in  the  Army  and  Navy  Journal  and  in  the  ter- 
ritorial newspapers.  About  three  years  after  the  fight  a 
Nez  Perce  Indian  was  killed  near  the  international 
boundary  line  by  an  Indian  of  another  tribe,  and  the 
ring  was  found  on  his  body.  It  passed  from  hand  to 
hand  until  it  finally  came  to  the  notice  of  ‘Billy’  Todd, 
in  Fort  Benton,  who  recognized  it  as  the  one  formerly 
worn  by  his  old  friend.  Captain  Logan.  He  redeemed 
it  from  the  old  trapper  who  had  it  and  sent  it  to  the 
commanding  officer  at  Cantonment  Bad  Lands  on  the 
Missouri  river.  An  officer  was  sent  to  deliver  the  ring 
to  Mrs.  Logan  at  Helena,  and  since  then  the  ring  has 
been  worn  by  William  R.  Logan,  oldest  son  of  the 
captain. 

“For  years  no  trace  was  had  of  the  Masonic  ring  and 
all  hope  of  recovering  it  was  given  up  by  the  family. 
In  1900,  however,  nearly  twenty-three  years  after  the 
fight,  while  William  R.  Logan  was  residing  at  the  Black- 
foot  agency,  a Piegan  squaw  entered  his  office  to  lay 
before  the  agent  one  of  the  many  grievances  with  which 
the  Indians  are  afflicted.  On  one  of  her  fingers  she 
wore  a band  ring  much  worn,  but  still  showing  faintly 
the  outlines  of  many  Masonic  emblems.  Mr.  Logan 
immediately  recognized  the  ring  as  his  father’s  and 
easily  succeeded  in  purchasing  it  from  the  old  squaw, 
who  gave  this  brief  account  of  her  connection  with  it: 
A few  months  after  the  battle  of  Big  Hole,  a hunting 
party  of  Blackfeet  and  Piegans  encountered  a party 
of  Nez  Perces  near  the  Cypress  Hills  in  northern  Mon- 
tana and  a brisk  fight  ensued  in  which  a number  of 
Indians  were  killed  on  both  sides.  Among  the  fallen 
Nez  Perces  was  a buck  who  wore  this  ring.  The  finger 
was  removed,  precisely  as  the  corresponding  finger  was 
removed  from  the  lawful  owner  of  the  ring  some  time 
before,  and  was  worn  by  the  victorious  Piegan  until 
his  death,  when  it  came  into  the  possession  of  his 
squaw,  who  in  turn  sold  it  to  Captain  Logan’s  son.  So, 
after  a separation  of  twenty-three  years,  the  rings 
again  rested  side  by  side.’’  Mrs.  Logan  still  survives 
her  husband  and  resides  at  Fort  McPherson,  Georgia. 

Sidney  M.  Logan  was  three  years  of  age  when  he 
accompanied  his  parents  to  North  Dakota,  and  was 
ten  years  old  when  his  father  met  his  death.  At  that 
time  the  children  were  taken  by  their  mother  to  Helena, 
she  engaging  in  stock  raising  operations  and^  laboring 
bravely  to  keep  her  little  flock  together.  Until  he  was 
twenty  years  of  age,  Mr.  Logan  was  connected  with  the 
cattle  industry,  but  subsequently  entered  the  law  offices 
of  Warn,  Toole  & Wallace,  and  in  1889  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  of  Montana.  He  started  practice  in  Helena, 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1039 


later  went  to  Seattle  and  in  1891  came  to  Kalispell, 
where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  practice,  having  a 
large  and  representative  following.  In  1892  Mr.  Logan 
was  assistant  secretary  of  state,  and  from  1891  to 
1896  served  as  county  attorney  of  Flathead  county. 
He  was  elected  the  fifth  mayor  of  Kalispell  in  1902 
From  1906  to  the  present  time  he  has  been  connected 
with  the  park  commissioners,  and  it  is  due  to_  his 
efforts  that  Kalispell  can  boast  of  one  of  the  finest 
boulevard  and  park  systems  in  the  state.  During  his 
administration  as  chief  city  executive,  Mr.  Logan  was 
largely  instrumental  in  securing  the  Carnegie  Library. 
He  is  a stalwart  Republican  in  his  political  views,  while 
his  religious  connection  is  with  the  Disciples  church, 
and  fraternally  he  is  connected  with  the  Royal  High- 
landers and  B.  P.  O.  E.,  past  E.  R.  of  that  order. 

Mr.  Logan  was  married  June  25,  1890,  at  Helena, 
Montana,  to  Miss  Cleora  Stout,  daughter  of  R.  P.  and 
Ella  (Toole)  Stout,  and  niece  of  ex-Governor  Toole. 
Five  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Logan ; 
Cleora,  born  in  1892,  at  Helena,  a graduate  of  the  high 
school  of  that  city;  Mary  Luella,  born  in  1894,  and  now 
attending  the  Kalispell  high  school ; Eula  Odelia,  born 
in  1896,  and  now  attending  the  Kalispell  high  school ; 
Sidney  M.,  Jr.,  born  in  1S97,  and  now  attending  the 
Kalispell  high  school;  and  William  R.,  born  in  1898 
and  now  attending  the  high  school  of  Kalispell.  A 
man  thoroughly  representative  of  the  best  type  of 
citizenship,  and  one  whose  earnest  endeavors  have  re- 
sulted in  the  founding  and  successful  completion  of  a 
number  of  movements  calculate  i to  be  of  benefit  to 
his  community,  i\Ir.  Logan  commands  the  full  respect 
and  confidence  of  his  community,  where  he  and  his 
family  are  widely  and  favorably  known. 

Noble  M.  Walker  was  born  in  Helena  on  August 
20,  1872.  The  first  eight  years  of  his  life  were  spent 
in  the  Montana  capital  and  then  his  parents  moved  to 
Wisconsin.  After  a stay  of  less  than  two  years 
they  returned  to  Montana,  this  time  taking  up  their 
residence  in  Butte.  From  here  they  went  to  Fort 
Benton  and  then  in  1883  came  to  Lewistown  and  have 
since  lived  here  continuously.  Joseph  C.  Wall^er  was 
born  in  Springfield,  raised  in  Iowa  near  Keokuk.  He 
first  came  to  Montana  from  his  home  in  Springfield, 
Illinois,  in  1863.  Like  most  of  the  settlers  who  came 
at  that  period,  Mr.  Walker  engaged  in  mining  but  later 
he  went  into  the  lumbering  business.  He  was  married 
in  Iowa  to  Miss  Ruby  A.  Mason  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  three  children.  The  other  son,  Joseph 
Walker,  died  in  Lewistown  where  both  the  father  and 
mother  ended  their  days.  Mrs.  Walker  passed  away  in 
1896  at  the  age  of  fifty-six,  and  her  husband  twelve  years 
later  in  his  seventy-ninth  year.  Their  one  daughter, 
Margaret,  lives  in  Lewistown. 

Noble  Walker  went  to  school  in  Helena  and  also  in 
Wisconsin.  It  was  in  the  former  place  that  he  received 
the  most  of  his  education,  taking  both  a school  and  a 
business  college  course.  When  he  came  to  Lewistown 
he  began  his  apprenticeship  in  the  hardware  business. 
He  was  with  the  Montana  Hardware  Company  two 
years  before  he  came  with  his  present  company,  and 
his  rise  has  been  with  the  Judith  Hardware  Company. 
Starting  as  a clerk  he  rose  to  the  position  of  stock- 
holder, officer  and  then  manager  of  the  company,  which 
position  he  still  holds.  It  took  him  just  six  years  to 
climb  this  ladder,  so  that  before  he  was  thirty  he  was 
at  the  head  of  one  of  the  large  concerns  of  the  Judith 
country.  He  was  not  altogether  inexperienced  in  prac- 
tical business,  as  he  had  been  a stockman  before  coming 
to  Lewistown.  Six  years  before  he  entered  the  employ 
of  the  Judith  Hardware  Company  he  had  earned  his 
first  money  herding  cattle  at  the  wages  of  $1.00  a day. 
This  was  fair  compensation  for  a boy  of  fifteen  and 
Mr.  Walker  studied  the  business  from  its  foundation, 
just  as  he  did  later  in  the  hardware  trade.  The  Judith 


Hardware  Company  is  an  establishment  which  is  known 
throughout  the  Basin  and  indeed  beyond  its  boundaries. 
Mr.  Walker  has  made  his  way  to  the  top  of  this  depart- 
ment of  the  mercantile  business  by  his  own  unaided 
genius  and  the  business  has  been  the  gainer  by  his 
advancement. 

Mr.  Walker  is  affiliated  with  the  Odd  Fellows  and 
with  the  Woodmen  of  the  World.  He  has  filled  all 
the  chairs  in  both  lodges.  Politically  he  is  aligned  with 
the  Republicans  but  is  not  active  in  politics.  His  re- 
ligious preference  is  for  the  Episcopal  church  where  he 
and  iHrs.  Walker  are  interested  attendants. 

On  August  26,  1898,  Mr.  Walker  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Jennie  M.  Harwood.  The  wedding  was 
celebrated  in  Fergus  county  at  the  home  of  the  bride’s 
sister,  ?ilr.  and  Mrs.  John  Harwood,  who  are  natives 
of  Wandena,  Minnesota,  and  who  are  both  dead.  Three 
children  have  been  the  issue  of  this  union.  Joseph  Al- 
bert and  Judith  Walker  are  attending  school,  while  Alar- 
jorie,  the  youngest,  is  not  yet  old  enough  to  be  a stu- 
dent. Mr.  Walker  has  an  unusual  fondness  for  music 
in  which  Mrs.  Walker  shares.  Both  are  great  readers 
and  interested  in  educational  matters.  Mr.  Walker  is 
a baseball  enthusiast,  being  known  as  a fan  and  a 
rooter.  Mr.  Walker  belongs  to  the  class  of  citizens  who 
make  Montana  the  wonderful  state  it  is  and  Lewistown 
"the  biggest  little  town’’  to  be  found  in  the  whole  forty- 
five  states. 

Thomas  L.  Bateman,  proprietor  of  the  Ravalli-Poi- 
son stage  line,  livery  stables  and  Ravalli  hotel,  at  Ravalli, 
Montana,  is  a representative  business  man  of  this  city 
and  is  a man  who  not  only  has  achieved  his  individual 
success  but  has  also  public-spiritedly  devoted  himself 
to  the  general  welfare  of  his  fellow  citizens,  and  has 
been  foremost  in  advancing  enterprises  and  improve- 
ments which  will  prove  of  lasting  benefit  to  the  city, 
county  and  state.  He  is,  furthermore,  a self-made  man, 
having  been  pushed  out  of  the  family  nest  at  an  early 
age  and  compelled  to  seek  his  living  and  advancement 
as  best  he  could.  From  the  first  he  was  possessed 
of  ambition  and  a determination  to  forge  ahead  and 
it  may  truly  be  said  that  his  splendid  success  in  life  is 
the  direct  result  of  his  own  well  applied  endeavors. 

At  Salt  Lake  City,  LTtah,  September  26,  i860,  occurred 
the  birth  of  Thomas  L.  Bateman,  who  is  a son  of 
William  and  Sarah  Bateman,  both  of  whom  are  now 
deceased.  The  father  passed  to  the  life  eternal  in  1864, 
at  which  time  the  subject  of  this  review  was  a child 
of  but  four  years  of  age.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bateman  were 
pioneers  in  Utah,  their  old  home  having  been  in  the 
county  of  Novane,  whence  they  emigrated  west  in  the 
year  1864.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bateman  became  the  parents 
of  twelve  children,  eight  sons  and  four  daughters. 

To  the  public  schools  of  Salt  Lake  City  and  of  Idaho 
Thomas  L.  Bateman  is  indebted  for  his  educational 
training.  He  was  eight  years  of  age  when  the  family 
home  was  established  in  Idaho,  where  he  continued  to 
reside  for  the  next  four  years,  at  the  expiration  of 
which  he  accompanied  a brother  to  Montana,  coming 
hither  with  a freight  team  and  arriving  in  Virginia 
Citj'  m 1872.  Mr.  Bateman  has  been  a resident  of 
Montana  during  the  long  intervening  years  to  the 
present  time,  in  1912,  a period  of  forty  years.  While 
in  Virginia  City  he  and  his  brother  followed  the 
freighting  business  for  about  one  year  and  for  twenty 
years  were  engaged  in  the  same  line  of  enterprise  be- 
tween Corinne,  Utah,  and  Butte,  along  the  famous 
freight  road,  making  headquarters  at  various  points 
along  the  line.  Their  route  was  guided  by  the  Utah 
Northern  Railroad  which  was  being  constructed  about 
that  time.  In  1893  iMi"-  Bateman  went  to  Dillon  and 
there  started  a blacksmith  shop,  which  he  ran  for  three 
years,  at  the  end  of  which  he  bought  teams  and  went 
into  the  railroad  construction  business,  working  for 
a time  at  grading  on  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad.  In 


1040 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1897  he  went  to  Missoula,  in  the  vicinity  of  which 
place  he  followed  farming  and  ranching  for  ten  years. 
In  IQ08  he  came  to  Ravalli  and  here  engaged  in  the 
hotel  business,  later  buying  out  the  state  line  which  he 
now  operates  in  connection  with  the  United  States 
mail  between  Ravalli  and  Poison.  At  Ronan,  one  of 
the  stations  along  his  line,  he  runs  a livery  barn,  which 
is  managed  by  one  of  his  sons-in-law.  He  also  has  a 
livery  establishment  at  Ravalli  and  is  one  of  the  largest 
operators  in  Missoula  county,  Ravalli  being  the  prin- 
cipal distributing  point  for  Flathead  reservation  teams. 

Mr.  Bateman  has  been  a hard,  steady  worker  during 
his  entire  life  time  and  while  he  has  met  with  no  serious 
reverses,  each  successive  venture  has  driven  him  to 
greater  effort,  and  determination  backed  by  confidence 
has  enabled  him  to  achieve  most  noteworthy  success. 
In  politics  he  is  a stalwart  Republican  but  he  takes 
no  active  interest  in  public  affairs,  except  to  vote  for 
men  and  measures  he  deems  worthy  of  support.  He 
is  affiliated  with  the  Woodmen  of  the  World  and  has 
filled  all  the -official  chairs  of  that  organization.  Mr. 
Bateman  is  fond  of  hunting,  fishing,  baseball,  theatricals, 
music  and  good  books.  A peculiar  thing  about  Mr. 
Bateman's  life  is  that,  in  spite  of  his  many  travels, 
Montana  is  the  only  state  in  which  he  has  ever  been. 
He  has  journeyed  through  Wyoming,  Arizona,  New 
Mexico.  Idaho,  Utah,  and  Washington  but  only  in 
their  territorial  days.  Mr.  Bateman  says  it  is  not  hard 
to  explain  the  good  features  of  Montana.  “It  is  a state 
with  a large  and  productive  body  back  of  it — everything 
is  real.  The  natural  forces  that  are  now  developing 
Montana  will  make  it  the  biggest  and  best  state  in  the 
union.  If  you  want  to  improve  your  condition,  finan- 
cially, physically  or  any  other  way,  come  to  the  Treasure 
state  and  make  it  your  home.  Montana  is  the  only 
state  that  can  verify  the  possibilities  of  financial  inde- 
pendence.” 

At  Dillon,  Montana,  December  25,  1881,  Mr.  Bateman 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Margaret  A.  Fradsham, 
of  Utah.  She  is  a woman  of  most  fascinating  perso- 
nality and  numbers  among  her  friends  Mrs.  Gus  Pelky, 
the  first  white  woman  that  came  to  Montana.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Bateman  are  the  parents  of  six  daughters, 
all  of  whom  are  married  and  concerning  whom  the  fol- 
lowing brief  data  are  here  incorporated,  Margaret  is 
the  wife  of  P.  C.  Sparks  and  they  reside  at  Missoula, 
as  does  also  Lydia,  whose  husband  is  Robert  Ziesing; 
Pearl  married  Joseph  Flaskins,  who  is  associated  with 
Mr.  Bateman  in  the  hotel  business  at  Ravalli ; Gwendo- 
line is  the  wife  of  John  Laullin,  who  conducts  the  livery 
and  stage  station  at  Ronan  for  Mr.  Bateman ; Ora 
married  T.  J.  Torseth,  who  is  an  operator  in  the 
Northern  Pacific  Railroad  station  at  Ravalli;  and  Echo 
is  the  wife  of  Archie  Ashton  and  resides  on  a ranch. 
All  the  daughters  received  good  educational  advantages 
and  are  particularly  proficient  musicians,  several  of 
them  having  been  members  of  a Ladies'  Band  at  Mis- 
soula for  a period  of  three  years. 

Mr.  Bateman  has  lived  a life  of  usefulness  such  as 
few  men  know.  God-fearing,  law-abiding,  progressive, 
his  life  is  as  truly  that  of  a Christian  gentleman  as  any 
man’s  can  well  be.  Unwaveringly,  he  has  done  the 
right  as  he  has  interpreted  it.  Possessed  of  an  inflexible 
will,  he  is  quietly  persistent,  always  in  command  of  his 
powers,  never  showing  anger  uncler  any  circumstances. 
He  is  a citizen  whose  loyalty  and  public  spirit  have 
ever  been  of  the  most  insistent  order  and  he  is  a gentle- 
man of  whom  any  community  may  well  be  proud. 

Emil  Kluge,  Sr.  One  of  the  prominent  and  well- 
known  citizens  of  Montana  is  Emil  Kluge,  Sr.,  state 
secretary  for  the  Masonic  bodies  of  Montana  and  also 
for  those  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
who  first  came  to  this  state  in  1873,  and  may  therefore 
be  classed  as  one  of  its  pioneers. 


Mr  Kluge  was  born  in  Prussia,  Germany,  March  28, 
184s,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  the 
Fatherland,  famed  for  their  thoroughness.  It  was  his 
lot  to  not  only  pass  through  the  period  of  military 
discipline  required  of  the  youth  of  Germany  but  to  do 
so  in  actual  warfare,  having  served  his  country  bravely 
and  with  distinction  in  two  wars — the  first  of  which  was 
in  1866  between  Prussia  and  Austria  and  resulted  in 
the  expulsion  of  Austria  from  German  affairs.  The 
second  war  (the  Franco-German),  under  Prince  Bis- 
marck, the  Iron  Chancellor,  was  an  almost  unbroken 
series  of  successes  for  the  Germans.  The  only  injury 
suffered  by  Mr.  Kluge  in  either  of  these  conflicts  was 
the  loss  of  part  of  one  finger,  which  for  a time  incapac- 
itated him  from  further  military  service  and  was  sus- 
tained in  an  engagement  on  August  18,  1870,  at  Centre 
Private,  France.  His  military  service  was  in  the 
infantry.  A year  after  leaving  the  army  he  came  to  the 
United  States  and  on  July  2,  1871,  reached  Detroit, 
Michigan,  where  he  secured  employment  shortly  after 
his  arrival  and  remained  two  years.  Deciding  to  seek 
his  fortune  in  the  west,  he  came  to  Montana,  arriving 
at  Helena,  then  a wild  western  town,  on  May  3,  1873. 
His  first  venture  there  was  to  engage  in  mining  at  which 
he  was  not  very  successful,  abandoning  it  shortly  to  take 
up  contracting,  to  which  he  gave  his  attention  until 
1876.  After  the  massacre  of  General  Custer  and  his 
band  of  brave  men  on  the  Little  Big  Horn  river  in 
Montana,  on  June  25th  of  that  year,  by  the  Sioux 
Indians,  Mr.  Kluge  joined  a group  of  gold  seekers 
headed  for  the  Black  Hills.  After  an  exciting  trip  across 
the  plains,  always  on  the  alert  for  bands  of  marauding 
Indians,  they  reached  their  destination,  and  Mr.  Kluge 
immediately  engaged  in  prospecting,  but  the  district  had 
been  largely  overrated,  and  beyond  a few  small  dis- 
coveries of  gold,  their  efforts  were  not  rewarded.  Hav- 
ing left  his  family  at  Helena,  he  returned  there  and  again 
took  up  mining  and  prospecting  with  moderate  success. 
Later  he  resumed  his  former  business  of  contracting, 
which  he  followed  until  elected  to  his  present  position, 
that  of  secretary  of  King  Solomon’s  Lodge  No.  9,  of 
Masons,  in  1892.  This  office  he  has  now  held  continu- 
ously for  twenty  years.  He  also  officiates  in  a similar 
capacity  for  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  in 
Montana.  This  prominent  relation  with  two  of  the 
oldest  and  strongest  of  fraternal  orders  has  brought 
him  into  close  touch  with  the  people  of  all  parts  of 
Montana,  to  whom  he  is  well  known  and  with  whom 
he  stands  in  the  highest  repute  as  a worthy  represen- 
tative of  these  great  orders  and  as  a citizen  of  unques- 
tioned integrity  and  honor. 

Mr.  Kluge’s  parents  were  both  born  in  Prussia,  Ger- 
many, and  spent  their  entire  lives  in  their  native  land. 
His  father,  Johannas  Gotlieb  Kluge,  was  born  in  1797 
and  died  in  1865.  In  1813,  when  Prussia  began  with 
fervor  the  German  national  war  of  liberation,  Johannas 
Gotlieb  Kluge,  then  a lad  of  sixteen,  with  patriotic  de- 
votion to  the  Fatherland  promptly  entered  the  army  and 
served  three  years.  Later  in  life  he  became  a weaver 
and  a land  owner  in  Prussia.  The  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject, who  was  Miss  Christina  Hertramph  prior  to  her 
marriage,  was  born  in  Prussia  in  1808  and  died  there 
in  September,  1870. 

The  marriage  of  Emil  Kluge  occurred  in  Germany,  in 
1871,  the  year  of  his  emigration  to  the  United  States. 
Mrs.  Kluge  accompanied  her  husband  to  this  country, 
and  died  at  Helena,  Montana,  in  May,  1908.  To  this 
union  were  born  three  sons,  of  whom  Albert  and 
Richard  both  died  at  Helena,  in  1877,  and  are  buried 
there.  Emil  Kluge,  Jr.,  the  eldest  son,  born  in  Detroit, 
Michigan,  in  1872,  is  now  a successful  commission  mer- 
chant at  Hamilton,  Montana. 

Mr.  Kluge  is  a Progressive  in  politics  and  in  1890 
served  one  term  as  street  commissioner  of  Helena.  In 
church  faith  and  membership,  he  is  a Lutheran. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1041 


Jess  C.  Ricker.  The  pioneer  miner  of  Montana, 
Joshua  Ricker,  was  born  in  Vermont  on  May  13,  1836. 
His  family  had  come  from  England  in  colonial  times. 
They  had  served  in  the  colonial  wars  and  in  the  Ameri- 
can Revolution.  Joshua  lived  in  Vermont  until  the  age 
of  fourteen,  when  his  father,  with  John  Hatch,  and  their 
respective  families,  made  the  overland  journey  to  Law- 
rence, Kansas.  Here  the  Hatch  household  located  on  a 
farm  and  engaged  in  stock  raising  and  general  farm- 
ing, although  in  those  days  Kansas  was  not  among  the 
wheat  producing  areas  of  the  country.  In  1863  Joshua 
Ricker,  having  heard  of  the  gold  discoveries  in  Mon- 
tana, organized  a party  who  made  another  overland 
trip  to  the  west  and  arrived  in  Virginia  City,  none  the 
worse  for  their  hazardous  journey. 

In  1864  Mr.  Ricker  began  placer  mining  in  Last 
Chance  Gulch,  and  here  he  met  with  such  success  that 
he  was  enabled  to  purchase  claims  of  other  prospectors, 
and  to  put  them  into  operation.  Among  the  properties 
which  he  owned  and  operated  was  the  famous  gold 
mine  known  as  No.  2,  west  of  the  Whitlatch  Lode, 
and  situated  about  four  miles  south  of  Helena,  at  a 
settlement  called  Unionville.  This  mine  was  one  of  the 
great  gold  producers  of  the  early  days  and  it  made 
Mr.  Ricker  very  wealthy.  Mr.  Ricker  was  one  of  the 
first  to  utilize  Montana  as  a field  for  cattle  raising,  and 
his  operations  in  this  industry  were  extensive.  His  cat- 
tle were  known  by  his  brand  “73-”  Li  while 

driving  through  the  mountains,  he  was  the  victim  of  a 
serious  accident,  which  resulted  in  a permanent  injury, 
and  was  the  direct  cause  of  his  death  three  years  later. 
In  1873  he  sold  his  mining  properties  and  retired  from  ; 
active  participation  in  business.  His  judgment  in  finan-/ 
cial  matters  was  almost  infallible  and  thoroughness 
characterized  his  performance  of  all  he  undertook.  His 
private  life  was  spotless,  and  his  habits  exemplary.  He 
was  a member  of  the  Episcopal  church  and  a devout 
attendant  upon  its  services.  His  disposition  was  retir-! 
ing,  and  he  never  sought  public  office  of  any  sort.  His' 
death  occurred  on  June  i,  1875,  while  on  a visit  to  Salt 
Lake  City.  He  is  buried  in  Helena,  where  his  wife  and 
four  children  now  reside,  and  where  he  had  acquired 
the  large  estate  which  he  bequeathed  to  them. 

Martha  Hatch  Ricker,  his  widow,  was  born  in  Ver- 
mont, and  was  the  companion  of  his  childhood  and  his 
sweetheart  of  early  school  days.  Her  mother  was  a 
niece  of  Ethan  Allen,  and  among  her  relatives  were 
many  early  settlers  of  America  and  soldiers  in  the 
Revolution,  besides  the  celebrated  Paul  Jones.  Her 
marriage  to  Mr.  Ricker  occurred  at  Lawrence,  Kansas, 
and  their  eldest  child,  Ernie,  was  born  in  that  college 
town.  She  is  now  the  wife  of  Dr.  C.  D.  Dodge,  of 
Helena.  Alice  M.  Ricker  was  born  in  Unionville, 
Montana.  Her  husband,  George  O.  Ereenian  is  receiver 
in  the  United  States  land  office.  The  other  daughter 
is  Mrs.  Arthur  "W.  Ide,  Mr.  Ide  being  a real  estate 
dealer  and  insurance  agent. 

The  son,  Jess  C.  Ricker,  the  youngest  of  the  family, 
was  born  in  Helena,  February  20,  1873,  and  received 
his  schooling  in  the  public  schools  of  Manchester,  New 
Hampshire,  and  Helena,  Montana,  and  private  insti- 
tutions of  Helena.  After  leaving  school  he  entered  the 
office  of  Schaffer  & Stranahan,  architects  and  builders, 
and  served  a three  years’  apprenticeship  in  architecture. 
After  that  he  spent  a year  as  bookkeeper  for  William 
Muth,  but  while  there,  was  appointed  assistant  city 
treasurer  in  1893,  and  served  a year  in  that  capacity. 
He  was  then  appointed  deputy  clerk  of  the  district 
court,  and  in  1895,  upon  the  resignation  of  John  Bean, 
was  made  clerk  of  the  same  court,  filling  the  office  to 
the  completion  of  the  term. 

Mr.  Ricker  left  Helena  in  1897  and  removed  to 
Havre,  Montana.  Here  he  became  bookkeeper  for  the 
Broadwater-Pepin  Company,  and  at  the  same  time  filled 
the  office  of  postmaster.  He  remained  in  Havre  for 
six  years,  and  in  1904  returned  to  Helena,  first  adding 


to  his  public  services  in  the  city  of  his  sojourn  by  being 
city  treasurer.  In  1905  Mr.  Ricker  and  Mr.  Muth,  his 
former  employer,  formed  a partnership  and  established 
the  Montana  Audit  Company.  The  business  is  that  of- 
accounting,  examining  of  title  and  kindred  matters. 
The  partnership  continued  until  1910,  when  Mr.  Muth 
withdrew,  and  since  then  Mr.  Ricker  has  been  the  sole 
owner  of  the  company.  In  addition  to  this  he  has  in- 
vestments in  several  mining  properties  and  in  a number 
of  commercial  enterprises.’ 

Politically  Mr.  Ricker  is  aligned  with  the  Republicans, 
although  he  does  not  participate  in  the  game  of  politics. 
In  fact,  his  home  and  his  business  claim  all  his  interest. 
Though  a member  of  the  Masonic  order,  affiliating  with 
Morning  Star  lodge  and  having  taken  the  thirty-second 
degree,  he  is  not  at  all  given  to  clubs  or  pleasures  out- 
side his  home.  His  principal  diversion  is  an  annual  trip 
to  the  Pacific  coast  with  his  family.  This  consists  of 
his  wife,  Lalla  McComas  Ricker,  and  their  two  sons. 
Jack  W.  Ricker,  born  in  Helena  December  13,  1901,  and 
Robert  Bruce  Ricker,  born  April  7,  1906.  Though 
averse  to  clubs,  Mr.  Ricker  maintains  his  member- 
ship in  the  Sons  and  Daughters  of  Montana  Pioneers, 
as  one  of  his  ancestry  could  not  but  be  in  favor  of  any 
measure  which  should  keep  alive  the  memory  of  those 
who  carved  our  nation  from  the  raw  wilderness.  In 
this  enthusiasm  Mrs.  Ricker  shares,  for  her  father,  like 
his  own,  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Montana,  who 
bore  an  honorable  part  in  its  history  as  a frontier  com- 
monwealth. 

Edward  Horsky,  former  mayor  of  Helena,  is  a native 
of  Helena  and  the  son  of  one  of  its  most  prominent  and 
active  men,  who  a few  years  ago  was  one  of  Montana’s 
leading  Republicans,  as  the  subject  is  today  one  of  the 
most  influential  in  the  state.  Mr.  Horsky  is  a lawyer 
by  profession  and  he  is  generally  recognized  as  one  of 
the  best  equipped  attorneys  in  a city  whose  legal  profes- 
sion is  a matter  of  pride. 

The  date  upon  which  Mayor  Horsky’s  life  record  be- 
gan was  June  12,  1873.  His  father  John  Horsky,  was 
a native  of  Austria,  born  May  15,  1838.  The  elder 
gentleman  came  to  America  in  1855,  and  spent  nine  years 
in  Iowa  and  Nebraska.  In  1864  he  came  from  Omaha, 
via  the  Big  Horn  river,  locating  in  Virginia  City,  where 
he  lived  one  year  and  then  removed  to  Helena,  where 
he  was  to  make  his  permanent  home  and  become  a force 
in  its  development.  He  was  one  of  Virginia  City’s  first 
settlers  and  engaged  in  prospecting  and  mining.  In 
1865  he  founded  the  Helena  Brewery  and  conducted 
that  industry  until  1891,  since  which  time  he  has  lived 
virtually  retired  from  business.  He  was  prominent  in 
public  life;  was  elected  one  of  the  first  aldermen  after 
the  incorporation  of  the  city,  serving  two  terms,  and 
was  sent  as  representative  to  the  First,  Second  and 
Fourth  legislatures  of  the  new  state  of  Montana.  He 
served  two  terms  as  county  commissioner  and  at  one 
time  was  receiver  of  the  United  States  land  office.  He 
has  always  been  a leader  in  civic  and  other  affairs;  is 
a staunch  Republican,  as  mentioned,  and  has  belonged 
to  the  Masonic  bodies  since  the  early  ’70s.  He  has 
witnessed  the  marvellous  development  of  Helena  since 
his  arrival  and  has  had  the  pleasure  of  contributing  to 
it  in  several  ways.  In  1884  he  erected  the  Horsky 
building,  one  of  the  first  office  buildings  in  the  city, 
the  same  being  located  at  the  northeast  corner  of  Main 
and  Sixth  streets.  He  has  been  very  active  in  the  field 
of  mining,  but  has  never  been  very  successful.  The 
elder  Mr.  Horsky  was  married  on  December  i,  1869, 
Louise  Seykora,  also  of  Austria,  becoming  his  wife, 
and  their  union  was  celebrated  in  Brooklyn,  Iowa.  The 
three  children  born  to  this  happy  union  are : Rudolph, 
a physician  of  this  city;  Edward,  the  immediate  subject 
of  the  review;  and  John,  Jr.,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
drug  business  in  Helena. 

Edward  Horsky  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 


1042 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


Helena,  including  two  years  in  the  Helena  high  school, 
and  in  the  Central  high  school  of  Philadelphia,  Pennsyl- 
vania, from  which  he  was  graduated  in  June,  1890.  Up- 
,on  leaving  school  he  concluded  to  adopt  the  medical 
profession  as  his  own,  and  spent  one  year  in  study  in 
a physician’s  office  in  this  city,  which  he  followed  with 
one  year’s  practical  work  in  Bellevue  Hospital  Medical 
College  in  New  York  City.  Upon  his  return  home  in 
the  spring  of  1892  he  was  appointed  to  a government 
position  in  the  office  of  the  calculation  clerk,  and  after 
tilling  this  for  more  than  a year,  resigned  to  take  up 
the  study  of  law,  which  he  found  on  maturer  reflection 
he  preferred  to  medicine.  He  secured  his  professional 
training  in  the  law  department  of  the  University  of 
Michigan,  was  graduated  on  June  i,  1895,  and  admitted 
at  once  to  practice  before  the  state  supreme  court  of 
Michigan.  He  immediately  returned  to  Helena,  and  in 
October,  1895,  was  admitted  to  practice  in  this  state, 
and  entered  upon  his  career  in  May,  1896.  He  prac- 
ticed alone  until  1897,  ^ind  in  August,  1897,  became  as- 
sociated with  Judge  J.  B.  Clayberg,  which  partnership 
continued  successfully  until  1901,  since  which  time  Mr. 
Horsky  has  been  alone. 

He  was  soon  recognized  as  of  the  right  material  for 
public  office  and  was  appointed  city  attorney  in  May, 
189S.  He  served  until  1904  and  upon  resigning,  was 
again  appointed  to  the  office,  the  latter  appointment 
beiiip"  in  May,  1908.  He  then  served  until  August,  1911, 
when  he  was  elected  by  the  council  to  succeed  Mayor 
F.  J.  Edwards,  who  had  resigned.  He  served  the  nine 
months  remaining  of  that  term  and  declined  to  become 
a candidate  for  re-election.  He  was,  for  eleven  years, 
chairman  of  the  Republican  city  central  committee,  and 
served  a number  of  years  on  the  county  central  com- 
mittee. 

Mr.  Horsky  has  a number  of  pleasant  fraternal  re- 
lations. He  is  a thirty-second  degree  Mason  and  a 
member  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  and  is  also  affiliated  with 
the  Woodmen  of  the  World  and  the  Sons  of  Hermann. 
He  is  a prominent  club  and  society  man,  belonging  to 
the  Montana  Club,  the  Silver  Bow  Club,  the  Lambs’ 
Club,  and  to  the  Greek  letter  fraternity.  Delta  Chi.  He 
also  is  connected  with  the  Sons  and  Daughters  of  the 
Montana  Pioneers,  having  served  as  president  of  the 
same  and  was  active  in  its  organization.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  those  organizations  whose  object  is  the 
advancement  and  unification  of  the  profession — the 
Montana  State  Bar  Association  and  the  Lewis  and 
Clark  Bar  Association.  His  offices  are  in  the  Horsky 
block. 

Mr.  Horsky  has  not  yet  become  a recruit  to  the 
Benedicts  and  resides  at  home  with  his  parents. 

Dr.  William  C.  Orr.  A native  son  whom  Beaver- 
head county  is  indeed  proud  to  claim  is  Dr.  William 
C.  Orr,  veterinary  surgeon  and  deputy  state  veterinary 
for  the  state  of  Montana.  He  is  not  only  one  of  the 
leading  members  of  his  profession  in  the  west,  but 
has  many  other  interests  of  broad  scope  and  importance 
and  is  distinguished  as  one  of  the  most  loyal  and  en- 
thusiastic of  Montanians. 

Dr.  Orr  was  born  in  Beaverhead  county,  Montana, 
July  7,  1873,  and  with  the  exception  of  three  years  dur- 
ing which  he  was  veterinary  in  charge  of  the  Marcus 
Daly  ranch  near  Hamilton,  Montana,  and  the  period  of 
his  education,  he  has  spent  his  entire  life  in  Dillon.  He 
received  his  elementary  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  this  place,  which  he  followed  with  one  year  of  the 
classical  course  of  the  University  of  Nevada.  He  then 
completed  a course  in  veterinary  training  in  the  veteri- 
nary college  at  Toronto,  Ontario,  Canada,  and  received 
his  degree  from  that  institution.  He  then  came  back 
to  Dillon  to  practice  and  his  success  has  been  continual. 

In  connection  with  his  practice  he  conducts  the  Cen- 
tral Livery  and  Feed  business.  He  is  also  extensively 
interested  in  the  famous  Poindexter  and  Orr  ranch. 


which  is  one  of  the  largest  and  best  equipped  ranches 
in  all  Montana,  comprising  18,000  acres  of  deeded  land 
and  13,000  leased  acres.  He  figures  further  in  the  af- 
fairs of  this  giant  concern  as  one  of  the  executive  heads 
and  director  of  the  Poindexter  and  Orr  Live  Stock 
Company. 

Dr.  Orr  is  a staunch  and  stalwart  Democrat  and  has 
always  taken  an  active  interest  in  politics  and  when 
called  upon  to  assume  public  responsibility  has  always 
accomplished  his  duties  with  great  credit.  He  at  pres- 
ent holds  the  office  of  county  commissioner  and  upon 
previous  occasions  has  been  a member  of  the  school 
board  and  city  councilman.  With  him  patriotism  is  not 
a mere  rhetorical  expression,  and  he  stands  for  the 
ideal  type  of  the  plucky,  level-headed,  prosperous  and 
all-round  useful  citizen  of  the  west.  Upon  his  father’s 
ranch,  with  its  manifold  channels  for  usefulness,  he 
learned  his  first  lessons  in  usefulness  and  thrift  and 
there  experienced  the  “fine,  dizzy,  muddle-headed  joy” 
of  earning  his  first  money. 

Dr.  Orr  and  his  wife  and  elder  daughter  are  com- 
municants of  the  Episcopal  church  and  the  latter  are 
very  active  in  assisting  in  its  campaign  for  good.  The 
doctor  is  a member  of  the  various  Masonic  bodies  from 
the  blue  lodge  to  the  Shrine.  He  is  extremely  fond 
of  hunting  and  fishing  and  has  a number  of  trophies 
secured  while  on  hunting  excursions  which  attest  elo- 
quently to  his  prowess  as  a Nimrod.  He  also  finds 
great  recreation  in  driving  and  automobiling  and  has 
his  own  private  car.  He  keeps  in  touch  with  the  best 
literature  of  the  day. 

At  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  on  April  7,  1894,  Dr.  Orr 
was  united  in  the  bonds  of  matrimony  to  Aura  Cum- 
mings, daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alva  Cummings  of 
that  city.  Two  children,  both  daughters,  have  been  born 
into  their  attractive  and  hospitable  household.  Ruth, 
born  February  17,  1895,  finished  the  common  school 
of  Dillon,  then  studied  two  years  at  Brumot  Hall, 
Spokane,  and  is  now  attending  the  Dillon  high  school. 
Margaret  Gordon  was  born  December  10,  1906,  and  is 
the  baby. 

Dr.  Orr  is  of  Irish  extraction,  his  father,  William 
C.  Orr,  having  been  born  in  Ireland.  He  came  to  Amer- 
ica with  his  parents  when  four  years  of  age  and  set- 
tled in  Montana  in  the  pioneer  days,  following  mining 
and  ranching  and  becoming  a very  prominent  citizen. 
He  was  an  exceedingly  prominent  Mason  and  served 
at  one  time  as  commissioner  of  Beaverhead  county. 
He  is  now  deceased,  but  the  memory  of  his  public-spir- 
ited activities  remains  green.  The  mother,  Rachel  M. 
Orr,  was  a native  of  Ohio  and  in  the  Buckeye  state 
these  worthy  people  were  united  in  marriage.  They 
began  their  married  life  in  California,  but  soon  came 
overland  to  Montana  and  settled  in  Beaverhead  county. 
The  mother  was  greatly  interested  in  Eastern  Star  work 
and  was  a lady  of  most  charitable  nature,  her  sin- 
cerest  pleasure  lying  in  the  assistance  of  those  less 
fortunate  than  herself.  She  too  is  deceased  and  the 
remains  of  her  and  her  life  companion  are  interred  side 
by  side  in  Dillon.  They  were  the  parents  of  six  chil- 
dren, the  subject  of  the  sketch  being  their  third  child. 
The  other  five  are  all  brothers  and  all  reside  in  Mon- 
tana. Mathew  Orr  is  married  and  resides  in  Dillon ; 
he  established  the  first  electric  plant  here  and  is  now 
in  the  automobile  business.  Ernest  Orr  is  married  and 
a resident  of  Dillon,  his  occupation  being  that  of  man- 
ager of  the  Poindexter  & Orr  Live  Stock  Company, 
Charles  B.  Orr  is  unmarried  and  lives  in  Dillon  and  is 
manager  of  the  famous  Poindexter  and  Orr  Ranch.  Bert 
H.  Orr  is  a married  man  and  also  lives  in  Dillon  and  has 
charge  of  the  cattle  interests  of  the  Poindexter  dnd  Orr 
Company.  John  T.  Orr,  a citizen  of  Dillon  and  not  yet 
a Benedict,  has  charge  of  the  garage  here,  the  same 
being  a large,  well-equipped  and  thoroughly  up-to-date 
concern. 

It  would  be  impossible  to  find  a more  loyal  and  en- 


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HISTORY  OF  MONTANx\ 


1043 


thusiastic  Montanian  than  Dr.  Orr,  the  immediate  sub- 
ject of  this  brief  review.  He  is  an  ardent  worker  for 
the  upbuilding  of  Dillon  and  never  misses  an  opportu- 
nity to  speak  and  act  for  the  attainment  of  its  welfare. 
He  is  known  for  his  fair  dealing  and  is  held  in  high 
regard  by  all  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact.  It  is 
indeed  a pleasure  to  the  publishers  to  incorporate  the 
biography  of  so  good  a citizen  in  a work  of  this  na- 
ture. 

Lionel  E.  Manning.  “The  Bitter  Root  valley  is  the 
Eden  of  the  northwest,  and  the  climate  is  the  finest.” 
Such  is  the  sentiment  displayed  on  the  business  card  of 
Lionel  E.  Manning,  of  Stevensville,  and  is  fully  illus- 
trative of  the  faith  and  confidence  in  which  he  holds  his 
adopted  community,  v/here  for  many  years  he  has  been 
engaged  in  the  real  estate  and  loan  business.  He  has 
also  identified  himself  with  stock  raising  and  ranch- 
ing, and  is  well  known  in  public  and  social  life,  and 
merits  in  the  fullest  degree  the  respect  and  esteem  of 
his  community.  Mr.  Manning  is  an  Englishman,  hav- 
ing been  born  in  the  city  of  London,  February  ii,  1848. 
He  was  educated  in  Willisden  College,  but  in  1866  left 
that  institution  before  his  graduation,  having  been 
called  home  during  the  last  illness  of  his  father.  He 
then  studied  law  for  two  years,  but  gave  up  the  cap 
and  gown  to  take  up  the  sword,  and  remained  for 
three  years  in  the  Home  Service  of  the  English  army. 
In  1872  Mr.  Manning  immigrated  to  the  United  States, 
and  after  eighteen  months  in  New  York  City,  came  to 
Montana,  where  he  was  appointed  sub  agent  at  the 
Flathead  Indian  reservation.  One  year  later  he  went 
to  Helena  and  found  employment  with  the  Murphy  Neal 
Commercial  Company,  the  largest  concern  in  tbe  north- 
west, as  bookkeeper  and  cashier.  He  was  at  Helena 
several  months,  and  then  went  to  a branch  store  at 
Fort  Benton,  but  after  six  months  was  transferred  to 
another  branch  at  Fort  McCloud.  Subsequently  be- 
coming a partner  in  the  business,  he  continued  therein 
for  three  years,  then  selling  his  interest  and  going  to 
Butte  to  take  charge  of  the  large  store  of  John  Caplica 
& Company.  In  1885  Mr.  Manning  came  to  the  Bitter 
Root  Valley  to  engage  in  farming  and  stock  raising, 
with  which  he  was  connected  until  1910,  that  year  com- 
ing to  Stevensville.  He  disposed  of  his  ranch  at  a good 
profit  and  engaged  in  the  realty  business,  and  now  has 
lots,  blocks  and  acreage  for  sale,  making  a specialty  of 
orchard  and  farm  land,  and  makes  investments  for  non- 
residents. He  owns  considerable  city  property,  and  is 
considered  one  of  Stevensville’s  most  substantial  men. 
He  is  a master  Mason  and  takes  a great  deal  of  interest 
in  the  work  of  the  organization. 

Mr.  Manning  was  married  to  Miss  Annie  Curnock, 
of  England,  who  died  April  8,  1905,  and  was  buried 
in  Maplewood  cemetery,  Stevensville.  They  had  ten 
children,  of  whom  six  are  living,  as  follows : Lionel 
E.,  Jr.,  a capitalist  of  Stevensville;  Maud,  who  married 
William  E.  Cannon,  of  this  city;  Isabella,  who  married 
Frank  West,  of  Stevensville;  Ralph  and  Percy  (twins), 
who  are  engaged  in  ranching  in  the  Flathead  country ; 
and  Gladys,  who  married  George  Hall,  of  Helena. 

Mr.  Manning  now  occupies  apartments  in  Stevens- 
ville, as  his  children,  to  all  whom  he  gave  good  educa- 
tional advantages,  have  scattered  and  are  ably  filling 
the  positions  in  life  to  which  they  have  been  called. 
He  is  known  as  a genial,  courteous  gentleman,  fond  of 
entertaining  his  friends  and  with  a wide  range  of 
anecdote  and  the  abilitv  to  tell  a story  well,  and,  what 
is  rarer,  perhaps,  of  being  able  to  appreciate  a good 
story.  He  has  a valuable  library  in  which  are  the  works 
of  the  great  authors,  and  many  hours  are  spent  by  Mr. 
Manning  in  the  perusal  of  his  favorite  books.  A man 
of  sound  principles  and  judgment,  well  balanced  in 
business  matters,  Mr.  Manning  is  fully  alive  to  all  real 
issues  of  the  day,  and  as  one  of  the  men  to  whom  the 
voL  n— la 


city  owes  its  growth  and  development  commands  the 
esteem  and  respect  of  his  fellow  citizens. 

F.  H.  Mayn.  With  the  exception  of  one  year  F.  H. 
Mayn  has  resided  in  Montana,  but  since  it  was  the  first 
j’ear  of  his  life  which  was  spent  amid  scenes  other  than 
those  of  “The  Land  of  Opportunity”  and  the  greater 
part  of  it  was  devoted  to  slumber,  he  does  not  regret 
it  as  much  as  he  might  otherwise.  He  fully  recognizes 
the  many  advantages  of  this  section  and  his  emotions 
are  those  of  the  great  English  poet  who  wrote, 
“Better  fifty  years  of  Europe  than  a cycle  of  Cathay.” 
Mr.  Mayn  holds  the  office  of  clerk  of  the  district  court, 
having  been  elected  to  succeed  himself  November  5, 
1912,  and  is  also  United  States  commissioner  for  the 
district  of  Montana  and  president  of  the  Smith  River 
valley  chamber  of  commerce.  He  is  one  of  the  county’s 
leading  Republicans,  nor  is  his  loyalty  of  a passive 
character,  being  of  the  sort  which  finds  expression  quite 
as  much  in  deeds  as  in  words.  From  his  earliest  vot- 
ing days  he  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  politics  and 
is  one  of  the  fighters  for  the  establishment  of  Republi- 
can policies  and  principles. 

Mr.  Mayn  was  born  in  Franklin  county,  Missouri, 
August  10,  1872.  As  before  mentioned,  when  one  year 
old,  Mr.  Mayn’s  parents  removed  to  Montana,  and 
located  at  Diamond  City,  Meagher  county,  but  subse- 
quently came  on  to  White  Sulphur  Springs.  It  was  in 
this  place  that  Mr.  Mayn  secured  his  public  school 
education  and  here  he  earned  his  first  money,  his  first 
knowledge  of  the  emotions  of  a capitalist  coming  when 
he  counted  up  his  net  profits  after  digging  potatoes  for 
a period  at  a salarj^  of  fifty  cents  per  day. 

At  a very  early  age  Mr.  Mayn  found  it  necessary  to 
face  the  problems  of  life  seriously.  His  father  died 
when  he  was  three  years  old  and  as  soon  as  possible 
he  had  to  contribute  towards  the  support  of  the  family. 
This  he  did  willingly  and  doubtless  these  early  experi- 
ences had  a large  part  in  moulding  a decidedly  strong 
and  independent  character.  As  he  grew  older  he  worked 
on  the  range  and  at  various  light  occupations  and  at 
the  age  of  about  fifteen  he  “enlisted,”  as  he  terms  it, 
as  a printer’s  devil  in  the  office  of  the  Rocky  Mounfain 
Husbandman  at  White  Sulphur  Springs.  He  remained 
with  this  concern  for  twelve  years  and  when  he  severed 
his  connection  he  was  foreman.  The  Husbandman  moved 
away  at  that  time  and  he  then  became  connected  with 
other  papers,  only  giving  up  the  work  when  elected 
clerk  of  court.  It  has  been  said  that  a few  years  in  a 
printing  office  are  worth  more  than  a liberal  education 
and  Mr.  Mayn  has  again  proved  the  truth  of  this,  being 
a man  of  wide  information. 

Mr.  Mayn  has  for  more  than  a decade  been  actively 
connected  with  public  affairs.  He  served  for  nine  years 
as  alderman  and  his  other  offices  have  been  previously 
mentioned.  To  all  of  them  he  has  brought  the  most 
enlightened  efforts  and  personal  advantage  has  never 
blinded  him  to  the  best  interests  of  the  people  whom 
he  is  serving. 

Mr.  Mayn  belongs  to  the  “Big  Church,”  but  sympa- 
thizes with  and  supports  all  of  them.  He  is  fond  of 
hunting,  fishing  and  all  diversions  of  the  open  and  is 
especially  interested  in  theatricals,  being  a clever  ama- 
teur actor  and  having  materially  contributed  to  the 
success  of  many  local  plays.  His  hobby  as  previously 
hinted  is  Montana  and  he  declares  that  although  he 
has  traveled  through  many  states,  for  climate  and 
opportunity  Montana  stands  at  the  head  of  the  list. 

Mr.  Mayn’s  father,  Henry  Mayn,  was  born  in  Ger- 
many, but  severed  old  associations  in  the  Fatherland 
when  a young  man  and  located  in  Missouri.  At  the 
outbreak  of  the  Civil  war,  like  s.o  many  young  Ger- 
man-American  citizens,  his  sympathies  were  with  the 
Union,  and  he  enlisted  in  Company  G,  Seventeenth 
Missouri  Volunteer  Infantry  and  served  throughout 


1044 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


the  conflict  between  the  states.  Few  soldiers  had  as 
active  a service,  for  he  participated  in  twenty-two  bat- 
tles, including  that  of  Gettysburg.  He  was  a farmer  by 
occupation  and,  as  mentioned,  he  came  to  Montana  in 
the  early  ’70s.  He  was  in  the  state  but  two  years 
when  his  death  occurred,  its  date  being  December 
9,  1875.  The  remains  of  this  gallant  soldier  are  in- 
terred at  Fort  Logan  in  the  soldiers’  cemetery.  In 
Missouri  he  married  Louise  Fuse,  and  when  he  brought 
her  here  a young  wife  she  was  one  of  the  first  four 
white  women  to  settle  in  the  Smith  River  valley.  This 
worthy  lady  resides  in  White  Sulphur  Springs  with 
her  son,  the  subject  of  this  review.  Mr.  Mayn  has 
an  elder  brother,  Charles,  who  is  married  and  resides 
in  Seattle.  His  younger  sister,  Emma,  is  the  wife  of 
John  L.  Campbell,  and  lives  at  Kalispell. 

Wellington  Napton,  the  son  of  Hon.  W.  B.  Napton 
and  Melinda  Napton,  was  born  in  Saline  county,  Mis- 
souri, on  August  31,  1853.  He  received  his  early  educa- 
tional training  in  the  common  schools  of  Saline,  after 
which  he  was  for  two  years  a student  in  Westminster 
College,  which  was  followed  by  a like  period  in  Wil- 
liam Jewell  College.  This  ample  training  was  then 
supplemented  by  private  instruction  at  home  under  a 
carefully  chosen  tutor,  who  devoted  three  years  to  the 
preparation  of  his  pupil  in  the  general  culture  which 
IS  so  essential  to  the  best  training  in  any  special  field 
of  study.  Later  Mr.  Napton  read  law  under  the 
tutelage  of  Judge  W.  W.  Dixon,  of  Montana,  having 
come  to  this  state  in  1873.  He  returned  to  Missouri 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1878,  and  in  1880  made 
his  way  back  to  Montana.  A vacancy  occurred  on  the 
district  bench  in  1896,  as  a result  of  the  election  of 
Mr.  Brantley  to  the  supreme  court,  and  Mr.  Napton 
was  appointed  by  Governor  Smith  to  serve  out  the 
unexpired  term.  At  its  close  in  1900  he  was  elected 
to  that  office  for  a term  of  four  years. 

Since  leaving  the  bench  Judge  Napton  has  resumed 
his  private  practice  again,  and  is  considered  a good 
lawyer.  To  an  unusual  ability  in  argument  and  a 
comprehensive  knowledge  of  the  law,  he  adds  the  com- 
pelling force  of  a strong  character  and  the  persuasive 
power  of  an  attractive  personality.  Admirably  fitted 
to  share  in  his  success  is  his  wife,  who  was  Kate  Kelley, 
a native  of  the  state  of  Kansas,  but  of  Virginia  ances- 
try. She  is  the  daughter  of  Robert  E.  Kelley,  who  was 
United  States  marshal  of  Montana  during  the  first 
administration  of  Grover  Cleveland,  and  she  has  seen 
something  of  pioneer  conditions  in  this  great  state. 

Mr.  Napton  is  a member  of  the  Masonic  order. 

George  W.  Peterson.  For  upwards  of  forty  years  a 
resident  of  Montana  and  now  one  of  the  leading  real 
estate  men  of  Anaconda,  Mr.  Peterson  has  had  a 
varied  and  successful  career  in  business  and  is  one 
of  the  influential  citizens  of  the  state. 

He  is  a native  of  Fremont,  Nebraska,  where  he  was 
born  on  the  8th  of  June,  1871.  When  he  was  four 
years  old  his  parents  settled  at  Warm  Springs,  Mon- 
tana, where  he  spent  the  remaining  days  of  his  youth 
on  a farm  and  attended  the  public  schools  at  Warm 
Springs.  His  education  was  further  perfected  by  one 
year  of  study  in  a business  college  at  Helena,  at  the 
conclusion  of  which  time  he  was  ready  for  his  prac- 
tical career.  When  he  was  eighteen  years  old  he  leased 
a farm  near  Warm  Springs  and  spent  two  years  in 
agriculture.  His  next  venture  was  in  his  present  home 
city  of  Anaconda,  where  in  1891  he  became  a clerk 
for  J.  B.  Gnose,  the  well-known  merchant  of  this  city, 
with  whom  he  remained  five  years.  His  capable  serv- 
ices were  much  appreciated  by  his  employer,  and  dur- 
ing that  time  he  laid  the  basis  of  his  business  career. 
In  1896,  in  partnership  with  his  brother  Charles,  he 
established  a grocery  business  of  his  own,  but  sold  out 
after  one  year,  and  for  two  years  was  clerk  for  the  Mc- 


Callum  Grocery  Company.  A bakery  was  his  enter- 
prise for  the  two  succeeding  years,  and  on  selling  this 
he  returned  to  his  old  employer,  Mr.  Gnose,  who  very 
eagerly  accepted  his  services  for  two  years  more. 

Mr.  Peterson  was  then  elected  to  the  office  of  asses- 
sor, on  the  Republican  ticket,  which  party  he  has  con- 
sistently supported  ever  since  he  became  of  age.  His 
services  commended  him  so  to  the  public  that  he  was 
re-elected  in  1905.  Before  the  expiration  of  this  sec- 
ond term  he  established  himself  in  the  real  estate  and 
insurance  business.  After  the  first  year  he  formed 
a partnership  with  Mr.  P.  M.  Sullivan,  making  the 
present  firm  of  Sullivan  & Peterson,  which  has  a very 
large  and  profitable  business. 

Mr.  Peterson  is  himself  owner  of  considerable  city 
real  estate,  including  an  attractive  home.  During  his 
career  in  this  city  he  has  tyon  the  reputation  of  being 
an  honest  and  reliable  business  man  and  citizen,  and 
enjoys  a large  acquaintance  and  esteem  among  all 
classes.  Fraternally  he  affiliates  with  the  Loyal  Order 
of  Moose,  in  which  he  has  served  as  prelate;  the  Mod- 
ern Woodmen  of  America;  and  the  Fraternal  Union, 
in  which  he  has  held  all  the  offices.  He  was  married 
in  1893  to  Miss  Jennie  Thompson,  who  is  a native  of 
England.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peterson  have  two  children, 
Wilham  S.,  attending  high  school,  and  Bernice. 

Iilr.  Peterson’s  parents,  who  are  living  retired  in 
Anaconda,  are  Andrew  and  Margaret  (Erickson) 
Peterson,  both  of  whom  were  born  in  Sweden.  Their 
ten  children  are  as  follows : George  W. ; Alfred  S.,  a 
farmer  at  Race  Track,  this  state;  Charles  E.,  of  Ana- 
conda; Emma  S.,  who  married  J.  A.  McAllister  and 
died  at  Missoula;  Mary,  the  wife  of  J.  A.  Danielson, 
of  Missoula;  Henry  E.,  who  is  a merchant  of  Spo- 
kane, Washington;  Julius  A.,  a farmer  at  Warm 
Springs ; Zelma,  the  wife  of  J.  E.  Bryson,  of  Ana- 
conda; Benjamin,  a farmer  at  Warm  Springs;  Mar- 
garet, the  wife  of  Joseph  Beck,  also  a farmer  at  Race 
Track. 

John  PIorsky,  Jr.  Until  very  recently  Montana’s 
prominent  business  men  have  been  for  the  most  part 
natives  of  some  other  state,  but  that  is  only  because 
the  state  was  too  young  to  have  sons  of  proper  age  to 
conduct  her  affairs.  And  now  that  she  is  of  settled  age, 
though  by  no  means  too  settled,  she  is  proving  that  her 
citizens  are  amply  able  and  willing  to  continue  the  good 
work  which  the  pioneers  began.  John  Horsky,  Jr.,  is 
an  instance  in  point.  His  father,  John,  was  one  of  the 
earlier  comers  to  this  region.  John  Horsky,  the  son, 
was  born  in  Helena,  on  Sepember  26,  1874.  He  attended 
the  public  schools  here  and  left  the  high  school  at  the 
age  of  sixteen  and  took  his  first  position.  This  was  in 
the  line  of  work  to  which  he  has  given  his  whole  atten- 
tion, as  he  worked  for  Mr.  Frank  C.  Sutphen,  a phar- 
macist of  Helena.  The  boy  remained  with  Mr.  Sutphen 
until  he  was  twenty-two  years  old.  During  this  period 
he  entered  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy  for 
a short  time  and  attended  lectures  there.  He  was 
next  associated  with  Mr.  Emil  Starz,  whose  store  was 
at  204  North  Rodney  street.  Mr.  Horsky  remained 
there  for  a period  of  two  and  a half  years,  then  re- 
signed his  position  and  removed  to  Missoula.  He  did 
not  remain  there  for  long,  but  left  the  metropolis  of 
the  Bitter  Root  valley  to  return  to  Last  Chance  Gulch, 
and  at  Helena  took  charge  of  the  Parchen  Drug  Com- 
pany’s Wholesale  Department.  Upon  leaving  this  com- 
pany Mr.  Horsky  went  to  Lewistown,  and  there  again 
entered  into  the  retail  drug  business,  but  his  failing  health 
made  it  necessary  for  him  to  give  up  his  work  there 
and  to  return  again  to  Helena.  For  two  years  he  was- 
again  with  the  pharmacist  with  whom  he  began,  Mr. 
Sutphen,  and  then  in  June,  1906,  went  into  the  trade  on 
his  own  account.  He  secured  the  location  formerly  oc- 
cupied by  Emil  Starz,  and  since  then  has  ov/ned  and 
operated  the  place  with  notable  success.  The  store 


I 


\ 


f 


7f 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1045 


has  always  enjoyed  a good  trade,  and  has  been  known 
as  one  which  carries  a first  class  stock,  and  since  Mr. 
Horsky  has  been  in  possession,  its  former  reputation 
has  been  even  enhanced  and  the  service  made  more 
excellent. 

In  addition  to  his  mercantile  business,  Mr.  Horsky 
is  the  owner  of  some  coal  properties  in  the  Musselshell 
district  which  are  now  in  the  process  of  development. 
Though  one  of  the  younger  commercial  men  of  the  city, 
he  is  one  who  has  an  eye  for  large  undertakings  and 
is  considered  one  whose  success  is  assured. 

Mr.  Horsky  is  not  married,  and  so  he  has  opportunity 
to  indulge  the  more  in  his  fondness  for  all  sorts  of 
out-door  pursuits.  He  hunts,  rides,  fishes  and  goes  to 
ball  games  with  zeal  and  frequency.  He  was  one  of 
the  organizers  of  the  Helena  Base  Ball  Club,  and  he  is 
still  fond  of  the  sport.  Nor  does  he  discriminate  against 
foot  ball,  but  includes  that  in  his  approved  diversions 
as  well.  He  is  not  active  in  politics,  but  is  a Progressive 
in  matters  of  national  policy.  He  gives  his  first  consid- 
eration to  his  business  and  it  is  evident  that  the  business 
responds  to  this  attention. 

Matthew  Carey.  Since  1909  Matthew  Carey  has 
been  a substantial  and  influential  citizen  of  Virginia 
City,  where  he  is  the  present  popular  and  efficient  in- 
cumbent of  the  office  of  clerk  of  the  district  court.  Pie 
has  lived  in  Montana  during  the  entire  period  of  his 
lifetime  thus  far  and  he  is  unusually  loyal  to  this  state, 
her  institutions  and  her  many  natural  advantages. 

Matthew  Carey  was  born  in  Adobetown,  a village 
located  two  miles  distant  from  Virginia  City,  Montana, 
and  the  date  of  his  birth  was  the  i6th  of  August,  1874. 
His  father,  Nicholas  Carey,  was  born  in  Ireland  and 
immigrated  to  the  United  States  as  a youth  of  but  fif- 
teen years  of  age.  He  came  to  Montana  in  1863,  settling- 
in  Madison  county,  where  he  followed  mining  opera- 
tions until  1869.  From  the  latter  year  until  his  demise, 
in  August,  1905,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years,  he 
devoted  his  attention  to  the  general  merchandise  busi- 
ness. His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mary  Emer- 
son, is  still  living  and  she  maintains  her  home  on  a 
ranch  near  Sheridan,  in  Madison  county.  The  Carey 
family  consists  of  thirteen  children,  as  follows,  Mat- 
thew, the  immediate  subject  of  this  review;  Mary,  who 
is  the  wife  of  William  D.  Hustead,  resides  in  Virginia 
City;  Frank  is  married  and  lives  in  Sheridan,  Montana; 
Elizabeth  Mahagin  is  deceased;  John  is  unmarried  and 
is  deputy  clerk  of  court  in  Virginia  City;  and  PCate, 
Nicholas,  Dora,  Henry,  William,  Plugh,  Fannie  and 
Stephen  all  reside  with  their  mother  on  the  home  ranch. 

To  the  public  schools  of  Adobetown  Matthew  Carey 
is  indebted  for  his  education.  He  earned  his  first  money 
as  a boy  herding  horses  for  the  Amsden  & Brookman 
Company  and  he  followed  that  occupation  for  a period  of 
four  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which  he  entered  the 
employ  of  Henrr^  Elling  & Company,  a general  mer- 
chandise concern  at  Sheridan.  In  1893  he  engaged  in 
business  on  his  own  account  at  Sheridan  but  later  went 
to  Butte,  where  he  devoted  some  two  years  to  various 
occupations.  In  1898  he  went  to  Granite  county,  where 
for  the  ensuing  two  years  he  worked  along  mining  and 
mercantile  lines.  He  then  returned  to  Butte  and  in 
1904  located  at  Jeffers,  in  Madison  count}^  there  work- 
ing for  four  years  in  a mercantile  house  and  eventually 
coming  to  Virginia  City  in  1908.  His  first  position  in 
this  place  was  as  deputy  clerk  of  court,  in  which  ca- 
pacity he  served  for  one  year.  In  igc^  he  was  elected 
clerk  of  court,  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  and  he  is 
incumbent  of  that  office  at  the  present  time,  in  1912. 
He  manifests  an  active  interest  in  politics  as  a stalwart 
Democrat  and  is  ever  on  the  alert  to  advance  the  best 
interests  of  the  community  in  which  he  resides. 

In  a fraternal  way  Mr.  Carey  is  affiliated  with  the 
Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles,  in  which  he  is  junior  past 
worthy  president,  and  he  is  likewise  connected  with  the 


Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  He  is  fond  of  riding 
and  driving  horses  and  likes  baseball  games  and  all 
kinds  of  athletic  amusements.  He  is  a man  of  sterling 
integrity  of  character  and  is  highly  esteemed  throughout 
Virginia  City  and  Madison  county  by  reason  of  his 
straightforward  career  and  exemplary  life. 

In  Bozeman,  Montana,  January  2,  1907,  was  celebrated 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Carey  to  Miss  Helen  Jeffers,  a 
daughter  of  J.  B.  and  Susan  Jeffers,  residents  of  Jeffers, 
Montana.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carey  have  three  children, 
whose  names  are  here  entered  in  respective  order  of 
birth,  Burton  M.,  Ronald  and  Mary  H. 

George  Dunlap.  Along  in  the  latter  '8o's  two  young 
men  floated  down  the  Missouri  river  from  Helena, 
Montana  and  landed  at  Great  Falls,  then  a newly-opened 
town,  so  new  in  fact  that  the  grocery  store  which  they 

opened  there  in  1887  was  the  second  store  of  its  kind 

in  the  place.  The  partners  were  George  Dunlap  and 
George  W.  Arthur.  That  was  just  twenty-five  years  ago. 
George  Dunlap  remains  today  the  oldest  and  most 
successful  grocer  of  Great  Falls,  which  from  a village 
of  log  cabins  has  in  that  quarter  of  a century  grown 
to  be  the  second  city  in  size  in  the  state.  That  busi- 
ness first  housed  in  a log  cabin  and  with  a wheel  bar- 
row  delivery,  through  the  alertness  and  enterprise  of 
its  owner  has  now  grown  to  an  establishment  that  would 
do  credit  to  a city  of  much  larger  size.  With  keen 

foresight  i\Ir.  Dunlap  realized  the  possibilities  and 

judged  the  future  of  the  new  town  and  with  a never 
failing  courage,  unswerving  determination,  and  the 
nerve  to  attempt  he  kept  on  his  way  and  has  been  very 
successful,  ranking  today  as  one  of  the  wealthiest  men 
of  Great  Falls.  To  such  sterling  business  men  has 
been  due  in  no  small  measure  the  remarkable  growth 
of  that  city. 

George  Dunlap  was  born  at  Lockport,  Niagara  county,. 
New  York  in  January,  1853,  and  attended  the  public- 
schools  of  his  native  city  until  about  sixteen  years  of 
age.  In  1869,  while  still  a youth,  he  began  life  for 
himself  at  Detroit,  IMichigan,  where  he  remained  five 
years  and  from  there  went  to  Leavenworth,  Kansas,, 
where  for  five  years  he  was  employed  in  the  lumber 
business.  Responding  to  the  call  of  the  farther  west 
he  then  came  to  Montana  where  for  si.x  years  he  was 
in  the  employ  of  Haller  Hardware  Company,  in  Helena 
and  the  following  six  years  were  spent  in  the  service 
of  A.  M.  Holtes,  working  in  his  saw  mills  and  assisting 
in  his  store.  It  was  at  the  close  of  this  period  that  he 
and  Geo.  W.  Arthur  left  for  Great  Falls.  There  they 
built  a log  house  and  in  it  opened  a grocery  store,  from 
which  small  beginning  has  developed  the  present  com- 
plete establishment  and  large  business.  The  store  re- 
mained for  fifteen  years  where  first  established  on 
Central  avenue  and  then  was  removed  to  its  present 
location.  Mr.  Arthur  subsequently  sold  out  to  D.  R. 
Mitchell,  but  Mr.  Dunlap  is  now  the  sole  owner  of  the 
business. 

His  parents,  George  W.  and  Mary  Dunlap,  were  both 
born  in  New  York  and  died  in  their  native  state,  the  fa- 
ther, who  was  a dry-goods  merchant,  having  passed  away 
in  1858  and  the  mother  in  1897.  Of  their  three  children, 
the  subject  of  this  review  was  the  eldest. 

At  Great  Falls,  Montana,  in  1897,  Mr.  Dunlap  married 
Miss  Ida  Dorn.  Both  are  communicants  of  the  Epis- 
copal church.  Mr.  Dunlap  is  a member  of  the  Mer- 
chants’ Association  of  his  city,  and  in  politics  is  a Re- 
publican. As  a relief  from  business  cares  he  takes 
delight  in  hunting,  fishing  and  in  autoing.  Mr.  Dunlap 
not  only  stands  to  the  fore  among  the  successful  men 
of  Great  Falls  but  is  highly  esteemed  as  a man  of 
sterling  worth  and  as  a citizen  who  has  at  heart  the 
prestige  of  both  his  city  and  state. 

Mathew  Dunn.  The  expression  “Self  iMade,”  when 
applied  to  the  successful  man  of  affairs  of  the  big 


1046 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


northwest  seems  trite  indeed.  Scarcely  has  one  in  fifty 
received  material  assistance  from  friend  or  relative. 
Most  of  them,  however,  have  had  some  inheritance, 
some  sacred  memory  /of  childhood,  the  advice  of 
kindly  parents  or  the  aid  of  an  education  to  help  them 
in  the  beginning  of  life's  battle.  Mathew  Dunn,  on 
the  other  hand,  knew  nothing  but  sorrow  and  unkind- 
ness from  his  earliest  childhood  until,  master  of  his 
own  fate,  he  broke  the  only  home  ties  that  he  had  ever 
known.  Friendless,  penniless  and  alone,  he  set  forth, 
not  knowing  the  meaning  of  fear  or  failure.  Through 
all  of  his  hardships,  he  never  lowered  his  standard 
of  integrity  and  honor.  He  has  built  for  himself  a 
competence  that  must  be  measured  by  pounds  of  ster- 
ling and  gold,  but  more  than  that,  he  has  built  him  a 
character  measurable  only  in  the  hearts  of  those  he 
has  loved  with  his  true  Irish  tenderness,  or  aided 
with  his  native  generosity, 

Mathew  Dunn  was  born  near  Hamilton,  Canada,  on 
the  19th  day  of  May,  1850.  His  father,  William  Dunn, 
a native  of  Ireland,  came  in  1842,  to  Canada,  bringing 
with  him  his  wife  and  one  child.  In  the  autumn  suc- 
ceeding the  birth  of  Mathew,  they  moved  to  Racine, 
Wisconsin,  where  the  father  ended  his  days,  at  the 
early  age  of  fifty-five,  passing  away  on  the  7th  day 
of  December,  1862.  Mr.  Dunn  had  never  known 
worldl}'  success.  Cramped  and  hampered  by  the  hor- 
rible poverty  of  Ireland,  he  reached  out  for  a broader 
life,  but  it  remained  for  the  next  generation  to  dis- 
cover the  road  that  led  thither.  All  of  his  energy 
was  consumed  in  the  struggle  to  supply  by  his  daily 
labor  the  actual  wants  of  his  rapidly  growing  family. 
His  wife,  Bridget  Fogarty,  came  with  him  from  the 
Emerald  Isle,  bringing  the  infant  who  had  probably 
inspired  the  emigration.  Seven  children  were  born  to 
them  before  the  mother’s  untimely  death  on  the  19th 
of  September,  1854.  Four  of  the  children  yet  remain, 
three  sons  and  a daughter. 

After  the  demise  of  the  mother  until  his  own  end, 

the  father  made  a pitiable  effort  to  keep  the  little 

family  together.  Upon  his  death,  however,  Mathew, 
who  was  then  in  his  eleventh  year  and  strong  and 
active,  was  adopted  into  the  family  of  James  Crawford, 
a farmer  of  Florence,  Michigan.  He  attended  the 
rural  schools  and  worked  with  his  foster  father  on  the 
farm  until  he  reached  the  age  of  eighteen.  * His  life 

had  been  by  no  means  an  easy  one,  but  he  had  done 

what  seemed  to  be  his  duty,  asking  for  no  holidays 
or  recreation.  The  summer  of  sixty-eight  found  him 
doing  a man’s  work  on  the  farm.  Toward  the  close 
of  that  season  he  made  of  Mr.  Crawford  an  unusual 
request,  a day’s  vacation,  that  he  might  attend  a picnic 
in  the  country  side.  His  request  was  peremptorily 
refused.  This  injustice  roused  his  temper  and  the  lad, 
after  fair  warning,  left  Mr.  Crawford’s  house  for- 
ever. Doubtless  he  attended  that  picnic  which,  for- 
tunately for  him,  became  the  first  corner  stone  in  his 
life’s  career. 

A neighboring  farmer,  knowing  his  worth,  was  glad 
to  employ  him  at  the  usual  wage  of  eighteen  dollars 
a month  and  board.  As  a farm  laborer  and  lumber- 
man in  the  woods  of  Michigan,  he  worked  until  1874, 
when  with  his  small  savings,  he  started  for  the  West. 
He  left  Michigan  on  the  sixteenth  of  March,  and 
traveling  west  until  he  reached  Helena,  Montana,  on 
the  loth  of  April,  he  then  crossed  through  Montana 
from  Helena  to  the  Sun  river,  and  there  secured  a 
position  as  a ranchman,  feeding  and  herding  cattle. 
Two  years  later  he  began  raising  cattle  for  himself  which 
he  followed  for  five  years.  In  the  winter  of  eighty- 
one  he  returned  to  Michigan  for  a visit.  In  March, 
1882,  in  Blackfoot  county,  Idaho,  he  purchased  four 
hundred  head  of  cattle  which  he  drove  to  Fort  Mc- 
Cloud, Alberta,  where  he  managed  the  beef  contract 
for  Captain  Stewart  R.  S.  Ford  of  Great  Falls,  as  well 
as  his  own  interests.  The  contract  concerned  the 


meat  supply  of  the  Indians  who  were  in  the  charge  of 
the  Canadian  government. 

In  October,  1883,  he  sold  his  stock  and  returned  by 
way  of  Montana,  to  California.  In  the  spring  of  1884 
he  returned  to  Alberta,  and  on  the  4th  day  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1885,  at  Collingswood,  Ontario,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Barbara  Elizabeth  Brown.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Dunn  then  made  an  extended  trip  through 
the  central  portion  of  the  United  States,  stopping  in 
Illinois,  Michigan  and  Texas,  and  returning  to  Cal- 
gar}’,  Canada,  where  they  intended  making  their  home. 
Here  he  formed  a partnership  with  John  Lineham  in 
the  wholesale  cattle  business.  They  purchased  their 
stock  in  Texas  and  other  markets  in  the  United  States 
and  shipped  them  to  western  Canada.  This  business 
laid  the  foundation  of  Mr.  Dunn’s  future  fortune.  Two 
years  later  he  sold  his  interest  in  the  company  at  a 
large  profit  and  moved  his  family  to  Fresno,  California, 
situated  in  what  is  now  the  greatest  grape  producing 
district  in  the  United  States.  Mr.  Dunn  then  realized 
his  possibilities,  and  together  with  his  brother,  Thomas 
Dunn,  and  with  a Mr.  A.  J.  Samuels,  he  entered  into 
the  real  estate  business  in  California.  In  April,  1888, 
he  disposed  of  this  partnership  and  made  a small 
investment  in  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  Michigan.  On  the 
15th  day  of  June  of  the  same  year,  he  came  to  Great 
Falls,  Montana.  On  June  the  sixteenth,  the  following- 
day,  he  purchased  lot  13,  block  313,  of  that  city, 
for  the  total  consideration  of  $3,000.  This  is  now 
one  of  the  principal  blocks  of  the  city,  located  on  the 
main  street.  After  making  this  investment  he  began 
work  on  the  plans  for  the  erection  of  a new  office  build- 
ing to  be  erected  on  his  lot,  to  be  known  as  the  Dunn 
building.  This  was  one  of  the  first  of  the  modern 
office  buildings  of  Great  Falls.  In  the  autumn  of  1889, 
he  disposed  of  all  his  real  estate  in  Calgary  and  in  the 
winter  of  the  same  year,  upon  his  return  to  Great 
Falls,  he  bought  of  James  Perkins  of  Helena,  lot  12, 
block  313.  This  lot  adjoined  the  one  he  had  previously 
purchased.  On  this  he  erected,  during  the  following 
spring,  another  office  building  which  he  joined  to  his 
former  block.  He  then  formed  a real  estate  company 
consisting  of  Mr.  Day  Churchill,  Mr.  D.  D.  Lambie 
and  himself.  In  December  of  1905,  he  became  inter- 
ested with  Mr.  Hoover  in  the  development  of  the  Yogo 
sapphire  mine.  This  mine  was  located  in  January, 
1896,  in  Fergus  county,  Montana.  Today  it  is  owned 
and  operated  by  the  London  Sapphire  Syndicate  and 
is  acknowledged  to  be  the  finest  mining  property  of 
its  nature  in  the  United  States.  Mr.  Dunn  owned  a 
one-fourth  interest  in  this  property  and  was,  at  one 
time,  president  and  manager  of  the  company,  George 
'WAlls  being  secretary  and  treasurer  and  H.  H.  Hob- 
son, vice  president. 

Mr.  Dunn  is  known  throughout  Montana.  'What 
he  has  done  for  Great  Falls,  herself,  can  scarcely  be 
estimated  but  from  the  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  in 
the  home  town,  it  is  not  unappreciated. 

Politically,  he  is  a Democratic  partisan  of  the  pro- 
gressive type.  In  1892  he  leaned,  on  some  issues, 
strongly  toward  Populism,  being  elected  to  the  seat 
of  city  alderman  on  that  ticket.  He  accepted  the  posi- 
tion to  make  a fight  for  the  city  on  the  water  question 
and  it  was  largely  due  to  his  influence  and  ability  that 
she  came  out  the  victor.  For  fourteen  years  he  was 
director  of  the  Great  Falls  National  Bank.  _ Fie  still 
retains  his  presidency  of  the  Black  Jack  Mining  -Com- 
pany at  Carbon,  Montana,  now  operating  as  one  of  the 
state’s  best  properties.  The  only  secret  organization 
that  can  claim  him  as  a member  is  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks. 

Mathew  Dunn  has  had  many  and  varied  experiences 
of  interest,  one  of  the  most  unusual  of  which  was  met 
with  during  the  “Reil”  or  Halfbreed  war  of  Can- 
ada. On  a trip  to  Winnipeg,  at  the  outbreak  of  trouble, 
he  volunteered  his  service  as  dispatch  bearer  for  the 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1047 


Canadian  government  and  took  the  contract  to  deliver 
messages  between  Calgary  and  Edmonton,  a distance 
of  some  two  hundred  and  twenty-eight  miles.  For  this 
purpose  he  employed  four  riders  and  arranged  a relay 
of  twelve  horses,  the  service  lasting  for  fifty-four  days. 
The  work  was  exciting  and  much  to  his  liking,  in  addi- 
tion to  which  he  received  as  compensation  from  the 
Canadian  government  fifty-five  hundred  dollars  net,  a 
ratio  of  one  hundred  dollars  per  day.  He  also  re- 
ceived from  the  Canadian  government  credit  for  car- 
rying out  his  contract  to  the  letter. 

The  citizens  of  Great  Falls  still  claim  Mr.  Dunn 
and  his  family  as  residents  of  their  city,  although  as 
a matter  of  fact,  they  now  reside  most  of  the  year  in 
San  Diego,  California.  Edith  M.  Dunn,  the  daughter 
born  in  Calgary,  Canada,  on  the  twenty-seventh  day 
of  February,  1887,  is  now  Mrs.  George  B.  Keith  of  San 
Diego.  It  is  largely  to  be  near  this  daughter  that  the 
parents  prefer  the  California  home.  The  only  son, 
Henry  Mathew  Dunn,  who  will  reach  his  majority  on 
Christmas  eve  of  this  year,  1912,  is  a student  in  the 
Stanford  University,  California.  The  younger  daugh- 
ter, Josephine,  was  twelve  years  old  on  the  ninth  of 
August. 

Mr.  Dunn  himself  transacts  most  of  his  own  busi- 
ness, though  nominally  retired.  He  has  every  appear- 
ance of  being  in  the  prime  of  his  manhood. 

Lapeyre  Brothers.  One  of  the  oldest  business  estab- 
lishments of  Great  Falls  and  one  that  for  more  than  a 
quarter  of  a century  has  carried  the  confidence  and 
patronage  of  the  best  class  of  people  in  the  city  is  that 
of  Lapeyre  Brothers,  pioneei  druggists,  who  have  car- 
ried on  their  present  business  here  since  1886.  This 
enterprise,  started  in  a small  way.  has  steadily  grown 
as  the  city  has  advanced,  and  at  this  time  has  a patron- 
age that  is  excelled  by  no  other  retail  pharmacy  in  the 
state,  and  the  prestige  it  enjoys  has  come  as  a direct 
result  of  the  enterprise,  progressive  ideas  and  business 
ability  of  the  founders  and  proprietors,  Alexander  R. 
and  Benjamin  E.  Lapeyre,  men  whose  activities  have 
done  much  to  develop  the  commercial  interests  of  their 
adopted  city. 

The  Lapeyre  brothers  were  born  in  St.  Louis,  Mis- 
souri, Alexander  R.  on  April  23,  1857,  and  Benjamin  E. 
January  13,  1861.  Their  parents,  Alexander  and  Emelie 
(Vigieur)  Lapeyre,  were  natives  of  France,  the  mother 
coming  with  her  parents  to  St.  Louis  in  1832,  and  the 
father  locating  in  that  city  about  the  year  1848.  Mr. 
Lapeyre  was  a merchant,  and  during  his  residence  in 
St.  Louis  conducted  a retail  grocery  business.  His 
death  occurred  in  the  Missouri  metropolis  May  27, 
1884,  his  wife  having  passed  away  August  23,  1871. 
Both  the  boys  secured  their  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  St.  Louis,  after  leaving  which  Benjamin  E. 
entered  the  St.  Louis  School  of  Pharmacy,  while  Alex- 
ander R.  made  his  way  west,  locating  in  1874  in  Helena, 
Montana,  where  he  found  employment  with  the  pioneer 
drug  firm  of  that  city,  Parchen  & D'Acheul,  with  whom 
he  remained  until  1886,  the  j'ear  that  he  joined  his 
brother  in  Great  Falls.  Benjamin  E.  Lapeyre  followed 
his  brother  to  Montana  in  1878,  first  settling  in  Butte, 
where  he  was  employed  in  the  branch  store  of  Parchen 
& D’Acheul,  and  after  several  years  there  removed 
to  Fort  Benton,  IMontana,  there  being  employed  in  the 
drug  business  by  IM.  A.  Flanagan.  He  continued  with 
Mr.  Flanagan  until  1886,  and  then  came  to  Great 
Falls  to  assist  his  brother  in  founding  the  firm  of 
Lapeyre  Brothers. 

This  firm  makes  a specialty  of  prescription  work,  and 
the  care  used  in  compounding  prescriptions  and  the  use 
of  the  selection,  only  of  the  very  best  drugs,  herbs 
and  chemicals  have  gained  in  a marked  degree  the  con- 
fidence of  the  public.  The  Messrs,  Lapeyre  are  Repub- 
licans in  their  political  views,  and  take  an  interest  in  the 
public  affairs  of  the  day,  although  neither  has  cared 
to  hold  office.  Both  are  connected  with  the  IMerchants' 


Association  and  with  Cascade  Lodge  No.  34,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.,  and  Benjamin  E.  also  holds  membership  in  the 
Elks  and  Woodmen  of  the  World.  They  enjoy  the 
friendship  of  numerous  prominent  and  influential  citizens 
in  both  business  and  social  life  and  have  so  conducted 
their  affairs  as  to  gain  a wide-spread  reputation  for  in- 
tegrity and  probity  of  character.  The  original  location 
of  the  firm  in  1^6  was  on  Central  avenue,  between 
Fourth  and  Fifth  streets,  but  after  one  year  these  quar- 
ters were  found  inadequate  to  the  growing  business 
and  removal  was  made  to  a larger  store  in  the  Vaughn 
building,  on  Central,  between  Second  and  Third  streets. 
This  was  their  location  until  September,  1890,  at  which 
time  they  removed  to  their  own  building,  on  the  south- 
west corner  of  Central  avenue  and  Third  street,  their 
present  location. 

Bert  G.  Paige  is  the  owner  and  proprietor  of  the 
leading  mercantile  establishment  in  Twin  Bridges, 
which  he  has  controlled  since  1906,  previous  to  that 
time  having  been  employed  for  a matter  of  two  years 
or  more  by  the  owners  of  the  store,  the  original  firm 
being  known  as  the  Jefferson  Valley  Trading  Company. 
The  firm  is  now,  and  has  been  since  he  took  over  the 
stock  and  good  will  six  years  ago,  the  Bert  G.  Paige 
Company,  and  the  concern  reflects  in  every  way  the  high 
character  of  the  proprietor  and  his  excellent  business 
ability. 

A native  of  the  state  and  county,  born  here  on 
December  18,  1874,  Mr.  Paige  is  a citizen  of  the  truest 
western  spirit.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  the  town  of  Ruby  and  Twin  Bridges,  and  following 
his  schooling  here  with  a business  college  course  in 
Sedalia.  ^Missouri,  specializing  in  higher  accounting.  He 
was  graduated  in  each  course  and  holds  a diploma  from 
each  department.  As  a boy  Air.  Paige  assisted  his  father 
on  the  ranch,  but  his  first  responsible  position  was  when 
he  entered  the  employment  of  Wilcomb  Brothers  at 
Laurin,  in  Madison  county,  and  clerked  in  their  store 
for  about  two  years.  This  was  his  first  experience  in 
mercantile  lines,  and  gave  him  an  insight  into  the  busi- 
ness which  won  his  interest  and  attention  and  he  has 
been  identified  with  commercial  enterprises  continuously 
since  that  time.  After  leaving  Wilcomb  Brothers  Mr. 
Paige  became  associated  with  Elling  & Company  at  Sher- 
idan. and  continued  with  them  in  a clerical  capacity  for 
five  years,  after  which  he  came  to  Twin  Bridges  and  en- 
tering the  employ  of  the  Jefferson  Valley  Trading  Com- 
pany, continued  in  their  service  for  two  years.  At  the 
end  of  that  time,  conditions  being  favorable,  Mr.  Paige 
bought  out  the  compan}',  and  thereafter  has  carried  on 
the  business  in  his  own  name,  and  has  enjoyed  a liberal 
measure  of  success  in  the  enterprise.  He  has  in  the  six 
years  of  his  proprietorship  proved  himself  a capable 
manager  and  a wise  merchandiser,  amply  able  to  direct 
every  line  of  activity  connected  with  the  maintenance  of 
such  an  establishment,  which  under  his  management 
has  assumed  the  form  of  an  up-to-date  and  comprehen- 
sive department  store. 

Mr.  Paige  is  the  son  of  Samuel  B.  and  Minerva 
(Taylor)  Paige.  The  father  ivas  born  in  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  he  came  to  IMontana  in  1866.  after  the  Civil 
war,  in  which  he  served  in  a New  Hampshire  regi- 
ment, and  he  saw  much  active  service  during  the  term 
of  his  enlistment.  He  is  one  of  the  few  Grand  Army 
men  in  the  state  of  Montana  today.  Coming  to  Mon- 
tana Mr.  Paige  crossed  the  plains  with  an  ox  team, 
and  he  established  one-  of  the  first  quartz  mills  in  the 
country.  He  settled  in  Madison  county  at  the  mouth 
of  Alder  Gulch,  and  he  resides  there  now.  He  has  a 
splendid  stock  ranch  of  more  than  six  thousand  acres, 
and  a fine  home.  Air.  Pai.ge  has  never  taken  any  active 
part  in  the  political  life  of  the  county,  although  he  has 
been  honored  with  several  important  offices.  He  at 
present  holds  a state  office  in  the  G.  A.-  R.  and  is  head 
of  the  local  camp  at  Virginia  City.  He  is  also  a prom- 


104» 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


inent  Odd  Fellow.  His  wife  was  a native  of  Montana, 
and  they  were  married  in  Madison  county.  She  died 
in  1904  at  the  age  of  fifty-eight.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  ten  children,  Bert  G.  being  the  third  born  and 
the  eldest  son.  Three  of  the  number  are  deceased,  the 
seven  remaining  being  as  follows : Bert  G?  of  this  re- 
view; Ida  N.,  the  wife  of  J:  E.  Shorten,  living  at  Salt 
Lake  City;  Oscar  S.,  married  and  living  on  the  ranch 
with  his  father,  whom  he  assists  with  the  business ; 
Wilbur  L.,  unmarried,  also  living  at  home,  as  is  also 
Warner  L. ; Charles  A.  is  married  and  lives  in  Salt 
Lake  City ; Henry  W.,  single  and  living  at  home. 

Bert  G.  Paige  is  a member  of  the  Masons  and  of  the 
Benevolent  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  his  wife  is  a 
member  of  the  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star.  He  is  a 
Democrat  and  is  active  in  a political  way,  although  he 
has  always  declined  to  run  for  office  of  any  kind.  Mr. 
Paige  is  an  enthusiastic  sportsman,  and  is  devoted  to 
athletics  of  every  kind,  although  not  personally  active. 
He  is  a true  son  of  Montana,  and  speaks  in  highest 
terms  of  the  opportunities  and  advantages  of  the  great 
western  commonwealth. 

On  February  14,  1904,  Mr.  Paige  was  united  in  mar- 
riage at  Sheridan,  Montana,  to  Miss  Florence  Mar- 
shall, the  daughter  of  Barney  and  Katherine  Marshall, 
a pioneer  family  of  Sheridan.  Two  children  were  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Paige — Boynton  S.,  now  in  school, 
and  Lowell  M. 

Peter  Anderson,  deceased,  was  born  in  Canada  in 
1853.  Jirid  was  the  son  of  Donald  and  Anna  (Duer) 
Anderson,  both  native  born  Scots,  who  settled  in  Que- 
bec, Canada,  and  there  reared  a fine  family  of  twelve 
children.  Peter  Anderson  was  the  eleventh  born  of 
this  goodly  number,  and  he  was  raised  on  the  home 
farm,  receiving  such  education  as  might  be  procured  in 
the  common  schools  at  that  time.  He  was  twenty-one 
yprs  of  age  when  he  left  home  in  1874,  and  he  made 
his  way  almost  at  once  to  Montana  after  arriving  in 
the  United  States. 

As  a boy  at  home  Peter  Anderson  had  learned  the 
trade  of  a blacksmith,  it  being  the  admirable  custom  in 
tliose  days  to  fit  out  a youth  with  either  an  education 
or  a trade.  Thus  young  Anderson  was  amply  able 
to  look  out  for  himself  in  a new  country,  and  for 
ten  years  he  conducted  a blacksmith  shop  in  Helena,  then 
coming  to  Lewistown,  which  was  then  a mere  trading 
post.  He  built  a shop  on  the  corner  of  Main  and 
Fourth  streets,  where  the  Phillips  drug  store  now 
stands,  and  his  was  the  first  smithy  in  the  settlement. 
For  something  like  three  years  he  plied  a busy  trade 
at  that  place,  then  moved  the  shop  back  from  the 
main_  street,  and  continued  to  run  the  shop  at  the  new 
location  until  a year  before  his  death.  At  that  junc- 
ture his  health  failed,  and  he  was  obliged  to  relin- 
quish his  business  activities.  In  later  years  Mr.  An- 
derson conducted  a wagon  making  shop  in  connection 
with  his  black-smithing,  and  Paul  Weydert,  of  whom 
specific  mention  is  made  in  other  pages  of  this  work, 
had  charge  of  the  wagon  shop  end  of  the  business. 
They  were  both  successful  in  their  work,  and  Mr.  An- 
derson was  especially  well  known  in  and  about  Lewis- 
town  as  a master  of  his  trade,  and  one  in  whom  all  con- 
fidence might  be  reposed.  He  was  a true  pioneer,  and 
was  a man  held  in  the  highest  esteem  because  of  the 
many  fine  traits  of  character  which  marked  him. 

On  January  25,  1881,  Mr.  Anderson  married  Miss 
Flora  Alunro,  a daughter  of  Donald  and  Catherine 
(McLennan)  Munro.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Anderson 
was  a Canadian,  while  the  mother  was  born  in  Scot- 
land. The  father  was  a farmer  and  he  died  in  his 
Canadian  home,  while  the  mother  still  lives  and  makes 
her  home  in  Clenroy,  Ontario,  Of  their  nine  children, 
Mrs.  Anderson  was  the  second  l)orn.  Three  children 
were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Anderson,  of  whom  brief 
mention  is  here  made : Catherine  married  A.  F.  Elliot 


and  lives  in  Musselshell,  Montana;  Donald  A.  is  a 
resident  of  Lewistown ; and  Jennie,  the  youngest  of  the 
three,  makes  her  home  with  her  widowed  mother.  They 
have  a comfortable  home  in  Lewistown  in  addition  to 
which  they  own  two  fine  store  buildings  in  the  city, 
which  are  the  source  of  a considerable  revenue  to 
them,  and  IMrs.  Anderson  and  her  daughter  contribute 
much  to  the  social  life  of  Lewistown,  in  which  they  have 
a wide  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances,  and  where 
they  are  accorded  the  most  genuine  regard. 

Robert  Pollock  Hopkins  and  Olivia  Hoffman 
( Graeter)  Hopkins.  One  of  the  well  known  and 
active  business  women  of  Silver  Bow  county,  Mrs. 
Olivia  Hoffman  Hopkins,  nee  Graeter,  is  the  surviv- 
ing head  of  one  of  the  oldest  families  of  Butte.  She 
is  a graduate  of  the  Western  Reserve  Union  schools 
of  Warren,  Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  her  native  place, 
graduating  in  1867. 

Frail  and  delicate,  she  came  west  for  her  health  with 
her  brother,  A.  F.  Graeter,  now  of  Dillon,  Montana, 
and  concerning  her  trip  Mrs.  Hopkins  has  written  an 
interesting  article  which  is  here  reproduced  in  full, 
being  a particularly  lucid  and  impressive  story  of  the 
many  interesting  features  of  a trip  over  the  mountains 
forty  years  ago.  The  article  follows : “The  trip  was 
made  over  the  Union  Pacific,  via  Denver  and  Cheyenne, 
to  Ogden,  Utah.  Where  difficulty  was  experienced  in 
hauling  the  train  over  the  grades,  heavy  engines  were 
added,  one  at  each  end,  hauling  and  pushing,  for  the 
snow  was  abundant  and  much  fear  was  entertained  of 
becoming  snowbound.  On  reaching  the  more  western 
limits  of  the  journey,  a few  noticeable  incidents  added 
much  to  the  western  air,  and  reminded  one  that  he 
was  getting  momentarily  farther  and  farther  away 
from  the  centers  of  civilization.  Here  and  there  were 
to  be  seen  small  groups  of  Indians,  five  or  six'  in  a 
band,  crossing  the  country  on  their  Indian  ponies,  while 
rumor  had  it  that  they  were  painted  for  war  and  that 
trouble  was  anticipated.  But  nothing  came  of  it  at  the 
time,  and  it  is  more  likely  that  they  were  on  one  of 
their  hunting  expeditions.  While  crossing  the  prairies 
at  several  stations  there  were  to  be  seen  carcasses, 
heads  and  hides  of  buffalo  ready  for  shipment,  presum- 
ably obtained  by  hunters  who  were  eager  for  big 
game,  or  perhaps  traded  to  them  by  Indians.  To  the 
passengers  on  this  novel  trip,  every  digression  with  a 
western  air  or  flavor,  grasped  and  enjoyed  by  them  all, 
had  an  awakening  effect. 

“A  few  hours  out  of  Denver  it  was  their  good  for- 
tune to  witness  one  of  the  most  beautiful  scenes  ever 
produced  in  nature.  Apparently  a chinook  with  light 
rain  had  fallen  during  the  previous  day,  with  a sud- 
den change  or  fall  of  temperature.  This  was  an  icy 
cold  morning,  and  stillness  pervaded  the  entire  region. 
There  were  no  houses,  no  fences,  and  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  train  there  were  no  signs  of  life  anywhere 
— only  nature’s  broad  expanse  of  undulating  landscape. 
A beautiful  dell  with  a small  frozen  stream  winding 
through  and  skirted  along  its  banks  by  willows,  formed 
tbe  center  of  a picture,  and  spreading  over  the  land- 
scape as  far  as  eye  could  reach  was  bunch  grass, 
meadow  grass  and  many  larger  plants  beautifying  and 
breaking  the  monotony.  Every  leaf  and  spear  of 
grass, — every  twig  and  every  plant,  incased  in  ice, 
retained  its  perfect  identical  form,  symmetry  and 
graceful  bend.  The  sunlight  falling  obliquely  from 
the  far  east  lighted  up  the  scene  as  though  with  mil- 
lions of  brilliants, — an  irridescence  so  complete  that 
with  the  beautiful  dome  above,  the  train  was  moving 
through  a grotto  so  divinely  planned  and  executed  by 
the  Infinite  Hand  as  to  beggar  description,  and  any 
one  once  imoressed  by  the  picture  could  never  again 
forget  the  real  essence  of  its  infinite  grandeur.  It 
passed  all  too  quickly. 


■r  T 


\ 


.f: 


- IR. 


:< 


i 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1049 


“Moving  on  with  usual  speed  the  train  in  time 
arrived  at  Salt  Lake,  where  Mrs.  Hopkins  and  her 
brother  spent  a day  looking  over  that  interesting  city, 
and  making  a few  necessary  purchases  for  the  long 
and  tedious  trip  by  coach.  The  following  day  the  party 
resumed  its  journey  and  on  arriving  at  Ogden  learned 
that  short  stretch  of  narrow  gauge  railway  had  just 
been  completed  for  a distance  of  about  twenty  miles, 
which  it  was  necessary  to  make  in  order  to  catch  the 
next  morning  overland  coach.  Arriving  at  the  termi- 
nal after  dark,  they  put  up  at  the  ‘hotel,’  the  only 
building  in  sight  excepting  a few  huts.  Their  rooms 
were  reached  by  ladder-like  steps,  narrow  and  very- 
steep.  The  inside  doors  and  partitions  were  con- 
structed of  muslin,  and  for  obvious  reasons,  no  locks 
were  considered  necessary.  At  least,  there  were  none ; 
but  the  rooms  were  dimly  lighted  by  an  oil  lamp. 
i\Irs.  Hopkins  was  aroused  at  early  dawn  and  after 
breakfasting,  made  ready  for  the  three  hundred  mile 
trip  in  the  four  horse  overland  stage  coach  which  was 
well  provided  with  buffalo  robes,  and  stood  ready  to 
receive  its  passengers.  After  donning  her  heavy  wraps 
and  furs,  she  found  all  provision  had  been  made  for 
her  comfort,  even  to  a warming  pan,  and  last,  but  not 
least,  a pair  of  high  top  fur  lined  boots,  provided  by 
her  brother,  who  well  knew  the  rigors  of  the  strenuous 
trip  before  them.  She  was  the  only^  woman  passenger. 

“Looking  in  the  direction  of  the  lonesome  road  there 
was  nothing  to  be  seen  but  snow  and  the  blue  sky. 
With  a “Good  Bye,”  a loud  crack  of  the  whip  and  a 
lurch  of  the  coach  and  horses,  they  were  fairly  on 
their  way  northward.  In  many  places  the  roadway 
was  completely  obliterated  by  the  recent  snowstorm 
and  the  only  guides  to  the  right  track  were  branches  of 
willows  strewn  alongside  the  roadway.  Some  of  these 
were  snowed  under,  while  others  remained  partially 
above  the  snow  to  beckon  them  on  through  that  deso- 
late and  bleak  stretch  of  country,  which  made  her 
feel  that  she  was  very  far  away  from  home,  and  filled 
her  with  an  eagerness  for  the  first  glimpse  of  the  next 
station,  which  was  always  well  timed  for  their  ne.xt 
meM  and  a fresh  relay  of  horses.  They  reached  Ban- 
nacK  on  February  i,  1871.” 

It  was  at  Bannack  that  Olivia  Hoffman  Graeter  saw 
and  heard  more  of  the  so  called  “wild  and  woolly  west,” 
for  the  _ atmosphere  of  that  particular  time 'seemed 
laden  with  terrible  accounts  of  much  that  had  trans- 
pired by  the  unlawful,  and  the  instantaneous  work  of 
^ the  vigilantes  in_  the  protection  of  life  and  property, 
with  the  restoration  of  law  and  order.  In  comparison 
there  seemed  to  be  but  little  to  be  feared  from  the  In- 
dians. although  the  little  fort  on  top  of  the  mountain, 
just  back  of  their  home,  looked  ominous  and  sugges- 
tive. Bannack,  originally  the  capital  of  the  territory 
of  Montana,  is  located  between  two  high  mountains, 
with  but  one  well  defined  street — most  of  the  traveled 
ways  being  winding  trails  and  footpaths.  It  was  here 
she  met  Robert  Pollock  Hopkins,  a mine  operator  who 
came  from  his  native  state  of  New  York  in  the  early 
sixties,  after  he  had  served  his  country  in  the  Civil 
war,  having  been  in  the  service  during  almost  the 
entire  period  of  contention — and  was  always  there- 
after an  active  jnember  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic.  • • 

They  were  married  in  Warren,  Trumbull  county, 
Ohio,  January  28,  1874,  and  lived  in  Syracuse,  New 
York,  for  two  years,  when  Mr.  Hopkins  returned  to 
Bannack  to  resume  his  mining  operations,  and  to  pre- 
pare to  build  a home  for  themselves.  After  attending 
the  ^ Centennial  Exposition  at  Philadelphia,  Pennsyl- 
vania, Mrs.  Hopkins  followed  him,  arriving  in  July, 
1876.^  The  new  home  was  almost  ready  for  occupancy, 
but  it  was  not  long  to  be  enjoyed,  for  misfortunes, 
trials  and  tribulations  followed  hard  upon  one  another. 


and  considerable  of  frontier  life  was  experienced  in 
the  following  two  years. 

In  1877,  about  August,  a sharp  battle  was  fought  on 
the  Big  Hole  by  General  Gibbons  with  the  Nez  Perce 
Indians,  in  which  many  were  killed  and  wounded  on 
both  sides.  General  Gibbons  gave  orders  to  his  men 
not  to  molest  the  squaws  or  papooses,  but  on  re- 
connoitering  and  seeing  a squaw  with  hot  irons  pok- 
ing or  burning  the  eyes  of  a dead  drummer  boy,  he 
did  not  hesitate  to  change  his  command  to  “shoot  and 
kill  everyone.”  The  Nez  Perce  Indians  fled  and  Gen- 
eral Gibbons,  not  knowing  if  they  were  heading  for 
the  town  of  Bannack  or  for  the  ranches  of  Beaverhead 
valley,  immediately  dispatched  couriers  to  notify  all 
the  ranchers  and  people  they  could  find.  The  courier 
on  reaching  the  valley  late  in  the  evening  made  a sur- 
vey of  the  country  while  on  a high  knoll  to  ascertain 
if  possible  the  whereabouts  of  the  Indians,  but  could 
see  nothing.  He  continued  on  his  way  and  when  com- 
ing down  the  hill,  saw  at  a distance  Indians  at  the  big 
gate  w^aiting  and  courteously  holding  it  open  for  him 
to  drive  through.  He  took  in  the  situation  instantly: 
the  Indians  had  arrived  before  him.  He  quickly  turned 
and  with  the  reins  in  his  left  hand  and  holding  his 
gun  with  his  right  hand  under  his  left  arm,  pointing 
it  backward  and  shooting  at  random,  made  a wild 
dash  down  the  other  side  of  the  hill,  over  the  bridge 
and  into  the  willows.  The  Indians  gave  a close  chase, 
but  halted  at  the  willows  not  daring  or  risking  to  fol- 
low farther.  The  courier  took  off  his  boots  to  avoid 
making  a noise  treading  on  the  dry  sticks,  and  waded 
into  and  down  the  stream. — the  only  move  he  could 
have  made  to  save  his  life.  The  depredations  that 
night  throughout  the  valley  were  terrible.  One  fam- 
ily succeeded  in  making  their  escape  by  a swift  drive 
in  a two  horse  wagon,  the  rattling  noise  of  which  they 
feared  would  attract  the  attention  of  the  Indians,  but 
they  w^ere  too  busy  on  the  ranches,  a fact  which  en- 
abled the  refugees  to  drive  into  town  safely,  arriving 
about  midnight.  A little  earlier,  in  the  little  town  of 
Bannack,  when  all  was  hushed  and  still,  there  came  a 
most  thunderous  knocking  at  the  door  of  every  home, 
a knock  that  portended  haste, — danger, — to  be  up  and 
doing,  filling  every  heart  with  consternation,  anxiety 
and  fear.  A courier  was  at  the  door  with  the  tidings 
of  Indian  warfare  of  the  Nez  Perce  tribe  on  the  valley 
fifteen  miles  away.  Apprehensive  of  an  attack  on  the 
town,  the  people  of  the  settlement  were  admonished 
to  provide  better  protection.  In  less  than  ten  minutes 
everyone  was  hurrying  and  scurrying  to  and  fro,  every 
available  horSe  and  weapon  was  being  brought  into  use, 
scouts  were  sent  out  to  keep  a watch  on  the  move- 
ments of  the  Indians  and  all  the  women  and  children 
were  hastening  to  the  courthouse,  which  was  being 
barricaded  as  best  it  might,  but  little  could  be  done  at 
that  hour  of  the  night,  and  no  one  was  allowed  to 
stand  in  a door  or  near  a window  for  fear  of  being 
the  target  of  the  Indians  momentarily  expected  on  the 
mountains  just  opposite.  The  hours  of  the  ni.ght 
dragged  heavily  and  all  was  e.xtreme  restlessness.  In 
the  early  morning  hours  one  scout  returned  to  let  the 
people  know  that  the  Indians  were  not  yet  coming  that 
way,  so  that  most  of  the  weary  ones  ventured  to  their 
homes  for  a little  needed  rest  and  something  to  eat, 
and  to  collect  their  most  valuable  articles  and  bury 
them  in  shafts,  prospect  holes  or  any  such  places  they 
thought  most  safe. 

The_  other  several  men  on  horseback  had  continued 
their  journey  to  see  what  assistance  they  might  render 
to  the  more  unfortunate  ones.  They  found  the  places 
looted,  houses  and  haystacks  burned,  stock  run  off, 
ranchers  murdered,  two  with  the  contents  of  straw 
and  feather  beds  covering  their  bodies,  and  others 
shot  while  running  for  their  lives  to  the  willows,  the 
only  shelter  to  be  had.  One  man  killed  was  buried 
where  found  near  the  Hamilton  ranch;  one  found  in 


1050 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


the  willows,  seemingly  scared  to  death,  was  also 
buried  on  the  spot ; another,  severely  wounded,  was 
found  barefooted  wading  in  the  stream  and  was 
brought  to  Bannack  on  horseback  early mext  morning. 

The  delayed  return  of  the  scouts  caused  much  alarm 
and  others  went  in  search  of  them,  and  they  too 
deemed  it  best  to  keep  to  the  willows,  and  discarded 
their  boots  for  safety.  Late  in  the  evening,  however, 
all  hands  came  in  barefooted,  footsore,  hungry  and 
tired,  bringing  with  them  four  bodies,  viz.,  Smith, 
Cooper,  Flynn  and  Montague.  The  burial  took  place 
the  following  afternoon,  the  cortege  wending  its  way 
along  a deep  gulch  to  the  cemetery  located  on  top  of  a 
steep  liigh  hill.  Two  of  the  bodies  had  been  lowered  in 
their  last  resting  place,  side  by  side,  and  the  final  hymn 
was  being  sung  when  suddenly  was  wafted  to  their 
cars  the  piercing,  terrible  warwhoop,  and  looking  in 
the  direction  whence  it  came,  far  away  could  be  seen 
a great  cloud  of  dust  circling  the  riders.  The  war- 
whoop  continued.  The  burials  were  only  half  com- 
pleted, and  sucli  a stampede  from  the  cemetery  to  the 
homes  of  the  improvised  fort  can  better  be  imagined 
than  described.  One  can  also  better  appreciate  the 
haughty  indignation  of  the  people  on  learning  the  de- 
ception that  had  been  perpetrated  upon  them  at  such  a 
time  Ijy  a band  of  Indian  scouts  from  General  How- 
ard's command.  The  settlers  suffered  all  the  agony, 
all  the  terror  and  all  the  suspense,  and  even  greater 
than  that  which  was  endured  the  previous  day  and 
night,  and  the  prayer  on  the  lips  of  all  was  that  such 
scenes  might  never  be  enacted  again  in  an  already 
terror  stricken  community.  But  this  was  not  to  be, 
for  two  days  later,  while  partaking  of  the  evening 
meal,  again  came  the  terrific,  demoralizing  yell,  re- 
sounding from  one  end  of  the  town  to  the  other,  the 
mountains  on  either  side  reverberating  the  sounds,  and 
in  a moment  every  one  was  rushing  into  the  streets ; 
women  fainted  and  fell ; the  women  of  one  family  were 
given  a gun  and  told  to  run  to  the  willows  at  the  rear 
of  their  home,  for  there  was  no  time  to  reach  the 
fort.  The  riders  were  upon  them,  galloping  through 
the  town,  and  when  they  halted  at  a corral!  they  proved 
to  be  an  Indian  in  the  employ  of  one  of  the  townsmen, 
and  four  whites,  cowboys,  dressed  in  Indian  garb.  The 
inhabitants  were  beside  themselves  with  terror  and 
indignation,  and  there  was  talk  and  threats  of 
lynching. 

General  Howard's  command  marched  through  the 
country  via  Bannack  two  days  behind  the  Nez  Perce 
Indians.  The  soldiers  were  weary  and  footsore,  and 
the  people  of  Bannack  conveyed  as  many  as  they 
could  by  wagon  to  their  next  camping  ground.  The 
Indians  were  familiar  with  ■ every  foot  of  country 
here,  and  with  their  alertness  and  extreme  cunning- 
ness, never  allowed  themselves  to  be  surprised,  much 
less  overtaken.  Among  the  Indian  scouts  in  General 
Howard's  command  was  a son  of  Tendoy  the  chief  of 
the  Bannacks.  Tendoy  was  friendly  to  the  whites  and 
succeeded  in  keeping  his  tribe  in  subjection  to  his  or- 
ders. But  in  less  than  a year,  in  June,  1878.  the  inhab- 
itants of  Bannack  were  again  thrown  into  a tumult 
of  apprehension  and  terror  by  the  restlessness  of  the 
Bannack  tribe.  The  young  wanders  of  this  tribe  were 
determined  on  an  attack  on  Bannack,  and  again  the 
courthouse  was  fortified  and  every  precaution  taken 
for  the  protection  of  life  and  home.  But  Chief  Ten- 
doy again  prevailed,  while  he  and  his  followers  camped 
on  the  hanks  of  Grasshopper  creek,  just  across  the  way 
from  the  Hopkins  home,  awaiting  the  coming  of  Major 
Maginnis,  who  had  been  to  Washington,  D.  C.,  to 
see  the  "Great  White  Father"  in  their  behalf.  On  his 
arrival  a treaty  was  entered  into.  The  pipe  of  peace 
was  passed  around  and  again  all  seemed  quiet  and 
peaceful. 

Mr.  Hopkins  had  befriended  Tendoy  in  early  days, 
giving  him  biscuit  and  tobacco  when  he  happened  to 


pause  at  his  cabin  door.  An  Indian  never  forgets  a 
kindness  or  a friendly  face,  and  when  he  learned  there 
was  a “squaw”  in  the  home  across  the  way,  he  was 
very  anxious  to  see  her,  so  the  chief  of  the  Bannacks 
was  brought  to  the  home  to  say  "how”  and  to  pow- 
wow in  Indian  fashion  for  a few  moments,  when  he 
left,  seemingly  quite  pleased  and  satisfied.  Tendoy 
was  a very  large  and  tall  Indian.  He  died  about 
1909.  Here  ended  the  Indian  troubles  of  this  little 
household.  Mr.  Hopkins  prospered  in  his  mining 
operations  but  a few  months  longer,  when  his  fortune 
was  entirely  swept  away  by  a cloudburst,  which  tore 
away  the  reservoir,  undermining  the  mill  and  several 
cabins,  besides  doing  much  other  damage.  This  mis- 
fortune left  him  without  a chance  to  financially  reestab- 
lish himself,  and  it  was  almost  imperative  to  seek  new 
fields.  Soon  an  opportunity  presented  itself  in  being 
allowed  to  bring  a load  of  merchandise  to  Butte  for 
some  of  the  mines. 

Before  he  left  for  Butte,  Mr.  Hopkins  decided  that 
if  the  city  pleased  him,  he  would  immediately  return, 
or  send  for  his  wife,  and  in  accordance  with  this  de- 
cision in  another  three  weeks,  she,  with  all  the  cour- 
age and  seennng  conviction  of  success,  happily  found 
herself  with  a four  horse  load  of  household  goods, 
seated  on  feather  cushions,  and  with  a couple  of 
heated  rocks  with  which  to  keep  warm,  winding  her 
way  slowly  but  surely  to  the  greatest  mining  camp  in 
the  West,  arriving  safely  about  four  o’clock  in  the 
afternoon,  on  December  24,  1878.  This  was  a severe 
winter,  but  with  the  comforts  described  above,  they 
drove  “in  state"  to  the  hardware  store  on  Main  street, 
where  she  found  her  husband  in  the  employ  of  the 
company.  So  ended  a novel  trip.  After  a few  days 
of  rest  they  set  about  to  locate  a place  they  might 
call  home.  Houses  here  were  scarce,  but  they  were 
finally  offered  a hut  of  logs  and  mud,  without  a floor 
or  a window,  answering  to  the  name  of  either  stable 
or  house,  at  a rental  of  $25.00  the  month.  They  de- 
cided that  they  would  not  be  in  a hurry  to  choose  a 
home,  in  the  hope  that  something  else  might  be  avail- 
able, perhaps  with  fewer  “modern  improvements”  and 
at  a more  reasonable  price.  It  so  happened  that  within 
two  weeks'  time  they  were  able  to  secure  a little  two 
room  palace,  one  of  the  rooms  ten  feet  square  and  the 
other  six  by  seven,  with  twelve  foot  ceilings, — the 
merest  shell  of  a cabin,  and  lined  with  cloth  inside. 
This  they  occupied  until  the  completion  of  their  little 
cottage  at  No.  121  West  Silver  street,  a most  preten- 
tious home  for  Butte  in  those  days.  This  home  still 
stands  and  remains  a part  of  the  family  estate.  Mr. 
Hopkins  again  engaged  in  mining  operations,  though 
he  lived  but  a few  years  and  passed  away  on  March 
7,  1883,  survived  by  his  widow  and  two  sons,  the 
eldest  being  but  a little  more  than  three  years  old  at 
that  time. 

Mrs.  Hopkins  in  her  own  right  owned  a very  com- 
fortable estate,  and  being  a thorough  business  woman, 
managed  all  affairs  successfully,  and  was  able  to  give 
her  sons  those  excellent  opportunities  of  education, 
travel  and  a start  in  the  business  world.  She  is  the 
descendant  of  a long  line  of  German  ancestors  of 
which  she  has  a record  from  1549.  Her  father  was 
born  Tn  Wurtemburg,  -Germany,  on  March  16,  1803, 
and  was  educated  in  Leipsic  and  Stuttgardt,  coming 
to  America  in  1828.  He  died  in  Warren,  Trumbull 
county,  Ohio,  on  March  8,  1863. 

Mrs.  Hopkins  completed  her  musical  education  at 
the  conservatory  of  music  at  Painesville,  Ohio,  and 
has  done  much  charitable  work  in  that  line  during  her 
residence  in  Bannack,  rendering  musical  aid  on  all 
occasions  wherever  required,  and  assisted  materially 
in  the  building  of  the  first  and  only  church  edifice, 
which  still  stands  and  serves  its  purpose  to  all  denom- 
inations. 

After  coming  to  Butte  it  was  her  heart’s  desire  to 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1051 


continue  in  the  same  kind  of  \vork,  and  as  providence 
prospered  her  in  her  late  business  life,  she  in  a quiet 
way  assisted  several  along  educational  lines,  furnish- 
ing scholarships  through  the  several  colleges  and  help- 
ing her  proteges  in  getting  a business  start.  Since 
her  two  sons  are  married,  in  addition  to  looking  after 
the  business  part  of  life,  plans  to  devote  much  of  her 
time  to  club  work.  She  is  an  active  member  of  the 
Silver  Bow  chapter  of  the  Daughters  of  the_  American 
Revolution,  and  identified  with  the  Woman's  Club  of 
Butte. 

The  family  was  reared  in  the  Episcopal  faith  and 
have  always  remained  among  its  active  members.  Her 
eldest  son,  Clarence  Victor  Hopkins,  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 20,  1880,  and  after  finishing  a course  in  the  ele- 
mentary schools  of  Butte  and  graduating  from  the 
high  school  in  1898,  he  was  sent  to  Houghton,  Michi- 
gan, where  he  entered  the  Michigan  College  of  Mines, 
there  completing  a course  in  engineering.  He  has 
been  connected  with  the  United  Verde  Copper  Com- 
pany since  February,  1904,  during  which  time  he  has 
received  several  promotions,  and  is  now  chief  engi- 
neer of  the  mining  field  division  of  the  company. 
He  is  also  chief  engineer  of  the  United  Verde  and 
Pacific  Railroad,  with  general  supervision  of  all  engi- 
neering work.  For  the  past  three  or  four  years  much 
of  his  time  has  been  given  to  the  engineering  prob- 
lems which  usually  attend  the  selection  of  a site 
suitably  adapted  for  a large  smelter  with  standard 
gauge  railroad  connections,  in  a mountainous  coun- 
try, also  to  the  preliminary  work  preparatory  to  con- 
struction. This  new  plant  is  now  being  built  at  a 
point  on  the  Verde  river,  nearly  one  half  a mile  lower 
than  the  mine,  and  five  miles  to  the  northeast  of  the 
old  works.  About  three  miles  from  the  new  works, 
the  site  of  which  has  not  yet  been  named,  he  has 
many  acres  of  land  with  the  best  of  irrigation  facilities," 
with  all  kinds  of  fruit,  vegetables,  grain,  live  stock, 
etc.,  and  on  his  ranch  home  his  family,  comprising  a 
wife,  a daughter  and  two  sons,  are  living  happily  and 
comfortably.  The  children  are  named  as  follows : 
Anna  Dorothy,  who  was  born  July  20,  1904:  Robert 
Pollock  II,  born  November  15,  1906;  and  Clarence 
Victor,  Jr.,  born  August  17,  1912. 

The  younger  son  of  Mrs.  Hopkins,  Henry  Chester 
Hopkins,  was  born  on  November  7,  1881,  and  received 
his  preliminary  education  in  the  schools  of  Butte, 
graduating  from  the  high  school  in  1899.  He  entered 
the  University  of  Virginia  and  completed  a three-years’ 
course  in  the  law  school,  graduating  with  honors,  and 
in  the  autumn  of  1904  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of 
the  state  of  Montana.  He  then  became  associated  with 
Judge  W.  M.  Bickford,  who  was  then  the  legal  adviser 
for  the  interests  of  Senator  Clark.  For  six  years  Mr. 
Hopkins  devoted  his  time  entirely  to  looking  after 
these  interests,  then  decided  to  sever  his  connection 
with  this  office  and  establish  a separate  probate  busi- 
ness. This  move  proved  to  be  a successful  one,  as  he 
has  built  up  for  himself  an  excellent  practice. 

He  was  married  to  Miss  Alberta  Reid  Speers  on 
November  8,  1911.  She  is  a Canadian  by  birth,  and 
they  were  married  at  her  home  in  Brandon,  Manitoba. 
In  his  political  belief  Mr.  Hopkins  is  a Democrat,  and 
manifests  a keen  interest  in  the  success  of  that  party. 
He  is  a member  of  the  Benevolent  Protective  Order 
of  Elks  and  also  holds  membership  in  the  Silver  Bow 
Club,  as  well  as  in  the  University  Club  of  Butte. 

Nelson  Story,  Jr.  Holding  prestige  as  a leading  rep- 
resentative of  that  class  of  business  men  who  are  mak- 
ing the  city  of  Bozeman  one  of  the  leading  commercial 
and  industrial  centers  of  the  Northwest,  and  taking  a 
prominent  position  as  proprietor  of  the  largest  jobbing 
house  between  Minneapolis  and  the  Pacific  Coast,  that 
of  the  Story  Motor  Supply  Company,  Nelson  Story,  Jr., 
has  for  the  past  twelve  years  identified  himself  with 


various  business  enterprises  of  great  magnitude  and  im- 
portance, and  also  found  time  to  serve  his  city  arid 
county  in  positions  of  public  trust.  He  has  resided  in 
Bozeman  all  of  his  life,  having  been  born  in  this  city 
May  12,  1874,  a son  of  Nelson  Story,  Sr.,  one  of  Boze- 
man’s foremost  business  citizens. 

After  attending  the  public  schools  of  Bozeman,  Nelson 
Story,  Jr.,  entered  the  Shattuck  Military  Academy,  at 
Faribault,  Minnesota,  and  after  remaining  there  for 
three  years  became  a student  in  a St.  Louis  commercial 
college.  After  one  year  in  the  latter  institution  he  be- 
gan his  business  career  as  an  employee  in  his  father’s 
flouring  mill  in  Bozeman,  where  he  was  employed  six 
years,  but  in  1900  embarked  in  business  on  his  own  ac- 
count as  proprietor  of  the  Story  Iron  Works,  located  at 
the  corner  of  Main  street  and  Grand  avenue,  the  plant 
being  completed  in  September  of  that  year.  This  struc- 
ture, 50x125  feet,  was  completed  at  a cost  of  $10,000,  its 
equipment  including  highly  improved  machinery  and  ac- 
cessories for  general  iron  working  business,  and  from 
time  to  time  improvements  have  been  made  both  to  the 
building  and  fixtures.  At  the  present  time  Mr.  Story 
is  proprietor  of  the  Story  Motor  Supply  Company,  job- 
bers in  motor  accessories,  parts  and  supplies,  and  the 
largest  jobbing  house  between  Minneapolis  and  the 
coas,t,  and  vice  president  of  the  Bozeman  Milling  Com- 
pany. Possessed  of  much  more  than  the  average  busi- 
ness ability,  Mr.  Story  has  so  managed  his  various  en- 
terprises as  to  make  them  the  leaders  in  their  fields  in 
the  city,  where  he  bears  the  reputation  of  being  an  alert 
and  prog:ressive  citizen. 

In  political  matters  Mr.  Story  is  a stalwart  Republi- 
can. In  1901  he  was  made  chairman  of  the  Republican 
central  committee  of  Gallatin  valley,  subsequently 
served  five  years  as  alderman  of  Bozeman  and  in  1904 
was  elected  mayor  and  gave  his  native  city  a clean  and" 
business-like  administration.  In  1906  he  was  the  re- 
cipient of  the  election  for  state  representative  from 
Gallatin  county,  being  the  incumbent  of  that  office  for 
one  term.  Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  Bozeman 
Lodge  No.  463,  B.  P.  O.  E.,  Bozeman  Lodge  No.  18,  A. 
F.  & A.  ]\L,  Zona  chapter  No.  12,  R.  A.  AL,  and  St.  John’s 
commandery  No.  12,  K.  T.  He  is  popular  in  fraternal 
circles  and  has  many  friends  throughout  the  city.  On 
June  10,  1895,  Mr.  Story  was  married  at  St.  Louis,  Mis- 
souri, to  Miss  Etha  L.  Mayo,  daughter  of  William  H. 
Mayo,  secretary  of  the  Missouri  Grand  Lodge  of  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons,  in  which  fraternity  he  has  at- 
tained the  thirty-third  degree,  the  highest  in  the  Scot- 
tish rite.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Story  have  two  children;  Nel- 
son Story,  III,  who  was  born  in  January,  1900,  and 
Mayo,  born  in  August,  1902.  The  family  residence  is 
located  at  No  601  Grand  avenue. 

Thom.^s  Switzer.  Fortunate  environments  encom- 
pass nearly  every  man  at  some  stage  of  his  career,  but 
the  strong  man  and  the  successful  man  is  he  who  realizes 
that  the  proper  moment  has  come,  that  the  present  and 
not  the  future  holds  his  opportunity.  The  man  who 
makes  use  of  the  now,  and  not  the  to  be,  is  the  one  who 
passes  on  the  highway  of  life  others  who  started  out 
ahead  of  him,  and  reaches  the  goal  of  prosperity  in 
advance  of  them.  It  is  this  quality  in  Thomas  Switzer 
that  has  made  him  a leader  in  the  business  world  and 
won  him  political  honors  in  Libby,  Montana,  where  he 
has  resided  since  1892  and  where  he  is  now  incumbent 
of  the  office  of  mayor.  , 

In  the  province  of  Ontario,  Canada,  near  the  city  of 
Ottawa,  February  3,  1853,  occurred  the  birth  of  Thomas 
Switzer,  a son  of  Charles  and  Mary  (Sykes)  Switzer, 
the  former  of  whom  died  in  1880,  aged  sixty-five  years, 
and  the  latter  of  whom  passed  away  in  1878.  Charles 
Switzer,  Sr.,  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  review, 
was  born  in  Germany,  whence  he  immigrated  to  America 
as  a young  man,  settling  in  Canada,  where  he  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation.  John  Sykes,  maternal  grand- 


1052 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


lather  of  Thomas  Switzer,  was  a native  of  England 
and  was  tlie  founder  of  the  Canadian  branch  of  the 
Sykes  family.  He,  too,  was  a farmer  during  his  active 
career.  Charles  Switzer,  Jr.,  married  Mary  Sykes  in 
1852  and  they  became  the  parents  of  eight  children,  of 
whom  Thomas  was  the  first  born. 

Under  the  sturdy  and  invigorating  influences  of  the 
■lid  homestead  farm  in  Ontario,  Canada,  Thomas  Switzer 
was  reared  to  maturity  and  his  educational  training 
consisted  of  such  advantages  as  were  offered  in  the 
neighboring  public  schools,  which  he  attended  until 
he  had  reached  his  sixteenth  year.  About  that  time  he 
secured  a position  as  clerk  in  a mercantile  house  and  for 
his  services  received  the  meagre  salary  of  six  dollars 
a month  and  board.  Later  his  wages  were  raised  to 
twelve  dollars  per  month.  In  1872  he  became  a mem- 
ber of  the  northwest  mounted  police  and  after  serving 
in  that  organization  for  sixteen  -months  he  was  made 
senior  sergeant  of  Troop  A,  First  attachment  of  the 
mounted  police.  In  1874  he  resigned  his  position  and 
came  to  Montana,  settling  in  Sun  River,  where  he  was 
variously  engaged.  In  1876,  with  John  Manning  the 
first  sheriff  of  Deadwood  in  the  Black  Hills,  he  went 
on  a stampede  to  Wind  River  valley.  Lander,  Wyom- 
ing and  remained  there  about  eight  months  and  then 
returned  to  Montana  over  land.  He  again  settled  in  Sun 
River  and  there  opened  a livery  business.  Later  he 
established  his  residence  in  Butte,  where  he  followed 
mining  and  prospecting  and  whence  he  removed  to 
Helena  eighteen  months  later.  In  1886  he  went  to 
Cascade  and  opened  a drug  store,  having  previously 
learned  the  trade  of  pharmacist  under  the  preceptorship 
of  Doctor  James  at  Chestnut  Valley.  He  erected  the 
first  house  in  Cascade  and  lived  there  six  years,  at  the 
end  of  which,  in  1892,  he  came  to  Libby,  where  he  was 
a pioneer  druggist  and  where  he  was  appointed  post- 
master, in  which  capacity  he  served  four  years.  Here 
he  was  chairman  of  the  school  board  from  1892  to 
1904  and  he  has  also  served  two  terms  as  mayor,  being 
incumbent  of  that  office  at  the  present  time,  in  1912.  He 
is  proving  unusually  efficient  as  administrator  of  the 
municipal  affairs  of  the  city  and  during  his  last  term 
he  has  been  instrumental  in  putting  in  over  five  miles 
of  cement  walks.  He  has  also  secured  for  Libby  the 
city  water  works,  an  electric  lighting  plant  and  a fire 
department,  all  of  which  improvements  make  Libby 
the  most  up-to-date  city  in  Lincoln  county.  During 
.Mr.  Switzer’s  term  of  office  as  mayor  and  as  the  result 
of  his  energy  the  population  of  Libby  has  just  doubled. 

In  addition  to  his  drug  business  and  his  work  as 
mayor  Mr.  Switzer  also  conducts  a book,  stationery 
and  music  store.  In  politics  he  is  a stanch  supporter 
of  the  Democratic  party,  in  the  local  councils  of  which 
lie  is  an  active  factor.  Fraternally  he  is  an  Odd  Fellow, 
being  charter  member  of  the  lodge  at  Libby,  and  in 
religious  matters  he  and  his  family  are  devout  mem- 
bers of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church.  During  the 
Spanish-American  war  Mr.  Switzer  received  a letter 
from  Governor  Smith  asking  him,  in  case  of  another 
call  for  volunteers,  to  become  head  of  a company  of 
cavalry.  The  second  call  was  not  made,  however,  and 
so  Mr.  Smith  was  not  called  upon  to  serve. 

In  Helena,  Montana,  in  October,  1882,  Mr.  Switzer 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Jessie  Porter,  who  was 
born  in  Nova  Scotia,  Canada,  and  who  is  a daughter 
of  Henry  Porter.  Seven  children  have  been  born  to 
Mr.  ajid  Mrs.  Switzer,  as  follows : Esmond  C.,  Lela, 
wife  of  George  L.  Brown,  of  Lincoln  county;  Elmer 
T.,  married  to  Sara  McGingan  of  Millville,  Minnesota; 
Viola,  unmarried  and  assistant  postmaster  at  Libby; 
Leona  R.,  wife  of  John  H.  Noble,  of  Kellog,  Idaho; 
Earl  and  Elw-yn,  both  at  home. 

John  Eynon  Lloyd.  One  of  the  last  of  the  old-time 
pioneers  who  makes  Butte  the  home  of  his  retirement 
is  John  Eynon  Lloyd,  who  has  seen  an  eventful  and 


strenuous  as  well  as  a materially  successful  life.  He  is 
of  Welsh  origin,  his  family  being  one  of  a long  line  in 
Wales.  Mr.  Lloyd’s  great-grandfather  was  a ship’s 
captain  in  the  years  before  the  era  of  steam  navigation. 
His  grandfather  and  his  father  were  both  coal  miners 
and  mining  engineers  in  their  native  country.  Thus  a 
heritage  of  sturdiness,  of  energy  and  initiative  came  to 
the  son  of  Richard  and  Annie  (Eynon)  Lloyd,  whose 
family  consisted  of  nineteen  children,  thirteen  of  whom 
grew  to  adult  ages.  Three  of  these  were  boys,  among 
them  John  Eynon,  born  on  April  14,  1834.  The  home 
atmosphere  was  a religious  one,  of  loyal  connection 
with  the  Methodist  church.  The  education  of  the  chil- 
dren was  necessarily  chiefly  one  gained  from  experience. 
The  child  John  was  put  to  work  in  the  mines  at  the 
age  of  seven  years,  with  the  result  that  the  knowledge 
of  books  was  all  but  denied  him. 

Having  continued  at  work  in  the  Welsh  mines  until 
he  reached  the  age  of  twenty-four,  John  Lloyd  immi- 
grated to  America.  His  first  location  was  at  Pottsville, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  worked  at  mining  until  1875. 
In  June  of  that  year  he  had  settled  in  Butte,  where  he 
began  work  in  the  mines  at  a wage  of  $3.50  per  day. 
After  three  years  of  this  employment  he  became  a pump 
machinist  for  Marcus  Daly,  continuing  steadily  and 
efficiently  at  this  work  until  ten  years  had  passed.  At 
the  end  of  that  period  Mr.  Daly  made  him  superintend- 
ent of  the  Amy  and  Silversmith  mines,  where  he  con- 
tinued in  charge  until  1886. 

During  that  year  he  was  elected  to  the  responsible 
position  of  sheriff.  In  this  office,  so  difficult  and  pre- 
carious in  a new  country,  Mr.  Lloyd  served  for  three 
years  before  the  admission  of  a state  and  also  for  three 
years  afterward.  Through  many  adventures  and  many 
dangers,  he  zestfully  pursued  the  duties  of  sheriff, 
always  without  partiality,  yet  with  a humanity  that 
could  not  allow  mercy  to  be  wholly  eliminated  from 
justice.  One  of  his  achievements  as  a determined  officer 
of  the  law  was  his  following  of  the  notorious  criminal, 
“Billy  Forester”  to  Chicago  and  bringing  him  back  to 
Montana.  Having  accomplished  this  task  unaided, 
Sheriff  Lloyd  proceeded  with  the  prosecution  until  the 
evil-doer  was  sentenced  to  fourteen  years  in  the  peni- 
tentiary. His  duty  as  sheriff  also  made  it  necessary  for 
him  to  perform  the  first  execution  in  the  county,  that  of 
the  murderer,  Llenry  Roberts,  who  killed  Fred  Tex 
and  was  sentenced  to  the  supreme  penalty  of  the  law. 
In  1892  Mr.  Lloyd  was  given  an  office  of  large  oppor- 
tunities in  a quite  different  line.  He  was  elected  county 
commissioner  and  chosen  chairman  of  that  board.  The 
great  activity  of  that  period,  the  rapidity  with  which 
bridges  and  other  imorovements  were  required,  made 
particularly  valuable  Mr.  Lloyd’s  common  sense  and 
clear-sighted  executive  ability. 

Among  the  many  financial  enterprises,  mining  and 
otherwise,  in  which  Mr.  Lloyd  has  been  successful,  it 
is  interesting  to  recall  one  in  which  he  participated  in 
1875,  even  though  it  was  of  considerably  less  magni- 
tude than  his  later  deals.  When  he  first  came  west 
the  Union  Pacific  Short  Line  extended  only  to  Corinne, 
Utah,  and  the  transportation  of  provisions  to  Butte 
was  not  an  easy  matter.  Mr.  Lloyd  and  three  other 
men  bought  four  wagons  at  Corinne,  loading  them  with 
flour  and  bacon.  These  they  took  to  Butte  and  on 
arrival  there  found  competition  for  their  supplies  re- 
markably lively  among  the  merchants  of  the  place.  It 
is  needless  to  say  that  they  sold  their  stock  for  very 
high  profits.  The  greater  part  of  Mr.  Lloyd’s  interests, 
however,  have  had  to  do  with  mining.  The  Johnston, 
the  Pennsylvania  and  the  Little  Ida  mines  were  all  dis- 
covered by  him.  After  working  them  for  ten  years 
he  sold  them  to  the  Boston  Mining  Company,  receiving 
$150,000  for  them.  These  mines  have  become  among 
the  most  prolific  in  the  state.  John  E.  Lloyd  now  has 
mining  properties  near  Butte  and  extensive  holdings 
both  in  the  Butte  and  Basin  Gold  and  Silver  Mining 


5 


\ 


y - 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1053 


Company  and  in  the  Silversmith  Mining  Company, 
being  president  of  both  these  mines. 

One  of  Mr.  Lloyd's  most  interesting  diversions  has 
been  the  collecting  of  mineral  and  other  specimens  and 
curios.  Ceramics  from  prehistoric  grounds,  water 
products  from  the  South  Sea  Islands,  handicraft  from 
many  lands,  unusual  natural  forms  of  many  sorts  have 
supplemented  his  great  variety  of  ore  specimens.  This 
collection  he  enriched  by  the  purchase  of  the  Emil 
Weinberger  cabinet,  one  of  the  finest  and  most  com- 
plete collections  of  Montana  minerals  e.xtant.  Unfor- 
tunately this  valuable  collection  was  destroyed  by  fire 
a few  years  ago  while  on  exhibition  at  the  Columbia 
Gardens. 

During  these  years  Mr.  Lloyd’s  family  has  grown  up 
about  him  and  its  members  have  gone  forth  to  their 
several  important  walks  in  life,  the  sons  being  closely 
associated  with  their  father’s  interests.  In  i86i  occurred 
John  Lloyd's  first  marriage;  but  his  wife,  a Welsh 
lady  named  Margaret  Davis,  died  after  only  two  years 
of  happy  wedlock.  Si.x  years  later  he  was  again  mar- 
ried. The  second  Mrs.  Lloyd,  nee  Margaret  Lewis, 
and  also  of  Welsh  ancestry,  lived  to  be  the  mother  of 
six  children,  of  whom  four  are  living.  Her  death 
occurred  on  November  28,  1893.  The  elder  son,  Richard 
L.,  who  lives  in  New  York  City,  is  widely  known  in 
smelting  circles,  having  formerly  been  for  many  years 
identified  with  that  line  of  business  in  Montana,  both 
at  Great  Falls  and  Butte.  John  R.,  who  at  one  time 
had  charge  of  large  smelting  interests  in  Nevada,  is  now 
located  at  Great  Falls,  Montana,  where  he  is  secretary 
of  the  large  mercantile  firm  known  as  the  Jansen,  Ward 
& Lloyd  Compan\'.  'Elizabeth  Ann  is  Mrs.  Robertson 
T.  White,  of  Plainfield,  New  Jersey;  and  Edith  B,  is 
i\Irs.  Franklin  J.  Everett,  of  Seattle,  Washington. 

Mr.  Lloyd  is  a thirty-second  degree  Mason  and  has 
held  high  rank  in  all  branches  of  the  fraternity.  He 
is  a Noble  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  affiliating  with  Algeria 
Temple  at  Helena.  Ever  since  he  was  twenty-one 
years  of  age  he  has  been  a member  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  in  which  organization  he  has 
passed  all  chairs  in  lodge  and  encampment. 

A stalwart  Republican  is  John  E.  Lloyd,  always  stand- 
ing by  the  policy  and  the  nominees  of  his  party.  His 
first  presidential  vote  was  cast  for  Lincoln,  and  never 
since  has  he  wavered  in  his  allegiance  to  the  party. 

In  his  comfortable  home  at  208  West  Copper  Street, 
Mr.  Lloyd  modestly  reviews  the  activities  of  his  past 
life,  enjoying  the  fruits  thereof  and  finding  in  the 
interests  of  the  city  which  long  has  claimed  him  as  a 
citizen  of  importance  the  pleasure  of  reminiscence  and 
the  enjoyment  of  companionship. 

Edward  H.  Campbell  was  born  in  Fremont  county, 
Iowa,  on  October  ii,  1854,  the  son  of  Dr.  John  C. 
Campbell.  .A.s  the  name  would  indicate,  the  Campbell 
family  came  to  America  from  Scotland.  They  were  of 
Revolutionary  stock  and  settled  in  Virginia,  and 
among  the  noted  families  with  whom  they  were 
connected  were  the  Lisle  and  McDowell  famil'-es, 
famous  in  the^  early  history  of  the  colony.  After 
the  Revolutionary  war,  some  of  the  Virginia  Campbells 
moved  to  Kentucky,  and  there  John  C Campbell  was 
born  on  December  30,  1812,  in  the  city  of  Lexington. 
Fie  was  the  son  of  John  Poague  Campbell,  who  was 
a famous  divine  in  Kentucky  and  Ohio.  Dr.  Campbell 
settled  in  Nebraska  in  1854,  where  he  was  a pioneer 
physician  and  came  to  play  an  important  role  in  the 
early  history  of  that  state. 

Dr,  Campbell  married  Martha  Ann  Rodgers,  a native 
•of  Tennessee  and  of  English  ancestry,  her  forefathers 
having  settled  in  Virginia  and  played  their  good  part 
as  soldiers  in  the  Continental  army.  Mrs.  Campbell 
'died  in  1S61,  leaving  five  children,  of  whom  Edward 
■was  the  next  to  the  eldest. 

Edward  H.  Campbell  spent  his  early  life  in  Neb- 


raska City,  Nebraska,  whither  his  father  moved  just 
after  his  birth,  Nebraska  was  then  one  of  the  frontier 
states  and  the  environment  was  that  of  a new  com- 
munity. The  lad  received  his  education  in  the  schools 
of  Nebraska  City,  being  graduated  from  the  high  school 
with  the  class  of  1873.  Upon  leaving  school  he  en- 
tered the  drug  store  of  his  father,  under  whom  he 
learned  the  essentials  of  pharmacy  and  the  principles 
of  business  in  the  drug  trade.  In  1875  he  came  west 
and  became  a drug  clerk  for  R.  S.  Hale,  of  Helena, 
retaining  this  position  for  four  years.  Having  some- 
thing of  a roving  disposition,  as  is  natural  to  youth, 
he  spent  several  years  working  as  drug  clerk  in  various 
parts  of  the  state. 

Mr.  Campbell  married  in  Nebraska  City,  Nebraska, 
on  October  17,  1888,  Miss  Fannie  Stevenson,  a native 
of  the  state  of  New  York.  The  eldest  of  the  three 
children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Campbell,  Edward  Hugh, 

was  born  in  Walkerville,  Montana,  on  the  Qth  of 
August,  1892.  He  is  now  a student  at  Wesleyan  Uni- 
versity. John  Paul  was  born  on  March  13,  1897,  at 
Philipsburg,  and  the  daughter,  Julia  Martha,  in  the 

same  city,  on  the  24th  of  August,  1903. 

Of  late  years,  Mr.  Campbell  has  taken  no  active 

part  in  politics,  though  he  is  still  loyal  to  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  He  is  a member  of  several  fraternal 
orders,  including  the  Woodmen  of  the  World,  the 

Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Masons. 

Edward  J.  Whyte  w'as  born  in  Dublin,  Ireland,  in 
the  year  1851,  and  lived  but  little  over  a half  century, 
as  he  died  in  Helena  on  May  12,  1908.  Flowever,  his 
years  were  eventful  ones,  and  his  life,  though  short, 
was  a busy  one.  When  a young  man  he  left  his  native 
isle  for  America,  and  once  here,  sought  a place  where 
there  was  plenty  of  elbow  room,  and  at  the  same  time 
no  dearth  of  excitement,  for  he  was  a true  Celt,  and  did 
not  live  a too  quiet  life.  The  overland  trip  to  Livings- 
ton, Montana,  was  one  with  hazard  enough  in  it  to  make 
it  interesting,  and  upon  arriving  there  Mr.  Whyte  went 
into  the  hotel  business.  Montana  was  not  at  the  time 
a state  of  homes,  and  the  business  of  providing  accom- 
modations for  the  shifting  population  was  one  of  para- 
mount importance.  After  some  time  in  Livingston  Mr. 
Whyte  came  to  Helena,  in  the  early  ’80s,  and  opened 
the  QtKen  City  Restaurant  and  the  Hotel  Helena. 
These  became  most  popular  under  his  excellent  manage- 
ment, and  until  his  death  he  continued  in  this  calling 
with  notable  success.  Mr.  Whyte  followed  the  usual 
political  bent  of  the  Irish- American  and  aligned  himself 
with  the  Democratic  party,  but  contrary  to  the  usual 
habits  of  his  compatriots,  he  did  not  take  any  promi- 
nent part  in  party  aflairs.  He  was,  however,  a most 
devoted  worker  in  the  lodge  of  the  Ancient  Order  of 
LTnited  Workmen,  of  which  he  had  been  a member  for 
many  years.  Another  organization  to  which  he  belonged 
was  that  of  the  Highlanders. 

It  was  at  Livingston  that  Mr.  Whyte  met  the  lady 
who  became  his  wife.  This  was  Miss  Bessie  Johnson, 
a native  of  Sweden.  Her  parents  were  among  the  first 
comers  to  Livingston,  where  she  became  acquainted  with 
Mr.  Whyte.  Five  children  were  born  of  their  union, 
the  eldest,  Effie,  in  Livingston,  and  the  others  in  Helena. 
She  is  now  Effie  Wdiyte  Miller  of  Belfcy,  Montana. 
Garry  J.  Whyte,  the  oldest  son,  was  born  on  October 
23,  1888:  Bessie,  on  November  i,  1890;  William,  in 
1894;  and  Carl,  in  1896.  All  are  unmarried  except 
Effie. 

Garry  Whyte  went  through  the  schools  of  Helena, 
finishing  the  high  school  at  seventeen.  As  soon  as  he 
graduated  he  went  into  business  independently,  open- 
ing a fruit  and  confectionery  store  at  18  Broadway. 
As  he  is  a born  hustler,  he  made  good  at  his  first  ven- 
ture in  the  commercial  field  and  after  one  year  disposed 
of  his  stock  at  a fair  nrofit  and  removed  to  Butte. 
Here  he  went  into  the  firm  of  Tripp  and  Dragstedt  as 


1054 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


a clerk  to  learn  the  grocery  business.  When  he  felt 
that  he  was  sufficiently  familiar  with  this  branch  of 
the  mercantile  trade,  he  returned  to  Helena  and  again 
opened  a fruit  and  confectionery  store.  After  one  year 
at  this  he  went  into  the  grocery  business  and  soon  built 
up  a paying  trade.  Mr.  Whyte  disposed  of  his  first 
establishment  to  the  Reinig  Company  and  started  an- 
other store  of  his  own  at  35  West  Sixth  street.  This 
is  not  e.xactly  a new  concern,  as  it  was  established  in 
1905,  by  A.  Hauswald.  Two  years  later  Mr.  Whyte 
purchased  it  and  has  been  running  it  ever  since  with 
his  characteristic  ability.  It  would  be  difficult  to  find 
a more  complete  and  up-to-date  retail  store  in  Helena. 

Ranehing  is  something  else  in  which  Mr.  Whyte 
puts  some  time  and  capital.  He  owns  a forty-nine  acre 
place  in  Lewis  and  Clark  county,  where  he  raises  cattle 
and  other  live  stock.  He  has  also  a feed  store  in  Helena, 
and  he  finds  no  difficulty  in  keeping  his  various  enter- 
prises running  at  a good  pace. 

Mr.  Whyte  belongs  to  the  Elks,  and  also  to  the  High- 
landers, as  his  father  did  before  him.  He  also  follows 
in  his  father's  steps  in  his  church  affiliation,  being  a 
member  of  the  Episcopal  church.  His  political  views 
are,  however,  different  for  he  supports  the  policies  of 
the  Republican  faction. 

Mr.  Whyte  is  unmarried,  and  makes  his  home  with 
his  mother  at  31  East  Cutler  avenue.  Starting  in  busi- 
ness with  a capital  of  one  hundred  dollars,  he  has  made 
for  himself  a prosperous  and  growing  business,  with 
a store  surpassed  by  few  in  the  city  and  all  this  before 
he  has  lived  a quarter  of  a century. 

J.  Lee  Sedgwick.  The  office  of  clerk  and  recorder 
of  the  largest  county  in  the  state  of  Montana,  that  of 
Chouteau,  carries  with  it  duties  of  multitudinous  nature, 
making  it  necessary  for  the  incumbent  to  be  a man  of 
more  than  ordinary  abilities  and  experience.  J.  Lee 
Sedgwick,  who  is  now  acting  in  that  capacity,  came  to 
the  office  well  equipped  to  handle  its  affairs,  having 
served  as  deputy  for  eleven  years,  during  which  time 
he  thoroughly  familiarized  himself  with  every  detail 
of  its  routine,  thus  assuring  the  voters  of  an  able  and 
efficient  administration.  Mr.  Sedgwick  has  the  dis- 
tinction of  being  a native  son  of  Montana,  having  been 
born  at  Stevensville,  Ravalli  county,  July  24,  1875.  His 
father,  Cassius  AI.  Sedgwick,  removed  from  hi^  native 
state  of  Pennsylvania  as  a young  man  and  journeyed 
as  far  west  as  Corinne,  Boxelder  county,  Utah,  from 
whence  he  made  his  way  overland  to  the  Bitter  Root 
country,  in  Ravalli  county,  Montana,  in  1872.  A pioneer 
of  that  section,  he  was  for  a number  of  years  engaged 
in  ranching  and  stock  raising,  but  in  1890  came  to 
Chouteau  county,  where  he  now  lives  retired  at  the 
age  of  sixty-seven  years.  He  was  married  in  Ravalli 
county  to  Miss  Eliza  Sanders,  who  was  born  in  Boone 
county,  Missouri,  and  in  1865  went  with  her  parents 
overland  to  Oregon.  In  1869  they  traveled  overland 
to  Montana  and  settled  in  the  Bitter  Root  valley,  at  a 
time  when  their  nearest  neighbors  were  twenty-five  or 
thirty  miles  away.  The  family  is  known  there  as  one 
of  the  earliest  settlers  of  the  section.  Airs.  Sedgwick 
still  survives,  at  the  age  of  fifty-five  years,  and  has 
been  the  mother  of  five  children,  of  whom  three  sur- 
vive: J.  Lee;  C.  F.,  of  Alberta,  Canada;  and  C.  O., 
living  in  Chouteau  county. 

J.  Lee  Sedgwick  received  his  preliminary  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  Montana,  and  supplernented 
this  by  a course  of  two  years  in  the  University  of 
Idaho,  after  which  he  came  back  to  Chouteau  county 
and  was  < ngaged  in  ranching  and_  stock  raising,  both 
for  himself  and  as  manager  of  his  father’s  interests. 
He  was  so  engaged  until  his  appointment  in  igoo  to 
the  position  of  deputy  county  clerk  of  Chouteau  county, 
at  which  time  he  became  a resident  of  Fort  Benton, 
and  this  city  has  been  his  home  to  the  present  time. 
After  ably  discharging  the  duties  of  deputy  for  eleven 


years,  in  1910  he  became  a candidate  for  the  office  of 
county  clerk  and  recorder,  and  in  the  election  which 
followed  received  a handsome  majority.  He  has 
handled  the  problems  that  have  come  up  in  his  office 
with  marked  skill,  but  it  is  characteristic  of  the  man 
that  he  has  not  considered  his  obligation  to  the  public 
limited  simply  to  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  onerous 
duties,  as  he  has  given  of  his  best  energies  in  behalf 
of  the  people  and  used  his  influence  in  promoting  and 
supporting  all  mgvements  pertaining  to  the  public  wel- 
fare. Pie  supports  Republican  principles  and  takes  a 
great  interest  in  his  party’s  success,  having  numerous 
influential  friends  among  the  organization’s  ranks  in 
Chouteau  county.  When  he  can  absent  himself  from 
his  office,  he  devotes  his  leisure  moments  to  outdoor 
occupations,  having  never  lost  his  love  for  the  free 
air  of  the  open  that  his  early  training  instilled  in  him. 

On  June  19,  1912,  Mr.  Sedgwick  was  married  to 
Debora,  daughter  of  Abram  and  Mary  E.  (Fahs ) 
Wagy,  of  Hamilton,  Montana.  Mrs.  Sedgwick  received 
her  education  in  the  public  schools  of  her  home  place, 
later  graduating  from  the  State  University  at  Missoula! 

Herbert  B.  Selway,  of  Dillon,  Alontana,  has  a closer 
interest  in  the  welfare  and  prosperity  of  his  home  state 
than  have  most  of  the  residents  of  Alontana,  for  he  is  a 
native  son  of  the  commonwealth.  He  is  well  known  as 
one  of  the  most  successful  ranchmen  and  stock  raisers 
of  this  section  of  the  state.  A man  of  the  type  for 
which  the  west  has  come  to  stand,  broad  minded,  big 
hearted  and  sincere,  “Herb’’  Selway,  as  he  is  familiarly 
known,  is  one  of  the  most  popular  men  in  Dillon. 

Herbert  B.  Selway  was  born  near  Dillon,  Montana, 
on  the  22nd  of  August,  1875,  a son  of  James  and  Eunice 

A.  (Noble)  Selway.  James  Selway  was  born  in  Eng- 
land, in  1839,  and  when  he  was  seven  years  of  age  his 
parents  immigrated  to  the  United  States,  locating  in 
Kenosha,  Wisconsin.  In  1863  he  crossed  the  Great 
Plains  to  Alontana.  During  the  following  winter  he  Was 
engaged  in  mining  operations  in  connection  with  W.  A. 
Clark,  who  afterwards  became  United  States  senator 
from  Alontana.  After  a time  he  went  into  the  stock 
raising  business,  and  from  that  time  until  the  close 
of  his  life  he  was  engaged  in  the  live  stock  industry. 
He  was  a pioneer  in  every  sense  of  the  word,  a lead- 
ing man  in  his  community  who  did  his  full  share  in 
helping  to  make  possible  the  great  state  of  Montana. 
In  politics  he  was  a Republican,  though  he  never  cared 
to  take  a very  active  part.  A man  of  great  kindliness 
and  genuine  sympathy,  people  were  invariably  attracted 
by  him,  and  he  made  in  consequence  a host  of  friends. 
His  death  occurred  in  1898.  He  married  in  the  fall 
of  1874  Eunice  F.  Noble,  a native  of  Yankee  Settle- 
ment, Delaware  county,  Iowa,  where  she  was  born  on 
March  8,  1848.  She  was  the  eldest  of  the  seven  chil- 
dren of  her  father  and  mother.  She  was  well  educated, 
completing  her  education  at  Iowa  College,  at  Grinnell, 
Iowa,  and  then  teaching  for  a number  of  years  in  her 
native  state.  She  came  to  Alontana  in  the  fall  of  1873 
and  taught  the  first  term  of  school  in  what  is  known 
as  the  “Old  Poindexter  school  house.”  She  was  a mem- 
ber of  the  Alethodist  Episcopal  church, 'and  was  a very 
active  worker  in  this  congregation,  being  a teacher  in 
the  Sunday-school  for  over  thirty  years.  _ Four  chil- 
dren were  born  to  James  Selway  and  his  wife;  Herbert 

B.  Selway  and  Hawley  J.  Selway,  both  of  Dillon,  Alon- 
tana; Airs.  Eliza  Selway  Carlson,  of  Tendoy,  Idaho; 
and  Luther  Selway,  who  died  in  infancy.  Airs.  Selway 
died  on  the  26th  of  August,  1910. 

Herbert  B.  Selway  received  his  first  instruction^  m 
the  Dillon  public  schools,  graduating  from  the  high 
school  in  Dillon.  He  then  attended  the  Alontana  State 
Normal  School,  at  Twin  Bridges,  and  later  the  Wes- 
levan  University  at  Helena,  Montana.  He  was  then  sent 
east,  and  entered  his  mother’s  alma  mater,  Iowa  Col- 
lege, at  Grinnell,  Iowa.  Finally  he  took  a course  in 


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JAxMES  SELWAY. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1055 


the  Highland  Business  College,  at  Des  Moines,  Iowa, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1897.  With  this  thor- 
ough preparation  he  returned  home  and  took  charge 
of  his  father's  business  interests.  In  1899  he  went  into 
the  stock  and  general  farming  business  on  his  own  ac- 
count, and  has  made  a splendid  success  of  it.  He  ovyns 
about  fourteen  hundred  acres  on  Horse  Prairie,  which 
is  divided  into  two  ranches,  on  both  of  which  he  car- 
ries on  general  farming  as  well  as  stock  raising.  As  an 
example  of  the  size  of  his  stock  operations,  since  Jan- 
uary, 1912,  he  has  bought  and  sold  between  fifty  and 
sixty  thousand  dollars  worth  of  cattle.  Aside  from  his 
real  business  he  has  diverted  himself  with  dealings  in 
real  estate,  though  most  men  would  scarcely  call  it  a 
diversion.  In  1908  he  bought  a ranch  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  just  north  of  Dillon,  at  what  was  con- 
sidered a most  exorbitant  price,  one  hundred  dollars 
per  acre.  He,  however,  believed  that  there  ought  to  be 
a rise  in  land  values  in  Beaverhead  county,  and  the 
result  proved  him  correct,  for  he  sold  the  property  in 
April,  1912,  for  one  hundred  and  sixty-five  dollars  per 
acre.  This  was  the  first  real  advance  in  country  prop- 
erty made  in  this  county. 

Mr.  Selway  was  married  in  April,  i899>  to  Miss  Mary 
Monahan,  who  is  a native  of  Illinois  but  has  spent  all 
of  her  life  in  the  west.  Her  father  is  a native  of  Ire- 
land, where  he  was  born  in  1845,  while  her  mother  was 
born  in  Kentucky,  in  1848.  Of  the  nine  children  of  her 
parents,  who  are  still  living  in  Utah,  Mrs.  Selway  is 
the  next  to  the  eldest.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Selway  have  one 
son,  Elmer  James,  who  was  born  on  the  ist  of  Septem- 
ber, 1903. 

Mr.  Selway  is  a member  and  past  chancellor  of  Occi- 
dental lodge.  No.  8,  of  Dillon,  Knights  of  Pythias.  He 
is  also  a member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows. In  politics  he  is  a Republican,  and  has  taken  a 
prominent  part  in  furthering  the  interests  of  his  party 
in  that  section  of  the  state  wherein  he  lives.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Beaverhead  Club  and  the  walls  of  this 
club  are  adorned  with  a number  of  fine  trophies  of  the 
hunt  which  Mr.  Selway  has  presented  to  the  club,  re- 
sults of  his  skill  with  the  gun.  Mrs.  Selway  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  is  one  of  the  leaders 
in  the  social  life  of  Dillon.  In  1912  Mr.  Selway  built 
an  attractive  home  in  Dillon,  wh<=re  the  familv  now 
resides. 

John  F.  Murphy.  A fairly  large  proportion  of 
Montana’s  pioneer  population  was  composed  of  vet- 
erans of  the  Civil  war,  a number  of  them  frrrner 
residents  of  the  eastern  states,  who,  after  completing 
their  service  in  the  war  between  the  states,  continued 
to  serve  their  country  as  soldiers  in  the  regular  army, 
with  which  they  came  west  to  engage  in  warfare  with 
the  hostile  Indians.  When  their  terms  of  enlistment 
were  completed  the  greater  part  of  these  men  settled 
at  some  point  in  the  west,  attracted  by  the  opportunities 
offered  in  the  new  country,  thus  constructing  a firm 
foundation  upon  which  the  structure  of  a mighty  com- 
monwealth has  been  built.  One  of  these  hardy,  vig- 
orous men  who  may  lay  claim  to  being  one  of  Mon- 
tana’s “old-timers,”  is  John  F.  Murphy,  city  clerk  of 
Fort  Benton,  and  a man  universally  respected  and 
esteemed.  He  is  a native  of  Cork,  Ireland,  and  was 
born  October  31,  1843,  a son  of  Jeremiah  and  Ellen 
(Toomey)  Murphy. 

Jeremiah  Murph}'  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  there 
married.  In  1846,  with  his  wife  and  children,  he  came 
to  the  United  States,  settling  in  New  York  City,  where 
he  became  a prominent  plasterer  contractor,  and  died 
at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years.  His  wife,  also  a native 
of  the  Emerald  Isle,  passed  away  in  1862,  when  about 
seventy  years  of  age,  having  been  the  mother  of  sixteen 
children,  of  whom  John  F.  was  the  next  to  the  youngest. 
After  securing  a good  education  in  the  public  and  high 
schools  of  New  York  City,  John  F.  Murphy  at  the 


age  of  sixteen  years  left  home  and  succeeded  in  enlist- 
ing in  Company  B,  Forty-third  Regiment,  Indiana  Vol- 
unteer Infantry,  with  which  he  served  until  the  close 
of  the  war.  The  youth  saw  his  first  real  fighting  at 
Fort  Donelson,  subsequently  participating  in  the  siege 
of  Fort  Madrid  and  Island  No.  10,  and  after  the  latter, 
went  with  his  brigade  down  the  Mississippi  river, 
where  he  fought  in  the  siege  of  Fort  Pillow  and 
assisted  in  capturing  Memphis.  After  a number  of 
minor  engagements,  iMr.  Murphy  was  captured  by  the 
enemy  in  lower  Arkansas  and  subsequently  transferred 
to  Texas,  where  he  was  confined  from  April  to  the 
early  part  of  June,  1864,  when  he  managed,  with  dif- 
ficulty, to  effect  his  escape.  After  many  hardships  and 
privations  he  rejoined  his  command  at  Little  Rock, 
and  veteranized  in  the  same  regiment,  with  which  he 
continued  to  serve  until  the  close  of  the  war,  when  he 
received  his  honorable  discharge  in  Indiana,  June  14, 
1865.  In  1866  Mr.  Murphy  enlisted  in  the  regular 
army,  becoming  a private  in  Company  C.  Third  Bat- 
talion of  the  Eighteenth  United  States  Infantry,  which 
he  accompanied  to  Fo-t  Leavenworth,  Kansas,  and 
subsequently  across  ti,c  plains  to  Camp  Douglas,  Utah. 
He  spent  three  years  in  his  first  enlistment  and  later 
re-enlisted  for  five  years,  accompanying  his  division 
to  Fort  Shaw,  IMontana.  During  the  entire  eight  years 
of  his  service,  j\Ir.  Murphy  was  active  in  Indian  fight- 
ing, and  gained  a reputation  among  his  fellows  as  a 
fearless,  hard-fighting  soldier,  meriting  the  popularity 
of  his  comrades  and  the  respect  of  his  officers.  When 
he  had  closed  his  military  career  he  came  to  Fort 
Benton,  where  he  arrived  July  25,  1875,  securing  em- 
ployment as  a type-setter  for  the  Benton  Record.  After 
three  years  of  newspaper  work  as  a printer,  he  secured 
a position  as  salesman  for  the  firm  of  Wetzel  & Com- 
pany, and  later  was  associated  with  others  for  five 
years,  and  in  1882  was  elected  county  clerk  of  Chou- 
teau county.  In  1884  he  was  made  county  assessor, 
and  for  the  past  six  years,  and  at  present,  has  acted  in 
the  capacity  of  city  clerk  of  Fort  Benton.  He  is  in- 
dependent in  his  political  views,  reserving  the  right 
to  support  the  man  he  deems  best  fitted  for  the  office, 
regardless  of  part}'  connections.  Fraternally,  he  is 
popular  in  the  local  lodge  of  the  Odd  Fellows,  as  he 
is  also  with  the  members  of  the  Grand  Army  post, 
and  his  religious  connection  is  with  the  Roman  Cath- 
olic church. 

In  1875  Mr.  Murphy  was  married  in  St.  Louis,  Mis- 
souri, to  Miss  Ada  Archer,  daughter  of  William  Archer, 
a native  of  England,  and  of  their  children  two  are 
living : Mrs.  Ada  Muir,  a resident  of  Fort  Benton, 

and  Miss  Nellie,  who  lives  with  her  parents. 

Edward  M.  Jenizen.  Although  he  has  now  retired 
from  active  busmess  pursuits  and  is  living  quietly  at 
his  home  in  Harlowton,  Edward  M.  Jenizen  was  for 
many  years  identified  with  the  sheep  and  cattle  busi- 
ness, and  was  the  owner  of  a ranch  in  Fergus  county, 
on  which  stood  the  first  house  ever  erected  on  the 
Musselshell  river,  built  by  him.  An  evenly  balanced 
business  man,  he  has  done  much  to  inspire  confidence 
in  the  minds  of  his  fellow  citizens  in  his  adopted 
state’s  future  greatness,  and  the  numerous  large  enter- 
prises which  have  claimed  his  attention  have  entitled 
him  to  a foremost  position  among  those  whose  activi- 
ties have  been  of  real  benefit  to  their  section.  Edward 
M.  Jenizen  was  born  in  the  city,  of  Pittsburg,  Penn- 
sylvania, March  15,  1856,  and  is  a son  of  Michael  and 
Rachel  (Schultz)  Jenizen. 

Michael  Jenizen  was  born  in  France  and  came  to 
the  United  States  as  a young  man,  settling  first  iri 
Pennsylvania  and  coming  to  Montana  during  the  early 
’seventies.  He  followed  ranching  and  sheep-raising  for 
a number  of  years,  and  died  in  1889,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-two  years.  His  wife,  a native  of  Germany, 
met  and  married  Mr.  Jenizen  in  Pittsburg,  and  is 


1055 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


buried  in  that  city,  where  she  died  in  1864,  at  the  age 
of  forty-seven  years.  There  were  seven  children  in 
their  family,  Edward  M.  being  the  fourth  in  order  of 
birth,  and  two  brothers  and  one  sister  now  make  their 
home  in  Montana,  namely:  Charles  V.,  who  is  mar- 

ried and  resides  on  a ranch  near  Franklin ; William 
C.,  who  is  married  and  also  resides  on  a ranch  near 
Franklin;  and  Margaret,  who  married  William  Col- 
lier and  resides  at  Shawmutt. 

Edward  M.  Jenizen  received  his  early  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Pittsburg,  and  Prater’s  Academy 
at  LaSalle,  Illinois,  and  also  understands  bookkeeping, 
bank  clerical  work  and  special  correspondence,  although 
these  accomplishments  were  all  obtained  through  prac- 
tical experience  in  the  school  of  hard  work,  rather  than 
in  any  institution.  When  still  a lad  of  about  fifteen 
years  he  began  to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world, 
being  employed  at  a heating  furnace  in  a roller  mill, 
at  a salary  of  one  dollar  and  a half  per  day.  He 
followed  this  line  of  work  until  leaving  home,  at  the 
age  of  eighteen  years  to  go  to  St.  Louis,  there  enlist- 
ing in  the  regular  army  of  the  United  States.  In  1875 
he  secured  his  honorable  discharge  at  Camp  Baker, 
in  Meagher  county,  Montana,  and  since  that  time  has 
been  a resident  here.  In  1878  he  went  on  a survey 
with  Col.  De  Tolly  and  Kellog,  and  covered  this  whole 
part  of  the  country,  subsequently  going  to  Three  Mile, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  chopping  saw  logs  and  pros- 
pecting. In  the  spring  of  1879  he  went  to  Helena, 
where  he  worked  in  the  Penobscot  mine  until  the  fol- 
lowing fall,  then  returning  to  this  part  of  the  state 
and  engaging  in  ranching.  In  t88o  he  erected  the 
first  house  built  on  the  Mussellshell  river,  and  there 
continued  to  carry  on  sheep  and  cattle-raising  and 
general  ranching,  adding  from  time  to  time  to  his 
holdings  until  he  had  upwards  of  10,000  acres.  In 
1907  Mr.  Jenizen  disposed  of  his  property,  cattle  and 
sheep,  selling  almost  the  entire  tract  in  one  piece,  and 
since  that  time  the  land  has  almost  doubled  in  value, 
o-iving  an  illustration  of  how  the  country  has  grown 
and  developed  during  the  past  half  decade.  In  Novem- 
ber, 1908,  Mr.  Jenizen  was  one  of  the  organizers  and 
assisted  in  opening  the  First  National  Bank  of  Har- 
lowton,  and  still  retains  his  interest  therein,  being  a 
member  of  the  directing  board.  His  confidence  in 
the  future  of  this  community  has  been  made  evident 
by  his  investing  in  numerous  pieces  of  real_  estate,  and 
on  every  occasion  he  is  ready  to  state  his  views  on  the 
subject.  As  to  the  mining,  sheep  and  cattle  interests, 
he  feels  that  they  speak  for  themselves,  while  he  also 
believes  that  farming  has  far  passed  the  experimental 
stage  and  is  now  an  assured  success.  Fraternally 
he  is  connected  with  the  Woodmen  of  the  World,  the 
Odd  Fellows  and  the  Elks.  While  he  is  not  a member 
of  any  particular  denomination,  he  is  an  upright  Chris- 
tian citizen,  and  generously  supports  all  churches. 
Politically  a Republican,  Mr.  Jenizen  takes  an  active 
interest  in  the  success  of  his  party,  but  has  constantly 
refused  to  accept  political  favors,  although  often  urged 
to  do  so.  He  is  fond  of  all  clean,  healthy  amusement 
and  sport,  and  a good  bowling  match  or  sparring 
exhibition  will  have  no  more  interested  spectator. 

At  Billings,  Montana,  in  1890,  occurred  Mr.  Jeni- 
zen’s  marriage  to  Miss  Louisa  Jenizen,  who  died  in 
1892,  leaving  one  child : Nicholas  E.,  a graduate  of 

the  public  schools  who  is  now  living  on  a ranch.  In 
1897  Mr.  Jenizen  married  (second)  Mrs.  Catherine 
McGregor  of  Billings,  who  had  one  daughter  by  her 
former  marriage : Irene,  who  attended  the  Billings 
public  schools,  and  then  took  a five-year  course  in 
St.  Vincent’s  Academy,  Helena,  and  a special  busi- 
ness course  at  Marion,  Indiana,  subsequently  spend- 
ing quite  a time  in  extensive  travel.  She  married 
George  L.  Farr,  a promient  druggist  of  Lavina,  Mon- 
tana, who  also  has  branch  stores  at  Harlowton  and 
Hedgesville. 


Thomas  T.  B.aker.  A resident  of  ’Montana  for  more 
than  thirty  years,  Thomas  T.  Baker  was  one  of  the  best 
known  and  most  highly  honored  pioneer  citizens  of  this 
state  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  at  his 
home,  in  the  city  of  Butte,  on  the  30th  of  April,  1906, 
his  passing  having  been  the  cause  of  uniform  sorrow 
in  the  commonwealth  which  he  had  so  signally  dignified 
and  honored  by  his  character,  ability  and  services.  He 
was  a man  of  specially  high  intellectual  and  technical 
attainments  and  through  his  labors  in  his  profession  he 
did  much  to  further  the  material  and  civic  develop- 
ment and  upbuilding  of  Montana,  where  he  gained  wide 
reputation  both  as  a civil  engineer  and  mining  engineer, 
in  both  of  which  fields  of  endeavor  he  was  an  expert. 
He  was  long  in  the  government  service  in  the  line  of 
his  chosen  profession  and  at  the  time  of  his  demise 
was  the  oldest  man  in  the  United  States  surveying 
corps.  It  had  been  his  to  serve  with  distinguished  gal- 
lantry as  a soldier  of  the  Union  in  the  Civil  war  and 
in  all  the  relations  of  life  he  manifested  the  same  high 
sense  of  loyalty  and  personal  honor  that  marked  his 
course  during  his  long  and  valiant  service  as  a soldier 
of  the  republic.  A man  of  exalted  character  and  one 
who  made  his  life  count  for  good  to  the  world,  he  left 
a deep  impress  upon  the  history  of  Montana,  and  the 
great  heart  and  soul  of  the  man  gained  to  him  friends 
among  all  classes,  so  that  when  he  was  summoned  to 
the  life  eternal  his  loss  was  mourned  with  a sense  of 
deep  personal  bereavement  in  the  state  throughout  which 
he  was  so  well  known  and  to  the  development  of  whose 
magnificent  resources  he  had  contributed  in  generous 
measure. 

Thomas  T.  Baker  was  a scion  of  stanch  German 
stock  and  his  paternal  and  maternal  ancestors  estab- 
lished homes  in  the  historic  old  state  of  Virginia  in 
the  colonial  days,  his  oarents  having  been  natives  of 
that  part  of  the  Old  Dominion  which  now  constitutes 
the  state  of  West  Virginia,  and  his  father  having  be- 
come one  of  the  representative  agriculturists  of  Bar- 
bour county,  in  what  is  now  West  Virginia,  and  later 
moved  to  Norborne,  Missouri,  where  he  resided  until 
his  death.  Thomas  T.  Baker,  to  whom  this  memoir  is 
dedicated,  was  born  in  Barbour  county.  West  Virginia, 
on  the  I2th  of  November,  1839,  many  years  before  the 
present  state  was  segregated  from  Virginia,  and  he  was 
the  third  in  order  of  birth  of  the  thirteen  children  born 
to  Joseph  K.  and  Matilda  (Thomas)  Baker.  In  addi- 
tion to  having  been  one  of  the  prominent  and  progres- 
sive agriculturists  of  that  section  the  father  also  served 
as  a freighter  during  the  Civil  war  for  the  United 
States  government. 

He  had  barely  attained  to  his  legal  rnajority  when  the 
Civil  war  was  precipitated  on  a divided  nation,  and 
his  sympathies  were  entirely  with  the  cause  of  the  Union, 
so  that  his  loyalty  and  patriotism  soon  found  definite 
expression,  as  he  had  witnessed,  at  Phillipi,  the  judicial 
center  of  his  native  county,  the  first  important  land 
battle  of  the  war,  the  same  having  occurred  on  the 
3d  of  June,  1861.  On  August  23,  1862,  he  enlisted_  in 
Co.  F,  Fifteenth  West  Virginia  Infantry,  in  the  Union 
service,  and  was  mustered  in  as  first  sergearit  of  his 
company.  He  continued  his  military  career  until  victory 
had  crowned  the  Union  arms  and  peace  had  been  de- 
clared, and  was  mustered  out  at  the  close  of  the  war, 
with  the  rank  of  lieutenant.  He  lived  up  to  the  full 
tension  of  the  great  fratricidal  conflict  and  endured  his 
quota  of  hardships  and  hazards  on  marches  and  in  camp, 
in  skirmishes  and  in  fifteen  important  battles.  Among, 
the  more  noteworthy  engagements  in  which  he  partici- 
pated and  proved  his  valor  was  that  of  Cloyd’s  Moun- 
tain (or  Farm),  in  Virginia,  on  the  gth  of  May,  1864, 
where,  after  one  and  one-half  hours  of  close  and  fierce 
conflict  between  the  opposing  forces,  fully  six  hundred 
gallant  men  lay  dead  unon  the  field  of  carnage.  _ Mr. 
Baker  also  took  part  in  the  battles  of  New  River  Bridge, 
Lexington,  Lynchburg,  Winchester,  Halltown  and 
Petersburg.  At  Winchester  he  received  a wound  which 


K 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1057 


incapacitated  him  for  further  service  for  a period  of 
about  three  months,  and  he  was  on  the  field  of  Appo- 
mattox at  the  time  of  the  final  surrender  of  General 
Lee  at  that  historic  point.  He  also  saw  service  in  the 
west,  where  he  took  part  in  the  campaign  in  1876  against 
the  Nez  Perce  Indians,  at  Camas  Prairie,  Montana. 
Thus  in  this  later  military  service,  a number  of  years 
after  the  close  of  the  Civil  war,  he  again  proved  his 
mettle  and  valor  as  a soldier. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Baker  returned  to  the 
old  home,  but  there  he  remained  only  a brief  interval, 
as  in  September,  1865,  he  made  his  way  to  Iowa  and,  to 
gain  further  educational  discipline,  entered  a prepara- 
tory school  at  Lynnville.  Thereafter  he  completed  a 
course  in  Grinned  College,  that  state,  in  which  excellent 
institution  he  was  graduated  as  a member  of  the  class 
of  1874,  his  studies  having  covered  not  only  the  pre- 
scribed scientific  coprse  but  also  that  of  civil  engineer- 
ing. That  he  had  proved  an  ambitious  and  receptive 
student  is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  after  his  graduation 
he  was  retained  as  assistant  instructor  in  chemistry 
and  physics  at  his  alma  mater.  Grinned  College,  for 
one  year.  He  then,  in  1875,  came  to  Montana,  and  as 
this  was  before  railroads  had  entered  the  territory,  he 
made  the  overland  trip,  which  many  of  the  pioneers  of 
the  present  state  recall  as  a far  different  means  of 
travel  than  those  afforded  at  the  present  day.  He 
located  in  old  Virginia  City,  the  scene  of  the  great 
gold  stampede  somewhat  more  than  a decade  earlier, 
and  there  he  served  one  year  as  principal  of  the  public 
schools,  and  he  did  much  to  systematize  and  expand  the 
work  of  the  schools  during  his  administration,  which 
continued  for  one  year.  In  1877  Mr.  Baker  was  ap- 
pointed deputy  United  States  mineral  surveyor  and  in 
the  spring  of  the  following  year  he  removed  to  Butte, 
the  metropolis  of  Montana,  where  he  continued  to 
maintain  his  home  until  his  death,  many  years  later. 
Here  he  initiated  practice  as  a civil  and  mining  sur- 
veyor, the  while  he  still  continued  in  the  government 
service,  and  his  success  was  of  the  most  unequivocal 
order,  as  he  was  one  of  the  most  expert  and  discrimi- 
nating surveyors  in  the  state  in  those  early  years,  even 
•as  he  was  at  the  time  of  his  demise.  He  also  had  the 
good  judgment  to  develop  a broad  field  of  activity  in 
the  patenting  of  claims,  both  agricultural  and  mineral, 
and  it  is  maintained  by  those  familiar  with  conditions 
that  he  personally  surveyed  more  claims  for  patent  than 
has  any  other  one  United  States  surveyor,  his  terri- 
tory having  included  both  Montana  and  Idaho. 

During  these  years  of  indefatigable  and  earnest  en- 
deavor Mr.  Baker  became  concerned  in  constructive 
works  involving  great  difficulties,  and  in  every  in- 
stance he  proved  himself  master  of  ■ the  situation,  by 
solving  the  mechanical  and  engineering  problems  and 
carrying  the  projects  to  successful  completion.  He  sur- 
veyed the  aqueduct  ditch  and  superintended  the  erection 
of  the  waterworks  system  at  Glendale  and  also  installed 
the  fine  hydraulic  plant  at  the  Yogo  sapphire  mines,  in  - 
this  state.  His  interposition  was  frequently  secured  as 
an  expert  reporter  on  mines  and  mining  properties, 
and,  as  previously  stated,  he  was  at  the  time  of  his 
death  the  oldest  man  in  the  United  States  surveying 
corps. 

Broad  in  capacity,  high  in  ideals,  progressive  and 
loyal  as  a citizen,  Mr.  Baker  was  well  qualified  for 
leadership  in  thought  and  action,  and  he  did  much  to 
foster  the  industrial  and  civic  development  and  ad- 
vancement of  Montana,  in  whose  history  his  name  merits 
a place  of  lasting  honor.  In  politics  he  accorded  un- 
qualified allegiance  to  the  Republican  party  and  he  was 
specially  well  fortified  in  his  opinions  concerning 
economic  and  governmental  policies.  He  never  sought 
or  held  office  aside  from  the  line  of  his  profession,  but 
his  admirable  administration  in  the  position  of  county 
surveyor  of  Silver  Bow  county  will  not  soon  be  for- 
gotten, as  many  enduring  evidences  of  his  skill  and 
judgment  remain  as  a mark  of  his  eminent  service 


in  this  capacity.  He  ever  retained  a deep  interest  in 
his  old  comrades  of  the  Civil  war  and  manifested  the 
same  by  his  membership  in  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Re- 
public, in  which  he  was  distinctive!}'  popular,  as  was  he 
also  in  all  other  relations  of  life.  His  heart  was  at- 
tuned to  sympathy  and  tolerance  and  he  never  missed 
an  opportunity  to  aid  and  uplift  his  fellow  men,  no 
matter  what  their  station  in  life.  He  was  a devout  and 
zealous  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  as  is  also 
his  widow. 

On  the  27th  of  March,  1884,  was  solemnized  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Baker  to  Miss  Mary  I.  Hobart,  who  was 
at  the  time  a resident  of  Port  Byron,  Illinois.  Mrs.  Baker 
was  _ born  at  Audubon,  Illinois,  and  is  a daughter  of 
David  Sumner  and  Abigail  (Stimson)  Hobart.  Mrs. 
Baker  still  maintains  her  home  in  Butte,  and  in  the  loss 
of  her  devoted  and  honored  husband  she  is  sustained  and 
comforted  by  the  presence  of  their  two  children, — 
Jacob  H.,  who  is  a member  of  the  class  of  1914  in  the 
Montana  School  of  Mines,  and  Julia  D.,  who  graduated 
from  the  Butte  high  school  in  1912. 

jM.ark  B.  Conrow.  One  of  Kalispell’s  foremost  legal 
lights,  one  of  her  best  educated  men,  one  of  her  sturdi- 
est Democrats,  is  Mark  B.  Conrow,.  who  has  ably 
served  as  city  attorney  and  as  deputy  county  attor- 
ney, who  enjoys^  a wide  social  popularity  and  whose 
moral  influence  is  by  no  means  the  least  considerable 
element  of  his  worth  to  the  community. 

A true  citizen  of  Montana  is  Mr.  Conrow,  whose 
entire  _ life  has  been  spent  here,  save  for  the  years 
spent  in  university  and  professional  study.  His  father, 
John  M.  Conrow,  has  been  a resident  of  the  state  for 
nearly  a half  century,  having  come  from  New  Jersey, 
his  native  state,  at  the  close  of  the  war,  to  Livingston, 
Montana.  Exchanging  the  martial  experiences  of  the 
Civil  war  for  the  peaceful  employments  of  cattle  rais- 
ing and  ranching,  he  had  come  first  to  Virginia  City, 
having  mining  and  prospecting  interests  as  well  as 
agricultural.  In  Livingston  he  later  made  his  home  and 
as  a resident  of  Park  county  was  for  three  terms  asked 
to  represent  _ his  district  as  a representative  to  the 
Montana  legislature,  this  honor  being  succeeded  by 
the  state  senatorship,  which  he  held  for  the  second 
term,  and  which  expired  in  the  autumn  of  1912.  Mrs. 
John  Conrow,  the  mother  of  the  Kalispell  barrister 
to  whom  this  article  is  dedicated,  was  a native  of 
New  Jersey,  but  came  across  the  plains  to  Montana 
with  a _ married  sister.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  she 
was  living  on  a ranch  twelve  miles  east  of  Livingston. 
Since  her  marriage  to  Senator  Conrow  twelve  children 
have  been  added  to  their  family,  of  whom  Mark  B.  is 
the  eldest.  In  Gallatin  county,  Montana,  he  was  born 
on  the  seventeenth  of  September,  1875.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools  of  the  county  and  of  Liv- 
ingston, where  he  was  graduated  from  the  high  schopl 
with  the  class  of  1896.  This  general  education  was 
carried_  to  a higher  level  by  his  subsequent  course  in 
the  University  of  Minnesota,  where  he  also  pursued  the 
prescribed  course  in  legal  training,  receiving  the  de- 
gree of  L.L.  B.  Returning  to  Livingston,  he  spent  the 
greater  part  of  a year  in  the  law  office  of  Judge  Sav- 
age, after  which  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Mon- 
tana from  Kalispell.  Here  he  located  for  residence 
and  practice.  ' In  this  locality  he  has  remained  since 
1901  and  from  that  time  his  practice,  which  is  of  a 
general  nature,  has  been  steadily  growing  in  amount 
and  prestige. 

Mr.  Conrow  is  a Democrat  who  endorses  the  policies 
of  that  great  commoner,  Mr.  Bryan.  In  politics  he  has 
always  been  especially  active,  frequently  serving  as  del- 
egate to  state  conventions  with  both  enthusiasm  and 
faithfulness.  His  incumbency  of  the  office  of  deputy 
county  attorney  was  one  most  creditable  to  him  and 
one  which  was  continued  for  a second  term.  He  has 
served  one  term  also  as  city  attorney  of  Kalispell,  dis- 


1058 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


charging  the  duties  of  this  office  with  exceptional  con- 
scientiousness and  discriminating  judgment. 

The  Kalispell  Club  claims  Mark  Conrow  as  one  of 
its  valued  members.  He  is  prominent  in  no  less  than 
three  of  the  secret  societies  of  the  place,  holding  mem- 
bership in  the  organizations  of  the  Woodmen  of  the 
World,  the  Yeomen  of  America  and  Fraternal  Order 
of  Eagles.  He  is  a loyal  member  and  supporter  of 
the  Christian  church.  As  a member  of  professional 
societies,  he  is  connected  with  the  County,  State  and 
American  Bar  Associations. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Conrow  to  Miss  Eileen  M. 
McCormick  took  place  on  the  twenty-eighth  of  Novem- 
ber, 1902.  Two  daughters  came  to  them,  named  respec- 
tively Mary  Alice  and  Margaret  Helen.  Mrs.  Conrow 
died  six  years  after  her  marriage.  On  the  nine- 
teenth of  October,  1911,  Mr.  Conrow  was  a second 
time  wedded.  The  present  Mrs.  Conrow,  as  Miss 

Josephine  E.  Ryan,  was  a native  of  Wisconsin  and 
the  daughter  of  John  Ryan.  The  family  residence 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Conrow  is  at  504  Si.xth  avenue  East. 

Mark  Conrow’s  office  in  the  new  Conrad  building  of 
Kalispell  is  a busy  place  for  he  has  a very  large 
practice.  He  espouses  no  commercial  interests,  de- 
voting by  preference  all  his  attention  to  legal  science 
in  general  and  to  his  specific  cases  in  particular. 

Alexander  J.  Johnston.  For  nearly  forty  years  has 
Mr.  Johnston  been  a resident  of  Montana  and  during 
this  entire  period  his  business  activities  have  been  in 
connection  with  operations  conducted  by  that,  dis- 
tinguished citizen  of  the  state,  Senator  William  A. 
Clark.  For  fully  a quarter  of  a century  Mr.  Johnston 
has  been  the  able  and  popular  cashier  of  the  banking 
house  of  W.  A.  Clark  & Brother  in  the  city  of  Butte, 
and  in  his  field  of  endeavor  he  is  known  as  one  of  the 
representative  members  of  the  banking  fraternity  in 
the  state.  He  has  naturally  had  to  do  with  affairs  of 
broad  scope  and  importance,  is  known  as  a careful  and 
discriminating  financier  and  executive  and  is  one  of  the 
prominent  business  men  and  influential  citizens  of  the 
Montana  metropolis,  where  his  circle  of  friends  is  prac- 
tically coincident  with  that  of  his  acquaintances.  His 
identification  with  the  banking  business  is  the  more 
interesting  to  note  by  reason  of  the  fact  that  nine  dif- 
ferent branches  of  the  Johnston  family  have  been 
actively  concerned  with  this  important  line  of  enter- 
prise. 

Alexander  J.  Johnston  claims  the  fine  old  Keystone 
state  as  the  place  of  his  nativity  and  is  a scion  of  a 
family  that  was  founded  in  America  in  the  colonial 
epoch  of  our  national  history.  He  was  born  at  Con- 
nellsville,  Fayette  county,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  6th  of 
October,  1851,  and  is  a son  of  Joseph  and  Florinda 
(Maguire)  Johnston,  the  former  a native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  the  latter  of  Maryland.  The  mother  of  Mr. 
Johnston  was  a daughter  of  Major  Samuel  Maguire, 
of  Cumberland.  Maryland.  Mrs.  Florinda  Johnston 
was  also  a granddaughter  of  Col.  Samuel  Clark,  who 
was  an  officer  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution  and  who 
was  a representative  and  influential  citizen  of  Wash- 
ington county,  Pennsylvania,  where  the  town  of  Clarks- 
ville was  named  in  his  honor, 

Joseph  Johnston  passed  his  entire  life  in  Pennsyl- 
vania and  was  for  many  years  engaged  in  the  banking 
business  at  Connellsville,  a line  of  enterprise  in  which 
his  father  and  paternal  grandfather  likewise  had  been 
engaged  in  that  state.  He  was  one  of  the  honored 
and  influential  citizens  of  Fayette  county  and  con- 
tinued to  reside  at  Connellsville  until  his  death,  at  the 
age  of  seventy  years,  his  widow  preceding  him  by 
several  vears  and  both  having  been  consistent  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  church.  They  became  the  parents 
of  foim  sons  and  three  daughters,  and  of  the  number 
the  subject  of  this  review  was  the  second  in  order 
of  birth.  The  eldest  son.  Dr.  J.  C.  Johnston,  became 


one  of  the  leading  representatives  of  the  medical  pro- 
fession in  Montana  and  his  death  occurred  in  Butte, 
where  jie  had  been  established  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession  for  several  j^ears ; - Samuel  M.  Johnston, 
another  of  the  sons,  is  now  assistant  manager  of  the 
Montana  Hardware  Company,  one  of  the  important 
concerns  of  Butte;  and  E.  Wilson  Johnston  was  for  a 
time  a resident  of  this  city,  whence  he  went  to  Jerome, 
Arizona,  as  a mining  engineer  in  the  employ  of  Senator 
William  A.  Clark,  and  there  he  lost  his  life  in  the 
caving  in  of  a mine. 

Alexpder  J.  Johnston  was  reared  to  adult  age  in 
his  native  town,  to  whose  public  schools  he  is  indebted 
for  his  early  educational  discipline,  which  was  supple- 
mented by  an  effective  course  in  . Chambersburg 
Academy,  at  Chambersburg,  Pennsylvania.  As  a youth 
he  gained  practical  experience  by  working  in  his  father’s 
banking  institution  and  in  the  sama  he  continued  to  be 
employed  the  greater  part  of  the  time  until  he  sought 
a new  field  of  endeavor  in  Montana,  of  which  state 
he  may  consistently  be  termed  a pioneer.  He  arrived 
in  Butte,  this  state,  on  the  i8th  of  November,  1876, 
as  a young  man  of  twenty-five  years,  and  on  the  follow- 
ing day  he  entered  the  employ  of  Senator  Clark,  with 
whose  interests  he  has  since  continued  to  be  actively 
identified.  His  first  employment  was  in  a subordinate 
position  in  a quartz  mill  and  after  a period  of  eight 
months  Senator  Clark  gave  him  a position  in  the  bank 
of  which  he  is  now  cashier.  He  began  at  the  foot  of 
the  ladder  and  won  his  advancement  through  ability, 
integrity  and  efficient  service.  He  came  into  the  Clark 
Bank  in  July,  1877,  and  passed  through  the  various 
.grades  of  promotion  until  he  was  given  his  present 
responsible  executive  position,  that  of  cashier,  of  which 
he  has  been  the  incumbent  since  July,  1887. 

Mr.  Johnston  has  not  only  figured  as  one  of  the 
enterprising  and  substantial  business  men  of  Butte  but 
has  also  been  known  as  one  of  the  loyal  and  public- 
spirited  citizens  of  the  state  of  his  adoption, — a com- 
monwealth in  whose  development  and  progress  he  has 
shown  the  deepest  interest.  Though  never  showing 
any  desire  to  enter  the  arena  of  so-called  practical 
politics,  he  accords  a staunch  allegiance  to  the  Demo-- 
cratic  party,  and  his  religious  faith  is  that  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic 
fraternity  and  holds  membership  in  the  Silver  Bow 
Club,  of  which  he  was  at  one  time  treasurer  and  in 
whose  fine  club  house  he  has  maintained  his  home 
for  the  past  several  years.  Mr.  Johnston  is  a popular 
factor  in  the  representative  social  activities  of  the  city. 
He  is  unmarried. 

Joseph  Weggenman,  the  secretary  and  treasurer 
of  the  Sanitary  Meat  Company  of  Helena  was  born  in 
that  city  on  St.  Valentine’s  day  of  the  centennial  year 
of  our  nation’s  independence.  When  he  had  finished  the 
public  school  course  at  Helena,  he  engaged  in  the  cigar- 
making trade  for  three  years.  He  was  then  identified 
with  Hinky  Brothers,  and  later  with  James  Blake,  learn- 
ing with  them  the  details  of  the  meat  business.  Siibse- 
ouentlv  he  became  the  manager  of  the  Helena  Packing 
Company.  After  a number  of  years  in  their  employ,  Mr. 
We.ggenman  went  into  business  with  Thomas  Moran  of 
the  Sanitary  Meat  Company,  a brief  description  of  which 
will  be  found  in  the  sketch  of  Mr.  Moran.  Mr.  Weggen- 
man’s  thorough  acquaintance  with  all  branches  of  the 
trade  has  been  of  inestimable  value  to  the  Sanitary  Com- 
pany, enabling  them  to  avail  themselves  of  the  ordinary 
methods  and  to  improve  upon  these  in  various  details. 
Mr.  Weggenman  is  one  who  possesses  not  only  energy 
but  initiative,  and  this  combination  has  brought  him  to 
the  front  in  his  undertakings.  A communicant  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  church,  he  is  a member  of  the  Knights 
of  Columbus,  and  evinces  his  loyalty  to  the  land  of  his 
ancestors  by  his  connection  with  the  Sons  of  Hermann. 


lx»- 


t 

1: 


•i 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1059 


He  supports  the  policies  of  the  Republican  party,  but  is 
not  prominent  in  political  affairs. 

Mr.  Weggenman’s  domestic  circle  includes  his  wife, 
Lile  (Hebert)  Weggenman,  and  their  four  children: 
Hebert,  Harold,  Vincent  and  Homer  Weggenman. 
Mrs.  Weggenman  is  also  a member  of  the  church  of 
Rome. 

As  has  been  intimated,  Mr.  Weggenman  is  of  German 
ancestry.  His  father  was  born  in  the  German  empire 
and  came  to  America  when  young.  He  was  one  of  the 
party  who  crossed  the  plains  with  Judge  Hilzer  in  the 
early  fifties,  starting  from  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  with  ox- 
teams.  The  long  journey  was  full  of  hardship  and 
perils  and  the  narty  suffered  severely  before  reaching 
Alder  Gulch.  The  elder  Weggenman  was  a blacksmith 
and  wagon-maker  by  trade,  and  in  the  new  settlement 
he  found  employment  at  the  forge,  where  the  chief  busi- 
ness was  the  shoeing  of  oxen.  He  did  not  confine  him- 
self to  working  in  iron,  however,  but  engaged  in  the 
search  for  gold.  When  the  rush  to  Blackfoot  camp 
occurred,  Mr.  Weggenman  joined  the  exodus  and  for 
five  years  worked  at  his  trade  and  sought  for  ore  in 
that  region.  His  mining  ventures  did  not  prove  success- 
ful, though  he  carried  on  operations  in  some  good 
territory.  It  was  he  who  built  the  first  quartz  mill  at 
Tucker’s  Gulch,  and  that  was  one  of  the  many  things 
which  impressed  upon  him  the  fact  that  there  is  always 
as  much  money  put  into  the  ground  as  is  ever  taken 
out  of  it — but  not  always  by  the  same  people.  After 
some  years  in  the  Blackfoot,  Mr.  Weggenman  came  to 
Helena  and  started  a general  blacksmithing  and  wagon 
works  plant.  This  proved  a success,  for  Mr.  Weggen- 
man was  a master  of  his  art  and  he  continued  at  this 
business  in  Helena  until  his  death  in  1884. 

Mr.  Weggenman  had  married  Miss  Gertrude  Ries- 
man,  an  Austrian  by  birth,  and  there  were  five  children 
by  his  marriage  with  her.  Besides  Joseph  of  this  sketch, 
who  is  the  fourth  in  point  of  age,  there  are  two  brothers 
and  two  sisters.  Louis  Weggenman  is  a shoe  merchant 
of  San  Diego,  California;  Oscar  is  employed  in  the 
post  office  at  Helena;  Gertrude  resides  in  St.  Paul,  and 
Matilda  is  Mrs.  James  Norris,  of  Helena.  The  mother 
married  Samuel  Dempster  of  San  Diego,  California, 
some  years  after  her  first  husband’s  death,  and  they 
resided  in  San  Diego.  Mr.  Dempster  died  in  1896. 
There  are.  two  children  of  the  second  marriage : Samuel 
Dempster  lives  in  Sweetgrass,  Montana,  while  Teiny  is 
at  home  with  her  parents  in  San  Diego. 

Mr.  Weggenman  is  the  son  of  a pioneer,  and  he  has 
acquitted  himself  in  a fashion  worthy  of  that  parentage 
in  the  comparatively  brief  time  he  has  been  in  the  com- 
mercial field.  He  is  still  a young  man,  though  estab- 
lished in  a substantial  institution,  and  his  acquaintances 
are  confident  that  he  is  only  well  started  upon  what  he 
will  achieve. 

Martin  A.  Wither.  One  of  the  leading  wagon  and 
carriage  manufacturers  of  Montana  is"  Martin  A.  Wit- 
mer,  a resident  of  Helena  since  1876,  and  for  many 
years  prominently  identified  with  the  civic  and  political 
life  of  his  city  and  state.  From  a small  beginning  Mr. 
W'.tmer  has,  by  the  wise  application  of  the  valuable 
business  instincts  which  were  his  inherent  possessions, 
together  with  the  thorough  technical  and  mechanical 
knowledge  of  a practical  carriage  and  wagon  maker, 
succeeded  in  building  up  a business  which  has  for  many 
years  represented  the  acme  of  success  in  his  line  of 
manufacturing.  He  has  been  prominent  in  affairs  per- 
taining to  the  government  of  his  city,  and  as  a member 
of  the  city  council  for  eight  years  has  been  able  to 
accomplish  much  for  the  welfare  of  the  city.  He  has 
also  represented  his  district  in  the  state  legislature  and 
in  that  capacity  ably  demonstrated  his  ability  as  a man 
of  action  in  that  respect. 

Martin  A.  Witmer  was  born  in  Ontario,  Canada, 
April  14,  1848,  and  he  is  the  son  of  Martin  Witmer, 

V 01.  11 — 1 4 


born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  who  died  in 
Ontario  in  1852  at  the  age  of  sixty  years.  In  his  early 
days  Martin  Witmer  was  a school  teacher  and  taught 
school  in  the  country  districts  for  some  time,  but  later 
was  engaged  at  farming,  which  he  followed  the  rest  of 
his  life.  He  finally  migrated  to  Ontario,  and  he  was 
one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  his  section  of  the  province 
in  which  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life.  The 
mother  of  Martin  A.  Witmer  was  Catherine  Rerdinar, 
born  in  Gennany  in  1812,  and  she  came  to  America  with 
her  parents  at  the  age  of  five  years.  She  died  in  1878 
at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years. 

The  early  education  of  Martin  A.  Witmer  was  not 
of  an  expansive  order,  but  such  as  he  received  came 
to  him  through  the  avenues  of  the  common  schools  of 
the  town  in  which  he  was  reared.  While  yet  in  his 
early  ’teens  he  secured  employment  as  an  apprentice 
to  James  Anderson  to  learn  the  trade  of  wagon  and 
carriage  building.  One  year  he  passed  in  careful  work 
with  this  firm,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  secured  a 
similar  position  with  James  Morgan,  Canada’s  leading 
wagon  and  carriage  builder.  The  training  of  an  appren- 
tice boy  in  Canada  at  the  time  of  Martin  Witmer’s 
youth  left  nothing  to  be  desired  in  the  way  of  careful 
and  thorough-going  training  and  mastery  of  all  the 
intricacies  and  details  of  skillful  work,  but  it  left  much 
to  be  imagined  in  the  matter  of  remuneration  for  ser- 
vices,— a striking  contrast  to  our  present  day  system 
of  paying  our  apprentices  a living  wage  from  the  be- 
ginning of  service,  and  increasing  his  wage  step  liy 
step  until  he  is  drawing  the  salary  his  trade  commands 
by  the  time  he  has  finished  his  apprenticeship.  Be  that 
as  it  may,  the  fact  remains  that  when  Martin  Witmer 
had  finished  his  apprenticeship  with  James  Morgan  he 
was  twenty-one  years  old  and  a skillful  wagon  and  car- 
riage maker.  He  was  thoroughly  qualified  to  make 
wagons  and  carriages  for  the  most  critical  people  in  the 
land,  and  since  that  time  he  has  been  demonstrating 
that  fact  with  the  utmost  success.  On  May  g,  1872,  his 
trade  completed,  he  decided  to  come  to  the  United 
States.  He  started  immediately,  and  his  first  stop  was 
at  Corrinne,  Utah,  where  he  secured  employment  with 
the  firm  of  Gilmore  & Salisbury,  operating  the  then 
famous  Continental  Stage  Line.  He  built  and  repaired 
stage  coaches  for  this  *firm  until  1876,  when  he  left 
their  employ  and  came  on  to  Helena,  then  a small  city 
of  a few  thousand  inhabitants.  His  first  position  was 
with  Charles  M.  Jeffreys  in  the  same  line  of  work,  and 
he  remained  with  Jeffreys  for  five  years.  At  that  time 
he  and  his  brother,  Joseph  R.  Witmer,  who  was  also 
proficient  in  the  same  trade,  bought  out  the  Jeffrey’s 
firm,  then  an  unpretentious  affair,  located  where  the 
Bailey  block  now  stands.  From  that  small  beginning 
they  have  developed  the  present  flourishing  concern, 
although  many  and  striking  have  been  the  changes  made 
in  their  quarters  since  that  time.  After  a few  years 
they  sold  the  original  site  at  a figure  which  was  then 
considered  phenomenal,  judging  from  the  prevailing 
market  on  real  estate,  and  purchased  the  corner  at 
Logan  and  Eighth,  their  present  site,  a large  factory 
building,  to  better  facilitate  the  carrying  on  of  the  ever- 
increasing  business.  Besides  his  valuable  piece  of  prop- 
erty Mr.  Witmer  is  the  owner  of  a considerable  amount 
of  Helena  realty,  which  he  regards  as  one  of  his  wisest 
investments,  believing  as  he  does  that  Helena  wjll  at 
no  far  distant  date  be  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading 
cities  of  the  northwest.  In  addition  to  these  properties 
he  is  the  owner  of  an  eight  hundred  acre  ranch  in 
Powell  county,  which  he  has  developed  into  one  of  the 
fine  ranch  properties  for  which  Montana  is  famous.  He 
has  a fine  dwelling  on  the  ranch  and  it  is  furnished 
with  every  possible  variety  of  barn  and  stable  that 
might  be  required  for  the  proper  housing  of  his  pos- 
sessions. He  has  a herd  of  several  hundred  head  of 
fine  cattle  and  horses,  and  the  ranch  is  carefully  man- 
aged by  an  experienced  rancher  in  his  employ. 


1060 


HISTORY  OF  ^lONTANA 


As  intimated  in  a previous  paragraph,  Mr.  Witmer 
has  not  been  slothful  in  regard  to  his  public  duty. 
He  has  served  Helena  long  and  faithfully  as  a member 
of  her  city  council,  and  has  to  his  credit  a record  of 
eight  years  of  service  in  the  capacity  of  councilman. 
He  also  served  in  the  state  legislature  in  igo8  as  a 
member  of  the  committee  on  mileage  and  per  diem, 
improvements  and  manufacturing,  labor  and  fish,  and 
game,  and  has  always  borne  a clean  and  honest  record 
for  fair  dealing  with  the  public  in  whatever  capacity  he 
might  be  called  upon  to  act  for  them.  He  is  a Republi- 
can in  his  political  affiliations,  always  true  to  the  inter- 
ests of  the  party  and  ardent  in  its  support.  He  is  an 
attendant  of  the  Congregational  church,  of  which  Mrs. 
Witmer  is  a member.  A great  nature  lover,  Air.  Wit- 
mer is  particularly  fond  of  hunting  and  fishing,  and 
on  the  rare  occasions  when  he  can  escape  from  the 
multiplicity  of  business  cares  which  rest  upon  him  he 
is  apt  to  indulge  himself  in  those  healthful  sports.  He 
is,  in  addition  to  his  many  other  business  interests,  the 
president  of  the  West  Side  Mercantile  Company,  a 
corporation  which  is  an  agreeable  source  of  revenue  to 
him. 

In  1878  Mr.  Witmer  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  E. 
Welden,  of  Corrinne,  Utah,  where  their  marriage  took 
place.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Witmer  are  both  members  of  the 
Order  of  the  Eastern  Star,  and  he  is  a member  of  King 
Solomon  Lodge,  F.  & A.  M.,  being  made  a master 
Mason  in  Springfield,  Ontario,  Canada,  soon  after  reach- 
ing his  majority. 

George  M.  Miles.  The  men  who  control  the  financial 
institutions  of  a community  are  usually  representative 
in  other  lines  of  activity,  having  engaged  in  banking 
after  a preliminary  business  training  which  has  proven 
their  possession  of  the  acumen,  judgment,  foresight  and 
knowledge  necessary  in  the  field  of  finances.  In  George 
M.  Miles,  president  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Miles 
City,  Montana,  is  found  a thoroughly  equipped  business 
man,  and  under  his  leadership  the  affairs  of  this  finan- 
cial institution  are  in  a very  prosperous  condition.  Mr. 
Miles  was  born  October  25,  1854,  at  Westminster,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  he  is  a son  of  Daniel  C.  and  Lucy  Ann 
(Puffer)  Miles. 

It  would  appear  that  the  Miles  family  originated  in 
Wales,  and  from  that  place,  in  1662,  came  Rev.  John 
Miles  to  the  American  colonies,  establishing  his  home 
at  Swansea,  Massachusetts.  He  was  evidently  a mili- 
tant preacher,  and  the  family  records  show  that  he 
served  through  King  Philip’s  war  and  possibly  in 
other  Indian,  uprisings.  One  of  his  descendants  who, 
with  an  inheritance  of  many  other  admirable  qual- 
ities, possessed  great  military  prowess,  is  one  of  the 
distinguished  citizens  of  the  United  States  today.  Ref- 
erence is  made  to  Gen.  Nelson  A.  Miles,  whose  nota- 
ble achievements  in  military  life  are  known  to  every 
school  boy  in  the  land,  and  who  was  at  one  time  com- 
mander-in-chief of  the  L^nited  States  army,  but  is  now 
retired.  This  eminent  soldier  is  an  uncle  of  George  M. 
Miles  of  Miles  City.  Daniel  C.  Miles,  the  father  of  the 
latter,  was  also  born  on  the  old  family  homestead  at 
Westminster,  Massachusetts  (June  S,  1827,  being  the 
date  of  his  birth),  and  he  has  spent  the  greater  portion 
of  his  life  in  his  native  section,  although  his  business 
interests  have  been  wide-spread,  including  a partner- 
ship with  his  son,  George  M.,  in  the  sheep  business  in 
Montana  in  1878.  He  was  president  of  the  Westminster 
National  Bank  and  was  formerly  a farmer  and  chair 
manufacturer,  also  being  connected  with  the  lumber 
industry.  He  died  on  February  22,  1912,  at  the  vener- 
able age  of  eighty-five  years.  For  seven  years  Mr.  Miles 
served  as  a United  States  bank  examiner,  and  through- 
out his  long  and  busy  life  was  a man  on  whom  his 
fellow  citizens  ever  relied  in  a business  way,  and  to 
whom  they  accorded  the  fullest  respect  and  esteem. 
He  was  a leading  member  of  the  Baptist  church  at 


Westminster,  and  for  man}'  years  was  identified  with 
the  Masonic  fraternity.  He  married  Lucy  Ann  Puffer, 
who  died  in  1864.  hive  children  were  born  to  them, 
three  sons  and  two  daughters,  namely;  Josie  M.,  now 
the  wife  of  Prof.  AI.  M.  Parker,  of  Pasadena,  Califor- 
nia; George  AI. ; Herbert  J.,  a resident  of  Clyde  Park, 
Montana;  Arthur  W.,  of  Livingston,  Alontana;  and" 
Gertrude,  who  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years. 

George  AI.  Aliles  attended  the  public  schools  of  West- 
minster and  Worcester,  Alassachusetts,  and  in  1875  was 
graduated  from  the  Alassachusetts  Agricultural  College 
at  Amherst.  In  the  following  year  he  came  to  iVIontana 
in  the  capacity  of  quartermaster's  clerk  with  the  Fifth 
Regiment  (Regulars)  commanded  by  his  uncle,  Gen. 
Nelson  A.  Aides.  His  first  place  of  residence  was  two 
miles  east  of  the  present  site  of  Aliles  (Aity.  It  was  not 
long  before  Mr.  Miles  received  the  great  opportunities 
then  offered  in  the  sheep  industry  and  he  interested  his 
father,  with  the  result  that  together  they  embarked  in 
the  business  in  Custer  county,  on  the  Yellowstone  river, 
being  the  first  wool  growers  in  this  great  wool  country, 
shipping  wool  out  by  boat  several  years  before  the 
railroad  came.  Later  he  went  into  the  cattle  business- 
and  continued  in  both  lines  for  many  years.  In  1880 
he  became  the  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Miles,  Stre- 
vell  & Ulmer,  dealing  in  hardware  and  having  stores  at 
Buffalo,  Wyoming,  and  at  Ogden,  Utah,  as  well  as  at 
Miles  City.  The  business  continued  thus  until  1892 
when  the  senior  and  junior  partners  took  over  Mr.  Stre- 
vell’s  interest,  the  firm  of  Miles  & Ulmer  becoming  an 
incorporated  company,  of  which  A'lr.  Aliles  was  made 
president.  In  1892  he  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
.First  National  Bank  of  Aliles  City,  of  which  Joseph 
Leighton  was  the  first  president.  Air.  Miles  and  John 
Carter  are  the  only  original  incorporators  who  yet 
remain  associated  with  the  bank.  Until  1907  Mr.  Miles 
served  as  vice  president,  and  in  that  year  he  was  elected 
president  of  the  bank,  an  office  which  he  still  continues 
to  fill.  The  First  National  Bank  does  an  immense 
volume  of  business,  sufficient  to  place  Aliles  City  third 
in  financial  importance  in  Montana — only  those  of  Butte 
and  Helena  exceeding  it.  In  1911  the  bank  took  posses- 
sion of  its  present  spacious  quarters,  the  new  building 
having  been  erected  with  due  regard  to  the  further 
expansion  of  the  bank  and  its  interests. 

The  officers  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Miles  City 
are : George  M.  Aliles,  president ; J.  M.  Holt,  vice  pres- 
ident; H.  B.  Wiley,  cashier;  W.  S.  Snell  and  H.  F.  Lee, 
assistant  cashiers.  The  board  of  directors  is  made  up 
of  the  following  capitalists : G.  M.  Aliles,  F.  C.  Robert- 
son, F.  H.  Connor,  John  Carter,  J.  M.  Holt,  Kenneth 
McLean,  S.  F.  Cale,  and  H.  B.  Wiley.  The  capital, 
surplus  and  profits  of  the  bank  are  $375,000,  with  depos- 
its of  $2,000,000. 

Air.  Miles  has  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was 
Miss  Helen  Strevill,  whom  he  married  on  December  22, 
1880.  She  was  born  at  Pontiac,  Illinois,  and  died  on 
July  9,  1887,  leaving  one  son,  Jason  D‘.  In  March,  1897, 
Mr.  Miles  married  Miss  Laura  Ritner,  a native  of  Phila- 
delphia, Pennsylvania,  and  they  had  three  daughters; 
Ruth  R.,  Helen  G.,  and  Mary  C. 

In  the  years  of  his  identification  with  Miles  City  Air. 
Miles  has  witnessed  many  changes  in  the  state,  and  it  is 
due  largely  to  men  of  his  type  that  these  changes  have 
been  beneficial  and  that  Alontana  has  forged  ahead,  and, 
young  as  she  is,  occupies  so  creditable  a position  among 
her  sister  states.  He  has  always  held  the  interests  of 
the  state  close  to  his  heart  and  has  been  especially  prom- 
inent in  his  activities  for  the  city  which  bears  his  name. 
At  a recent  brilliant  affair  held  at  the  Aliles  home  to- 
commemorate  the  first  settlement  of  the  city  thirty-si.x 
years  ago.  Air.  and  Airs.  Aliles  entertained  three  hun- 
dred guests.  Of  this  function  a Miles  City  paper  says^ 
“Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  M.  Miles  delightfully  entertained 
last  evening  with  a reception  at  their  pretty  home  on 
South  Lake  avenue.  The  affair  was  given  to  commemo- 


i 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1061 


rate  the  thirty-sixth  anniversary  of  the  settlement  of 
Miles  City.  Invitations  had  been  issued  for  some  four 
hundred  guests  who  were  received  between  the  hours 
of  eight  and  ten.  The  lawn  was  beautifully  decorated 
for  the  occasion  with  electricity  and  inside  the  home 
were  some  unique  adornments  suggesting  the  pioneer 
days.  A feature  was  a miniature  lake  with  real  sod  on 
its  banks  and  an  Indian  tepee  near. 

“During  the  evening  a five-piece  orchestra  discoursed 
sweet  music  and  a sumptuous  repast  was  served  the 
guests.  An  interesting  feature  of  the  evening  was  a 
large  collection  of  photographs,  souvenirs  and  other 
relics  which  Mr.  Miles  had  accumulated  during  his  long 
residence  in  this  section.  The  Hood  of  i88i  and  street 
scenes  of  1878  attracted  much  attention. 

“Mr.  Miles  came  to  this  section  years  ago.  He  has 
seen  it  grow  from  a mere  handful  of  people  who 
gathered  at  the  mouth  of  the  Tongue  river  in  the  first 
part  of  September,  1876,  when  Military  Post  No.  i was 
established,  to  the  prosperous  and  progressive  cit\^  of 
the  present  time.  He  has  watched  the  development  of 
the  great  northwest  and  has  seen  changes  in  this  part  of 
the  country  which  are  almost  unbelievable  in  their  far- 
reaching  character.  The  old  west,  as  Mr.  Miles  knew 
it,  is  practically  a memory  of  the  past,  and  in  its  place 
has  sprung  up  a new  civilization,  replete  with  advan- 
tages, luxuries  and  opportunities,  of  which  those  of  less 
than  a generation  ago  did  not  even  dream.” 

In  various  ways  Mr.  Miles  is  prominent  in  Custer 
county,  other  than  as  a financier.  In  the  early  eighties 
he  served  as  a member  of  the  board  of  county  commis- 
sioners, being  appointed  by  the  governor,  and  being  the 
first  United  States  commissioner  and  the  first  notary 
public  in  Custer  county.  During  his  service  in  public 
life  he  contributed  not  a little  to  the  expulsion  of  offi- 
cials who  were  fattening  at  the  public  expense.  He  has 
always  favored  public  spirited  enterprises  when  assured 
of  their  ultimate  usefulness  and  has  done  much  in  the 
way  of  establishing  public  utilities  in  Miles  City.  He 
has  been  secretary  of  the  Miles  City  Cemetery  Associa- 
tion for  twenty  years,  and  president  of  the  Young  Men’s 
Christian  Association  since  its  organization.  He  is 
president  of  both  the  Miles  City  Trust  & Realty  Com- 
pany and  the  Ekalaka  Telephone  Company  of  Miles 
City. 

Mr.  Miles  was  reared  in  the  Baptist  church,  but  as 
that  denomination  was  not  represented  in  Miles  City, 
he  united  with  the  Presbyterian  church,  in  which  in 
which  he  is  an  elder,  and  since  1878  he  has  been  super- 
intendent of  the  Sunday  school,  accepting  the  office 
when  the  school  was  first  organized,  and,  in  spite  of 
his  many  other  duties,  has  ever  since  continued  to  give 
of  his  time  and  attention  in  the  furtherance  of  its  work. 
He  is  a Mason  of  the  Knight  Templar  degree,  and  is 
identified  with  Yellowstone  Lodge  No.  26,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M. ; Miles  City  Chapter  No.  14,  R.  A.  M. ; and  Miles 
City  Commandery,  No.  ii,  Knights  Templar. 

Thomas  McGirl.  Presenting  as  it  does  a worthy 
example  to  the  rising  generation,  the  life  of  Thomas 
McGirl,  which  from  early  boyhood  has  been  one  of 
assiduous  industry,  untiring  energy  and  unquestioned 
integrity,  is  well  deserving  of  being  sketched,  how- 
ever briefly,  in  the  pages  of  this  volume.  Mr.  McGirl 
was  born  in  County  Leitrim,  Ireland,  in  November, 
1845,  and  is  a son  of  Patrick  and  Sarah  (McGovern) 
McGirl,  also  natives  of  the  Emerald  Isle,  the  former  of 
whom  died  when  Thomas  was  but  one  year  old. 

In  1848  Mr.  McGirl’s  mother  took  her  eight  small 
sons  to  the  United  States,  believing  that  there  were 
better  educational  facilities  in  the  new  world,  and  that 
she  could  give  her  children  more  opportunities  to  make 
a success  in  life.  Locating  first  at  Woonsocket,  Rhode 
Island,  in  18,^5  she  removed  to  Lexington,  Missouri, 
and  at  that  place  her  death  occurred  in  1878.  Thomas 
McGirl’s  education  was  secured  in  the  schools  of 


Woonsocket,  but  the  greater  part  of  his  tuition  was 
given  in  the  school  of  hard  work,  as  he  was  only  nine 
years  of  age  when  he  was  compelled  to  leave  the  school 
house  to  take  up  his  duties  as  a laborer  on  the  farm. 
In  April,  1863,  along  with  four  of  his  seven  brothers, 
he  enlisted  for  service  in  the  Union  army,  becoming  a 
member  of  the  Fifth  Regiment,  Missouri  Volunteer 
Infantry,  with  which  he  served  gallantly  until  the  close 
of  the  war.  In  1865  he  crossed  the  plains  from  Leaven- 
worth, Kansas,  to  Fort  Union,  New  Mexico,  but  during 
the  same  year  returned  to  his  old  Missouri  home,  and 
until  1873  was  engaged  in  farming  and  stockraising  in 
partnership  with  his  brother  James.  In  the  fall  of  that 
year  he  removed  to  Texas,  and  after  two  years  there 
went  to  Rock  Springs,  Wyoming,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed by  a bridge  construction  company  engaged  in 
erecting  the  Union  Pacific  bridges.  The  spring  of 
1876  saw  his  advent  into  Montana,  and  for  a year  he 
was  employed  in  the  Butte  mines,  but  on  May  20, 
1877,  located  homestead  and  pre-emption  claims  at 
Huntley,  near  the  old  Baker  battle  ground  on  the 
Yellowstone.  Here  he  and  his  partners  established  a 
stopping  and  trading  place,  and  built  a cable  ferry 
across  the  river.  In  1880  he  engaged  in  the  cattle 
business  and  during  the  next  two  years  supplied  the 
track  and  grading  forces  of  the  Northern  Pacific  with 
beef,  and  continued  to  operate  his  ferry  until  1884, 
from  which  time  until  his  retirement  he  gave  all  his 
attention  to  his  Huntley  ranch,  which  consisted  of 
1,400  acres,  and  produced  over  1,000  tons  of  alfalfa  a 
year.  An  able  and  industrious  ranchman,  he  developed 
one  of  the  finest  and  most  valuable  properties  in  the 
Yellowstone  valley,  and  became  one  of  the  leading 
and  substantial  citizens  of  his  locality.  While  residing 
on  his  ranch  he  was  a member  of  the  school  board,  and 
realizing  from  his  own  experiences  the  handicap  of  a 
lack  of  educational  training,  devoted  a great  deal  of 
attention  to  improving  the  public  school  system.  In 
1905  Mr.  McGirl  sold  his  ranch  and  moved  to  Billings, 
where  he  has  since  made  his  residence  at  the  Young 
Men’s  Christian  Association,  of  which  he  is  a liberal 
supporter.  Each  year  he  has  devoted  a certain  length 
of  time  to  travel,  and  he  now  spends  his  winters  in 
California^  although  the  winter  of  igii-12  found  him 
in  Hawaii.  Mr.  McGirl  has  been  very  prominent  in 
Masonry,  belonging  to  Ashlar  Lodge,  No.  29,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M. ; Billings  Cliapter,  No.  6,  R.  A.  M. ; Aldemar 
Commandery,  No.  5,  K.  T.,  and  Algeria  Temple,  of 
Helena.  He  was  one  of  the  most  liberal  contributors 
to  the  building  fund  of  the  beautiful  Masonic  Temple 
in  Billings  in  1910  and  was  deeply  gratified  when  its 
building,  in  the  same  year,  was  an  accomplished  fact. 
In  political  matters  Mr.  McGirl  is  a Republican,  but 
he  has  never  been  desirous  of  holding  public  office. 
As  an  honored  veteran  of  the  great  Civil  war,  Mr,  Mc- 
Girl is  a popular  comrade  of  William  McKinley  Post, 
No.  28,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  He  has  nev^er 
married. 

Charles  R.  Watkins.  The  raising  of  sheep  has 
enlisted  the  activities  of  a number  of  the  foremost  citi- 
zens of  the  Yellowstone  valley,  and  among  them  one 
who  has  achieved  success  in  this  line  and  has  been 
a participant  in  the  struggles  between  the  cattlemen 
and  the  sheep  raisers  of  the  early  days  is  Charles  R. 
Watkins,  who  now  has  large  holdings  in  this  industry, 
although  he  makes  his  home  in  Billings.  Mr.  Watkins 
was  born  in  Iowa  county,  Iowa,  May  ii,  1858,  and  is  a 
son  of  William  J.  and  Sarah  Jane  (Hudson)  Watkins, 
natives  respectively  of  Virginia  (now  West  Virginia) 
and  Indiana. 

William  J.  Watkins  removed  from  his  native  state 
to  Henry  county,  Indiana,  and  from  there  to  Iowa 
county,  Iowa,  in  1850,  and  at  the  latter  place 
engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising,  as  well 
as  in  the  manufacture  of  brick,  in  which  industry 


1062 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


he  was  a pioneer  in  that  section.  In  1882  he  took 
up  his  residence  at  Creighton,  Knox  county,  Nebraska, 
but  after  seven  or  eight  years  spent  in  farming  and 
cattle  raising  returned  to  Iowa,  and  spent  his  last 
days  in  Keokuk,  where  his  death  occurred  in  1900, 
when  he  had  reached  the  age  of  seventy-six  years.  His 
wife,  wlio  was  also  seventy-six  years  old  at  the  time 
of  her  death,  passed  away  in  1902,  and  they  had  a 
family  of  ten  sons  and  two  daughters,  six  sons  stilt 
surviving.  William  J.  Watkins  identified  himself  witli 
Masonry  in  early  manhood  and  continued  a prominent 
Mason  throughout  his  life.  In  politics  he  was  a strong 
Jacksonian  Democrat. 

Charles  R.  Watkins  was  the  seventh  in  order  of 
birth  of  his  parents’  children,  and  his  boyhood  days 
were  spent  under  the  parental  roof.  Like  other  farm- 
ers’ boys  of  his  day,  he  spent  the  winter  months  in 
attending  the  district  schools,  while  in  the  summer 
he  assisted  in  the  work  of  the  home  farm.  At  the 
age  of  ei.ghteen  years  he  left  home  and  started  out  to 
make  his  own  way  in  the  world,  and  after  spending 
some  time  in  working  cattle  in  Colorado,  came  over- 
land to  Virginia  City,  Montana,  and  a few  months 
later  moved  on  to  Bozeman.  In  March,  1882,  he  made 
a visit  to  the  Judith  country,  and  after  a short  stay 
settled  in  Custer  (now  Yellowstone)  county,  where  he 
engaged  in  the  cattle  business,  shipping  extensively 
to  the  Chicago  and  Omaha  markets.  In  1898  Mr. 

Watkins  retired  from  the  cattle  business,  sold  his 
interests  and  became  the  first  sheep  raiser  near  Cody, 
in  the  Big  Horn  Basin,  thereby  incurring  the  enmity 
of  the  cattle  raisers,  who  finally  raided  his  flock  and 
drove  liim  from  the  business.  Subsequently,  however, 
a settlement  was  effected,  the  cattle  raisers  being  com- 
pelled to  remunerate  him  for  his  loss,  and  he  continued 
in  the  business  until  1909,  when  he  sold  the  greater  part 
of  his  herds  and  came  to  Billings.  He  still  carries  on 
the  business  to  some  extent,  however,  and  has  400 
acres  of  land  in  Clark's  Fork  valley,  on  one  of  the 
lines  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad,  nine  miles  from 
Billings,  and  between  Bridger  and  Belfry.  He  is  an 
excellent  business  man  and  has  various  interests  in 
Billings,  where  his  residence  is  located  at  No.  212  North 
Thirtieth  street.  He  was  made  a Mason  in  Farmers 
Lodge,  No.  128,  in  Iowa  county,  Iowa,  and  now  holds 
membership  in  Billings  Chapter,  No.  6,  R.  A.  M. ; 
Aldemar  Commandery,  No.  5,  K.  T.,  and  Algeria 
Temple,  Helena.  In  political  matters  he  is  a Republi- 
can, but  he  has  never  sought  nor  cared  for  public 
preferment. 

On  July  I,  1883,  Mr.  Watkins  was  married  to  Miss 
Annie  Garrett,  who  was  born  at  Portsmouth,  New 
Hampshire,  and  she  died  August  15,  1893,  having  had 
three  children,  namely : Ray  G.,  Mary  L.  and  Beulah 
G.,  all  living  in  Billings. 

Henry  A.  Frith.  In  the  early  days  of  the  west  the 
more  favored  districts  drew  to  themselves  the  men  of 
greatest  ambition,  foresight  and  sagacity.  These  sought 
the  fields  that  held  out  to  them  the  most  in  the  way 
of  promise  for  the  future,  and  settling  there  bent  their 
energies  to  laying  the  foundation  of  prosperity  for  them- 
selves and  their  posterity.  Thus  it  is  that  the  Yellow- 
stone valley  was  fortunate  in  its  pioneers.  They  were 
not  only  of  sturdy  stock  fit  to  endow  their  descendants 
with  the  physical  strength  to  build  up  a great  com- 
munity, but  they  were  also  above  the  average  in  mental 
grasp  and  moral  fibre.  They  were  able  to  discern  the 
opportunities  which  the  region  held  forth,  and  possessed 
the  sound  judgment,  ability  and  courage  to  direct  these 
to  their  full  fruition.  One  of  the  early  settlers  of  the 
Yellowstone  valley,  and  now  a leading  member  of  the 
legal  profession,  is  Henry  A.  Frith,  of  Billings,  who  is 
serving  his  seventh  term  as  referee  in  bankruptcy  for  the 
fifth  district  of  the  state.  The  adyentures  which  have 
been  crowded  into  Mr.  Frith's  life  make  his  biography 


seem  more  like  fiction,  and  a number  of  sections  have 
at  various  times  claimed  him  as  resident,  but  throughT 
out  his  career  his  aim  has  been  ever  upward,  and  today 
there  is  no  more  honored  member  of  the  Montana  bar. 

Born  in  bonny  Scotland,  in  the  busy  city  of  Edin- 
burgh, Henry  A.  Frith  comes  of  a fine  old  Scotch  family. 
His  parents  were  Henry  A.  and  Christina  (Monroe) 
Frith,  and  from  the  former,  who  was  a caricaturist,  he 
inherited  some  talent  for  drawing,  and  when  he  was  only 
eleven  years  of  age  began  to  learn  heraldic  painting  and 
japanning,  devoting  his  attention  thereto  for  two  years. 
Subsequently  he  served  an  apprenticeship  of  seven 
years  in  lithographic  printing,  the  last  year  in  London, 
and  was  also  for  two  years  connected  with  the  artillery 
division  of  the  Scottish  militia  in  Edinburgh.  During 
the  spring  of  1868,  Mr.  Frith  left  his  native  country  for 
the  United  States  and  after  landing  in  New  York  was 
for  six  months  employed  as  a lithographic  printer.  He 
then  went  to  Washington,  D.  C.,  where  he  enlisted  in 
the  Twenty-ninth  United  States  Infantry,  which  subse- 
quently became  the  Eleventh  United  States  Infantry, 
and  the  regiment  was  sent  to  Texas,  where  it  was  en- 
gaged in  keeping  order  during  the  reconstruction  period. 
After  securing  his  honorable  discharge,  Mr.  Frith  be- 
came associated  with  the  semi-military  organization 
known  as  the  State  Police  of  Texas,  under  Governor 
Davis,  and  was  in  the  division  commanded  by  Adjutant- 
General  Davidson.  In  this  service  he  was  wounded  sev- 
eral times  and  had  many  thrilling  experiences  and  nar- 
row escapes  from  death.  On  one  occasion  he  was 
nearly  lynched,  and  it  was  only  through  the  quick  action 
of  the  sheriff  and  several  of  his  deputies,  assisted  by  a 
number  of  the  leading  business  men.  that  his  life  was 
spared.  Unknown  to  Mr.  Frith,  the  mayor  and  city 
marshal  of  Hearne,  Robertson  county,  had  been  at- 
tacked and  driven  into  the  mayor’s  office  where  they 
barricaded  themselves  against  three  desperate  men  bent 
on  murder.  Mr.  Frith  chanced  to  sit  down  in  front  of 
the  mayor’s  office  when  one  of  the  desperadoes  drew 
a revolver  on  him.  Mr.  Frith  managed  to  knock  this 
out  of  his  hand  but  was  severely  wounded  by  the  re- 
volver of  another  of  the  trio,  while  the  third  attacked 
and  wounded  him  with  a knife.  Before  they  had  over- 
powered him  Mr.  Frith  shot  one  of  the  party,  and  he 
then  consented  to  be  confined  in  jail.  It  was  during 
the  night  that  Mr.  Frith  came  near  being  lynched.  Sub- 
sequently he  was  taken  to  the  county  seat  and  there 
released  and  he  remained  in  the  service  for  another 
year,  resigning  in  i8~’2  to  teach  a negro  school,  where 
he  was  compelled  to  sit  all  day  with  a large  revolver  on 
the  desk  at  his  side  to  guard  him  from  attack,  his  life 
having  been  threatened  time  and  again. 

After  teaching  for  about  a year,  Mr.  Frith  returned 
to  the  western  part  of  the  state  and  reenlisted  in  his 
old  regiment  and  company,  and  during  1873-1874  served 
for  six  months  in  the  field  under  General  McKenzie, 
against  the  Indians.  In  1875  he  was  under  A.  W. 
Greeley,  of  Arctic  fame,  then  attached  to  the  signal 
corps,  and  remained  in  Texas  until  the  time  of  the 
Custer  massacre,  when  the  regiment  was  ordered  to 
Montana  and  stationed  at  Standing  Rock  during  the 
winter  of  1876-77.  The  regiment  participated  in  the 
disarming  of  the  Sioux,  and  in  the  following  spring 
proceeded  into  what  is  now  Custer  couqty,  where  it 
established  Forts  Keough  and  Custer  under  General 
Miles.  Mr.  Frith  was  present  when  this  general  inter- 
cepted the  Bannack  Indians  while  en  route  to  the  Yel- 
lowstone National  Park,  in  the  fall  of  1877,  and  they 
encountered  eighty  Bannacks  at  what  is  now  known 
as  Bennett  Creek,  named  in  honor  of  Captain  Bennett 
who  was  killed  in  this  fight.  The  Indians  were  en- 
trenched on  this  creek  and  at  early  dawn  the  troops 
surprised  and  opened  fire  on  the  savages,  capturing 
thirty-six  of  them  and  all  of  the  horses,  and  the  pris- 
oners were  brought  to  Fort  Custer.  Mr.  Frith  there 
secured  a three  months’  furlough,  at  which  time  he  lo- 


<2>. 


t 


I 


ts. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1063 


catcd  a United  States  homestead  near  Huntley,  Yellow- 
stone county,  and  at  the  expiration  of  his  furlough  was 
honorably  discharged  and  engaged  in  ranching  on  his 
property,  also  conducting  a general  store  near  Huntley. 

In  1879  when  the  Yogo  mines  were  discovered,  Mr. 
Frith  went  over  to  the  Judith  river  and  devoted  his 
attention  to  mining  operations  and  general  merchan- 
dising one  year,  during  this  time  being  deputy  recorder 
of  Yogo  mining  district.  In  the  winter  of  1880,  Mr. 
Frith  established  a winter  trading  post  and  built  the  first 
house  and  stockade  on  the  north  side  of  the  lower 
Musselshell  river,  returning  to  Huntley  in  the  spring 
and  going  again  to  Musselshell  for  the  winter_  and  then 
coming  again  to  Huntley  to  look  after  his  business  dur- 
ing the  following  summer. 

In  1892  Mr.  Frith  commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the 
Sprague  Correspondence  School  of  Law,  of  Detroit, 
Michigan,  and  after  disposing  of  his  Huntley  interests, 
in  1894,  he  matriculated  in  the  Kent  College  of  Law, 
at  Chicago,  completing  a thorough  course  and  grad- 
uating in  the  class  of  1896.  He  then  obtained  permis- 
sion to  practice  in  all  the  courts  of  Illinois,  and  returned 
to  Montana,  in  the  courts  of  which  state  he  was  admit- 
ted to  practice  in  June  of  the  same  year.  He  at  once 
opened  an  office  in  Billings,  and  is  now  located  in  the 
First  National  Bank  building.  He  is  now  serving  his 
seventh  term  as  United  States  referee  in  bankruptcy 
for  the  fifth  district  of  the  state,  to  which  office  he  was 
first  appointed  June  23,  1899. 

Mr.  Frith  married  Helen  G.  Miller,  in  Anaconda, 
Montana,  on  the  24th  of  April,  1905.  Mrs.  Frith  is  a 
charming  woman,  of  considerable  intellectual  gifts  and 
is  president  of  the  Woman’s  Club  of  Billings,  as  well  as 
being  prominent  in  the  social  affairs  of  the  city. 

Mr.  Frith  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Pioneers’ 
Association  of  eastern  Montana,  of  which  he  has  been 
the  secretary  since  its  inception.  iMr.  Frith’s  immediate 
success  in  his  chosen  profession  proved  him  to  be  an 
able  lawyer  and  his  rise  has  been  rapid.  He  possesses 
a keen  and  analytical  mind  and  a broad  and  compre- 
hensive mental  vision,  enabling  him  to  grasp  the  funda- 
mental and  basic  elements  of  the  subject  under  consid- 
eration. He  has  served  as  counsel  in  some  very  im- 
portant litigation,  and  his  superior  merit  has  obtained 
the  recognition  that  it  deserves.  Ever  since  taking  up 
the  practice  of  law  in  Billings  and  making  his  _ resi- 
dence here,  he  has  been  constant  and  untiring  in  his  en- 
deavor to  promote  the  city’s  best  interests  _ and  has 
given  his  support  to  all  measures  for  the  public  benefit. 
In  political  matters  he  is  an  independent,  and  although 
for  fifteen  years  his  sympathies  have  been  with  Demo- 
cratic principles,  he  has  on  various  occasions  exercised 
the  right  to  give  his  support  to  the  candidates  whom 
he  deems  best  fitted  for  the  office. 

John  E.  D.vwson  has  been  identified  with  com- 
mercial enterprises  in  one  capacity  or  another  since 
his  boyhood,  and  has  acquired  a thorough  knowledge 
of  the  business,  which  has  made  possible  the  high 
standing  he  bears  in  mercantile  circles  in  Glasgow 
and  Valley  county.  In  addition  to  the  prestige  which 
his  business  operations  have  brought  to  him,  Mr.  Daw- 
son is  further  honored  in  that  he  is  mayor  of  his  city, 
having  been  elected  to  the  office  in  1909  and  re-elected 
to  succeed  himself  in  1911.  That  he  has  further  evi- 
denced his  ability  in  executive  capacities  is  an  accepted 
fact  in  Glasgow,  and  he  is  known  for  one  of  the  most 
valuable  citizens  in  the  community. 

Air.  Dawson  is  a native  product  of  the  state  of 
A'lontana,  born  on  the  27th  day  of  December,  1876, 
at  Boulder,  Montana.  He  is  the  son  of  Thomas  and 
Alary  (Smith)  Dawson.  The  father  was  a pioneer  of 
Last  Chance  Gulch,  and  an  early  stock  raiser  of 
Boulder  vallev,  and  is  now  living  in  Boulder,  Alon- 
tana.  The  wife  and  mother  was  a native  of  Wisconsin 
and  was  one  of  the  first  students  to  attend  St.  Vincent’s 


Academy  at  Helena.  Four  sons  were  born  to  them. 
William  W.,  the  eldest,  is  a stock  raiser  and  horse- 
man in  Boulder  valley;  Thomas  F.  is  connected  with 
the.  Great  Northern  Railroad  Company,  and  is  located 
at  Hinsdale,  Alontana ; Peter  J.  remains  with  his  par- 
ents at  Boulder,  and  John  E.,  of  this  review,  resident 
of  Gla.sgow. 

After  completing  the  curriculum  of  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  town,  John  Dawson  attended  the  state 
college  at  Bozeman,  Alontana,  specializing  in  a course 
in  commercial  study.  In  1896  he  began  his  first  work 
as  a clerk  with  the  Hennessy  Alercantile  Company 
of  Butte,  with  which  firm  he  remained  for  one  year, 
then  accepting  a similar  position  with  Case,  Gravell  & 
Erwin  Company,  also  of  Butte,  and  he  remained  with 
that  firm  until  1900.  In  that  year  he  left  them  to 
take  a more  responsible  and  lucrative  position  as  de- 
partment manager  for  Thomas  O’Hanlan  Company 
of  Chinook,  and  he  continued  with  that  firm  for  a period 
of  six  years.  He  next  came  to  Glasgow  to  take  charge 
of  a department  for  the  Lewis-Wedum  Company,  his 
association  with  that  firm  beginning  in  the  spring  of 
1906.  In  the  autumn  of  the  same  year  Air.  Dawson 
acquired,  by  purchase,  an  interest  in  the  firm,  and  he 
has  since  continued  as  one  of  the  partners,  his  previous 
wide  experience  and  his  well  developed  natural  abili- 
ties in  merchandising  making  him  a valuable  addition 
to  the  personnel  of  the  firm. 

Air.  Dawson  has  always  been  a public-spirited  man, 
taking  a hearty  and  genuine  interest  in  all  civic  mat- 
ters, and  not  denying  a share  of  his  time  and  atten- 
tion to  matters  of  a public  nature.  In  that  respect, 
while  a resident  of  Chinook,  Air.  Dawson  served  that 
city  as  a member  of  the  council,  and  since  his  residence 
in  Glasgow  has  acted  in  a similar  capacity,  in  addition 
to  which  he  has  so  far  proved  himself  a part  of  Glas- 
gow and  her  interests  that  he  has  been  twice  elected 
to  the  mayoralty  of  the  city,  as  mentioned  in  a pre- 
vious paragraph.  On  the  whole,  his  life  in  this  com- 
munity has  been  thus  far  one  of  the  greatest  useful- 
ness, and  Glasgow  recognizes  in  him  one  of  her  worth- 
iest citizens.  Mr.  Dawson  is  a democrat  and  is  active 
and  prominent  in  local  politics.  He  is  invariably  to  be 
found  oresent  at  the  county  conventions  of  the  party, 
his  prominence  in  business  circles  being  not  less  marked 
than  his  popularity  in  political  and  social  affairs.  His 
circle  of  friends  is  coincident  with  that  of  his  acquaint- 
ances, and  he  is  one  of  the  most  widely  known  men 
in  the  state. 

In  1902  Air.  Dawson  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Aliss  Alamie  J.  Ross,  a native  of  Nova  Scotia.  She 
is  the  daughter  of  George  Ross,  a pioneer  farmer  of 
Alilk  river  valley  and  a man  of  no  little  prominence 
in  that  section  of  the  country.  Air.  and  Mrs.  Daw- 
son are  the  parents  of  one  child,  Edwin  Kenneth  Daw- 
son. 

Joseph  Wesley  Crowell  was  born  in  Alontana,  has 
always  lived  in  this  state,  and  intends  to  die  in  it, 
in  due  time,  being  still  a young  man.  Helena  was  his 
native  city,  and  he  was  born  in  the  historic  year  of 
1876,  on  June  19.  His  father,  Joseph  Wesley  (Ilrowell, 
Sr.,  was  an  Ohioan,  born  at  Cincinnati,  and  he  began 
his  venturous  career  in  the  year  of  1840.  He  moved 
to  Nebraska  in  time  to  join  the  volunteers  from  that 
state  in  the  Civil  war,  in  which  he  served  during  the 
whole  four  years.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  was 
married  to  Hannah  Lundwall,  who  had  come  to  Amer- 
ica from  Sweden  at  the  age  of  seven  with  her  parents, 
Henry  and  Hannah  Lundwall.  The  family  settled  in 
Omaha,  and  Henry  Lundwall  also  served  in  the  Civil 
war  and  was  wounded  while  in  action.  There  were 
fourteen  children  born  to  Air.  and  Airs.  Crowell,  seven 
daughters  and  seven  sons,  Joseph  W.  being  the  tenth 
in  point  of  age.  Air.  Crowell,  Sr.,  came  to  Alontana 
in  1862  with  a bunch  of  government  horses.  He  first 


lOGi 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


stopped  at  Corinne,  went  from  there  to  Bannack  City, 
then  to  Bozeman  and  finally  to  Helena,  where  he  is 
still  living.  His  wife  died  in  Bozeman  at  the  age  of 
eighty-two  and  is  buried  there.  Her  father  died  from 
the  effects  of  the  wound  received  in  the  war  and 
was  buried  in  Omaha.  Ever  since  coming  to  Mon- 
tana, Mr.  Crowell  has  followed  mining,  and  though 
not  now  actively  engaged  in  that  occupation,  he  still 
lias  interests  in  it. 

Joseph  W.  Crowell,  Jr.,  spent  most  of  the  first 
twenty  years  of  his  life  in  Helena,  receiving  his  edu- 
cation in  the  schools  of  that  city.  From  Helena  he 
went  to  Havre,  where  he  engaged  in  the  business  which 
he  had  followed  in  his  native  city.  In  Helena  he  had 
worked  for  a bill  posting  company,  and  when  he  moved 
to  Havre  he  went  into  the  same  line  of  business,  but 
this  time  for  himself.  As  division  point  of  the  Great 
Northern  Railway,  the  city  furnished  a good  field 
for  the  theatrical  and  bill-posting  enterprise,  and  Mr. 
Crowell  remained  in  this  town  for  seven  years,  and 
in  that  time  had  saved  up  $5,000.  Unfortunately,  he 
was  acting  as  his  own  banker  and  safe  deposit  guar- 
dian, a trunk  representing  the  safe.  A fire  destroyed 
the  building,  and  the  trunk  with  it.  Fire  protection 
was  inadequate  in  that  place,  and  it  was  impossible  to 
rescue  anything. 

It  was  exceedingly  discouraging  to  see  the  fruits  of 
his  seven  years’  toil  go  up  in  smoke,  but  Mr.  Crowell 
is  a real  Montanian,  and  felt  that  the  only  thing  to 
do  when  he  had  lost  his  money  was  to  get  busy  and 
make  some  more.  Accordingly,  be  came  to  Butte  in 
1897  and  took  charge  of  the  Montana  Bill- Posting- 
Company  under  Charles  Schatzlein.  Since  that  time 
Mr.  Crowell  has  been  continuously  in  this  city,  and 
in  the  employ  of  the  same  concern.  When  he  took 
charge  of  the  business  the  company  had  only  wooden 
boards,  but  now  they  have  supplied  themselves  with 
steel  ones.  Under  Mr.  Crowell’s  management  the  busi- 
ness has  been  built  up  to  one  of  the  finest  in  the  west, 
and  theatrical  agents  declare  that  they  get  better  serv- 
ice here  than  in  many  of  the  great  cities.  This  is  not 
surprising,  as  Mr.  Crowell  has  devoted  his  entire  time 
to  this  business,  and  he  brings  to  it  characteristic 
Montana  initiative.  Another  of  Mr.  Crowell’s  inter- 
ests is  as  advertising  manager  of  the  Broadway  The- 
ater, the  leading  play  house  of  the  city. 

In  politics  the  Republican  party  receives  his  support, 
and  also  his  active  interest.  He  is  a strong  factor 
in  the  local  organization  and  is  well  known  in  the 
councils  of  the  party.  In  the  fraternal  orders  he  be- 
longs to  the  Woodmen  of  the  World.  Both  he  and 
Mrs.  Crowell  are  members  of  the  Methodist  church, 
and  loyal  supporters  of  all  its  enterprises. 

Mrs.  Crowell  was  formerly  Miss  Dora  Springel, 
of  this  city.  Her  father  is  Mr.  Jacob  Springel,  who 
conducts  a ladies’  tailoring  establishment  in  Butte. 
Miss  Springel  was  born  in  Chicago,  but  came  to  Butte 
when  a child  and  has  grown  up  here.  She  was  mar- 
ried to  Mr.  Crowell  in  igo8,  and  they  have  one  child, 
Rosa,  now  two  years  of  age.  Mr.  Crowell  is  a self- 
made  man  in  the  truest  sense  of  the  word  and  he 
has  every  reason  to  take  pride  in  his  achievements. 

Albert  J.  Galen.  One  of  the  distinguished  lawyers 
of  the  state,  Albert  J.  Galen,  attorney  general  of  Mon- 
tana, is  in  truest  sense  indigenous  to  this  common- 
wealth. He  is  the  son  of  one  of  the  powerful,  sturdy 
pioneers  who  laid  the  paths  straight  and  clean  for 
present  day  progress  and  prosperity.  His  father,  an 
Irishman  in  point  of  nativity,  cast  his  fortunes  with 
Montana  many  years  before  it  was  admitted  to  state- 
hood; played  an  important  part  in  the  vigorous  life 
of  the  new  country  and  died  wealthy  and  widely 
known.  His  qualities  of  courage,  determination  and 
magnificent  executive  ability  have  been  transmitted  to 
his  son,  the  subject,  who  stands  an  ornament  to  his 


profession,  as  well  as  one  of  Montana’s  most  valued 
public  officials  and  a commanding  figure  in  the  affairs 
of  tne  Republican  party. 

Mr.  Galen  was  born  on  a ranch  near  Three  Forks 
Jefferson  county,  Montana,  just  at  the  head  of  the 
Alissouri  river,  the  date  of  his  birth  being  January  16 

JO/O.  ’ 

The  Honorable  Air.  Galen  received  his  education 
of  a preliminary  character  in  the  parochial  and  public 
schools  of  Helena.  In  September,  1889,  he  entered 
JNotre  Dame  University  at  South  Bend,  Indiana,  as 
a student  in  the  preparatory  department  and  in  ’due 
time  entered  the  college  proper.  Flaving  come  to  the 
decision  to  become  identified  with  the  legal  profession 
he  matriculated  in  the  law  department  of  that  institu- 
tion and  was  graduated  with  the  degree  of  LL.  B.  with 
the  class  of  1896,  being  admitted  to  the  bar  of  the 
state  of  Indiana.  Fie  tlien  entered  the  University  of 
Michigan  at  Ann  Arbor  and  took  a special  course  in 
law,  the  next  year  receiving  a degree  from  that  univer- 
Mty  and  being  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Michigan  in  1897. 
Fie  returned  to  Montana  in  August  of  that  year  and 
was  admitted  to  practice  before  the  supreme  court  of 
Montana  and  also  before  the  federal  courts  of  this 
state.  He  thereupon  entered  formally  into  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  in  Helena.  Fie  was  admitted 
to  practice  before  the  United  States  supreme  court 
at  Washington,  D.  C.,  in  June,  1897.  His  attainments 
were  from  the  first  recognized  as  of  paramount  excel- 
lence and  his  election  in  November,  1904,  as  attorney 
general  was  a most  appropriate  circumstance,  and  his 
services  were  of  such  character  that  they  received  the 
eloquent  approval  of  re-election  in  November,  1908, 
his  term  to  expire  January,  1913. 

Mr.  Galen  since  earliest  voting  days  has  given  hand 
and  heart  to  the  Republican  party  and  has  ever  been 
ready  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  bring  about  its  suc- 
cess. He  is  an  active^  worker  in  national,  state  and 
local  affairs  and  very  influential  in  party  councils. 

Mr.  Galen  was  married  in  Helena,  February  2,  1898, 
the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Ethelene  Bennett, 
daughter  of  Willard  Bennett,  a native  of  Ontario,  Can- 
ada. They  share  their  home,  which  is  modest  though 
hospitable,  in  Helena,  and  is  presided  over  by  a mis- 
tress of  unusual  social  grace,  with  one  son,  James  A. 
Galen,  born  in  Helena,  Alay  5,  1902.  Their  residence 
is  at  609  Spruce  street. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Galen  is  a member  of  the  Benev- 
olent and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  the  Woodmen  of 
the  World,  and  the  Montana  Club  of  Helena. 

Charles  A.  Burg.  A man  who  both  as  a public 
official  and  as  a prominent  citizen  has  been  an  impor- 
tant figure  in  molding  the  municipal  history  of  Living- 
ston, Montana,  is  Charles  A.  Burg,  for  fifteen  years 
postmaster,'‘durlng  which  time  he  has  rendered  the  city 
excellent  service  and  has  been  largely  irfstrumental  in 
inaugurating  and  carrying  forward  movements  for  the 
benefit  of  the  postal  system.  Mr.  Burg  was  born  at 
Frankfort-on-the-Main,  Germany,  January  8,  1849,  and 
is  a son  of  Mayer  and  Mary  Ernestine  (Boss)  Burg, 
natives  of  the  Fatherland.  His  father,  who  owned  a 
large  tannery,  was  extensively  engaged  in  contracting 
for  the  German  government,  and  became  one  of  the 
prominent  business  men  of  his  province.  He  and  his 
wife  were  faithful  members  of  the  Hebrew  church,  and 
were  the  parents  of  five  sons,  of  whom  two  survive : 
Charles  A. ; and  Ludwig,  the  latter  a resident  of  New 
York  City. 

Charles  A.  Burg  was  given  the  advantages  of  a mili- 
tary education,  first  attending  a school  at  Marienwerder, 
and  subsequently  going  to  the  artillery  academy  at 
Neisse.  He  was  twenty  years  of  age  when  he  came  to 
the  United  States,  and,  finding  his  funds  very  low  on 
reaching  New  York  Citjq  worked  for  a time  in  a brick 
yard,  thus  earning  the  means  with  which  to  travel  to 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1065 


St.  Anthony  (now  East  Minneapolis).  Minnesota.  He 
was  there  employed  by  Capt.  S.  S.  Brown  and  for  a 
short  time  worked  in  the  lumber  woods, _ but  subse- 
quently went  to  St.  Paul  to  accept  a position ^ in  the 
United  States  quartermaster's  office,  for  which  his 
early  training  had  qualified  him,  but  in  1872  removed 
to  Bismarck,  North  Dakota,  and  later  engaged  in 
operating  a wood  yard  on  the  Missouri  river.  In  Au- 
gust. 1876,  he  located  on  the  present  site  of  Miles  City, 
and  during  the  winter  of  1876-7  was  employed  in  cut- 
ting wood  for  the  United  States  government,  but  re- 
tired from  that  occupation  to  associate  ^ himself  with 
Capt.  Charles  Savage,  who  was  engaged  in  the  general 
merchandise  business.  Mr.  Burg  continued  in  this  line 
until  1882,  in  which  year  he  removed  to  Clark  City, 
now  Livingston,  arriving  here  ahead  of  the  Northern 
Pacific  Railroad.  Until  1890  he  was  engaged  in  a general 
merchandise  business,  then  being  appointed  LTnited 
States  Land  Register  at  Lewistown,  by  President  Benja- 
min Harrison,  an  office  which  he  held  four  years.  In 
1894  he  returned  to  Livingston  and  re-engaged  in  busi- 
ness as  a merchant,  and  enjoyed  a continued  success 
until  June  14,  1897,  when  he  was  appointed  postmaster 
of  Livingston  by  President  McKinley,  receiving  suc- 
cessive re-appointments  in  1901,  1905  and  1909.  He  has 
also  acted  in  various  other  official  capacities,  having 
been  the  first  city  treasurer  of  Livingston  in  i88q,  be- 
ing a member  of  the  school  board  for  three  years,  and 
acting  as  a member  of  the  first  directing  board  of  the 
Carnegie  Free  Library.  He  was  one  of  the  first  to  be- 
come a member  of  Livingston  Lodge  No.  32,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.,  Livingston  Chapter  No.  7 R.  A.  M.  and  St.  Ber- 
nard Commandery  No.  6,  K.  T.,  and  also  belongs  to 
Particular  Consistory  No.  i,  thirty-second  degree,  and 
Algeria  Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  _M.  S.,  of  Helena ; and  the 
Sons  of  Hermann.  His  political  views  are  those  of  the 
Republican  party,  and  he  has  been  firm  and  steadfast  in 
his  loyalty  to  its  principles,  but  he  has  never  been  ani- 
mated by  any  controversial  spirit  that  would  antagonize 
those  of  opposite  political  belief.  Consequently  he  has 
hosts  of  warm  friends  and  supporters  among  his  politi- 
cal opponents,  and  their  votes  have  been  freely  given 
him  when  he  has  been  a candidate  for  office.  Mr. 
Burg  is  possessed  of  great  executive  ability,  and  the 
keen  business  and  financial  foresight  that  character- 
ized his  personal  activities  have  been  brought  to  bear 
with  beneficial  effect  on  the  affairs  of  the  government 
which  he  has  served  so  long.  He  is  a striking  example 
of  that  class  of  foreigrikborn  citizens  who  go  to  make 
up  all  that  is  best  in  American  citizenship,  and  as  such 
merits  the  respect  and  esteem  that  is  universally  ac- 
corded him. 

On  January  17,  1880,  Mr.  Burg  was  married  to  Miss 
Cynthia  Weymouth,  who  was  born  in  Vermont,  daugh- 
ter of  Judge  Weymouth,  for  many  years  a distinguished 
member  of  the  Minnesota  bench.  Mrs.  Burg  died 
April  4,  1901,  having  been  the  mother  of  four  children, 
namely:  Ernestine,  wife  of  Adelbert  M.  Alderson, 

editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Livingston  Post:  Alfred 
G.,  who  is  living  in  North  Yakima,  Washington; 
Charles  C.,  associate  editor  of  the  Livingston  Post:  and 
Kate  S.,  who  is  attending  school.  Mr.  Burg  was  mar- 
ried (second),  in  Livingston,  November  4,  1903,  to 
Miss  Ida  B.  Fitzgerald,  daughter  of  S.  M.  Fitzgerald, 
of  Gardiner,  Montana,  and  to  this  union  there  has 
been  born  one  son : Mayer,  who  is  attending  school. 

The  family  home  is  situated  at  No.  309  South  Second 
avenue. 

Duncan  A.  MacLeod.  Since  the  year  1888,  Duncan 
A.  MacLeod  has  been  identified  with  the  livery  business 
of  Belt,  and  with  the  passing  of  the  years  has  come  to 
be  known  as  one  of  the  representative  and  solid  citizens 
of  this  place.  He  is  well  and  favorably  known  through- 
out_  the  county,  and  his  acquaintance  extends  through 
various  sections  of  the  west,  in  which  he  has  spent  the 


best  years  of  his  life._  A man  of  many  admirable  qual- 
ities and  sterling  traits  of  character,  he  possesses  the 
esteem  and  friendship  of  a large  circle,  and  his  business 
success  is  one  of  the  direct  results  of  his  genial  and 
kindly  nature,  combined  with  the  high  order  of  integ- 
rity which  is  his. 

Mr.  MacLeod  was  born  in  Canada  on  the  banks  of  the 
St.  Lawrence  river,  and  reared  near  Ottawa  city.  His 
birth  occurred  on  March  4,  1855.  He  is  the  son  of 
Alexander  MacLeod,  a native  of  Scotland  who  came  to 
Canada  in  the  forties.  He  was  a farmer  and  stock 
raiser,  and  passed  his  life  there  in  that  business,  his 
death  occurring  in  1895,  when  he  was  sixty-five  years 
of  age.  The  mother  was  Catherine  McCrae,  also  a 
native  of  Scotland  who  came  to  Canada  in  her  early 
days  and  there  married  Mr.  MacLeod.  Six  children 
were  born  to  them,  Duncan  A.  MacLeod  being  the 
second  born.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools 
of  his  native  town  and  also  attended  the  high  school, 
leaving  off  his  studies  at  the  age  of  fifteen.  He  came 
to  Montana  for  the  first  time  in  1876,  when  he  was 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  settled  at  Fort  Benton, 
there  following  the  freighting  business  for  six  years, 
and  in  various  parts  of  Montana  and  Wyoming.  In 
the  winter  of  1886-88  he  went  to  Alaska,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  mining  and  prospecting.  He  was  fairly  suc- 
cessful in  his  mining  ventures  and  remained  there  until 
October,  1888,  when  he  once  more  returned  to  Mon- 
tana, coming  direct  to  Belt,  where  he  entered  the  livery 
business;  in  that  business  he  has  continued  with  all 
success  ever  since.  He  is  also  interested  in  the  ranch- 
ing business  and  operates  No.  480  ranch  in  Belt  town- 
ship, Cascade  county,  with  a high  degree  of  success 
and  prosperity.  He  is  one  of  the  incorporators  of  the 
State  Bank  of  Belt,  is  vice-president  of  the  bank  and 
one  of  its  stockholders.  He  has  been  deputy  sheriff 
for  the  past  sixteen  years,  and  is  a Republican  in  his 
political  affiliations,  although  he  takes  no  active  part 
in  the  political  life  of  the  county.  He  is  a member  of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias.  The  degree  of  success  which 
Mr.  MacLeod  has  achieved  may  with  all  fairness  be 
attributed  entirely  to  himself,  for  surely  his  own  efforts 
have  been  the  main  factor  in  the  advancement  of  his 
interests.  He  began  the  serious  business  of  life  as  a 
boy  of  fifteen,  and  has  since  that  day  been  in  the  truest 
sense  the  architect  of  his  own  fortunes. 

On  March  3,  1911,  Mr.  MacLeod  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  May  Woodruff. 

John  H.  Cole.  One  of  the  strong  pioneer  characters 
of  Montana  and  the  Northwest  is  represented  by  Mr. 
John  H.  Cole,  a prominent  citizen  and  now  president 
of  the  school  board  of  Anaconda.  He  has  known  this 
city  from  its  beginning,  and  he  has  lived  here  and  in 
this  vicinity  for  upwards  of  forty  years. 

Mr.  Cole  worked  out  his  destiny  by  himself,  and 
his  early  life  was  a struggle  in  which  his  self-reliance 
and  industry  were  the  best  factors  in  his  advancement. 
He  was  born  at  Albion,  Orleans  county.  New  York, 
July  28,  i860,  a son  of  William  and  Mary  (Paul) 
Cole.  His  father,  who  was  a native  of  New  ifork  state 
and  spent  his  life  in  farming,  died  in  1864  at  the  age 
of  thirty-six,  and  his  wife  passed  away  four  years  later, 
aged  about  thirty-seven.  Both  are  buried  side  by  side 
in  the  old  home  vicinity  of  New  York.  Of  the  five 
children,  John  H.  was  the  fourth,  and  the  death  of  his 
parents  when  he  was  only  a child  threw  him  upon  his 
own  resources  when  other  boys  are  usually  in  school. 
When  he  was  six  years  old  his  mother  moved  to  St. 
Thomas,  Ontario,  where  he  remained  for  about  eight 
years,  and  during  that  time  attended  the  public  schools. 

Though  he  began  earning  his  own  living  at  an  early 
age,  he  managed  to  secure  a good  education.  At  the 
age  of  fourteen  he  went  into  what  was  then  the  Cana- 
dian west,  to  Winnipeg,  where  for  a time  he  attended 
the  St.  John’s  Episcopal  College.  The  spirit  of  the 


1066 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


frontier  early  possessed  him,  and  when  the  Black  Hills 
excitement  occurred,  though  he  was  still  a boy,  he 
started  for  the  scene.  But  on  reaching  Bismarck, 
North  Dakota,  he  changed  his  mind  and  returned  to 
Winnipeg.  But  he  was  by  no  means  satisfied  with 
this  brief  incursion  into  the  new  fields  of  the  West, 
for  at  Winnipeg  he  at  once  joined  a government  tele- 
graph crew  who  were  engaged  in  building  one  of  the 
old  telegraph  routes  that  connected  the  Canadian  north- 
west with  the  central  government  before  the  first 
railroads  were  projected  beyond  Winnipeg.  With  this 
crew  he  worked  through  the  old  northwest  territories 
as  far  as  Edmonton,  now  the  capital  of  Alberta 
province,  and  from  there  in  1876  came  down  the  rail 
to  Fort  Benton  in  Montana.  This  was  his  method  of 
introduction  to -the  Treasure  State,  and  here  has  been 
his  permanent  residence  ever  since. 

The  first  two  years  he  spent  at  Helena.  Few  men 
are  more  intimately  acquainted  with  this  state  in  all 
its  features.  As  a miner,  rancher,  stock  raiser  and  in 
various  other  capacities,  he  has  traveled  over  practi- 
cally the  whole  state  on  horseback.  He  was  in  Ana- 
conda before  the  town  was  founded,  and  has  lived 
here  most  of  the  time.  For  six  years  he  was  city 
editor  of  the  Anaconda  Standard.  At  the  present  time 
his  principal  business  is  in  an  executive  capacity  for 
the  A.  C.  M.  Company. 

Mr.  Cole  married,  at  Philipsburg,  December  28, 
1888,  Miss  Mary  McDonel,  daughter  of  Charles  and 
Elizabeth  McDonel,  of  that  city.  Six  children  have 
been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cole:  Elizabeth  Jane  and 
Florence,  at  home;  John,  who  is  connected  with  mer- 
cantile business  in  Anaconda ; Fannie,  a student  of 
the  high  school;  Cathweyn,  in  school;  and  Mary,  de- 
ceased. Mr.  Cole  and  wife  have  given  their  children 
excellent  educational  advantages.  In  his  delightful 
home  at  106  West  Third  street,  Mr.  Cole  finds  his 
greatest  pleasures,  and  prefers  home  and  family  to 
all  other  diversions.  His  religious  preference  is  for 
the  Episcopal  church,  in  which  Mrs.  Cole  is  an  active 
worker,  and  the  children  have  been  confirmed  in  that 
faith. 

Mr.  Cole  is  one  of  the  local  leaders  in  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  has  for  many  years  had  an  influential 
share  in  public  affairs.  He  served  as  undersheriff  in 
Missoula  county  and  the  same  office  in  Deer  Lodge 
county,  and  was  the  first  sheriff  of  Granite  county. 
He  has  been  a member  of  the  Anaconda  school  board 
since  1906  and  is  now  president.  He  is  deeply  con- 
cerned for  the  welfare  of  local  education,  and  in  his 
official  capacity  has  done  much  to  improve  the  schools 
of  his  home  city.  He  is  a member  of  the  Fraternal 
Brotherhood,  of  which  he  has  been  president  for  two 
terms.  A broadminded  citizen,  his  interest  includes 
many  of  the  activities  which  provide  recreation  and 
the  cultured  graces  of  society.  At  one  time  he  was 
president  of  the  Montana  state  baseball  league,  and 
still  follows  the  sport  as  a “fan.”  The  possession  and 
handling  of  horses  have  always  afforded  him  keen 
pleasure.  At  his  home  he  has  a good  library,  and 
books  ai*ld  music  are  for  him  a never  failing  resource 
for  leisure  hours.  Montana  he  considers  the  ideal 
state  of  the  Northwest,  being  free  from  blizzards,  and 
cyclones,  the  extremes  of  heat  and  cold,  and  in  climate, 
environment  and  opportunities  it  offers  more  to  its 
citizenship  than  any  other  state. 

Sol  Poznanski.  A thorough  educational  training,  a 
natural  business  talent  and  close  application  to  the  enter- 
prises with  which  he  became  identified,  have  all  been 
factors  in  the  material  advancement  of  one  of  the  well 
known  business  men  of  Helena,  Montana,  Sol  Poznanski, 
who  fills  a position  of  much  responsibility  as  general 
agent  of  the  Pennsylvania  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Com- 
pany for  Montana  and  Idaho,  and  has  many  additional 
private  interests.  He  was  born  in  the  city  of  New 


York,  July  18,  1856.  His  father,  who  was  born  m 
Poland,  was  brought  by  his  parents  to  the  United  States 
in  childhood,  was  reared  in  the  city  of  New  York  and 
for  half  a century  was  actively  engaged  at  the  metropo- 
lis in  business,  where  he  died  in  1904.  He  was  a manu- 
facturer and  maker  of  men’s  shirts  and  his  average 
annual  output  was  valued  at  $1,000,000  per  year,  his 
trade  territory  being  mainly  in  the  south  and  southwest. 
He  was  a prominent  man  in  Democratic  politics,  and 
had  many  personal  friends  among  the  Tammany  poli- 
ticians of  his  day.  He  married  Eliza  Phillips  who  was 
born  in  the  Isle  of  Wight,  and  of  their  thirteen  chil- 
dren eight  survive  and  all  of  these  are  representative 
and  successful  residents  of  the  sections  in  which  they, 
have  established  themselves. 

Sol  Poznanski  was  graduated  from  the  New  York 
College  and  immediately  afterward  went  into  business, 
first  accepting  a position  as  cashier  in  a New  York  com- 
mission house.  He  was  enterprising  and  ambitious  and 
and  thus  he  turned  his  eyes  to  the  great  west.  As  early 
as  187,7  he  came  to  Helena,  Montana,  where  he  entered 
the  mercantile  house  of  Sands  Brothers  Dry  Goods 
Company,  and  continued  in  the  employ  of  that  firm  for 
seven  years.  For  the  following  four  years  he  traveled 
for  another  firm  through  the  western  country  and  then 
returned  to  Helena,  where  he  purchased  a cigar  busi- 
ness which  he  carried  on  for  three  years.  After  dis- 
posing of  his  cigar  store  he  became  interested  in  the  fire 
insurance  business,  first  as  resident  agent  at  Helena 
for  several  of  the  leading  eastern  companies,  and  later 
became  adjustor  for  the  same  for  Montana  and  Idaho. 
In  1902  he  was  appointed  general  agent  for  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company  for  these  states, 
and  his  activities  have  resulted  very  satisfactorily  for 
the  company.  He  has  not  neglected  opportunities  for 
judicious  investment  in  mineral  lands  and  ranch  prop- 
erty in  different  parts  of  the  state,  and  also  owns  valu- 
able realty  at  Flelena. 

In  December,  1888,  Mr.  Poznanski  was  married  to 
Miss  Sallie  Boyer,  of  Washington,  D.  C.,  and  they  have 
one  daughter.  Pearl,  the  latter  of  whom  is  a graduate 
of  the  Helena  high  school.  Both  mother  and  daughter 
possess  artistic  talent  far  beyond  the  ordinary,  Mrs.  Poz- 
nanski being  a painter  of  miniatures  and  on  china,  and 
on  many  occasions  has  taken  prizes  for  the  excellence 
of  her  work.  Miss  Pearl’s  talent  as  an  artist  has  been 
generously  recognized  and  her  artistic  cover  designs 
for  magazines  have  brought  her  almost  national  fame. 
They  have  been  so  generally  admired  that  she  has  been 
invited  to  sign  long  magazine  contracts  for  the  work  of 
her  brush. 

Reared  as  it  were,  in  the  cradle  of  Democracy,  Mr. 
Poznanski  has  followed  in  the  footsteps  of  his  father 
in  his  adherence  to  Democratic  policies.  He  was  elected 
the  first  president  of  the  first  Democratic  club  that  was 
organized  at  Helena,  and  it  was  mainly  through  his 
efforts  that  former  Governor  Toole  and  his  eloquent 
brother.  Warren  Toole,  made  their  notable  speeches  in 
a notable  campaign,  at  Helena.  As  a politician  and 
loyal  Democrat,  Mr.  Poznanski  is  known  all  over  the 
state  of  Montana.  He  is  a man  of  social  instincts  and 
in  addition  to  a wide  circle  of  personal  friends,  he  is 
valued  as  a member  of  the  Silver  Bow  Club  of  Butte 
and  the  Lambs'  Club  of  Helena. 

Albert  Stuney  Johnson,  a well-known  real  estate 
dealer  of  Dillon,  'was  born  at  Argenta,  Beaverhead 
county,  Montana,  March  29,  1877.  He  is  the  son  of 
Philip  and  Elizabeth  Johnson.  The  father  was  born  in 
Missouri  and  came  to  Montana  overland  in  the  early 
days ; followed  sheep  raising  and  ranching  and  passed 
away  in  December,  1900,  at  the  age  of  forty-seven  years. 
The  mother  was  born  in  California,  but  subsequently 
removed  to  Montana,  where  she  met  and  married  Philip 
Johnson.  She  died  in  1884,  and  the  remains  of  both 
these  respected  people  are  interred  in  Dillon.  Of  their 


/ 


/ 


V. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1067 


children,  Albert  Sidney  is  the  eldest  of  these  surviving 
viz. — one  brother  and  two  sisters  as  follows : Grace  is 
the  wife  of  Clifford  E.  Knapp,  who  is  a merchant  of 
Dillon ; Oscar,  the  brother,  is  employed  by  the  Dart 
Hardware  Company  as  plumber  and  steam-fitter,  is 
married  and  also  lives  in  Dillon;  Lena  B.,  the  second 
sister,  is  the  wife  of  Robert  A'.  Boone,  who  is  asso- 
ciated with  Mr.  Johnson  in  the  real  estate  business. 

Mr,  Johnson  has  passed  his  entire  life  in  Beaverhead 
county.  He  acquired  his  early  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  the  county  and  early  entered  business,  his 
first  money  being  earned  as  a boy  by  riding  after  cattle 
for  his  grandfather,  with  whom  he  made  his  home. 
After  holding  several  positions,  in  1904  he  embarked  in 
an  independent  venture  by  opening  a general  real  estate, 
insurance,  loan  and  sheep  commission  business,  in  asso- 
ciation with  his  brother-in-law,  Robert  W.  Boone,  the 
style  of  the  firm  being  Johnson  & Boone.  Messrs. 
Johnson  and  Boone  are  new  the  largest  operators  in 
their  line  in  this  district.  Mr.  Johnson  is  one  of  the 
aggressive  and  enterprising  young  business  men  who  are 
aiding  in  the  upbuilding  of  Dillon  and  vicinity.  He 
has  also  served  as  city  treasurer  of  Dillon  and  is  at 
the  present  time  holding  the  office  of  United  States 
commissioner.  In  politics  he  is  a Republican.  At  the 
outbreak  of  the  Spanish-American  war  he  enlisted  in 
Company  E,  of  the  First  Montana  Regiment,  and  was 
ultimately  sent  to  the  Philippines.  He  saw  much  active 
service,  being  in  twenty-two  engagements,  and  he  has 
never  lost  his  interest  in  things  military. 

By  natural  inclination  and  early  discipline  he  has 
developed  unusual  independence  and  self-reliance  and 
since  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he  has  made  his  own  way 
quite  unaided.  He  was  a lad  of  but  seven  years  of  age 
rvhen  deprived  by  death  of  his  mother,  and  he  was 
reared  in  the  home  of  his  grandparents.  He  is  fond 
of  out-door  life,  taking  pleasure  in  hunting  and  baseball 
and  he  enjoys  good  reading  and  music.  He  is 
unmarried. 

Mr.  Johnson  is  a stanch  and  loyal  native  son  of  Mon- 
tana, possessing  a real  affection  for  its  institutions  and 
standing  ready  to  support  to  the  best  of  his  ability  all 
measures  looking  toward  its  success.  His  career  has 
well  proven  these  statements. 

Albert  S.  Mooney,  president  and  treasurer  of  the 
Butte  Tombstone  Company,  one  of  the  leading  busi- 
ness concerns  in  that  line  in  the  northwest  and  the 
largest  in  Montana,  is  a native  of  Newport,  Kentucky, 
and  the  eldest  son  of  John  A.  and  Catherine  (Mc- 
Carty) Mooney. 

John  A.  Mooney  was  reared  in  Altoona,  Pennsyl- 
vania. When  the  Civil  war  became  a reality  his  par- 
ents refused  to  permit  him  to  go  to  the  front,  feeling 
that  he  was  not  yet  of  a proper  age  to  serve  his  coun- 
try. Early  in  1861,  however,  the  boy  ran  away  from 
home  and  enlisted  in  an  Ohio  regiment,  serving  until 
the  very  close  of  the  war.  It  was  his  fortune  to  see 
much  service  under  both  Grant  and  Sheridan  and  to 
participate  in  many  of  the  principal  battles  of  the  war. 
After  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Mooney  reinlisted  and 
served  in  the  army  until  being  mustered  out  of  the 
service  at  Fort  Missoula,  Montana,  in  the  year  1878. 
During  the  time  between  1865  and  1878  he  saw  con- 
siderable service  under  General  Crook,  in  the  wars  with 
the  Indians  in  what  was  then  the  territory  of  Oregon. 
Returning  from  Oregon  to  his  native  place,  Altoona,  he 
married  Catherine  McCarthy,  and  for  a few  years  served 
widi  his  regiment  in  Louisiana  and  Kentucky.  In  1877 
his  regiment,  which  was  stationed  at  Pineville,  Louisi- 
ana, was  ordered  to  Fort  Missoula,  Montana.  After 
leaving  the  army  Mr.  Mooney  and  family  moved  to 
Helena,  Montana,  and  he  became  interested  in  mining, 
which  he  has  been  following  ever  since  with  varying 
success.  Eleven  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Mooney  as  follows : Albert  S. ; Grace  M.,  now  the 


wife  of  William  M.  Cassidy,  of  Kalispell;  Cora  Lee, 
whose  husband.  Rev.  Kimes,  is  the  leader  of  the 
Seventh  Day  Adventists  at  North  Yakima ; William 
and  Barbara,  who  are  residents  of  Llelena ; Catherine 
the  third  daughter,  married  Joseph  Wilson  of  Butte; 
George  L.  resides  in  Butte;  Charles  E.  and  P'rank  also 
resides  in  Butte;  Ethel  is  Mrs.  W'arren  Smelcer,  now 
of  Helena,  Montana;  and  John  A.,  Jr.,  resides  at 
Helena. 

Albert  S.  Mooney  was  born  during  his  father’s  em- 
ployment in  Newport,  Kentucky,  on  August  12,  1871, 
and  left  school  at  the  age  of  ten  years  that  he  might 
he  apprenticed  to  a granite  stone  worker.  For  twenty 
years  he  was  a journeyman  in  his  trade,  when  he  located 
at  Billings,  iMontana,  and  entered  into  business  for  him- 
self. At  the  end  of  five  years  he  moved  to  Butte  and 
purchased  an  interest  in  the  Butte  Tombstone  Com- 
pany, Incorporated.  Almost  at  the  beginning  of  his 
association  with  the  firm  he  was  elected  secretary  and 
general  manager  of  the  corporation,  which  position  he 
held  until  1911,  when  he  was  made  president  and  treas- 
urer of  the  company. 

On  September  9,  1899,  Mr.  Mooney  married  Laura 
M.  O’Brien,  the  daughter  of  Christopher  A.  and  Cath- 
erine Hodgen  O’Brien,  of  Faribault,  Minnesota.  Mrs. 
Mooney  is  the  vice-president  of  the  company  of  which 
her  husband  is  president.  They  have  one  son.  Al- 
bert S.  IMooney,  Jr.,  who  was  born  in  Billings,  Mon- 
tana, on  the  23rd  of  June,  1900. 

Mr.  Mooney  is  a Democrat  in  political  faith,  but  has 
never  aspired  to  political  preferment,  his  interest  in 
those  matters  ending  with  the  casting  of  his  vote  for 
the  best  men  and  measures.  He  is  a member  of  no 
secret  organization  beyond  his  affiliation  with  the  in- 
surance order,  the  Woodmen  of  the  World. 

Charles  Edward  Mooney,  secretary  of  the  Butte 
Tombstone  Company,  was  born  in  IMissoula,  Montana, 
on  the  thirty-first  day  of  IMarch,  1878.  Like  his  brother, 
he  left  school  at  an  early  age  and  was  apprenticed  to  a 
monument  worker  in  Helena,  from  which  line  of  work 
he  has  never  deviated.  He  was  employed  at  his  trade 
for  a number  of  years  in  that  city.  He  came  to  Butte 
from  Billings  in  January,  1910,  where  for  six  years  he 
was  manager  of  the  Billings  Marble  and  Granite’  Works, 
then  a branch  of  the  Butte  Tombstone  Company.  He 
was  married  in  Helena  on  June  ii,  1900,  to  Miss  Nellie 
E.^  Allard,  of  AGnona,  Minnesota.  Their  children  are : 
Walter  Edward,  Frank  Lester  and  Harry  Leroy.  Mr. 
Mooney  is  a member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  the  Woodmen  of  the  World,  the  Women  of 
Woodcraft.  Royal  Highlanders  and  the  Modern  AMod- 
men.  He  is  independent  in  political  faith,  voting  for 
what  he  considers  the  best  measures  and  men,  regard- 
less of  part}'  affiliations. 

Fitz  Henry  A' inter.  Those  who  have  the  pleasure 
of  an  acquaintance  with  Captain  Winter — and  fortu- 
nately this  includes  a large  number  of  people — know 
one  of  the  most  delightful  men  in  the  world.  Though 
he  served  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  the  title  is  ac- 
corded him  by  reason  of  the  fact  that  he  has  been  a 
sea  captain,  and  certainly  his  conversation  makes  one 
realize  ‘‘the  beauty  and  mystery  of  the  ships,”  as  well 
as  the  joy  of  strange  peoples  and  places. 

Born  in  Boston,  Massachusetts,  on  Friend  street,  be- 
tween Hanover  and  Sudbury  streets,  on  July  12,  1834. 
Mr.  A’inter  was  familiar  with  "the  life  of  those  that 
go  down  to  the  sea  in  ships’’  from  his  earliest  boyhood. 
His  father,  Ignatius  Sargent  A^inter,  was  a native  of 
Gloucester,  Iilassachusetts.  and  was  born  in  September, 
1811.  Fie  died  in  Boston  in  1890.  His  wife  was  Sarah 
Ann  Lane,  the  daughter  of  Captain  Stephen  Lane,  a sea- 
faring man  who  traded  chiefly  in  the  East  Indies.  She 
was  married  to  Ignatius  A^’inter  on  July  2,  1833.  Her 
death  occurred  near  Denver,  Colorado,  on  June  3,  1895, 


1068 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


and  she  is  buried  in  Boston.  Ignatius  Winter  when  a 
boy  of  nine  was  bound  out  to  learn  the  pail-maker’s 
trade.  When  he  had  mastered  this  art  he  worked  at 
it  for  a time  and  added  that  of  carpenter  to  his  educa- 
tion. At  nineteen  he  went  to  sea,  and  until  his  death 
followed  the  sea  and  worked  as  a carpenter.  He  was 
at  different  times  captain  and  master  of  various  ships, 
and  he  sailed  to  most  of  the  ports  known  to  traders 
in  the  west  and  east.  In  disposition  he  was  generous 
and  open-hearted  to  a fault,  and  while  he  was  not  a 
member  of  any  church,  was  a consistent  follower  of 
the  Golden  Rule. 

Fitz  Henry  Winter  as  a boy  joined  his  father  on  his 
voyages,  and  most  of  his  education  was  secured  aboard 
a sailing  vessel,  as  he  never  attended  a grammar  school. 
However,  he  is  not  a sort  of  person  who  requires  books 
to  acquire  knowledge,  and  the  eighteen  years  he  spent 
on  the  water  were  rich  in  varied  experiences  for  him. 
He  was  master  of  different  vessels  and  visited  nearly 
every  part  of  the  world. 

On  April  i8,  i86i,  Mr.  Winter  had  just  returned  from 
a voyage,  and  he  felt  that  he  must  go  to  the  front  in 
the  struggle,  then  just  beginning.  He  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany C of  the  American  Guards  of  Gloucester,  Massa- 
chusetts. He  remained  in  this  company  five  days,  part 
of  which  were  spent  in  going  to  Boston  to  take  exam- 
ination for  a commission.  Fie  was  made  a sergeant  in 
the  quartermaster’s  department,  entering  the_  Thirty- 
third  Massachusetts.  The  list  of  the  battles  in  which 
Mr.  Winter  fought  includes  Fredericksburg,  Chancellors- 
ville,  Beverly  Ford,  Gettysburg,  Wauhachie,  Lookout 
Mountain  and  Missionary  Ridge.  The  entire  corps  was 
sent  to  Knoxville  to  relieve  General  Burnside,  and  in 
that  campaign  he  passed  through  the  battles  of  Buz- 
zard’s Roost,  Resaca,  Cassville,  New  Hope  Church, 
Kulp’s  Farm  and  Kenesaw  Mountain.  He  was  with 
Sherman  in  the  famous  march  from  Atlanta  to  Savan- 
nah, and  from  the  latter  city  he  went  to  Aversberry, 
North  Carolina.  The  last  engagement  in  which  he  took 
part  was  that  of  Bentonville.  At  Sherman  s grand  re- 
view in  Washington  Mr.  Winter  was  present,  and  in 
all  his  experience  he  escaped  without  being  wounded. 
He  belonged  to  the  Third  Division  of  the  Third  Bri- 
gade of  the  Twentieth  Corps,  the  Blue  Star. 

It  was  not  until  1877  that  Captain  Winter  came  to 
Helena.  He  had  been  living  in  Lowell,  Massachusetts, 
and  was  attracted  to  the  west  by  the  large  wages  paid 
to  mechanics,  who  were  then  receiving  eight  dollars  a 
day.  The  trip  was  made  by  rail  as  far  as  Beaver 
Canyon,  and  the  one  hundred  and  eighty  miles  from 
there  to  Helena  by  stage.  Twice  on  their  route  the 
party  ran  afoul  of  tire  Indians,  but  finally  reached  Helena 
in  safety.  Here  Mr.  Winter  took  up  the  work  of  car- 
pentering, and  also  did  some  prospecting  in  the  mines. 
Fie  became  possessed  of  a mine  known  as  the  Whippoor- 
will, upon  which  he  spent  some  time  and  money,  but  it 
never  produced  a dollar  of  revenue,  so  he  abandoned 
the  precarious  business  and  gave  himself  entirely  to  that 
of  carpentering  and  contracting.  _ This  has  ever  been  a 
profitable  occupation  in  the  growing  city  and  Mr.  Win- 
ter has  been  employed  in  other  cities  of  the  state  as 
well.  He  built  the  first  building  in  Anaconda.  This 
was  the  property  of  Marcus  Daly  and  Ross  Clark,  a 
brother  of  Senator  Clark.  The  structure  was  used  for 
a grocery  store,  which  these  two  gentlemen  conducted. 

On  Christmas  Day  of  1867  Mr.  Winter  was  married 
at  Lowell,  Massachusetts,  to  Miss  Priscilla  Augusta 
Atwood,  a native  of  Pelham,  New  Hampshire.  Hei 
father,  David  Atwood,  was  a farmer,  who  lived  to  the 
age  of  ninety-four  years,  in  1902.  He  cast  his  first  vote 
for  John  Quincy  Adams  in  1824.  Mrs.  Winter  joined 
her  husband  in  Helena  one  year  after  his  arrival,  and 
lived  here  until  her  death  in  1888,  on  December  18 
She  was  forty-seven  years  old  at  the  time  she  died,  and 
left  a son  and  a daughter  to  the  care  of  her  husband. 
She  is  buried  in  Lowell,  Massachusetts,  where  the  mem- 


bers of  her  family  are  resting.  Both  of  the  children 
are  living  at  Sharon,  Massachusetts,  as  both  were  born 
in  Lowell.  The  son  was  born  on  January  3,  1874,  and 
the  sister  two  years  later.  Susan  May  Winter  graduated 
from  the  Waltham  Surgical  School  in  Waltham,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  is  now  a practicing  physician  in  Sharon, 
making  her  home  with  her  brother,  Harry  Atwood  Win- 
ter. 

Mr.  Winter  lives  alone  in  Helena,  but  is  not  lonely. 
He  is  hale  and  hearty,  and  his  mental  vigor  is  as  un- 
impaired as  that  of  his  body.  Fie  has  never  been  sick 
one  day  in  his  life,  never  had  a pain,  nor  ever  taken  an 
ounce  of  medicine.  Flis  memory  is  a truly  remarkable 
one  and  it  is  stored  wilh  all  sorts  of  interesting  bits  of 
knowledge,  gleaned  from  a varied  experience.  As  a 
conversationalist  he  has  few  equals  and  to  hear  him 
talk  upon  the  earlier  days  of  Montana  or  of  his  sea- 
faring life  is  one  of  the  most  entertaining  ways  of 
passing  time  which  can  be  imagined.  He  is  a member 
of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  Wadsworth  Post, 
No.  3,  of  Flelena,  of  which  he  is  senior  vice-commander, 
and  he  is  a Republican  in  political  faith.  His  friends 
are  of  every  rank  and  calling,  and  their  number  is 
legion.  They  declare  that  he  is  seventy-eight  years 
young  and  are  sure  that  he  can  never  live  to  be  old,  no 
matter  how  many  years  he  may  gladden  for  them. 

George  W.  Liscomb.  The  name  of  George  W.  Lis- 
comb  is  perhaps  more  widely  known  among  the  older 
settlers  of  the  northwest  than  that  of  any  other  man  of 
his  time,  and  wherever  it  is  spoken  it  recalls  to  the 
pioneer  westerner  the  man  who  for  years  led  the  life 
of  a stage  driver,  expressman,  mail  carrier,  Indian 
fighter  and  all  around  early  westerner  who  was  more 
common  thirty  years  ago  than  at  any  time  since. 

Born  in  Racine,  Wisconsin,  on  May  5,  1841,  George 
W.  Liscomb  is  the  son  of  Martin  and  Elizabeth  (See) 
Liscomb.  The  father  was  a native  of  Vermont,  who 
came  to  Wisconsin  in  1836  and  there  married  Elizabeth 
See  at  Racine.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Reverend 
See,  the  first  minister  of  the  gospel  to  preach  in  Chi- 
cago. Three  children  were  born  to  Martin  and  Eliza- 
beth Liscomb,  two  sons  and  a daughter.  George  W. 
was  sixteen  years  of  age  when  his  family  removed 
from  Racine  to  Iowa  county,  Wisconsin,  and  it  was 
there  that  the  youth  had  his  first  experience  in  the 
driving  of  four  and  six  horse  teams.  Fie  worked  for 
a time  at  the  freighting  business,  hauling  flour  from 
the  mills  in  that  part  of  the  state,  and  when  he  was 
seventeen  years  old  he  was  employed  as  stage  driver 
at  Julesburg,  for  years  thereafter  following  that  busi- 
ness and  eventually  driving  in  all  the  northwest  states. 
He  was  employed  by  various  companies,  among  them 
the  Wells-Fargo  Express  Company,  and  he  bears  to 
this  day  scars  from  gun  and  knife  wounds  received 
in  the  service  of  these  early  western  concerns. 

George  Liscomb  first  came  to  this  section  of  the  state 
of  Montana  in  about  1877,  and  after  several  years  of 
experience  in  various  lines  he  entered  the  cattle  busi- 
ness, settling  on  a ranch  and  conducting  a very  suc- 
cessful business  for  some  years.  He  dealt  largely  in 
cattle  and  horses,  and  from  a small  beginning  built 
up  a business  that  placed  him  in  the  front  ranks  of 
the  stockmen  of  this  section.  In  1908  he  had  pros- 
pered to  such  an  extent  that  he  retired  from  the  busi- 
ness and  went  to  California,  where  he  has  since  made 
his  home  at  Long  Beach.  He  makes  it  a point  to  re- 
turn to  Montana  each  year  to  attend  the  Old  Settlers 
Meeting  and  the  Miles  City  Fair,  and  he  never  lacks 
a hearty  greeting  from  his  old  time  friends  and  ac- 
quaintances, who  look  forward  to  seeing  him  each  year, 
together  with  his  wife,  who  always  accompanies  him. 

Mr.  Liscomb  has  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife 
died,  and  he  later  married  in  Miles  City,  Montana, 
Margaret  Gearheart,  a native  of  Ohio.  This  marriage 
occurred  in  1891,  and  it  is  more  than  likely  that  his 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1069 


settling  down  to  tlie  quiet  life  of  a rancher  was  the 
result  of  his  marriage. 

WiLLi.xM  A.  Allen,  DD.  S.  From  a group  of 
scattered  cabins  that  in  1882  represented  Billings,  Mon- 
tana, has  been  developed  a city  of  wealth  and  in- 
portance ; a city  which  is  alive  with  business  oppor- 
tunities, and  one  where  culture,  education  and  refine- 
ment adorn  its  homes.  Surely  those  who  had  the 
foresight  to  choose  the  little  unattractive  settlement 
for  a home  thirty  years  ago,  and  through  their  work, 
faith  and  influence  have  brought  about  present  condi- 
tions, must  feel  tne  pardonable  pride  not  only  of  promo- 
ters, but  of  originators.  It  took  men  of  courage,  both 
moral  and  physical,  men  of  endurance  and  perseverance, 
and  today  many  of  these  men  remain  to  enjoy  the 
fruits  of  their  labors.  Among  these  none  are  more 
prominent  than  Dr.  William  A.  Allen,  who  has  been 
continuously  identified  with  much  of  the  substantial 
and  permanent  development  here.  It  is  no  unusual 
occurrence  to  find  among  the  private  citizens  of  Mon- 
tana men  who  have  won  distinction  along  many  lines, 
and  in  Dr.  Allen  is  found  not  only  a master  of  a 
scientific  profession,  but  an  author,  a man  of  let- 
ters, an  historian  and  a hunter. 

William  A.  Allen  was  born  in  Summerfield,  Noble 
•county,  Ohio,  September  2,  1848,  and  is  a son  of  Robert 
T.  and  Rachel  (Guiler)  Allen,  and  a grandson  of  John 
and  Mary  (Blundle)  Allen.  John  Allen  was  the  son 
of  Sir  John  Allen,  of  England,  a cousin  of  Ethan  Allen, 
the  famous  Revolutionary  patriot,  and  was  first  a sea- 
faring man  and  later  a farmer.  Dr.  Allen's  maternal 
grandparents  were  William  and  Mary  (Franklin) 
Guiler,  the  former  a native  of  Ireland  and  the  latter 
a cousin  of  Benjamin  Franklin. 

Dr.  William  A.  Allen  is  one  of  the  oldest  and 
most  honored  among  the  dental  practitioners  of  Mon- 
tana, and  now  has  his  home  office  in  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  building  in  Billings.  After  leaving  the 
public  schools  of  Summerfield,  Ohio,  in  1866,  he  en- 
tered the  Normal  school  there,  and  on  completing  his 
studies  learned  the  trade  of  a blacksmith,  a vocation 
which  he  followed  in  connection  with  working  as  a gun- 
smith until  1877.  Early  in  that  year  he  started  for  the 
Black  Hills,  and  at  Spearfish,  Dakota,  joined  a party 
of  two  hundred  and  fifty  persons.  On  the  morning 
of  June  4,  1877,  a party  of  citizens  from  Deadwood 
were  attacked  by  Indians  within  sight  of  the  camp 
of  Dr.  Allen’s  party,  and  eight  people,  including  a 
woman  and  a deputy  sheriff,  were  massacred.  The 
bodies  were  brought  in  and  buried,  and  Dr.  Allen  with 
twenty  picked  men  followed  the  Sioux  Indians  down 
the  Spearfish  to  a small  stream  known  as  Hay  Creek, 
where  the  Indians  were  surprised  in  their  camp  and 
eleven  were  killed,  while  their  horses,  twenty-two  in 
number,  were  destroyed.  While  this  party  was  ab- 
sent from  the  camp  of  the  whites,  eight  wagons  had 
left  it  and  started  for  the  Red  Water  Crossing,  where 
they  were  surrounded  by  the  hostile  Indians  and  were 
in  a most  precarious  position  until  relief  came.  The 
Doctor  and  his  band  returning  from  Hay  Creek  met 
Calamity  Jane,  who  informed  them  that  the  Nickel- 
son  party  was  surrounded  by  Indians  at  Red  Water 
Crossing,  and  the  story  of  the  rescue  and  the  sub- 
sequent experiences  of  the  party  is  here  given  in  the 
words  of  the  doctor,  as  follows:  “We  had  seen  sig- 

nals sent  out  to  the  north  during  the  previous  night, 
and  knew  the  Sioux  were  planning  mischief.  Calamity 
Jane  was  carrying  mail  to  a new  camp  to  the  south, 
so  we  hurried  along  and  when  we  reached  camp  found 
that  Nickelson,  Lions  and  others  of  the  party  had  left 
for  Red  Water.  We  set  out  hurriedly  for  that  place  and 
reached  the  Crossing  at  3 :30.  Just  as  the  day  began 
to  streak  the  eastern  horizon  the  Indians  came  with 
their  horrible  yell,  painted  and  ready  for  battle.  But 
we  were  lying  in  ambush  waiting  their  attack  and 


when  they  cleared  the  brow  of  the  rim  rock  we 
poured  the  contents  of  twenty-eight  rifles  into  their 
unsuspecting  midst.  The  hail  of  lead  soon  told  its 
story  and  fourteen  of  the  band  lay  on  the  flai  among 
the  stones,  while  the  remainder  fled  to  the  hills.  The 
women  became  very  much  excited,  and  we  were  soon 
on  the  return  to  Spearfish,  where  we  met  our  former 
comrades.  Two  of  our  party  were  wounded,  myself 
and  another,  and  a trapper  who  did  not  belong  to  our 
party  was  killed.  Just  below  the  crossing  two  others 
were  killed  on  the  previous  day.  Their  horses  were 
stolen  and  their  outfits  burned,  and  the  charred  re- 
mains of  the  wagon  was  all  that  remained.  At  this 
juncture  the  train  camped,  and  having  combined  two 
factions,  we  came  very  near  to  settling  the  old  grudge 
with  rifles.  Lions  had  told  certain  of  his  crowd 
where  a large  placer  deposit  was  located  on  the  Stink- 
ing Water,  and  others  of  the  crowd  stoutly  disputed 
the  existence  of  any  such  gold  deposit  on  a large  val- 
ley with  a clear  stream  running  through  it.  I was 
compelled  to  go  on  with  the  gold  searching  party,  but 
I knew  there  was  no  gold  in  any  such  formation  as 
we  were  located,  but  to  please  my  partner  I went.  We 
accordingly  separated,  about  half  the  party  going  up 
the  Stinking  Water  and  the  remainder  going  to  Boze- 
man. When  we  had  made  about  one  hundred  miles 
of  the  distance  our  cattle  and  horses  gave  out,  and  we 
found  ourselves  out  of  provisions  and  even  without 
salt  in  a mountain  country,  with  apparently  no  food 
for  our  stock.  To  make  a bad  matter  worse,  November 
clouds  augured  unpleasant  weather  conditions.  Here 
we  held  a council,  and  each  man  seemed  to  hold  a 
distinctly  separate  idea  as  to  what  was  the  best  course 
to  take.  _ I talked  to  Nickelson  saying:  ‘Tom,  this 
country  is  no  place  for  us  to  winter  in,  so  we  had 
better  put  our  stock  down  on  that  sage  flat ; the  cat- 
tle will  soon  be  fresh  again  and  we  can  kill  some  elk 
and  jerk  it  and  get  out  of  these  Bad  Lands.  If  it 
should  turn  wet,  we  should  find  ourselves  as  good  as 
glued  in  here.’  My  argument  had  weight  with  the 
party,  and  the  next  day  we  killed  five  large  bull  elk, 
fat  and  perfect.  We  jerked  the  meat  and  prepared  for 
our  trip  out.  Six  days  later  we  assembled  and  found 
that  our  party  had  split  and  one  faction  wanted  to  stay 
and  wolf  hunt  for  the  winter.  Accordingly  Nickel- 
son and  our  party  started  back  on  another  trail.  We 
were  almost  without  clothes  and  were  wearing  elk 
skins  on  our  feet,  sleeping  on  the  sand  and  alkali,  and 
eating  elk  meat  straight.  When  about  thirty  miles 
from  camp  we  saw  with  our  field  glasses  that  the 
remainder  of  the  train  were  pulling  out.  We  knew 
then  why  our  companions  had  been  so  intent  upon  hunt- 
ing and  wolfing  in  the  Bad  Lands  that  winter:  We 
were  to  go  ahead  and  break  the  trail,  build  the  bridges 
and  endure  all  the  hardship  which  they  knew  must 
attend  getting  out  of  the  country,  and  they  would  fol- 
low after  and  reap  the  benefits  of  our  labors,  laughing 
at  us  for  our  gullibility.  We  were  compelled  to  build 
a bridge  of  timber,  the  material  for  which  we  hauled 
from  a small  gulch  about  five  miles  distant.  The  tim- 
ber was  so  scarce  that  the  building  of  the  bridge  util- 
ized the  last  twig.  We  were  two  days  in  building  it, 
and  when  we  crossed  our  fellow  travelers  who  had 
been  following  at  a distance  were  within  three  miles 
of  us.  _ When  we  crossed  and  saw  the  nearness  of  the 
following  party,  I took  a certain  pleasure  in  burning 
the  bridge  and  leaving  them  to  build  another  as  best 
they  could.  The  result  was  that  they  were  delayed 
three  weeks  in  their  trip.  Our  cattle  soon  gained 
strength  on  the  salt  sage  and  we  pushed  along,  shoe- 
ing their  feet  with  old  boot  leather.  We  crossed  the 
Stinking  Water,  and  striking  the  old  Bozeman  trail 
above  the  Crow  Agency,  crossed  country  and  landed 
on  the  Yellowstone  at  Deer  Creek,  where  we  found 
an  old  Indian  by  the  name  of  Soose.  Here  we  first 
procured  onions,  potatoes,  cabbage  and  white  tail  deer 


1070 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


in  abundance.  We  camped  for  four  days  and  enjoyed 
all  the  luxuries  of  the  land,  as  well  as  trout,  geese 
and  ducks  from  the  waters  of  the  Yellowstone.  From 
here  we  went  to  Benson's  Landing,  near  where  Liv- 
ingston is  located  and  there  camped  for  a time,  catch- 
ing trout  and  killing  mountain  sheep  from  the  canyon 
and  deer  from  the  valley,  thence  to  Bozeman  and  across 
the  Bridger  range,  where  we  encountered  civilization 
for  the  first  time  in  nine  months.  Our  company  here 
disbanded  in  the  little  mountain  city,  never  to  meet 
again,  each  taking  his  own  course  tor  a life  in  the 
new  world.  Some  located  in  Bozeman  and  others  took 
un  the  trail  to  the  north,  but  my  dearest  friends  of  that 
party  I never  saw  again.” 

At  Bozeman  Dr.  Allen  engaged  in  the  blacksmith 
business  with  Frank  Harper,  and  was  later  employed 
as  blacksmith  for  the  Bozeman  and  Miles  City  stage 
line,  acting  as  express  messenger  in  the  winter  of  1877, 
and  subsequently  becoming  government  blacksmith  at 
Fort  Custer.  In  1879  he  went  in  a skiff  down  the  Big 
Horn  river  to  Fort  Buford  to  meet  his  family,  who 
came  back  with  him  and  he  then  located  on  Canyon 
creek,  engaging  in  stock-raising  and  blacksmithing. 
In  1882  he  removed  to  Coulson,  where  he  continued  at 
his  trade  for  some  months,  removing  eventually  to 
Billings,  which  was  then  dotted  with  canvas  tents  and 
rude  cabins.  Here  he  erected  the  first  house  in  the 
Yellowstone  valley  which  boasted  a shingled  roof. 

Prior  to  this  western  experience  Dr.  Allen  had 
worked  to  some  extent  at  dentistry,  and  to  perfect 
himself  in  this  profession  he  went  to  Chicago  in  1884, 
where  he  took  a full  course  with  Dr.  Crouse,  president 
of  the  American  Dental  Association.  Returning  to 
Billings,  Dr.  Allen  engaged  in  the  practice  of  dentistry, 
and  on  January  i,  1886,  was  presented  with  a gold 
medal  by  his  patients  and  friends  of  Buffalo,  Wyom- 
ing. In  1896  he  took  a course  in  Haskell's  Post-Grad- 
ute  School  of  Dentistry,  and  he  has  since  acquired  a 
widespread  reputation  as  an  expert  dentist  in  both 
surgical  and  mechanical  branches.  One  of  his  most 
prized  possessions  is  a gold  medal  which  is  inscribed 
as  follows:  "In  Appreciation  of  his  Professional  Serv- 

ices. Presented  to  Dr.  W.  A.  Allen  for  Efficiency  iii 
Operative  Dentistry,  Class  of  1897,  by  the  Faculty  of 
the  Kansas  City  College  of  Dental  Surgery.”  His  spe- 
cialty, in  which  he  has  achieved  eminent  success,  is  in 
the  treatment  of  pyorrhea,  one  of  the  most  dreaded 
diseases  known  to  the  profession. 

Dr.  Allen's  activities,  however,  have  not  been  con- 
fined to  the  practice  of  his  profession,  as  he  is  largely 
interested  in  stock  raising,  and  in  company  with  John 
L.  Guiler  in  1892  founded  the  town  of  Allendale,  at 
the  mouth  of  Clark’s  Fork ; they  also  built  the  first 
flouring  mill  of  any  note  in  the  valley,  at  a cost  of 
$15,000.  Dr.  Allen  is  a supporter  of  Prohibition  prin- 
ciples, but  is  in  no  wise  bigoted  in  his  view  points  and 
is  always  ready  to  respect  the  opinions  of  others. 
Charity  has  found  a large  place  in  his  activities,  but  the 
assistance  he  has  given  those  he  deemed  worthy  of  a 
helping  hand  has  been  given  in  such  a quiet,  unostenta- 
tious manner  that  it  is  doubtful  if  the  full  extent  of 
his  philanthropies  will  ever  be  known.  He  and  his 
wife  are  faithful  members  of  the  Methodist  church, 
and  are  among  its  most  liberal  supporters. 

Dr.  Allen  was  married  in  Ohio  in  1874  to  fvliss 
Josephine  Houston,  the  daughter  of  John  Houston, 
who  died  from  illness  contracted  during  the  Civil 
war.  In  1887  his  second  marriage  took  place,  when 
he  was  united  with  Miss  Mollie  Finkelnburg,  a daugh- 
ter of  Hon,  A.  Finkelnburg,  of  Fountain  City,  Y’is- 
consin,  who  represented  his  county  in  both  bodies  of 
the  Wisconsin  legislature.  Two  children  were  born 
to  the  first  union:  William  O.  and  Robert  T.,  both 

of  whom  are  associated  with  their  father  in  the  prac- 
tice of  dentistry,  and  the  only  child  of  the  second  mar- 
riage is  a daughter,  Leah, 


Dr,  Allen’s  career  as  a hunter  of  big  game  has  been 
full  of  adventure.  He  has  killed  forty-nine  bears,  some 
of  them  being  typical  Bad  Lands  grizzlies  which  fol- 
lowed the  large  buffalo  herds  in  the  Bad  Lands  in  the 
spring  of  the  year.  The  old  bulls  were  whipped  out 
of  the  herds  and  became  an  easy  prey  to  these  monsters 
of  the  plains.  Dr.  Allen's  partner,  Hiram  Stewart, 
was  killed  in  a fight  near  Box  Elder  with  one  of  these 
grizzlies  while  hunting  buffalo  meat  for  Hoskins  & Mc- 
Girl  at  Huntley,  Montana,  then  the  frontier  supply 
station  for  hunters  and  trappers.  In  1879  Dr.  Allen 
made  a voyage  down  the  Little  Horn  to  the  Big  Horn 
and  through  the  Yellowstone  to  Fort  Buford,  making 
the  trip  in  an  open  boat  alone  among  the  Sioux  and 
Cheyennes.  He  had  a fight  with  a gang  of  horse 
thieves  at  the  mouth  of  the  Tongue  river,  but  escaped 
capture. 

In  1892  Dr.  Allen  issued  a friendly  challenge  to 
shoot  a match  for  a gold  medal  on  big  game  with  any 
man  in  America.  A match  was  arranged  for  the  shoot 
from  the  ist  to  the  loth  of  October,  and  the  competitor 
was  a Mr.  Jennings  from  the  Steak  Plains  of  Texas. 
The  hunt  came  off  as  scheduled  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
Ten  Sleep  mountains  of  Wyoming,  and  the  rules  were 
"no  game  animal  to  be  shot  at  under  two  hundred 
yards,  and  the  game  to  be  running  at  full  speed.”  At 
the  end  of  ten  days  the  results  stood:  Mr.  Jennings, 
one  black  tail  deer.  Dr.  Allen,  five  black  tail  deer, 
three  elk,  one  wolf.  This  ended  one  of  the  most  inter- 
esting hunts  ever  enjoyed  by  a party  consisting  of  Mr. 
Jennings,  Edward  Chappie.  Mr.  Fender  and  Dr.  Allen, 

His  record  as  an  Indian  fighter  of  distinction  and  as 
a hunter  whose  excursions  led  him  into  many  thrilling 
experiences  has  given  Dr.  Allen  much  interesting  mate- 
rial to  work  into  books  and  magazine  articles.  For 
a number  of  years  such  magazines  as  the  American 
Field  and  Forest  and  Stream  have  eagerly  sought  his 
contributions,  which  are  recognized  as  authorities  on 
their  subjects.  In  190.3  he  miblished  “Adventures  With 
Indians  and  Game,”  or  "Twenty  Years  in  the  Rocky 
Mountains,”  which  bore  the  simple  dedication : “To 

my  Mother.”  The  favor  with  which  this  volume  was 
received  by  both  press  and  public  could  have  been 
naught  but  gratifying  to  its  author,  who  was  encour- 
aged to  publish  another  work,  now  being  completed. 

Dr.  Allen  is  a man  who  stands  for  all  that  is  virile 
and  manly,  and  all  that  is  typical  of  Montana  and  its 
“old  timers.”  He  may  look  back  over  a career  that 
has  been  useful  to  himself,  to  his  fellow  men  and  to  his 
adopted  state,  satisfied  with  a work  well  and  faith- 
fully done,  and  feel  content  to  meet  with  what  the 
future  will  bring.  No  man  is  held  in  higher  confidence 
or  esteem  and  none  can  boast  of  a wider  circle  of 
warm  personal  friends  than  he. 

Robert  Aitchison.  Romance  in  its  most  daring 
productions  cannot  excel  the  true  tales  of  the  men 
who  practically  subjugated  iMontana,  men  who,  through 
their  daring  and  enterprise,  brought  civilization,  com- 
fort and  safety  to  this  grand  and  beautiful  section  of 
the  United  States.  Many  of  these  men  still  live  to 
tell  to  enthralled  listeners  their  thrilling  story  of  ad- 
ventures, of  savage  Indian  warfare,  of  stampeding  buf- 
falo on  the  almost  limitless  plains,  of  the  eastern 
hordes  in  their  mad  search  for  mineral  wealth,  and 
of  the  wild  storms  that  swept  down  upon  travelers 
when  no  possible  relief  could  be  secured,  hundreds  of 
miles  intervening  between  the  travelers  and  civiliza- 
tion. Interest  centers  in  every  one  of  these  rela- 
tions. Modest  as  many  of  these  tellers  of  tales  may 
be  as  regards  their  own  personal  experiences,  the  least 
of  them  show  that  the  courage  and  resourcefulness  of 
those  who  so  surely  wrought  out  the  destiny  of  Mon- 
tana entitles  them  to  high  regard  from  a vounger  gen- 
eration and  of  other  environment.  Before  he  ever 
reached  Montana,  Robert  Aitchison,  who  is  one  of  the 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1071 


big  men  of  the  state  in  the  cattle  business  and  a valued 
resident  of  Miles  City,  had  already  taken  part  in 
border  warfare  and  has  journeyed  for  hundreds  of 
miles  through  a practically  trackless  wilderness.  He 
was  born  mid  the  peaceful  surroundings  of  his  fa- 
ther’s homestead  in  Nickel  township,  Wellington 
county,  Ontario,  Dominion  of  Canada,  March  12,  1852, 
and  is  a son  of  Thomas  and  Jane  (Scott)  Aitchison. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Aitchison  were  both  born  in 
Scotland,  the  father  in  Gallieshields  and  the  mother 
in  the  city  of  Edinburgh.  The  father  died  in  1867, 
but  the  mother  lived  until  almost  eighty  years  of  age, 
passing  away  in  1904.  They  were  married  in  Ontario, 
and  four  sons  and  three  daughters  were  born  to  them, 
the  survivors  being:  Jane,  who  is  the  widow  of  An- 
drew Forester;  Robert,  Peter  and  William,  all  of 
whom  reside  in  Montana ; and  Thomas,  who  still  lives 
in  Ontario.  Anne  and  Betsey  are  deceased,  the  former 
dying  in  1912,  when  aged  sixty-five  years,  survived 
by  her  husband,  James  Elge.  The  father  of  Mr. 
Aitchison  was  a very  earH  settler  in  the  province  of 
Ontario  and  developed  his  fine  farm  from  a virgin 
state.  He  reared  his  family  in  the  faith  of  the  Presby- 
terian church. 

Robert  Aitchison  assisted  his  father  until  he  en- 
tered into  railroad  work,  becoming  a freight  brakeman 
of  the  Great  Western,  now  the  Grand  Trunk  Railroad, 
later  serving  for  six  years  as  baggage  master  on  the 
Canada  Southern  Railroad  and  subsequently  as  pas- 
senger brakeman.  In  1876  he  joined  a party  for  Dead- 
wood,  Dakota,  going  by  rail  to  Yankton,  by  steam 
from  there  to  Fort  Pierre  and  then  by  freight  outfit 
to  Rapid  City,  Dakota,  in  the  meanwhile  having  had 
trouble  with  the  unfriendly  Indians,  four  of  the  men 
in  the  party  having  been  shot  by  the  savages.  After 
two  days  of  outfitting  at  Rapid  City  the  part}^  started 
for  Deadwood,  and  on  the  first  night  out  met  a group 
of  men  returning  to  Rapid  City  with  the  body  of  Cap- 
tain Dodge,  who  had  been  killed  by  the  Indians  on  the 
previous  night  on  Elk  creek.  Notwithstanding  this 
ominous  beginning,  Mr.  Aitchison  and  his  party  kept 
on  into  the  Black  Hills  and  came  on  through  to  the 
Little  Missouri  river  in  Montana  with  the  first  gold 
stampede.  Late  in  the  fall  he  returned  to  the  Black 
Hills,  and  during  the  winter  hunted  elk,  selling  the 
meat  at  Deadwood. 

On  July  14,  1877,  Mr.  Aitchison  left  Deadwood  by 
way  of  tire  old  Fort  Reno  trail  up  into  the  Bighorn 
mountains,  again  in  search  of  gold,  going  on  by  Little 
Goose  creek  over  the  mountains,  then  down  to  Paint 
Rock,  crossing  No  Wood  creek  on  the  west  slope.  He 
continued  prospecting  up  Gray  Bull  creek  and  on  up 
Stinking  Water  and  down  again  and  then  crossed 
the  Bighorn  mountains  to  Fort  Custer.  He  arrived 
at  the  fort  on  the  night  following  a raid  made  by  horse 
thieves,  who  stole  seventy-five  head  of  horses,  the 
leader  of  the  thieving  gang  being  known  as  Big  Nose 
George.  From  Fort  Custer,  Mr.  Aitchison  went  down 
the  Yellowstone  river  and  reached  Miles  City  in  1877. 
He  then  assisted  in  building  the  sutler's  store  at  Fort 
Keogh,  and  during  the  following  winter,  with  two 
other  men,  engaged  in  hunting  elk  and  buffalo  on  the 
Rosebud  river,  selling  the  meat  in  Miles  City.  In 
March,  1878,  Mr.  Aitchison  with  two  other  men  went 
up  Tongue  river  prospecting,  and  again  engaged  in 
hunting  on  Pumpkin  creek.  While  looking  the  country 
over  they  were  caught  in  one  of  the  storms  for  which 
Montana  is  justly  famous,  and  for  eight  days  the  party 
was  snow  bound.  As  they  were  veteran  travelers  and 
hunters,  they  were  able  to  meet  the  situation  better 
than  strangers  to  the  dangers  surrounding  could  have 
done,  but  as  it  was  they  were  in  danger  of  starva- 
tion, as  for  seven  days  they  were  without  food.  In 
the  meanwhile  they  found  that  their  shack  on  the 
Tongue  river  had  been  occupied  by  a band  of  Indian 


scouts  who  had  been  making  themselves  comparatively 
comfortable. 

In  1878  Mr.  Aitchison  took  up  his  homestead  claim 
on  Tongue  river,  on  which  he  had  erected  the  above 
mentioned  shelter.  After  getting  back  to  Miles  City 
he  secured  the  beef  contract  from  Clark  Tingley  to 
supply  Fort  Keogh  and  afterward  cut  hay  for  the 
United  States  government.  In  the  fall  of  1878  he 
once  more  joined  the  stampede  to  the  gold  regions,  in 
the  Bighorn  mountains,  near  the  National  Park,  and 
on  this  trip  had  an  exciting  combat  with  a bear,  which 
resulted  in  bear  meat  for  the  camp.  Late  in  the  fall 
he  came  back  once  more  to  Miles  City  and  in  the 
following  winter  started  for  Bismarck,  Dakota,  with 
two  companions.  On  the  way  down  they  encountered 
Colonel  Rice  and  Lieutenant  Sibley,  with  twelve  sol- 
diers as'  an  escort  for  a Mr.  Kahn,  who  was  carrying 
the  sum  of  $3,400.  Road  agents  stopped  the  party 
and  secured  Mr.  Kahn’s  money,  the  watches  belonging 
to  the  others  and  one  of  the  best  horses.  On  this  trip 
it  took  Mr.  Aitchison  sixteen  days  to  reach  Bismarck 
and  thirty-six  to  return  to  Miles  City.  After  this  he 
devoted  the  larger  part  of  his  time  to  freighting  until 
1882  between  Bismarck,  Miles  City,  Fort  Beauford, 
Billings  and  Fort  Custer,  and  in  the  fall  of  1880  he 
took  two  four-horse  loads  of  Buffalo  meat  to  Bis- 
marck and  the  same  to  Fort  Meade,  the  round  trip 
back  to  Miles  City  covering  sixty^-five  days.  In  1882 
he  settled  on  his  own  land  and  engaged  in  freighting 
for  the  ranchmen  and  also  assisted  in  building  the 
government  roads  and  continued  to  live  on  his  home- 
stead until  1901,  when  he  settled  at  Miles  City%  where 
he  went  into  the  feed  and  livery  business,  but  has 
never  disposed  of  his  ranch,  and  since  1887  has  been 
extensively  concerned  in  the  cattle  and  horse  business. 
In  1904  he  built  new  barns  at  Miles  City  and  also  the 
salesyards  now  the  property  of  the  A.  B.  Clark  Horse 
Sales  Company,  and  not  only  sold  the  property  to  this 
company  but  also  sold  them  the  first  horses  they  ever 
bought  in  Montana. 

Mr.  Aitchison  was  married  in  February,  1882,  to 
Miss  Christianna  McClean,  who  was  born  in  Ontario, 
Canada,  and  they  have  had  eight  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Therma,  Robert,  Jr.,  Mabel,  Earl,  Walter,  Dor- 
othy, and  two  who  died  in  infancy.  The  eldest  daugh- 
ter is  the  wife  of  John  Sykes.  Mr.  Aitchison  is  a 
member  of  Yellowstone  Lodge,  No.  26,  A.  F.  & A.  M. 
Politically  he  is  a Republican. 

_ Ensign  Simeon  Sweet.  One  of  the  successful  finan- 
ciers of  Chouteau  county.  Ensign  Simeon  Sweet  is 
widely  known  as  president  of  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Chinook,  and  as  a man  of  sterling  ability  and  in- 
tegrity. A son  of  Hiram  Sweet,  he  was  born,  October 
14,  1854,  at  Momence,  Illinois,  but  was  brought  up  in 
Iowa. 

Born  and  reared  in  New  York  state,  Hiram  Sweet, 
with  the  restless  spirit  characteristic  of  the  Americans, 
migrated  to  Illinois  when  young,  and  after  living  for 
a tirne  in  Kankakee  county,  Illinois,  followed  the  march 
of  civilization  still  further  westward,  going,  in  1855, 
to  Fayette  county,  Iowa.  A successful  business  man,  he 
acquired  title  to  manv  acres  of  land,  owning  several 
large  tracts,  and  ere  his  death,  which  occurred  at  Fay- 
ette, Iowa,  in  1907,  was  classed  with  the  leading  cap- 
italists of  his  community.  He  was  twice  married,  first 
to  Diana  M.  Sweet,  who  was  born  in  Washington 
county.  New  York,  and  died  in  Fa5'ette  county,  Iowa, 
.\ugust  12.  1869,  leaving  two  children,  namely:  Ensign 

Simeon,  the  special  subject  of  this  sketch;  and  Stella, 
wife  of  Theodore  Kemmerer,  of  Davenport,  Iowa. 

On  November  9,  1887.  Mr,  Sweet  was  married  to 
Miss  Agnes  Ellen,  daughter  of  Dudley  Perley  and  Lucy 
Ellen  (Warren)  Clark,  of  Unity,  Maine,  and  to  them 
was  born  a son,  Lloyd  Dudley  Sweet.  He  was  born  at 
Utica,  Montana,  October  16,  1889,  and  is  now  in  his 


1072 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


senior  year  at  Leland  Stanford  University.  Mrs. 
Sweet  is  a member  of  “Dorothy  Q”  Chapter,  D.  A.  R. 

Less  than  a year  old  when  his  parents  moved  to 
Iowa,  Ensign  Simeon  Sweet  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Fayette,  where,  at  the  age  of  twenty 
years,  he  embarked  in  the  mercantile  business,  con- 
ducting a general  store  three  years.  Naturally  enter- 
prising and  venturesome,  he  then  sold  out  his  business 
in  that  place,  and  sought  a new  location  in  the  wilds 
of  Montana.  Settling  in  the  Judith  basin,  Mr.  Sweet 
embarked  in  stock  raising  on  a small  scale,  and  in  the 
undertaking  met  with  very  gratifying  success.  In  1890 
he  was  forced  to  move  his  cattle,  on  account  of  the 
excessive  drv  seasons,  to  Chouteau  county,  land  in  the 
Judith  basin  being  then  opened  to  farming.  Mr.  Sweet 
purchased  land  in  Chouteau  county,  where  he  continued 
cattle  raising  for  four  years,  when  he  disposed  of  all 
of  his  cattle  and  started  in  another  industry  of  a similar 
nature — raising  sheep  and  horses,  instead  of  cattle. 
In  1901  Mr.  Sweet  moved  into  Chinook,  becoming  in 
that  year  one  of  the  directors  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  that  place.  In  1907  he  was  elected  president 
of  this  bank,  and  has  since  managed  its  affairs  most 
satisfactorily  to  all  concerned.  Politically,  he  is  iden- 
tified with  the  Republican  party. 

Robert  S.  H.  McGinness,  has  been  a resident  of 
the  state  of  Montana  since  he  was  twenty  years  of 
age,  and  of  Harlem  since  the  year  1903.  He  is  a native 
of  the  state  of  Missouri,  born  there  on  August  29, 
1857,  and  is  the  son  of  James  R.  and  Susie  B.  (Flale) 
McGinness.  The  father  and  mother  were  both  natives 
of  Kentucky,  who  migrated  to  Missouri  in  their  young 
life  and  there  passed  the  remainder  of  their  days.  The 
father  was  a farmer  and  he  lived  to  see  eighty-seven 
years  of  life,  while  the  mother  passed  away  in  1877 
at  the  age  of  fifty-eight.  They  were  the  parents  of 
seven  children,  here  named  in  the  order  of  their  birth  : 
Thomas,  a farmer  in  Oklahoma;  Cassie,  the  wife  of 
William  B.  Leach,  residents  of  Kearney,  Missouri, 
the  home  town  of  the  family:  Sarah,  the  wife  of  Isaac 
Harrel,  of  Mormemec,  Oklahoma ; Robert  S.  H.,  of 
this  review ; Strother  H.,  a farmer  and  dairyman  of 
prominence  in  Excelsior  Springs,  Missouri ; James, 
deceased ; William  M.,  a hotel  proprietor  of  Culbert- 
son, Montana. 

Robert  McGinness  received  the  advantage  of  a 
liberal  education  in  his  younger  days,  graduating  from 
the  high  school  of  his  native  town  and  later  attending 
William  Jewell  College,  Liberty,  Missouri,  from  which 
he  was  graduated  in  the  literary  course  in  1877.  On 
leaving  college  he  took  up  the  study  of  pharmacy,  and 
he  has  devoted  his  life  thus  far  to  that  work.  In  1877 
Mr.  McGinness  came  to  Helena  and  secured  employ- 
ment with  the  R.  S.  Hale  Drug  Company,  and  he  re- 
mained in  their  service  for  ten  years,  or  until  1903, 
when  they  went  out  of  business.  During  this  period 
he  became  manager  and  finally  closed  out  the  $100,000 
stock  carried  by  the  company. 

Mr.  McGinness’  health  failed  as  a result  of  the  close, 
confining  work  connected  with  the  drug  business,  and 
he  went  into  the  mines  as  manager  for  Mr.  Hale,  by 
way  of  gaining  some  outside  employment,  and  he  re- 
mained thus  occupied  for  two  years,  at  the  end  of 
which  time  his  health  was  completely  restored  to  its 
former  vigor.  Following  that  experience  he  went  to 
White  Sulphur  Springs  and  opened  a drug  store. 
After  some  little  time  he  sold  a half  interest  in  the 
store  to  his  brother,  William  M.,  later  disposing  of 
his  remaining  interest  in  the  same  manner,  and  re- 
turned to  Helena  where  he  became  manager  for  the 
Flale  Drug  Company.  He  continued  in  that  capacity 
until  1903,  in  which  year,  as  stated,,  he  closed  out  the 
business  for  Mr.  Hale  and  came  to  Harlem  where  he 
opened  a drug  store  for  himself,  beginning  in  a modest 
way  as  befitted  his  capital  and  the  demands  of  the 


town.  1 he  business  has  grown  with  the  expansion 
of  the  city,  and  today  the  drug  store  which  he  operates 
is  the  leading  establishment  of  its  kind  in  Harlem. 
His  e.xperience  there  has  been  of  a most  pleasing  nature, 
and  his  success  is  wholly  consistent  with  the  excellent 
business  methods  which  he  has  ever  pursued,  and 
\vhich  reflect  the  high  character  and  admirable  integ- 
rity of  the  man  as  well  as  the  business  proprietor.  Mr. 
McGinness  has  acquired  a considerable  valuable  prop-  ^ 
erty  in  Blaine  county  during  the  years  of  his  associa- 
tion with  this  section  of  the  country,  among  which  is 
a fine  farm  and  a handsome  home  in  Harlem. 

In  1891  Mr.  McGinness  was  married  to  Miss  Pearl 
Anderson  of  Alliance,  Ohio,  and  of  their  union  three 
sons  have  been  born.  They  are  Jay  A.,  Robert  H.,  Jr., 
and  Verner  M.  Mr.  McGinness  is  essentially  a home 
man  and  a devoted  husband  and  father.  He  enjoys 
the  quiet  comforts  of  his  home,  and  is  something  of  a 
student,  his  inclinations  taking  a decided  literary  turn. 
Fie  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  of  Flarlem,  and  he  is  a member  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  and  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows, being  secretary  of  the  local  lodge  of  the  latter 
fraternity. 

Joseph  Herring.  Among  the  men  who  know  Mon- 
tana intimately,  who  have  been  with  her  through  the 
years  while  she  changed  from  the  country  of  the 
Indian  and  bison,  to  one  of  the  great  commonwealths 
of  the  United  States,  is  Joseph  Herring,  one  of  the 
leading  business  men  of  Great  Falls,  Montana.  No 
man  knows  the  west  better  than  he  does  for  he  has 
lived  in  this  section  for  thirty-five  years,  and  has  been 
everything  from  a stage  driver  to  a vice-president  of 
a large  corporation.  For  more  than  twenty-five  years 
he  has  resided  within  the  confines  of  the  state  of  Mon- 
tana, though  when  he  first  came  to  Great  Falls,  Mon- 
tana had  not  attained  the  dignity  of  statehood.  His 
love  for  the  country  and  the  people  is  therefore  not  to 
be  wondered  at,  and  the  active  part  which  he  takes 
in  political,  civic  and  commercial  affairs  is  not  surpris- 
ing. He  is  particularly  interested  in  advancing  the 
public  welfare  of  the  city  of  Great  Falls,  and  as  com- 
missioner of  streets  has  done  much  toward  making- the 
city  more  attractive.  His  life  has  been  one  of  many 
ups  and  downs,  but  now  he  has  reached  the  point 
where  he  could  sit  back  and  take  his  ease  were  it  his 
nature.  He  is  like  an  old  war  horse,  though,  and  has 
no  desire  to  escape  from  the  dust  of  the  battle,  and  is 
therefore  one  of  the  leading  men  in  the  industrial 
world  of  Great  Falls. 

Joseph  Herring,  was  born  on  the  9th  of  October, 
1853,  in  the  state  of  Pennsylvania.  His  father  was 
Francis  Carter  Herring,  who  was  a native  of  the 
same  state.  He  was  a Methodist  preacher,  and  died 
in  1892,  at  the  age  of  sixty,  in  Great  Falls,  Montana. 
His  wife,  Katherine  Herring  was  a native  of  Ohio, 
and  she  died  in  1872.  Joseph  Herring  was  the  next 
to  the  eldest  in  a family  of  seven  children.  His  par- 
ents moved  to  Iowa  when  he  was  a child,  and  his 
education  was  therefore  obtained  from  the  schools  of 
that  state. 

At  the  age  of  fifteen  Joseph  decided  that  he  had 
had  enough  of  school  books,  so  he  left  school  and 
went  to  work.  For  a few  years  he  did  the  usual  sort 
of  work  that  is  given  to  a boy  still  in  his  teens.  A.S 
he  grew  older  he  was  given  more  responsible  posi- 
tions, but  like  most  spirited  young  men  he  was  filled 
with  a wild  desire  to  go  west.  At  last,  1877,  his  chance 
came,  and  he  made  his  way  to  the  Black  Hills.  Here 
for  a time  he  followed  placer  mining,  and  when  this 
did  not  prove  to  be  very  lucrative,  he  turned  to  stage 
driving,  in  which,  if  the  pecuniary  advantages  were 
no  greater  the  excitemennt  more  than  made  up  for  it 
in  the  mind  of  the  young  Mr.  Herring.  His  route 
was  from  Central  City,  South  Dakota,  to  Deadwood 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1073 


in  the  same  state,  and  it  was  rare  that  he  made  a trip 
in  which  nothing  out  of  the  normal  occurred.  Road 
agents  and  highwaymen  infested  the  country,  and  Mr. 
Herring  had  a number  of  narrow  escapes,  on  one  occa- 
sion being  seriously  wounded,  for,  since  he  did  not  / 
respond  to  the  highwayman’s  demands  with  sufficient 
alacrity,  the  desperado  chose  to  hasten  his  compliance/ 
with  a shot-gun.  For  a number  of  years  he  followed' 
this  dangerous  vocation,  and  his  next  choice  of  a busi-' 
ness,  was  quite  as  dangerous  and  even  more  exciting. 

This  was  buffalo  hunting.  He  became  one  of  the 
most  noted  bison  hunters  in  the  early  days,  when  they 
killed  the  great  beasts  for  their  hides  alone.  The  mar- 
ket was  readily  found,  no  matter  how  great  the  num- 
ber of  skins,  and  it  was  more  like  slaughter  than  hunt- 
ing, so  great  were  the  number  of  beasts  that  were 
slain.  It  was  a risky  thing,  wherein  much  depended 
upon  the  quickness  of  the  horse,  and  the  coolheaded- 
ness  and  skill  of  the  rider.  On  one  occasion,  Mr. 
Herring  killed  that  rarest  of  all  varieties,  a pure  black 
bison.  He  underwent  considerable  risk  to  obtain  the 
hide,  and  intended  to  preserve  it  forever  as  a trophy 
of  the  hunt.  It  was  not  to  be,  for  several  days  later 
the  party  of  hunstmen  met  a band  of  marauding  Indians 
and  in  the  battle  that  followed  the  Indians  made  off 
with  the  entire  hoard  of  the  hunters.  Among  these 
was  the  black  hide,  and  Mr.  Herring  has  never  ceased 
to  regret  its  loss  for  that  animal  was  the  only  black 
buffalo  he  has  ever  seen  either  before  or  since  that 
time.  These  hunts  were  held  in  the  vicinity  of  what 
is  now  Miles  City,  extending  as  far  south  as  Bear- 
tooth  National  Forest. 

Mr.  Herring  next  removed  from  this  section  to  the 
Little  Rockies  where  he  took  up  prospecting  and  min- 
ing. This  time  he  was  very  successful.  He  lived  the 
life  of  a miner  for  several  years  and  then  he  concluded 
to  settle  down  to  the  quieter  life  of  a merchant,  so  with 
that  purpose  in  view,  he  located  in  Maiden,  Montana. 
He  remained  there  until  1886,  engaged  in  the  mer- 
chandise business.  He  then  removed  to  Great  Falls, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  ice  business.  He  cut  his  ice 
by  hand,  storing  it  away  until  summer,  and  then 
selling  it  to  the  citizens  of  Great  Falls,  who  were 
highly  appreciative  of  the  luxury,  for  until  this  time 
ice  had  been  a missing  commodity.  Since  he  was  the 
first  to  conceive  and  carry  out  this  plan,  it  is  no  more 
than  just  that  he  should  be  today,  vice-president  of 
the  business  which  has  resulted  from  this  small  and 
primitive  beginning.  This  corporation  is  the  Great 
Falls  Ice  and  Fuel  Company,  of  which  L.  W.  Luke  is 
president  and  A.  D.  Robinson  is  treasurer.  Mr.  Her- 
ring is  a stockholder  and  director  in  the  company,  as 
well  as  an  officer,  and  from  his  long  experience  in  the 
business  the  corporation  could  scarcely  get  along  with- 
out him. 

Mr.  Herring  is  a Republican  in  politics.  A man  of 
of  his  breadth  and  experience  is  of  inestimable  benefit 
to  his  party,  and  they  are  well  aware  of  his  value. 
Mayor  J.  M.  Speer  has  recently  appointed  him  as 
street  commissioner  for  the  city,  his  term  being  a two 
year  one,  but  he  will  probably  be  re-appointed  for  his 
work  along  these  lines  has  been  highly  satisfactory  to 
every  one  concerned.  In  the  fraternal  world,  Mr.  Her- 
ring is  a member  of  the  Oddfellows  and  of  the  Eagles. 

On  the  loth  of  January,  187',  Mr.  Herring  was  mar- 
ried to  Marie  Crumb,  at  Elk  Point,  South  Dakota. 
Two  children  were  born  of  this  union,  but  his  wife 
only  lived  until  189.^.  The  children,  both  of  whom 
are  now  living  in  Great  Falls,  are  Jessie  and  Harry 
Herring.  On  the  6th  of  September,  1896.  Mr.  Herring 
was  married  for  the  second  time.  The  ceremony  was 
performed  at  Great  Falls  and  the  bride  was  Mrs.  Josie 
Wheatley. 

Mr.  Herring  owns  his  own  residence  property,  at 
321  Fifth  avenue,  South,  and  he  also  owns  and  operates 
a live-stock  ranch  in  Cascade  county,  Montana.  This 


ranch  consists  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  and 
he  raises  a large  number  of  horses  and  cattle,  paying 
especial  attention  to  the  breeding  of  fine  animals. 

Edgar  S.  Paxson.  In  a historical  work  of  the  state 
of  JMontana  and  its  foremost  men,  to  omit  extended 
mention  of  the  life  and  work  of  Edgar  S.  Paxson 
would  be  a flagrant  inconsistency  with  the  general 
fitness  of  things,  and  in  writing  of  him  it  is  not  the 
intention  to  eulogize  the  man  or  unduly  praise  his 
work; — for  indeed  no  words  are  adequate  to  express 
the  high  character  portrayed  by  his  life. — but  rather 
to  make  a plain,  straightforward  statement  of  the 
, facts  of  his  life,  knowing  full  well  that  such  a recital 
will  be  more  eloquent  of  his  many  excellent  qualities 
' and  his  rare  ability  as  an  artist  than  the  most  high- 
sounding  verbiage,  however  fitting,  might  picture  him. 

Edward  S.  Paxson  was  born  in  Orchard  Park,  near 
Buffalo,  New  York,  on  the  25th  of  April,  1S52.  He 
is  {he  son  of  William  Hambleton  and  Christina 
(Hambleton)  Paxson,  natives  of  New  York  state. 
As  a boy  and  youth  he  attended  the  public  schools 
of  his  community,  finishing  his  schooling  with  a year 
in  a New  York  college  known  as  the  Freidns’  Insti- 
tute. When  he  was  twenty  years  old  he  went  to 
Saginaw,  Michigan,  returning  after  a few  months  to 
New  York  state,  where  he  went  into  the  carriage 
painting  business.  He  remained  thus  occupied  for 
perhaps  two  years,  and  then,  with  one  of  his  broth- 
ers, began  to  travel  in  various  parts  of  the  United 
States.  They  covered  several  of  the  southern  and  west- 
ern states,  working  at  intervals  at  their  trade,  and  tiring 
somewhat  of  their  nomadic  life,  again  returned  to  their 
eastern  home.  A year  later  Edward  Paxson  set  out 
for  the  West,  this  time  with  the  definite  intention  of 
reaching  that  portion  of  the  country,  and  he  worked 
his  way  across  and  through  the  Dakotas  into  Mon- 
tana, reaching  the  then  territory  in  1877.  His  first 
stop  of  any  permanency  was  at  Ryan's  Canyon,  where 
he  hired  out  to  some  cattlemen  to  do  some  hunting 
and  scouting  for  them.  Let  it  be  said  here  that  the 
wild  life  of  the  West  was  eminently  suited  to  the  tem- 
perament of  Mr.  Paxson,  coming  as  he  did  from  a 
family  of  Quakers  who  had  been  famous  hunters 
since  the  days  of  William  Penn.  The  love  of  the 
wilds  was  in  his  blood,  and  the  feel  of  a gun  was  as 
natural  to  him  as  breathing,  so  that  the  opportunity 

to  test  his  mettle  on  the  plains  was  a welcome  one 

indeed,  especially  as  it  came  at  a time  when  the 

famous  Nez  Perce  Indian  war  was  being  waged.  His 

next  employment  was  as  a messenger  from  Ryan's 
Canyon  to  Iron  Rod,  and  it  is  obvious  that  in  those 
strenhous  times  he  would  have  many  a thrilling  expe- 
rience in  the  discharge  of  his  duties.  At  one  time  he 
was  surrounded  by  a party  of  thirty  Indians  who 
had  escaped  from  the  United  States  soldiers,  and  held 
by  them  for  forty-eight  hours.  What  his  fate  might 
have  been  he  can  only  conjecture,  for  he  escaped  from 
the  camp  by  the  exercise  of  a piece  of  cunning  equal 
to  that  of  his  captors  and  on  reaching  Deer  Lodge 
gave  the  alarm.  In  those  early  days  he  resorted  to 
any  work  that  promised  excitement,  experience  and  an 
honest  living,  and  the  days  here  spent  in  cow-punching 
Indian  trailing  and  hunting  big  game  gave  him  an  in- 
sight into  western  life  that  he  has  depicted  with 
marvelous  accuracy  in  his  canvasses  of  later  life,  for 
in  those  early  days  his  talent  was  then  undiscovered, 
even  by  himself.  Eollowing  a few  years  of  life  on  the 
plains,  he  located  in  Deer  Lodge  where  he  remained 
four  years,  and  it  was  while  here  that  he  began  to 
display  an  interest  in  art.  From  the  first  his  work 
was  especially  meritorious,  and  was  productive  of  con- 
siderable local  fame,  although  the  work  which  brought 
him  world  wide  notice  was  not  completed  until  1898. 
In  1880  Mr.  Paxson  was  called  to  Butte  to  paint  a 


1074 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


panoramic  view  for  a patron  there,  and  though  he 
completed  the  work  in  a matter  entirely  satisfactory 
to  the  patron,  he  never  received  his  fee  of  something 
like  $800,  the  would-be  purchaser  defaulting  at  the 
crucial  moment.  He  remained  in  Butte  thereafter  for 
twenty-four  years  where  he  followed  sign  and  scene 
painting  for  the  greater  part  of  the  time,  the  while 
he  studied  constantly  and  worked  to  increase  his  won- 
derful talent  for  the  depicting  of  western  scenes  and 
life.  In  1895  he  began  work  on  his  famous  Custer 
picture,  but  the  breaking  out  of  the  Spanish-American 
war  found  him  eager  as  a boy  to  enlist  in  the  volunteer 
service,  and  he  went  as  first  lieutenant  of  his  company 
in  a Montana  volunteer  regiment,  his  son  Harry 
going  as  a member  of  tbe  same  company.  Ill  health 
compelled  his  return  from  the  Philippines  in  January, 
i8(^,  and  after  that  time  he  gave  himself  up  entirely 
to  his  art.  It  was  not  until  then  that  he  finished  his 
Custer  picture  which  has  brought  him  so  much  re- 
nown, and  which  has  called  forth  letters  of  congrat- 
ulation from  artists,  statesmen  and  army  officials  in 
every  corner  of  the  globe.  At  the  present  time  Mr. 
Paxson  is  engaged  in  work  on  six  mural  decorations 
for  the  state  capital  at  Helena,  which  give  brilliant 
promise  and  will  later  place  eight  panels  in  the  new 
county  court  house.  One  is  particularly  pleasing, 
being  a representation  of  Saca-je-wea,  the  little  Indian 
girl  leading  Lewis  and  Clarke  through  the  mountains 
and  trails.  All  are  wonderful  in  their  interpretation 
of  western  life  and  atmosphere,  and  are  worthy  of 
their  creator.  True  to  life  and  history  in  every  detail 
as  his  pictures  are,  the  wonder  of  it  all  is  how  the 
men,  untutored  in  his  art  in  a practical  sense,  has 
solved  the  mysteries  of  color  and  technique ; but  the 
fact  remains  that  his  work  is  as  near  perfection  as 
human  skill  may  touch.  It  might  well  be  said  of 
him  in  explanation  of  his  wonderful  success  in  his 
interpretations  of  life  and  action  that  he  “mixes  his 
paint  with  brains,”  as  a famous  artist  is  reputed  to 
have  said  to  a curious  inquirer  as  to  the  secret  of 
his  success.  Whatever  the  hidden  secret  of  the  phe- 
nomena! success  of  Mr.  Paxson,  the  fact  remains 
that  what  he  knows  of  art  he  learned  in  the  sage- 
brush, the  Indian  camp,  the  cattle  ranch  and  the 
mountains.  The  ability  which  enables  him  to  portray 
what  he  learned  thus  is  a natural  talent,  requiring  no 
cultivation,  so  strong,  so  vital  and  so  true  is  the  in- 
stinct of  the  artistic  sense  in  the  man.  In  addition  to 
his  more  important  works,  Mr.  Paxson  has  done  a 
considerable  illustrating  for  books,  the  illustrations 
in  Connor’s  “Man  From  Glengarry”  being  the  prod- 
uct of  his  brush. 

Several  years  ago  the  parents  of  Mr.  Paxson  came 
to  Montana  and  settled  in  Butte  where  they  might  be 
near  their  s6n  and  others  of  the  family  who  had 
come  to  the  western  state.  They  passed  their  de- 
clining years  in  Butte  and  there  are  buried.  A 
brother,  Robert  H.,  was  for  some  years  a prominent 
druggist  in  Butte,  but  he  is  now  a resident  of  the 
state  of  Oregon,  while  his  sister,  Mrs.  W.  J.  Crittenden, 
lives  in  Butte.  Mr.  Paxson  is  a Republican,  but  takes 
no  active  part  in  politics.  He  is  a member  of  the  Odd- 
fellows, the  Spanish  War  Veterans,  and  of  the  National 
Geographical  Society  at  Washington,  D.  C.  In  1904 
Mr.  Paxson  was  elected  an  honorary  member  of  the 
Marine  Club  of  Chicago,  a peculiar  and  unusual' distinc- 
tion, that  being  a ladies  club,  and  Mr.  Paxson  is  the  only 
male  member.  He  is  also  an  honorary  member  of  tbe 
Marion  A.  White  .Arts  and  Crafts  Club  of  Butte.  He 
is  an  active  member  of  the  Pioneer  Society  and  of  the 
original  Gun  Club  of  Montana.  He  is  an  expert  shot 
and  an  enthusiast,  and  has  shot  with  this  club  from  coast 
to  coast.  He  attends  the  Congregational  church  in  Mis- 
soula but  is  a member  of  no  church, 

Mr.  Paxson  was  married  in  Orchard  Park,  New 
York,  on  June  4,  1874,  to  Laura  M.  Johnson  of  that 


place  to  whom  he  owes  much  of  his  success  in  life. 
They  have  reared  a family  of  four  children, — three 
sons  and  one  daughter,  of  whom  mention  is  made  as 
follows : Loran  Custer  Paxson,  married  and  is  a resi- 
dent of  Butte.  Harry  McDonald  Paxson,  deceased, 
Robert  Cyrenas  Paxson,  unmarried  and  a member  of 
the  Paxson  household.  Leila,  now  attending  school. 

Of  the  life  of  Harry  McDonald  Paxson  brief 
mention  may  be  made  here.  He  was  born  and  reared 
in  Montana  and  there  carefully  educated.  A boy  of 
seventeen  years  when  the  Spanish-American  war  was 
declared,  he  enlisted  for  service  in  the  same  company 
in  which  his  father  was  first  lieutenant, — Company 
G.  of  the  First  Montana  Volunteers.  He  served  as  a 
bugler  in  his  company,  and  was  detached  to  Major 
Crooks’  Battalion,  and  so  distinguished  himself  in 
action  that  upon  his  return  home  at  the  close  of  the 
war  he  was  awarded  a special  medal  by  congress 
“for  conspicuous  bravery  in  action.”  When  the  war 
was  over  and  he  had  resumed  civilian  life,  he  left  his 
home  in  Butte  to  become  assistant  electrical  engineer 
in  charge  of  the  dredges  at  Ruby,  and  while  at  work 
in  the  electrical  department  of  the  Conroy  Placer 
Mining  Company  the  unfortunate  accident  occurred 
which  resulted  in  the  instantaneous  death  of  the  young 
man.  No  finer  specimen  of  young  and  brilliant  man- 
hood might  be  found  in  the  state  than  Harry  Mc- 
Donald Paxson,  and  his  loss  was  felt  in  a wide  circle 
of  admiring  and  devoted,  friends.  ITe  possessed  a 
fine  and  distinctive  character,  displaying  many  of  the 
splendid  attributes  wbich  have  made  his  father  the 
man  he  is  known  to  be.  Fie  was  devoted  to  his  home 
and  parents,  and  his  death,  coming  at  a time  when  he 
had  but  just  begun  his  life  work  and  in  which  he  had 
made  such  e.xcellent  progress,  was  a blow  from  which 
they  will  never  recover.  He  left  a wife  and  two 
little  boys,  Harry  McDonald  and  William  Edgar  Pax- 
son. 

In  further  comment  upon  the  life  of  Edgar  Paxson, 
is  quoted,  with  some  slight  omissions,  an  article  taken 
from  the  pages  of  the  Overland  Monthly  of  September, 
1906,  entitled  Edgar  Samuel  Paxson,  Pioneer,  Scout 
and  Artist,  which  can  not  fail  to  throw  some  interest- 
ing side  lights  upon  the  life  of  this  man  among  men. 
The  article  follows : “The  history-making  epoch  of  a 
country  is  rarely  ever  an  epoch  of  an  artistic  or  lit- 
erary achievement,  for  the  obvious  reason  that  men 
are  spending  their  energy  upon  the  stern  problems 
of  life  itself,  and  not  in  the  passive  reflection  thereof. 
This  is  conspicuously  true  of  the  northwest,  where 
climate,  Indians  and  a curious  hostility  among  the 
earlier  argonauts  themselves,  left  little  time  or  force 
for  the  preservation  in  color  or  language  of  the  pic- 
turesque beginnings  of  its  civilization.  However,  there 
are  a few  exceptions,  and  one  of  the  most  striking  of 
these  is  the  artist,  Edgar  S.  Paxson,  who,  coming 
from  his  native  village  near  Buffalo,  New  York,  in  the 
seventies,  reached  the  western  country  in  time  to  wit- 
ness and  participate  in  the  bitter  Indian  fights  and 
imbibe  the  rough  majesty  of  the  mountains  which  were 
still  undesecrated  by  the  petty  projects  of  man. 

“It  was  the  influence  of  the  new  life  of  adventure ; 
the  stealthy  trips  out  into  the  solitudes  in  search  of 
lurking  foes  and  elusive  game,  where  the  mountains 
seemed  to  be  dipped  in  the  color  of  the  sky,  and  the 
sun  shone  pure  gold  through  the  clear  air,  that  caused 
Paxson  to  begin  to  paint  what  he  saw.  His  home  was 
in  Deer  Lodge,  Montana,  a pretty  little  town  hemmed 
in  by  the  eternal  hills.  He  had  not  been  given  an 
art  education,  but  be  possessed  the  artistic  insight  to  a 
wohd^pl  degree,  and  with  no  impetus  save  the  love 
of  the  doin^,  he  worked  in  obscurity  for  many  years. 
But  all  the  v^hile  he  was  observing  keenly  the  minutiae 
of  the  pioneer  life  that  was  passing  like  the  mists 
from  the  mountains.  As  a scout  and  a captive  he 
studied  the  tyrannical  Indian  making  his  last  des- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1075 


perate  stand  against  the  inevitable  encroachment  of 
civilization ; as  a minister  of  mercy  in  the  hospitals 
after  the  Custer  massacre  and  Nez  Perce’s  in  Big  Hole, 
he  learned  from  the  wounded  soldiers  their  stories  of 
blood  and  glory,  and  now  in  his  studio  there  are  valu- 
able relics  of  those  tempestuous  times.  As  a trapper 
and  hunter  he  stalked  the  elk,  the  de&r,  the  Rock 
Mountain  sheep,  through  pristine  forests  and  oyer 
precipitous  steeps,  learning  all  the  while  the  subtdty 
of  it  all ; the  secret  of  the  changing  scene  spread  ma- 
jestically upon  the  infinite  canvas  of  nature.  And 
once  possessed  of  this  knowledge,  he  set  about  inter- 
preting in  color  scenes,  customs  arid  people  now  in- 
timately familiar  to  him.  The  Indian  vyas  to  be  his 
master  theme,  and  secondarily,  as  a setting,  the  snow 
clad  peaks,  the  sage-brush  and  the  plain.  The  iron- 
jawed  cayuse,  the  buffalo  and  all  the  creatures  of  the 
wilderness  were  to  find  a place  in  the  pictures  wrought 
by  this  man.  , 

“As  the  discovery  of  the  new  mines  changed  the 
relative  importance  of  the  different  camps,  Butte  be- 
came the  center  of  activity,  and  Paxson  moved  there 
from  his  earlier  home  in  Deer  Lodge.  During  the 
years  he  had  conceived  the  idea  of  painting  a picture 
of  Custer's  last  fight,  which  should,  so  far  as  was 
possible,  depict  with  absolute  faithfulness  of  detail 
that  dikstrous  battle.  With  survivors  of  the  fight, 
scouts  and  Indians,  he  went  over  the  ground  and 
through  such  information  as  they  could  give,  and  by 
means  of  the  monuments  placed  by  the  government 
in  the  exact  spot  where  each  soldier  fell,  gained  a 
knowledge  of  environment  and  detail.  Then  he  began 
the  picture  which  made  him  famous.  It  is  a large 
canvas,  showing  the  heat  of  the  fray,  with  soldier, 
Indian  and  horses  in  the  tangle  of  a sanguine  melee. 
It  was  exhibited  at  the  World’s  Fair  in  Chicago,  where 
it  attracted  general  notice,  and  it  is  still  kept  and 
shown  in  that  city.  It  was  for  six  years  in  many  of 
the  prominent  cities  of  the  East.  Since  then  he  has 
been  represented  at  all  the  national  expositions,  his 
display  at  the  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition  _ having 
elicited  a vote  of  thanks  from  the  Montana  Legislature. 
Among  his  best  canvases  there  were  ‘1804,’  ‘Jumping 
the  Wagon  Train,’  and  ‘Injuns,  b’gosh.’  Mr.  Pax- 
son’s  pictures  are  also  owned  by  many  private  collec- 
tors in  Paris,  London  and  all  over  the  United  States. 

“In  addition  to  his  painting,  Mr.  Paxson  has  done 
much  illustrating,  having  furnished  the  pictures  for 
Ralph  Connor’s  ‘Glengarry  School  Days,’  Alfred 
Henry’s  ‘By  Order  of  the  Prophet,’  and  many  other 
popular  books  of  the  day.  He  is  at  present  engaged 
upon  illustrations  for  the  ‘Life  of  the  Reverend  L.  B. 
Stateler,’  or  ‘Sixty-five  years  on  the  Frontier,’  by 
Reverend  Edwin  jf.  Stanley,  author  of  ‘Rambles  in 
Wonderland.’ 

“In  ^898,  when  the  call  came  for  volunteers  in  our 
war  with  Spain,  Paxson  responded,  and  enlisted  in  the 
First  Montana  Infantry,  U.  S.  V.,  and  was  commis- 
sioned a first  lieutenant.  The  old  spirit  of  the'  seven- 
ties was  alive  again,  and  fie,  among  many  another  vet- 
eran of  the  Indian  cafrip^ns,  abandoned  the  pursuits 
of  peace  for  the  adventiire  and  vicissitude  of  war. 
This  period  among  the  tropical  islands  of  the  Phil- 
ippines has  left  no  appreciable  trace  upon  his  art,  and 
when  Mr.  Paxson  laid  down  his  sword  for  the  brush, 
it  was  to  resume  the  theme  he  had  chosen  in  youth 
as  his  life  work. 

“In  the  little  studio,  perched  up  high  on  the  famous 
Anaconda  Hill,  within  hearing  of  the  booming  and 
throbbing  of  the  engines  of  the  mines,  amid^iuge 
smoke  stacks,  hoists  and  shafthouses,  and  in  fj|^\'iew 
of  the  great  unshorn  bulk  of  the  Continental  Divide, 
Mr.  Paxson  can  be  found  almost  any  afternoon.  He 
is  a quiet,  serious  looking  man,  little  inclined  to  ‘blow 
his  own  horn,’  as  he  himself  has  said.  But  he  does 
like  to  show  his  visitors  the  wealth  of  curiosities 
voi.  n— 1 5 


gathered  during  his  long  life  as  an  artist  and  a col- 
Jector.  There  are  bows  and  arrows,  buckskin  coats, 
beaded  in  curiously  wrought  patterns,  one  of  which 
was  made  by  Sitting  Bull’s  daughter  and  worn  by  an 
American  officer  in  the  Custer  fight.  There  are  moc- 
casins, belts,  necklaces  of  eagle  talons,  and  strange 
head  dresses  of  feathers ; baskets,  ancient  rifles,  each 
with  its  story,  and  more  besides  than  the  casual  ob- 
server can  hope  to  grasp  at  a single  viewing.  One 
would  travel  far  to  find  a choicer  collection  of  rare 
relics.  The  bead  work  alone  is  fit  for  a museum. 

■‘Here  in  this  atmosphere  of  the  Indian,  his  craft 
and  his  tradition,  Mr.  Paxson  sits  and  works  upon  the 
canvases,  disposed  upon  easels  about  the  studio.  There 
are  brave  scenes  of  the  chase  and  among  the  best  of 
/them  are  the  buffalo  hunts.  Overhead,  the  ceiling 
j is  decorated  with  a frieze  of  Indian  masks,  pipes  of 
1 peace  and  arrows,  done  in  warm  sepia  by  the  artist. 
\ Beneath  one’s  feet  are  deer  skins  which  tell  the  tale 
\pf  those  early  expeditions  into  the  heart  of  the  hills, 
Md  not  a few  antlers  and  bleached  skulls  peer  down 
frvom  the  walls,  or  lie  among  the  heaps  of  books  and 
portfolios  upon  the  floor. 

'■‘Many  a pilgrim  from  the  East  and  West  climbs  the 
steep  hill  and  knocks  at  the  artist’s  door.  In  the  book 
or  register  which  he  keeps  one  sees  distinguished  sig- 
natures and  reads  sentiments  of  kindly  interest  and 
good  wishes  from  soldiers,  artists,  writers,  and  some 
of  the  Indian  chiefs,  themselves,  who,  grave,  blanketed 
and  serene,  have  set  their  cross  mark  next  to  the 
names  of  the  bravest  of  their  whilom  foes. 

“Thus  he  of  the  opposing  whites  who  fought  cour- 
ageously in  the  winning  of  the  wilderness,  has  become, 
in  a sense,  the  disciple  of  the  passing  race,  and  when 
the  fleeting  figure  of  the  Red  man  has  gone  forever 
from  the  shifting  scene  of  life,  it  will  still  live  upon 
the  canvas  of  its  faithful  interpreter,  and  the  name  of 
the  Indian  ana  the  Master  will  forever  be  linked  to- 
gether in  the  history  of  the  Might}-  West.’’ 

George  L.  Overfield  is  another  of  those  men  of  whom 
one  speaks  with  pride  as  having  passed  from  adversity 
through  achievement  to  prosperity.  From  the  post- 
bellum  days,  when  after  the  wreck  of  family  fortunes 
by  war,  he  worked  on  a farm  for  a few  cents  a day, 
to  the  period  when  he  could  contribute  a thousand  a 
year  to  the  support  of  his  parents,  his  life  has  included 
years  of  industry  of  patience,  of  thrift  and  of  thought- 
ful decisions.  Many  changes  of  location  have  been 
included  in  those  years,  but  behind  each  change  was 
some  rational  purpose.  George  L.  Overfield  was  the 
son  of  John  E.  and  Sarah  (Hanshaw)  Overfield,  both 
of  whom  were  natives_  of  old  "Virginia,  the  former  being 
a veteran  of  the  Union  army  at  the  time  of  George 
Overfield’s  youth.  The  father  died  in  1899  at  the  age 
of  sixty-three  and  the  mother  in  1893  at  the  age  of 
fifty-seven.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  third 
in  the  family  of  three  sons  and  three  daughters.  His 
education  was  that  of  the  public  schools,  pursued  until 
he  had_  reached  the  age  of  fourteen  years.  On  the 
conclusion  of  the  war,  the  family  plantation  having 
been  lost  to  them  at  that  time,  his  parents  moved  to 
West  Virginia.  There  the  father  engaged  in  mercantile 
business.  George  Overfield  eventually  determined  upon 
going  into  the  same  kind  of  work  and  at  Grafton,  West 
"Virginia,  he  accepted  a position  in  the  store  of  his 
mother’s  brother,  who  had  a general  merchandise  estab- 
lishment there.  After  three  years  he  passed  to  similar 
work  in  western  Maryland  and  later  to  other  employ- 
ment of  the  same  sort  in  Piedmont,  "VVest  "Virginia. 
After  continuing  in  that  place  for  five  years,  he  went 
north  with  J.  W.  Bradshaw,  a merchant  who  was  the 
son  of  John  W.  Bradshaw,  the  master  of  the  Baltimore 
& Ohio  Railroad.  At  Burton  station.  West  Virginia, 
he  became  assistant  agent  and  clerk  in  the  general  mer- 
chandise store.  Here  he  remained  for  three  years. 


1076 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


In  December,  1877,  Mr.  Overfield  made  a more  decided 
change.  Traveling  westward  to  Montana,  he  took  a 
position  with  the  Rolla  & Clark  wholesale  dry  goods 
house,  a wholesale  establishment  in  Helena,  Montana. 

On  June  4,  1880,  Mr.  Overfield  resigned  his  position 
here  to  establish  himself  in  a business  of  his  own,  in 
partnership  with  I.  F.  Churchill.  At  Centerville,  on 
the  old  Bozeman  tr.ail,  opposite  Bedford,  they  located 
their  store  which  was  a retail  house  handling  dry 
goods,  boots  and  shoes.  In  the  spring  of  1881,  this 
store  was  sold  to  James  Barker.  After  another  season 
with  Rolla  & Clark  at  Helena,  he  returned  to  Fort 
Benton,  where  he  became  assistant  manager  for  I.  G. 
Baker  & Company,  so  continuing  until  1884.  At  that 
time  he  was  transferred  by  them  to  the  northwest 
territory  and  located  at  Fort  McCloud.  When  the  firm 
sold  out  to  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  in  1890,  Mr. 
Overfield  returned  to  Fort  Benton  once  more.  His 
next  removal  was  to  Billings,  where  he  had  charge  of 
the  business  of  J.  H.  Conrad  firm,  by  whom  he  was 
presently  transferred  to  Red  Lodge,  where  he  re- 
mained until  1892.  He  was  then  stationed  at  Great 
Falls,  where  he  was  made  assignee  for  the  largest  of 
the  Joe  Conrad  dry  goods  stores.  Mr.  Overfield’s 
supervision  was  such  that  the  stock  was  soon  reduced 
to  the  value  of  $20,000,  after  which  he  purchased  the 
remainder.  A period  ensued  in  which  he  conducted  his 
store  successfully,  eventually  selling  out  to  the  Strain 
Brothers,  who  are  now  the  leading  dry  goods  mer- 
chants in  Great  Falls.  After  that  deal,  Mr.  Overfield 
took  over  the  Great  Falls  store,  owned  by  George  Thir, 
also  managing  the  W.  B.  Rolla  & Company  dry  goods 
business  of  Great  Falls,  for  a continued  period  until 
forced  by  ill  health  to  resign  the  position  and  return 
to  Fort  Benton. 

Throughout  these  years  of  mercantile  service,  Mr. 
Overfield  had  been  so  arranging  his  affairs,  pecuniary 
and  otherwise,  as  to  make  possible,  in  1882,  his  engag- 
ing in  the  very  profitable  enterprise  of  cattle-dealing. 
He  is  president  of  the  Shonkin  Stock  Association,  a 
company  incorporated  for  twenty-five  thousand  dollars. 
Dr.  John  V.  Carrol  is  one  of  the  leading  stockholders 
in  this  corporation.  George  Overfield  is  also  a director 
of  the  Benton  State  Bank,  of  which  he  is  also  a stock- 
holder; a director  and  stockholder  of  the  Benton  Elec- 
tric Light  Company,  for  which  he  acts  as  both  Sec- 
retary and  treasurer  and  manager.  Dr.  Carrol  being 
president  : and  a director  and  stockholder  of  the  Baker 
opera  house.  As  bounty  inspector  of  the  Chouteau 
County  State  Stock  Association  for  the  state  of  Mon- 
tana, Mr.  Overfield  has  served  for  several  years. 

Evidences  of  the  public  faith  in  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  are  seen  in  the  fact  of  his  having  held  important 
offices.  For  three  terms  of  six  years  he  served  on 
the  city  council ; he  has  also  held  the  office  of  county 
commissioner  by  appointment  from  the  court. 

Mr.  Overfield  is  popular  in  fraternal  circles  as  a 
member  of  the  Ancient,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons;  as 
a Knight  Templar;  as  a member  of  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks,  of  which  he  was  in  Great 
Falls  a charter  member;  and  as  a former  member  of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias,  in  which  he  was  of  the  uni- 
form rank.  It  should  be  added  that  he  was  also  a 
charter  member  of  the  Electric  Club  of  Great  Falls. 

The  Overfield  home  was  established  September  22, 
1900,  when  the  subject  was  married  to  Miss  Alice  M. 
Daly,  a native  of  England,  but  before  her  marriage 
a resident  of  Helena.  The  first  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Overfield  was  George  L.,  who  was  born  July  20,  1900, 
but  who  died  October  4,  1903.  Alice,  the  daughter, 
came  to  the  Overfield  home  on  October  22,  1904. 
Another  son,  David  Bashan,  was  born  in  Wichita, 
Kansas,  May  8,  1906. 

Mr.  Overfield’s  career  has  been  one  representing 
much  patience  and  self-denial.  He  is  to  be  congratu- 
lated that  the  hard  years,  in  which  at  the  end  of  much 
toil  he  had  not  the  wherewithal  to  buy  a straw  hat,  are 


of  the  past ; and  that,  with  his  many  profitable  invest- 
ments, his  numerous  ranches  and  other  real  estate,  he 
is  in  a position  to  be  both  a credit  and  a benefit  to'  the 
town  which  is  his  home. 

John  J.  Blessing.  One  of  the  leading  and  substan- 
tial citizens  'of  Meagher  county  is  John  J.  Blessing, 
who  is  engaged  extensively  in  the  lumber  business, 
and  in  building  and  contracting,  and  who,  having 
arrived  in  Montana  as  early  as  1877,  may  almost  be 
accounted  a pioneer.  He  has  resided  in  this  place  sftice 
the  year  1879,  and  has  exerted  a definite  influence  to- 
ward its  prosperity.  Here  he  has  enjoyed  success, 
and  it  has  been  that  particularly  admirable  success 
which  means  also  the  wholesome  good  fortune  of  the 
community.  His  lumber  operations  are  in  associa- 
tion with  Mr.  F.  P.  Edwards,  the  firm  having  the  cap- 
tion of  Blessing  & Edwards,  and  are  extensive  in 
scope. 

Mr.  Blessing  hails  from  the  Buckeye  state,  his  eyes 
having  first  opened  to  the  light  of  day  in  Independence, 
Ohio,  on  October  10,  1858.  He  remained  amid  the 
scenes  of  his  nativity  until  about  the  age  of  nineteen, 
when,  like  so  many  of  the  flower  of  young  manhood  of 
his  day  and  generation,  he  followed  the  star  of  empire 
westward  and  located  within  the  borders  of  Montana. 
His  first  residence  was  at  Fort  Logan,  where  he  stayed 
for  only  about  six  months.  He  then  came  to  White 
Sulphur  Springs  and  during  his  long  residence  here 
followed  contracting  and  building.  He  owns  a lum- 
ber yard  in  connection  with  his  contracting  and  build- 
ing work,  and  is  one  of  the  largest  operators  in  his 
line  within  a radius  of  many  miles.  His  record  as  a 
builder  in  this  thriving  community  has  been  an  envia- 
ble one,  and  there  are  many  fine,  substantial  erections 
to  his  credit  in  Meagher  county.  What  he  builds  is 
destined  to  exist  and  he  has  a fine  reputation  for  skilled 
and  excellent  work.  For  a time  about  the  year  1890 
he  also  engaged  in  the  furniture  business  at  this  place, 
but  his  other  interests  proved  too  large  and  impor- 
tant to  admit  of  activities  in  another  field  and  he  sold 
his  furniture  business  in  four  years. 

Mr.  Blessing  is  the  son  of  Joseph  Blessing,  a native 
of  Germany.  The  elder  gentleman  came  to  America 
when  about  thirty  years  of  age  and  located  in  Ohio 
where  he  followed  farming  and  the  lumber  business. 
He  was  a man  typical  of  those  fine  characteristics  and 
unusual  intelligence  which  is  the  birthright  of  the 
Teutonic  immigrant  to  our  shores,  and  he  became  a 
man  of  influence  in  his  community.  He  died  in  the 
prime  of  life,  his  years  numbering  but  forty-five  when 
summoned  to  the  life  eternal  in  18^.  The  maiden 
name  of  his  wife  was  Catherine  Garrett,  whom  he 
married  in  Ohio,  and  this  lady  survives,  making  her 
home  in  Independence,  Ohio.  There  were  seven  chil- 
dren in  the  elder  Blessing  family,  the  subject  being 
the  second  in  order  of  nativity.  The  subject  is  not 
the  only  one  of  his  family  to  have  sought  the  oppor- 
tunitie.s-  of  the  Golden  West,  for  he  has  a half-brother 
in  this  state  and  two  married  sisters  in  California. 

Mr.  Blessing  was  reared  on  his  father’s  farm  in 
Ohio  and  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  Independence  and  Cleveland,  Ohio.  The  first  money 
he  earned  was  when  as  a lad  of  sixteen  he  began  learn- 
ing tbe  carpenter  business,  his  wages  being  three  dol- 
lars per  week.  The  proceeds  he  invested  in  carpenter’s 
tools. 

Mr.  Blessing  laid  one  of  the  most  important  stones 
in  the  foundation  of  his  success  by  his  marriage  to 
Catheryn  Hayes,  their  union  being  celebrated  at  Dun- 
das,  ^pnada,  January  9,  1885.  Mrs.  Blessing  was  the 
daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Hayes,  of  Dundas. 
These  children  have  been  born  to  bless  their  happy 
union  : Edith  R.,  wife  of  Dr.  Frank  Thomas,  of  Sand 
Coule,  Montana ; Austin  J.,  also  residing  at  present  in 
Sand  Coule,  where  he  and  his  brother-in-law.  Dr. 
Thomas,  are  operating  a coal  mine  in  which  Mr.  Bless- 


t 


VIEW  OF  BELT,  taken  in  1899 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1077 


ing,  the  doctor  and  Austin  J.  arc  all  interested ; and 
Laurence  J.,  still  in  school. 

The  subject  and  his  family  are  communicants  of  the 
Catholic  church  and  generous  supporters  of  the  same. 
The  former  has  decided  tastes  and  thoroughly  enjoys 
himself  with  rod  and  gun,  or  when  witnessing  a really 
good  game  of  baseball.  He  loves  every  inch  of  Mon- 
tana, the  state  overflowing  with  opportunities  for  rich 
and  poor  alike  and  he  has  paid  his  own  debt  of  grati- 
tude by  the  constant  exercise  of  the  best  and  most 
public-spirited  citizenship  possible. 

John  K.  Castner.  History  is  but  the  essence  of  bi- 
ography and  biography  is  a record  of  the  deeds  and 
doings  of  men.  As  a chronicle  in  this  edition  of  the 
Belt  Valley  Times  is  a record  of  the  careers  of  our  lead- 
ing business  men  who  have  added  lustre  to  the  annals 
of  our  city’s  history,  we  point  with  pride  to  the  life, 
labor  and  efforts  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Mr. 
Castner  is  an  early  day  pioneer  and  his  life  has  been 
replete  with  interest  and  furnishes  ample  data  for  the 
descriptive  pen  of  the  annalist  and  historian.  When 
future  writers  chronicle  the  story  of  the  progress  of 
Montana,  prominent  among  those  who  have  played  a 
leading  part  in  this  vast  empire  will  be  inscribed  the 
name  of  John  K.  Castner  of  the  city  of  Belt.  Mr.  Cast- 
ner takes  high  rank  among  the  old  time  pioneers  of  the 
state  and  on  his  merits  alone  comes  in  for  very  honor- 
able distinction  in  these  pages  as  we  pass  in  review  the 
celebrities  of  our  city.  An  attempt  to  narrate  even  in 
epitome  the  incidents  which  have  characterized  the  ca- 
reer of  Mr.  Castner,  would  transcend  the  normal  prov- 
ince of  this  edition,  yet  it  would  be  culpable  negligence 
were  there  failure  to  advent  to  their  more  salient  de- 
tails, for  he  stands  out  as  the  “Father  of  Belt,”  the  orig- 
inal discoverer  of  the  great  coal  fields  surrounding  our 
prosperous  and  busy  city.  He  may  be  called  the  foun- 
der of  the  city  and  is  prominent  in  business  affairs, 
takes  a keen  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  community 
and  moreover,  is  one  of  our  most  highly  esteemed 
citizens. 

Mr.  Castner  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, on  September  22,  1844.  He  attended  the  schools 
of  his  native  commonwealth  when  a lad  and  taught 
school  for  a term  in  his  early  manhood  days.  In  1867 
he  took  Horace  Greeley’s  sage  advice  and  came  by 
steamboat  down  the  Ohio  river  to  St.  Louis,  from  there 
continuing  his  journey  westward  up  the  Missouri  river 
to  a point  near  Fort  Benton,  stopping  off  at  Cow  Island 
at  the  mouth  of  Cow  creek,  125  miles  east  of  the  old  his- 
toric fort.  There  he  entered  upon  his  first  job  in  the 
then  “wild  and  woolly”  west  as  freight_  watchman.  A 
few  months  later  he  let  another  have  his  job  while  he 
secured  work  at  “whacking  bulls”  from  Cow  Island  to 
Fort  Benton.  During  the  years  1868  and  1869,  in  com- 
pany with  Joe  Largent,  he  located  on  a squatter  s claim 
near  Ulm  on  the  Missouri  river,  wintering  on  Sun 
river. 

After  three  years  of  “pioneer”  ranching,  cutting  hay, 
fighting  mosquitoes  amid  the  spice  of  “frontier  life” 
with  buffaloes  and  with  Indians,  Mr.  Castner  sold  out 
to  Mr.  Largent,  who,  by  the  way,  has  grown  to  be  the 
land  baron  of  the  Ulm  country,  owning  not  only  the 
original  squatter’s  claims  but  the  Ulm  estate.  Mr.  Cast- 
ner then  fitted  himself  up  with  mule  outfits  for  freight- 
ing and  which  he  followed  for  many  years.  During 
1869  a company  of  “pioneers”  of  the  country  visited  the 
great  falls  on  the  Missouri  river.  Mr.  Castner  said  the 
party  then  predicted  that  if  they  lived  out  their  natural 
lives,  they  believed  they  would  see  the  countr}'  settle  up 
some  day,  and  a town  near  the  falls,  but  some  doubteS. 
The  following  year,  1870,  Mr.  Castner  started  on  a 
touring  expedition  on  horseback  to  explore  the  great 
stretches  lying  open  before  him  which,  as  we  have  said, 
was  inhabited  by  the  wild  beasts  that  roamed  over  the 


plains  and  the  Indians,  whose  paradise  was  the  Montana 
hunting  grounds. 

In  those  days  rivers  had  to  be  forded  or  swam  across 
and  on  that  trip  this  was  one  of  Mr.  Castner’s  adven- 
turous experiences  just  prior  to  reaching  the  Belt  coun- 
try, where  he  discovered  coal  formations  forty-one  years 
ago.  In  his  boyhood  days  Mr.  Castner  was  raised  in 
the  famous  Monongahela  valley,  a great  coal  region,  and 
this  made  the  discovery  comparatively  easy  when  trav- 
ersing this  section  of  the  country  so  many  years  ago. 

Seven  years  thereafter,  in  1877,  when  there  was  a de- 
mand for  coal  in  the  west,  Mr.  Castner  returned  to  the 
Belt  country  and  commenced  freighting  coal  to  Fort 
Benton.  His  first  load  was  a trial  one  and  after  haul- 
ing it  all  the  way  from  here  to  Fort  Benton  he  gave  it 
away  to  the  people  of  the  town  to  test  it  and  see  if  it 
really  would  burn.  He  held  down  his  mining  claims, 
plotted  a townsite,  freighted  coal  to  various  markets  up 
to  1894,  when  in  conjunction  with  Senator  T.  C.  Powers, 
who  also  owned  a mining  claim,  sold  out  his  interests 
to  the  present  A.  C.  M.  Co.,  then  under  the  management 
of  the  late  Marcus  Daly. 

Since  that  time  great  changes  and  the  most  marvelous 
developments  have  taken  place  in  the  mines,  town,  and 
in  fact  the  entire  country  surrounding  the  town  has  be- 
come populated  and  is  a great  farming,  stock-raising, 
and  even  fruit-growing  section  of  Montana.  Belt  no 
longer  is  merely  a coal  camp.  It  is  the  second  largest 
city  in  Cascade  county,  and  promises  with  its  super- 
abundance of  cheap  fuel  to  attract  the  manufacturer  to 
the  town.  Even  now  it  has  a chance  to  excel  Great 
Falls,  the  county  seat,  as  a city  of  industries  in  the  not 
too  far  distant  future.  The  coal  company  here  gives 
work  to  nearly  300  miners  and  there  is  a good  payroll 
every  month.  Besides,  there  are  a half  dozen  or  more 
coal  prospects  being  opened  up  and  worked  to  some  ex- 
tent, and  when  the  market  justifies  a great  output  will 
be  the  order  of  the  day  here. 

The  main  street  of  the  town  is  Castner  street,  called 
after  Mr.  Castner.  He  also  owns  the  Castner  Hotel, 
one  of  the  most  famous  hotels  in  the  state,  and  operated 
it  for  over  thirty  years.  The  town  of  Belt  was  incor- 
porated in  1907  and  Mr.  Castner  was  unanimously  chosen 
the  first  mayor,  which  position  he  filled  with  honor  for 
three  years.  Last,  but  not  least,  he  is  the  president  of 
the  Belt  board  of  education.  “Education”  is  his  hobby. 
He  prides  himself  in  the  good  schools  of  the  town  and 
let  it  be  said  that  for  educational  advantages  in  public 
schools,  high  schools  or  business  college  work,  no 
town  in  the  west  is  superior  to  Belt.  The  high  school  is 
an  accredited  institution  to  the  state  university  and 
President  Dunnaway  and  the  state  governor  on  their 
recent  visit  to  the  town  highly  complimented  the  board 
and  the  townspeople  on  the  high  character  of  their 
educational  facilities  and  standing  of  the  school  and 
the  most  excellent  well-trained  teachers  who  have  the 
work  of  the  training  of  the  youth — “Young  America” — 
in  hand.  When  the  new  high  school  was  completed 
Mr.  Castner  donated  to  the  institution  his  own  fine  pri- 
vate library,  a rare  collection  of  scientific  works,  his- 
tories, letters  of  men  of  note,  etc.,  etc.  In  so  short  an 
article  as  this  it  is  impossible  to  go  into  details  to  tell 
of  the  good  things  Mr.  Castner  has  done  for  Belt,  but 
suffice  it  to  say  that  to  no  one  man  is  due  more  credit 
for  the  making  of  Belt  than  Mr.  Castner.  He  is  the 
town’s  chief  realty  operator  and  is  also  the  official 
notary  public. 

His  record  for  fair  dealing  has  made  for  him  a host 
of  friends  and  the  interests  of  the  investor  as  well  as 
the  seller  are  safe  in  his  hands. 

We  cannot  place  too  much  emphasis  upon  the  value 
of  such  a man  to  a growing  community.  Mr.  Castner 
will  enter  on  his  sixty-eighth  year  on  the  22nd  day  of 
September.  He  is  hale  and  hearty  and  full  of  mental 
vigor.  He  is  an  enthusiastic  Republican  and  an  ardent 
admirer  of  “America’s  Idol,”  Ex-President  Theodore 


1078 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


Roosevelt,  whom  he  visited  some  time  ago  in  the  White 
House  at  Washington,  D.  C. 

Mrs.  Castner  has  a fine  stock  ranch  in  the  Highwood 
mountains  and  is  beloved  by  all  who  know  her. 

Time  nor  space  will  permit  the  elaboration  of  a 
biographical  sketch  in  this  edition.  As  we  refer  to  the 
men  of  note  in  our  growing  city  we  take  pleasure  in 
according  Mr.  Castner  this  altogether  too  brief  mention 
and  award  him  a high  place  in  these  columns  as  we  pass 
in  review.  Mr.  Castner  is  a member  of  the  lodge  of 
Odd  Fellows  and  takes  a great  interest  in  the  doings  of 
the  order.  He  is  also  a director  of  the  North  Montana 
Fair  Association  and  is  also  a member  of  the  Montana 
State  Pioneers'  Society. 

Joseph  Stukcieon  is  without  doubt  one  of  the  longest 
established  residents  of  Valier.  in  which  town  he  was 
located  before  it  was  named  or  had  a building.  In  fact, 
he  used  the  townsite  for  a grazing  spot  for  his  cattle 
at  one  time,  in  the  earlier  days  when  he  confined  his 
interests  to  the  cattle  business.  With  the  passing  years, 
however,  i\Ir.  Sturgeon  has  added  one  interest  to  an- 
other, until  he  is  now  identified  with  various  business 
industries  in  this  section  of  the  state.  He  is  actively 
engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in  Valier  and  has 
wide  mining  interests,  as  well  as  being  identified  with 
the  stock  business.  Altogether,  he  is  one  of  the  enter- 
prising and  progressive  men  of  the  county,  and  as  such 
is  eminently  deserving  of  some  mention,  even  though  of 
necessity  it  be  brief,  in  the  pages  of  this  historical  and 
biographical  work. 

Mr.  Sturgeon  was  born  in  New  York  state  on  No- 
vember i8.  1859,  and  is  the  son  of  Henry  E.  and  Ann 
(Duffy)  Sturgeon,  The  father  was  a native  of  Eng- 
land who  came  to  America  in  1849,  settling  in  Schenec- 
tady, New  York,  where  he  was  engaged  as  a merchant 
up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  took  place  there  in 
1870.  The  wife  and  mother  was  born  in  Dublin,  Ire- 
land, and  she  came  to  the  United  States  in  1847.  the 
same  year  in  which  her  husband  emigrated  from  Eng- 
land. They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  all  boys, 
b'ive  of  them  migrated  to  (Montana  and  are  numbered 
among  the  early  pioneers  of  this  great  state.  Joseph  and 
Harry  are  now  deceased.  Charles  is  a resident  of  Ore- 
gon ; James  is  a resident  of  California;  Joseph,  subject 
of  this  review;  Henry  was  in  General  Hagden’s  survey 
party  that  laid  out  Camp  Baker,  Fort  Sheridan  and  the 
National  Park.  He  helped  to  bury  the  soldiers  after  the 
Custer  massacre  and  was  a witness  at  Washington  in 
the  investigation  which  followed  that  disastrous  battle. 
John  and  Joseph  were  associated  in  the  cattle  business 
in  Beaverhead  county  in  the  early  days,  and  were  among 
the  early  settlers  of  Butte. 

For  twenty-five  years  Mr.  Sturgeon  was  located  on 
Nevada  creek,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  stock  busi- 
ness, near  Helenville,  and  to  him  is  given  the  credit  for 
having  carried  on  the  first  ranching  in  Douglas  county. 
From  there  he  removed  to  Teton  county,  locating  in 
Dupuyer,  where  he  engaged  in  mercantile  lines,  still 
continuing  with  the  stock  business,  and  despite  his  many 
other  enterprises,  Mr.  Sturgeon  now  carries  on  his 
ranching  business  in  Teton  county,  where  he  controls 
more  than  two  thousand  acres  of  ranch  lands.  His 
mining  properties  in  Deer  Lodge  and  Granite  county 
require  a deal  of  his  attention,  and  his  mercantile  in- 
terests in  Valier  make  heavy  draughts  upon  his  time, 
but  he  is  able  to  give  some  consideration  to  affairs  of  a 
civic  nature,  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  public- 
spirited  citizens  of  the  community.  He  is  a Republican, 
but  has  no  political  ambitions.  Fraternally,  Mr.  Stur- 
geon is  a member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  of  Havre,  Montana.  His  success,  which  has 
been  of  the  highest  order,  has  been  entirely  of  his  own 
making,  as  he  came  to  Montana  in  1877  when  he  was 
but  eighteen  years  of  age.  with  no  resources  beyond  his 
native  pluck  and  energy,  and  he  has  amply  demonstrated 


the  winning  power  of  those  qualities,  when  backed  by 
qualities  of  honesty  and  integrity. 

On  September  28,  1911,  Mr.  Sturgeon  married  Miss 
ionetta  Lawrence,  the  daughter  of  John  Lawrence  of 
Neihart,  Cascade  county,  a pioneer  resident  of  the  state. 

James  Albert  Poore,  B.  L.  D.,  is  assistant  attorney 
general  for  the  state  of  Montana,  and  at  the  same  time 
one  of  the  rising  young  representatives  of  the  legal 
piofession  in  his  state.  In  the  few  short  years  that 
have  intervened  since  he  was  graduated  from  the  law 
department  of  the  University  of  Virginia,  he  has  made 
rapid  strides  in  material  advancement,  and  his  appoint- 
ment to  the  important  position  he  has  held  since  May, 
1910,  came  as  a most  speaking  testimonial  of  the  intrin- 
sic worth  of  the  young  man  in  his  relation  to  the  pro- 
fession of  which  he  is  a representative. 

Born  December  15,  1879,  in  Boulder,  Montana,  James 
Albert  Poore  is  the  son  of  James  and  Jane  Poore,  both 
born  in  England.  The  father  was  born  on  August  29, 
1829,  of  a long  line  of  English  ancestors,  and  he  came 
to  America  in  1849,  reaching  Montana  for  the  first 
time  in  1863.  Pie  followed  placer  mining  in  the  state 
for  some  years,  his  principal  operations  being  carried 
on  at  Virginia  City,  Last  Chance  Gulch,  Butte,  and  in 
the  vicinity  of  Boulder.  He  then  returned  to  England, 
where  he  married,  and  in  1877  came  west  to  Montana 
with  his  bride.  He  died  there  on  February  14,  1902, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years.  The  mother,  Jane 
Taylor  (Baldwin)  Poore,  was  born  in  England  on 
October  2,  1846,  of  English  ancestry,  and  she  accom- 
panied her  husband  to  Montana  in  1877,  after  her  mar- 
riage in  her  native  land.  She  survives  her  husband  and 
shares  the  home  of  her  son,  James  A.  Poore,  of  this 
review.  These  parents  reared  a family  of  four  chil- 
dren, born  in  the  order  in  which  they  are  briefly  men- 
tioned below ; Sarah  Maude  Boyington,  the  only  daugh- 
ter, is  a resident  of  Los  Angeles,  California;  James 
Albert,  of  Butte,  Montana;  Thomas  T.,  also- of  Butte, 
and  Philip  George,  residing  in  Helena,  Montana. 

James  Albert  Poore  attended  the  common  schools 
of  Boulder,  as  a boy,  later  entering  the  Helena  Business 
College  at  Helena  and  still  later  taking  a course  in 
the  Butte  Business  College.  In  1898,  when  he  was 
nineteen  years  old,  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  law 
firm  of  Forbis  & Mattison,  at  Butte,  in  the  capacity  of 
law  clerk  and  stenographer,  and  there  he  remained 
until  he  had  accumulated  sufficient  funds  to  enable  him 
to  take  a course  in  law  at  the  university.  In  the 
autumn  of  1903,  Mr.  Poore  matriculated  in  the  law 
department  of  the  University  of  Virginia  and  he  was 
graduated  from  that  department  with  the  degree  of 
B.  L.  in  1905.  He  returned  to  Butte  and  opened  an 
office  for  the  practice  of  law  immediately  thereafter, 
and  he  still  maintains  offices  in  this  city,  where  he 
has  made  his  home. 

In  the  fall  of  1908,  Mr.  Poore  was  nominated  by  the 
Republican  party,  whose  adherent  he  is,  as  their  can- 
didate for  the  office  of  county  attorney  for  Silver  Bow 
county,  but  he  was  defeated  by  the  Democratic  nominee; 
a fact  readily  e.xplained  when  it  is  known  that  the 
county  is  a Democratic  one  by  several  thousand.  In 
May,  1910,  he  was  appointed  assistant  attorney  gen- 
eral of  Montana,  which  position  he  has  continued  to 
hold  up  to  the  present  time,  and  will  go  out  with  the 
present  Republican  attorney  general  on  the  first  Mon- 
day in  January,  1913.  It  is  the  intention  of  Mr.  Poore 
to  devote  his  entire  time  to  his  law  practice  in  Butte 
after  the  first  of  the  year,  where  he  has  an  excellent 
reputation  for  legal  ability,  and  where  he  has  gained 
the  respect  and  confidence  of  all  who  have  come  to  know 
him  in  the  years  of  his  residence  here.  He  has  always 
enjoyed  an  agreeable  business  practice,  and  his  appoint- 
ment to  the  position  of  assistant  attorney  general  has 
laid  upon  him  added  duties  and  responsibilities  which 
have  made  him  one  of  the  busiest  young  men  in  Butte. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1079 


That  he  is  fast  rising  in  the  ranks  of  the  legal  profes- 
sion is  conceded  by  all,  and  a brilliant  future  is  predicted 
for  him. 

Mr.  Poore  is  a member  of  the  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks,  Silver  Bow  Lodge  No.  240,  and 
also  of  the  Silver  Bow  Club.  He  was  married  on  June 
3,  1911,  to  Miss  Mamie  Lingo,  the  daughter  of  Archie 
and  Mary  Lingo,  of  Twin  Falls,  Idaho. 

Harry  P.  Stanford  has  come  to  be  the  proprietor 
of  one  of  the  leading  taxidermy  establishments  in  the 
state,  and  is  recognized  far  and  wide  in  Montana  for  one 
of  the  ablest  men  in  his  line  of  business.  Mr.  Stan- 
ford was  born  in  Halifax,  Nova  Scotia,  on  October  3, 
1867,  and  is  the  son  of  James  and  Catherine  (Coggan) 
Stanford.  Both  were  natives  of  England.  The  father 
came  to  Canada  as  a young  man,  and  he  died  in  that 
country  in  1872  when  he  was  sixty-eight  years  old.  He 
was  a well-known  leather  manufacturer  of  his  com- 
munity. His  wife  died  in  Kalispell,  Montana,  in  1894, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-four. 

When  Harry  P.  Stanford  was  ten  years  of  age  he 
came  to  Montana  with  his  mother,  locating  first  in 
Fort  Benton,  in  which  place  he  attended  school  until 
he  was  sixteen  years  old.  When  at  that  age  he  went 
with  I.  G.  Baker  & Company  and  remained  in  their 
employ  until  he  was  in  his  twenty-third  year,  after 
which  he  entered  the  police  service,  and  served  as  a 
policeman  in  Fort  Benton  and  in  Kalispell,  in  which 
latter  place  he  was  at  one  time  chief  of  police,  being  the 
first  man  to  hold  that  position  in  Kalispell.  He  held 
that  position  during  the  year  1892,  and  again  held  the 
same  office  in  1897  and  1898.  Leaving  that  office,  Mr. 
Stanford  entered  the  taxidermy  business,  and  estab- 
lished a shop  at  504  West  Fifth  street,  at  which  place 
he  has  been  continuously  engaged  since  that  time.  He 
conducts  a popular  establishment,  which  is  well  patro- 
nized by  the  best  trade  in  the  country,  and  the  high  class 
of  work  he  performs  is  his  greatest  recommendation 
to  the  public. 

Air.  Stanford  is  one  of  the  four  children  of  his  par- 
ents. The  others  are:  James  T.  of  Great  Falls;  Airs.  C. 
E.  Conrad,  of  Kalispell:  and  George,  of  Somers,  Alon- 
tana. 

In  1890  Mr.  Stanford  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Aliss  Anna  Hanlon,  of  Kalispell,  Montana.  No  chil- 
dren have  come  to  them. 

Mr.  Stanford  is  a Republican  in  his  political  allegiance, 
and  is  a meiuber  of  the  Kalispell  Club,  but  maintains 
no  other  social  or  fraternal  ties.  He  is  one  of  the  well 
known  and  successful  men  of  the  city,  and  has  a large 
circle  of  friends  in  the  state. 

Alfred  C.  Warner,  United  States  commissioner  of 
Alontana  and  a resident  of  Choteau,  has  had  a varied 
experience  in  his  career  both  in  regard  to  his  locations 
and  to  the  character  of  his  employment.  His  first  ex- 
perience in  Alontana  was  from  1877  to  1882,  and  his 
residence  has  been  continuous  there  since  1885.  During 
this  long  period  he  has  become  well  and  favorably 
known,  especially  in  Teton  county,  where  the  major 
portion  of  the  intervening  years  has  been  spent,  and  he 
deserves  mention  in  this  history  of  Montana  by  reason 
both  of  his  merit  as  a citizen  and  by  his  long  identi- 
fication as  such. 

He  is  a product  of  New  AMrk,  born  in  the  city  of 
Brooklyn  on  September  8,  1848,  and  comes  directly  of 
English  lineage,  both  of  his  parents  having  been  na- 
tives of  London. 

Alfred  C.  Warner  attended  school  at  the  age  of 
thirteen,  all  of  his  education  having  been  acquired  in 
the  country  schools  of  Long  Island  except  one  winter 
he  spent  as  a pupil  in  the  Brooklyn  public  schools. 
The  limited  means  of  his  parents  necessitated  his  be- 
coming a wage  earner  at  an  early  age.  In  the  sum- 
mer of  1863,  when  fourteen  years  old,  he  secured  his 


first  position,  that  of  a general  utility  boy  for  the 
D.  Appleton  & Company  publishing  house  of  New 
York,  and  after  a time  was  advanced  to  a clerkship. 
He  remained  with  this  firm  until  the  spring  of  1867 
and  then  joined  his  parents  in  St.  Louis,  where  he 
found  employment  in  the  Woodward  Book  Store  of 
that  city,  which  identification  was  continued  until  1871. 
In  that  year  he  returned  to  New  York  and  took  a 
position  with  J.  B.  Ford  & Company,  the  publishers  of 
books  and  of  Henry  Ward  Beecher's  paper,  the  Chris- 
tian Union,  with  which  firm  he  remained  five  years, 
being  advanced  by  them  to  the  position  of  chief  clerk. 
It  was  in  1877  that  he  came  to  Alontana  and  became 
clerk  of  the  Blackfoot  Indian  Agency.  After  five  years 
spent  in  that  capacity,  or  in  1882,  he  returned  to  St. 
Louis  and  resumed  connections  with  the  Woodward 
Book  Store,  then  owned  by  E.  P.  Gray,  but  in  1885  the 
call  of  Alontana  brought  him  once  more  to  its  soil.  For 
a time  thereafter  he  was  bookkeeper  for  Flamilton  & 
Hazlett,  of  Choteau,  the  predecessors  of  Joseph  Hirsh- 
berg  & Company,  and  while  with  them  he  pur- 
chased a sawmill  in  the  country  which  he  operated  for 
several  years  before  and  after  severing  his  connection 
with  the  mercantile  firm.  Returning  to  Choteau,  he 
has  since  given  his  attention  to  the  real  estate  and 
abstract  business,  together  with  the  duties  of  notary 
public. 

In  1890  he  was  appointed  a United  States  commis- 
sioner of  Montana,  which  office  he  has  filled  ever  since, 
and  in  1896  he  was  elected  county  clerk  of  Teton 
county,  to  which  office  he  was  returned  for  five  suc- 
cessive terms  by  re-election.  All  this  is  indicative  of 
the  standing  of  Mr.  Warner  among  his  fellow  citizens 
in  Teton  county  and  marks  him  as  one  of  the  worthy 
men  of  Alontana.  He  started  in  life  a poor  boy,  with 
neither  capital  nor  influence  to  assist  him,  and  what 
he  has  accomplished  represents  the  strength  of  his  own 
merit. 

In  politics  his  allegiance  is  given  to  the  Republican 
party.  His  fraternal  associations  are  with  the  Knights 
of  Pythias,  of  which  order  he  is  a past  chancellor  com- 
mander, and  with  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order 
of  Elks  at  Great  Falls.  Air.  Warner  is  unmarried. 

Frank  D.  Morse.  As  sheriff  of  Granite  county, 
Frank  D.  Alorse  is  perhaps  one  of  the  best  known  men 
in  his  section  of  the  state.  He  has  been  identified 
with  Montana  since  1878,  and  has  been  connected 
with  various  industries  in  the  intervening  years,  in- 
cluding mining,  ranching  and  lumbering,  as  well  as 
operating  a general  store  at  Elk  Creek  for  three 
years.  In  1898  he  was  appointed  deputy  sheriff,  and 
in  the  fall  of  1910  was  elected  sheriff  of  Granite  county, 
the  duties  of  which  office  he  is  now  discharging. 

Air.  Alorse  was  born  at  Bradley,  Alaine,  on  No- 
vember 7,  185".  and  he  lived  there  until  he  was 
about  twenty-three  y^ears  of  age.  He  is  the  son  of 
John  W.  and  Lucy  Ann  (Gulwer)  Alorse,  both  na- 
tives of  the  state  of  Maine.  The  father  w^as  born  in 
1832.  In  1878  he  came  to  Alontana,  remaining  two 
years  and  returning  to  his  home  in  Alaine.  The  west, 
however,  had  left  its  mark  upon  him,  and  in  a few 
years  he  again  left  Alaine  and  came  back  to  Alontana, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  grain  business.  He  died  in 
Philipsburg  in  1909.  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight,  and 
lies  buried  in  the  western  city.  His  wife,  who  died 
when  she  was  fifty-four  years  old.  is  buried  in  Alaine, 
where  her  death  occurred.  Five  children  were  born 
to  this  couple,  of  which  number  the  son  Frank  D.  w^as 
the  second  born.  One  daughter  of  the  familyy  Nellie, 
married  J.  W.  Rodgers  and  lives  at  Helena.  Air. 
Rodgers  is  assistant  state  treasurer. 

The  education  of  Air.  Alorse  was  of  a limited  order, 
chiefly  obtained  in  the  grade  schools  of  the  town  of 
Bradley,  Alaine.  When  he  was  nine  vears  of  age  he 
was  employed  as  a cow  herder,  for  which  he  received 


1080 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


a wage  of  ten  cents  per  head  weekly.  The  first 
speculation  or  investment  in  which  he  indulged  as  a 
wage  earner  was  when  he  bought  a sheep  for  $1.25, 
which  he  managed  to  save  out  of  his  wages  as  a 
cow  herder.  He  took  his  purchase  home,  picketed  him 
out  and  in  the  night  the  sheep  became  tangled  in  the 
rope  and  succeeded  in  breaking  his  neck.  Thus  the 
young  sheep  owner  found  himself  beaten  in  his  first 
investment.  Later  he  was  employed  in  various  ca- 
pacities with  the  lumbermen  on  the  river,  and  from  his 
early  boyhood  was  a wage-earner,  although  the  wage 
was  usually  a meagre  one.  He  learned  a deal  about 
the  lumbering  business  in  the  years  that  he  was  thus 
employed,  and  when  he  came  west  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
three  he  settled  in  Philipsburg  and  there  engaged  in 
the  lumber  business.  After  a short  time  he  went  on 
a ranch,  remaining  there  for  a year  or  thereabouts, 
after  which  he  managed  a store  at  Elk  Creek  for 
three  years  in  the  interests  of  the  firm  of  Morse  & 
Brogan.  His  next  business  move  found  him  the  owner 
of  a ranch,  with  which  he  was  occupied  until  1898.  In 
that  year  he  was  appointed  deputy-sheriff,  and  after 
a service  of  four  years  he  went  back  to  ranching  until 
1906,  when  he  was  again  appointed  deputy-sheriff.  He 
served  his  second  four  years  in  that  capacity  and  in 
the  fall  of  1910,  his  record  as  deputy  having  proved  so 
satisfactory  to  the  public,  he  was  named  for  the  of- 
fice and  elected  sheriff  of  Granite  county,  an  office 
which  he  is  now  filling. 

Mr.  Morse  is  a Republican  of  strength  and  he  takes 
an  active  part  in  all  the  political  affairs  of  the  county. 
He  is  one  of  the  strongest  men  the  party  claims  in  this 
section  and  is  invaluable  to  party  interests  when  im- 
portant issues  are  at  stake,  being  recognized  as  one 
of  the  greatest  fighters  for  a cause  known  to  the 
county.  He  is  a member  of  the  Maccabees  and  is  a 
past  commander  of  that  society  in  Drummond  at  the 
present  time.  He  is  a member  of  the  Philipsburg  Cham- 
ber of  Commerce. 

On  May  5,  1883,  Mr.  Morse  was  united  with  Julia 
Gasper  in  marriage  at  New  Chicago,  Montana.  She 
is  a daughter  of  an  old  and  well-known  family  in  New 
Chicago,  formerly  from  Maine.  Two  children  have 
been  born  to  them,  Verdine  D.,  who  is  married  and 
living  in  Granite  county  on  his  father’s  ranch,  and 
Frank  M.,  also  married  and  li\ing  on  his  own  ranch 
in  Granite  county.  Both  are  prosperous  and  enter- 
prising young  men,  destined  to  make  good  in  the 
great  western  state  which  they  have  been  born  and 
reared  in,  and  are  in  every  way  a credit  to  their  par- 
ents. 

Mr.  Morse  is  not  a member  of  any  church,  but  re- 
gards them  all  with  a high  degree  of  respect,  and  is 
always  generous  in  his  support  of  a worthy  cause, 
whether  endorsed  by  the  churches  or  otherwise.  He  is 
a citizen  of  genuine  worth,  and  his  influence  in  the 
county  has  ever  been  of  a beneficial  nature,  from  the 
viewpoint  of  his  political  service,  as  well  as  in  his 
private  capacity  as  a citizen  and  voter. 

Joseph  A.  Nadeau,  president  of  the  Nadeau  Invest- 
ment Company  and  one  of  the  leading  real  estate  men 
of  Butte,  Montana,  was  born  at  St.  Plyacinthe  in  the 
province  of  Quebec.  Canada,  on  March  17,  1848.  and 
passed  his  early  life  in  attending  good  schools  in  his 
native  province.  When  he  was  ready  to  begin  the  bat- 
tle of  life  for  himself  he  moved  to  Champlain,  New 
York,  and  started  a retail  shoe  business,  which  he  con- 
ducted three  years  with  moderate  profits.  He  then 
sold  this  business  to  go  to  a more  promising  field,  and 
removed  to  Valley  Falls,  Rhode  Island,  where  he  again 
opened  a retail  shoe  store,  which  he  conducted  with 
success  until  1878.  In  that  vear  he  sold  his  business 
in  Valley  Falls,  and  brought  his  family  to  Butte,  which 
was  then  but  a small  mining  town,  with  a pODulation 
made  up  of  all  nationalities  and  characterized  by  all 


the  roughness  but  big-hearted  generosity  of  the  typical 
mining  camp  in  all  sections  of  the  great  west. 

After  his  arrival  in  Butte  he  saw  the  need  of  a good 
eating  house  for  the  miners,  and  started  the  “French 
Restaurant.”  This  at  once  became  popular  and  profit- 
able. Mr.  Nadeau  conducted  it  five  years  and  made 
a considerable  amount  of  money  in  it.  He  then  became 
proprietor  of  the  Windsoe  Hotel,  the  leading  hostelry 
in  the  city,  and  this  also  proved  to  be  a successful 
venture  for  him.  He  kept  the  hotel  for  three  years, 
then  sold  his  interest  in  it  and  formed  a partnership 
with  his  brother,  Arthur  Nadeau,  for  dealing  in  real 
estate  on  a large  scale,  the  line  of  trade  in  which  he  is 
still  actively  engaged. 

The  firm  was  soon  on  a high  tide  of  prosperity 
through  its  judicious  investments  and  good  manage- 
ment, and  at  the  end  of  five  years  Arthur  Nadeau  re- 
turned to  his  native  province  of  Quebec,  Canada,  and 
opened  a branch  office  there.  The  brothers  made  in- 
vestments in  mining  properties  as  well  as  in  other 
lines  of  real  estate,  and  these  have  made  them  wealthy. 
But  their  general  real  estate  transactions  have  also 
been  extensively  profitable  and  wide  spread.  They  have 
not  been  confined  to  Butte,  Montana,  but  have  ex- 
tended to  California,  Kansas.  Canada  and  other  local- 
ities far  distant  from  one  another,  covering  an  exten- 
sive scope  of  country. 

By  1906  the  business  had  become  so  large  that  it  was 
necessary  to  incorporate  it.  Under  the  articles  of  in- 
corporation the  name  was  changed  to  the  Nadeau  In- 
vestment Company,  and  of  this  Joseph  Nadeau  was 
made  president.  Arthur  Nadeau,  of  Montreal,  Ca- 
nada, vice-president,  and  Ovila  Nadeau,  a son  of 
Joseph,  secretary  and  treasurer.  The  company  does 
now  a larger  business  than  ever  and  is  continually  ex- 
tending its  operations. 

Joseph  Nadeau,  the  father  of  Joseph  A.  and  Arthur, 
was  born  in  Canada,  in  1824.  He  was  for  some  years 
a successful  farmer,  then  for  twenty-four  years  a 
traveling  representative  of  a farm  implement  estab- 
lishment. At  the  end  of  that  time  he  moved  to  Con- 
cordia, Kansas,  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his 
days  in  retirement,  dying  there  on  October  ii,  1904. 
His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mary  Benjamin, 
was  also  born  in  Canada,  and  they  were  married  in 
that  country.  She  died  on  the  same  day  her  husband 
died,  October  ii,  1904,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight 
years. 

Joseph  A.  Nadeau  was  married  on  August  20,  1871, 
at  Valley  Falls,  Rhode  Island,  to  Miss  Delia  Rosseau. 
Five  children  were  born  of  the  union,  all  natives  of 
Valley  Falls,  Rhode  Island,  but  one,  and  all  living  but 
the  first  born.  He  was  Adelord  Nadeau,  whose  life 
began  on  June  4,  1872,  and  who  was  a prominent  drug- 
gist in  Los  Angeles.  California,  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  which  occurred  on  June  8.  1902.  He  was  mar- 
ried and  left  a widow  and  two  children  to  mourn  his 
early  demise  and  their  great  bereavement.  His  chil- 
dren were  Adelord  Nadeau.  Jr.,  and  Lorraine  Na- 
deau. The  second  child  of  Joseph  A.  Nadeau  is  Ro- 
salba,  who  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  F.  L.  St.  Jean,  a leading 
physician  at  Anaconda,  Montana.  The  third  child  of 
Joseph  A.  Nadeau  is  his  son  Ovila,  who  is  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  the  Nadeau  Investment  Company. 
The  fourth  child  is  Phedora.  who  married  Dr.  G.  E. 
St.  Jean,  a lirother  of  Dr.  F.  L.  St.  Jean.  Dr.  G.  E. 
St.  Jean  is  owner  of  and  conducts  the  Wallace  Hospital, 
at  Wallace.  Idaho.  The  fifth  child,  Albert  Nadeau,  was 
born  in  Butte,  Montana,  and  is  now  a lawyer  in  active 
practice  in  that  city.  He  was  graduated  from  the  law 
department  of  Harvard  University  in  1911. 

Joseph  A.  Nadeau  is  a devout  Catholic  in  his  reli- 
gious faith.  In  politics  he  is  a member  of  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  but  he  takes  no  active  part  in  party  con- 
tests. Socially  he  belongs  to  the  Society  of  St.  John 
the  Baptist,  and  is  one  of  its  leading  members.  He  is 


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HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1081 


practically  retired  from  business,  as  his  son  Ovila  has 
taken  the  greater  part  of  the  burden  of  trade  off  his 
shoulders.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nadeau  spend  much  time 
in  travel  and  in  1908,  accompanied  by  their  son  Ovila, 
they  made  a trip  around  the  world,  being  joined  in 
Europe  on  their  homeward  journey  by  the  other  son, 
Albert.  The  home  of  the  family  is  a beautiful  suite 
of  rooms  in  the  Napton  block,  the  most  elegant  and 
fashionable  apartment  house  in  Butte.  The  father  is 
one  ‘of  the  most  highly  esteemed  men  in  Butte.  He 
has  been  progressive  and  public-spirited  with  reference 
to  the  progress  and  improvement  of  the  city  and  state, 
and  has  performed  all  the  duties  of  citizenship  during 
his  long  residence  in  this  community  with  an  eye 
single  to  the  public  welfare  and  the  enduring  good  of 
the  people. 

Walter  D.  Tipton.  Devoting  his  time  and  energies 
to  the  practice  of  his  profession,  Walter  D.  Tipton,  of 
Helena,  is  well  grounded  in  the  principles  of  law,  and 
being  thorough  and  methodical  in  the  preparation  of  his 
cases,  and  skilled  and  judicious  in  their  management, 
is  meeting  with  unquestioned  success  as  an  attorney. 
A son  of  John  C.  Tipton,  he  was  born  November  6, 
1873,  at  Red  Bluff,  California,  the  founder  of  the  branch 
of  the  Tipton  family  from  which  he  is  descended,  having 
immigrated  from  Wales  to  the  United  States,  becoming 
an  early  settler  of  Kentucky.  He  comes  of  patriotic 
stock,  both  his  paternal  and  maternal  grandfathers  hav- 
ing served  in  the  War  of  1812. 

John  C.  Tipton  was  born  in  Kentucky,  July  5,  1835, 
and  died  at  Red  Bluff,  California,  November  4,  1908. 
Leaving  his  native  state  in  1853,  he  went  by  way  of 
New  York  and  the  Isthmus  of  Panama  to  California, 
where  he  remained  for  a quarter  of  a century,  being 
engaged  the  greater  part  of  the  time  in  freighting  and 
merchandising.  Making  an  overland  journey  to  Mon- 
tana in  1878,  he  first  located  at  Helena,  but  the  follow- 
ing spring  he  removed  to  Meagher  county,  Montana, 
which  was  his  home  for  many  years.  Through  his  own 
efforts  he  obtained  a place  of  distinction  among  the 
leading  men  of  his  community.  Taking  an  active  part  in 
political  affairs,  he  served  as  county  assessor,  county 
treasurer  and  county  commissioner  of  Meagher  county, 
in  each  position  performing  the  duties  of  his  office  ably 
and  faithfully.  In  1906,  having  disposed  of  his  interests 
in  Montana,  he  returned  to  California,  where  he  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  a Democrat  in 
politics,  and  a member  of  the  Christian  church.  On 
October  17,  1861,  at  American  Fork,  California,  he  mar- 
ried Aurelia  Himrod  Ryan,  who  was  born  at  Mead- 
ville,  Crawford  county,  Pennsylvania,  March  9,  1837, 
and  died  at  White  Sulphur  Springs,  Montana,  March 
4,  1903.  Her  father,  Simeon  Ryan,  was  descended 
from  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  the  Keystone  state. 

The  fourth  child  in  a family  consisting  of  five  sons 
and  two  daughters,  Walter  D.  Tipton  acquired  his  pre- 
liminary education  in  the  common  and  high  schools  of 
White  Sulphur  Springs,  later  attending  the  Montana 
Wesleyan  University  in  Helena.  Going  then  to  Ann 
Arbor,  Michigan,  he  was  graduated  from  the  University 
of  Michigan  with  the  class  of  1899,  receiving  the  degree 
of  LL.  B.  Immediately  beginning  the  practice  of  his 
profession  at  Helena,  Mr.  Tipton  has  met  with  well 
merited  success  as  a general  practitioner,  now  ranking 
among  the  capable  lawyers  of  the  city. 

He  is  a member  of  the  Lewis  and  Clark  County  Bar 
Association  ; of  jhe  Montana  State  Bar  Associaiton  ; of 
the  Lambs’  Club,  of  Helena ; and  fraternally  belongs  to 
the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  He  is  an 
adherent  of  the  Democratic  party,  but  takes  no  active 
part  in  politics.  Broad  and  liberal  in  his  religious 
views,  he  is  a valued  member  of  the  Unitarian  church. 

Asbury  M.  Crawford.  When  it  first  became  gener- 
ally known  that  the  soil  of  Montana  could  be  made 


to  produce  marketable  fruit,  and  especially  apples, 
many  inexperienced  agriculturists  at  once  sprang  to 
the  conclusion  that  fortunes  were  to  be  easily  made  in 
this  line,  and  the  success  of  a few  strengthened  this 
belief  to  such  an  extent  that  all  over  the  state  farmers 
began  to  give  over  land  that  for  years  had  yielded 
them  a reasonable  margin  of  profit  in  the  staple  prod- 
ucts to  experimenting  in  apple  growing.  A few  were 
fortunate  in  their  undertaking,  but  the  vast  majority 
soon  discovered  that  fruit  culture,  like  any  other  line 
of  endeavor,  must  be  backed  by  experience  and  a 
thorough  knowledge  of  the  business  in  order  to  suc- 
ceed. The  State  Horticultural  Society  has  endeavored 
to  instruct  and  educate  the  general  public  along  this 
line,  but  it  has  been  left  to  a few  individuals,  men 
who  have  made  a deep  and  exhaustive  study  of  their 
subject,  to  accomplish  the  most  good  in  this  direction, 
and  prominent  among  these  may  be  mentioned  Asbury 
M.  Crawford,  of  Billings.  He  is  recognized  as  an 
horticultural  expert,  and  has  identified  himself  with 
various  enterprises  calculated  to  advance  fruit  grow- 
ing in  the  state,  being  president  of  the  Basin  Reser- 
voir and  Orchard  Company. 

Mr.  Crawford  was  born  January  17,  1853,  in  Alle- 
gany county,  Maryland,  and  is  a son  of  James  and 
Elizabeth  (Hinkle)  Crawford.  Mr.  Crawford's  father 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  in  1823,  and  as  a young  man 
moved  to  Allegany  county,  Maryland,  where  he  fol- 
lowed farming  until  February,  1^5.  In  that  year  he 
removed  to  Ottawa,  LaSalle  county,  Illinois,  where  he 
followed  the  trade  of  wheelwright,  but  subsequently 
went  to  Normal,  McLean  county,  Illinois,  where  the 
remainder  of  his  life  was  spent  his  death  occurring 
in  1901.  He  was  originally  a Whig  in  his  political 
views,  but  in  1855  joined  the  ranks  of  the  Republican 
part}'.  His  religious  connection  was  with  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church.  His  widow,  who  lives  'in 
Buffalo,  New  York,  was  born  there  in  1828,  and  six  of 
their  seven  children  also  survive,  Asbury  M.  being 
the  eldest. 

Educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  county 
and  in  Ottawa,  Illinois,  Asbury  M.  Crawford  was  grad- 
uated from  the  Illinois  University,  at  Normal,  with 
the  class  of  1876.  During  the  next  two  years  he  was 
engaged  in  teaching  school  in  the  Prairie  state  and  in 
1878  he  came  to  Helena,  where  he  remained  until  1882. 
That  year  saw  his  advent  in  the  Yellowstone  valley, 
and  he  located  on  eighty  acres  of  land  which  is  located 
one  and  one-half  miles  from  the  court  house,  pur- 
chasing it  from  the  Minnesota  and  Montana  Land  and 
Improvement  Company.  On  this  property,  which  is 
still  owned  by  Mr.  Crawford,  and  on  which  his  family 
resides,  he  planted  apple  trees,  the  first  to  be  planted 
in  the  Yellowstone  valley,  and  from  that  time  to  the 
present  he  has  made  a specialty  of  fruit  culture.  Dur- 
ing these  years  he  has  given  a great  deal  of  time  to 
the  study  of  law,  and  in  1904  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  of  the  state.  In  1909  he  went  to  Carbon  county 
and  engaged  in  building  a reservoir  near  Bridger, 
and  on  August  25,  1911,  what  is  known  as  the  Basin 
Reservoir  and  Orchard  Company  was  organized  and 
incorporated,  Mr.  Crawford  being  the  president  and 
principal  stockholder.  A reservoir  is  now  being  built 
which,  when  complete,  will  irrigate  some  2,000  acres 
of  land  in  the  Dry  Basin.  In  political  matters  Mr. 
Crawford  has  in  the  past  believed  that  the  Democratic 
party  stood  for  the  principles  that  would  do  the  greatest 
good  for  the  greatest  number  of  our  citizens,  but  re- 
serves the  right  to  vote  for  the  candidate  he  deems  best 
fitted  for  the  office,  irrespective  of  party  ties.  In  1890 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  A.  Craw- 
ford and  they  have  three  interesting  children : Hetty 
Elizabeth,  Herbert  M.  and  Phillip. 

Mr.  Crawford's  views  on  fruit  culture  can  probably 
be  best  shown  by  giving  a part  of  the  conversation 


1082 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


which  passed  between  him  and  Mr.  J.  W.  Chrismas, 
local  member  of  the  State  Horticidtural  Board,  at  the 
latter’s  home  near  Rockvale,  in  Carbon  county,  August 
10,  1911.  Mr.  Crawford  said  in  part:  “From  the  gen- 
eral outlook,  it  must  be  said,  orcharding  in  this  part  of 
the  state  had  better  become  a matter  of  paying  heed 
to  certain  well  known  facts.  It  would  seem  that  every- 
body has  been  planting  or  exploiting  because  a few 
have  been  making  a success.  In  many  instances,  trees 
have  been  planted  without  regard  to  fitness  of  soil  or 
location.  A great  number  of  apples  and  profuse 
growth  of  tree  as  opposed  to  size  and  quantity  of  fruit 
and  hardiness  of  wood,  have,  in  many  instances,  been 
the  logical  results.  The  time  has  passed  for  making 
trees  pay  under  such  treatment.  Besides,  trees  can- 
not thus  be  kept  bearing  year  after  year  crops  of  even 
little  unmarketable  stuff.  It  is  the  number  of  apples 
opposed  to  the  amount  of  fruit  grown  that  exhausts 
a tree  and  compels  it  to  take  lay-off  spells  for  recupera- 
tion. Again,  we  have  spells  of  winter  here  once  in  a 
while  that  are  sure  to  take  rank  wood  and  soft  fruit 
buds  and  young  trees  tenderly  built.  Trees  must  be 
planted  on  well-drained  land ; should  be  of  as  hardy 
character  as  the  nurseryman  can  produce;  need  to  be 
so  cared  for  as  to  make  hardy,  sturdy  growth ; need 
to  be  properly  pruned  and  at  the  right  time  of  year ; 
must  be  thoroughly  guarded  against  orchard  pests 
and  disease ; and  fruit  must  be  thinned  to  the  proper 
amount  and  at  the  right  time. 

“As  to  this  matter  of  pests  and  diseases.  Short  of 
drastic  enforcement  of  our  horticultural  laws,  on  the 
part  of  the  state  authorities,  an  orchardist,  however 
careful  and  intelligent  be  his  work,  is  constantly  liable 
to  an  overflow  of  coddling  moth  and  infection_  of 
blight  from  the  orchard  of  a careless  or  ignorant  neigh- 
bor,— unless  he  be  shut  off  in  a tract  of  his  own,  unless 
he  be  so  located  as  to  be  able  therein  to  make  the 
working  of  our  state  horticultural  laws  practically 
automatic.  In  a tract  thus  protected  by  nature  or  arti- 
ficial conditions  and  such  trees  as  Alexander  and 
Transcendant  upon  the  retired  list,  this  dread  scourge 
of  blight  need  be  but  little  more  than  added  incentive 
to  do  the  needed  work  of  pruning  and  irrigating  in 
the  right  way  and  at  the  right  time,  to  do  this  work 
just  as  it  should  be  done  were  there  no  such  malady, 
and  especially  as  this,  work  should  be  done  as  a proper 
safeguard  against  occasional  spells  of  real  winter.” 

A'ccording  to  Mir.  Chrismas : “When  your  work 
reaches  such  a stage  that  these  protective  measures 
you  have  specified  are  recognized  as  inseparably 
characteristic  of  your  enterprise,  other  orchard  pro- 
moters will  be  obliged  to  follow  your  example  _ or  go 
out  of  business.  Your  plan  of  work  meets  with  my 
entire  and  unqualified  approval  and  needs  but  be  sub- 
mitted to  the  other  members  to  meet  with  the  same 
from  the  entire  Board.  Your  plan  is  unique  and  such 
as  to  aid  us  in  our  work,  and  we  shall  be  pleased  to  be 
of  assistance  to  you  in  yours.’’ 

The  approval  of  the  horticultural  board  was  not 
necessary  to  prove  to  the  people  of  this  _ section^  that 
Mr.  Crawford  is  laboring  in  behalf  of  their  best  inter- 
ests, but  it  illustrates  the  intelligent  manner  in  which 
he  is  carrying  on  his  campaign  and  the  cornprehensive 
knowledge  brought  to  bear  in  advancing  his  theories. 
In  this  same  intelligent,  enthusiastic  labor  that,  sin- 
cerely carried  on,  has  brought  about  such  excellent 
results  in  other  lines  of  enterprise,  and  there  can  be 
no  doubt  but  that  a man  of  Mr.  Crawford’s  ability 
will  bring  his  work  to  a successful  conclusion.  He  is 
known  throughout  Yellowstone  and  Carbon  counties 
as  a resourceful  and  practical  business  man,  an  expert 
horticulturist  and  a public-spirited  citizen,  and  he  has 
numerous  friends  all  over  this  section  of  the  state. 

Charles  F.  Sauerbier.  An  honored  citizen  and  rep- 
resentative business  man  of  Virginia  City,  Montana,  is 


Charles  F.  Sauerbier,  who  is  here  proprietor  of  a 
large  and  well  established  blacksmith  shop.  Diligent 
and  ever  alert  for  his  chance  of  advancement,  he  has 
progressed  steadily  until  he  is  recognized  today  as  one 
of  the  foremost  men  of  his  home  city.  Flere  he  is 
held  in  high  esteem  by  his  fellow  citizens,  who  honor 
him  for  his  native  ability  and  for  his  fair  and  straight- 
forward career. 

Charles  F.  Sauerbier  was  born  in  Cook  county, 
Illinois,  May  4,  1853,  and  he  is  a son  of  Frederick  and 
Louise  (Burghart)  Sauerbier,  both  of  whom  are  now 
deceased.  The  father  was  engaged  in  farming  opera- 
tions during  the  greater  part  of  his  active  career  and 
he  and  his  wife  became  the  parents  of  eleven  children, 
of  whom  Charles  F.  was  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth. 
To  the  public  schools  of  his  home  place  Charles  F. 
Sauerbier  is  indebted  for  his  preliminary  educational 
training,  which  was  supplemented  by  a thorough  course 
of  instruction  in  German.  He  earned  his  first  money 
as  a farm  hand  on  his  father’s  estate  in  Illinois  and 
when  he  had  reached  his  twenty-first  year  he  entered 
upon  an  apprenticeship  to  learn  the  trade  of  black- 
smith. In  1878,  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  years,  he 
came  to  Montana  and  settled  in  Glendale,  where  he 
resided  for  a period  of  two  years,  during  which  time 
he  was  engaged  in  blacksmithing.  Thence  he  removed 
to  Adobetown,  where  he  was  a resident  for  two  years, 
and  in  1882  he  located  in  Virginia  City.  Here  he 
opened  a blacksmith  shop  and  engaged  in  business  on 
his  own  account.  His  success  was  assured  from  the 
start  and  he  now  has  the  largest  and  best  equipped 
blacksmith  establishment  in  Madison  county.  His 
youngest  son,  Chauncey,  is  associated  with  him  in  the 
business. 

In  Glendale,  Montana,  in  the  year  1879,  was  cele- 
brated the  marriage  of  Mr.  Sauerbier  to  Miss  Lucy 
Pyle,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Illinois.  Mrs.  Sauer- 
bier was  summoned  to  eternal  rest  in  1893,  and  is 
buried  in  Virginia  City.  She  was  a woman  of  most 
pleasing  personality  and  was  deeply  beloved  by  all 
with  whom  she  came  in  contact.  She  is  survived 
by  six  children : Alice  remains  at  home  and  keeps 

house  for  her  father;  Myrtle,  who  taught  school  prior 
to  her  marriage,  is  the  wife  of  Glen  Conklin,  of  Madi- 
son county,  Montana ; Mary  is  a trained  nurse  and 
resides  in  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah ; Ruth  lives  in  Beaver- 
head county,  where  she  is  a popular  and  successful 
school  teacher;  Carl  is  single  and  is  working  in  a mer- 
cantile establishment  in  Virginia  City;  and  Chauncey 
is  associated  with  his  father  in  business,  as  previously 
noted. 

Mr.  Sauerbier  is  a stanch  supporter  of  the  Repub- 
lican party  in  his  political  convictions  and  while  he 
has  never  sought  the  honors  or  emoluments  of  public 
office  he  has  been  prevailed  upon  to  serve  as  a member 
of  the  city  council.  He  gives  freely  of  his  aid  and  in- 
fluence in  support  of  all  measures  and  enterprises  pro- 
jected for  the  good  of  the  general  welfare  and  in 
every  respect  is  a loyal  and  public-spirited  citizen. 
His  interest  in  athletic  sports  extends  to  frequent 
hunting  and  fishing  trips  and  he  is  a great  baseball 
fan,  his  son  Chauncey  being  a member  of  one  of  the 
local  nines.  The  family  home  is  one  of  extreme  attrac- 
tiveness and  is  the  scene  of  many  joyous  social  gath- 
erings. 

Thomas  J.  Waddell.  The  present  postmaster  at 
Stanford  is  one  of  Montana’s  honorable  pioneers,  a 
man  who  came  into  this  region  of  the  northwest  nearly 
thirty-five  years  ago,  and  through  the  years  of  devel- 
opment and  the  later  era  of  fulfillment  has  enjoyed 
his  own  share  of  material  prosperity  and  has  likewise 
been  honored  in  many  ways  by  his  community  of  fel- 
low citizens. 

Since  the  age  of  twenty,  Thomas  J.  Waddell  has 
been  in  the  west  and  a worker  in  its  varied  activities. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1083 


He  was  born  in  Boone  county,  Illinois,  on  the  6th  of 
October,  1855,  the  sixth  in  a family  of  eleven  children. 
His  father  was  Thomas  M.  Waddell,  an  Englishman 
by  birth,  who  was  brought  to  America  at  the  age  of 
four  years,  and  was  reared  in  this  country  and  fol- 
lowed the  trade  of  mechanic  in  several  states  of  the 
Union.  During  the  Civil  war  he  enlisted  and  served 
with  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-third  Illinois  Infan- 
try. His  death  occurred  in  Oregon  in  1893  when  he 
was  seventy  years  old.  He  was  married  in  Illinois 
to  Miss  Mary  Stickney,  who  died  in  1865  at  the  age 
of  thirty-eight,  and  is  buried  in  Illinois.  Mr.  Waddell 
has  a brother  and  sister  who  are  residents  of  Montana 
— Edward,  who  is  married  and  lives  near  Kalispell, 
and  Mrs.  Mary  J.  Barnes,  who  resides  at  Jones,  near 
Lewistown. 

Mr.  Waddell  lived  in  Illinois  until  he  was  eleven 
years  old,  at  which  time  the  family  moved  to  Kan- 
sas, where  he  was  reared  to  manhood,  and  in  that 
state  finishing  the  schooling  which  he  had  begun  in 
his  native  state.  After  leaving  school  he  followed 
farming  and  cattle  raising,  but  in  1875  occurred  his 
migration  into  the  great  states  of  the  Rocky  Mountain 
region.  For  the  first  three  years  he  was  engaged  in 
blacksmithing  in  the  mines  of  Utah.  He  then  took 
the  job  of  trailing  a band  of  sheep  belonging  to  Hunt- 
ley  & Clark  into  Montana,  and  arrived  in  this  terri- 
tory as  it  was  then,  on  the  19th  of  November,  1878. 
Here  he  found  a permanent  home,  and  with  the  loyal 
admiration  for  the  Treasure  state  which  is  found 
among  so  many  of  its  residents  he  has  never  regretted 
his  choice  among  the  forty-eight  states  and  territories 
of  the  Union.  The  trade  of  blacksmithing  which  was 
his  first  occupation  in  the  west  has  been  his  vocation 
through  all  these  years,  and  he  has  made  it  the  basis 
of  a substantial  business.  He  is  the  inventor  of  the 
Waddell  manure  spreader,  a machine  which  is  found 
on  many  farms  of  Montana,  and  the  manufacture  of 
which  has  been  a considerable  factor  in  Mr.  Waddell’s 
business. 

As  an  active  citizen  of  Stanford,  a town  with  which 
he  has  been  identified  for  many  years,  Mr.  Waddell 
has  taken  a prominent  part  in  its  civic  affairs.  In 
September,  1909,  he  was  appointed  postmaster,  and 
was  reappointed  with  a higher  grade  in  May,  1911. 
He  has  also  served  in  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace 
and  as  a member  of  the  school  board,  and  is  one  of 
the  local  leaders  in  the  Republican  party.  He  belongs 
to  the  Stanford  Commercial  Club  and  is  affiliated  with 
the  Woodmen  of  the  World.  Mr.  Waddell  is  a man  of 
broad  interests,  takes  a keen  delight  in  the  diversions 
and  public  amusements,  and  lends  his  support  to  all 
the  movements  which  increase  and  supply  the  cultural 
progress  of  the  community. 

Mr.  Waddell  was  married  on  November  24,  1887, 
at  the  old  town  of  Philbrook,  to  Miss  Emma  Mont- 
gomery, daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  Montgomery 
of  that  place.  During  the  quarter  of  a century  of  their 
happy  home  life  seven  children  have  been  born  to 
them,  named  as  follows : Belle,  the  only  daughter,  who 
is  the  wife  of  Robert  Annan  of  Stanford ; Thomas 
H.,  in  the  livery  business  at  Stanford ; Edward,  de- 
ceased : F.  Guy,  who  is  a student  in  the  local  high 
school;  Howard,  Roy  and  Teddy,  who  are  all  attend- 
ing the  public  schools.  Mr.  Waddell  has  taken  pains 
to  give  his  children  the  best  educational  and  home 
training,  so  that  as  a home  maker,  a business  man  and 
citizen  he  has  performed  his  duties  with  credit  and 
honor. 

Andrew  Logan  of  Missoula  is  one  of  the  most  hon- 
ored pioneers  of  Montana,  having  settled  in  Missoula 
as  long  ago  as  1878  and  lived  here  ever  since.  Not 
only  was  he  one  of  the  first  settlers  here  but  one  of 
the  most  distinguished.  He  has  been  twice  mayor  of 
Missoula,  and  has  served  on  the  council  many  times. 


Mr.  Logan  was  born  in  Troy,  New  York,  March  14, 
1856,  and  lived  there  until  he  was  about  twenty-one 
years  of  age  when  he  determined  to  take  Horace  Gree- 
ley's famous  advice  and  “Go  west,  young  man !';  He 
stopped  at  first  at  Bismarck,  North  Dakota,  and  re- 
mained there  about  a year,  following  various  occupa- 
tions. Then  it  was  that  he  came  and  settled  in  Mis- 
soula which  he  liked  so  well  that  he  decided  to  spend 
the  rest  of  his  life  there. 

He  worked  in  the  town  for  awhile  and  then  went 
out  to  the  fort  where  he  was  post  blacksmith  for  four 
years.  In  1882,  he  returned  to  Missoula  and  started  in 
business  for  himself. 

He  continued  this  work  until  1889,  when  he  sold  out 
to  accept  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  to  which 
office  he  was  elected.  He  held  this  office  until  1897, 
and  then  he  went  back  into  business  again.  It  is  worthy 
of  note  to  remark  that  he  is  the  leading  man  of  his 
line  in  Missoula. 

Mr.  Logan  is  a strong  Republican  and  takes  a lively 
interest  in  politics.  Among  the  many  offices  he  has 
held  is  that  of  public  administrator  which  he  held  from 
1887  to  1889.  When  Roosevelt  was  president,  he  ap- 
pointed Mr.  Logan  a commissioner  to  classify  and 
appraise  the  value  of  the  Indian  lands  on  the  Flathead 
reservation.  He  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Missoula 
January  29,  1912,  by  President  Taft,  for  a term  of  four 
years. 

He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Troy,  New. 
York,  but  he  quit  school  when  he  was  twelve  years 
old  and  has  been  hustling  for  himself  ever  since,  so 
that  he  is  practically  a self-made  man. 

As  a boy  he  worked  in  cotton  mills,  knitting  mills, 
foundries  and  other  occupations  on  that  order,  until 
he  was  about  seventeen  years  of  age.  At  that  time,  he 
began  to  learn  the  blacksmithing  business,  serving  a 
five  years’  apprenticeship,  receiving  for  the  first  year 
of  his  apprenticeship  the  munificent  salary  of  two  and 
one-half  dollars  a week. 

He  earned  his  first  money  as  a boy  while  going  to 
school,  by  working  as  a helper  in  the  foundries.  He 
received  no  regular  wages,  only  an  occasional  fee  of 
ten  or  fifteen  cents. 

Mr.  Logan  is  a member  of  many  organizations,  the 
Masons,  Odd  Fellows,  the  Elks,  and  the  Maccabees.  He 
has  filled  every  office  in  the  state  in  the  Odd  Fellows 
lodge  and  is  now  the  past  grand  master.  Lie  is  past 
exalted  ruler  of  the  Elks,  and  past  commander  in  the 
Maccabees.  He  has  also  held  various  offices  in  the 
Masonic  lodge. 

While  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen  was 
in  existence,  he  was  past  grand  master  of  Montana. 

Mr.  Logan  is  fond  of  out  door  sports  like  riding  and 
driving  and  of  course,  is  a great  lover  of  good  horses. 
He  is  a great  baseball  fan  and  rooter.  Like  most  self- 
made  men  he  is  very  fond  of  reading  and  loves  music 
and  the  theatre. 

He  married  in  Missoula,  Montana,  January  ii,  1S80, 
Miss  May  Ford,  the  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert 
Ford,  formerly  of  Connecticut.  He  has  four  children, 
two  boys  and  two  girls,  as  follows : William  A.  Logan, 
married  and  resides  in  Missoula ; Bertha  A.,  married 
to  Mr.  J.  A.  Russell  and  resides  in  IMissoula  also ; Elva, 
living  at  home ; and  Claude  G.  Logan,  who  is  single 
and  resides  in  Missoula  and  is  associated  with  his 
father  in  business. 

Mr.  Logan's  father  was  William  A.  Logan.  He  was 
born  in  Ireland,  and  came  to  this  country  when  he  was 
seventeen  years  of  age.  He  traveled  over  a great  deal 
of  these  United  States,  but  finally  settled  in  New  York 
state.  He  followed  various  occupations.  At  Troy  he 
married  Miss  Jane  A.  Furgeson.  She  died  in  1911  at 
the  age  of  eightv  years  and  he  died  in  1888  at  the  age 
of  sixty-five.  They'  are  buried  side  by  side  at  Troy, 
New  York. 

There  were  eight  children  in  the  elder  Logan  family. 


1084 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


of  whom  Mr.  Logan  was  the  eldest.  He  has  one 
brother,  Mr.  William  J.  Logan,  and  one  sister.  Miss 
Margaret  G.  Logan  living  in  Missoula. 

Mr.  Logan  is  a great  lover  of  his  home  state.  Of 
Montana  he  says:  “There  is  no  state  in  the  Union  bet- 

ter than  Montana  for  a young  man  to  come  and  settle. 
There  is  a chance  here  for  every  man." 

John  M.  Price.  Born  in  Mendocina  county,  Cali- 
fornia, on  January  4,  i860,  Mr.  Price  has  spent  his 
entire  life  in  the  west.  He  is,  in  fact,  a typical  west- 
erner in  every  respect,  including  that  of  being  the  son 
of  equally  typical  easteners.  His  parents  were  na- 
tives of  Pennsylvania,  and  his  father,  Joseph  B.  Price 
was  a physician,  who  came  to  California,  with  his  wife, 
Martha  Arnold  Price,  shortly  after  his  marriage.  Our 
subject  would  probably  have  gone  west  himself,  when 
he  was  old  enough,  if  his  father  had  not  made  this 
impossible  by  going  to  the  lands’  end  himself,  so  the 
boy  did  the  next  best  thing.  He  went  northwest.  He 
had  more  than  the  average  fondness  for  change  and 
excitement,  and  before  he  was  sixteen,  he  had  gone 
to  school  in  Montana,  in  Oregon,  and  in  Seattle.  After 
this  he  engaged  in  mining  for  about  two  years  in 
different  places  in  Montana. 

In  1878,  Mr.  Price  entered  the  employ  of  the  Mis- 
soula Mercantile  Company  as  a clerk  in  their  Stevens- 
ville  branch.  He  remained  here  three  years,  and  in 
that  time  proved  his  usefulness  to  the  organization. 
It  was  evident  that  he  was  at  once  an  excellent  man- 
ager, and  that  he  was  specially  adapted  to  the  selling 
end  of  the  business,  being  a born  salesman.  From 
Stevensville,  he  went  to  Missoula,  still  in  the  employ 
of  the  “M.  M.”  and  at  various  times  he  was  sent 
out  to  take  charge  of  various  branches  which  were 
in  need  of  an  efficient  head.  Among  the  towns  in 
which  he  managed  the  company's  business,  were  Hope, 
Idaho,  Demmersville  and  Corvallis,  Montana,  After 
leaving  the  last  mentioned  city,  Mr.  Price  acted  as 
traveling  salesman  for  the  company,  and  for  several 
years  was  one  of  their  most  successful  members  of  the 
force.  Plis  personal  popularity,  and  excellent  business 
ability  made  him  one  of  the  best  business  getters  on 
the  road.  In  1903,  he  was  put  in  charge  of  the  com- 
pany's interests  at  Victor,  in  Ravalli  county,  and  under 
his  direction,  the  store  enjoyed  a prosperous  existence, 
and  its  manager  was  one  of  the  most  esteemed  and 
popular  citizens  of  the  county. 

It  was  about  this  time,  that  Mr,  Price  concluded 
that  he  would  go^  into  business  for  himself,  so  he  left 
the  corporation  with  which  he  had  worked  so  long  and 
so  successfully,  and  engaged  in  the  real  estate  busi- 
ness. It  is  in  this  that  he  is  now  occupied,  a member 
of  firm  of  Price  & Mathews.  This  firm  is  one  of  the 
substantial  ones  of  Missoula.  Mr.  Price  is  one  of  the 
old  resident.^  of  the  state,  and  he  has  an  excellent  record 
in  its  commercial  enterprise.  He  has  dealt  in  cattle  to 
a considerable  extent,  and  has  also  been  interested  in 
mining.  .Success  has  crowned  the  most  of  his  enter- 
prises, and  his  good  fortune  is  a matter  of  good  news  to 
a large  body  of  Montanians,  in  various  towns  of  the 
state,  for  Mr.  Price  has  a wide  acquaintance  in  Montana, 
and  to  be  one  of  his  acquaintances  is  to  wish  him  well. 

In  March,  i8go,  Mr.  Price  was  married  to  Josephine, 
the  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Sarah  Martin  of  Helena. 
No  children  have  been  born  to  their  union.  In  matters 
of  national  policy,  Mr.  Price  favors  the  doctrines  of 
the  Republican  party,  but  in  local  affairs,  he  votes  for 
the  man  who  will  make  the  best  officer,  irrespective  of 
his  politics.  For  he  is,  like  most  Montanians,  pri- 
marily interested  in  the  best  measures  for  the  welfare 
of  his  state  and  city.  He  is  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Montana,  and  is  a member  of  the  Society  of  Mon- 
tana Pioneers, 


William  John  Tiedt  was  in  1911,  among  the  largest 
fruit  growers  of  the  Bitter  Root  valley.  He  shipped 
the  products  of  his  orchards  in  car  load  quantities  to 
every  part  of  the  known  world.  His  father,  Fredrick 
Tiedt  was  a German  of  the  socialist  or  liberal  party  who 
came  to  America  during  his  young  manhood.  He  was 
a great  admirer  of  Carl  Schurz,  who  was  banished 
from  Germany  for  the  part  that  he  took  in  the  1848 
movement.  Possibly,  had  it  not  been  for  the  political 
agitation  which  finally  resulted  in  the  revolution  of 
’48  Mr.  Tiedt  might  always  have  remained  in  the  Father- 
land.  As  history  shaped  itself,  however,  America  was 
the  gainer  by  one  more  stalwart  German  family  pos- 
sessed of  the  thrift  and  industry  that  go  to  make  up  a 
good  republic.  After  reaching  the  United  States,  the 
senior  Mr.  Tiedt  soon  found  his  way  to  Jackson  county, 
Iowa,  where  for  many  years  he  made  his  home  work- 
ing upon  a farm  until  he  saved  enough  capital  to 
purchase  a mercantile  business  in  the  town  of  Bellevue. 
Mr.  Tiedt  married  Augusta  Rako  in  Germany  before  he 
came  to  America.  She  became  the  mother  of  his  two 
little  sons  but  passed  away  while  they  were  still  hardly 
more  than  infants.  The  father,  later  in  life  moved 
to  Minnesota  where  he  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight. 
Frederick  Tiedt,  the  oldest  of  the  boys  and  the  one 
who  bears  his  father’s  name,  is  now  a prosperous 
merchant  in  Argyle,  Minnesota. 

William  John  Tiedt  was  born  on  the  19th  day  of 
November,  i860,  in  Jackson  county,  Iowa.  Here,  too, 
he  received  his  early  education,  later  attending  school 
in  Bellevue.  For  a short  period,  then,  he  taught  in 
the  rural  schools  of  the  county  and  in  the  village  of 
Springbreak.  When  only  eighteen  years  of  age,  in 
1878,  he  procured  the  position  of  outside  manager — 
known  in  the  Iowa  coal  fields  as  “top  boss’’ — at  the 
valuable  mines  of  Cable,  Montana,  one  of  the  richest 
gold  ore  producing  mines  of  the  world.  He  remained 
there  for  three  years  and  eight  months.  It  was  under  his 
management  that  the  huge  gold  nugget  from  the  mine 
was  displayed  at  the  New  Orleans  exposition.  It  was 
the  second  nugget  in  size  of  those  on  exibition  and  was 
valued  at  three  thousand  five  hundred  dollars. 

During  the  winter  of  1884  and  1885  he  attended  the 
W.  A.  Fadis  Commercial  College  in  St.  Paul,  Minne- 
sota. In  the  fall  of  1885,  he  settled  on  a stock  ranch 
in  the  Bitter  Root  valley,  Montana.  In  1897  he  sold 
the  stock  farm  and  moved  on  the  cut-over  timber  land 
on  the  bench,  located  one  and  one-half  miles  east  of 
Lake  Como,  and  three  hundred  feet  above  the  level 
of  the  Bitter  Root  river  bottom. 

In  the  fall  of  1884,  Mr.  Tiedt  severed  his  connec- 
tion with  the  mining  company  and  purchased  for  him- 
self a ranch  in  the  Bitter  Root  valley.  This  ranch  he 
stocked  well  with  cattle  and  began  setting  out  a small 
portion  to  orchard.  The  claim  is  situated  one  and  one 
half  miles  east  of  Lake  Como  on  “bench  land’’  or 
stump  land  three  hundred  feet  above  the  river  level. 
Here  the  first  year  he  planted  two  thousand  young  apple 
trees,  the  next  year  growing  nursery  stock  that  now 
numbers  one  hundred  and  thirteen  thousand  trees.  In 
the  autumn  of  1906  he  with  two  friends  sold  to  a 
Kansas  City  firm,  an  entire  train  load  of  apples.  So 
enormous  has  been  the  increase  of  his  orchards  since 
that  time  that  in  1911,  including  one  neighbor’s  crop, 
he  sold  for  the  company  that  purchased  the  orchards, 
forty-six  car  loads.  Among  these,  nine  '-ars  went 
to  Stienhart  and  Kelly  of  New  York  City,  one  to 
Havana,  Cuba,  and  two  to  Hamburg,  Germany.  His 
original  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  has  now 
become  seventy  acres  of  fruit  bearing  trees  and  three 
hundred  and  eighty  acres  already  set  out  to  young 
orchard.  There  seems  to  be  no  limit  to  the  growth  of 
Mr.  Tiedt’s  business.  He  is  an  acknowledged  author- 
ity on  orcharding  and  is  at  the  present  time  serving 
his  second  term  as  president  of  the  Montana  State 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1085 


Board  of  Horticulture,  having  been  appointed  to  that 
position  in  the  beginning  by  Governor  Toole  and  later 
reappointed  b^^  Governor  Norris. 

His  political  sympathies  are  with  the  Socialists  whom 
he  believes  will  gain  strength  in  America  as  they  have 
done  in  Germany.  He  is  active  in  the  Masonic  lodge, 
being  a fourteenth  degree  Mason  of  the  Scottish  Rite 
route. 

Mr.  Tiedt  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Wetzsteau. 
Miss  Wetzsteau  is  of  German  parentage  although  she 
herself  was  born  in  Michigan.  They  are  the  parents 
of  two  attractive  children  who  will  have  the  best  of 
opportunities  that  travel  and  education  can  offer.  The 
daughter.  Miss  Inez,  is  slightly  the  elder.  The  son, 
they  call  Fred  for  his  paternal  grandfather  and  his 
father’s  only  brother. 

Robert  C.  Lowman.  Active,  enterprising,  and  pro- 
gressive, Robert  C.  Lowman  is  prominently  identified 
with  the  mercantile  interests  of  Lewistown.  A native 
of  Montana,  he  was  born  in  Virginia  City,  November 
i6,  1878. 

His  father,  the  late  Jacob  B.  Lowman,  was  born  and 
■ reared  in  Ohio.  He  subsequently  spent  a number  of 
years  in  Kansas,  from  there  coming,  in  1864,  to  Alon- 
tana,  and  settling  in  Virginia  City,  where  he  followed 
placer  mining,  and  also  did  carpenter  and  contract 
work,  residing  there  until  his  death,  October  25,  1911. 
at  the  venerable  age  of  eighty-two  years.  He  married,  in 
Montana,  Anna  M.  Conwa3^  who  still  maintains  her 
residence  in  Virginia  City,  and  to  them  six  children  were 
born,  as  follows : George  E.,  of  Virginia  City,  is  un- 
married : Thomas  J.,  engaged  in  ranching  near  Raders- 
biirg,  Montana,  is  married ; Henry  F.  and  Edgar  T., 
both  single,  are  residents  of  Butte ; Robert  C.,  the  spe- 
cial subject  of  this  brief  sketch;  and  Anna  M.,  of  Vir- 
ginia City. 

Robert  C.  Lowman  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  Virginia  City,  and  since  the  age  of  fourteen  years 
has  been  hustling  for  himself.  When  but  twelve  years 
old  he  began  riding  the  range  for  horses,  and  after- 
wards made  a business  of  catching  horses  for  so  much 
a head,  accumulating  considerable  money,  and  con- 
tinued thus  occupied  until  eighteen  years  old,  during 
the  time  having  charge  of  one  of  the  largest  horse 
ranches  in  Montana.  Returning  then  to  Virginia  City. 
Mr.  Lowman  was  employed  on  a ranch  two  years,  and 
in  the  meantime  learned  his  trade  under  an  experienced 
meat  cutter  from  Germany.  He  subsequently  followed 
his  trade  in  northern  Montana,  and  at  Great  Falls, 
from  the  latter  city  coming  to  Lewistown  in  1905.  Here 
Mr.  Lowman  worked  on  a salary  until  1909,  when,  in 
partnership  with  Mr.  Joseph  Dugart.  he  opened  a meat 
market,  and  conducted  a prosperous  business  as  head 
of  the  firm  of  Lowman  & Dugart.  He  sold  his  interest 
in  the  meat  business  February  26.  1912,  and  is  now  the 
proprietor  with  Mr.  E.  J.  Christe,  of  the  Christe 
restaurant,  317  Main  street.  He  speaks  most  enthusi- 
astically of  the  rapid  growth  and  progress  of  Montana, 
and  thinks  it  without  doubt  one  of  the  best  states  in  ' 
the  Union. 

Politically  Mr.  Lowman  affiliates  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  but  takes  no  active  part  in  public  affairs, 
his  time  being  devoted  to  bis  business.  He  belongs  to 
the  Lewistown  Commercial  Club,  and  fraternally  he  is 
a member  of  Lewistown  Camp  No.  108.  Woodmen  of 
the  World,  which  he  has  served  as  commander.  Re- 
ligiously both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Catholic  church. 

Mr.  Lowman  married  at  Livingston,  Montana,  Feb- 
ruar\'  6,  1906,  Anita  Svoboda,  of  Saint  Paul.  Nebraska, 
and  into  their  pleasant  household  three  children  have 
been  born,  namely;  Franklin,  Adolphus,  and  Jacob 
Duane. 


William  L.  Ford.  It  is  speaking  with  all  due  con- 
servatism to  say  that  there  is  probably  in  all  this  county 
no  young  man  of  greater  promise  than  William  L. 
Ford,  or  one  who  better  exemplifies  the  highest  tra- 
ditions of  the  profession  to  which  he  is  an  ornament. 
He  holds  the  office  of  county  attorney  and  his  thorough 
theoretical  training,  vigorous  intellect  and  careful  and 
consistent  observation  and  enforcement  of  professional 
ethics  have  won  the  recognition  and  confidence  which 
he  enjoys  in  marked  degree.  Mr.  Ford  was  born  in 
Diamond  City,  Montana,  May  31,  1878,  and  has  lived 
in  the  state  all  his  life,  and  in  White  Sulphur  Springs 
for  the  most  of  it,  his  parents  having  removed  here 
when  he  was  three  years  of  age.  He  knows  the  life 
of  the  West  in  its  most  typical  and  picturesque  phases. 
As  a youth,  previous  to  entering  upon  his  legal  prepa- 
ration, he  rode  the  range  in  Meagher  county  and  he 
made  his  first  money  when  engaged  in  this  occupation, 
while  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years  he  had  complete 
charge  of  the  ranch.  His  early  education  was  secured 
in  the  schools  of  White  Sulphur  Springs  and  he 
subsequently  became  a student  in  the  Bishop  Scott 
Academy  at  Portland,  Oregon.  Following  that  he 
matriculated  in  the  LAiversity  of  iMichigan  at  Ann 
Arbor,  from  which  he  received  the  well-earned  degree 
of  LL.B.  as  a member  of  the  class  of  18 — . He  re- 
turned to  White  Sulphur  Springs,  where  he  displayed 
his  professional  shingle  and  entered  upon  the  active 
practice  of  the  law.  Unlike  the  Hon.  Peter  Stirling  of 
romance,  Mr.  Ford  did  not  have  to  stare  long  at  a 
blank  wall  before  clients  wandered  into  his  office,  for 
Fortune  soon  smiled  upon  him.  In  1906,  he  was  nomi- 
nated and  elected  county  attorney  and  is  now  serving 
his  third  term  in  this  important  capacity.  He  is  widely 
recognized  as  a lawyer  of  ability  and  of  even  brilliant 
promise.  He  has  held  two  other  public  offices,  namely, 
city  attorney  and  city  clerk.  In  his  political  faith  he 
gives  his  hand  and  heart  to  the  men  and  measures  of 
the  “Grand  Old  Party,”  and  takes  a very  active  in- 
terest in  political  matters  in  this  section. 

Mr.  Ford  is  affiliated  with  the  ancient  and  august 
Masonic  order,  having  filled  nearly  all  the  chairs  and 
being  past  master  of  his  lodge.  He  is  inclined  toward 
the  Catholic  faith,  but  is  not  a member  of  any  church, 
believing  that  all  are  working  toward  the  same  end 
and  that  all  are  worthy  of  support.  He  is  an  out-of- 
doors  man  and  is  fond,  of  hunting,  fishing  and  foot- 
ball and  of  the  last-named  he  is  a player  of  prowess 
and  renown,  having  been  on  Michigan’s  famous  eleven. 
He  is  a fine  judge  of  horses  and  is  much  interested  in 
the  equine  species.  He  heartily  subscribes  to  the  state- 
ment that  “He  who  loves  a book  never  lacks  a friend,’’ 
and  possesses  a well-chosen  private  library.  His  law 
library  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the  state,  consisting  of 
over  a thousand  volumes.  Nothing  could  exceed  his 
loyalty  to  the  state  of  his  birth  and  no  ordinary  con- 
siderations could  induce  him  to  part  from  it. 

Mr.  Ford  was  happily  married  at  White  Sulphur 
Springs  on  Christmas  day,  1908,  Margaret  Young, 
daughter  of  James  and  Margaret  A.  Young  of  Monti- 
cello,  Iowa,  becoming  his  wife.  They  share  their  at- 
tractive household  with  a small  daughter,  Helen  Mar- 
garet. Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ford  are  interesting  pop- 
ular members  of  society  and  their  home  is  one  of  the 
favorite  gathering  places  of  both  older  and  younger 
generations. 

The  subject’s  father,  William  T.  Ford,  was  born  in 
Tennessee  and  came  to  Montana  in  the  ’60s,  being 
among  the  early  pioneers  in  Meagher  county,  where  he 
located.  He  has  encountered  good  fortunes  here  and 
has  engaged  in  stock-raising  and  ranching  throughout 
the  intervening  period.  He  takes  an  active  interest  in 
politics  and  is  one  of  the  most  valiant  of  Republican 
party  leaders.  He  served  at  one  time  as  county  com- 
missioner of  Meagher  county  and  also  as  mayor  of 
White  Sulphur  Springs,  and  his  public  services  have 


1086 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


been  such  as  have  redounded  to  his  own  credit  and 
the  honor  and  profit  of  the  people.  The  maiden  name 
of  his  wife  was  Helen  Foley,  to  whom  he  was  married 
at  Walla  Walla,  Washington.  The  elder  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ford  reside  upon  their  ranch  in  a beautiful  and  ad- 
vantageously situated  country  home.  They  have  five 
children  living,  Mr.  Ford,  immediate  subject  of  this 
review,  being  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth  and  the 
eldest  son.  Ida  married  William  L.  Jenkins  and  re- 
sides at  Billings,  Montana;  Belle  is  still  a member  of 
the  parental  household  and  Arthur  is  a citizen  of  White 
Sulphur  Springs. 

William  J.  Hartwig  is  the  owner  and  manager  of 
the  new  Antlers  Theatre,  one  of  the  finest  play  houses 
in  the  state  of  Montana.  His  genial  manner  and  love 
of  “a  fair  deal”  make  him  popular  with  the  laity  as 
well  as  with  the  theatrical  profession.  He  has  served 
the  city  as  alderman  and  was  elected  in  1909  to  the 
Seventh  legislative  assembly  of  Montana,  the  Demo- 
cratic party  being  then  in  control  of  the  state. 

Mr.  Hartwig  was  born  December  8,  1861,  in 

Brugge,  Germany,  and  obtained  both  his  elementary 
and  high  school  eduaction  in  the  city  schools  of  Omaha, 
Nebraska.  In  the  spring  of  1879  he  traveled  by  boat  to 
Fort  Benton,  Montana,  and  thence  by  stage  to  Helena. 
In  Helena  he  pursued  his  trade  for  four  years,  becom- 
ing about  that  time  interested  in  the  insurance  business. 
FTntil  1905  he  was  solicitor  for  the  Bankers  Life  In- 
surance Company  of  Des  Moines,  Iowa.  In  that  year 
he  formed  a partnership  with  a Mr.  Menth  and  estab- 
lished the  grocery  firm  of  Menth  & Hartwig.  For 
three  years  this  business  prospered,  when  Mr.  Hartwig 
sold  his  interest  to  his  partner  that  he  might  enter 
the  candy  company  of  Mr.  A.  Seiler.  The  firm  was 
later  known  as  the  Seiler  and  Hartwig  Candy  Company. 
The  ensuing  year,  however,  he  resold  his  share  of  the 
firm  to  Mr.  Seiler  and  purchased  the  Orpheum  Theatre, 
and  is  now  the  owner  of  the  Antlers  Theatre. 

Since  1882  Mr.  William  J.  Hartwig  has  been  in  busi- 
ness for  himself  and  every  venture  has  proved  suc- 
cessful. He  is  a member  of  the  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks,  the  Woodmen  of  the  World 
and  the  Lambs  Club. 

June  6,  1883,  he  married  Miss  Isabell  Burke,  and  to 
them  were  born  seven  children,  of  whom  the  oldest, 
William  J.,  Jr.,  died  in  early  childhood,  and  those 
living  are  Raymond  J. : Elizabeth;  Wallace  B. ; Isabell, 
who  married  Heath  Sutton,  of  Seattle,  Washington ; 
Charles  H.,  and  Wilbur  J. 

H.  Sol  Hefner.  Noteworthy  among  the  able  and 
successful  attornevs  of  Lewis  and  Clark  county  is 
H.  Sol  Hepner,  of  Helena,  who  has  a large  and  con- 
stantly growing  legal  practice  in  that  city,  his  profes- 
sional knowledge  and  skill  having  gained  for  him  the 
confidence  of  the  people.  A native  of  Russia,  he  was 
born,  February  25,  1869,  at  Seiny,  where  his  childhood 
days  were  spent.  His  father,  the  late  Barnett  H.  Hep- 
ner, was  born,  reared  and  married  in  Russia,  and  while 
there  was  engaged  principallv  in  railroad  contracting. 
Immigrating  to  the  LTnited  States  in  1871  he  lived  a 
short  time  in  Pennsylvania,  thence  moving  to  Colorado. 
Coming  to  Montana  in  1879,  he  embarked  in  mercantile 
pursuits  in  Helena,  opening  a clothing  store,  which  he 
managed  until  his  death,  in  1908.  He  sent  for  his  fam- 
ily, who  arrived  in  1882.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Bertha  Maizel,  was  born  in  Russia,  and  is  now  liv- 
ing at  Helena.  She  has  three  children,  one  son,  H.  Sol 
Hepner,  the  subject  of  this  brief  sketch,  and  two  daugh- 
ters, as  follows.  Jennie,  wife  of  Louis  Wigel,  of 
Helena,  Montana ; and  Lula,  wife  of  Sylvain  Levy,  of 
New  York  City. 

As  a boy  H.  Sol  Hepner  attended  the  Imperial  Pro- 
gvmnasium  at  Tzaritzin,  Russia,  becoming  proficient  in 
the  elementary  branches  of  learning.  After  coming  to 


tins  country,  he  continued  his  studies  in  the  public 
schools,  readily  acquiring  a knowledge  of  the  English 
language.  Completing  the  full  course  of  study  in  the 
grammar  school  at  Helena,  he  was  graduated  from  its 
high  school  with  the  class  of  1885,  being  one  of  the  first 
two  boys  in  the  city  to  obtain  a high  school  diploma. 
The  following  five  years  he  was  employed  in  the  Mon- 
tana National  Bank  at  Helena.  In  1889  Mr.  Hepner 
entered  the  law  department  of  the  University  of  Michi- 
gan, at  Ann  Arbor,  and  at  the  end  of  tv.m  years  was 
graduated  therefrom.  Admitted  to  the  bar  in  1892,  he 
began  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession  in  Helena, 
and  as  a lawyer  has  gained  unmistakable  prestige,  his 
clientage  being  extensive  and  lucrative. 

In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Hepner  is  a sound 
Democrat,  and  takes  an  intelligent  interest  in  public 
matters.  From  1897  to  1899  he  served  as  a member  of 
the  state  legislature,  and  in  1909  and  1910  was  county 
prosecuting  attorney  for  Lewis  and  Clark  county.  He 
was  his  party’s  nominee  for  district  judge  in  1900,  but 
was  defeated  at  the  polls.  He  is  now  city  attorney  of 
Helena.  Fraternaly,  Mr.  Hepner  holds  high  rank  in 
the  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Order  of  Masons,  hav- 
ing served  as  grand  master  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
Masons  in  Montana  in  1903-1904.  He  is  a member  and 
past  grand  patron  of  the  Grand  Chapter,  Order  of  the 
Eastern  Star  of  Montana;  a member  of  the  Indepen- 
dent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias;  is  also  past  exalted  ruler  of  Helena  Lodge,  No. 
193,  B.  P.  O.  E. ; and  a very  prominent  member  of  the 
Woodmen  of  the  World,  being  the  present  head  escort 
of  the  Head  Camp  of  the  Pacific  Jurisdiction  of  that 
order,  the  jurisdiction  comprising  nine  western  states. 
Mr.  Hepner  is  a thirty-second  degree  Mason,  and  is  a 
member  and  past  potentate  of  Algeria  Temple,  Ancient 
Arabic  Order  of  the  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine. 

On  June  6,  1897,  Mr.  Flepner  married  Josephine 
Israel,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  two  children,  namely: 
Clarie  Algeria,  born  in  1900;  and  Harold  Steffan,  born 
in  1904. 

Frederick  W.  Kroger,  treasurer  of  Granite  county 
and  one  of  the  popular  and  well-known  young  men  in 
this  section  of  the  state,  was  born  in  Philipsburg, 
Granite  county,  on  February  22,  1879,  and  has  passed 
his  life  thus  far  in  this  city.  He  is  the  son  of  Charles 
and  Anna  (Rusch)  Kroger.  The  father  was  born  in 
Holstein,  Germany,  and  came  to  America  as  a young 
man.  After  visiting  many  states  he  finally  settled  in 
Montana,  where  he  became ’well-to-do  and  prominent. 
He  was  in  the  mining  business  for  many  years  and 
later  engaged  in  brewing.  He  was  a prominent  Alason 
and  Odd  Fellow  and  was  among  the  best  known  men 
in  the  county.  He  died  in  1898,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
five.  Fie  married  his  wife  in  Deer  Lodge,  Montana. 
She  still  survives  her  husband  and  is  living  in  Philips- 
burg, where  she  has  passed  so  many  years  of  her  life. 
She  was  the  second  white  woman  to  live  in  Bear 
Town.  They  were  the  parents  of  four  children,  of 
which  number  Frederick  W.  of  this  review  is  the 
youngest  born.  The  other  members  are  as  follows : 
bora  married  Lawrence  Hauck  and  lives  in  Philips- 
burg, where  Mr.  Hauck  is  postmaster  and  publisher  of 
the  Philipsburg  Mail,  as  well  as  president  of  the  First 
State  Bank  of  Philipsburg.  Walter  H.  is  cashier  of  the 
First  State  Bank  and  lives  in  his  home  town.  Henry 
A.,  who  is  married,  lives  in  Philipsburg  and  is  a ranger 
in  the  United  States  forestry  service. 

Frederick  W.  Kroger  received  his  education  in  the 
grade  and  high  schools  of  his  home  town.  His  first 
position  as  a wage  earner  was  in  a drug  si  ore  in 
Philipsburg,  where  he  continued  for  a few  months, 
leaving  the  work  to  take  up  his  high  school  studies. 
After  his  graduation  from  that  school  he  followed 
various  occupations  in  and  about  the  town.  He  ran  an 
engine,  drove  delivery  wagons,  worked  in  the  mills 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1087 


and  did  numerous  other  things  by  way  of  being  em- 
ployed, until  in  the  autumn  of  1910  he  was  named  for 
the  office  of  treasurer  for  his  county.  He  was  elected, 
and  since  that  time  has  been  engaged  in  that  office. 
Thus  far  his  services  have  been  all  that  might  be 
wished  for,  and  he  has  shown  all  the  earmarks  of  a 
valuable  official.  Mr.  Kroger  is  a Republican  and  has 
always , evinced  a lively  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the 
party  in  the  county  and  district.  He  has  been  a city 
alderman,  and  previous  to  his  election  to  the  office  of 
county  treasurer,  he  was  deputy  county  treasurer  for 
two  years. 

Mr.  Kroger  is  a member  of  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks,  the  Redmen,  the  Sons  of 
liermann,  the  Alumni  Society  of  the  Philipsburg  high 
school,  and  he  is  a member  of  a volunteer  fire  de- 
partment in  Philipsburg.  Tie  has  been  through  all  the 
chairs  in  the  Alumni  and  the  Order  of  Redmen,  and 
at  present  is  great  sachem  of  Montana  in  the  latter  or- 
der. He  was  secretary  of  the  fire  department  for  sev- 
eral years. 

On  August  4,  1910,  Mr.  Kroger  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Pearl  M.  Scott,  daughter  of  John  A.  and 
Mary  Scott,  of  Philipsburg.  They  have  two  children, 
Marian  E.  and  Josephine. 

William  B.  Calhoun,  clerk  of  the  court  of  Granite 
county,  is  distinctive!}'  a western  product.  Born  in 
Utah,  he  has  lived  in  Montana  since  he  was  two  years 
old,  and  has  grown  up  with  the  great  state  which 
has  made  such  rapid  strides  in  progre.ss  in  the  past 
quarter  century. 

Mr.  Calhourn  was  born  in  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  cn 
October  ii,  1877,  and  is  the  son  of  James  J.  and  Sarah 
A.  (Powell)  Calhoun.  The  father  was  liorn  in  New 
York  state,  but  the  greater  part  of  his  life  has  been 
spent  in  the  west.  He  now  maintains  the  family  home 
in  Philipsburg,  where  he  has  been  en.gaged  in  mining- 
ventures  for  a number  of  years.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  eight  children,  of  which  number  five  are  living. 
Ethel  is  married  to  W.  J.  Boland  and  lives  in  Spokane; 
Violet  is  the  wife  of  E.  B.  Scott,  and  lives  at  Proctor, 
Montana;  Chester  J.  is  married  and  lives  in  Great 
Falls;  Edward  J.  attends  school  in  Philipsburg.  Wil- 
liam B.,  who  was  the  third  child  bor;i  to  his  parents, 
was  as  a boy  a student  in  the  schools  of  Kelen.i,  Marys- 
ville and  Philipsburg,  in  which  towns  he  lived  is  a 
growing  youth.  When  he  was  two  years  old  the  family 
removed  from  Salt  Lake  City  to  Montana,  first  set- 
tling in  Helena,  and  remaining  for  about  six  years. 
Then  they  removed  to  Marysville,  where  they  continued 
to  live  for  about  four  years,  and  in  1889  the  family 
located  in  Philipsburg.  where  they  have  remained  since 
that  time.  When  William  B.  was  a lad  of  nine  years 
he  earned  his  first  money  as  an  errand  boy  in  Marys- 
\ille.  His  next  position  was  with  a civil  engineering 
crew  some  years  later,  and  he  was  engaged  thus  when 
the  Spanish-American  war  broke  out.  He  gave  up  his 
work  promptly  and  enlisted  in  the  Third  United  States 
Volunteer  Cavalry,  serving  through  the  war  in  that 
regiment.  After  the  war  he  returned  to  Philipsburg 
and  took  employment  in  the  bi-metallic  mill,  in  which 
he  continued  for  five  years.  His  next  position  was  in 
a grocery  store  as  a salesman,  where  he  remained  for 
nine  years.  He  left  that  position  to  fill  that  of  clerk 
of  the  court,  to  which  he  was  appointed  when  a vacancy 
appeared,  and  he  has  since  that  time  remained  in  the 
position,  which  he  has  filled  with  all  efficiency  and  in 
a manner  most  creditable  to  himself. 

Mr.  Calhoun  is  a Republican,  and  although  he  has  no 
political  ambitions  he  is  not  unduly  active  in  the  politics 
of  the  county.  He  was  married  at  Philipsburg  on 
March  20,  1902.  to  Miss  Maggie  Hickey,  daughter 
of  James  and  Mary  Hicke}',  of  Philipsburg.  in  which 
place  Mrs.  Calhoun  was  born.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren, James  W,  and  Dorothy  May,  both  of  whom  at- 


tend school  in  Philipsburg.  The  family  are  attendants 
of  the  jMethodist  church,  but  not  members. 

Joseph  Whitworth.  The  career  of  Joseph  Whitworth 
is  a splendid  illustration  of  what  independence,  self- 
faith and  persistency  can  accomplish  in  America.  He  is 
a self-made  man  in  the  most  significant  sense  of  the 
word,  for  no  one  helped  him  in  a financial  way  and  he 
is  self-educated.  As  a young  man  he  was  strong,  vigor- 
ous and  self-reliant.  He  trusted  in  his  own  ability  and 
did  things  single-handed  and  alone.  He  stands  today 
as  a successful  business  man  and  a loyal  and  public- 
spirited  citizen.  He  is  president  of  the  United  States 
National  Bank  at  Deer  Lodge  and  is  half  owner  of  the 
Bonner  Lumber  & Implement  Company,  two  of  the 
leading  financial  concerns  in  this  city. 

At  Chesterfield,  England,  October  7,  1857,  occurred 
the  birth  of  Joseph  Whitworth,  who  was  brought  by  his 
parents  to  the  United  States  in  1859,  at  which  time  he 
was  an  infant  of  but  two  years  of  age.  George  Whit- 
worth, father  of  Joseph,  was  born  in  England  m 1821, 
and  since  1857  he  has  been  a resident  of  Utah,  where 
he  is  engaged  in  farming  and  the  growing  of  fruits  and 
beets.  He  married  Mary  Wheatley  in  England,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  eight  children,  seven  of  whom 
are  now  living,  namely:  Joseph,  the  immediate  sub- 
ject of  this  review;  Florence,  who  is  the  wife  of  Elmer 
Loveland,  of  Collingston,  Utah;  George  W.,  a farmer 
in  the  vicinity  of  Bancoft’,  Idaho;  Herbert,  engaged  in 
the  hotel  business  at  Drummond,  Montana;  Michael,  a 
farmer  and  stock-raiser  near  Chesterfield,  Idaho;  John, 
a rancher  in  the  vicinity  of  Chesterfield,  where  Frank  is 
hkewise  located.  The  mother  was  called  from  this  life 
in  1881  and  is  buried  at  Brigham,  Utah. 

Joseph  Whitworth  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  Boxalder  count}-,  Utah.  At  the  age  of  thirteen  years 
he  began  to  help  his  father  in  the  work  and  manage- 
ment of  the  home  farm  and  when  he  had  reached  his 
legal  majority  he  entered  the  employ  of  Pratt  & Com- 
pany, cattle  dealers,  working  for  that  concern  in  Wyo- 
ming for  one  year.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he 
came  to  Montana,  settling  at  Dillon,  where  he  secured 
work  as  salesman  for  the  John  W.  Lowell  Company. 
He  went  to  Silver  Bow,  Montana,  for  the  Lowell  Com- 
pany and  continued  to  work  for  them  until  1884,  when 
it  failed  in  business.  Mr.  Whitworth  then  came  to  Deer 
Lodge  and  for  the  next  three  years  was  in  the  employ 
of  the  Bennett  Brothers  Implement  Company. 

About  1886  Mr.  Whitworth  became  connected  with 
the  jMontana  Improvement  Company  of  Deer  Lodge,  as 
manager.  This  concern  was  later  succeeded  by  the  E. 
L.  Bonner  Company,  of  which  JMr.  Whitworth  became 
a member.  At  the  time  of  the  death  of  Mr.  E.  L.  Bon- 
ner in  1902  jMr.  Whitworth  assumed  charge  of  the  lum- 
ber yards  of  the  Bonner  Company,  which  was  separated 
from  the  parent  company  and  became  the  Bonner  Lum- 
ber Company,  and  as  such  it  has  since  been  conducted. 
1 his  company  handles  not  only  all  kinds  of  lumber,  but 
one  of  the  largest  lines  of  agricultural  implements,  ranch 
tools,  vehicles  and  farm  equipment  in  the  state.  Mr. 
Whitworth  became  vice  president,  treasurer  and  gen- 
eral manager  of  the  Bonner  Lumber  Company  when  it 
was  reorganized,  a relation  that  he  has  since  main- 
tained, and  he  has  been  the  main  factor  in  its  success. 

Mr.  W'hitworth  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
United  States  National  Bank  at  Deer  Lodge,  the  first 
and  only  national  bank  in  Powell  county.  This  bank 
was  organized  in  November,  1910,  and  iMr.  Whitworth 
became  its  first  president,  a position  which  he  yet  re- 
tains. The  bank  has  enjoyed  a rapid  and  substantial 
growth,  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  well-managed 
and  conservative  banks  in  this  section  of  the  state.  He 
is  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  business  men  and 
citizens  of  the  state  of  Montana  and  inasmuch  as  he 
owes  his  rise  in  business  circles  entirely  to  his  own 
well  directed  endeavors,  his  success  is  the  more  gratify- 


1088 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


ing  to  contemplate.  During  the  past  twenty-hye  years 
Air  Whitworth  has  had  but  one  vacation  and  that  con- 
sisted of  a month’s  tour  of  the  northwest  through  Wash- 
ington and  Orgeon.  In  politics  he  is  a stalwart  Re- 
publican and  has  served  that  party  as  chairman  of  the 
state  central  committee.  For  the  past  twelve  years  he 
has  been  a member  of  the  Deer  Lodge  school  board  and 
for  two  years  was  a member  of  the  city  council,  hra- 
ternally  he  is  a member  of  the  Woodmen  of  the  World, 
and  he  has  been  banker  of  that  organization  since  190b. 

In  1888  Mr.  Whitworth  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Aliss  Katherine  Auschman,  a native  of  New  York.  Mrs. 
Whitworth  completed  her  educational  training  with  a 
course  of  study  in  Germany.  Six  children  have  been 
born  to  them,  as  follows;  Elmer  George,  who  attended 
school  at  Deer  Lodge  until  his  gTaduation  Rom  the 
hiMi  school  and  then  entered  the  University  of  Mich- 
igan where  he  attended  for  a year,  and  he  is  now_  con- 
nected with  the  Bonner  Lumber  Company  as  assistant 
manager;  William  Joseph  is  a student  m the  Montana 
Agricultural  College  at  Bozeman,  vyhere  he  is  specializ- 
ing in  electrical  engineering;  Katherine  a student  in 
the  Deer  Lodge  high  school;  Nita  and  Mane,  both 
.attending  the  public  schools,  as  is  also  Edward  Bon- 
ner, the  youngest  of  the  family.  , 

Mr  Whitworth’s  residence  in  Deer  Lodge  was  ttie 
fir'st  one  built  by  Mr.  E.  L Bonner  jn  that  c>ty,  and  is 
one  of  the  most  substantial  houses  m that  city  of  hue 
homes. 

Fr.xnk  Sanderson.  The  state  of  Illinois  has  done 
much  for  the  upbuilding  and  settling  of  her  sister  state, 
Montana,  in  that  she  has  contributed  some  of  her  stur- 
diest stock  and  her  best  citizenship  to  that  end.  Fronv 
inent  among  the  goodly  number  of 
migrated  to  Montana,  drawn  by  the  lure  of  the  west, 
is  Frank  Sanderson,  born  in  Pike  county,  that  state, 
on  his  father’s  farm,  February  22,  i860,  and  there 
reared  until  the  years  of  his  young  manhood 

Frank  Sanderson  is  the  son  of  Robert  B.  and  Amenda 
(Shaw)  Sanderson,  the  former  of  wlmrn  was  born  in 
New  York  state  in  1826,  and  the  latter  in  Massachusetts 
Robert  B.  Sanderson  passed  away  in  the  year  1871  at 
the  a-e  of  forty-five  years,  but  Mrs.  Sanderson  still  lives 
in  Summer  Hill,  Pike  county,  Illinois  Six  children  were 
born  to  Mr.  and  Airs.  Sanderson,  all  of  whom  are  liv- 
ino-  with  the  single  exception  of  one.  They  are  named 
beTow  in  the  order  of  their  birth;  H.  B..  now  living  m 
Yellowstone  county,  Montana;  Fr^erick,  deceased, 
Frank,  our  subject;  Clara,  wife  of  Fred  Shaw,  living 
in  Summer  Hill,  Pike  county,  Illinois;  Mattie,  the 
wife  of  C O Marsh,  resident  of  Louisiana,  Pike  county, 
Alissouri.'and  C.  C.,  who  like  his  two  living  brothers,  is 
a resident  of  Yellowstone  county,  Montana. 

Robert  B.  Sanderson  came  to  Pike  county  with  his 
parents  while  he  was  yet  a young  boy.  His  father  was 
John  R.  Sanderson,  a pioneer  of  Pike  county,  coming 
there  from  New  York  state  and  was  a millwright,  be- 
coming active  in  farming  and  stock  raising  ventures. 
At  that  time  the  county  seat  of  Pike  county  was  situated 
at  the  little  village  of  Atlas,  long  since  deserted.  Jerry 
Adams,  an  uncle  of  Frank  Sanderson  of  whom  we  write, 
owned  the  land  on  which  the  village  of  Atlas  stood. 
The  court  house  and  jail,  rudely  constructed  of  hewn 
lo°-s  were  of  necessity  abandoned  when  the  county  seat 
was’ wrested  away  from  Atlas,  and  Mr.  T'Mams  later 
made  use  of  the  buildings  for  a corn  crib.  Frank  San- 
derson, then  a mere  youth,  recalls  the  time  when  he 
helped  his  uncle  crib  corn  in  the  one-time  court  house 

and  jail.  . , r i.  r 

Robert  B.  Sanderson  followed  in  the  footsteps  ot 
his  father  and  continued  the  work  of  farming  and  stock 
raising  on  the  old  home  place.  There  he  spent  his  life 
and  there  he  died  in  1871. 

Frank  Sanderson  spent  his  early  years  at  home  on 
the  farm,  attending  the  country  school  in  the  winter 


and  assisting  with  the  farm  work  in  the  summer,  as  s 
country  boys  have  done  from  time  immemorial.  When 
he  reached  the  age  of  nineteen  years,  he  was  anxious 
to  get  away  from  home  and  see  some  of  the  world  and 
it  was  at  Reno,  Nevada,  where  he  first  located,  that  he 
got  his  first  breath  of  life  in  that  western  land,  where 
he  was  destined  to  eventually  make  his  home.  In  Reno 
he  secured  employment  at  sheep  herding,  and  in  1879,  ' 

he  came  overland  with  a flock  of  sheep  to  Helena, 
Montana.  The  firm  who  employed  him  sold  the  sheep  j 
in  Helena  and  he  passed  on  to  White  Sulphur  Springs,  f 
In  the  winter  of  1877  he  again  herded  sheep,  but  the  ^ 
following  winter  he  was  engaged  in  driving  the  stage  i 
between  White  Sulphur  Springs  and  Fort  Custer.  In 
the  spring  of  1879,  he  entered  the  employ  of  Westbrook  | 
and  McAdow  on  their  farm  near  the  present  site  of 
Billings.  It  is  interesting,  as  a side  light  on  western 
growth  and  progressiveness,  to  note  that  what  is  now 
the  prosperous  and  growing  city  of  Billings  was  then  : 
a veritable  wilderness;  a hunting  ground  for  big  game; 
and  on  the  spot  where  the  Congregational  church  of 
Billings  now  stands  his  brother  H.  B.  Sanderson  once 
shot  an  antelope. 

In  1880,  Mr.  Sanderson  and  his  brother,  H.  B.,  opened 
a blacksmith  shop  in  Old  Coulson,  now  a deserted  vil- 
lage near  Billings.  They  conducted  the  ishop  for 
perhaps  a year  and  a half,  and  then  returned  to  Pike 
county,  where  our  subject  engaged  in  farming  and 
stock  raising,  a business  in  which  he  was  in  every  way 
qualified  to  make  good,  in  view  of  his  early  training  and 
his  valuable  western  experience.  He  continued  thus 
until  the  year  1899,  when  his  old  longing  for  the  west 
proved  too  strong  for  him  and  he  returned  to  Yellow- 
stone county,  Alontana,  where  he  had  spent  many  busy 
years,  and  occupied  himself  in  farming  and  sheep  rais- 
ing, in  which  occupation  he  is  still  active  and  enjoying 
a very  considerable  measure  of  success.  ij 

During  his  residence  in  Pike  county,  Mr.  Sanderson  I 
served  his  township  capably  for  two  years  as  a member  ! 
of  the  school  board,  and  also  for  three  years  as  highway 
commissioner.  He  is  a member  of  Ashlar  Lodge  No.  1 
29  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  and  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  1 
America.  He  is  an  adherent  to  the  Republican  princi-  1 
pies,  true  to  the  precept  and  example  of  his  father.  j| 

November  23,  1881,  Mr.  Sanderson  was  united  in  I 
matrimony  to  Carrie  E.  Miller,  like  himself,  a native  ■ 
of  Pike  county.  She  is  a daughter  of  S.  G.  and  Asenath 
(Bemis)  Miller,  the  former  being  a native  of  Ohio  j , 
and  the  latter  of  Massachusetts.  Both  are  now  deceased.  . 1 
They  were  the  parents  of  two  children,  Carrie  Sander-  ^ 
son  being  their  second  child.  Mr.  Miller  was  well  and  ; 
favorably  known  in  his  section  of  Illinois,  being  a pio- 
neer of  Pike  county.  He  was  a tailor  by  trade,  but  early 
in  life  turned  his  atention  to  stock  breeding  and  general 
farming,  being  especially  awake  to  the  splendid  possi- 
bilities of  such  an  enterprise  afforded  by  the  exceptional 
facilities  of  that  section.  In  his  efforts  in  that  direction 
he  has  been  particularly  successful. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sanderson  are  the  parents  of  five  chil-  . 
dren,  here  named  in  the  respective  order  of  their  birth : !] 

Robert  B.,  married  to  Nellie  Brodrick;  Carl  M.,  to 
Nellie  Master;  Richard  H. ; Neal  D;  and  Frederick  M.  ; 

Charles  Edward  Dalton  has  been  a resident  of  ! 
Alontana  since  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age,  which 
came  to  pass  in  the  year  1879.  Previous  to  that  time 
he  resided  in  Bloomington,  Illinois,  where  his  father  ' 
C.  E.  Dalton,  conducted  a book  and  stationery  store. 
The  elder  Dalton  was  a native  of  New  Hampshire,  - 
who  immigrated  to  Illinois  before  the  Civil  war  and  was  | 
for  forty  years  a merchant  in  Bloomington.  His  wife  | 
was  Maria  Prestwick,  a lady  of  English  birth,  but  a | 
resident  of  America  since  her  childhood.  Her  family  | 
lived  in  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  and  it  was  in  that  J 
city  that  she  was  married  to  Charles  Dalton.  There 
were  nine  children  born  of  her  union  with  him,  Charles, 


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Irr  ' i'.. . ’ ■ .• , . > 


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» 


V.  . ■ 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1089 


Junior,  being  the  third  oldest.  She  and  her  husband 
left  Bloomington  after  four  decades  of  active  life  m 
that  place  and  made  their  home  in  Chicago.  Here 
Mr.  Dalton  passed  away  in  1908,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
nine.  Two  years  afterward  in  the  month  of  May, 
Mrs.  Dalton  died,  in  the  same  city.  Both  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Baptist  church. 

Charles  Edward,  of  this  sketch,  graduated  from  the 
high  school  in  Bloomington  at  the  age^  of  eighteen, 
and  at  once  went  to  work  in  his  father  s store,  in  a 
clerical  capacity.  He  was  associated  with  his  father 
for  the  next  three  years,  and  when  he  left  home  m 
search  of  wider  opportunities  he  came  directly  to 
Meagher  county,  Montana.  For  the  first  year  of  his 
stay  he  was  employed  on  the  ranch  of  David  Hoover, 
but  in  1880  he  secured  land  of  his  own  and  began 
operations  as  an  independent  stock  raiser.  For  the 
following  six  years  he  followed  ranching,  specializing 
in  the  raising  of  horses.  His  place  was  located  near 
Townsend  When  he  disposed  of  his  ranch  Mr.  Dalton 
moved  to  Helena  and  for  four  years  his  business  was 
that  of  importing  blooded  stock  from  Illinois.  This 
was  the  second  enterprise  of  the  kind  to  be  instituted 
in  the  state,  and  as  it  offered  a fine  field  the  venture  was 
highly  satisfactory  from  a financial  point  of  view. 

It  was  during  this  time  that  Mr.  Dalton  located  the 
mining  properties  which  he  spent  the  subsequent  ten 
vears  in  developing  and  operating.  They  were  situated 
m the  Blackfoot  district  and  in  Powell  county,  and 
they  proved  to  be  claims  which  paid  richly.  _His  experi- 
ence in  the  mines  was  all  that  could  be  desired,  and  he 
realized  a handsome  sum  from  his  investments  in  this 
industry.  His  next  venture  was  in  the  retail  furniture 
trade  in  Helena,  to  which  he  devoted  himself  until  1906, 
when  he  again  took  up  mining.  He  continued  to  work 
in  the  ground  until  February,  1911,  when  he  became 
associated  with  John  A.  Simon,  in  company  \vith  whom 
he  purcnased  the  long  established  business  of  Babcock  & 
Company,  which  has  been  for  a considerable  permd  one 
of  the  substantial  and  prosperous  concerns  of  Helena. 
The  store  is  located  at  56  North  Main  street,  and  is 
one  of  the  high  class  mercantile  establishments  of  the 
city  Mr.  Dalton  still  retains  his  mining  interests,  al- 
though he  has  delegated  their  management  to  others. 
There  are  few  men  in  this  part  of  the  state  who  have 
done  more  to  promote  mining  projects,  and  he  has 
been  instrumental  in  bringing  about  many  large  invest- 
ments for  the  development  of  mining  properties  and  has 
thus  been  an  important  factor  in  the  history  of  this 
industry  in  Montana.  As  he  has  been  not  only  a pro- 
moter but  also  an  operator,  he  has  shared  m the  nsks 
and  reaped  the  rewards  of  this  uncertain  and  fascinat- 
ing occupation.  . , 

Mr  Dalton’s  business  has  not  permitted  him  to  be 
an  office  holder,  nor  even  to  play  the  game  of  politics 
for  the  pleasure  of  organization.  He  is,  however,  a 
progressive  Republican,  and  a man  wbo  takes  a keen 
interest  in  civic  and  national  questions.  He  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  Retail  Merchants’  Association,  as  well  as  of 
the  Commercial  Club.  In  the  secret  orders  he  belongs 
to  the  Odd  Fellows,  and  is  also  one  of  the  company 
who  make  up  the  Lambs’  Club.  th-  ■ 1 

On  May  2,  1893,  at  Bloomington,  Illinois,  was  cele- 
brated the  marriage  of  Charles  Dalton  and  Flora, 
daughter  of  Charles  Kadel,  of  that  city.  A son,  C. 
Kadel  Dalton,  was  born  to  the  couple  on  August  21, 
igo2.  The  Daltons  are  Protestants,  as  were  their  an- 
cestors, who  were  of  English  stock.  Mr.  Dalton  is 
another  of  that  large  class  of  ambitious  boys  who  have 
made  good  by  doing  good  work  in  a good  held. 

David  D.  Walker.  The  late  David  Davis  Walker,  a 
prominent  citizen  of  Deer  Lodge  county,  and  one  of  the 
best  known  stock-men  in  Montana,  was  prornmently 
identified  with  the  interests  of  Anaconda  during  the 
whole  period  of  its  existence  and  was  numbered  among 
its  leading  and  most  highly  esteemed  citizens. 


Mr.  Walker  was  of  Scotch-Irish  extraction,  his  grand- 
father having  been  a native  of  Scotland  and  his  grand- 
mother of  Ireland.  Their  respective  families  settled  in 
Virginia  during  colonial  times  and  when  Kentucky  was 
opened  by  Daniel  Boone,  the  grandfather,  with  his 
family,  moved  to  that  frontier.  There  David  Walker 
(who  lived  to  become  the  father  of  David  D.  Walker) 
was  reared  and  there  he  married.  At  about  the  time  . 
of  his  marriage,  Illinois  was  being  opened  up  and  set- 
tled, and,  true  to  the  pioneer  instincts  of  his  race,  he 
moved  westward  and  settled  in  Sangamon  county  of  the 
latter  state.  From  1827,  the  year  of  his  Illinois  migra- 
tion, until  1836,  he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  on 
the  soil  of  his  chosen  locality.  Again  seized  with  the 
spirit  of  migration,  he  packed  his  effects  and  removed 
with  his  family  to  a place  near  West  Point,  in  Lee 
county,  Iowa.  From  that  time,  years  before  there  was 
any  sign  of  a town  in  that  region,  David  Walker  lived 
until  his  death  at  the  age  of  seventy-four,  many  years 
after  the  passing  of  his  wife,  Nancy  Davis  Walker.  Of 
the  twelve  children — seven  sons  and  five  daughters — 
who  had  been  born  to  them,  eight  had  lived  to  reach 
maturity.  Of  these  David  D.  Walker  was  the  youngest, 
and  was  but  eighteen  months  old  when  his  mother  died. 
Lee  county,  Iowa,  was  the  place  of  his  nativity  and  De- 
cember 1.5,  1843,  the  date  of  his  birth. 

Amid  pioneer  scenes  David  D.  Walker  grew  to  man- 
hood. Scarcely  had  he  reached  the  age  of  responsible 
maturity  when  the  prevailing  characteristic  of  his  fam- 
ily— that  so  conspicuously  demonstrated  in  the  move- 
ments of  his  ancestors — caused  him  to  seek  a home  and 
field  of  endeavor  in  the  new  west.  He  accordingly 
arranged  for  a journey  to  the  mining  regions  of  Mon- 
tana. As  at  that  time  (1865)  there  were  no  railroads 
west  of  Des  Moines,  an  overland  trip  on  the  proposed 
route  meant  something  very  different  from  what  it  does 
at  the  present  day. 

After  five  months  spent  by  David  D.  Walker,  with 
his  party  of  friends,  in  crossing  the  plains  with  teams 
from  Iowa  into  Montana,  he  first  located  on  Cotton- 
wood creek,  near  Dear  Lodge,  where  he  success- 
fully engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising.  This  work 
he  interrupted  after  a time  in  order  to  return  to  Iowa 
and  to  remain  with  his  father  during  his  last  illness. 

Mr.  Walker  returned  to  Montana  after  his  parent’s 
death.  On  this  journey  he  was  accompanied  by  his 
wife,  whom  he  had  married  at  West  Point,  Iowa,  No- 
vember 14,  1867.  Mr.  Walker  remained  in  Iowa  until 
spring  of  1870,  when  he  and  his  wife  started  for  Mon- 
tana, going  by  rail  to  Corinne,  Utah,  then  the  end  of 
railroad  traffic,  and  the  railroad  freight  for  Montana 
all  came  there.  Mr.  Walker  remained  at  Corinne,  in 
the  livery  business,  about  two  years,  when  his  father’s 
physical  condition  caused  him  to  return  to  Iowa,  where 
he  remained  until  his  father’s  death,  and  in  1879  he  re- 
turned to  Montana,  where  his  home  was  made  there- 
after. He  resumed  his  activities  in  stock-raising 
with  continued  success  and  with  a keen  interest 
in  the  development  of  new  opportunities  in  his  environ- 
ment. In  June,  1883,  Anaconda  was  laid  out  and  busi- 
ness was  begun  in  tents.  Mr.  Walker  was  one  of  the 
first  to  purchase  a town  lot  and  in  the  fall  of  that 
year,  associated  with  two  other  citizens  of  the  new 
municipality,  he  opened  a place  of  business.  His  asso- 
ciates were  N.  J.  Bielenburg  and  J.  K.  Mallory,  and 
their  enterprise  was  a butcher  shop  and  meat  market 
at  19  Main  street.  The  firm  did  a thriving  business 
from  the  start  and  its  patronage  and  profits  increased 
at  a gratifying  rate.  Mr.  Mallory  presently  withdrew 
from  the  partnership  and  the  firm  became  known  as 
Bielenburg  & Walker.  This  firm,  whose  stock  was  at 
Big  Hole  ranch,  was  the  first  to  begin  the  practice  of 
feeding  in  the  winter  the  beef  intended  for  the  spring 
market.  This  plan  has  since  proved  popular  and  ex- 
ceedingly profitable  among  the  stock  raisers  of  the 
Big  Hole  valley. 


lOSK) 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


In  the  meantime  IMr.  Walker  had  in  other  than  com- 
mercial lines  become  one  ot  Anaconda’s  most  important 
residents.  He  was  inconspicuously  interested  in  poli- 
tics, being  a member  of  the  Democratic  party,  and 
while  he  never  sought  office,  office  sought  and  found 
him.  He  was  a member  of  the  board  of  county  com- 
missioners of  Deer  Lodge  county,  having  been  elected 
in  1886,  and  was  made  chairman  of  the  board.  His 
executive  ability  brought  him  to  the  front  and  in  1890 
he  was  elected  mayor  of  Anaconda.  He  served  one 
term  with  credit  to  himself  and  to  the  entire  satisfac- 
tion of  his  fellow-citizens.  He  was  actively  concerned 
in  the  moral  welfare  of  the  community,  and  in  his 
Presbyterian  church  affiliation  his  sincerity  and  earnest- 
ness in  matters  of  the  highest  good  were  made  unas- 
sumingly manifest.  That  religious  organization  is  also 
the  church  home  of  Mrs.  Walker,  who  survives  her 
husband. 

Mrs.  Walker  was  formerly  Miss  Mary  E.  Hall,  a de- 
scendant of  early  New  England  colonists  and  a daugh- 
ter of  Ira  B.  and  Mary  E.  (Thurston)  Hall,  of  Taze- 
well county,  Illinois.  That  locality  was  the  birthplace 
of  Mary  Hall,  who  became  the  wife  of  David  D. 
Walker.  Their  son,  Ira  B.  Walker,  married  Miss  Hattie 
B.  lUay  in  i8g8;  she  is  a native  of  Kentucky,  and  by 
her  marriage  has  become  the  mother  of  Richard  D. 
Walker,  born  November  6,  1899.  The  ranching  and 
stock-raising  which  his  father  found  so  interesting  and 
so  profitable  now  comprises  the  vocational  activities  of 
Mr.  Ira  Walker,  whose  location  is  the  Big  Hole  Valley. 

When  David  D.  Walker's  busy  and  well-spent  life 
was  so  suddenly  cut  short  on  June  16,  1906,  the  general 
and  deep  appreciation  of  the  community  for  his  char- 
acter found  full  voice  in  many  ways  and  in  many  quar- 
ters. An  editorial  published  at  this  time  in  the  Ana- 
conda Standard,  may  be  fittingly  quoted  in  closing  this 
brief  biographical  record:  “Back  in  1883,  David  D. 

Walker  came  to  the  little  collection  of  tents  which  was 
then  all  there  was  of  the  city  and  cast  his  fortunes  with 
Anaconda.  He  was  then  just  forty  years  old,  in  the  very 
prime  of  manhood,  always  vigorous,  wholesome,  sane 
and  honest.  Anaconda  has  been  his  home  ever  since ; 
and  to  his  sturdy  personality,  his  clear  head,  his  wise 
counsels,  his  model  citizenship,  the  city  owes  much. 
Mr.  Walker  was  indeed  a type  of  the  good  citizen.  He 
took  an  interest  in  public  affairs.  He  was  familiar  with 
the  machinery  of  government.  He  knew  every  part  of 
the  country  for  miles  round  about,  and  by  all  he  was 
esteemed,  honored  and  beloved. 

"A  Democrat  in  politics,  he  could  submerge  his  parti- 
sanship when  the  public  good  seemed  to  require.  There 
was  nothing  bigoted  about  D.  D.  Walker ; breadth  of 
view,  tolerance  of  other  men’s  opinions,  even  when  they 
clashed  with  his  own,  a quiet  and  lovable  patience' — 
these  were  among  his  most  notable  and  splendid  char- 
acteristics. With  malice  toward  none,  with  charity  for 
all,  with  firmness  in  the  right,  as  God  gave  him  to  see 
the  right,  Mr.  Walker  lived  a life  full  of  dignity,  recti- 
tude, usefulness  and  noble  influence.”  He  was  buried 
in  the  Protestant  cemetery  at  Anaconda.  In  1883  he 
built  his  home  at  what  is  305  East  Third  street.  Ana- 
conda, where  he  lived  thereafter,  and  where  his  widow 
still  resides. 

Eked  H.  Foster  was  born  in  Minnesota,  February  2. 
1856,  and  is  a son  of  Robert  and  Lucinda  (McMillan) 
Foster,  natives  of  Ohio.  On  the  paternal  side  his 
grandfather  was  Alexander  Foster,  a native  of  Ire- 
land, while  Reuben  McMillan,  his  maternal  grand- 
father, was  born  in  New  York  state.  The  latter  was 
a son  of  James  McMillan,  who  belonged  to  an  old 
Highland  Scotch  family,  members  of  which  came  to 
the  United  States  prior  to  the  Revolutionary  war,  in 
which  struggle  they  participated.  Robert  Foster  was 
for  many  years  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits,  but  re- 
tired therefrom  in  1890,  and  from  that  time  on  made 


his  home  with  jiis  children,  his  death  occurrino-  at  the 
residence  of  Fred  H.  Foster  in  1909,  when  °he  was 
eighty-six  years  of  age.  His  wife  passed  away  in 
Minneapolis,  Minnesota,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years, 
having  been  the  mother  of  four  children.  One  of 
these  is  Henry  W.  Foster,  M.  D.,  of  Bozeman,  Mon- 
tana ; another  is  a retired  lieutenant  of  the  United 
States  Navy  and  resides  in  New  Orleans,  while  the 
only  daughter,  Mrs.  Clara  L.  King,  lives  at  Van- 
couver, British  Columbia. 

In  the  excellent  public  schools  of  his  native  state 
Fred  FI.  Foster  secured  his  educational  training,  which 
was  subsequently  supplemental  by  a partial  course  of 
the  State  University.  He  first  came  to  Montana  with 
the  engineering  corps  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Rail- 
road, then  operating  in  the  Yellowstone  valley,  Au- 
gust 8,  1879,  but  in  December,  1881,  gave  up  this  work 
to  form  a partnership  with  P.  W.  McAdow  in  the 
general  marchandise  business  at  Coulson.  This  as- 
sociation continued  until  1883,  in  April  of  which  year 
he  platted  a quarter-section  of  land,  now  a part  of 
the  city  of  Billings,  and  known  as  Foster’s  Addition, 
and  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business,  which  soon 
grew  to  such  proportions  that  it  demanded  his  entire 
attention.  Fle  became  a member  of  the  first  board 
of  commissioners  of  Yellowstone  county  and  was  a 
member  of  the  school  board,  and  in  1889  was  elected 
to  the  office  of  mayor.  He  was  subsequently  re-elected 
in  1893,  1903,  1905  and  1907,  and  during  his  five  terms 
gave  the  city  a business  administration  that  will  serve 
as  an  example  to  those  who  fill  the  chief  executive’s 
chair  in  years  to  come.  From  1889  until  1893  he  acted 
in  the  capacity  of  county  clerk,  and  in  1904  was  elected 
clerk  of  the  district  court.  In  1895  he  was  secretary 
of  the  state  senate,  the  fourth  legislative  assembly.  In 
1892  Mr.  Foster  went  to  'Washington,  D.  C.,  where  he 
was  instrumental  in  securing  the  passage  of  a bill  au- 
thorizing the  appointment  of  a commission  to  treat 
with  the  Crow  Indians  for  the  opening  of  the  western 
portion  of  the  Crow  Indian  Reservation,  and  subse- 
quently served  efficiently  as  a member  of  that  body. 
Since  the  expiration  of  his  last  term  as  mayor  of  Bil- 
lings he  has  given  his  whole  attention  to  the  insur- 
ance business.  He  has  been  prominent  in  fraternal 
bodies  for  a number  of  years,  and  at  present  is  a 
member  of  Billings  Lodge,  No.  394,  B.  P.  O.  E.,  past 
exalted  ruler  of  his  lodge  and  steward  of  the  Elks 
Hall,  one  of  the  finest  buildings  of  its  kind  in  the 
United  States.  He  is  also  connected  with  Billings 
Aerie,  F.  O.  E. ; past  council  commander  of  the  W. 

0.  \V. ; and  a memljer  of  the  Degree  of  Honor  and 

1.  O.  R.  M.  since  1896.  Flis  stanch  support  has  been 
given  to  the  Democratic  party,  its  principles  and  its 
candidates,  and  he  has  been  recognized  as  a man 
whose  influence  in  the  ranks  of  the  organization  is 
to  be  reckoned  with. 

On  April  19,  1882,  Mr.  Foster  was  married  to  Miss 
Georgia  McLaughlin,  a native  of  Minnesota  and 
daughter  of  Horace  and  Margaret  McLaughlin,  both 
of  whom  came  from  the  state  of  Massachusetts.  Hor- 
ace McLaughlin  was  descended  from  an  old  Flighland 
Scotch  family  which  made  its  advent  in  the  United 
States  about  1650,  while  his  wife’s  ancestors  were  na- 
tives of  England.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Foster  are  the  par- 
ents of  five  living  children,  namely;  Herbert  H.,  Clara, 
Robert.  .Annabel  and  Henr3^  W. 

Mr.  Foster’s  career  has  been  a busv  and  a useful 
one,  but  he  has  never  been  so  occupied  with  his  pri- 
vate interests  that  he  has  neglected  to  discharge  the 
duties  of  citizenship,  and  he  has  not  only  assisted 
in  developing  the  resources  of  his  community  in  con- 
nection with  his  business,  but  in  his  various  official 
capacities  has  plainly  demonstrated  that  he  has  had 
the  welfare  of  his  adopted  city  -at  heart.  No  man 
stands  higher  in  public  esteem,  nor  has  any  citizen  been 
more  successful  in  making  and  retaining  friends. 


>n,' 

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■ ■ '■'.W- 


y-:\ 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1091 


William  Lee  Mains.  The  city  of  Billings  is  in- 
debted for  its  present  prosperity  and  commercial  ac- 
tivity to  many  men  whose  capital  and  intellect  have 
been  instrumental  in  promoting  its  growth,  and  among 
these  one  who  has  attained  a place  of  prominence  in 
the  financial  world  is  William  Lee  Mains,  president  of 
the  Farmers  and  Traders  State  Bank.  Like  many 
others  of  Alontana’s  most  successful  men,  Mr.  Mains 
has  been  the  architect  of  his  fortunes,  for  he  started 
his  career  at  the  bottom  rung  of  the  ladder  of  finance, 
and  nas  achieved  his  present  standing  only  through 
persistent  effort  and  the  exercise  of  unusual  business 
ability.  He  is  a native  of  Louisville,  Kentucky,  and 
was  born  September  20,  1873,  a son  of  Maxwell  G. 
and  Kate  E.  (Lee)  Mains. 

Maxwell  G.  Mains  wms  born  at  Greenfield.  Ohio._  in 
1844.  and  received  his  primary  educational  training 
in  the  public  schools  of  that  place.  Subsequently  he 
attended  Cincinnati  College,  and  after  leaving  the  in- 
stitution he  enlisted  in  the  Eleventh  Indiana  Volun- 
teers, under  Colonel  Lew  Wallace,  in  Sheridan  s 
Brigade,  and  served  four  years  as  chief  musician,  par- 
ticipating in  all  the  activities  of  his  regiment  and  ac- 
companying General  Sherman  on  his  famous  march 
to  the  sea.  On  completing  his  service  he  located  in 
Flora,  Illinois,  where  he  engaged  in  the  jew^elry  busi- 
ness for  some  years,  and  then  w’ent  to  Louisville,  Ken- 
tucky, where  he  continued  to  follow  the  same  line  of 
business.  Subsequently  he  removed  to  Jefferson 
county,  Indiana,  and  in  1879  came  to  IMiles  City,  Mon- 
tana, w'here  he  remained  until  1882.  In  that  year  Mr. 
Mains  located  in  Billings,  where  he  became  the  pioneer 
jeweler  of  the  city  and  continued  in  business  here  until 
1891,  then  going  to  Spokane,  Washington.  At  the 
present  time  he  is  engaged  in  business  at  North 
Yakima,  Washington.  He  is  a member  of  McKinley 
Post,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  is  a stanch 
supporter  of  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party.  In 
1872  Mr.  Mains  w^as  married  at  Louisville,  Kentucky, 
to  Miss  Kate  E.  Lee,  who  was  born  in  that  city  in 
1852,  and  she  died  in  1904,  having  been  the  mother  of 
six  children,  of  w'honi  four  survive : William  Lee, 

Ida  L.,  Charles  W.  and  Mary  Elorence. 

The  education  of  William  Lee  Mains  was  secured  in 
the  public  schools  of  Louisville,  but  he  was  not  ten 
\'ears  of  age  when  he  came  to  Billings,  June  lo,  1883, 
and  secured  employment  as  office  boy  and  messenger 
with  the  First  National  Bank.  Faithful  and  steady 
in  his  work,  he  soon  attracted  the  attention  of  his  em- 
ployers, and  he  was  promoted  to  bookkeeper,  then  to 
teller,  subsequently  to  assistant  cashier,  and  eventually 
to  the  position  of  cashier  and  director.  He  held  the 
latter  positions  until  1906,  when  he  purchased  the  Col- 
umbus State  Bank  of  Columbus,  IMontana,  and  was 
president  thereof  until  the  spring  of  1909,  at  which 
time  he  sold  out  to  buy  the  Citizens  National  Bank  of 
Laurel,  Montana,  and  of  which  he  is  president.  At  this 
time  he  was  the  main  factor  in  organizing  the  Farmers 
and  Traders  State  Bank  of  Billings,  of  which  he  has 
since  been  the  president.  Among  business  men  Mr. 
Mains  is  looked  to  as  a clear-headed  man  whose  ad- 
vice is  always  sound.  Imbued  with  the  highest  in- 
tegrity in  all  business  matters,  his  abilit}'  has  been 
shown  in  the  growth  of  the  great  institution  of  which 
he  is  at  the  head.  Fraternally  he  is  connected  with 
Ashlar  Lodge,  No.  29,  F.  & A.  J\I. ; Billings  Chapter, 
No.  6.  R.  A.  M. ; and  Aldemar  Commandery,  No. 
5,  K.  T. ; and  is  a past  exalted  ruler  of  Billings  Lodge, 
No.  394,  B.  P.  O.  E.  Politically  he  is  a Republican, 
but  he  has  never  chosen  to  enter  the  field  of  politics. 
He  is  an  ex-president  of  the  Billings  Club,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  executive  committee  of  the  local  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association. 

On  June  22.  1904,  Mr.  Mains  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Alice  Brown,  daughter  of  Judge 
Michael  Brown,  and  three  children  have  been  born 
voi.  n— 1 (i 


to  this  union,  namely:  •William  Lee,  Jr.,  Lillian  and 
Flarriman  Brown. 

Jabez  W.  Vaughan.  In  the  thirty  years  or  more  of 
Jabez  W.  Vaughan’s  residence  in  Montana  he  has  seen 
many  changes  take  place  in  the  state,  which  until  recent 
years  was  regarded  as  partaking  of  all  the  qualities 
of  the  “wild  west.”  In  his  time  he  has  seen  the  primi- 
tive modes  of  life  in  a new  country  give  way  to  a com- 
paratively metropolitan  existence,  and  he  has  been  as- 
sociated with  many  an  enterprise  that  has  contributed 
to  the  advancement  and  settling  of  the  state. 

Jabez  W.  Vaughan  was  born  in  Clarkesville,  Pike 
county,  Missouri,  April  7,  1859,  and  is  the  son  of 
Almond  T.  and  iMargaret  L.  (Swain)  Vaughan.  The 
father  was  a native  of  Virginia,  being  born  in  Nelson 
county  of  that  state  on  August  10.  1827,  and  dying 
February  5,  1907,  almost  reaching  the  allotted  three 
score  years  and  ten.  Mrs.  Vaughan  was  born  in  Wake- 
field, Massachusetts.  August  12,  1830,  and  she  died 
February  8,  1902.  They  were  married  on  December  6, 
1849,  in  Clarkesville,  iNIissouri,  and  were  the  parents 
of  thirteen  children.  Four  of  that  number  died  in  in- 
fancy, and  one,  Annie  M.,  was  taken  from  them  after 
she  had  reached  young  womanhood,  being  nineteen 
years  of  age  at  the  time  of  her  death.  Mattie,  the  eldest 
of  the  family,  married  Henry  B.  Miller.  She  was  born 
September  30,  1850,  and  died  in  1903.  The  others  are 
Thomas  A. ; Jabez  W.  of  whom  we  write,  he  being  the 
fourth  in  order  of  birth;  Ella  IMalvina,  the  wife  of  J. 
W.  Wamsley;  Harriet  E..  the  wife  of  N.  N.  Hinsdale; 
Elizabeth  B..  the  wife  of  C.  P.  Paxton ; Carrie,  the 
wife  of  John  Luke,  and  George. 

When  three  years  of  age  Almond  T.  Vaughan  came 
to  Lincoln  county.  iMissouri,  with  his  parents.  While 
yet  a mere  child  he  had  the  great  misfortune  to  lose 
both  his  parents,  after  which  he  was  given  a home  in 
the  family  of  his  uncle,  John  N.  Luke,  in  Pike  county, 
Missouri.  As  a youth  he ' worked  on  the  steamboats 
plying  up  and  down  the  Missisippi  river  for  a number 
of  years,  and  when  a j’oung  man  located  on  a farm 
near  Clarkesville,  where  he  gave  his  time  to  the  farming 
industry  until  a few  years  prior  to  his  death,  with  the 
exception  of  two  or  three  instances  when  he  went  on 
e.xtended  trips  to  the  west.  In  1879  he  left  Clarkesville 
and  came  to  [Montana,  where  he  was  in  the  employ  of 
the  United  States  escort  of  the  inspector  general,  visit- 
ing all  the  U.  S.  army  posts  in  the  west.  In  the  fall 
of  1881  he  returned  to  Alissouri,  where  he  remained 
until  the  year  1906,  and  in  July  of  that  year  he  returned 
to  Montana  and  was  so  fortunate  as  to  draw  a claim 
in  the  distribution  of  the  Crow  reservation  lands  by  the 
U.  S.  government.  His  life  after  that  was  short,  how- 
ever, and  in  Eebruary,  1907,  he  passed  away  at  the  home 
of  his  son  Jabez,  with  whom  he  had  resided  while  in 
Montana. 

Aside  from  his  quiet  farm  life,  Mr.  Vaughan  had 
been  active  in  various  movements,  both  in  [Montana  and 
Missouri.  Wliile  a resident  of  Pike  county.  [Missouri, 
he  was  assessor  of  that  county  for  three  years.  In 
1850  he  became  deeply  enthusiastic  over  the  discovery 
of  gold  in  California,  and  he  made  the  trip  overland 
from  Clarkesville  with  six  yokes  of  oxen  to  central 
California.  He  spent  about  two  years  prospecting  and 
mining  and  in  1853  returned  to  his  home  in  Clarkesville. 
He  made  the  return  trip  via  Cape  Horn  in  a sailing 
vessel,  and  his  trip  from  start  to  finish  was  replete 
with  thrilling  adventures,  although  it  did  not  add  ma- 
terially to  his  stock  of  worldly  goods.  In  the  fall  of 
1879,  when  on  his  first  trip  to  Montana,  he  with  his 
son  Jabez  established  the  first  mail  route  to  be  operated 
between  Old  Coulson  and  [Martinsdale  on  the  [Mussell- 
shell.  [Mr.  Vaughan  was  for  fifty  years  a member  of 
the  blue  lodge  of  the  [Masonic  fraternity,  and  a Demo- 
crat all  the  }-ears  of  his  life. 

The  early  years  of  Jabez  W.  Vaughan’s  life  were 


1092 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


spent  in  the  home  at  Clarkesville,  Missouri,  where  he 
helped  with  the  farm  work  in  summer  and  attended 
the  village  schools  in  winter.  When  he  was  twenty 
years  old,  accompanied  by  his  father,  they  made  a trip 
to  Montana.  They  went  to  Bismarck,  North  Dakota, 
by  rail,  and  by  steamer  thence  to  Fort  Benton,  Mon- 
tana, and  overland  to  Old  Coulson.  then  a thriving  vil- 
lage, but  now  a deserted  spot.  They  spent  the  winter 
of  ’79-’8o  in  Fort  Benton  and  Jabez  W.  worked  dur- 
ing the  summer  of  1880  in  a blacksmith  shop.  In  the 
fall  of  1880  he  took  the  last  steamer  down  the  river 
to  St.  Louis,  and  went  back  to  the  old  homestead  in 
Clarkesville.  In  the  spring  of  1883  Jabez  Vaughan 
married  and  returned  with  his  bride  to  Montana,  lo- 
cating at  Billings  and  securing  a position  as  clerk  in 
a grocery  store.  Later  he  was  deputy  sheriff  from  1885 
to  1887,  and  on  the  e.xpiration  of  his  term  of  service 
in  that  capacity  he  took  a position  as  clerk  in  a hard- 
ware store.  Very  shortly,  however,  he  abandoned  that 
and  engaged  in  the  bakery  and  restaurant  business,  in 
which  he  continued  for  a period  of  eight  years.  From 
that  he  went  into  the  grocery  business,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Tool  & Vaughan,  but  after  two  years  he  sold 
his  interest  in  the  firm  and  went  into  the  wholesale 
fruit  and  produce  business,  the  name  of  the  firm  being 
Thompson,  Kain  & Vaughan.  In  the  spring  of  1903 
they  sold  out  the  business,  and  he  again  engaged  in  the 
wholesale  fruit  and  produce  business,  with  the  firm 
name  of  Lindsay  & Company,  in  which  he  continued 
until  1911,  and  in  July  of  that  year  he  became  as- 
sociated wilh  Vriden  & Luke,  with  which  firm  he  re- 
mained until  January  i,  1912,  since  which  time  he  has 
been  manager  of  both  the  Northwestern  Oil  Refining 
Company  and  the  Montana  & Wyoming  Oil  Company, 
being  a stockholder  in  both  concerns. 

On  February  21,  1883,  Mr.  Vaughan  was  married 
to  Letha  Wilkinson  in  Clarkesville.  Missouri,  as  men- 
tioned in  a previous  paragraph.  She  died  November 
26,  1889,  leaving  besides  her  husband  two  daughters, 
Wayne  B.  and  Mary  L.  Mr.  Vaughan  contracted  a sec- 
ond marriage  November  10,  1891,  when  he  became  the 
husband  of  Miss  Lucy  Metcalf,  a native  of  Dubuque, 
Iowa. 

Mr.  Vaughan  is  a member  of  a number  of  fraternal 
societies,  prominent  among  them  being  Ashlar  Lodge, 
No.  29  A.  F.  & A.  M. : Billings  Chapter,  No.  6 R.  A. 
M.,  Aldemar  Commandery,  No.  5 K.  T. ; Algeria  Tem- 
ple of  Helena,  Montana,  and  is  a charter  member  of 
Billings  Lodge,  No.  394,  Benevolent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Elks.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
Edna  Chapter,  No.  15,  Order  of  Eastern  Star.  He  is 
a Democrat,  and  has  served  one  term  as  alderman  from 
the  First  ward. 

It  is  worthy  of  mention  that  Mr.  Vaughan  traces  his 
ancestry  directly  back  to  the  early  days  of  the  Pilgrim 
fathers,  one  of  his  ancestors  having  come  over  in  the 
Mayflower,  and  many  of  them  being  prominent  in  Colo- 
nial days.  His  uncle,  George  Vaughan,  who  was  an 
officer  of  the  Confederacy,  claims  the  distinction  of  be- 
ing the  recipient  of  Lincoln’s  last  official  act  of  mercy, 
or  indeed  in  any  capacity,  before  he  went  to  Ford 
theatre  on  the  evening  of  April  14,  1865,  where  he  was 
assassinated,  he  having  signed  the  pardon  of  the  con- 
demned Confederate  officer  just  prior  to  his  departure 
for  the  theatre. 

Walter  J.  Dunnigan.  Prominently  identified  with 
the  business  interests  of  Miles  City  as  a member  of 
the  firm  of  Custer  Commission  Company,  dealers  in 
insurance,  live  stock  and  real  estate,  Walter  J.  Dimni- 
gan  has  also  interested  himself  in  city  affairs,  and 
is  now  acting  as  alderman  of  the  First  ward.  His 
earlier  years  were  spent  as  a cowboy  on  the  range, 
where  he  gained  much  valuable  information  as  to  live 
stock  values,  and  the  firm  of  which  he  is  at  present  a 
member  is  widely  known  in  its  line  throughout  the 


state.  Mr.  Dunnigan  was  born  at  Fort  Leavenworth, 
Kansas,  December  14,  1874,  and  is  a son  of  Patrick  T. 
and  Catherine  (Shelley)  Dunnigan. 

Mr.  Dunnigan’s  father  was  born  at  Brooklyn,  New 
York,  in  1838,  from  whence,  in  1861,  he  enlisted  in 
Company  I,  Forty-seventh  Regiment,  New  York  Vol- 
unteer Infantry,  for  service  during  the  Civil  war.  He 
became  first  lieutenant  of  his  company,  and  served  with 
distinction  throughout  the  struggle  between  the  north 
and  south,  and  after  the  close  of  hostilities,  removed  to 
Kansas.  There  in  1875,  he  enlisted  in  Company  H, 
Fifth  Regiment,  United  States  Regulars,  serving  as 
first  lieutenant  throughout  the  Indian  wars,  and  re- 
ceived his  honorable  discharge  at  Fort  Keogh,  Montana, 
June  15,  1879.  He  then  purchased  a home  in  Miles 
City,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was 
a faithful  member  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church,  in 
the  faith  of  which  he  died  in  1885.  On  Septemljer  13, 
1870,  Mr.  Dunnigan  was  married  in  Junction  City, 
Kansas,  to  Miss  Catherine  Shelley,  who  was  born  in 
County  Galway,  Ireland,  September  30,  1855,  and  she 
still  survives  and  makes  her  home  in  Miles  City.  They 
had  a family  of  nine  children,  of  whom  six  are  still 
living  as  follows:  Frank,  who  resides  in  Miles  City; 
Walter  J. ; Mary,  the  wife  of  W.  H.  Martin,  of  Miles 
City,  Margaret;  Julia,  the  wife  of  Arthur  A.  Peterson, 
of  Billings,  Montana ; and  John,  who  lives  in  Saskatche- 
wan, Canada. 

Walter  J.  Dunnigan  secured  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Miles  City,  and  as  a young  man  be- 
came a cowboy,  working  on  the  range  until  1907,  in 
which  year  he  returned  to  Miles  City  and  formed  a 
partnership  with  W.  Gordon,  under  the  name  Custer 
Commission  Company,  which  has  become  one  of  the 
leading  concerns  of  its  kind  in  the  city.  It  does  a large 
business  in  live  stock,  real  estate,  brokerage  and  insur- 
ance, and  the  partners  are  known  as  young  men  of 
much  ability  and  sound  business  principles.  In  political 
■matters  Mr.  Dunnigan  is  a stalwart  Republican,  has 
been  active  in  the  ranks  of  the  party  organization,  and 
in  April,  1911,  was  elected  alderman  of  the  First  ward 
for  a term  of  two  years.  He  fraternizes  with  Miles 
City  Lodge  No.  537,  B.  P.  O.  E.,  and  Knights  of 
Columbus,  No.  1518,  in  both  of  which  he  is  very 
popular. 

Mr.  Dunnigan  was  married  in  1898  to  Miss  Bridget 
O’Neil,  who  was  born  in  County  Mayo,  Ireland,  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  O’Neil.  Four  children  have  been  born 
to  this  union:  Ruth,  Walter  Francis;  Thomas,  who 
died  in  infancy;  and  Eugene.  Mr.  Dunnigan_  has  the 
reputation  of  being  an  energetic  and  progressive  busi- 
ness man,  and  in  his  official  position  is  practicing  the 
same  straightforward  methods  that  have  made  him  suc- 
cessful in  commercial  circles.  He  has  the  city’s  welfare 
at  heart  and  has  been  connected  with  a number  of 
movements  that  have  resulted  in  much  benefit  to  its 
interests. 

Michael  Mailand,  an  energetic  and  progressive 
citizen  in  Virginia  City,  Montana,  where  he  conducts 
an  exclusive  shoe  store,  was  born  in  Tyrol,  Austria, 
the  date  of  his  nativity  being  the  24th  of  September, 
1851.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his  na- 
tive place  and  at  the  early  age  of  twelve  years  entered 
upon  an  apprenticeship  to  learn  the  trade  of  shoe- 
maker. When  he  reached  his  legal  majority  he  im- 
migrated to  the  United  States,  where  he  learned  the 
English  language  with  unusual  rapidity.  He  first  set- 
tled in  Clarion  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  resided  there 
for  the  ensuing  four  years,  during  which  time  he 
devoted  his  attention  to  his  trade.  In  1876  he  went 
to  Chicago,  where  he  remained  for  one  year  and  thence 
he  went  to  Omaha,  Nebraska,  residing  in  the  latter 
place  for  four  years.  In  1879  he  came  to  Montana,  and 
after  making  short  stays  in  different  cities,  such  as 
Butte,  Helena  and  Bozeman,  he  settled  permanently  m 


I 


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<... 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1U93 


Virginia  City.  During  the  first  few  years  of  his  resi- 
dence in  this  place  he  worked  for  wages  but  since  1886 
he  has  been  most  successfully  engaged  in  the  shoe 
business  on  his  own  account.  He  now  has  the  only 
exclusive  shoe  store  in  Madison  county  and  his  estab- 
lishment is  up-to-date  in  every  way. 

In  his  political  convictions  Mr.  Mailand  is  aligned 
as  a stalwart  in  the  ranks  of  the  Republican  party,  and 
while  he  does  not  take  an  active  interest  in  party  af- 
fairs he  believes  it  is  the  duty  of  every  man  t6  vote. 
For  three  terms  he  served  with  unusual  efficiency  as  a 
member  of  the  city  council  and  for  years  was  a mem- 
ber on  the  school  board.  He  is  affiliated  with  the 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  in  which  he  is 
an  officer,  and  in  religious  matters  he  and  his  family 
favor  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church,  to  whose  char- 
ities they  are  contributors.  Mr.  Mailand  is  unusually 
fond  of  hunting  and  fishing  and  he  always  keeps  a 
fine  horse  on  hand  for  those  purposes.  He  attends 
all  athletic  games  and  meets  that  occur  in  Virginia 
City  and  at  one  time  was  a valued  and  appreciative 
member  of  the  Turner  Society  here.  He  loves  music 
and  singing  and  devotes  considerable  time  to  reading 
and  research  work  along  historical  and  scientific  lines. 
In  praise  of  his  home  state  he  says : “My  adrniration 
for  Montana  is  so  intense  that  I really  can  find  no 
words  to  express  it.  Just  say  for  me  that  any  state- 
ment of  honor  and  merit  that  is  made  for  the  state 
will  receive  my  O.  K.  In  this  I am  sincere  and 
honest.” 

In  the  early  days  before  a Montana  National  Guard 
was  in  existence  a private  company  was  formed  in 
Butte  and  of  this  organization  Mr.  Mailand  was  a 
member.  This  was  the  first  militia  in  Montana  and 
was  held  intact  until  a legal  guard  was  organized.  It 
consisted  of  three  comnanies, — Companies  A and  B,  of 
Butte,  and  Company  C,  of  Helena.  Mr.  Mailand  was 
a member  of  Company  A and  he  retained  his  member- 
ship until  he  left  Butte. 

On  May  18,  1886,  in  the  city  of  Butte,  was  celebrated 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Mailand  to  Miss  Emma  Speckart, 
a daughter  of  Adolph  Speckart,  of  Butte.  To  this 
union  four  children  have  been  born,  as  follows,  Louisa 
Henrietta,  Frances  Sophia,  Helen  Maria  and  Adolph 
Speckart.  All  the  children  are  public  school  graduates 
and  the  two  older  daughters  are  unusually  talented 
musicians. 

Marcus  M.  Klein  has  had  a most  unusual  life,  and 
there  can  be  no  mistake  about  the  fact  that  he  is  a self- 
made  man.  Since  his  ninth  year  he  has  completely  sup- 
ported himself,  and  when  he  was  only  eleven  years  old 
he  came  to  this  country  entirely  alone,  with  no  friends, 
no  money  and  no  prospects  beyond  those  which  his  own 
courage  and  sturdy  strength  brought  him.  At  an  age 
when  most  children  are  still  considered  little  more  than 
babies  and  who  are  tenderly  watched  over  by  solicitous 
mothers,  Mr.  Klein  was  fighting  his  own  battles,  and 
demonstrating  by  his  own  unaided  efforts  his  right  to 
live  in  this  world.  Determination,  optimism,  health,  abil- 
ity to  act  quickly  and  surely,  are  what  has  brought  him 
to  his  present  high  position  in  the  financial  and  social 
circles  of  his  community,  but  even  possessing  these  in 
as  high  degree  as  he  did  the  odds  are  tremendously 
against  him,  and  his  success  seems  a big  achievement. 

Mr.  Klein  was  born  in  Bohemia,  October  8,  1854,  the 
youngest  in  a family  of  eight,  the  children  of  Samuel 
and  Annie  Klein.  Both  his  father  and  his  mother  were 
born  in  Bohemia  and  lived  there  all  their  lives.  Both  of 
them  lived  to  a good  old  age.  Air.  Klein  dying  in  1900, 
at  the  age  of  one  hundred  and  two,  and  Mrs.  Klein  in 
1890,  at  the  age  of  eighty-nine.  Mr.  Klein  was  a farmer 
and  served  in  the  Austrian  army  during  the  war.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  were  devout  Christians  and  took  an 
active  interest  in  all  church  matters.  Despite  the  large 
number  of  his  brothers  and  sisters,  Alarcus  AI.  Klein  is 


the  only  member  of  his  family  who  has  come  to  Amer- 
ica. 

Air.  Klein  attended  the  Bohemian  schools  until  he  was 
nine  years  old,  when  he  accepted  a position  as  cabin 
boy  on  the  ship  Weser  plying  between  Hamburg  and 
New  York  City.  He  worked  in  this  capacity  for  two 
years,  occasionally  making  a short  visit  home.  Then, 
young  as  he  was,  he  decided  that  the  old  country  held 
out  no  opportunities  to  him,  and  that  if  he  was  to  realize 
the  ambitions  for  prosperity  that  were  already  taking 
possession  of  him  he  must  go  to  the  new  world.  His 
parents  could  not  come  with  him,  and  none  of  his 
brothers  or  sisters  cared  to  go,  and  so  he  came  alone. 
His  first  stop  in  the  United  States  was  at  Cleveland, 
Ohio.  For  a year  and  a half  he  made  his  living  by 
selling  papers  on  the  streets.  He  was  still  anxious, 
however,  to  push  on  to  a less  developed  country,  and  his 
next  journey  took  him  as  far  as  St.  Louis.  He  sold 
papers  there  for  the  next  two  years,  working  all  day 
long  and  attending  school  in  the  evening,  in  order  to 
learn  the  language.  By  this  time  he  was  old  enough 
and  large  enough  to  undertake  work  with  more  of  a 
future  in  it  than  paper  selling  held  out.  He  went  to 
Leavenworth,  Kansas,  and  entered  a butcher  shop. 
After  a year’s  training  there  he  moved  to  Sedalia,  Alis- 
souri,  and  from  there  to  several  other  Missouri  towns, 
all  the  time  working  in  the  butcher  business,  and  grad- 
ually becoming  more  and  more  familiar  with  ever\-  de- 
tail of  the  trade. 

In  the  spring  of  1879  he  left  for  Omaha,  Nebraska, 
making  the  trip  on  a boat.  From  there  he  traveled  to 
Corinne,  Utah,  where,  by  engaging  himself  with  a 
freighting  outfit  he  came  through  to  Dillon,  Alontana. 
He  arrived  in  the  fall  of  1879  and  has  been  a resident 
of  the  state  ever  since.  He  soon  left  Dillon  for  Helena, 
where  he  w'orked  on  the  Benedict  ranch  for  nearly  a 
year,  and  then  for  two  years  after  that  night  herded 
cattle  for  the  AIurphy-AIcLane  outfit  between  Helena 
and  Benton.  In  1883  he  came  into  the  Musselshell 
valley,  and  for  the  next  eighteen  years  he  worked  for 
the  Montana  Cattle  Company.  He  had  worked  so  faith- 
fully during  these  years,  and  saved  his  money  so  well, 
that  at  the  end  of  this  time  he  was  able  to  go  into 
business  for  himself.  He  has  since  been  operating  a 
ranch  and  stock  business  on  a large  scale  and  has  been 
very  successful.  But  even  now,  when  his  years  of 
labor  have  brought  their  reward,  and  he  could  live  in 
luxury  for  the  rest  of  his  life,  he  still  loves  to  be  among 
the  cattle  that  were  his  friends  for  so  long,  and  to  be 
out  on  the  plains. 

A'lr.  Klein  has  held  several  public  positions,  and  is 
now  chairman  of  the  board  of  county  commissioners. 
He  has  been  a justice  of  the  peace,  and  at  one  time  he 
was  postmaster  at  Hope,  Alontana.  He  has  also  been  a 
member  of  the  school  board.  Outside  of  his  ranching 
interests  he  is  connected  wnth  several  other  business 
enterprises,  and  is  vice  president  of  the  First  National 
Bank  at  Roundup.  He  attends  the  Catholic  church, 
although  he  is  not  opposed  to  any  denomination. 
The  Eagle  Lodge  claims  him  as  one  of  its  members, 
and  he  has  been  a trustee  of  the  organization.  Although 
he  favors  the  Democratic  party,  and  has  always  been 
interested  in  watching  the  course  of  politics,  he  has 
never  had  time  to  take  much  of  an  active  part. 

Mr.  Klein  was  married  June  23,  1903,  at  Lavina.  Alon- 
tana,  to  Alary  L.  Locken,  daughter  of  Air.  and  Airs. 
Harmon  Locken,  formerly  of  Germany,  and  they  have 
three  children,  Juaneta  Sylvia,  now  in  school,  Alelba 
Alontana,  still  at  home,  and  a baby  lately  born. 

John  C.  Duff.  An  able  and  influential  law'yer  of 
Chinook,  and  a citizen  of  much  prominence,  John  C. 
Duff  has  for  many  years  been  intimately  associated  with 
the  development  and  advancement  of  the  best  interests 
of  Chouteau  county,  his  efforts  being  widely  appre- 
ciated. He  was  born,  April  3,  1845,  at  Newburgh,  New 


1094 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


York,  where  his  cliihlhood  days  were  spent.  His  fa- 
ther,. Thomas  A.  Duff,  a native  of  New  York  City, 
was  a man  of  talent  and  culture,  and  held  a com- 
manding position  in  professional  circles.  He  married 
Laura  h'razer,  who  was  born  in  New  York  state,  and 
to  them  six  children  were  born,  of  whom  John  C., 
the  subject  of  this  brief  biographical  review,  is  the 
sole  survivor.  Both  of  the  parents  died  in  Darm- 
stadt, Germany,  and  w'ere  there  buried,  the  mother 
dying  in  1856,  and  the  father  in  1864. 

Wheii  three  months  of  age,  John  C.,  with  his 
parents,  went  to  Germany  and  remained  there  until 
the  youth  w'as  sixteen  years  of  age,  when,  his  parents 
having  died  in  Germany,  he  returned  to  the  United 
States,  and  in  1863  enlisted  in  Company  F,  Thirtieth 
.Massachusetts  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  was  immedi- 
ately commissioned  first  lieutenant,  and  at  the  age  of 
seventeen  had  full  charge  of  eight  companies.  He  was 
with  Sheridan  in  the  Shenandoah  valley,  and  im- 
mediately after  the  battle  at  Cedar  Creek  was  cap- 
turetl  by  the  enemy  between  Harpers  Ferry  and  Mar- 
tinshurg,  his  guards  and  staff  also  becoming  prisoners. 
Until  February  22.  1865,  the  gallant  lieutenant  was 
held  a prisoner,  and  on  being  released  was  sent  south 
with  orders  to  proceed  to  Mexico.  A change  of  plans 
being  made,  Mr.  Duff  was  ordered  to  report  to  Gen. 
Daniel  E.  Sickles  in  South  Carolina,  where  he 
remained  until  July,  1865,  wdien  he  was  sent  to  Wash- 
ington, where  he  took  part  in  the  grand  parade  of 
Union  troops. 

On  being  mustered  out  of  service,  Mr.  Duff  took  up 
commercial  studies  in  New  York  City,  and  was  there 
a resident  for  several  years.  In  1879,  while  Montana 
was  a frontier  territory,  he  came  to  what  is  now 
Chouteau  cqunty,  locating  at  Fort  Benton,  where  he 
began  the  practice  of  the  law,  making  a specialty  of 
land  cases,  of  whie'h  he  had  an  excellent  knowledge. 
Removing  thence  to  Chinook  in  1901,  Mr.  Duff  there 
followed  the  land  law  practice  for  eight  years,  his 
previous  studies  and  experience  having  made  him  an 
expert  in  that  branch  of  professional  work.  Since 
1909  he  has  been  a general  practitioner  of  law,  and 
has  met  with  characteristic  success  in  his  work,  hav- 
ing built  up  a wide  and  lucrative  patronage. 

A steadfast  Republican  in  politics,  Mr.  Duff  is  very 
active  in  public  affairs,  having  never  shirked  the  re- 
sponsibilities connected  with  office  holding.  While  at 
Fort  Benton,  he  held  every  office  from  mayor  down ; 
was  for  four  years  county  treasurer  of  Chouteau  county; 
and  for  eight  years  he  has  served  as  town  clerk  and  city 
attorney  in  Chinook.  He  has  acquired  considerable 
wealth,  owning  valuable  city  realty  at  that  place,  in- 
cluding one  of  the  most  pleasant  homes  in  the  city, 
h'raternally  he  is  a member  of  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows. 

Mr.  Duff  married,  July  9,  1902,  Miss  Waite  Counzil- 
man,  and  they  have  one  child,  John  Charles  Duff. 

P.VTRicK  H.  SiDLEY.  Among  the  w^ell-known  citizens 
of  Butte,  Montana,  wdiose  years  of  young  boyhood  and 
later  maturity  have  been  filled  with  interests  identified 
with  the  growth  and  progress  of  this  section  is  Mr. 
Patrick  H.  Sidley.  Although  born  in  Houghton  county, 
Michigan,  the  date  of  his  birth  being  November  2,3, 
1866,  he  came  with  the  family  to  Butte  in  September, 
1879,  and  has  since  then  liyed  the  greater  part  of  the 
time  in  this  city.  Mr.  Sidley  is  the  son  of  Timothy 
and  Margaret  (Murphy)  Sidley,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  Ireland.  Mr.  Sidley,  senior,  came  to  Amer- 
ica about  1862,  and  settled  first  in  Massachusetts.  In 
1878,  however,  he  arrived  for  the  first  time  in  Butte, 
then  a mining  towm  with  a mere  handful  of  population, 
and  a year  later  removed  his  family  to  this  place.  He 
followed  the  occupation  of  miner  during  his  lifetime 
and  died  in  this  city  April  30,  1903.  He  is  survived  by 


his  wife,  wdio  is  at  the  present  time  a resident  of 
Butte.  i 

Patrick  H.  Sidley  received  a rudimentary  education  _ 

in  the  public  schools  of  Butte  and  later  attended  All  « 

Ilallows  College  at  Salt  Lake  City,  finally  completing  ■ 

his  studies  when  nineteen  years  old.  His  entrance  into  1 

the  business  world  took  place  immediately  afterward,  ■ 

when  he  assumed  the  duties  of  a clerical  position,  re-  1 

maining  at  that  employment  for  a time,  but  later  drifted 
into  mining  work.  His  first  venture  as  an  independent 
tradesman  was  when  he  purchased  a grocery  store  at 
Butte.  I he  business  did  not  yield  the  profits  he  de- 
sired, however,  and  he  soon  sold  out  and  returned 
to  clerical  work,  becoming  associated  with  the  Ana- 
conda Copper  Mining  Company  in  IQOI.  He  con- 
tinued to  hold  a clerkship  with  that  corporation  for  |it 

two  and  a half  years,  and  resigned  to  assume  the  jjf 

duties  of  the  office  of  city  clerk  of  Butte,  to  which  he  I 

had  in  the  meantime  been  elected.  After  serving  a ii. 

two-year_  term  as  city  clerk  Mr.  Sidley  returned  to  “ 

his  position  with  the  copper  company,  and  for  the  past 
three  years  has  been  chief  clerk  at  the  mines’  office.  ® 
As  a man  of  superior  ability,  wide  experience  -and 
utmost  reliability,  his  services  are  recognized  by  the  1 
firm  with  which  he  is  connected  as  exceedingly  vain-  ' 
able.  Ifj 

Mr.  Sidley  is  of  Democratic  political  faith,  and  in 
times  past  has  taken  quite  an  active  part  in  party  affairs. 

His  devotion  to  duty  when  in  official  position  was 
creditably  shown  some  years  ago  when  he  served  as 
a deputy  during  the  administration  of  Sheriff  Regan.  || 
He  is  greatly  interested  in  civic  matters  and  has  broad 
and  intelligent  views  on  the  many  important  public  ■>. 

questions  that  intere.st  the  high-minded  citizens  of  this  i 

country  today.  Fraternally  he  is  affiliated  with  the  I; 
Knights  of  the  IMaccabees. 

On  .Ypril  30,  1889,  occurred  the  marriage  uniting 
Mr.  Sidley  and  Miss  Mary  E.  Sullivan,  daughter  of  ii; 
M.  M.  Sullivan,  of  New  York,  who  came  to  Butte 
with  his  family  in  1886.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sidley  have  |i: 
three  children,  Walter  J.,  Edna  M.  and  Ruth,  all  born 
in  the  city  of  Butte.  .i(i 

I 

Peter  H.  Smith,  one  of  the  substantial  retired  busi- 
ness men  of  Billings,  is  an  example  of  the  men  who  ' m 
have  by  their  energy,  public  spirit  and  careful  manage- 
ment,  reached  positions  which  the  struggles  of  the  9| 
earlier  years  scarcely  indicate,  and  who  are  known  and 
respected  for  their  sterling  worth  as  citizens,  having  I 
always  in  view  the  upbuilding  and  best  interests  of  the  1' 
communities  in  which  they  live.  Of  this  class,  the  A 
Yellowstone  valley  has  many  representatives,  none 
perhaps  more  worthv  than  the  gentleman  whose  per-  -J 
sonal  history  is  here  recorded.  Mr.  Smith  is  a native 
of  the  little  kingdom  of  Denmark,  and  was  born  De-  i 
cember  28,  1843,  a son  of  .Hans  and  Mary  Smith,  farm- 
ing people  of  that  country  who  are  both  deceased. 

They  had  a family  of  four  children,  of  whom  Peter  H., 
the  third  in  order  of  birth,  is  the  only  survivor. 

The  early  education  of  Peter  IT.  Smith  was  secured 
in  the  schools  of  his  native  country,  and  when  he  was 
twenty-two  years  of  age  he  made  his  way  to  America, 
settling  first  in  Quebec,  Canada.  Subsequently,  he  emi- 
grated to  Dwight,  Illinois,  where  in  order  to  learn  the 
English  language  he  attended  a district  school  in  the 
farming  community  in  which  he  worked.  During  the 
spring  of  1871  he  moved  to  Lincoln  county,  Kansas,  and 
took  up  a homestead,  on  which  he  resided  until  1876.  ; 

There  he  was  working  when  the  Black  Hills  gold  ex- 
citement struck  the  countr3q  and  hastily  selling  his 
property  he  went  overland  to  the  Dakotas,  where  he 
followed  mining  until  1879,  at  which  time,  with  others, 
he  went  to  Yliles  City,  Montana,  and  during  the  two 
years  that  followed  was  engaged  in  hunting  buffaloes 
for  their  hides.  The  spring  of  1882  saw  Mr.  Smith’s 
arrival  in  Billings,  then  a tent  town,  and  until  1885  he 


' .V-  •' 


/ 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1095 


secured  emploj’ment  at  various  occupations.  In  that  year 
he  formed  a partnership  in  the  livery  business  with  the 
late  John  M.  Ramsey,  under  the  firm  name  of  Ramsey 
& Smith,  an  association  which  continued  until  1895, 
in  which  year  Mr.  Smith  retired  from  active_  pursuits. 
In  1907  he  erected  what  is  known  as  the  Smith  block, 
on  the  site  of  the  old  livery  stable,  corner  of  Twenty- 
seventh  street  and  First  avenue  north,  and  May  10, 
1910,  he  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Farmers’  and 
Traders’  Bank,  which  is  located  in  this  building  and  of 
which  he  is  a director  and  stockholder.  Mr.  Smith  also 
owns  a handsome  residence  at  No.  214  North  Thirty- 
second  street.  He  is  independent  in  his  political  views 
and  has  never  desired  public  office,  his  business  activi- 
ties having  demanded  all  of  his  time  and  attention.  His 
fraternal  connection  is  with  the  Rathbone  Lodge  No. 
28,  Knights  of  Pythias. 

On  january  27,  1899,  Mr.  Smith  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  IMiss  Lillian  V.  Soule,  a native  of  Illinois. 
.\mong  the  representative  self-made  men  of  Billings, 
few  have  been  the  architects  of  their  own  fortunes  to 
such  a degree  as  Mr.  Smith,  and  his  career  should  be 
encouraging  and  prove  stimulating  to  the  youth  of  to- 
day, of  whatever  country,  who  are  struggling  to  over- 
come obstacles  to  attain  success.  During  his  long  resi- 
dence in  Billings,  Mr.  Smith  has  made  numerous  ac- 
quaintances, among  whom  he  can  count  friends  by 
scores. 

Niels  P.  Sorenson.  A record  of  the  career  of  Niels 
P.  Sorenson,  of  Miles  City,  cannot  prove  aught  but 
interesting,  not  only  to  those  of  the  younger  genera- 
tion who  delight  in  hearing  recounted  the  thrilling 
experiences  incidental  to  pioneer  days,  but  also  to  all 
who  have  an  interest  in  those  who  have  assisted  in 
developing  Montana  from  a wilderness  into  a center 
of  commercial  and  educational  activity.  Although  now 
engaged  in  the  peaceful  occupation  of  selling  real  estate 
and  insurance,  Mr.  Sorenson  has  passed  through  some 
adventurous  times  and  has  watched  the  transformation 
of  the  former  hunting  grounds  into_  well-regulated 
farms,  thriving  cities  and  centers  of  civilization.  He 
is  a native  of  Denmark,  a country  that  has  given  Mon- 
tana some  of  its  best  citizens,  and  was  born  February 
26.  1856,  a son  of  S.  and  Anna  (Christison)  Sorenson, 
both  of  whom  are  deceased.  Mr.  Sorenson's  father, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years,  was  for  thirty- 
two  years  gardener  for  the  King.  Of  his  four  children, 
Niels  P.  is  the  only  survivor. 

Niels  P.  Sorenson  was  educated  in  his  native  coun- 
try, and  was  seventeen  years  of  age  when  he_  came 
to'  the  United  States.  Landing  in  New  York  City,  he 
made  his  way  across  the  country  to  Oshkosh,  Wiscon- 
sin, where  for  about  six  months  he  was  employed  as 
a farm  hand.  At  that  time  he  learned  the  trade  of 
blacksmith,  at  which  he  worked  until  1877,  and  in  that 
year  traveled  overland  to  Bismarck,  North  Dakota, 
where  he  put  the  spars  in  the  first  steamer  that  came  up 
the  Missouri  and  Yellowstone  rivers.  Colonel  Lee  being 
in  charge  of  the  troops  carried  by  the  vessel._  Later 
i\Ir.  Sorenson  went  overland  to  the  Black  Hills  and 
continued  on  to  the  Big  Horn  Mountains,  and  while 
going  through  the  Wolf  Mountains  met  a band  ot 
Indians  and  were  compelled  to  fight  their  way  through. 
After  prospecting  in  the  Big  Horn  Mountains  for 
some  time,  the  party  of  which  Mr.  Sorenson  was  a 
member  went  overland  to  the  present  site  of  Bozeman, 
and  then  returned  to  the  Black  Hills  and  remained  two 
months.  At  the  end  of  that  time,  with  his  friend, 
James  Alkinson,  Mr.  Sorenson  started  for  Arizona, 
each  having  a team  of  horses  and  a wagon.  While 
making  their  camp  at  Rock  Creek  they  learned  there 
had  been  a stage  robbery  near  that  place,  and  during  the 
following  day  they  met  Tom  Keenan,  one  of  the  rob- 
bers, who  was  driving  an  old  wagon,  pulled  by  two 
horses.  After  a conversation,  Keenan  drove  on,  leav- 


ing them  totally  unaware  of  his  identity  or  of  the  fact 
that  under  a number  of  old  blankets  in  his  wagon 
rested  the  very  safe  that  had  been  taken  from  the  stage 
the  day  before.  Subsequently  iMr.  Sorenson  and  his 
partner  changed  their  minds  as  to  their  destination  and 
decided  to  go  to  Fort  Laramie,  having  letters  from  Col- 
onel Lee  to  the  various  fort  commanders  requesting 
that  the  two  men  be  given  work.  As  there  was  no 
employment  at  which  they  could  be  put  at  Fort  Lar- 
amie, they  went  on  to  Fort  McKinney,  where  Captain 
Pollock  was  in  command,  this  being  during  the  fall  of 
1877.  The  Captain  detailed  a sergeant  and  four  pri- 
vates to  escort  the  travelers  to  a camp  about  thirty 
miles  from  the  fort,  supplying  them  with  guns  and 
ammunition  with  which  to  hunt  elk,  mountain  sheep 
and  buffalo,  to  furnish  the  fort  with  meat,  and  in  addi- 
tion each  located  land  claims.  When  they  had  been  at 
their  camp  for  some  days  they  were  approached  by 
a visitor,  who  after  some  conversation  informed  them 
that  he  was  a member  of  a band  of  road  agents  who 
were  housed  in  a dug-out  not  far  distant,  and  that  it 
would  be  healthy  for  them  to  say  nothing  in  regard  to 
the  fact.  Later  they  were  taken  to  the  dug-out,  where 
they  met  some  eighteen  or  twenty  desperadoes,  among 
whom  was  the  Tom  Keenan  of  previous  acquaintance. 
Later  Keenan  and  Jesse  James  called  at  their  camp, 
having  in  some  manner  discovered  that  Mr.  Sorenson 
was  a blacksmith,  and  Mr.  Sorenson  was  forced  to  set 
the  shoes  on  Jesse  James'  horse.  As  he  had  no  tools 
of  his  own,  he  used  those  belonging  to  the  famous 
bandits,  who  seemed  to  he  well  equipped  with  all  neces- 
sary paraphernalia.  During  the  fall  of  1879  Mr.  Soren- 
son came  to  Miles  City,  and  shortly  thereafter  engaged 
in  hunting  buffaloes  for  their  hides  in  the  Little  Sheep 
Mountains  and  on  White  Creek,  with  James  White, 
in  whose  honor  the  creek  was  named.  In  the  spring 
of  1880  he  resumed  his  trade,  but  in  1881  went  to  the 
Tongue  river,  fifty  miles  from  IMiles  City,  and  built  the 
first  house  in  the  locality  on  the  Clark  ranch.  During 
the  following  winter  he  again  gave  his  attention  to 
hunting,  but  in  1882  came  back  to  Miles  City,  where 
he  closed  a contract  with  the  Northern  Pacific  Rail- 
road for  grading,  and  in  the  winter  of  1882-83  again 
hunted  buffalo  on  Grand  river,  in  Dakota.  Returning 
to  Aliles  City  in  the  spring  of  1883,  he  worked  at  his 
trade  for  a year,  and  in  1884  went  to  Regina,  North- 
west Territory,  Canada,  having  a grading  contract 
with  the  Canadian  Pacific  Railroad.  He  spent  the 
summer  in  Canada  and  then  returned  to  Miles  .City 
and  worked  at  his  trade  until  1895,  in  which  year  he 
erected  a shop  at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Eighth  streets, 
and  continued  in  business  until  1901.  At  that  time  he 
sold  his  establishment  to  engage  in  the  sheep  business, 
with  which  he  was  connected  up  to  1910,  and  since 
1911  has  carried  on  a successful  real  estate  and  insur- 
ance business.  In  political  matters  Mr.  Sorenson  is 
a Republican,  and  has  served  very  acceptably  as  aider- 
man  of  the  First  ward.  He  is  popular  with  all  who 
know  him,  and  has  many  friends  among  the  members 
of  the  United  Workmen,  the  Knights  of  Honor  and 
the  Homesteaders,  to  all  of  which  he  belongs. 

The  wife  of  Mr.  Sorenson,  Mrs.  Eliza  L.  Sorenson, 
was  born  February  25,  1855,  the  eldest  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Rozilla  (Bently)  Harrington,  the  former 
a pioneer  of  Ohio,  the  latter  born  in  Indiana,  in  1835. 
5Irs.  Harrington  came  to  iMiles  City  in  1881  and  lived 
here  until  her  death,  in  August,  1911.  Mrs.  Sorenson 
started  for  Montana  from  Joliet,  Illinois,  September 
21,  1879,  and  came  across  country  in  a wagon  to  Wyo- 
ming, thence  down  Tongue  river  where  she  met  Mr. 
Sorenson,  January  i,  1880.  She  came  to  Miles  City, 
March  24,  1880,  and  they  were  married  April  12,  1880. 
Seven  children  were  born  to  them,  the  eldest  of  whom 
Frank,  was  born  February  22,  1881,  on  the  present 
Clark  ranch,  being  the  first  white  child  born  on  Tongue 
river.  The  other  children  are  Ernest,  Lillie  (who  died 


1096 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


at  the  age  of  eighteen),  Laura,  Grace,  Lee  and  Clara, 
all  who  live  in  the  vicinity  of  Miles  City. 

P.MRiCK  Henry  McCarthy.  In  any  community,  be 
it  a country  village  or  a metropolitan  city  with  its 
thousands  of  inhabitants,  there  is  one  class  of  pro- 
fessional men  given  by  common  consent  a place  of 
prominence  in  the  life  of  its  people,  their  work  put- 
ting them  into  personal  touch  and  sympathy  with  their 
clients  as  is  the  case  in  so  complete  a degree  with 
no  other  profession.  It  scarcely  need  be  explained  that 
this  is  the  class  which  includes  physicians  and  sur- 
geons. Butte,  Montana,  is  fortunate  in  numbering 
among  its  leading  practitioners  in  this  line  of  work 
a man  of  the  comprehensive  education,  talent  and 
skill  possessed  by  Dr.  Patrick  Henry  McCarthy,  whose 
abilities  professionally  are  evidenced  by  a very  ex- 
tensive practice  in  general  work,  and  have  been  rec- 
ognized officially  in  his  appointment  to  membership  on 
the  Montana  State  Board  of  Medical  Examiners. 

Dr.  McCarthy  has  risen  to  his  present  high  posi- 
tion entirely  through  his  own  efforts,  he  having  been 
born  a poor  boy  at  Houghton  county,  Michigan,  Oc- 
tober 15,  1875,  and  deprived  of  a father’s  care  and 
support  through  tragic  death,  the  elder  McCarthy  hav- 
ing been  killed  in  Quinz  mine,  Houghton  county,  when 
Patrick,  who  was  the  next  youngest  of  a family  of 
five  children,  was  but  four  years  old.  It  was  the 
grandfather  of  Dr.  McCarthy  who  was  the  first  mem- 
ber of  this  branch  of  the  family  to  leave  his  native 
Ireland  and  settle  in  America,  choosing  as  his  location 
Houghton  county,  Michigan,  where  he  followed  the 
miner’s  occupation.  James  McCarthy,  father  of  the 
doctor,  was  twelve  years  old  when  brought  by  his 
parents  to  this  country.  He  married  Mary  Driscoll, 
a native  also  of  Ireland,  who  came  to  this  country 
with  her  parents  when  a small  child.  The  Driscolls 
first  resided  at  Houghton,  where  the  daughter  was 
married  to  Mr.  McCarthy,  but  later  became  residents 
of  Holt,  Nebraska.  Previous  to  his  demise,  in  1879, 
James  McCarthy  had  made  an  overland  trip  to  Mon- 
tana and  Utah,  and  prospected  and  mined  in  those 
sections  for  a time,  but  returned  to  Houghton  and 
there  met  his  untimely  death. 

Dr.  McCarthy  received  his  early  schooling  in 
O’Neill,  Nebraska,  and  at  Butte,  Montana,  but  at  the 
age  of  sixteen  years  was  obliged  to  take  upon  his 
shoulders  the  task  of  self-support  and  accordingly 
sought  employment  in  the  mines.  For  four  years  he 
worked  at  mining  in  the  Butte  and  Leadville,  Colo- 
rado, fields, _ then,  having  earned  _ and  saved  sufficient 
to  enable  him  to  pursue  his  studies  further,  he  made 
a forward  step  in  achieving  his  ambition  for  a medical 
degree  by  entering  the  Creighton  University  at  Omaha, 
Nebraska.  After  a year  of  study  in  that  institution  of 
learning  he  accepted  a position  as  teacher  of  chem- 
istry and  anatomy  in  the  Fremont  (Neb.)  Normal 
School,  remaining  with  the  school  for  one  year.  He 
then  reentered  the  Creighton  University  and  in  1902 
was  awarded  his  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine.  The 
year  following  his  graduation  from  the  medical  col- 
lege Dr.  McCarthy  was  an  interne  at  the  Presbyterian 
Hospital  at  Omaha.  In  1903  he  finally  located  in 
Butte,  and  since  that  time  has  engaged  in  continual 
practice  at  this  point  both  as  a general  physician  and 
surgeon.  At  intervals,  however,  he  has  gone  east 
to  take  post  graduate  work  in  various  medical  uni- 
versities, having  studied  in  New  York,  Baltimore  and 
Chicago.  In  this  way  he  keeps  himself  informed  of  all 
the  latest  developments  in  medical  science  and  prac- 
tice and  is  able  to  serve  his  patients  with  increasing 
efficiency  as  the  years  pass.  He  also  keeps  in  touch 
with  other  leading  men  of  his  profession  through  his 
membership  in  various  medical  associations  and  clubs, 
including  the  Silver  Bow  Medical  Society,  the  Mon- 


tana State  Medical  Association  and  the  American  Medi- 
cal Association. 

Dr.  McCarthy  finds  interest  and  recreation  in  many 
different  departments  of  social,  religious,  civic  and 
political  activity,  and  is  a man  of  considerable  wealth, 
owning  some  valuable  mining  and  banking  interests. 
He  is  an  energetic  worker  in  the  ranks  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party  and  is  the  honored  president  and  chair- 
man of  the  Democratic  Club  of  Butte.  He  belongs 
to  the  University  Club,  is  fraternally  connected  with 
several  leading  lodges,  including  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and  the  Eagles  order,  of 
which  latter  he  is  official  physician.  He  is  a faithful 
communicant  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church,  con- 
tributes generously  to  its  charities  and  benevolent  ac- 
tivities, and  finds  scope  for  personal  work  among  men 
through  his  membership  in  the  Knights  of'  Columbus 

The  marriage  of  Dr.  McCarthy  occurred  at  Scrib- 
ner, Nebraska,  Miss  Julia  Stafford,  a daughter  of 
Michael  Stafford  and  a native  of  Iowa,  becoming  his 
wife.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  McCarthy  have  one  daughter,  born 
at  Butte,  November  7,  1910.  Their  home  is  one  of 
the  attractive  and  hospitable  ones  in  Butte,  and  they 
have  a host  of  friends,  by  all  of  whom  they  are  held 
in  the  highest  respect  and  esteem. 

Herbert  O.  Kellogg.  Recognized  throughout  Sweet 
Grass  county  as  one  of  the  most  progressive  and  en- 
terprising business  men  within  its  confines,  and  also 
holding  prestige  as  a citizen  who  has_  shown  his  public 
spirit  and  demonstrated  his  ability  in  various  offices 


Second  Store  Building  in  Big  Timber 

of  importance  and  trust,  Herbert  O.  Kellogg  takes 
rank  with  the  representative  men  of  his  community. 
Like  many  others  of  Montana’s  successful  men,  Mr. 
Kellogg  is  a product  of  the  east,  having  been  born 
in  Franklin  county,  Vermont,  January  8,  1858,  a son 
of  Amhurst  T.  and  Harriet  B.  (Abel)  Kellogg,  natives 
of  St.  Albans,  Vermont.  Amhurst  T.  Kellogg  spent 
his  life  in  Vermont,  where  his  attention  was  devoted 
to  agricultural  pursuits,  but  he  also  found  time  to 
give  to  matters  of  a political  nature,  serving  acceptably 
as  selectman  of  his  township,  as  a member  of  the  school 
board  and  in  various  other  official  capacities.  He  was 
originally  a Whig  and  later  a Republican,  and  was 
well  known  in  fraternal  circles  as  a prominent  member 
of  the  Masonic  order.  He  died  in  1903,  while  his 
widow  still  survives  him  and  makes  her  home  in 
Swanton,  Vermont.  Of  their  six  children,  three  are 
still  living:  Herbert  O. ; Amhurst,  living  in  Seattle, 
Washington:  and  Hattie,  Northfield,  Vermont. 

As  was  the  custom  of  the  farmers’  sons  of  his  day 
and  locality,  Herbert  O.  Kellogg  secured  his  education 
in  the  district  schools  during  the  winter  months,  his 
summers  being  devoted  to  the  work  of  the  home  farm. 
He  continued  thus  to  give  his  services  to  his  father 
until  he  reached  his  majority,  when  he  left  home 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1097 


with  the  intention  of  going  to_  Nevada.  Subsequent 
circumstances,  however,  caused  him  to  change  his  mind, 
and  he  journeyed  to  California,  taking  the  steamer 
Oregon  at  San  Francisco  for  passage  to  Portland, 
where  he  arrived  with  a working  capital  of  fifteen  cents. 
His  finances  demanded  that  he  secure  employment  at 
once,  and  he  was  soon  hard  at  work  in  a railroad  tie 
camp,  at  Lebanon,  on  the  Santa  Anna  river,  being  em- 
ployed at  making  railroad  ties  for  Gore  Brother^ 
Three  months  of  this  kind  of  work  earned  him  enough 
to  go  to  The  Dalles,  Oregon,  where  he  was  engaged  by 
the  cattle  firm  of  Stewart  & Hamilton  to  assist  in 
driving  a band  of  cattle  over  the  divide  from  Oregon 
to  Gallatin  county,  Montana,  now  Sweet  Grass  county, 
a journey  that  took  six  months.  Landing  in  Gallatin 
county,  November  6,  1879,  Mr.  Kellogg  continued  to 
work  as  a cowboy  on  the  Yellowstone  range  during 
the  summer  of  1880,  but  in  the  spring  of  1881  won't 
to  Sun  river,  as  an  employe  of  Flouree  & Lowery,  and 
helped  to  take  a herd  of  cattle  from  that  point  to 
Bismarck,  Dakota,  at  that  time  the  terminus  of  the 
Northern  Pacific  Railroad.  In  the  fall  of  1881  he 
returned  to  Sun  river  and  continued  with  the  above- 
named  firm,  but  in  the  spring  of  1882  went  to  Old 
Coulson,  where  the  city  of  Billings  now  stands,  with 
a band  of  cattle.  He  was  soon  engaged  in  hauling 
water  with  T.  H.  Smith  for  the  new  town  of  Billings 
from  the  Yellowstone  river,  a business  in  which  he  was 
engaged  until  November,  1884,  then  going  to  Melville 
and  becoming  clerk  in  the  general  store  of  _ H.  O. 
Hickox.  He  continued  to  be  connected  with  this  busi- 
ness until  1887,  on  April  loth  of  which  year  he  came 
to  Big  Timber  and  associated  himself  with  Newton 
Budd  and  Eli  Vickey  in  the  establishing  of  a gen- 
eral merchandise  business.  After  about  two  years  Mr. 
Kellogg  sold  his  interest  and  formed  a partnership 
with  S.  C.  Walbridge,  whose  interest  he  later  pur- 
chased, and  is  now  engaged  in  business  on  his  own  ac- 
count, having  a large  trade  and  occupying  one  qf  the 
most  modern  store  buildings  in  the  city.  _ His  entire  at- 
tention has  not  been  devoted  to  this  business,  however, 
as  his  energies  and  abilities  have  demanded  a wider 
field,  and  in  addition  to  owning  a ranch  two  and  one- 
half  miles  from  Big  Timber,  is  a heavy  stockholder  in 
the  A.  F.  & K.  Grain  Elevator  Company,  and  is  also 
interested  in  a garage  business.  He  has  been  president 
of  the  Sweet  Grass  County  Fair  Association  since  its 
organization.  In  political  matters  he  is  a stalwart  Re- 
publican, and  has  served  as  a member  of  the  school 
board  for  many  years,  was  appointed  county  commis- 
sioner in  1904  and  elected  to  that  office  in  1905,  and 
for  the  past  three  years  has  been  fire  chief  oi  Big 
Timber.  For  a long  period  his  connection  with  fra- 
ternal work  has  been  active  and  continuous.  He  is 
a member  of  Doric  Lodge  No.  53,  A.  F.  & A.  M. ; 
Livingston  Chapter  No.  7,  R.  A.  M.;  St.  Bernard  Com- 
mandery  No.  6,  K.  T.;  and  Algeria  Temple,  A.  A.  O. 
N.  M.  S.,  Helena;  Big  Timber  Lodge  No.  25,  Knights 
of  Pythias,  of  which  he  is  past  chancellor;  and  the 
Order  of  the  Eastern  Star,  of  which  his  wife  is  also 
a member. 

On  August  17,  1885,  Mr.  Kellogg  was  married  to 
Miss  Laura  Sellers,  who  was  born  in  Indiana,  and 
to  this  union  there  have  been  born  two  sons : Dorman 
and  Herbert  O.,  Jr.  As  a prosperous  business  man  Mr. 
Kellogg  is  well  and  favorably  known,  not  only  in  Big 
Timber,  but  all  over  this  part  of  the  state.  He  also 
takes  an  active  interest  in  all  enterprises  which  promise 
to  advance  and  develop  the  community  and  promote  its 
best  interests. 

John  W.  Cole.  Although  now  living  a life  of  re- 
tirement at  his  comfortable  home  in  Park  City,  Mon- 
tana, John  W.  Cole  can  lay  claim  to  being  one  of  the 
progressive  citizens  of  this  state,  within  the  borders  of 
which  he  spent  many  years  in  various  lines  of  activity. 


having  been  at  different  times  prospector,  miner,  ranch- 
er and  stockraiser.  During  his  earlier  years  Mr.  Cole 
traveled  to  various  points  in  the  western  and  south- 
western states,  always  in  the  advance  guard  of  civili- 
zation, and  so  successfully  did  he  prosecute  his  opera- 
tions that  today  he  is  the  possessor  of  a comfortable 
competency,  and  may  now  retire  from  the  cares  of  in- 
dustrial activity,  content  with  the  knowledge  that  his 
life  has  been  one  of  usefulness  and  earnest  industry. 
Mr.  Cole  was  born  at  Portsmouth,  Scioto  county, 
Ohio,  July  15,  1850,  and  is  a son  of  Thomas  and  Sarah 
(Hodley)  Cole,  a grandson  of  John  and  Jane  Cole, 
and  a great-grandson  of  William  Cole,  who  was  a 
slave-owner  in  early  days  in  the  East. 

Thomas  Cole  was  born  in  Brown  county.  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  when  a mere  child  accompanied  his  parents 
to  Scioto  county,  Ohio.  He  was  the  eldest  of  the  four 
children  of  his  father,  who  was  a farmer  and  stock- 
raiser, and  he  was  reared  to  the  life  of  an  agriculturist. 
In  1862  he  removed  to  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  becoming 
a drover  and  engaging  in  buying  and  selling  horses  and 
cattle.  He  was  a Democrat  in  his  political  belief  and 
was  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  fraternity.  Plis  death 
occurred  when  he  was  sixty-five  years  of  age,  while 
his  wife,  who  was  a native  of  Ohio,  passed  away  at  the 
age  of  sixty  years.  They  were  the  parents  of  three 
children:  Mary,  who  married  George  Young  and  re- 
sides in  Ohio;  John  W. ; and  Jane,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  sixteen  years. 

John  W.  Cole  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  and  as  a youth  was  asso- 
ciated with  his  father  in  the  stock  business.  In  1865 
he  started  overland  with  a freight  outfit,  in  ox-teams, 
from  Omaha,  Nebraska,  to  Denver,  Colorado,  and  then 
returned  to  Omaha,  but  in  the  summer  of  1866  again 
accompanied  the  freight  train  to  Denver,  and  during 
the  following  fall  forged  on  to  Clear  Creek,  Colorado. 
From  1867  to  1872  he  was  engaged  in  placer  mining, 
and  in  the  summer  of  the  latter  year  he  went  to  Silver 
City,  New  Mexico,  continuing  in  the  same  line  of 
work  until  1874.  On  his  return  to  Denver,  he  pur- 
chased a pack  horse  and  crossed  the  mountains  to 
Tibo,  Nevada,  a mining  camp,  and  for  some  time 
was  engaged  in  prospecting  and  mining,  but  in  the 
spring  of  1876  went  to  Los  Angeles,  California,  re- 
maining there  some  two  or  three  months.  Mr.  Cole 
next  went  to  San  Francisco,  from  whence  he  journeyed 
to  old  Mexico  on  a prospecting  trip,  but  while  there 
his  health  failed  and  he  returned  to  the  California  city. 
Subsequently  he  traveled  overland  to  Bannack,  Beaver- 
head county,  Montana,  where  he  was  connected  with  a 
horse  ranch  until  the  spring  of  1879,  and  at  that  time 
came  to  Custer  (now  Yellowstonel  county,  and  located 
on  the  present  site  of  Park  City.  During  the  years  that 
followed  Mr.  Cole  built  up  a large  and  profitable  busi- 
ness in  horses,  cattle  and  sheep,,  but  in  1900  sold  his 
cattle  to  John  H.  Booz,  and  in  1908  retired  permanently 
from  active  business.  He  is  still  the  owner  of  a ranch 
that  covers  a half-section  of  land,  and  this  he  rents. 
Mr.  Cole  bears  an  excellent  reputation  among  those 
with  whom  he  has  had  business  dealings,  and  among 
his  fellow  townsmen  is  known  as  a public-spirited 
citizen  who  is  ever  ready  to  assist  in  any  movement 
calculated  to  benefit  his  section  in  any  way.  His  poli- 
tics_  are  those  of  the  Republican  party,  and  fraternally 
he  is  affiliated  with  Billings  lodge  No.  394,  B,  P.  O.  E. 

On  July  I,  1878,  Mr.  Cole  was  married  to  Miss  Fran- 
ces Louisa  Kinney,  and  three  children  have  been  born 
to  them : Iva,  who  is  the  wife  of  W.  C.  Brock,  living 
on  Mr.  Cole’s  ranch;  Ira,  who  met  his  death  by  drown- 
ing when  a youth  of  seventeen  years;  and  Carrie,  the 
wife  of  Henry  Fink,  residing  in  Park  City. 

August  H.  Barth.  In  every  community  there  are 
men  who,  by  reason  of  their  ability,  stand  out  from  thg 
rest.  Upon  such  men  many  cares  devolve;  they  are 


1098 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


the  center  of  all  activity;  their  brains  and  money  are 
back  of  most  enterprises,  whether  public  or  private, 
and  to  them  belongs  the  credit  of  the  progress  gained 
by  their  community.  August  H.  Barth,  of  Billings,  has 
for  many  years  been  recognized  as  one  of  the  lead- 
ing men  of  this  section  of  the  state,  where  he  has 
approximately  50,000  acres  of  land  under  his  control 
and  devotes  it  to  sheep  raising.  He  was  born  at  Green 
Bay,  Calumet  county,  Wisconsin,  November  28,  1858, 
and  is  a son  of  Donatus  and  Anna  Barth,  natives  of 
Germany. 

Donatus  Barth  was  born  in  1832  and  came  to  the 
United  States  when  a young  man  in  1845  on  a sailing 
vessel.  He  located  in  New  York,  where  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Anna  Barth,  who  had  come  to  this  country  on 
a sail  ship  which  took  eleven  weeks  to  cross  the  ocean. 
After  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barth  moved  to 
Milwaukee,  Wisconsin,  but  later  went  on  to  Green 
Bay,  Calumet  county,  where  Mr.  Barth  took  up  gov- 
ernment land  and  hewed  a home  from  the  wilderness, 
becoming  a substantial  farmer,  although  his  former 
training  had  been  as  a nailmaker.  During  the  Civil 
war  he  enlisted  in  a Wisconsin  regiment  and  served 
gallantly  in  the  defense  of  his  adopted  country’s  flag, 
and  after  his  return  resumed  farming,  which  he  fol- 
lowed in  Wisconsin  until  1878.  In  that  year  he  re- 
moved to  western  Oregon,  fourteen  miles  from  the 
capital,  Salem,  and  there  purchased  land  and  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits  up  to  the  time  of  his  death  in 
1906,  his  wife  having  passed  away  two  years  before. 
VVhile  living  in  Wisconsin  he  acted  as  county  com- 
missioner and  assessor  and  was  known  as  an  influential 
Democrat.  His  religious  belief  and  that  of  his  wife 
was  that  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  They 
had  ten  children,  of  whom  nine  are  living,  and  August 
H.  was  the  seventh  in  order  of  birth. 

August  H.  Barth  received  his  education  in  the  schools 
of  Calumet  county,  Wisconsin,  and  was  reared  to 
agricultural  pursuits  until  he  was  sixteen  years  of 
age,  at  which  time  he  went  to  Appleton  and  learned 
the  trade  of  blacksmith.  After  spending  three  years  in 
Appleton  he  went  to  San  Francisco.  California,  and 
after  a short  period  there  moved  on  to  Portland.  Sub- 
seciuently  he  followed  his  trade  in  Salem,  Oregon,  for 
a year  and  one  half  and  then  went  to  eastern  Oregon. 
The  year  1879  saw  his  advent  in  Montana,  when  he 
spent  about  one  year  in  Butte,  and  he  then  went  to 
Challis,  Custer  county,  Idaho.  In  1882  he  returned 
to  Montana,  settling  at  Coulson,  near  the  present  site 
of  Billings,  and  during  the  following  year  established 
himself  in  the  blacksmith  business  in  the  latter  city, 
erecting  the  first  blacksmith  shop  here.  In  1886  he 
transferred  his  activities  to  the  sheep  business,  to 
which  he  has  since  given  his  attention,  and  his  mam- 
moth enterprises  have  proven  beneficial  not  only  to 
himself  but  to  the  community.  He  has  properties  near 
Augusta,  in  Lewis  and  Clark  county,  thirty-five  miles 
south  of  Chinook,  in  Chouteau  county,  thirty-five  miles 
south  of  Forsyth,  in  Rosebud  county,  and  in  Carbon 
county,  the  latter  a tract  of  one  thousand  acres,  under 
the  firm  name  of  A.  H.  Barth  & Son.  This  firm  owns 
twelve  thousand  acres  of  land  and  leases  thirty-eight 
thousand  acres,  all  of  which  is  devoted  to  sheep  rais- 
ing. Mr.  Barth  is  president  of  the  Woolman  Ranch 
& Sheep  Company,  and  is  associated  in  business  with 
a Mr.  Edward,  the  firm  name  at  Chinook  being  Edward 
& Barth,  while  at  Forsyth  it  is  known  as  Barth  & 
Edward.  At  this  time  seventy-five  thousand  head  of 
sheep  are  on  the  company’s  land,  and  during  1911 
$32,000  worth  of  wool  was  sheared.  Although  this 
wool  sells  at  seventeen  and  one-half  cents  per  pound, 
it  is  the  equal  of  the  wool  sold  in  England  at  twenty- 
two  cents,  as  has  been  proven  by  Mr.  Barth,  who  sent 
samples  of  his  product  to  the  other  country.  During 
the  summer  of  1908  Mr.  Barth  took  a trip  to  Alaska, 
where  he  is  now  extensively  interested  in  the  develop- 
ment of  coal  lands,  and  was  one  of  the  organizers 


and  is  now  vice-president  of  the  Bear  Creek  Coal  Com- 
pany of  Montana.  He  is  also  vice-president  of  the 
Montana  & Wyoming  Oil  Company,  which  is  develop- 
ing the  oil  business  in  Crawley,  Wyoming.  Mr.  Barth 
has  ever  been  a friend  of  progress  and  Billings  has 
benefited  by  his  activities.  Strictly  legitimate  enter- 
prises only  have  occupied  his  attention  and  these  have 
been  carried  on  in  such  a manner  as  to  leave  no  doubi 
of  their  promoter's  integrity  and  probity.  Mr.  Barth 
is  a Republican,  but  has  not  been  active  in  public  mat- 
ters, preferring;  to  give  his  time  and  attention  to  his 
large  business  interests.  He  has  found  time  to  engage 
in  fraternal  work,  and  is  a member  of  Ashlar  Lodge 
No.  2Q,  A.  F.  & A.  M. : Billings  Chapter  No.  6,  R.  A. 
M. ; Aldemar  Commandery  No.  5,  K.  T.,  and  Algeria 
Temple,  Helena;  and  also  belongs  to  Billings  Lodge 
No.  394,  B.  P.  O.  E.,  and  Edna  Chapter  No.  14,  O.  E. 
S.,  his  wife  also  belonging  to  the  latter. 

Mr.  Barth  was  married  in  1883  to  Miss  Annie  H. 
Goodwin,  who  was  born  near  San  Francisco,  California, 
and  they  have  one  son,  Arthur.  He  is  a graduate  of 
the  University  of  Nebraska,  and  is  acting  as  manager  of 
the  ranch  in  Carbon  county,  being  the  junior  member 
of  the  firm  of  A,  H.  Barth  & Son.  He  married  Miss 
Virginia  Andel,  also  a graduate  of  the  University  of 
Nebraska.  They  are  members  of  the  Eastern  Star, 
and  Mr.  Barth  also  holds  membership  in  Ashlar  Lodge 
of  Masons.  Like  his  father,  he  is  a stanch  Repub- 
lican. 

William  Mitchell.  Thirty  years  ago,  when  it  was 
first  erected,  the  Merchants  Hotel,  of  Livingston,  Mon- 
tana, was  considered  one  of  the  finest  buildings  of  its 
kind  in  the  section,  but  as  the  years  passed  and  the  com- 
munity grew  from  a struggling  little  village  into  a pro- 
gressive city  of  commercial  and  industrial  importance, 
demands  were  made  for  greater  accommodations,  new 
hostelries  were  erected,  and  the  pioneer  of  them  all 
was  pushed  further  and  further  into  the  background 
until  it  is  now  used  as  a rooming  house.  Fully  keen- 
ing pace  with  the  general  advancement  of  Livingston, 
the  original  proprietor  and  builder  of  this  landmark, 
William  Mitchell,  has  eone  steadily  forward,  and  today 
occupies  a position  of  prominence  among  the  business 
men  of  the  city,  and  occupies  the  position  of  county 
clerk  of  Park  county.  He  is  an  example  of  the  type  of 
self-made  man  of  which  the  Northwest  is  so  proud, 
having  been  the  architect  of  his  own  fortunes  since 
he  was  sixteen  years  old,  and  whatever  success  he  has 
.gained  has  been  the  direct  result  of  his  own  efforts. 
Mr.  Mitchell  was  born  on  his  father’s  farm  in  Kenosha 
county,  Wisconsin,  February  8,  1855,  and  is  a son  of 
Charles  and  Elizabeth  (Lang)  Mitchell,  natives  of 
Aberdeenshire,  Scotland,  who  are  both  deceased. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Mitchell  were  married  in  Scot- 
land, and  after  the  birth  of  two  children  decided  to  try 
their  fortunes  in  the  United  States.  Accordingly,  in 
1854,  they  set  sail  for  this  country,  and  from  New  York 
City  came  West  to  Kenosha  county,  Wisconsin,  with 
a party  of  Scotch  colonists  who  became  pioneer  agri- 
culturists of  that  section.  Three  other  children  were 
born  to  them  in  America,  and  in  the  cultivation  of  their 
lands  and  the  rearing  of  their  children  they  spent  the 
remainder  of  their  lives.  But  two  of  the  children  sur- 
vive : William,  and  Fannie,  the  wife  of  Henry  Cruse, 

living  in  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin. 

William  Mitchell  was  reared  to  the  life  of  an  agri- 
culturist and  attended  the  district  schools  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  his  father’s  farm  until  he  was  sixteen  years  of 
age,  at  which  time  he  decided  to  make  his -own  way  in 
the  world  and  ran  away  from  home.  Drifting  into 
Michigan,  he  secured  employment  in  the  lumber  camps 
during  the  winters  and  on  the  log  drives  during  the 
summer  months,  and  later  followed  the  same  line  of 
work  on  the  upper  Mississippi  in  Minnesota.  In  1875 
he  located  in  Bismarck,  North  Dakota,  where  he  was 
employed  at  cutting  wood  for  the  steamboats  that  plied 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1099 


the  jMissouri  river,  in  addition  to  which  he  hunted  and 
trapped  game  for  hides,  but  in  the  spring  of  1879  fol- 
lowed the  building  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad  to 
Clark  City,  now  known  as  Livingston.  _ He  continued 
to  follow”  hunting  as  an  occupation  until  1882,  and  m 
the  winter  of  that  year  started  the  erection  of  the  first 
hotel  in  Livingston,  to  which  he  gave  the  name  ^ of 
Merchants  Hotel,  and  which  was  very  popular  during 
the  early  days  and  still  draws  its  full  quota  of  guests. 
Air.  Mitchell  has  continued  to  be  more  or  less  inter- 
ested in  the  hotel  business  to  the  present  time,  and  in 
conjunction  therewith  has  given  a great  deal  of  atten- 
tion to  the  raising  of  stock  on  his  valuable  ranch  in 
Park  county  since  1883.  He  has  served  as  chief  of 
police  of  Livingston  for  two  years,  and  for  five  years 
was  deputy  sheriff  under  O.  P.  Templeton,  the  first 
sheriff  of  Park  county,  following  which  he  was  for 
four  years  under  sheriff  under  Harry  McCue.  In  1910 
Air.  Mitchell  was  the  Democratic  candidate  for  county 
clerk,  a position  to  which  he  was  elected,  and  in  which 
he  has  acceptably  served  to  the  present  time.  He  has 
given  the  county  a good,  clean  administration,  featured 
by  a number  of  reforms  in  the  clerk's  office,  and  has 
earned  the  respect  and  approval  of  the  tax  payers  of 
this  section.  Fraternally  he  is  connected  with_  Yellow- 
stone lodge  No.  10,  Knights  of  Pythias  and  Livingston 
lodge,  B.  P.  O.  E. 

In  1879  A'lr.  Mitchell  was  married  to  Aliss  Kate  Car- 
bin,  who  was  born  in  Chicago,-  Illinois,  and  five  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  this  union:  Fannie,  the  wife 

of  James  AIcDonough ; Alary,  the  wife  _ of  George 
Lulloff;  and  Kate,  Charles  and  Fred,  who  live  at  home. 

Harvey  C.  Pound.  Coming  to  Alontana  in  1879  and 
identifying  himself  with  various  large  enterprises,  the 
business  career  of  Harvey  C.  Pound,  commissioner  of 
the  LTnited  States  lands  office  at  Big  Timber, _ has  been 
one  of  marked  success,  while  the  signal  service  he  has 
rendered  in  official  capacities  has  been  of  inestimable 
value  to  his  state.  From  the  time  when,  thirty  years 
ago,  he  was  interested  in  a stage  line  running  from 
Alartinsdale  to  Forts  Benton  and  Alaginnis,  he  has  at 
various  times  been  engaged  in  ranching,  stock  rais- 
ing and  other  lines  of  business  activity,  and  in  all  his 
operations  has  so  conducted  his  affairs  as  to  win  and 
retain  the  unqualified  respect  and  esteem  of  the  citizens 
of  his  community.  Air.  Pound  was  born  at  Chippewa 
Falls,  Chippewa  county,  Wisconsin,  September  6,  i860, 
and  is  a son  of  Albert  E.  and  Elizabeth  (Loomis) 
Pound. 

Albert  E.  Pound  was  born  June  7.  1831.  in  Penn- 
sylvania, received  excellent  educational  advantages  in 
his  native  state,  and  there  taught  school  for  a number 
of  years.  Later  he  removed  to  southern  Wisconsin, 
and  subsequently  to  Chippewa  Falls.  Wisconsin,  where 
until  1876  he  was  prominently  identified  with  large 
lumbering  ventures.  In  1879  he  came  to  Alartinsdale, 
Alontana,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  sheep  business, 
but  during  the  early, eighties  went  to  Butte,  where  he 
carried  on  a real  estate  business  and  also  devoted  some 
attention  to  mining.  In  1888  he  located  in  Alissoula, 
Alontana,  where  he  is  now  living,  being  identified  with 
the  Cobban  Realty  Company.  In  political  matters  he 
is  a stanch  Republican,  and  while  living  in  Chippewa 
Falls  was  mayor  of  the  city  for  two  or  three  terms  and 
a member  of  the  Wisconsin  state  legislature  on  two 
occasions,  in  addition  to  acting  in  the  capacity  of  post- 
master. He  had  reached  the  thirty-second  degree  in 
Alasonrvq  and  was  identified  with  the  Alilwaukee  Con- 
sistory. His  wife,  a native  of  New  York,  died  in  1886. 
having  been  the  mother  of  five  children,  as  follows : 
Ida  L.,  the  wife  of  Charles  T.  Busha.  living  in  Big 
Timber:  Harvey  C. : Alice,  the  wife  of  A.  S.  Robert- 
son, of  Livingston;  Thaddeus,  deputy  sheriff  of  Yellow- 
stone county,  and  a resident  of  Billings ; and  Alarj-,  the 
wife  of  George  M.  Hatch. 


The  education  of  Harvey  C.  Pound  was  secured  in  the 
public  schools  of  Chippewa  Falls,  and  in  1879  he 
came  with  his  parents  to  Alontana,  engaging  in  the 
sheep  business  with  his  father  six  miles  from  Alartins- 
dale, in  the  Alusselshell  valley,  and  also,  in  1881  and 
1882,  being  his  father's  partner  in  the  stage  line  running 
from  Alartinsdale  to  Fort  Benton  and  Fort  Alaginnis. 
His  father  retired  from  these  ventures  during  the  early 
eighties,  but  Harvey  C.  continued  in  the  sheep,  cattle 
and  horse  business  until  1894.  In  1895  he  came  to  Big 
Timber  and  engaged  in  ranching  for  about  two  years 
on  Big  Timber  creek,  six  miles  from  the  city,  being 
subsequently  engaged  for  four  or  five  years  in  the 
livery  business.  From  1903  until  1909  he  acted  as 
clerk  of  the  district  court,  and  since  1904  he  has  held 
the  appointment  to  the  office  of  United  States  commis- 
sioner, in  addition  to  acting  as  justice  of  the  peace. 
The  greater  part  of  his  attention  is  now  devoted  to  the 
real  estate  business,  in  which  he  is  meeting  with  well- 
deserved  success.  In  political  matters  he  is  a Republi- 
can, and  his  fraternal  connection  is  with  Big  Timber 
Lodge  No.  25,  Knights  of  Pythias. 

On  September  6,  1885.  Air.  Pound  was  married  to 
Aliss  Alinna  Robertson,  who  was  born  at  Spencerville, 
Ontario,  Canada,  daughter  of  George  and  Ellen  (Stitt) 
Robertson,  natives  of  Ontario,  the  former  of  whom  is 
deceased.  Airs.  Pound  was  the  third  in  order  of  birth 
of  her  parents'  seven  children.  She  and  her  husband 
have  had  nine  children : George  E.,  who  married 

Queena  Davis  and  resides  at  Gig  Harbor,  Washington; 
Samuel  H. ; Grace  R.,  the  wife  of  C.  J.  Knox,  of 
Alanhattan;  and  Thaddeus,  Hugh,  Beth,  Ralph,  Nellie 
and  Alice. 

To  Air.  Pound's  well-directed  efforts  must  be  given 
much  of  the  credit  for  the  development  and  advance- 
ment of  his  section.  He  has  ever  maintained  a lively 
interest  in  the  material  prosperity  of  the  county,  where 
he  is  well  known  and  held  in  high  esteem  as  a repre- 
sentative citizen  and  able  business  man. 

AI.vviie  E.  Burt,  superintendent  of  the  schools  of 
Silver  Bow  county,  is  a brilliant  young  woman  whose 
fifteen  years’  experience  as  a teacher  makes  her  particu- 
larly fit  for  the  important  and  responsible  position  of 
which  she  is  now  incumbent.  Holding  advanced  ideas 
concerning  educational  methods  of  teaching,  Aliss  Burt 
is  introducing  a system  into  the  Silver  Bow  schools 
which  is  proving  of  the  most  practical  value  in  mak- 
ing the  school  what  it  ever  should  be — a preparation 
for  the  responsible  duties  which  devolve  upon  every 
individual  after  reaching  maturity.  Her  course  has 
received  the  approval  of  the  most  progressive  citizens 
of  Butte  and  she  has  enlisted  the  co-operation  of  her 
teachers  to  such  an  extent  that  great  harmony  prevails 
and  the  concerted  action  is  attended  with  excellent  re- 
sults. 

A native  of  Vermont,  Aliss  Burt  was  born  at  West- 
phalia, that  state,  and  she  is  a daughter  of  Phillip  and 
Alary  A.  (Bryant)  Burt,  both  of  whom  were  born  in 
England,  the  former  in  1849  ^nd  the  latter  in  1853. 
The  father  immigrated  to  America  at  an  early  age  and 
after  spending  a number  of  years  in  Vermont,  where 
was  solemnized  his  marriage  to  Alary  A.  Bryant,  he 
came  to  Butte,  here  engaging  in  a number  of  different 
business  enterprises  until  the  time  of  his  death,  in 
1903.  Airs.  Phillip  Burt  came  to  America  as  a child 
with  her  parents  and  she  was  reared  to  maturity  in 
A^ermont.  She  was  summoned  to  the  life  eternal  at 
Butte  in  1907,  at  the  age  of  fifty-four  years.  Air.  and 
Airs.  Burt  became  the  parents  of  five  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Alamie  E.  is  the  immediate  subject  of  this 

review;  William,  Sophie.  Joseph,  and  Annie  L. 

Aliss  Burt  was  a child  at  the  time  of  her  parents’ 
removal  to  Butte,  where  she  completed  her  educational 
training.  She  was  graduated  in  the  Butte  high  school 
as  a member  of  the  class  of  1892.  She  gained  her  first 


1 100 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


pedagogic  experience  as  a teacher  in  the  Washington 
school  in  Butte  and  in  1895  she  was  transferred  to  the 
Centerville  school,  where  she  remained  for  a period 
of  four  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which  she  was  made 
principal  of  the  Hobart  school.  One  year  later  she  ac- 
cepted the  position  of  principal  of  the  Walkerville 
school,  remaining  in  that  place  for  six  years.  Her 
unbounded  popularity  as  a teacher  and  principal  made 
her  a successful  candidate  for  the  office  of  county  su- 
perintendent of  schools  in  January,  1910,  when  she  was 
elected  to  that  position  on  the  Republican  ticket.  By 
reason  of  her  extensive  experience  as  a teacher  Miss 
Burt  is  unusually  competent  as  superintendent  of  the 
Silver  Bow  schools  and  she  is  proving  of  great  satis- 
faction to  her  constituents.  In  religious  matters  Miss 
Burt  is  a devout  and  active  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  to  whose  charities  and  good  works 
she  is  a most  liberal  contributor  of  her  time  and 
means.  She  is  popular  amongst  all  classes  of  people, 
is  broad-minded  and  sincere  in  her  views  of  life  and 
by  her  sunny,  genial  disposition  has  made  friends  of  all 
with  whom  she  has  come  in  contact. 

John  T.  Smith,  Jr.  One  of  the  leading  legal  firms 
of  Livingston,  Montana,  is  that  of  John  T.  Smith  & 
Son,  the  senior  member  of  which,  John  T.  Smith,  Jr., 
in  addition  to  being  prominent  in  his  profession  and 
in  the  public  arena,  has  been  identified  with  move- 
ments of  a progressive  nature  calculated  to  benefit  his 
city  and  state,  and  carries  on  extensive  ranching 
operations  in  Park  county.  He  was  born  in  Kirks- 
ville,  Adair  county,  Missouri,  July  17,  1850,  and  be- 
longs to  a family  of  Montana  pioneers. 

Captain  John  T.  Smith,  his  father,  was  born  in 
eastern  Tennessee,  February  25,  1813,  and  when  fifteen 
years  of  age  removed  to  Howard  county,  Missouri, 
with  his  parents,  Josiah  and  Martha  Smith,  farming 
people  who  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives  there. 
Captain  John  T.  Smith  was  given  the  advantages  of 
a public  school  education,  and  as  a young  man  engaged 
in  the  general  merchandise  business  at  Kirksville,  buy- 
ing the  stock  of  Jesse  Kirk,  the  original  merchant  of 
Kirksville  and  the  man  in  whose  honor  the  city  was 
named.  In  1850  he  sold  his  interests  and  went  to 
California  overland  as  captain  of  an  outfit  of  oxen, 
which  had  a narrow  escape  from  death  on  the  plains. 
After  three  months  they  arrived  in  San  Franciseo, 
where  Mr.  Smith  engaged  in  the  hotel  business,  but 
after  eighteen  months,  meeting  with  big  success,  started 
for  home  by  sailing  vessel  to  the  Isthmus,  which  was 
crossed  on  foot,  passage  then  being  taken  on  a sailing 
vessel  for  New  York  City,  and  the  remainder  of  the 
journe}'  to  Adair  county,  Missouri,  being  made  by 
rail  and  stage.  Engaging  in  farming  and  stock  raising, 
Mr.  Smith  became  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  this 
locality,  being  one  of  the.  organizers  of  the  State  Bank 
at  Kirksville,  Missouri,  the  successor  of  which  is  still 
in  existence,  and  president  and  cashier  at  different, 
times  up  to  1864.  He  was  a member  of  the  Missouri 
legislature  when  Sterling  Price  was  governor,  and  in 
political  matters  was  a Democrat  and  a great  admirer 
and  supporter  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  Later  he  pre- 
sided over  the  first  Democratic  convention  of  impor- 
tance held  at  old  Gallatin  City.  Largely  through  his 
efforts  George  C.  Swallow  was  made  state  geologist 
of  Missouri,  he  later  becoming  the  incumbent  of  the 
same  office  in  Kansas.  The  advent  of  Captain  Smith 
in  Montana  is  interestingly  set  forth  in  a narrative 
prepared  by  him  for  publication  in  a magazine,  and 
which  will,  no  doubt,  prove  interesting  and  instruc- 
tive to  those  of  the  younger  .generation,  not  only  as 
an  illustration  of  the  perils  and  hardships  encountered 
and  overcome  by  the  old  pioneers,  but  also  as  a 
paper  of  historical  value.  It  read  in  part  as  follows : 

“In  the  spring  of  1864  I was  residing  at  Kirksville, 
Missouri,  where  I had  lived  for  many  years.  The 
animosities  of  the  then  pending  Civil  war  had  become 


Intense,  and  many  good  and  harmless  citizens  were 
being  called  to  their  door-steps  only  to  meet  a volley 
of  musketry.  My  personal  property  had,  to  a great 
extent,  been  confiscated,  and  being  the  only  solvent 
surety  remaining  upon  the  bond  of  a defaulting  sheriff, 
my  real  estate  was  practically  tied  up.  My  two  old- 
est sons  were  about  the  age  for  conscription  and  I 
determined  to  leave  the  country  and  take  them  with 
me.  In  May  of  that  year  a man  by  name  of  Alexander 
Foster  and  myself  prepared  to  go  west.  I had  two 
teams  consisting  each  of  a team  of  oxen  and  twQ 
yokes  of  cows.  A colored  man  named  John,  now  liv- 
ing in  Helena,  Montana,  decided  that  he  did  not  want 
to  be  left  behind,  and  so  he,  my  two  sons,  Mancil  and 
Robert,  and  Porter  Smith,  a nephew,,  and  myself, 
together  with  Foster,  started  for  Nebraska  City  about 
the  middle  of  May,  having  no  particular  destination 
beyond  that  place  in  view.  At  Nebraska  City  we  found 
many  other  refugees  headed  westward,  and  a company 
was  founded,  of  which  I took  command,  and  we  pro- 
ceeded on  the  old  California  route,  over  which  I had 
traveled  in  1850,  and  struck  the  Platte  river  a little 
below  Fort  Kearney.  Having  learned  about  this  time 
of  the  discovery  of  gold  in  Alder  Gulch,  near  Virginia 
City  (then  in  Idaho  Territory),  we  determined  to 
make  for  that  place.  We  kept  up  the  Platte  river  to 
the  last  crossing  of  the  North  Platte  at  Renshaw’^ 
bridge,  where  I first  met  Captain  Bozeman,  who  had 
formed  a company  with  the  purpose  of  viewing  the 
route  east  of  the  Big  Horn  mountains  to  Idaho,  and  in 
which  enterprise  he  was  to  receive  five  dollars  for 
each  wagon  in  his  company. 

“Bozeman’s  train  was  to  start  the  next  morning  and 
he  invited  me  to  join  him.  I declined  on  account 
of  having  to  rest  our  teams  a couple  of  days.  I told 
him,  however,  that  I thought  I would  pull  in  on  his 
trail  when  we  should  renew  our  journey.  On  the  third 
morning  after  Bozeman’s  departure,  we  took  his  trail 
and  were  overtaken  by  Mich.  Bozier,  who  pushed  on 
to  Bozeman’s  camp  on  Powder  river  that  night  and 
informed  him  of  our  movements.  Captain  Bozeman 
waited  two  days  for  us  to  come  up,  when  he  told  me 
he  needed  assistance  in  looking  out  the  route  and 
that  having  heard  that  I was  a good  woodsman  he 
hoped  I would  join  him,  as  he  had  no  one  who  could  be 
of  any  assistance  in  his  train,  and  besides  he  expected 
trouble  with  the  Indians.  I declined  this  proposition, 
for  the  reason  that  my  men  would  not  consent  to  pay 
him  five  dollars  each  for  pilotage.  Captain  Bozeman, 
however,  generously  waived  the  stipend,  but  I told 
him  I thought  his  men  might  not  feel  satisfied  with 
such  an  arrangement  or  else  might  claim  special  privi- 
leges ; and  that  we  would  avoid  trouble  and  secure  all 
the  benefits  of  union  by  traveling  in  supporting  dis- 
tance of  each  other  and  camping  together  at  night. 
This  proposition  was  cheerfully  acceded  to,  with  the 
further  understanding  that  I should  assist  him  in  spy- 
ing out  the  route.  The  next  morning  we  moved  out, 
crossed  Powder  river  and  camped  the  second  night 
on  Piney  river,  where  Fort  Phil  Kearney  was  afterr 
wards  located,  and  had  a man  badly  torn  up  by  a bear. 
Our  journey  for . some  days  was  across  a beautiful 
country,  dotted  with  buffalo  as  far  as  the  eye  could 
reach,  and  crossing  Goose  creek.  Tongue  river,  the 
Muddy  and  the  Little  Big  Horn,  we  reached  the  Big 
Horn  on  the  4th  of  July,  which  the  boys  celebrated 
by  killing  over  one  hundred  buffalo.  The  next  morn- 
ing we  crossed  the  Big  Horn  and  took  a northwestern 
direction  along  the  base  of  the  mountain,  crossing  many 
rushing  mountain  streams  and  beautiful  vales  until  we 
reached  the  Yellowstone  at  a point  about  two  miles 
below  the  present  site  of  Billings.  We  traveled  up 
that  river  to  Clarke’s  Fork,  and  not  being  able  to  go 
further  along  the  south  bank  of  the  Yellowstone,  we 
turned  our  train  up  the  Clarke’s  Fork  until  we  struck 
the  trail  of  that  veteran  pioneer,  Jim  Bridger,  who  had 
passed  through  a few  days  before  with  a train  which  he 


JOHN  T.  SMITH  AND  FAMILY, 


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HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1101 


had  brought  through  between  the  Wind  river  and  the 
Big  Horn  mountains.  We  were  now  out  of  danger  of  the 
Indians  and  each  traveled  much  to  suit  himself.  We 
came  back  on  the  Yellowstone  below  what  is  now  Big 
Timber  some  distance  and  crossed  it  a little  below  Hunt- 
er’s Hot  Springs,  and  at  the  mouth  of  Shield’s  river 
there  was  a general  separation,  some’going  up  the  Yel- 
lowstone to  Emigrant  Gulch.  Bozeman,  with  a party, 
went  over  the  Jacob’s  route,  as  it  was  then  called, 
but  is  now  known  as  the  Bozeman  Pass.  My  detach- 
ment went  up  the  Shield’s  river  and  followed  Bridger’s 
trail  westward  through  Bridger’s  canyon  and  came  in  to 
the  Gallatin  valley  at  the  place  where  Story’s  mill 
now  stands. 

“When  we  came  in  full  view  of  the  Gallatin  valley 
we  felt  that  our  long  journey  had  not  been  in  vain. 
We  passed  on  to  Virginia  City,  where  we  found  Alder 
Gulch  crowded  with  emigrants.  Many  men  could  not 
find  employment,  although  the  gulch  was  then  being 
worked  for  six  or  eight  miles  in  extent.  Here  we 
got  the  history  of  the  famous  banditti  and  its  extinction 
by  the  Vigilantes  in  the  preceding  winter.  I was  shown 
a lamp  post  where  five  of  the  road  agents  had  been 
hung  at  one  time.  I asked  the  landlord  where  I 
stopped,  where  some  of  my  valuables  could  be  safely 
deposited  over  night,  and  he  told  me  to  leave  them  in  the 
wagon  on  the  street ; that  my  pocketbook  would  be 
safe  if  left  lying  on  the  sidewalk.  It  has  been  said  that 
stealing  is  the  result  of  a disease.  If  so  the  rope  had 
proven  an  effectual  preventive  in  that  large  and  mixed 
settlement ! 

“Capt.  Bozeman  had  theretofore  made  very  gracious 
acknowledgments  for  my  assistance  rendered  him  on 
the  way  out,  and  promised  in  recognition  thereof  to 
accompany  me  to  any  part  of  the  country  I might  de- 
sire to  visit,  so  after  setting  free  my  colored  man, 
John,  and  seeing  him  at  work  in  a restaurant  at  five 
dollars  per  day,  Bozeman,  Ellet,  Rouse  and  myself,  re- 
turned to  the  Gallatin  valley  and  went  to  Rouse’s  ranch 
on  the  East  Gallatin  river.  I bought  a ranch  from 
Rouse  which  had  a cabin  on  it;  and  the  price,  fifty 
dollars,  was  discharged  by  my  sons  working  for  him 
ten  days.  Bozeman  and  Rouse  went  up  the  East  Galla- 
tin and  located  the  town  of  Bozeman,  and  Capt.  Boze- 
man offered  me  a third  interest  in  the  town  if  I would 
move  there  and  give  my  influence  for  that  point ; but  as 
I did  not  then  believe  the  county  seat  would  be  located 
there  I declined  the  offer. 

“The  following  winter  I remained  on  my  ranch  and 
enjoyed  the  splendid  opportunities  for  hunting.  The 
valley  was  full  of  game  and  I killed  a very  large 
grizzly  bear,  a moose  and  numbers  of  deer  and  antelope. 
In  the  early  spring,  however,  my  bread  stuff  gave  out 
and  as  none  could  be  obtained  at  any  price  I lived 
without  bread  for  six  weeks.  I bought  a plow  from 
Joseph  Bindley,  now  of  Bozeman,  for  forty-five  dol- 
lars and  went  to  farming.  Paid  seventy-five  dollars  for 
five  bushels  of  seed  wheat,  got  a little  seed  oats  and 
barley,  and  raised  a nice  little  crop  in  1865.  In  the 
meantime  Gallatin  county  had  been  organized  with 
Gallatin  City  as  the  county  seat.  I had  the  honor  to 
preside  over  the  deliberations  of  the  first  Democratic 
convention  ever  held  in  the  county.  A little  incident 
occurred  at  the  convention  which  I will  relate.  It 
seemed  that  the  people  about  the  county  seat  had 
formed  a sort  of  combine  to  get  the  offices,  and  some 
Republicans  had  been  run  in  as  delegates.  A delegate 
from  Diamond  City,  by  name  of  Head,  formerly  from 
Arkansas,  a lawyer  gind  an  escaped  military  prisoner 
from  Douglas  prison,  Illinois,  had  discovered  the  trick 
and  arose,  saying  in  a very  emphatic  and  impressive 
style : ‘Mr.  Chairman,  my  constituents,  sir,  sent  me 

here  as  a Democrat  to  represent  Democrats  in  a Dem- 
ocratic convention.  Sir,  if  I thought  this  were  not  a 
strictly  Democratic  organization,  I would  immediately 
withdraw.  I have  no  blind  side,  sir,  by  which  a Re- 
publican can  approach  me.’  The  sentiment  was  very 


contagious  and  the  convention  was  soon  purged  of 
Republican  representatives. 

"In  the  fall  of  1865  I left  my  two  sons  on  the  ranch 
and  took  passage  down  the  Yellowstone  on  the  Mack- 
inaw fleet,  which  started  near  Livingston’s  present 
townsite.  It  was  a jolly  fleet  of  fifty-five  boats  and  on 
the  twenty-third  day  out  we  reached  St.  Joe,  Missouri, 
having  rowed  day  and  night  throughout  the  journey, 
whenever  it  could  be  done.  In  the  spring  of  1866 
I conducted  another  train  of  emigrants  en  route  to 
Montana,  and  brought  out  a small  herd  of  cows,  and 
in  the  following  year  sent  my  sons  back  to  Missouri  to 
attend  college.  In  1868  I returned  to  Missouri  via  Fort 
Benton  and  though  greatly  infatuated  with  Montana 
and  impressed  with  my  opportunity  to  make  a fortune 
raising  cattle,  I determined  to  remain  east  and  educate 
my  seven  children,  all  of  whom  were  of  school  age, 
and  in  1869  returned  to  Montana  to  close  out  my 
affairs.  My  little  herd  of  twenty  cows  had  increased  so 
rapidly  that  they  brought  me  $4,500.  In  1876  one  of 
my  daughters  was  married  to  Yard  Cockrill  and  became 
a resident  of  Gallatin  county,  and  in  1879,  my  children 
all  being  grown  up,  I came  to  the  Gallatin  valley  to 
spend  the  remainder  of  my  life.’’ 

The  death  of  this  old  and  honored  pioneer  closed 
in  his  eighty-fourth  year,  June  29.  1896.  Firm  in  the 
faith  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church,  of  which 
he  had  been  a member  and  elder  for  sixty-three  years, 
he  met  the  end  calmly  and  bravely,  surrounded  by  his 
children.  His  remains  were  interred  beside  those  of 
his  wife  in  Dry  Creek  cemetery,  but  later  the  bodies  of 
both  were  removed  by  the  children  to  the  Bozeman 
cemetery.  Capt.  John  T.  Smith  was  married  at  Pal- 
myra, Missouri,  May  20,  1844,  to  Sarah  A.  Goode,  who 
was  born  at  Casey  county,  Kentucky,  October  21,  1818, 
and  she  died  December  21,  1889.  Of  their  eight  chil- 
dren, one  died  in  infancy,  while  three  still  survive ; 
John  T.,  Jr.;  Mashina,  who  married  Vardeman  Cock- 
rill, deceased ; and  Wilmoth,  widow  of  David  Richards. 

John  T.  Smith,  Jr.,  received  his  education  in  First 
District  State  school,  at  Kirksville,  Missouri,  Mr.  Bald- 
win having  been  formerly  the  father  of  normal  schools 
in  Indiana.  He  graduated  in  the  class  of  1872  and  sub- 
sequently had  his  first  experience  in  the  field  of  politics, 
making  a campaign  for  Mr.  Baldwin,  who  was  working 
with  the  voters  of  Missouri  for  an  appropriation  for  a 
state  normal  school.  This  was  entirely  successful,  the 
state  appropriating  $100,000  for  the  school  at  Kirks- 
ville, in  which  Mr.  Smith  took  a full  course  of  four 
years.  He  graduated  as  the  youngest  man  in  his  class, 
and  subsequently  accepted  an  offer  from  the  board  of 
regents,  taking  the  chair  of  chemistry,  geology  and  his- 
tory, and  taught  for  one  year,  fulfilling  a promise  he 
had  made  the  state  during  the  time  he  was  a student. 
From  early  youth  it  had  been  his  intention  to  follow  a 
professional  career,  and  he  accordingly  took  up  the 
study  of  law,  being  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1874,  and 
locating  in  practice  in  Butler,  Missouri,  from  whence 
in  1876  he  was  elected  county  attorney  of  Bates  county 
in  1876  and  served  one  term.  Resuming  general  prac- 
tice, he  so  continued  in  But'er  until  1890,  when  he  came 
to  Livingston,  Montana,  and  has  since  gained  eminence 
in  the  profession  as  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  John 
T.  Smith  & Son.  A stalwart  Democrat  in  his  political 
views,  he  has  always  been  active  in  the  ranks  of  his 
party,  and  in  1899-1900  served  as  mayor  of  Livingstpn. 
He  is  the  president  of  the  Park  County  Bar  Association, 
of  which  he  has  served  as  president  continuously  since 
its  organization,  and  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
Eastern  Montana  Bar  Association  in  1905,  and  its  presi- 
dent ever  since.  In  addition  he  belongs  to  the  Mon- 
tana State  Bar  Association.  Butler  Lodge,  A.  F.  & A. 
M.,  of  Butler,  Missouri,  and  Livingston  Lodge  No.  246, 
B.  P.  O.  E.  He  maintains^  well-appointed  offices  in  the 
National  Park  Bank  building.  In  1905  Mr.  Smith  en- 
gaged in  general  ranching  in  Park  county,  and  at  this 
time  has  3,800  acres  of  land,  and  raises  fine  cattle. 


1102 


HISTORY  OF  AIONTANA 


horses  ;ind  hogs,  and  is  owner  of  the  famous  saddle 
horse  •'Cadmus  Chief,’’  and  a part  owner  of  the  full- 
blooded  Percheron  stallion  “Xemenes.” 

On  September  7,  1877,  Mr.  Smith  was  married  to 
Miss  Ida  A.  Jacobs,  the  fourth  child  of  Dutton  D.  and 
Elizabeth  (Kirk)  Jacobs,  of  Youngstown,  Ohio,  the 
former  of  whom  died  in  1857,  and  the  latter  in  1902. 
Mr.  Jacobs  was  one  of  the  pioneer  merchants  of 
Youngstown,  where  iMrs.  Smith  was  born.  Three 
children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith,  namely: 
Kirk,  who  is  superintendent  of  the  ranch,  was  educated 
in  the  State  Agricultural  College  of  Montana;  Vard, 
his  father's  partner  in  the  firm  of  John  T.  Smith  & 
Son,  received  his  legal  education  at  the  law  department 
of  the  University  of  Nebraska  and  was  elected  county 
attorney  of  Park  county  m igi2  as  a Democrat;  and 
Louise  (ioode  died  in  infancy. 

John  H.  Cronin.  The  well-known  and  popular 
county  commissioner,  John  H.  Cronin,  was  born  in 
Tipperary,  Ireland,  on  April  18,  1852.  His  father, 
Daniel  Cronin,  was  born  in  the  same  place,  and  died 
there  when  John  H.  was  a boy.  He  married  Mar- 
garet Ryan,  who  also  died  in  Ireland. 

The  boy  attended  school  in  Ireland,  and  at  the  age 
of  seventeen,  came  to  America  all  alone.  After  land- 
ing in  New  York,  he  made  his  way  to  Scott  county, 
Alinnesota,  but  remained  there  only  a short  time  before 
going  to  St.  Paul.  His  stay  here  was  for  but  a few 
months,  and  then  he  removed  to  Marc[uette,  Michigan, 
where  he  worked  in  the  mines.  This  was  in  the  year 
1870,  and  he  remained  there  for  three  years.  From 
here  he  returned  to  New  York,  and  thence  went  to 
Pennsylvania  where  he  secured  employment  in  the  coal 
fields  in  Luzerne  county.  In  1877,  Mr.  Cronin  went 
back  to  Alichigan  and  thereafter  his  course  was  stead- 
ily westward.  From  Michigan,  he  journeyed  to  Winni- 
peg, and  at  last  in  1879  came  to  Montana,  to  the  in- 
significant mining  camp  which  then  represented  the 
city  of  Putte.  He  went  to  work  in  the  mines  and  has 
ever  since  been  a citizen  of  this  community.  He  has 
witnessed  the  rapid  growth  of  the  mining  camp  into 
the  leading  city  of  a great  commonwealth.  Naturally 
he  has  always  taken  the  greatest  interest  in  the  admin- 
istration of  the  city  affairs  and  he  has  been  prominent 
in  tbe  political  life  of  the  place. 

Mr.  Cronin  has  always  loyally  supported  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  and  his  popularity  is  attended  by  the 
numerous  times  he  has  been  called  upon  to  fill  various 
offices  in  the  gift  of  the  voters.  He  has  served  as  city 
sanitary  inspector  under  Alayor  McCarthy  and  under 
Mayor  Davey.  He  was  city  jailer  during  Mayor  Mul- 
lens' administration,  and  at  present  he  is  serving  as 
county  commissioner. 

On  April  16,  1895,  Mr.  Cronin  was  married  to  Miss 
Hannah  McCune,  of  Butte.  Roth  are  members  of  the 
Catholic  church,  and  in  that  body,  as  well  as  in  other 
circles,  they  have  a host  of  friends. 

J\Ir.  Cronin  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  and 
also  to  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians.  Few  of 
Butte’s  citizens  can  muster  a greater  company  of  friends, 
or  lay  claim  to  a more  general  respect,  than  Mr.  Cronin. 
Both  as  a public  official  and  as  a citizen  and  neighbor 
he  is  accorded  the  tribute  of  the  esteem  and  con- 
fidence which  he  well  deserves. 

Hon.  P,\ris  Gibson.  In  the  noble  list  of  far-seeing 
and  enterprising  men  who  have  contributed  to  the  de- 
velopment of  the  great  state  of  Montana,  for  more  than 
thirty  years  the  name  of  Paris  Gibson,  the  founder 
of  the  city  of  Great  Falls  has  stood  foremost.  Other 
men  of  power  and  initiative  have  come  and  gone  since 
Air.  Gibson  found  a home  in  Alontana,  some  to  ad- 
jacent sections  and  many  have  passed  off  the  scene  of 
life,  but  in  honored  and  venerable  age,  Mr.  Gibson  con- 
tinues to  be  a factor  in  all  the  important  affairs  of  the 
city  of  which  he  is  the  acknowledged  father  and  his 


name  is  indissolubly  linked  with  many  of  her  most  pros- 
perous industries  and  activities.  He  was  born  at 

Biownsfield,  Alaine,  in  1830.  His  paternal  ancestor 
was  John  Gibson,  who  was  born  in  England  in  1601 
and  arrived  in  Cambridge,  Alassachusetts,  in  1631,  con- 
tinuing to  live  there  until  the  close  of  his  life 
aged  ninety-three  years.  His  maternal  ancestor  was 
also  of  English  birth.  His  name  was  James  Howard 
and  the  records  of  Duxbury,  Alassachusetts,  show  that 
he  settled  there  in  1643.  Samuel  Floward,  a descendant 
of  this  James  Howard,  was  a member  of  the  famous 
lea  Party  of  1773-  Grandfather  Ploward  served 
as  a soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  Grandfather 
Gibson  took  part  in  the  French  and  Indian  war. 

Of  military  ancestry,  Paris  Gibson  has  also  fought 
many  a battle  during  his  long  and  eventful  life,  and 
his  conquests  have  been  no  less  illustrious  than  those 
of  his  forefathers,  albeit  won  on  the  fields  of  peace. 
After  being  graduated  at  Bowdoin  College,  in  his 
twenty-first  year,  he  immediately  took  so  prominent  a 
place  in  the  public  affairs  of  his  section  that  in  1854 
he  was  elected  a member  of  the  Alaine  legislature. 
Until  1858  he  followed  agricultural  pursuits  in  his  na- 
tiye  state,  in  the  meanwhile  becoming  interested  as  a 
wide-awake  and  enterprising  young  man,  in  the  ex- 
ploited business  possibilities  of  the  western  country.  In 
the  above  year  he  located  at  Alinneapolis,  that  great 
mill  city  of  the  present,  where,  in  association  with 
William  W.  Eastman,  he  built  the  first  merchant  flour 
mill  and  later  the  North  Star  Woolen  Alills.  He  was 
active  in  all  the  developing  agencies  of  that  city  where 
he  continued  to  reside  until  1879,  when  he  came  to 
Alontana.  _ His  business  vision  was  so  clear  that  he 
soon  satisfied  himself  concerning  the  great  agricultural 
possibilities  here  as  well  as  the  value  of  the  vast  mineral 
deposits,  and  the  dream  came  to  him  of  founding  a 
city  in  the  midst  of  such  natural  richness,  not  to  bear 
his  name  but  to  become  the  happy  home  of  thousands 
of  contented  dwellers.  After  visiting  the  falls  of  the 
A'lissouri  he  knew  that  he  had  found  the  site  for  his 
city  for  here  was  the  motive  power  that  would  turn  the 
wheels  and  bring  certain  prosperity.  With  business 
shrewdness  and  uncommon  foresight  he  secured  the 
locations  of  greatest  importance  as  regarded  the  build- 
ing of  an  industrial  city  and  in  1883  he  platted  and 
■founded  what  is  now  Great  Falls,  Montana,,  and 
sliortly  afterward  succeeded  in  interesting  James  J. 
Mill,  the  great  railroad  builder  of  the  northwest,  who 
became  his  associate  in  the  further  development  of  this 
I>lace.  Although  the  dream  of  his  manhood  had  thus 
l)een  visualized,  Air.  Gibson  continued  to  watch  and 
foster  the  growth  of  the  infant  city  and  was  the  main 
factor  in  tlie  organization  first  of  the  village,  in  the 
creation  of  the  county,  and  later  in  the  organizing  of 
the  city. 

While  Senator  Gilison  has  been  more  closely  iden- 
tified with  Great  Falls  than  any  other  city  of  Alontana, 
liis  business  interests  have  not  been  confined  here,  while 
his  public  efforts  in  behalf  of  the  development  of  the 
state  for  many  years,  have  been  so  wide-spread  and 
lieneficial  that  his  name  is  known  from  one  end  of  it 
to  the  other  and  his  fellow-citizens  have  shown  him 
honor  and  appreciation.  He  was  a member  of  the'  con- 
stitutional convention,  was  then  elected  to  the  state 
senate  to  represent  Cascade  county,  and  in  1900  was 
elected  by  the  Alontana  legislature  to  the  United  States 
senate.  All  these  positions  and  many  others  more 
local,  he  has  filled  with  honor  and  efficiency.  He  con- 
tinues to  watch  with  pride  and  feels  a fostering  care 
over  the  still  growing  interests  of  his  city  and  has  been 
constant  in  his  contributions  to  its  prosperity.  On  the 
occasion  of  his  eightieth  birthday  there  assembled  at  the 
New  Park  Hotel,  in  Great  Falls,  a representative  gath- 
ering from  all  over  the  state  to  do  him  honor. 

In  August.  1858,  Senator  Gibson  was  married  at 
Brownsfield,  Alaine,  to  Aliss  AHleria  Goodenow  Sweat, 
who  was  born  there,  November  3,  1838,  and  died  at 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1103 


Great  Falls,  Montana,  in  August,  1900.  Four  children 
were  born  to  this  union,  two  of  whom  are  deceased. 
The  Surviving  sons,  Philip  and  Theodore,  both  reside 
in  Montana.  Senator  Gibson  is  a Unitarian  in  religious 
belief  and  is  president  of  the  Great  Falls  Society  of 
Unitarians  and  is  a trustee  of  this  body.  He  is  identi- 
fied fraternally  with  the  iMasons  and  the  Elks,  both  at 
Great  Falls.  He  is  a member  of  the  Board  of  Com- 
merce and  belongs  to  the  Electric  and  University  clubs. 

Lawrence  K.  Devlin.  Northern  Montana  has  no 
more  enterprising  and  public-spirited  citizen  than  Law- 
rence K.  Devlin,  the  president  of  the  Pioneer  Meat 
Company  at  Havre.  He  has  been  identified  with  this 
section  of  the  state  for  more  than  thirty  years,  and 
has  been  an  active  factor  in  its  development  from  the 
primitive  conditions  which  existed  here  at  the  time 
of  his  arrival. 

Mr.  Devlin  came  to  this  region  in  1879  to  take  charge 
of  the  work  of  construction  of  Fort  Assiniboine.  He 
was  thus  identified  with  this  old  outpost  and  frontier 
settlement,  and  in  this  way  first  came  to  know  and 
take  a personal  part  in  the  life  and  activities  of  this 
part  of  I\Iontana.  Mr.  Devlin  was  born  in  Vermont, 
in  June,  1857,  and  during  boyhood  removed  with  his 
parents  to  New  York  state,  where  he  grew  up  and 
received  his  education  in  the  public  schools.  He  con- 
tinued with  the  contracting  firm  of  Broadwater  & Mc- 
Culloch until  1894,  when  the  firm  was  dissolved,  and 
in  that  year  he  located  in  Havre  as  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  this  then  small  town.  He  bought  the  inter- 
est formerly  owned  by  his  old  firm  in  the  Pioneer 
Meat  Company  of  this  place,  and  has  since  given  this 
enterprise  the  greater  part  of  his  energy  and  attention. 
In  1906  the  business  was  incorporated  as  the  Pioneer 
Meat  Company,  of  which  Mr.  Devlin  is  president, 
G.  W.  Brown,  vice  president,  Frank  B.  Brown,  sec- 
retary, and  H.  P.  Brown,  treasurer,  the  latter  gentle- 
men being  residents  of  Great  Falls.  This  is  one  of  the 
large  meat  supply  companies  of  the  Northwest,  and 
has  branch  houses  in  several  of  the  principal  centers 
of  this  state.  Besides  this  position  as  the  head  of  one 
of  the  important  commercial  houses  of  the  state,  j\Ir. 
Devlin  has  many  other  financial  and  vested  interests 
in  Montana. 

His  father  was  Patrick  Devlin,  a native  of  Ireland, 
who  came  from  his  native  land  to  America  during  the 
early  forties.  For  some  years  he  was  engaged  in  the 
marble  business  in  Vermont,  and  from  there  moved  to 
New  York,  in  which  state  he  died  in  February,  1878. 
Patrick  Devlin  was  married  in  Vermont  to  Margaret 
Kinsella,  who  was  also  born  in  Ireland,  came  to  this 
country  when  a girl,  and  is  now  living,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-nine,  at  St.  Paul,  Minnesota. 

On  November  3,  1003,  Mr.  Devlin  was  married  to 
Miss  Laura  Lepper  it  Havre.  Two  children  have 
been  born  to  them-.^Lawrence  K.,  Jr.,  at  Havre,  on 
February  2,  1905,  and  now  attending  school ; and  Mar- 
garet Mary,  born  in  the  same  city,  February  20,  1907. 
The  family  residence  is  one  of  the  handsomest  in  the 
city  of  Havre. 

There  is  no  citizen  more  loyal  to  his  state  than  iMr. 
Devlin,  and  as  he  has  been  a large  factor  in  business 
enterprises  so  he  has  been  active  in  civic  affairs.  His 
work  as  a county  commissioner  of  Chouteau  county 
during  i8g6  to  1S98,  when  he  put  the  fiscal  affairs  of 
the  county  on  a cash  basis,  is  well  remembered.  He 
also  served  as  an  alderman  of  Havre  from  1902  to  1911. 
and  for  eighteen  years  has  been  chairman  of  the  school 
trustees  of  the  city.  At  the  present  time  he  is  a deputy 
of  the  State  Bureau  of  Child  and  Animal  Protection. 
Politically  he  is  a Democrat,  is  a member  of  the  Cath- 
olic cliurch.  and  affiliates  with  the  Knights  of  Colum- 
bus. For  diversions  from  a busy  career  he  has  found 
his  chief  pleasure  in  hunting  and  fishing. 


T.  N.  Averill.  Ranking  high  among  the  more  useful 
and  valued  members  of  the  community  in  which  he 
resides  is  T,  N.  Averill,  proprietor  of  the  Tom' ns  end 
Star,  the  official  paper  of  Broadwater  county.  For 
nearly  thirty  years  a resident  of  Townsend,  he  has  been 
actively  identified  with  its  growth  and  increasing  pros- 
perity, as  time  and  opportunity  have  occurred  lending 
his  energies  to  its  advancement.  A son  of  Robert 
Averill,  he  was  born,  January  30,  1855,  in  Kalamazoo 
county,  Michigan,  of  substantial  New  England  stock, 
his  immigrant  ascestors  having  been  the  same  as  that 
of  General  Averill,  of  Civil  war  fame.  His  grandfather 
Averill  migrated  with  his  family  from  Vermont  to 
Michigan  in  the  year  1800,  journeying  through  the 
dense  wilderness  with  ox  teams  and  on  foot  and  settling 
in  the  forest,  becoming  a pioneer  of  Kalamazoo  county. 

Growing  to  manhood  in  Michigan,  T.  N.  Averill  w’as 
educated  in  the  schools  of  Plainw'ell  and  Kalamazoo. 
In  the  spring  of  1876,  but  a few  months  before  the 
brave  General  Custer  met  his  terrible  fate  in  Big  Hole 
basin,  he  followed  the  "star  of  empire”  westward  to 
Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  w'here  he  lived  and  labored  for 
three  years.  In  the  spring  of  1879  he  came  to  Montana 
to  look  about,  and  a short  time  later  spent  one  season 
in  the  Yellow  Jacket  country,  in  Idaho,  prospecting  in 
the  vicinity  of  Challis  and  Bonanza.  Returning  to 
Montana  early  in  1880,  Mr.  Averill  was  for  awhile 
employed  at  various  kinds  of  w'ork,  in  different  places, 
including  Butte,  Wickes,  Jefferson  City,  and  Helena. 

In  the  summer  of  1883  Mr.  Averill  located  in  Towm- 
send,  where  he  has  since  maintained  a continuous  resi- 
dence. For  many  years  thereafter  he  followed  the 
trades  of  a carpenter  and  contractor,  in  that  capacity 
erecting  nearly  all  of  the  best  residences  built  in  Towm- 
send  prior  to  1898.  In  that  year  he  purchased  the 
Townsend  Star,  which  indirectly  took  over  all  news- 
papers of  previous  date,  including  the  Townsend 
Transient,  the  Messenger,  and  the  Forum.  Dur- 
ing the  fourteen  years  with  wdiich  Air.  Averill  has  been 
actively  associated  w'ith  journalistic  work,  as  owmer  of 
the  Townsend  Star,  he  has  placed  his  paper  on  a 
substantial  basis  among  the  leading  newspapers  of  the 
county,  it  being  now  the  official  journal.  Mr.  Averill 
is  a man  of  excellent  business  ability,  and  has  acquired 
property  of  value,  owning  real  estate  in  Towmsend,  and 
mineral  lands  in  Broadwater  county. 

A stanch  and  unsw'erving  Democrat  in  politics.  Air. 
Averill  has  served  almost  continuously  as  mayor  or 
alderman  since  the  incorporation  of  the  towm,  in  the 
early  nineties,  wdiile  during  political  campaigns  he 
exerts  great  influence  as  a ready  and  popular  stump 
speaker.  Fraternally  he  is  a member  of  the  Independent 
Cirder  of  Odd  Fellow's;  of  the  Alodern  Woodmen  of 
America;  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias;  of  the  Yeomen  of 
America;  and  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen, 
of  which  he  was  grand  master  in  1897,  during  a 
part  of  that  year  traveled  in  its  interests,  delivering 
public  addresses  in  many  places. 

Air.  Averill  married,  December  29,  1881,  Nellie  Hale, 
the  ceremony  being  performed  at  the  home  of  the  bride, 
in  Oshtemo,  Alichigan.  Air.  and  Airs.  Averill  have  four 
daughters  and  one  son.  Tw'o  of  the  daughters  are 
graduates  of  the  Alontana  LMiversity,  and  the  son  is 
proprietor  and  manager  of  the  Carbon  County  Jour- 
nal, published  at  Red  Lodge,  Alontana. 

John  T.  Athey.  Fifty  years  of  tense  activity  in 
public  and  private  life  have  marked  the  career  of  John 
T.  Athey  and  have  won  for  him  a solid  and  admirable 
reputation  for  genuine  worth  and  ability  to  accomplish 
whatever  he  may  set  his  hands  to.  Beginning  the 
business  of  real  life  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  he  fought 
through  the  Civil  w'ar  as  a Union  soldier,  followed  by 
a term  of  service  in  Custer's  regiment ; since  that 
time  he  has  been  occupied  in  the  main  by  government 
positions,  interspersed  with  rare  occasions  when  he 
engaged  in  private  business  ventures,  and  in  all  his 


1104 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


various  connections  with  government  service  he  has 
performed  most  praiseworthy  work.  In  1904  he  was 
elected  to  the  office  of  clerk  of  the  supreme  court,  fill- 
ing the  office  most  creditably,  and  he  was  re-elected  in 
1910  to  the  same  office,  which  he  now  holds.  He  has 
been  a valuable  citizen  from  first  to  last,  and  has 
never  failed  to  fulfill  his  duty  in  that  respect  with  the 
utmost  conscientiousness. 

Born  in  Allegheny  county,  Maryland,  February  14, 
1843,  John  T.  Athey  is  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Mary 
Athey,  both  natives  of  Maryland.  Two  sons  and  one 
daughter  were  born  to  Thomas  and  Mary  Athey,  John 
T.  being  the  second  born.  The  parents  passed  their 
lives  in  their  Maryland  home,  the  father  dying  there  in 
1847  and  the  mother  passing  away  in  the  year  following, 
leaving  their  three  children  to  the  care  of  strangers. 
John  was  reared  in  the  home  of  A.  L.  Withers,  in  Cum- 
berland and  was  an  attendant  at  the  public  schools  of 
the  town  in  which  he  was  reared,  and  in  the  Allegheny 
County  Academy.  When  he  was  eighteen  years  old  he 
left  school  and  enlisted  in  the  Sixth  West  Virginia  In- 
fantry, for  service  in  the  Civil  war.  He  enlisted  as  a 
private,  but  after  four  years  of  continuous  service 
emerged  as  a lieutenant.  He  was  mustered  out  June 
10,  1865,  at  Wheeling,  West  Virginia.  In  1866  Lieu- 
tenant Athey  joined  Custer’s  Regiment,  the  Seventh  U. 
S.  Cavalry,  and  fought  throughout  the  period  of  the 
Indian  disturbances.  He  was  mustered  out  of  the 
service  November  i,  1870,  after  having  participated  in 
every  engagement  with  his  regiment,  but  escaping  in- 
jury at  any  time. 

In  1871  Mr.  Athey  engaged  in  service  in  the  Sur- 
veyor General’s  office  at  Lawrence,  Kansas,  and  he 
served  there  and  in  the  Chief  Engineer’s  office  in  Fort 
Leavenworth,  Kansas  until  1874,  in  which  year  he  was 
appointed  post  trader  at  Fort  Sully,  receiving  his 
appointment  from  the  secretary  of  war  and  serving  for 
three  years  in  a manner  highly  creditable  to  himself 
and  all  concerned.  He  first  came  to  Montana  in  the 
spring  of  1879  and  settled  at  Fort  Benton  and  was 
then  engaged  as  clerk  in  the  merchandise  business  for 
C.  T.  Bowes  & Brothers  at  Fort  Walsh,  North  West- 
ern Territory.  In  the  fall  of  1880  he  went  with  Broad- 
water & McNamara  as  bookkeeper  at  Fort  Maginnis 
and  remained  there  until  1884,  when  he  went  to  Sun 
River  Crossing  and  took  charge  of  a bankrupt  stock 
of  George  Steele.  He  remained  there  until  1890, 
then  removing  to  Armington,  where  he  became  man- 
ager for  the  store  owned  by  Mr.  Broadwater.  He  con- 
tinued thus  until  1896.  when  he  was  elected  clerk  of 
the  district  court  of  Cascade  county,  Montana,  and  in 
1900  was  re-elected  to  that  office.  The  ne.xt  public 
office  of  which  he  became  the  incumbent  was  that  of 
clerk  of  the  supreme  court,  which  came  in  1904,  and 
in  1910  he  was  re-elected  to  the  office, — an  example  of 
the  fitness  of  the  little  witticism  of  the  late  Governor 
Johnson  of  Minnesota  that  “one  good  term  deserves 
another.’’  Mr.  Athey  is  still  filling  that  office,  with 
a high  degree  of  efficiency  and  general  satisfaction. 
While  a resident  of  Cascade  county  Mr.  Athey  served 
as  a member  of  the  school  board  for  three  years,  and 
during  his  connection  with  that  body  was  regarded  as 
one  of  the  most  capable  members  of  the  board.  He  has 
always  been  a Republican  in  his  political  faith,  and  cast 
his  first  presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  since 
which  time  he  has  been  an  ardent  supporter  of  the 
party  and  has  ever  been  active  in  political  circles. 
Fraternally  Mr.  Athey  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic 
Order,  and  is  a member  of  the  blue  lodge,  chapter  and 
commandery.  He  has  held  two  chairs  in  the  blue 
lodge  and  chapter  and  all  chairs  in  the  commandery. 
His  connection  with  the  blue  lodge  and  commandery 
is  at  Great  Falls.  Montana,  and  he  is  affiliated  with 
the  chapter  at  Sioux  City,  Iowa.  He  is  a member  of 
the  Lambs  Club  and  is  an  attendant  of  the  Episcopal 
church.  Mr.  Athey  has  always  been  of  a studious  na- 
ture and  is  particularly  fond  of  the  best  literature. 


with  which  he  is  thoroughly  conversant.  He  has  always 
been  a.  nature  lover  and  has  found  much  in  the  beauties 
of  the  western  country  to  gratify  that  inclination. 

Mr.  Athey  was  married  on  October  29,  1872  at 
Leavenworth,  Kansas,  to  Miss  Katie  De  Sanno  Clark, 
the  daughter  of  Hartford  Clark,  a native  of  Rhode  Is- 
land. Two  children  have  been  born  to  them;  Harry 
R.,  born  in  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  December  20,  1878,  now 
a resident  of  Helena,  and  Lulu  B.,  born  at  Fort  Magin- 
nis, Montana;  both  are  unmarried. 

Leslie  H.  Hamilton.  The  automobile  industry  is 
one  which  has  grown  with  astounding  rapidity  during 
the  last  decade,  and  many  of  the  leading  business  men 
of  Montana  have  interested  themselves  in  some  branch 
or  another  of  the  trade.  One  of  the  most  prominent  of 
these,  Leslie  H.  Hamilton,  is  the  owner  of  the  Stand- 
ard Garage,  at  Great  Falls,  the  largest  establishment  of 
its  kind  in  the  state.  Mr.  Hamilton  belongs  to  that 
class  _ of  citizen,  of  which  the  west  is  justly  proud. 
Starting  in  life  with  little  or  no  capital,  he  rapidly  rose 
to  a position  of  importance  in  the  sheep  industry 
through  the  exercise  of  persistent  energy  and  natural 
ability;  and  when  he  was  ready  to  retire  from  that  line 
of  activity  displayed  his  versatility  by  achieving  a pro- 
portionate measure  of  success  in  the  automobile  busi- 
ness. He  was  born  December  6,  1852,  at  Marlboro, 
Windham  county,  Vermont,  and  is  a son  of  Joseph  H. 
and  Abigail  (Mather)  Hamilton. 

Joseph  H.  Hamilton  was  a representative  of  a ster- 
ling old  New  England  family,  and  spent  his  entire  life 
in  the  state  of  Vermont,  being  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  up  to  the  time  of  his  death  in  1900,  when  he 
was  seventy-two  years  of  age.  He  married  Abigail 
Mather,  daughter  of  Timothy  and  Abigail  Mather,  of 
a prominent  New  England  family,  and  she  died  in  i860, 
at  the  age  of  twenty-six  years,  having  been  the  mother 
of  six  children.  Mr.  Hamilton  was  again  married, 
having  three  sons  by  his  second  union. 

Leslie  H.  Hamilton  divided  his  boyhood  between 
the  home  farm  and  the  district  schools,  and  until  of 
age  was  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  then 
spent  three  and  one-half  years  at  various  occupations 
in  Vermont.  In  1878  he  went  further  west  to  Nevada, 
where  he  received  his  introduction  to  the  business  of 
sheep  raising,  and  in  the  fall  of  1879  made  his  entrance 
into  Montana  driving  a band  of  sheep  from  Nevada  to 
Beaverhead  county  for  the  Hoppin  Brothers.  He  was 
employed  by  a Mr.  Bazette  in  Beaverhead  county  dur- 
ing that  winter,  and  in  1880,  in  company  with  John 
Stoutenberg  and  Albert  Barney,  located  in  the  Judith 
Basin,  in  Fergus  county,  where  the  Sage  Creek  sheep 
ranch  was  established.  In  1888  Mr.  Hamilton  pur- 
chased the  interests  of  Mr.  Barney,  and  in  1886  Mr. 
Stoutenberg  sold  his  share  in  the  firm  to  the  Rev. 
Jacob  Mills  of  Helena,  and  Messrs.  Mills  and  Hamil- 
ton continued  in  partnership  as  the  Sage  Creek  Sheep 
Company  until  1890,  when  it  was  made  a corporation 
under  the  same  style.  Mr.  Hamilton  was  chosen  presi- 
dent, Mr.  Mills  vice-president,  and  Mrs.  Hamilton,  a 
woman  of  exceptional  business  ability,  secretary  and 
treasurer,  and  the  firm  subsequently  became  one  of  the 
leading  enterprises  of  Fergus  county,  owning  upwards 
of  10,000  acres  of  patented  land,  and  running  30,000 
head  of  sheep  annually.  In  1908,  after  he  had  devel- 
oped from  a poor  sheep  herder  with  a capital  of  but 
$500  into  one  of  the  leading  capitalists  of  his  _ section, 
Mr.  Hamilton  decided  to  take  his  family  east  in  order 
that  his  children  might  secure  better  educational  ad- 
vantages. Accordingly,  he  disposed  of  his  great  inter- 
ests in  sheep,  cattle,  and  horses,  and  went  to  Boston, 
Massachusetts,  where  he  remained  three  years.  In 
1911  he  returned  to  Montana  and  settled  in  Great 
Falls,  where  he  had  in  former  years  erected  a hand- 
some modern  residence,  bought  a large  amount  of  val- 
uable property  and  built  the  Standard  Garage,  a three- 


*• 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1105 


story  structure,  with  ample  floor  space  and  salesrooms 
for  several  of  the  standard  makes  of  machines,  and 
equipped  with  every  appliance  known  to  the  trade.  A 
large  force  of  experienced  salesmen  and  expert  me- 
chanics is  employed,  and  the  venture  has  become  the 
leading  enterprise  of  its  kind  in  the  state.  Mr.  Ham- 
ilton is  a director  in  the  Lewistown  Bank  arid  the 
State  Bank  of  Moore,  and  has  numerous  other  invest- 
ments. He  is  a Republican  in  his  political  views,  but 
has  not  desired  public  office.  His  religious  faith  is 
that  of  the  Congregational  church. 

On  August  10,  1887,  Mr.  Hamilton  was  married  to 
Miss  Lizzie  Montgomery,  at  Sage  Creek,  in  Judith 
Basin,  and  flve  children  were  born  to  this  union,  as 
follows : Julia  Bell,  born  February  6,  1890,  a graduate 

of  LaSalle  Seminary;  Henry  Montgomery,  born  De- 
cember 6,  1892,  a graduate  of  Dartmouth  College,  New 
Hampshire,  where  he  took  a general  course;  Abigail 
Mather,  born  in  July,  1894,  attending  Vassar  College; 
Harley  A.,  born  in  March,  1897,  attending  high  school; 
and  Leslie  H.,  Jr.,  a student  in  the  public  schools. 

Mr.  Hamilton  has  lost  none  of  his  love  for  out-door 
occupations  that  in  his  youth  laid  the  foundation  for 
his  present  excellent  health.  He  may  well  lay  claim 
to  the  title  “old-timer,”  as  his  residence  in  Montana 
dates  back  to  the  Indian  days,  and  he  can  recall  many 
exciting  experiences  of  the  time  when  the  Treasure 
State  was  still  in  its  infancy.  On  one  occasion  an 
Indian  horse  thief  attempted  to  steal  one  of  Mr.  Ham- 
ilton’s animals,  but  was  captured  by  Mr.  Hamilton 
and  a friend,  a Mr.  Skelton.  The  Indian  managed  to 
escape  during  the  night  without  his  clothes,  although 
the  night  was  cold  and  there  was  a heavy  covering  of 
snow  on  the  ground,  but  returned  the  next  day  while 
his  former  captors  were  absent  from  camp,  equipped 
himself  with  a suit  and  a new  hat  and  was  never  seen 
again  by  Mr.  Hamilton. 

Hawley  J.  Selway,  well-to-do  farmer  and  stockman 
of  Dillon,  Beaverhead  county,  Montana,  is  a repre- 
sentative of  one  of  the  early  families  of  this  county,,  and 
was  born  in  Dillon  on  May  31,  1879.  He  is  a son  of 
James  and  Eunice  (Noble)  Selway,  who  were  pioneer 
settlers  of  Montana.  Hawley  J.  is  one  of  the  three 
children  of  his  parents.  He  received  his  education  in 
the  schools  of  Dillon,  being  graduated  from  the  high 
school  in  May,  1899,  and  in  1900  took  a business  course 
at  the  Wesleyan  University  at  Helena,  Since  that  time 
he  has  been  devoted  to  the  ranching  business.  Mr. 
Selway  has  a ranch  on  Horse  Prairie  of  some  twenty- 
seven  hundred  acres,  which  is  the  scene  of  large  and 
profitable  operations  in  the  stock  business,  his  sales  in 
the  year  1912  from  the  ranch  aggregating  about  nine 
hundred  head  of  cattle  and  one  hundred  horses.  He 
is  also  devoting  some  attention  to  the  matter  of  draft 
horses  and  cattle,  _ and  is  the  owner  of  a blooded 
Belgian  stallion  weighing  twenty-two  hundred  pounds, 
which  is  said  to  be  the  heaviest  horse  in  Beaverhead 
county.  In  addition  to  his  property  on  Horse  Prairie, 
he  owns  a half  interest  in  a four  hundred  and  forty- 
acre  ranch  near  Dillon,  as  well  as  a considerable  prop- 
erty in  the  city.  ^ Mr.  Selway  is  secretary-treasurer  of 
the  Horse  Prairie  Reservoir  Association,  and  has  al- 
ways done  his  full  share  in  the  promotion  of  every 
movement  which  he  has  reason  to  believe  will  result 
in  the  ultimate  good  of  Beaverhead  county.  Mr.  Sel- 
way is_a  Republican,  and  he  is  a member  and  stockholder 
and  director  of  the  Beaverhead  Club.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Beaverhead  County  Fair  Association  and 
stock  holder.  His  fraternal  connections  are  repre- 
sented by  his  membership  in  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  in 'which  he  is  a member  of  Apollo  Lodge 
No.  15.  Independent  Order  of  Dillon  Encampment  No. 
9,  and  Lodge  No.  9511  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America. 

On  April  10,  1901,  Mr.  Selway  married  Miss  Lovilla 


Hughes,  the  daughter  of  James  and  Sarah  E.  Hughes, 
of  Centerville,  Iowa,  where  5Irs.  Selway  was  born. 
She  came  to  Montana  in  her  girlhood  and  has  here 
made  her  home  ever  since.  Three  children  have  been 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Selway,  namely : Berthena,  aged 
ten  years.  Francis,  nine  years  of  age,  and  Ralph,  now 
aged  five. 

Alfred  O.  de  Lorimiee.  A splendid  example  of  the 
successful  westerner — the  man  who  by  persistence, 
optimism  and  good  management  rises  from  the  meager- 
ness of  poverty  to  the  distinctions  of  wealth,  is  Mr. 
Alfred  O.  de  Lorimier,  whose  name  figures  so  promi- 
nently in  many  of  the  most  conspicuous  enterprises  of 
Fort  Benton  and  whose  ability  as  well  as  his  fortune 
makes  him  an  influential  resident  of  the  place. 

Alfred  Octave  de  Lorimier  was  the  eighth  son  of  his 
parents,  who  in  giving  him  his  middle  name.  Octave, 
commemorated  his  place  among  their  children,  who  ul- 
timately numbered  eighteen.  Mr.  Lorimier’s  father  was 
a native  of  Canada  and  was  named  George  Anthony 
Lorimier.  He  was  for  many  years  a government  agent 
for  the  Iroquois  Indians,  and  his  death  occurred  in  Can- 
ada at  the  age  of  fifty-eight.  His  wife,  our  subject’s 
mother,  was  Marie  Louise  McCumber  and  was  of 
Scotch  parentage  and  Canadian  birth. 

Alfred  de  Lorimier’s  education  was  pursued  in  the 
private  schools  of  Lachine,  near  Montreal.  At  the  age 
of  eighteen,  having  completed  his  academic  courses,  he 
left  his  home  to  begin  the  carving  of  his  fortune.  In 
the  city  of  Montreal  he  took  a position  as  clerk  at  a 
salary  of  $20  per  month  in  the  store  of  Henry  Morgan 
& Company,  one  of  the  leading  mercantile  firms  of  the 
city  at  that  time.  He  continued  his  connection  with  this 
house  for  two  years,  living  carefully  and  conserving  his 
pecuniary  resources  as  far  as  was  possible  on  a meager 
salary  and  at  the  expenses  always  particularly  high  in  a 
metropolis.  Like  many  thoughtful  youths,  he  pondered 
the  advisability  of  trying  other  vocational  experiments, 
in  the  hope  of  getting  something  more  lucrative.  With 
a cash  capital  of  only  fifty  dollars,  he  arrived  in  Chicago 
on  the  fourth  of  July,  1870.  On  investigating  prospects 
in  an  employment  office,  he  was  given  a letter  to  a 
farmer  whose  location  was  at  some  distance  from  the 
city.  Young  de  Lorimier  made  the  journey,  at  a cost 
of  six  of  his  carefully  saved  dollars.  He  was  thereupon 
informed  that  his  services  were  not  needed,  and  indeed 
many  other  applicants  were  being  turned  away.  But  he 
stood  his  ground,  insisting  on  being  given  a place,  and 
his  perseverance  finally  won.  Throughout  the  season, 
he  toiled  in  the  hay  field,  faithfully  and  laboriously,  at 
a salary  of  thirty  dollars  per  month.  He  eventually  re- 
turned to  his  work  as  a store  salesman,  being  employed 
by  Twohey  Brothers,  for  whom  he  worked  for  eight 
years,  and  for  John  B.  Farwell  of  Chicago,  about  one 
year. 

In  1879  Mr.  de  Lorimier  left  the  city  by  the  lake  and 
came  to  Fort  Benton,  with  which  place  he  has  ever 
since  been  closely  connected  in  increasing  capacities. 
His  first  position  here  was  in  the  mercantile  establish- 
ment of  T.  C.  Power  & Brothers,  where  he  held  a 
position  as  manager  of  the  dry  goods  department. 
After  continuing  this  association  for  two  years  he 
formed  a partnership  with  William  Baker,  the  firm  be- 
ing known  as  Baker  & de  Lorimier.  Their  business, 
which  was  exclusive  dry  goods,  they  presently  extended 
to  White  Sulphur  Springs,  where  our  subject  had 
charge  of  its  administration.  After  two  years  he  sold 
his  interest  in  both  places  and  returned  to  Fort  Benton. 
His  outside  interests  were  gradually  broadening,  and  he 
accepted  a clerkship  with  T.  C.  Power  & Company, 
Limited.  For  eighteen  years  he  continued  in  this  ca- 
pacity, during  the  latter  part  of  that  time  serving  as 
manager  of  the  store.  Two  years  ago  he  retired  from 
active  mercantile  service,  and  has  since  limited  his  in- 
terests chiefly  to  his  many  investments. 


IKK) 


HISTORY  OF  :montana 


lilr.  de  Lorimier  has  so  wisely  husbanded  his  capital 
and  so  judiciously  invested  it  that  he  is  now  profitably 
connected  with  a large  number  of  Fort  Benton’s  lucra- 
tive enterprises.  He  is  a director  and  stockholder  of 
the  Fort  Benton  Electric  Light  Company,  and  holds  the 
same  relations  to  the  O’Hannon  Land  & Live  Stock 
Company.  He  is  a stockholder  in  the  Montana  Inter- 
state Telephone  Company;  in  the  New  World  Life  In- 
surance Company;  in  the  Montana  Life  Insurance  Com- 
pany, and  is  a director  in  the  Shonkin  Stock  Association. 
He  also  has  extensive  interests  as  a stock  raiser.  In 
addition  to  all  these  business  concerns,  he  has  always 
taken  an  active  interest  in  municipal  affairs  and  has 
served  as  alderman  for  two  terms.  His  political  alliance 
is  with  the  Democratic  party. 

In  April,  1899,  Mr.  de  Lorimier  was  united  in  life's 
most  sacred  bond  with  Miss  Jeanne  Marie  Gonin.  She 
is  a native  of  Lyons,  France,  and  had  come  to  Fort 
Benton  at  the  age  of  twelve  with  her  widowed  mother, 
who  afterward  died  here.  The  children  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  de  Lorimier  are  two:  Marguerite,  who  was  born 
March  3,  1900,  and  Alexander,  whose  birth  occurred 
on  October  15,  1901.  Mr.  Lorimier’s  religious  affilia- 
tions are  with  the  Roman  Catholic  church. 

John  V.vlentine  C.\rroll.  In  the  person  of  Dr, 
John  V.  Carroll,  of  Fort  Benton,  Montana,  is  to  be 
found  the  splendid  combination  of  the  practical  mind 
of  the  man  of  business  with  the  observant  and  logical 
mind  of  the  professional  man.  Equipped  with  a 
thorough  education,  a student  by  nature,  with  an  in- 
born love  for  his  profession,  it  is  not  surprising  that 
he  was  successful  as  a physician.  He,  however,  had  a 
mind  whose  dominant  quality  was  an  all-absorbing 
interest  in  everything.  This  type  of  man  as  a rule 
does  not  succeed  in  life,  for  this  is  the  day  of  special- 
ization, when  a man  must  devote  himself  solely  to 
one  line  of  work,  almost  to  one  line  of  thought  in  order 
to  surpass  his  neighbor  in  the  race  for  the  golden 
apple  of  success.  The  doctor  is  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent men  in  Fort  Benton,  and  both  in  this  town  and  in 
other  parts  of  Montana  has  taken  an  active  hand  in 
organizing  and  developing  enterprises  that  have  added 
much  to  the  prosperity  of  Montana. 

John  Valentine  Carroll  was  born  in  New  York  City, 
on  the  14th  of  February,  1854.  He  was  the  son  of 
James  Carroll,  who  was  a native  of  Ireland,  and  had 
come  to  New  York  in  1846.  He  was  by  trade  a mer- 
chant tailor  and  was  an  officer  in  the  old  Ninth  New 
York  Militia,  an  Irish  brigade,  which  later  became  the 
Sixty-ninth,  and  during  the  visit  of  the  Prince  of  Wales 
to  this  country,  it  was  found  necessary  to  put  the  whole 
regiment  under  arrest  for  refusing  to  parade  in  the 
Prince’s  honor.  James  Carroll  was  married  to  Mary 
B.  Welsh,  in  New  York  City,  in  1853.  She  was  a 
native  of  Ireland  and  died  in  1888,  at  the  age  of  fifty. 
James  Carroll  was  sixty-three  when  he  died  on  the 
13th  of  August,  1888.  John  Carroll  thus  lost  both 
father  and  mother  within  a short  time  of  each  other. 
He  was  one  of  five  children,  but  he  was  the  only  one 
who  lived,  the  others  all  dying  in  infancy. 

The  education  which  John  Carroll  obtained  was  begun 
in  the  public  schools  of  New  York  City,  and  was  fol- 
lowed by  a year  spent  at  historic  old  Washington  and 
Lee  University  at  Lexington,  Virginia.  He  then  spent 
a year  at  St.  Francis  Xavier  LTniversity  in  New  York 
City.  From  1879  to  1886  Dr.  Carroll  lived  in  Montana, 
and  although  he  had  not  been  graduated  from  a med- 
ical school,  the  need  for  physicians  was  so  great  that 
he  had  been  practicing  medicine  during  this  time  by 
special  permission  of  the  secretary  of  war.  What 
medical  work  he  had  taken  had  been  in  the  Medical 
Department  of  the  College  of  New  York,  and  he 
returned  here  to  take  his  degree,  which  he  received 
on  the  19th  of  March,  1886.  He  spent  the  year  sub- 
sequent to  his  graduation  in  the  Asylum  for  the  In- 


sane in  New  York  City,  and  then  returned  to  take  up 
his  work  in  the  West.  Fie  returned  to  Fort  Assin- 
niboine,  where  he  had  been  stationed  and  remained 
here  until  the  19th  of  July,  1888,  when  he  was  ap- 
pointed surgeon  at  Fort  Belknap,  and  where  he  re- 
mained in  the  government  service  until  September  24, 
1895.  He  then  resigned  from  the  service  and  spent 
the  next  year  at  the  University  of  Michigan,  doing 
graduate  work.  Doctor  Carroll  has  enjoyed  nothing 
perhaps  quite  as  much  as  his  student  days.  Having  a 
taste  for  study,  he  has  also  enjoyed  the  peculiar  charm 
that  hangs  about  any  of  the  great  universities.  To  a 
man  lacking  that  fondness  for  the  strong,  crude,  force- 
ful existence  that  was  life  in  the  West  during  those 
early  days  it  would  seem  that  the  doctor  in  turning 
his  back  on  the  quiet  culture  and  the  atmosphere  of 
intellectual  force,  was  making  a great  self  sacrifice, 
but  the  doctor  did  not  feel  it  so.  He  believed  in  the 
future  of  the  West,  and  his  faith  has  been  more  than 
justified. 

Upon  his  return  he  came  to  Fort  Benton,  and  entered 
private  practice,  upon  which  he  was  continuously 
engaged  until  1908.  Some  of  the  activities  in  which 
Dr.  Carroll  has  been  engaged  during  this  time  are 
as  follows : He  is  president  of  the  Benton  Electric 

Light  Company,  and  also  holds  the  same  position  in 
the  North  Western  Live  Stock  Company.  He  is  vice- 
president  of  the  Benton  Sheep  Company  and  is  in 
active  control  of  the  corporation.  Believing  that  the 
town  needed  an  opera  house  that  would  house  good 
attractions  he  has  always  been  active  in  behalf  of  the 
Baker  opera  house,  and  is  president  of  the  company. 
For  the  past  thirteen  years  he  has  been  vice-president 
of  the  Stockmen’s  National  Bank,  and  one  of  the 
directors.  He  is  a member  of  the  firm  of  Mee  & Car- 
roll,  raisers  of  cattle  exclusively.  Such  a list  as  this 
is  indicative  of  the  fact  that  he  must  possess  unusual 
business  ability,  but  he  has  not  contented  himself  with 
devoting  his  time  to  his  professional  and  business 
affairs,  but  has  found  time  to  give  to  public  affairs. 
He  is  chairman  of  the  board  of  school  trustees,  and 
has  been  a member  of  the  school  board  for  the  past 
eight  years.  As  one  of  the  best  educated  men  in  the 
section,  his  choice  for  this  responsible  position  has 
been  fitting  and  he  has  done  much  to  give  Montana 
the  good  reputation  which  she  bears  in  educational 
circles.  He  is  also  chairman  of  the  board  of  county 
commissioners. 

Dr.  Carroll  was  married  at  Fort  Assinniboine,  Mon- 
tana, on  the  22d  of  September,  1882,  to  Miss  Martha 
Simpson  of  St.  Paul,  daughter  of  a mining  engineer. 
Four  children  have  been  born  to  the  doctor  and  his 
wife.  John  V.,  Jr.,  was  born  on  the  2d  of  May,  1884, 
at  Fort  Assinniboine.  He  is  now  teller  in  the  Stock- 
men’s  Bank,  of  Fort  Benton.  The  only  daughter, 
Grace  Mary  Virginia  Carroll  was  born  on  the  2d  of 
February,  1890,  at  Fort  Belknap.  Charles  Simpson 
Carroll  was  born  on  the  7th  of  June,  1895,  at  Fort 
Belknap,  and  has  been  appointed  to  the  Naval  Academy 
at  Annapolis.  James  Alartin  Carroll,  the  youngest, 
was  born  at  Fort  Benton,  on  the  27th  of  June,  1899. 

John  AI.  Brechbill.  For  a continuous  period  of 
thirty-two  years  a resident  of  Missoula,  and  during  the 
vvliole  of  the  time  living  an  upright  and  estimable  life 
of  commendable  industry  and  usefulness,-  John  M. 
Brechbill  has  fully  demonstrated  his  right  to  the  respect 
and  good  will  the  people  of  the  whole  city  and  county  of 
his  home  have  for  him,  and  they  have  bestowed  their 
esteem  upon  him  liberally,  but  only  in  proportion  to  his 
worth.  He  has  worked  at  his  trade  as  a carpenter 
here  in  a very  acceptable  manner,  and  is  now  in  con- 
stant demand  as  a superintendent  of  the  construction  of 
buildings  for  their  owners,  in  which  capacity  his  services 
are  highly  valued. 

Mr.  Brechbill  is  a native  of  Oskaloosa,  Iowa,  where 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1107 


he  was  born  on  October  9,  1862.  His  father,  Samuel 
Luther  Brechbill,  was  born  in  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania, 
and,  when  he  was  nineteen  years  of  age,  moved  with  his 
parents  to  Calloway  county,  Missouri.  He  was  married 
there  a few  years  later  to  Miss  Louisa  A.  Freeman,  and 
soon  after  his  marriage  changed  his  residence  to  Oska- 
loosa,  Iowa,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  until 
1879.  He  then  came  to  Montana  and  selected  a ranch 
for  the  future  home  of  himself  and  his  family  in  the  Bit- 
ter Root  valley  two  miles  from  Stevensville.  Before  he 
could  move  his  family  to  the  ranch,  and  on  the  eve  of 
his  doing  so,  his  wife  was  taken  ill  and  died  in  Mis- 
souri. The  father,  however,  brought  the  children  he  had 
at  home  to  the  ranch  he  had  selected,  and  they  all  lo- 
cated on  it.  The  father  died  there  in  March,  1911.  Dur- 
ing the  Civil  war  he  served  four  years  in  the  Confed- 
erate army. 

John  M.  Brechbill  secured  some  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Missouri  and  then  learned  the  carpen- 
ter trade.  He  came  to  Butte  in  1879,  but  after  a stay 
of  a few  months  returned  to  his  Missouri  home.  The 
next  year  he  came  again  to  Montana,  and  this  time  lo- 
cated in  Missoula,  where  he  has  resided  ever  since.  For 
some  years  he  worked  at  his  trade  exclusively,  but  in 
1896  added  setting  up  machinery,  such  as  mills,  concen- 
trators and  the  like,  to  his  w'ork,  and  was  kept  busy  at 
both  lines  of  effort  as  long  as  he  chose  to  follow  them. 
In  time,  however,  he  grew  weary  of  both,  and  deter- 
mined to  confine  himself  to  another  department  of  labor, 
for  which  he  believed  there  was  a good  opening,  if  not 
a pressing  need. 

In  1904  he  took  up  the  work  of  superintending  the 
construction  work  in  the  erection  of  buildings,  and  since 
then  he  has  devoted  his  time  and  energies  wholly  to 
that.  He  has  superintended  the  construction  of  some 
of  the  most  costly  and  imposing  buildings  in  the  city 
and  county  of  Missoula,  among  them  the  county  court 
house,  Montana  block.  Masonic  temple,  the  Elks’  hall, 
many  private  residences  of  the  better  class  and  nearly 
all  of  the  public  school  buildings.  In  each  case  he  was 
employed  by  the  persons  or  authorities  for  whom  the 
buildings  were  being  erected,  and  his  work  and  its  re- 
sults have  been  so  satisfactory  that  he  has  been  in  con- 
stant demand  for  his  services  in  this  respect.  In  1912 
he  was  made  chief  inspector  of  all  paving  and  cement 
work  for  the  city  of  Missoula  by  the  city  commissioner 
for  the  commission  form  of  government. 

On  June  ii,  1884,  Mr.  Brechbill  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Ella  Silverthorn,  a native  of  Montana, 
and  the  daughter  of  John  Silverthorn,  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania but  all  old  residents  of  Montana.  Three  chil- 
dren have  blessed  the  union  and  brightened  the  home 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brechbill ; Eunice  Holliday,  whose 
life  began  on  August  8,  1889;  Samuel  C.,  who  was  born 
on  March  20,  1891 ; and  Richard  Etta,  who  came  into 
being  on  January  ii,  1897.  They  are  all  living. 

Mr.  Brechbill  is  a Freemason  of  the  thirty-second  de- 
gree in  the  Scottish  rite,  and  also  has  all  the  degrees 
of  the  York  rite,  and  is  besides  a Noble  of  the  Mysfic 
Shrine.  He  is  a Republican  in  politics  but  not  a narrow 
or  hide-bound  partisan,  as  in  local  affairs  he  always  has 
in  mind  the  welfare  of  his  community  and  votes  for 
the  candidates  he  considers  best  fitted  and  most  likely 
to  promote  it.  This  he  does  without  regard  to  personal 
or  party  considerations,  and  from  a sense  of  duty  to 
the  public. 

For  the  progress  and  improvement  of  the  city  and 
county  of  his  home  he  has  always  been  earnestly  and 
effectively  active,  and  his  efforts  have  been  guided  by 
intelligence  and  ruled  by  judgment.  He  does  not  sup- 
port every  project  that  is  proposed,  but  when  he  is 
convinced  of  the  value  of  any  his  aid  is  freely  and  cheer- 
fully given,  and  it  is  at  all  times  considerable  in  amount 
and  usefulness.  He  is  well  known  throughout  the  county 
and^in  ^ll^parts  of  it  is  esteemed  in  high  degree  for  his 


sterling  worth  and  many  estimable  qualities  as  a man 
and  citizen. 

William  Miller  is  one  of  the  well-known  men  of  this 
section  of  the  state  of  Montana,  his  connection  with  the 
livery  business  in  Dupuyer  between  the  years  of  1900 
and  igio  giving  him  a wide  range  of  acquaintance,  and 
a popularity  that  one  might  seek  far  to  excel.  In  those 
years  he  was  also  engaged  in  stock-raising,  and  in  the 
years  previous  as  well.  In  1910  Mr.  Miller  came  to 
Valier,  where  he  once  more  engaged  in  the  livery  busi- 
ness, and  here,  as  in  Dupuyer,  his  project  has  met  with 
marked  favor  with  the  public,  and  he  is  conducting  a 
flourishing  and  prosperous  business. 

Mr.  IMiller  was  born  in  Sencalista,  Canada,  on  July 
4,  1866.  He  is  the  son  of  William  and  Jeannette  Miller, 
both  natives  of  Scotland,  who  met  and  married  in  Can- 
ada. In  1887  they  removed  to  California.  The  father, 
who  followed  farming  as  an  occupation,  died  in  Du- 
puyer, Montana,  in  1902,  at  the  age  of  ninety-five,  the 
family  having  removed  from  California  to  Montana  in 

1879  2nd  18S0,  the  family  coming  through  in  an  emi- 
grant wagon  from  Reno,  Nevada,  to  Missoula,  Montana. 
They  remained  in  Missoula  until  1890,  in  which  year 
they  moved  to  Dupuyer.  Eleven  children  were  born 
to  these  parents,  William  being  the  youngest  of  the 
family. 

He  was  eleven  years  old  when  the  family  removed 
from  their  Canadian  home  to  California,  and  such 
schooling  as  he  received  was  prior  to  that  move.  In 

1880  the  boy  left  home  and  when  the  family  came  to 
Missoula  he  busied  himself  in  farming  and  various  other 
ventures  until  1890,  in  which  year  he  came  to  Dupuyer 
and  engaged  in  stock-raising.  He  also  homesteaded  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  government  land,  which  he 
eventually  acquired  the  title  deed  to,  and  he  continued 
with  his  ranching  operations  near  Dupuyer  until  1900. 
In  that  year  he  extended  his  operations  to  include  a 
livery  business,  and  for  ten  years  he  conducted  a thriv- 
ing livery  in  Dupuyer.  In  1910  he  severed  his  business 
connection  with  that  place  and  removed  to  Valier, 
where  he  once  more  became  established  in  a similar 
business,  and  he  has  since  continued  thus. 

_Mr.  Miller  has  been  a model  citizen  in  all  the  years  of 
his  residence  in  Montana,  and  has  never  shirked  any 
civic  duty  or  responsibility,  however  slight.  He  served 
as  deputy  sheriff  of  Teton  county  for  four  years,  and 
has  always  been  active  in  Democratic  circles.  He  has 
acquired  considerable  city  and  county  property,  and  is 
regarded  as  one  of  the  well-to-do  men  of  the  commu- 
nity. He  is  a member  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows  of  Valier  lodge  and  of  the  Woodmen  of 
the  World  of  Dupuyer. 

Mr.  Miller  has  been  twice  married.  In  1894  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Elvira  Mitchell,  the  daughter  of  Sydney 
Mitchell,  of  Missoula,  an  old  pioneer  rancher  of  that 
place.  They  had  three  children,  Hildreth  Sydney,  Eliza- 
beth Dorothy  and  Elvira.  Mrs.  Miller  died  in  1899  2t 
Dupuyer,  and  in  1900  Mr.  Miller  married  Miss  Myrtel 
Rand,  a daughter  of  George  Rand  of  Wisconsin.  Three 
children  have  been  born  of  this  latter  union,  Rand, 
Byron  and  Jean,  the  two  latter  of  whom  are  deceased. 

James  M.  Rhoades.  Like  many  other  successful 
business  men  in  different  parts  of  .our  bountiful  land, 
with  its  rich  harvest  of  opportunity  for  the  alert  reaper 
and  even  for  the  careful  gleaner,  and  like  hosts  of  pro- 
fessional men  among  us,  James  M.  Rhoades,  one  of 
the  most  enterprising  and  successful  real  estate  dealers 
in  Missoula,  was  born  and  reared  on  a farm,  or  at 
least  passed  a large  part  of  his  boyhood  and  youth 
on  one.  And  like  others  of  his  kind,  his  rural  life 
gave  him  self-reliance  and  resourcefulness,  with  readi- 
ness for  emergencies  as  they  come,  and  a comprehen- 
sive sweep  of  vision  that  goes  beyond  the  narrow  con- 


1108 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


ventionalities  of  life  and  takes  in  its  essential  princi- 
ples, purposes  and  requirements. 

Mr,  Rhoades  came  into  being  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  on 
May  27,  1866.  But,  although  he  was  born  in  a city, 
liis  parents,  Josiah  and  Bessie  (Ashford)  Rhoades, 
were  farmers.  They  were  Virginians  by  nativity  and 
moved  from  the  Old  Dominion  to  Ohio  in  1864.  There 
the  father  is  still  living,  and  he  is  now  nearly  ninety 
years  old.  Almost  the  whole  of  his  life  to  the  present 
time  (1912)  has  been  passed  on  farms,  and  in  his  days 
of  activity  he  was  one  of  the  best  farmers  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  his  home,  as  he  was  always  thorough  in 
all  he  did,  and  omitted  no  effort  necessary  on  his  part 
to  secure  the  best  results  and  the  greatest  possible 
returns  for  his  labor. 

His  son  James  M.  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools.  After  leaving  school  he 
passed  two  years  in  steamboating  on  the  Ohio  river, 
and  two  years  at  sea  in  the  merchant  marine  service. 
In  1879  he  came  to  Montana,  arriving  in  August._  After 
remaining  a few  months  in  Butte,  he  changed  his  resi- 
dence to  the  eastern  part  of  the  state,  where  he  was 
variously  engaged  in  the  cattle  industry  until  1888.  On 
October  12  of  that  year  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Nelly  Scott,  a daughter  of  John  Scott,  a well-known 
pioneer  cattle  man  of  that  part  of  the  state. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Rhoades  kept  up  his  con- 
nection with  the  cattle  industry  until  1894,  when  he 
was  elected  county  assessor  of  Dawson  county  for  a 
term  of  two  years.  In  1897  he  was  appointed  receiver 
of  the  United  States  land  office  at  Miles  (Tity  by  Presi- 
dent McKinley,  and  in  1900  was  reappointed  to  this 
office  by  President  Roosevelt.  But  he  had  wearied  of 
official  life  and  longed  for  both  a change  of  base  and 
a change  of  occupation.  He  therefore  resigned  his 
office  before  the  end  of  the  year  last  mentioned,  and 
moved  to  Seattle,  Washington,  where  he  remained  one 
year. 

From  Seattle  he  came  to  Missoula  in  1901  and  entered 
the  real  estate  and  insurance  field  in  business,  which 
has  proved  to  be  entirely  adapted  to  his  taste  and  capac- 
ity, and  for  which  he  has  shown  special  aptitude  of 
a high  order.  He  is  now  one  of  the  niost  successful 
and  popular  men  in  the  business  in  this  part  of  the 
country,  being  full  of  enterprise  and  energy  in  con- 
nection with  his  trade,  and  far-seeing  and  well  inforrned 
concerning  it  and  all  its  requisites,  and  having  a genial, 
whole-souled  nature  which  makes  it  altogether  enjoy- 
able to  have  dealings  with  him.  These  qualities  give 
him  a grasp  of  the  business  few  men  can  get,  and  a 
popularity  in  conducting  it  few  ever  win,  here  or 
elsewhere. 

In  April,  1912,  Mr.  Rhoades  was  elected  mayor  of 
Missoula  under  the  commission  form  of  government  and 
by  a large  majority.  He  has  instituted  many  improve- 
ments, including  four  miles  of  pavement,  a new  light- 
ino'  system,  an  up-to-date  fire  alarm  system,  and  many 
reforms.  He  is  also  general  agent  for  the  Missouri 
State  Life  Insurance  Company,  his  territory  covering 
the  states  of  Montana,  Idaho  and  Wyoming,  and  he 
has  a number  of  agents  under  him. 

Mr.  Rhoades  has  always  been  an  active  Republican 
in  politics  and  is  devotedly  attached  to  the  principles 
of  his  party.  Fraternally  he  is  a Freemason  of  the 
Knight  Templar  degree  and  also  a Noble  of  the  Mys- 
tic Shrine,  and  a prominent  member  of  the  Order  of 
Elks.  He  served  as  Exalted  Ruler  of  Missoula  lodge 
in  the  latter  order  two  years,  and  was  chairman  of 
the  building  committee  which  erected  its  new  hall,  one 
of  the  most  complete,  convenient  and  beautiful  in 
Montana.  He  and  his  wife  are  the  parents  of  two 
children,  their  daughter  Bessie,  and  their  son  James. 

Judge  Fr.^ncis  K.  Armstrong.  In  the  list  of  dis- 
tinguished citizens  who  have  made  up  the  judiciary  of 
Montana,  none  has  stood  higher  in  the  esteem  and 


confidence  of  the  people  than  Judge  Francis  K.  Arm- 
strong, of  Bozeman,  who  during  a period  of  eleven 
years  rendered  service  of  a high  character  to  his  state 
and  upheld  the  dignity  and  traditions  of  the  Montana 
bench.  Judge  Armstrong  has  served  capably  in  other 
official  capacities,  and  for  a number  of  years  has  also 
identified  himself  with  the  financial  interests  of  Boze- 
man, being  at  this  time  a director  in  the  National  Bank 
of  Gallatin  Valley,  and  in  every  relation  of  life  has  so 
conducted  his  affairs  that  his  record  stands  today 
without  a stain  or  blemish.  He  is  a native  of  Rock- 
ford, North  Carolina,  and  was  born  March  6,  1849,  a 
son  of  Francis  K.  Armstrong,  Sr.,  who  was  born  in 
Surry  county.  North  Carolina,  March  28,  1802.  The 
latter  became  a gentleman  of  great  wealth  and  promi- 
nence, owning  a large  hotel,  plantation  and  much  other 
property  in  his  native  state,  and  was  distinguished  in 
local  politics,  for  several  years  being  clerk  of  the 
district  court  and  holding  other  offices  of  trust  and  im- 
portance. Financial  reverses  came,  however,  and  with 
them  a desire  to  seek  rest  and  recuperation  amid  the 
more  novel  and  exciting  scenes  of  the  far  west.  Ac- 
cordingly, in  the  early  fifties,  he  removed  from  North 
Carolina  and  located  in  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  but  later 
went  into  Kansas  and  settled  at  Iowa  Point,  where  his 
death  occurred  in  1861,  when  he  was  sixty  years  of  age. 
He  was  a most  excellent  and  honorable  man,  and  was 
loved  for  his  m.anly  qualities  of  mind  and  heart.  The 
mother  of  Judge  Armstrong  was  Jerusha  (Belt)  Arm- 
strong, also  a native  of  North  Carolina,  who  was  born. 
October  6,  1807,  and  died  at  Iowa  Point,  aged  eighty- 
two  years.  She  was  the  mother  of  seven  children,  five 
of  whom  are  still  living,  and  Francis  K.  is  the  only 
one  who  adopted  the  profession  of  law. 

Francis  K.  Armstrong  was  but  twelve  years  of  age 
when  his  father  died,  but  he  immediately  assumed  the 
responsibility  of  caring  for  his  mother,  and  when  he 
could  be  spared  from  home  attended  the  district  schools. 
Subsequently  he  became  a student  in  the  university  at 
Highland,  Kansas,  and  after  completing-  his  studies 
there  entered  the  law  department  of  Columbia  College, 
Missouri,  from  which  he  was  graduated  with  high 
honors  in  1875.  He  began  the  practice  of  law  at  Troy, 
Kansas,  and  was  later  associated  with  Albert  Perry, 
this  partnership  continuing  for  two  years,  and  in  Janu- 
ary, 1879,  Mr.  Armstrong  came  to  Bozeman,  Montana, 
most  of  the  year  being  passed  in  looking  over  the 
ground.  He  then  opened  a law  office  and  for  a few 
months  associated  himself  with  Col.  Ira  Pierce,  and 
when  that  professional  relation  was  dissolved  by  the 
death  of  Colonel  Pierce,  formed  a copartnership  with 
Judge  Llewellyn  Augustus  Luce.  This  was  continued 
for  a brief  period,  when  Judge  Armstrong  became 
associated  with  Hon.  Charles  S.  Hartman,  which  con- 
tinued up  to  the  time  of  the  appointment  of  Judge 
Armstrong  to  the  bench,  in  1891.  In  that  year  the 
ninth  judicial  district  for  the  state  of  Montana  was 
organized,  and  Judge  Armstrong  was  appointed  to  fill 
the  office  by  Governor  Toole,  and  was  twice  thereafter 
elected  to  the  position,  in  1904  and  1908.  In  1904,  he 
became  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  National  Bank  of 
Gallatin  Valley,  and  has  since  been  a director  and 
stockholder  in  that  institution,  recognized  as  one  of  the 
most  substantial  banking  houses  in  the  state. 

On  December  27,  1881,  Judge  Armstrong  was  mar- 
ried in  Bozeman,  to  Miss  Lora  Lamme,  a native  of 
St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  and  to  this  union  there  were  born 
three  children,  one  of  whom,  Mabel,  died  at  the  age 
of  six  years.  Two  daughters,  Lena  and  Edith,  survive. 
Mrs.  Armstrong’s  father,  Achilles  Lamme,  was  a very 
prominent  citizen  and  early  settler  of  Gallatin  county, 
who  came  to  Montana  in  1864  or  1865,  and  began 
practice  as  a physician.  In  so  new  a country,  how- 
ever, there  was  but  little  business  for  a doctor,  and  he 
soon  turned  his  attention  to  mercantile  pursuits,  which 
he  continued  up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  At  that 


V.- 


'.V  ^ .. 


} 


f 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1109 


period  he  was  the  leading  merchant  of  eastern  Mon- 
tana and  prominently  identified  with  the  growth  and 
development  of  the  state.  Although  in  the  strictest 
sense  a business  man  more  than  a politician,  he  served 
one  term  in  the  Montana  legislature. 

Judge  Armstrong  has  always  taken  an  active  interest 
in  the  political  affairs  of  the  day,  locally  and  otherwise. 
He  has  not  been  an  office  seeker,  but  has  considered  it 
his  duty  to  assume  the  responsibilities  that  have  been 
thrust  upon  him.  Bearing  a reputation  for  the  highest 
integrity  of  character,  he  has  held  the  confidence  of  all 
classes,  and  in  the  various  official  capacities  in  which 
he  has  served  has  fully  vindicated  the  trust  reposed 
in  him.  At  a time  when  Montana  consisted  of  but 
three  judicial  districts.  Judge  Armstrong  served  as 
prosecuting  attorney  for  one  of  them,  with  a deputy 
in  each  of  the  counties  comprising  the  district.  He 
also  served  as  president  of  the  territorial  council,  and 
while  a member  of  the  legislature  was  speaker  of  the 
house.  At  the  first  state  convention  he  was  nominated 
for  the  supreme  bench,  but  was  defeated,  although  he 
ran  ahead  of  the  ticket  and  failed  of  election  by  only 
a small  minority.  In  1910  Gov.  Edward  Norris  ap- 
pointed him  chairman  of  the  board  of  commissioners 
selected  to  find  a site  for  the  State  Insane  Asylum. 
Politically  he  has  worked  and  voted  in  the  interest  of 
the  Democratic  party,  and  has  never  utilized  his  politi- 
cal badge  for  dress  parade  purposes  only.  In  the 
language  of  some  of  his  warmest  supporters,  “every 
one  knows  where  to  find  Francis  K.  Armstrong."  He 
is  a man  of  commanding  presence,  kindly,  yet  digni- 
fied and  courteous  to  all.  Since  his  retirement  from  the 
bench.  Judge  Armstrong  has  devoted  himself  to  look- 
ing after  his  farming  interests,  his  large  land  holdings 
and  his  financial  connections.  Holding  prestige  as  a 
financier,  with  a record  for  public  service  that  will 
serve  as  an  example  worthy  of  emulation  by  those  who 
follow  him  in  the  high  positions  he  has  so  ably  filled, 
and  a man  whose  life  both  in  public  and  private  is  an 
open  book.  Judge  Armstrong  well  merits  the  universal 
esteem  and  respect  in  which  he  is  held,  and  takes  rank 
with  the  men  who  have  brought  honor  to  the  great 
commonwealth  of  Montana. 

Daniel  Martin  Crowley.  The  late  Daniel  Martin 
Crowley  was  born  in  Brasier  Falls,  New  York,  on  Jan- 
uary 17,  1856,  and  was  the  son  of  John  and  Mary 
(Hurley)  Crowley,  both  natives  of  Ireland,  who  came 
to  America  on  their  wedding  tour  and  settled  in  the 
town  which  later  became  the  birthplace  of  their  son, 
the  subject  of  this  review. 

John  Crowley  was  a farmer  by  occupation  and  he 
passed  his  life  devoted  to  that  industry.  He  and  his 
wife  reared  a family  of  nine  children,  of  which  number 
Daniel  M.  was  the  third  born.  He  remained  on  his 
father’s  farm  to  the  age  of  nineteen  years,  attending 
the  common  schools  in  the  meantime,  and  in  1875  he 
came  west  to  Minnesota,  where  he  found  work  in  the 
lumber  woods  of  that  state.  For  four  years  he  was 
variously  occupied  in  iMinnesota,  and  in  1879  he  came 
to  Montana  and,  in  company  with  his  brother,  John, 
ran  a ranch  near  Townsend.  In  about  1881  he  came  to 
the  present  site  of  Lewistown,  then  a mere  camp,  and 
took  up  homestead  claims.  i\Ir.  Crowley  bears  the  dis- 
tinction of  having  built  the  second  frame  building  to  be 
reared  in  Lewistown.  It  is  expected  that  this  old  land- 
mark will  soon  be  razed,  to  be  replaced  by  a modern 
brick  block  in  1913,  according  to  the  present  plans. 

Mr.  Crowley  was  one  of  the  few  Alontana  men  who 
made  an  unqualified  success  of  the  breeding  of  fast 
horses,  and  from  his  strains  Montana  has  furnished 
some  of  the  finest  harness  horses  in  the  country,  fine 
driving  horses  being  a specialty  with  him.  He  owned 
several  fine  ranches  in  the  state  of  Montana,  although 
he  did  not  operate  in  cattle  or  sheep  himself,  and  in 
addition  to  holding  part  interests  in  numerous  other 


ranches,  he  was  a heavy  stockholder  in  the  electric  light 
and  telephone  company.  His  holdings  in  the  state  were 
on  an  immense  scale,  and  he  was  regarded  as  one  of 
the  financially  substantial  men  of  the  state.  He  was 
ever  a man  of  importance  in  his  community  and  dis- 
trict. He  was  a Republican  and  a faithful  worker  in 
me  P^ty  ranks,  but  though  he  was  often  urged  to  run. 
tor  office,  he  was  never  found  willing  to  serve  in  that 
way.  At  one  time  he  served  as  deputy  sheriff  of  the- 
coLinty,  but  beyond  that  his  public  service  did  not  ex- 
tend, except  m the  way  of  his  influence,  which  was  al- 
ways on  the  side  of  the  right.  He  devoted  himself  al- 
most e.xclusively  to  his  private  business  interests,  and 
was  one  of  the  most  popular  men  in  Lewistown  Fie 
was  a kind  and  generous  man,  known  for  his  manv 
deeds  of  benevolence  and  charity,  and  his  memory  is  re'- 
vered  by  many  who  have  reason  to  remember  him  with 
gratitude  and  affection.  Mr.  Crowley  died  on  January 
19,  1906  and  It  IS  said  that  his  was  the  most  largely- 
attended  funeral  that  Lewistown  ever  witnessed 

On  August  23,  1898,  Mr.  Crowley  was  married  to 
Miss  Annie  E.  Glancy,  a daughter  of  John  and  Annie 
(jlancvL  John  G ancy  came  to  Montana  with  his  family 
in  1886  and  settled  m the  Judith  Basin,  where  he  has 
become  one  of  the-  successful  cattle  and  ranch  men  of 
rte  county.  The  marriage  of  Mr.  Crowley  and  Miss 
Glancy  occurred  in  Lewistown,  and  to  them  were  born 
Uvo  sons:  Charles  J.,  now  twelve  years  of  age,  and 

Glancy  D.,  aged  ten,  both  of  whom  are  attending  school 
in  their  home  town. 

Since  the  passing  of  her  husband,  Mrs.  Crovvlev  has 
continued  the  management  of  the  ranch  properties  left 
by  Mr.  Crovvley,  and  has  proven  herself  a most  efficient 
and  capable  business  woman.  Her  home  in  Lewistown 
recently  built,  is  one  of  the  handsomest  places  in  the 
«ty,  and  IS  located  at  No.  204  Eighth  avenue.  Mrs 
Crowley  is  a member  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church  as 
was  also  her  deceased  husband. 

Andrew  Swaney,  a good  old  pioneer  in  the  wilds 
ot  Montana,  came  to  this  state  in  1879  and  he  has  been 
a prominent  and  influential  resident  of  Kalispell  since 
the  founding  of  that  place,  in  1892.,  Mr,  Swaney  has 
been  the  popular  and  efficient  incumbent  of  a number 
of  prominent  federal  offices  during  his  residence  in 
Montana  and  at  the  present  time,  in  1912,  he  is  register 
S ^i^f  Lnited  States  land  office.  He  has  done  a great 
deal  to  advance  the  progress  and  improvement  of  this 
section  of  the  state  and  as  a loyal  and  public-spirited 
citizen  he  commands  the  unalloyed  confidence  and 
esteem  of  all  with  whom  he  has  come  in  contact 

In  A1  egheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  the  year  i860 
^curred  the  birth  of  Andrew  Swaney,  who  is  a son  of 
Hug-h  and  Cressala  (Fulerton)  Swaney,  the  former 
of  whom  was  born  in  Ohio  and  the  latter  in  Ireland 
the  father  came  west  in  1882  and  located  at  Missoula 
.Uontana,  vvhere  he  maintained  his  headquarters  as  pub- 
ic administrator  of  the  county  of  Flathead,  a position 
he  retained  for  a period  of  eighteen  vears.  He  died  Julv- 
1912,  at  the  venerable  age  of  seventy-nine  years', 
rlis  cherished  and  devoted  wife,  who  came  from  her 
native  heath,  the  Isle  of  Erin,  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
years,  to  Allegheny  City,  Pennsylvania,  where  was 
solemnized  her  marriage  in  Apri',  1859,  passed  to  the 
life  eternal  in  1898,  aged  sixtv-eight  years.  Mr  and 
:\irs.  Swaney  became  the  parents  of  eight  children  six 
of  whom  are  living,  m 1912,  and  of  whom  Andrew  was 
the  first  born. 

To  the  public  schools  of  Pennsylvania,  Andrew 
Sw'anev  is  indebted  for  his  rudimentary  educational 
training,  which  discipline  was  later  effectively  supple- 
mented by  a thorough  course  in  the  school  of  experi- 
ence. In  1870,  at  the  a.ge  of  nineteen  years,  he  came 
vvest  on  the  Central  Pacific  Railroad,  sojourning  for  a. 
short  time  at  Blackfoot.  Idaho,  whence  he  came  to  Mon- 
tana  by  stage.  For  the  ensuing  four  years  he  was  in  the 


1110 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


employ  of  Worden  & Higgins,  of  the  pioneer  merchan- 
dise house  of  Missoula,  Montana,  and  in  1883  he  came 
to  the  Flathead  valley,  his  original  purpose  being  to 
trade  in  this  section  with  the  Indians.  He  became  so 
favorably  impressed  with  this  country  that  he  decided  to 
locate  here  and  immediately  settled  at  a point  a mile 
and  a half  from  Kalispell  on  Ashley  creek.  When  Kali- 
spell  was  founded,  in  1892,  he  came  to  this  city  and  here 
was  United  States  commissioner  untd  1893,  when  he 
resigned  that  position  in  order  to  become  deputy  clerk 
of  the  district  court,  which  latter  office  he  retained  until 
1894,  whe!i  he  was  elected  clerk  of  the  district  court  in 
and  for  Flathead  county,  serving  in  such  office  until 
the  month  of  April,  1898,  when  he  resigned  and  enlisted 
in  the  first  regiment  of  Montana  volunteers.  United 
States  of  America,  serving  in  the  Philippines  during  the 
Spanish-American  war  as  first  sergeant  of  Company  H. 
Mustered  out  as  second  lieutenant  of  said  company, 
he  subseciucntly  organized  and  was  elected  captain  of 
Company  H,  Second  Regiment  of  Montana  National 
Guard,  and  later  promoted  to  the  office  of  major  in 
such  command,  subsequently  resigning  by  reason  of  the 
interference  of  his  duties  as  register  of  the  United 
States  land  office  at  Kalispell,  having  been  appointed 
to  the  latter  office  on  June  3,  1902.  During  this  period 
he  was  likewise  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising 
in  the  vicinity  of  Kalispell.  June  3,  1902,  he  was  ap- 
pointed register  of  the  United  States  land  office  and 
he  has  been  the  popular  and  efficient  incumlient  of  that 
position  during  the  intervening  years  to  the  present 
time,  in  1912.  He  is  a man  of  broad  mind  and  gener- 
ous impulses  and  he  has  implicit  faith  in  the  great 
future  of  the  Treasure  state. 

December  5,  1886,  Mr.  Swaney  married  Miss  Mary 
A.  Foy,  who  was  born  and  reared  at  Ogden,  Utah,  and 
who  is  a daughter  of  John  M.  Foy.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Swaney  have  four  children,  whose  names  are  here 
entered  in  respective  order  of  birth;  Louis  L.,  Alice  E., 
Charles  II.  and  Alex  G.  * 

In  a social  way  Mr.  Swaney  is  affiliated  wdth  the 
time-honored  Masonic  order,  in  which  he  has  passed 
through  the  circle  of  the  York  Rite  branch,  being  a 
Knight  Templar,  and  commander  of  Cyrene  Command- 
ery  No.  10,  and  he  is  likewise  affiliated  with  the  Mod- 
ern Woodmen  of  America  and  the  Kalispell  Club.  In 
politics  he  is  a Progressive  Republican.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Swaney  are  well  known  throughout  Flathead  county, 
where  their  intimate  friends  are  numbered  by  the  score, 
and  their  home  is  a center  of  most  generous  hospi- 
tality. 

George  A.  Roberts.  ’Forty-niner,  veteran  of  the  Civil 
war,  sailor,  pioneer  and  old-timer,  and  eventually  suc- 
cessful business  man  and  highly  esteemed  citizen  of 
Billings, — such  has  been  the  career  of  George  A.  Rob- 
erts, of  No.  104  North  Thirty-first  street,  who  in  spite 
of  his  seventy-nine  years,  and  the  hardships  and  vicis- 
situdes that  have  marked  his  life,  is  still  in  robust 
health  and  evincing  an  active  interest  in  all  that  is 
taking  place  in  his  adopted  city.  The  record  of  Mr. 
Rolierts’  career  reads  like  the  pages  from  the  pen  of 
a master  writer  of  fiction,  for  the  adventurous  inclina- 
tions of  his  earlier  years  led  him  into  strange  places 
and  thrilling  experiences.  Now,  in  the  evening  of  his 
life,  retired  from  business  worries  and  cares,  he  may 
look  back  over  years  that  have  been  usefully  spent, 
content  in  the  knowledge  that  he  stands  pre-eminent 
among  those  men  wdio  have  braved  the  perils  of  the 
new  places  and  blazed  the  trail  for  future  generations. 
Mr,  Roberts  was  born  at  Brunswick,  Cumberland  coun- 
ty, Maine,  December  17,  1833,  and  is  a son  of  Thomas 
and  Murilla  (Welch)  Roberts,  natives  of  the  Pine  Tree 
state. 

Thomas  Roberts  was  a ship  carpenter  and  sailor  in 
his  younger  days,  but  eventually  entered  the  lumber 
business,  wdth  which  he  was  identified  at  the  time  of 


his  death,  which  occurred  in  1886,  when  he  was  eighty- 
ihree  years  of  age.  Until  1856  he  was  a Whig,  and 
in  that  year  transferred  his  allegiance  to  the  Republican 
party  and  voted  with  that  organization  during  the  rest 
of  his  life.  He  and  his  wife,  wdio  passed  away  in 
Maine  in  1879,  had  nine  children,  of  whom  three  still 
survive:  George  A. ; Helen,  who  is  the  widow  of  Wil- 
resides  in  Boston,  Massachusetts;  and 
Adelaide,  the  wife  of  B.  L.  Dennison,  of  Augusta 
Maine.  ’ 

When  George  A.  Roberts  was  only  ten  years  of  age 
he  went  to  Boston,  but  after  two  or  three  years  in 
that  city  returned  to  his  native  place  and  'for  the 
period  of  several  years  worked  in  the  drug  store  of 
William  Baker.  Subsequently,  he  shipped  on  the  “Gen- 
A vessel,  on  which  he  went 

to  Mobile,  Alabama,  and  later  made  a trip  to  Liverpool 
England,  eventually  returning  to  New  York  City  After 
spending  tvro  or  three  years  in  Maine,  the  discovery 
ot  gold  in  California  caused  him  to  take  passage  on  a 
vessel  boimd  for  San  Francisco,  in  which  city  he  ar- 
rived in  October,  1851,  and  there  he  was  engaged  in 
mining  until  1864,  In  that  year  he  returned  to  his  na- 
tive state  by  the  same  route,  and  in  February  1864 
at  Auburn,  Maine,  he  enlisted  in  Company  I ’ Four- 
ffienth  Regiment,  Maine  Volunteer  Infantry,’  under 
Colonel  Bowlin,  for  service  in  the  Civil  war.  His  rem- 
ment  went  first  to  Portland,  Maine,  and  then  to  New 
,si'bsequently  moving  on  to  Hilton  Head 
iVorth  Carolina,  and  Savannah,  Georgia.  They  then 
maixhed  to  Augusta,  Georgia,  but  were  ordered  back 
to  Savannah,  and  were  eventually  mustered  out  of  the 
service  at  Dahlonega,  Georgia.  Mr.  Roberts  received 
his  honorable  discharge  at  Augusta,  Maine,  and  soon 
thereafter  became  a sailor,  following  the  sea  as  a voca- 
tion until  1877.  In  that  year,  during  the  gold  excite- 
ment in  the  Black  Hills,  he  joined  a party  that  traveled 
overland  via  Bismarck,  Dakota,  and  there  he  engaged 
in  the  restaurant  business,  but  was  unfortunate  enough 
to  lose  his  business  in  the  fire  in  1879,  and  continued 
overland  to  Miles  ^ City,  Montana,  thence  to  Coulson, 
and  finally  to  Billings,  as  a member  of  the  survey- 
ing party  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad.  Billings 
at  that  time  was  but  a tent  town,  there  being  only  two 
frame  buildings  in  the  course  of  erection.  After  ac- 
companying the  surveying  party  through  to  Fort  Ben- 
ton, Mr.  Roberts  severed  his  connection  with  the  rail- 
road_  company,  and  returned  east  to  his  native  state 
to^  visit  his  folks.  After  a short  visit  he  returned  to 
Billings,  which  his  foresight  had  told  him  was  due  to 
become  a large  city,  and  here  engaged  in  the  restaurant 
business  until  1890,  meeting  with  exceptional  success. 
In  that  year  he  removed  to  Gardiner,  where  he  car- 
ried on  the  same  line  of  enterprise,  and  was  later  in 
the  general  merchandise  business  for  about  four  years, 
but  in  1900  retired  from  active  life  and  returned  to 
Billings,  and  he  is  now  living  quietly  at  his  home.  No. 
104  North  Thirty-first  street. 

Mr.  Roberts  has  been  greatly  interested  in  the  work 
of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  he  is  now  act- 
ing as  quartermaster  of  William  McKinley  Post  No. 
28.  He  has  passed  through  the  chairs  of  Rathbone 
Lodge  No.  28,  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  is  past  com- 
mander of  the  lodge.  Politically  he  has  always  been  a 
stanch  Republican.  The  various  changes  that  have 
transformed  Billings  from  a tent  town  with  a few 
straggling  settlers  into  one  of  the  great  commercial 
centers  of  this  part  of  the  West  have  been  witnessed  bv 
Mr.  Roberts,  who  has  taken  an  active  part  in  the  growth 
and  development  of  the  city’s  interests.  As  a business 
man  he  bore  the  reputation  of  a man  of  integrity  and 
upright  dealings,  and  he  was  respected  by  his  busi- 
ness associates  and  highly  esteemed  by  a wide  circle  of 
acquaintances.  As  a link  connecting  the  pioneer  past 
with  the  realized  present,  Mr.  Roberts  is  fully  en- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1111 


titled  to  a place  among  Billings'  most  representative 
citizens. 

A.  D.  Maynard.  Another  Poison  citizen  whose  valu- 
able life  experience,  as  well  as  his  broad  knowledge  of 
western  life  makes  him  an  important  figure  in  his  city 
and  county,  is  Judge  Arthur  D.  Maynard.  His  educa- 
tion, his  practical  intelligence,  his  sterling  character  and 
his  civic  conscientiousness,  all  combine  to  make  his 
present  office  an  appropriate  one.  Mr.  Maynard’s  in- 
tellectual acquirements  are  such  as  befit  his  New  Eng- 
land origin,  for  he  was  born  in  Springfield,  Massachu- 
setts, on  May  19,  1852,  his  parents  being  Daniel  May- 
nard, a native  of  Massachusetts  and  Rachel  B.  (Tay- 
lor) Maynard,  whose  birth-place  was  in  Vermont. 

In  1862  Daniel  Maynard  moved  with  his  family  to 
Minnesota,  thence  in  eight  years  to  Iowa,  and  again  in 
eight  years  to  Montana,  where  he  became  one  of  Mon- 
tana’s sturdy  pioneers.  A farmer  of  the  most  respected 
and  worthy  class,  he  lived  at  Bozeman,  Montana,  until 
in  1901  he  laid  down  the  responsibilities  of  earthly  life 
at  seventy-two  years  of  age,  leaving  a wife,  the  one  son 
and  two  daughters  and  all  but  one  daughter  still  sur- 
vive. His  wife  at  the  writing  of  this  sketch  (March, 
1913)  is  living  at  Long  Beach,  California,  where  she 
enjoys  excellent  health  and  retains  a remarkable  de- 
gree of  useful  and  enjoyable  activity  at  eighty-four 
years  of  age ; she  was  of  the  General  Putnam  stock  of 
New  England  origin. 

Arthur  D.  Maynard  was  but  ten  years  of  age  when 
the  family  home  was  changed  from  Springfield  to  the 
Minnesota  town  of  Owatonna  where  his  school  life 
was  continued.  He  later  attended  the  high  school  of 
Dexter,  Iowa,  and  soon  began  teaching  in  the  western 
part  of  the  state,  where  he  met  Miss  Anna  M.  Cook, 
she  being  eighteen  years  of  age ; they  were  married  in 
1874.  During  the  ne.xt  year  both  attended  the  Bap- 
tist college,  located  in  Des  Aloines,  Iowa,  from  which 
institution  he  was  honorably  graduated  in  1875.  Hav- 
ing been  thus  fully  prepared  Mr.  Maynard  pursued  the 
profession  of  teaching  and  civil  engineering  in  various 
parts  of  Iowa  for  twelve  years,  finally  accepting  a po- 
sition in  the  graded  schools  of  Bozeman,  Montana, 
where  he  wielded  pedagogical  influence  during  1878- 
1879.  Plaving  given  many  good  years  of  his  life  to 
the  dissemination  of  book  lore  and  to  the  western  de- 
velopments of  the  state,  ]\Ir.  Maynard  yielded  to  the 
lure  of  the  fruitful  soil  and  of  the  practical  science  of 
civil  engineering,  some  of  which  work  now  stands  finan- 
cially at  the  head  of  western  developments  in  the  state 
where  he  now  lives,  chief  of  which  w'as  that  he  was  one 
of  the  principal  promoters  in  the  building  of  the  great 
Farmers  Canal  in  Gallatin  county,  Montana,  which 
brings  an  annual  revenue  of  more  than  a half  million 
dollars  to  the  farmers  of  Gallatin  county  near  Boze- 
man. In  addition  to  this  he  surveyed  and  mapped  out 
canals  and  reservoirs  for  the  farmers  of  Yellowstone 
county  living  along  the  Big  Horn  river  near  Hardin, 
Montana,  all  of  which  are  now  built  and  are  success- 
fully operated,  greatly  to  the  advantage  of  the  people 
for  irrigation  purposes,  in  south  eastern  Montana. 

After  thirty  useful  and  profitable  years,  spent  chiefly 
on  his  farm  in  Gallatin  county  and  in  civil  engineering 
throughout  the  state,  he  sold  his  property  and  located 
in  Poison.  Here  he  was  officially  engaged  as  civil  en- 
gineer for  the  town  and  country,  and  afterward  was  ap- 
pointed city  engineer,  which  position  he  filled  for  nearly 
two  years,  or  until  a lameness  caused  the  sale  of  his 
engineering  office  and  his  good-will  to  an  employee. 
But  he  had  inspired  such  confidence  that  in  igri  he  was 
induced  to  accept  the  offices  of  iustice  of  the  peace  and 
police  judge  of  the  city,  which  positions  he  still  ac- 
ceptably holds. 

By  no  means  the  least  creditable  of  Judge  Maynard’s 
achievements  is  his  family.  His  estimable  wife,  whom 
he  married  in  1874.  was,  as  previously  stated.  Miss 
Anna  M.  Cook  of  Onawa,  Iowa ; seven  children  have 


been  given  to  them.  Of  the  five  sons,  the  eldest,  Har- 
lan Q.,  passed  to  the  spirit  world,  just  as  he  was  en- 
tering upon  the  strong,  bright  years  of  manhood,  being 
eighteen  years  of  age  when  he  died  in  Bozeman.  Two 
children  were  lent  them  only  during  the  blossom  time 
of  babyhood ; Meritt  Arthur  closed  his  eyes  in  the  long 
sleep  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  months,  and  his  brother, 
little  Clement,  lived  but  one  year.  Irving  L.,  the  old- 
est living  son,  born  in  1879,  at  Bozeman,  is  happily 
settled  in  life,  and  lives  with  his  wife  and  three  little 
daughters,  not  far  from  his  parents’  home  in  Poison. 

A younger  son,  Maurice  W.,  who  was  educated  at  Boze- 
man, bids  fair  to  become  an  e.xample  of  that  “noblest 
work  of  God’’ — an  educated  farmer.  For  at  twenty 
years  of  age  he  is  beginning  his  agricultural  experi- 
ments near  Poison.  Both  daughters  occupy  worthy 
stations  in  life;  Edith  L.,  born  in  1887,  was  educated 
in  Bozeman.  Gallatin  County  high  school,  and  at  the 
State  normal  school  at  Dillon,  Montana ; she  is  a suc- 
cessful teacher  at  Poison.  She  is  a graduate  and 
holds  a state  life  diploma.  Laura  C.,  born  in  1888, 
was  formerly  a student  of  Gallatin  County  high  school 
and  after  graduating  went  to  Wooster  College,  Ohio, 
and  also  completed  the  State  Normal  school  at  Dillon ; 
she  is  an  adept  in  the  school-room.  She  is  the  wife  of 
Professor  J.  H.  Holst  of  Victor,  in  this  state,  their  little 
daughter.  Rachel  Anna,  being  the  fourth  in  Judge 
iMaynard's  bouquet  of  grandchildren. 

In  the  Republican  party  Mr.  Maynard  is  counted  a 
stanch  politician,  though  an  unassuming  one.  In  re- 
ligious life  he  is  a loyal  supporter  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  though  his  religious  sympathies  are  not  nar- 
rowed down  to  one  sect.  Among  his  other  enviable 
qualities,  Jud.ge  Maynard’s  friends  count  him  a capital 
conversationalist.  Flis  life,  notwithstanding  the  fact 
that  it  has  been  so  largely  an  intellectual  one,  has  not 
been  without  its  thrilling  adventures,  including  more 
than  one  encounter  with  the  Indians.  But  he  is,  above 
all  other  things,  a man  of  practical  purpose,  of  broad 
understanding  and  of  superior  judgment.  These  charac- 
teristics have  been  displayed  in  his  administration  of 
many  important  affairs,  especially  those  related  to  his 
office  as  a director  of  the  Flathead  County  State  Bank, 
of  which  he  was  formerlv  vice  president.  In  this  and 
other  capacities,  he  is  well-known  throughout  this  sec- 
tion of  the  state,  and  is  recognized  as  a prominent  fac- 
tor in  its  welfare  and  its  progress. 

Robert  Aull  Luke  was  born  in  Lexington,  Lafay- 
ette county,  Missouri,  and  after  attending  the  public 
schools  and  Washington  Lhiiversitv  in  the  city  of  St. 
Louis,  where  his  father  was  in  business.  St.  Louis 
was  his  home  until  1880.  when  he  came  to  Montana, 
makin.g  the  trip  from  Bismarck,  North  Dakota,  to 
Fort  Benton  by  steamboat,  that  being  a convenient 
method  of  travel  to  this  part  of  the  northwest.  Mr. 
Luke  settled  at  that  place  intending  to  engage  in 
stock  raising,  but  the  First  National  Bank  of  Fort 
Benton  being  organized  at  that  time  he  was  appointed 
cashier,  which  position  he  retained  until  1885.  when 
he  removed  to  Helena.  Here  he  took  up  a different 
line  of  business,  that  of  general  insurance,  in  which 
he  has  been  successful,  and  in  1893.  during  the  closing 
of  many  of  the  banks  throughout  the  country,  he  was 
appointed  receiver  for  the  First  National  Bank  of  Phil- 
ipsburg,  IMontana,  which  was  a very  prosperous  mining 
town  in  those  times.  In  less  than  a year  he  had  arranged 
the  bank’s  affairs  in  such  shape  that  it  resumed  its 
operations,  and  during  that  period,  as  he  retained  and 
operated  his  general  insurance  business  at  Helena,  he 
returned  there  and  continued  it.  In  1905  Mr.  Luke 
disposed  of  his  general  insurance  business  at  Helena 
and  has  since  been  engaged  as  a general  adjuster  for 
all  of  the  principal  fire  insurance  companies  operating 
in  this  and  adjoining  states  throughout  which  he  is  well 
and  favorably  known. 


1112 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


John  VV.  Luke,  the  father,  was  a native  of  Belfast, 
Ireland,  who  came  to  America  as  a young  man  in  the 
middle  of  the  last  century.  Making  St.  Louis  his 
home,  and  serving  as  pilot,  captain  and  subsequently 
owner  of  three  or  four  steamboats  operating  upon  the 
Mississippi  and  Missouri  rivers  from  St.  Louis  about 
the  time  of  the  Civil  war.  Captain  Luke  had  retired 
from  steamboating  and  engaged  in  the  general  mer- 
cantile business  at  St.  Louis.  Through  his  steamboat- 
ing days  he  had  a large  and  extensive  personal  acquaint- 
ance, and  after  many  years'  residence  in  St.  Louis,  dur- 
ing which  he  had  been  prominent  as  a Mason,  having 
been  grand  secretary  for  the  Masonic  order  for  the 
state  of  Missouri  for  several  years  and  occupying  other 
e.xalted  offices,  in  1883,  he  retired  from  active  business 
at  St.  Louis  and  came  to  Fort  Benton,  making  his 
home  with  his  son  there  till  October,  1888.  In  that 
year  he  died  at  the  home  of  his  daughter  at  Fort 
Benton  and  his  body  was  taken  to  St.  Louis  and  in- 
terred in  Bellfountaine  cemetery.  His  wife  was  Cather- 
ine Wells  Wilson  of  Steubenville,  Ohio.  Of  the  nine 
children,  only  three  are  still  living:  Robert  Aull  Luke, 
at  Helena;  John  Wallace  Luke,  living  at  Birmingham, 
Alabama;  and  Harry  Lee  Luke,  residing  at  Seattle, 
Washington. 

Mr.  Luke  is  a member  of  the  Montana  Club,  and 
almost  qualified  to  be  an  old  timer  and  in  political 
issues  he  supports  the  Democratic  party,  but  is  not 
one  who  seeks  political  preferment  for  himself,  while 
in  the  world  of  business  his  methods  have  won  him 
the  respect  of  all  who  deal  with  him. 

Edward  Marron.  For  a number  of  years  one  of  the 
leading  cattlemen  and  horse  raisers  of  Montana,  the 
late  Edward  Marron  will  be  well  remembered  by  the 
older  residents  of  Glendive,  in  which  city  he  spent  many 
years  of  a long  honorable  career,  and  where  his  death 
occurred  June  8,  1898.  He  is  recalled  as  a man  of 
great  pulilic  spirit,  of  willing  charity,  of  tender  sym- 
pathy for  those  in  trouble,  and  had  a cheerful,  optimis- 
tic view  of  life  that  made  him  a welcome  comrade  in 
any  organization  and  a valued  member  of  social  bodies. 
Edward  Marron  was  born  at  Utica,  New  York,  Sep- 
. tember  12,  1857,  and  was  four  years  of  age  when  his 
parents  removed  to  Assumption,  Illinois.  There  he  at- 
tended the  public  schools  until  he  was  sixteen  years  of 
age,  when,  in  1876,  a desire  to  see  something  of  the 
world  led  to  his  coming  to  the  west  as  far  as  Dakota, 
and  subsequently  to  INIontana.  For  a young  man  of 
energy  and  spirit  this  section  presented  many  oppor- 
tunities, and  Mr.  Marron  had  the  enterprise  to  grasp 
them.  Prior  to  1882  he  spent  the  greater  part  of  Ins 
time  in  hunting  buffalo,  in  1883  becoming  connected 
with  the  large  stock  firm  with  which  he  remained  until 
his  demise.  He  was  manager  for  Hubbard  & Sampson, 
on  their  great  ranch  on  Red  Water,  located  sixty-five 
miles  northwest  of  Glendive,  and  in  this  connection,  as 
in  others,  he  became  one  of  the  best  known  men  in 
eastern  Montana.  Political  honors  were  often  ten- 
dered him  by  the  Republican  party,  but  he  steadfastly 
refused  to  enter  into  politics.  He  was  an  active  and 
successful  business  man  and  a noble  and  upright  citi- 
zen. He  was  of  robust  appearance,  and  with  the  excep- 
tion of  what  was  supposed  to  an  occasional  attack  of 
heart  affection,  was  in  excellent  health.  For  this  reason 
his  sudden  death  prostrated  his  family  and  brought 
grief  to  a wide  circle  of  friends  and  admirers.  Mr. 
Marron  was  a popular  member  of  the  exclusive  Glen- 
dive Club. 

On  December  27,  1884.  Mr.  Marron  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Grace  V.  Rendon,  daughter  of 
Nathaniel  and  Mary  C.  (McCoy)  Bendon.  the  former 
horn  in  Stark  county,  Ohio,  and  the  latter  in  Missouri. 
From  Ohio  Mr.  Bendon  moved  to  Minnesota,  and  from 
there  to  Dakota,  still  later  coming  to  Montana  and 
settling  in  Glendive.  On  December  25.  T903,  Mrs.  Mar- 


ron was  married  to  James  W.  Gilmore,  who  was  born 
at  Fairlee,  Vermont,  February  3,  1836.  In  1880  Mr. 
Gdmore,  with  his  first  wife  and  their  three  children, 
came  up  the  Missouri  river  to  Fort  Benton,  and  from 
there  traveled  overland  to  Helena,  Montana.  At  a 
later  date_  Mr.  Gilmore  located  in  Dawson  county,  and 
was  the  first  man  to  enter  into  the  sheep  business  here 
and  made  it  a decided  success.  He  retired  from  active 
business,  one  of  Glendive’s  most  respected  citizens,  in 
1906,  and  died  at  his  home  in  Glendive,  February  23, 
1912,  his  burial  taking  place  at  Reading,  Massachusetts. 
Mrs.  Gilmore,  who  still  survives  and  lives  in  the  com- 
fortable home  in  Glendive,  is  one  of  the  city’s  oldest 
and  most  highly  esteemed  residents.  She  has  many 
friends  throughout  this  section,  and  holds  a prominent 
position  in  church  and  social  circles. 

William  L.  Swendeman.  The  career  of  Mr.  Swen- 
deman  has  conformed  to  the  changing  tastes  in  loco- 
motion of  the  ever  advancing  American  people.  From 
bicycles  the  transition  to  automobiles  was  easy,  and  per- 
haps in  the  not  very  distant  future  he  may  handle  the 
latest  models  of  flying  machines  and  be  prepared  to 
supply  skilled  aviators  to  drive  them.  Certainly  his 
success  in  the  lines  of  vehicles  he  has  thus  far  handled 
would  justify  confidence  in  his  branching  out  into  the 
newest  line  of  space  destroyers. 

Born  in  Minneapolis  on  August  21,  1872,  Mr.  Swende- 
inan  came  to  Helena  with  his  parents  in  time  to  obtain 
the  most  of  his  public  education  in  this  city.  After 
working  at  different  occupations,  he  decided  to  learn  a 
trade,  and  so  went  into  the  establishment  of  Lang  & 
Company,  tinsmiths  and  sheetmetal  workers.  He 
mastered  this  trade,  and  worked  for  the  firm  from  1888 
until  1893. 

When  Mr  Swendeman  left  Lang  & Company,  he 
secured  a position  with  a bicycle  manufacturing  concern, 
and  for  a number  of  years  he  followed  this  occupation 
in  various  parts  of  the  country.  During  this  period  he 
became  known  as  a bicycle  rider  of  skill  and  speed, 
and  from  1888  to  1893  held  the  championship  of  Mon- 
tana. As  visible  signs  and  tokens  of  his  prowess  in  this 
art,  Mr.  Swendeman  has  a number  of  medals  won  in 
different  contests.  In  1895  he  returned  to  Helena  and 
engaged  in  the  bicycle  business  there.  At  that  period 
all  the  world  was  awheel,  and  not  to  ride  was  to  be 
practically  excluded  not  merely  from  society,  but  even 
from  conversation.  Mr.  Swendeman  reaped  the  benefits 
of  this  penchant  for  wheeling,  as  he  had  a first-class 
establishment.  He  finally  sold  out  to  engage  in  the 
automobile  business,  when  the  popularity  of  the  bicycle 
began  to  wane.  He  conducts  this  business  with  the 
same  address  and  initiative  which  marked  his  earlier 
venture,  and  he  has  the  exclusive  agency  for  several 
popular  models.  These  include  the  Franklin  and  the 
Peerless.  The  company  is  now  incorporated,  and  Mr. 
Swendeman  is  its  president. 

Mr.  Swendeman  might  have  inherited  his  taste  for 
machinery  and  mechanics,  as  his  father  was  experienced 
in  those  lines.  Sanfield  Swendeman  was  born  in  Ger- 
many in  1842.  He  came  to  America  with  his  parents 
at  the  age  of  seven  and  was  educated  in  Minneapolis. 
He  became  a contractor  and  millwright,  and  in  1880, 
when  he  came  to  Helena,  held  the  position  of  foreman  in 
W.  Reynolds’  machine  works.  Pie  died  in  Plelena  in 
1883,  and  is  buried  here.  Pie  was  married  at  Akron, 
Ohio,  to  Miss  Lizzie  Baum,  who  was  born  in  Cleveland 
in  1851.  She  is  now  a resident  of  Helena. 

The  Elks’  lodge  is  the  only  society  to  which  Mr. 
Swendeman  belongs.  His  political  sympathies  are  with 
the  Democratic  party.  He  and  Mrs.  Swendeman  are 
members  of  the  Congregational  church,  and  liberal  sup- 
porters of  all  its  departments  of  work.  Mrs.  Swende- 
man’s  maiden  name  was  Mable  Buckner,  and  she  relin- 
quished it  in  favor  of  Swendeman  on  November  16, 
1898,  at  Battle  Creek,  Michigan.  The  only  child,  Wil- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1113 


liam  L.,  Jr.,  died  before  he  reached  his  second  birthday. 
His  little  life  began  on  September  5,  1908,  and  was 
ended  on  July  20,  1910.  This  bereavement  is  the  deep- 
est sorrow  in  the  happy  and  prosperous  life  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Swendeman.  The  success  which  he  enjoys  is  the 
fruit  of  Mr.  Svvendeman’s  own  work  and  ability.  He 
knows  the  pleasures  of  friendship,  and  is  sought  after 
by  those  who  like  congenial  company,  and  few  of  the 
good  things  of  life  have  been  denied  him,  as  the 
deserved  rewards  of  his  industry  and  foresight. 

Thomas  Kean.  Forty-tw'o  years  have  passed  since  the 
first  pioneer  came  to  Glendive,  Montana,  and  to  find  him 
one  need  not  look  for  hoary  age  or  weakened  faculties ; 
on  the  other  hand,  Thomas  Kean,  justice  of  the  peace 
and  president  of  the  Glendive  State  Bank,  is  an  excel- 
lent example  of  the  alert  and  wide  awake  business 
man  that  controls  many  of  the  leading  enterprises  of  this 
section  after  fostering  and  founding  them  and  impresses 
a visitor  as  one  very  capable  of  continuing  for  many 
years  to  come.  Thomas  Kean  was  born  at  Tonawanda, 
Erie  county.  New  York,  August  8,  1848,  and  is  a son  of 
James  and  Ellen  M.  (McGuire)  Kean. 

James  Kean  was  born  in  Scotland  in  1816  and  died  at 
Buffalo,  New  York,  in  1872,  when  aged  fifty-six  years. 
When  he  came  to  the  United  States  in  early  manhood 
he  stopped  at  Tonawanda,  New  York,  and  remained 
there  for  some  years  engaged  in  teaching  school.  He 
then  went  into  the  stave  shipping  business  and 
later  removed  in  the  same  business  to  Buffalo,  New 
York.  He  w'as  married  in  Erie  county  to  Ellen  M.  Mc- 
Guire, who  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1825,  came  to  Amer- 
ica with  her  people  in  1829  and  died  January  14,  1912, 
in  her  eighty-seventh  year.  They  were  the  parents  of 
fourteen  children,  seven  of  whom  survive,  namely; 
Thomas;  Michael  and  James,  who  both  live  at  Tona- 
wanda, New'  York;  John,  who  is  a resident  of  Los 
Angeles,  California ; Carrie,  who  is  the  wife  of  William 
Hanna,  of  Portland,  Oregon;  Anna,  who  is  the  wife 
of  David  Johnson,  of  Chicago,  Illinois;  and  Ella,  w'ho 
is  the  wife  of  M.  Bowers,  of  La  Salle,  New'  York. 

Thomas  Kean  attended  school  at  Buffalo  and  no  doubt 
his  father  intended  him  to  become  a shipper  of  barrels 
and  all  kinds  of  staves,  like  himself,  but  the  youth  took 
his  future  in  his  own  hands  and  ran  aw'ay  from  home 
and  in  1865  enlisted  as  a bugler  in  Company  B,  Sixth 
United  States  Cavalry,  at  Carlisle,  Pennsylvania.  The 
life  of  discipline,  combined  with  adventure,  suited  him 
so  well  that  after  three  years  of  service  he  re-enlisted  in 
the  same  capacity,  in  Company  C,  Seventeenth  United 
States  Infantry,  and  was  honorably  discharged  in  1876  at 
Fort  Wadsworth,  Dakota,  after  eight  full  years  of  service. 
Under  the  command  of  General  Crittenden,  he  partici- 
pated in  all  the  hazardous  work  of  his  command,  soldier- 
ing along  the  border  and  up  through  Dakota  and  Mon- 
tana in  those  days,  taxing  both  the  courage  and  strength 
of  officers  and  men.  When  his  regiment  reached  the 
Cheyenne  Indian  agency  in  Dakota,  on  the  Missouri 
river,  the  old  Indian  chief.  Bull  Eagle,  endeavored  to 
frighten  the  soldiers  and  gave  them  his  ultimatum,  that 
they  should  get  back  across  the  river  by_  sundown  or 
take  the  consequences.  It  may  have  surprised  hirn  jhat 
his  threat  caused  no  apprehension  among  the  military 
men  as,  doubtless  on  many  occasions,  his  commands  had 
turned  back  bands  of  prospectors  and  helpless  pioneer 
settlers  and  probably  their  acquiescence  did  not  always 
save  either  their  lives  or  property. 

It  was  in  1872  that  Mr.  Kean  came  with  his  regiment 
up  the  Yellowstone  Valley  on  the  survey  of  the 
Northern  Pacific  Railroad  line  to  Pow'der  river  and 
passed  through  and  early  filed  his  claim  on  the  present 
site  of  Glendive.  Thus,  although  not  the  oldest  _ m 
point  of  years  among  the  pioneers  of  this  flourishing 
place,  Mr.  Kean  has  owned  property  the  longest  time 
and  is  entitled  to  the  distinction  named.  This  property 
he  still  controls,  it  being  now'  sub-divided  and  known  as 


the  Kean  Addition  to  Glendive.  Mr.  Kean  did  not  come 
to  Glendive  to  live  until  i\Iay  14.  1880.  During  the  sum- 
mer of  1876  he  was  steward  for  the  officers’  club  at  Fort 
Lincoln ; in  the  winter  of  1876  he  engaged  as  cook  for 
Douglas  & Smith,  at  Standing  Rock,  and  afterward  was 
a cook  on  the  great  Dalrymple  farm  in  Dakota.  In  1879 
he  made  the  overland  trip  to  Miles  City,  Montana,  where 
he  worked  until  the  following  spring  in  a saw  mill. 
While  the  greater  part  of  his  life  up  to  this  time  had 
been  passed  in  Dakota  and  Montana  and  Indian  fighting 
predominated  while  he  was  a soldier,  for  a time,  just 
after  the  Civil  war,  he  was  with  the  Sixth  Calvary  in 
Texas,  taking  prisoners  of  disturbers  of  the  public  peace. 

After  locating  at  Glendive,  Mr.  Kean  was  engaged  for 
a tune  as  foreman  of  the  painting  gang  on  the  Yellow- 
stone division  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad,  after- 
ward went  into  the  real  estate  business  and  served  two 
years  as  public  administrator  and  one  year  subsequently 
as  under-sheriff  -of  Dawson  county,  Montana.  In  1910 
Air.  Kean  was  elected  to  the  office  of  justice  of  the 
peace  and  gives  excellent  satisfaction.  In  1910  he  was 
elected  president  of  the  Scandinavian  German  State 
Bank,  which  was  re-organized  as  the  Glendive  State 
Bank,  Air.  Kean  continuing  at  the  head  of  the  institu- 
tion. 

On  October  31,  1882,  Air.  Kean  was  married  to  Aliss 
Isola  Jordan,  who  was  born  in  Alassachusetts,  and  they 
have  had  seven  children,  namely ; Alattie,  who  died  in 
infancy;  Charles  E.,  who  is  a resident  of  Alontana,  mar- 
ried Flora  B.  Brown ; Emma,  who  is  the  wife  of  Anton 
Patnode;  John  A.  Logan,  who  was  accidentally  drowned 
when  aged  nine  years;  and  Laura,  Catherine  and  James 
T.  Politics  always  claim  the  attention,  more  or  less,  of 
leading  men,  and  Air.  Kean’s  experience  and  convictions 
have  made  him  a Republican.  He  is  a member  of  Gate 
City  Lodge,  No.  37,  Odd  Fellows,  and  takes  pardonable 
pride  in  the  membership  of  this  fraternal  body  in  Mon- 
tana. 

Hon.  William  Oliver  Speer  has  been  identified  with 
the  best  interests  of  Butte  and  the  state  of  Alontana 
since  1880,  the  year  in  which  he  first  turned  his  face 
in  a westerly  direction.  His  has  been  a career  thus 
far  of  large  public  usefulness,  and  the  services  which 
he  has  rendered  to  his  city,  county,  and  district  would 
be  impossible  to  estimate  adequately.  As  city  attorney 
of  Butte  in  his  early  residence  in  the  city,  his  work 
was  of  a high  order,  resulting  in  lastin.g  benefit  to  the 
community;  as  representative  of  his  district  in  the  terri- 
torial house  of  representatives,  he  again  displayed  the 
quality  and  calibre  which  have  marked  his  entire  career, 
and  as  judge  of  the  second  judicial  district,  he  has 
given  continuous  evidence  of  the  many-sided  character 
and  the  unfaltering  integrity  which  have  made  him  such 
a power  for  good  in  his  community. 

William  Oliver  Speer  was  born  August  26,  1S46,  in 
Butler  county.  Pennsrlvania.  His  parents  w'ere  Robert 
and  Charlotte  (Covert)  Speer.  The  father  was  born 
in  Carlisle,  Pennsylvania,  and  the  mother  was  of  Dutch 
extraction,  her  ancestors  having  settled  in  the  colonies 
after  migrating  from  the  Holland  home  and  taking 
active  parts  in  the  struggle  for  American  independence. 
Robert  Speer  was  the  son  of  William  Speer,  who  immi- 
grated from  the  North  of  Ireland  to  the  United  States 
soon  after  the  American  Revolution  and  settled  in 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  became  a prosperous  farmer, 
and,  w'here  after  a w'ell  spent  life  in  the  service  of 
church  and  state,  he  was  finally  called  to  rest.  He 
was  one  of  the  lay  members  of  the  Church  of  the 
Covenanters  and  took  an  active  part  in  forming  and 
establishing  the  new  division  of  that  denomination. 
His  son,  Robert,  the  father  of  the  subject,  married  in 
early  life  and  continued  to  reside  in  Pennsylvania  until 
in  1855,  w'hen  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Daven- 
port, low'a,  there  follow'ing  the  trade  of  carpenter  and 


1114 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


builder  until  his  death,  which  occurred  on  January 
28,  1896. 

Of  the  seven  children  born  to  Robert  and  Charlotte 
Speer,  Judge  Speer  of  this  review  is  the  eldest.  He 
received  his  education  principally  in  Davenport,  and 
in  his  school  days  was  known  for  his  studious  habits 
and  his  keen  desire  for  knowledge.  Upon  leaving 
school  he  read  law  in  the  office  of  Brown  & Campbell, 
well  known  in  their  own  and  adjacent  states  as  coun- 
sellors of  much  learning  and  power.  In  1874  the  young 
man  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  continued  for  some 
time  vigorously  pursuing  his  legal  studies  in  the  office 
of  J.  W.  Thompson,  a leading  lawyer  and  politician 
of  the  state  of  Iowa.  For  two  years  he  practiced  alone, 
then  formed  a partnership  with  N.  S.  Mitchell,  which 
lasted  until  the  judge  decided  to  come  to  the  west,  when 
in  1880  he  located  in  Butte.  Here  he  began  a profes- 
sional and  political  career  which  has  become  a source 
of  unmixed  honor  and  profit  to  himself,  and  of  the 
greatest  service  to  the  state. 

As  one  of  the  most  active  and  enthusiastic  promoters 
of  the  organization  of  Silver  Bow  county.  Judge  Speer 
called  the  first  meeting  at  which  the  project  was  con- 
sidered, and  he  never  ceased  in  his  forceful  efforts 
until  the  desired  end  was  attained  by  the  creation  of 
that  county. 

As  a stanch  Republican  he  participated  effectively  in 
the  canvass  of  1880  with  Hon.  W.  F.  Sanders,  and  in 
1884  he  was  elected  a member  of  the  territorial  house 
of  representatives,  in  which  body  he  was  chairman  of 
the  judiciary  committee.  In  1887  he  was  elected  city 
attorney  of  Butte  and  was  his  own  successor  in  the 
office  the  following  year.  During  his  incumbency  of 
office  he,  in  effect,  re-created  the  city  government,  estab- 
lishing it  fully  under  a systematic  municipal  form. 
Prior  to  this  time  the  ordinances  had  been  conflicting, 
many  of  them  being  incorrectly  and  carelessly  drawn, 
so  that  there  was  a deplorable  lack  of  necessary  unity 
of  purpose  and  harmony  of  import  to  make  them  effec- 
tive, and  thus  his  services  in  the  office  proved  not  for 
the  time  being  only,  but  for  all  time  in  the  history  of 
the  city.  In  1890  he  was  appointed  supervisor  of  the 
census  ior  the  state  of  iMontana  by  President  Harrison. 
Two  years  later  he  was  made  a non-partisan  candidate 
for  judge  of  the  second  judicial  district,  consisting  of 
Silver  Bow  county.  In  politics  Judge  Speer  is  a vet- 
eran in  the  ranks  of  the  Republican  party  of  Montana, 
whose  principles  he  has  continued  to  support  from  the 
time  of  the  organization  of  the  party  in  Silver  Bow 
county.  On  January  10,  1895,  Judge  Speer  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Mrs.  Lina  H.  Koehler,  a native  of 
St.  Louis,  Missouri.  Since  his  retirement  from  the 
bench  he  has  devoted  himself  especially  to  looking 
after  his  business  interests,  which  are  of  considerable 
extent.  In  1899  he  erected  the  Princeton  block,  one 
of  the  finest  residence  properties  in  the  city,  as  well 
as  being  the  first  modern  flat  or  apartment  building 
erected  in  the  state. 

The  public  interests  of  his  home  locality  have  ever 
had  the  close,  intelligent,  and  serviceable  attention  of 
Judge  Speer,  and  no  movement  that  he  believed  might 
be  of  advantage  to  the  community  has  ever  failed  to 
enlist  his  earnest  and  vigorous  support.  It  was  mainly 
through  his  instrumentality  that  the  Northern  Pacific 
erected  its  commodious  station  at  Butte,  only  after 
four  years  of  persistent  effort  on  his  part,  in  conse- 
quence of  which  he  is  often  referred  to  as  the  father 
of  that  depot. 

The  sun  of  Judge  Speer’s  life  is  yet  at  its  meridian, 
and  he  has  seen  the  vast  development  of  a portion  of 
the  mineral  and  agricultural  resources  of  the  state, 
whose  riches  have  not  yet  been  fully  inventoried,  while 
he  can  see  in  anticipation  something  of  the  added 
greatness  which  will  inevitably  be  given  to  the  state 
of  his  adoption  in  the  years  to  come.  Certain  it  is  that 
he  must  feel  something  of  the  comfort  that  must  ever 


spring  from  the  knowledge  that  he  has  borne  his  share 
in  the  development  of  the  state  to  its  present  condi- 
tion, and  in  making  possible  its  further  unlimited 
growth  in  which  he  hopes  to  have  a part. 

David  R.  AIead  has  been  for  many  years  an  impor- 
tant figure  in  the  financial  and  commercial  world  of 
Montana.  He  was  born  in  Illinois,  in  1848,  a son  of 
Alexander  J.  Mead,  who  was  a native  of  Pennsylvania 
and  had  settled  in  Illinois  in  pioneer  days. 

David  R.  Mead  grew  up  in  Illinois  and  received  his 
education  in  the  .public  and  high  schools  of  Geneseo, 
Illinois.  At  the  age  of  twenty  he  came  out  to  Minne- 
sota and  there  at  Winona  went  into  the  railroad  busi- 
ness, as  an  employe  of  the  North  Western  Railroad 
Company.  Fle  spent  eight  years  there,  but  not  being 
wholly  satisfied  he  drifted  west,  and  in  1880  came  to 
Montana.  He  located  in  Glendive,  where  he  was  one 
of  the  earliest  settlers  and  a pioneer  in  many  of  the 
town’s  important  commercial  interests.  He  became  a 
merchant,  rancher,  banker  and  dealer  in  horses,  cattle 
and  sheep.  In  1883  he  helped  to  organize  the  Mer- 
chants National  Bank  of  Glendive,  of  which  he  is  now 
vice-president.  As  a merchant  he  has  handled  general 
merchandise,  lumber  and  machinery  and  has  always 
been  active  in  many  other  industries  of  this  section. 

Mr.  Mead  was  married  in  1883  to  Miss  Alice  H. 
Bingham,  of  Winona,  IMinnesota. 

Fidel  Huber.  America  has  been  likened  to  a great 
melting-pot  into  which  all  the  nations  of  the  earth  are 
cast  in  a constant  tide  of  immigration,  the  result  being 
the  American  citizen,  virile,  progressive,  with  his  fine 
ideas  of  freedom  and  independence.  It  is  generally 
acknowledged  that  one  of  the  most  desirable  elements 
which  enter  into  the  great  crucible  is  the  German,  the 
nation  having  everything  to  gain  and  nothing  to  lose 
from  the  assimilation  of  this  brainy,  honest  and  gen- 
erally admirable  stock.  Among  the  Fatherland’s  con- 
tribution to  Dillon  is  Fidel  Huber,  who  has  resided 
here  since  1880,  He  is  senior  member  of  the  firm  of 
Huber  Brothers,  jewelers,  the  pioneer  jewelry  house 
of  Beaverhead  county. 

Fidel  Huber  was  born  in  Germany,  April  24,  1864. 
At  the  age  of  about  eight  years  he  came  with  his  uncle 
to  America  and  went  directly  to  Corinne,  Utah,  reach- 
ing there  in  1872.  There  he  remained  for  about  five 
years,  and  in  this  time  young  Fidel  began  to  learn  the 
jewelry  business  from  his  uncle,  John  Kiepfer,  who 
was  established  in  business  there.  At  this  period  the 
Utah  Northern  was  being  built  into  Montana  and  Mr. 
Huber  followed  the  road  with  the  stock  of  Mrs.  L. 
Kupfer  until  they  reached  Dillon.  Their  arrival  in  this 
place  was  in  November,  1880,  and  the  business  was  at 
that  time  owned  by  Mrs.  L.  Kupfer,  and  managed  by 
Fidel  Huber.  In  1890  Mr.  Huber's  brother,  Fred,  joined 
him  and  the  firm  of  Huber  Brothers  was  formed,  the 
business  of  Mrs.  Kupfer  being  taken  over.  The  busi- 
ness has  been  most  successful  ever  since  that  time. 
When  the  Huber  Brothers  started  here  they  had  a very 
small  concern,  but  it  has  grown  and  improved  and 
today  is  second  to  none  in  the  state.  The  following 
article  from  the  Dillon  Tribune  gives  a page  of  their 
history  and  is  herewith  insested  in  this  article. 

‘‘Tlie  pioneer  in  any  line  of  business  is  interesting 
because  of  the  stages  of  development  through  which 
the  undertaking  has  passed.  It  is  made  up  of  a series 
of  changes  and  vicissitudes  that  try  the  courage  and 
manhood  of  man,  and  which  none  but  the  fit  survive. 
The  pioneer  jewelry  house  of  Dillon — Huber  Brothers 
— has  grown  from  a small  concern  to  one  of  Montana’s 
best  and  stands  today  a model  of  business  integrity 
and  fair  dealing.  Its  rank  is  shown  by  the  fact  that 
when  the  state  of  Montana  presented  the  battleship 
“Montana”  with  a silver  service,  all  the  jewelry  firms 
in  the  state  were  invited  to  bid,  but  the  contract  was 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1115 


awarded  to  Huber  Brothers  of  Dillon,  first  because  of 
the  quality  of  their  goods  and  second  because  of  their 
reasonable  prices.  This  has  been  their  position  in 
Dillon  for  thirty  years — leaders  in  quality,  service  and 
unvarying  courtesy  of  treatment.  Huber  Brothers 
from  the  first  arranged  to  carry  as  large  and  valuable 
a stock  as  the  market  would  support.  They  have  added 
to  their  business  as  the  demand  warranted,  until  now 
they  carry  all  the  lines  demanded  and  handle  them  in 
large  quantities  and  of  the  finest  qualities.  A finely 
arranged  store  building  is  so  perfectly  lighted  that 
every  detail  in  a remarkably  full  stock  of  jewelry, 
diamonds,  hand-painted  china,  clocks  and  watches  and 
a complete  line  of  umbrellas,  guns,  ammunition  and 
appurtenances  can  be  displayed  to  the  advantage  of  the 
goods  and  the  satisfaction  of  the  purchaser. 

“An  especially  strong  appeal  is  made  to  the  artistic 
and  the  collection  of  rare  filligree  work,  delicate  Dres- 
den and  Havilands  and  a thousand  and  one  articles  of 
splendid  workmanship  and  fine  texture  mark  the  stock 
as  one  to  be  appreciated  by  a connoisseur.  To  one 
whose  taste  in  these  lines  has  been  developed  there  is 
food  for  many  an  hour’s  examination.  As  a regular 
adjunct  to  the  jewelry  business  a fully  equipped  op- 
tical department  is  maintained.  Mr.  Fred  Huber  is  a 
registered  optician  of  long  experience  and  attends 
promptly  to  this  important  feature  of  his  work.’’ 

Fidel  Huber  received  his  early  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Corinne,  Utah.  His  father,  Vinzenz 
Huber,  was  born  in  Germany  and  lived  there  all  his 
life.  He  was  a railroad  contractor  and  lost  his  life  in 
an  accident  at  St.  Gotthard  Tunnel,  the  large  tunnel  be- 
tween Italy  and  Switzerland.  This  sad  event  occurred 
in  1890,  when  his  years  numbered  fifty-six.  The 
mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Marie  Kupfer,  was 
a native  of  Germany,  where  she  resided  all  her  life. 

Mr.  Huber  takes  a keen  and  helpful  interest  in  the 
many-sided  life  of  Dillon.  He  is  a prominent  Mason, 
belonging  to  all  the  bodies  of  the  august  order  from 
the  blue  lodge  and  to  the  Shrine,  and  he  has  filled 
all  the  chairs  in  all  except  the  Shrine.  Politically  he 
is  independent,  supporting  the  man  and  the  measure 
he  believes  to  best  represent  the  interests  of  the  peo- 
ple, irrespective  of  party.  Various  public  positions  held 
by  him  have  been  alderman,  member  of  school  board, 
member  of  the  Normal  college  board  and  city  treasurer. 
He  has  proved  fully  equal  to  the  responsibilities  of  all 
these.  He  is  a self-made  man,  self-reliant,  and  unswerv- 
ing in  the  face  of  duty.  He  believes  Montana  to  be 
the  coming  state  of  the  west  and  his  ideas  on  the 
future  of  Beaverhead  county  are  roseate  indeed.  He 
has  seen  its  growth  in  the  past  and  knows  that  the 
future  contains  numerous  .good  things  where  the  past 
contained  one. 

Mr.  Huber  has  three  sisters  and  one  brother,  all  of 
whom  reside  in  Dillon,  as  follows:  Fred  Huber,  junior 

member  of  the  firm  of  Huber  Brothers:  Lena  Fassler, 
Bertha  and  Anna'  Huber,  all  natives  of  Germany.  The 
four  maintain  a beautiful  and  elegantly  appointed  home 
in  Dillon,  all  living  together.  It  is  a popular  gather- 
ing place  and  the  scene  of  gracious  hospitality.  The 
subject  is  senior  warden  in  the  Episcopal  church  and 
takes  great  interest  in  church  affairs.  He  has  the 
reputation  of  being  one  of  the  most  able  and  substan- 
tial business  men  in  this  part  of  the  state. 

Hon.  Benj.\min  Fr.\nklin  White  was  born  in 
Fairhaven,  Massachusetts,  December  3,  1838,  and  resided 
there  until  he  was  nineteen  years  of  age.  He  then  left 
home  and  went  as  a seaman  in  a merchant  vessel  to 
Australia  and  China.  In  1858  he  made  a trip  around  the 
Horn  to  San  _ Francisco  and  located  in  California. 

T.  here  he  rernained  until  1866.  While  in  California  he 
followed  mining  and  ranching,  and  during  one  winter 
he  was  on  a steamer  plying  between  Portland  and  San 
rrancisco.  In  1866  he  left  California  and  went  to 


Oneida  county,  Idaho,  where  he  engaged  in  the  salt 
business  and  remained  until  1879.  During  this  period 
he  was  elected  county  clerk  and  recorder.  When  the 
Utah  Northern  Railroad  came  into  Montana  he  became 
connected  with  it  as  freight  forwarder,  reshipping  to 
all  points  in  Montana.  He  maintained  the  largest  wagon 
freight  service  in  the  history  of  the  west,  his  company 
having  two  thousand  wagons  in  use.  They  maintained  a 
bank,  a commissary,  and  everything  necessary  for  com- 
fort and  convenience  in  their  business. 

Governor  White  reached  Dillon  in  the  fall  of  1880 
and  has  resided  here  ever  since.  He  opened  the  first 
bank  in  Dillon  and  in  1884  he  organized  it  into  the 
First  National.  His  one  desire  and  ambition  was  to 
build  up  this  bank  and  he  has  succeeded.  The  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Dillon  is  not  only  finely  equipped  and  up 
to  date  in  every  way  but  is  positively  the  strongest  finan- 
cial institution  in  Montana.  He  has  been  president 
and  active  head  of  it  for  thirty  years.  During  his  resi- 
dence in  Montana  Governor  White  has  had  various 
other  interests,  but  he  devotes  most  of  his  time  to  the 
bank. 

He  earned  his  first  money  as  a boy  of  fourteen 
hauling  logs  out  of  the  swamps  for  his  uncle.  He  earned 
thirteen  dollars,  and  with  this  amount  purchased  a 
watch.  He  received  his  early  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  IMassachusetts,  and  then  he  went  to  Pierce 
Academy  in  Middleborough,  Massachusetts,  where  he 
was  graduated. 

He  is  a Republican  and  has  always  taken  an  active 
interest  in  politics.  He  was  appointed  governor  by 
President  Harrison  in  1889  and  served  until  the  organ- 
ization of  the  state,  having  been  the  last  territorial 
governor,  and  for  a short  time  he  served  as  state  gov- 
ernor, until  the  new  officers  were  installed.  Fie  has 
been  mayor  of  Dillon  more  than  two  thirds  of  the  time 
since  the  town  was  incorporated.  He  was  a member  of 
the  territorial  legislature  in  1882,  was  speaker  of  the 
house  of  representatives,  IQ02-1904,  inclusive,  and  mem- 
ber of  the  state  senate,  1904-1908,  inclusive.  He  was 
commissioner  for  ^Montana  to  the  World's  Fair  at  Chi- 
cago in  1893  and  was  commissioner  to  the  Louisiana 
Purchase  Exposition  at  St.  Louis  1904-1905. 

Governor  White  is  a member  of  the  Dillon  Social 
Club  and  of  the  Dillon  Commercial  Club,  having  been 
president  of  the  latter  at  one  time.  He  is  fond  of  good 
horses,  of  automobiling,  baseball,  football  and  music. 
He  spends  his  winters  in  California. 

He  was  married  in  February,  1879.  in  Oneida  county, 
Idaho,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Davis,  daughter  of  Emrys  and 
Margaret  Davis,  of  Oneida  county.  There  are  four 
children  of  this  marriage.  Carolyn  was  born  in  August, 
1881,  and  resides  with  her  parents.  Emrys  D.  was  born 
in  August,  1883,  is  married  and  resides  in  Dillon,  and 
is  assistant  in  his  father's  bank.  Ralph  W.  was  born 
in  March,  1892,  and  resides  at  Redlands,  California, 
where  he  has  an  orange  grove.  Margaret  W.  was  born 
in  March,  1892,  and  is  now  attending  school  at  North- 
ampton, Massachusetts. 

Governor  White's  father  was  Benjamin  White,  who 
was  born  at  Plymouth,  Massachusetts,  and  was  a direct 
descendant  of  Peregrine  White,  the  first  white  child  born 
among  the  Pilgrims  who  landed  from  the  Mayflower. 
He  was  a cotton  manufacturer  and  was  connected  with 
one  of  the  first  cotton  mills  erected  in  Rhode  Island. 
He  died  in  Middleborough,  ^Massachusetts,  at  about 
ninety  years  of  age  and  is  buried  there.  The  mother, 
Caroline  Stockbridge  White,  %vas  also  born  in  Massa- 
chusetts. She  died  in  Middleborough  when  about 
eighty-five  years  of  age.  The  father  and  mother  are 
buried  side  by  side.  In  the  elder  White’s  family  there 
were  two  children,  both  boys.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  the  younger.  His  brother,  George  M.  White, 
still  resides  in  Massachusetts. 

Governor  White  and  his  wife  are  inclined  toward  the 


1116 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


Episcopal  church.  Mrs.  White  takes  much  interest  in 
church  matters  and  is  very  active  socially. 

Governor  White  is  a man  who  has  made  a very  extra- 
ordinary record  and  is  universally  esteemed  for  his  honor 
and  honesty.  There  is  not  a man  in  Montana  who  is 
more  honored,  trusted  and  respected  than  Governor 
White.  The  people  of  Dillon  and  of  Beaverhead  county 
may  be  said  without  exaggeration  to  regard  him  almost 
with  worship. 

George  M.  Beasley.  The  next  to  the  oldest  wool 
buyer  in  the  state  of  Montana,  for  more  than  a quarter 
of  a century,  one  of  the  extensive  sheep  raisers  of 
Dawson  county,  and  well  known  in  realty  circles  of  the 
state  as  a man  who  has  handled  more  real  estate  in 
large  tracts  than  any  other  dealer,  George  M.  Beasley 
has  had  an  eventful  and  useful  career,  and  is  entitled  to 
a place  among  the  leading  citizens  of  Glendive.  He 
was  born  at  Champaign,  Champaign  county,  Illinois, 
October  13,  i860,  and  is  a son  of  Washington  West 
and  Nancy  (McN'eil)  Beasley,  the  former  borft  in  Hills- 
boro, Highland  county.  Ohio,  January  14,  1831,  and  the 
latter  a native  of  Ohio.  Washington  West  Beasley 
left  his  native  state  at  the  age  of  twenty  years  and  re- 
moved to  Illinois,  taking  up  his  residence  in  one  of 
the  first  houses  built  in  the  city  of  Champaign,  where 
he  was  a pioneer  farmer  and  stock  raiser.  In  1875  he 
removed  to  East  St.  Louis,  Illinois,  where  he  followed 
the  live  stock  commission  business  until  1880,  and  at 
that  time  came  to  Custer  county,  Montana,  locating 
first  at  Hathaway.  He  was  engaged  in  the  sheep  busi- 
ness in  that  locality  until  1893,  his  son,  George  M., 
being  bis  partner,  and  then  went  to  Big  Timber.  While 
on  a business  trip  to  Maravillas  (or  Maranatio),  Mex- 
ico, his  death  occurred  March  25,  igii.  While  residing 
in  Champaign,  Illinois,  he  was  made  a member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  and  was  interested  in  the  work_  of 
that  organization  throughout  his  life.  In  political 
matters  a Republican,  be  was  active  in  the  ranks  of  his 
party,  and  served  as  a member  of  the  state  legislature 
for  one  term.  He  and  his  wife,  whose  death  occurred 
in  1877,  had  seven  children,  of  whom  one  died  in  in- 
fancy, the  others  being:  John,  residing  in  St.  Paul, 

Minnesota:  Charles,  who  lost  his  life  by  drowning 
when  twenty  years  of  age ; Belle,  the  widow  of  George 
E.  Newman,  residing  at  Big  Timber,  Montana;  George 
M. ; Frank  W.,  who  died  August  5,  1911,  at  Manilla, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  mining;  and  Nat  C.,  a resi- 
dent of  California. 

George  M.  Beasley  secured  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  Champaign  and  East  St.  Louis,  Illinois,  and 
at  the  early  age  of  eighteen  years  began  his  business 
career  as  a shipper  of  cattle  from  the  latter  city  to 
New  York  City,  for  T.  C.  Eastman,  a position  which 
he  held  for  about  three  years.  He  then  engaged  in 
business  on  his  own  account,  buying  and  selling  cattle 
for  about  two  years  at  East  St.  Louis,  but  in  January, 
1882,  moved  to  Custer  county,  Montana,  locating  at 
Hathaway,  where  he  joined  his  father  in  the  sheep  busi- 
ness and  continued  therein  until  1893.  He  then 
embarked  in  the  same  line  on  his  own  account  on  the 
range,  feeding  at  different  points,  principally  at  St. 
Paul,  but  retired  from  tbe  feeding  business  in  1909. 
He  is  still  in  the  sheep  business,  however,  but  not  on 
the  range.  In  1887  he  engaged  in  buying  wool  for  the 
old  firm  of  Nichols  & Dupree,  of  Boston,  Massachusetts, 
and  during  that  same  year  started  to  ship  sheep  to 
Rosenbaum  Brothers  & Company,  Chicago,  and  it_  is 
characteristic  of  the  man’s  life  that  he  is  still  dealing 
with  these  same  two  firms  or  their  successors.  The  only 
man  older  in  the  wool  buying  business  is  Mr.  George 
Sharpe,  but  Mr.  Beasley  is  the  largest  receiver  of  wool 
on  consignment  in  the  state.  At  the  present  time  he 
carries  on  large  transactions  in  real  estate,  and  in  1910 
completed  the  pressed  brick  office  building  in  Glendive 
known  as  the  IBeasley  Block,  a handsome  structure  for 


stores  and  offices.  He  is  a Republican  in  his  political 
views,  one  of  the  strongest  Progressive  men  in  Mon- 
tana, and  a great  admirer  of  Colonel  Roosevelt,  but 
has  never  cared  for  public  office.  Like  his  father,  lie 
has  greatly  interested  himself  in  fraternal  work,  belong- 
ing to  Glendive  Lodge  No.  31,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  although 
he  first  became  a Mason  at  Liberty ville,  Illinois,  in 
1894.  He  is  also  connected  with  St.  Paul  Lodge  ’No. 
59,  B.  P.  O.  E.,  at  St.  Paul,  Minnesota ; and  Modern 
Woodmen  Lodge  No.  1253,  at  Ivanhoe,  Illinois. 

On  December  8,  1887,  Mr.  Beasley  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Emma  Stoher,  who  was  born  in 
Burlington,  Wisconsin.  One  child  has  been  born  to 
this  union;  May,  who  married,  January  14,  1911, 
Edward  A.  Shabel,  of  Glendive,  manager  of  the  Good- 
rich-Call  Lumber  Company  of  Minnesota  for  Montana 
and  Western  North  Dakota  and  a director  in  the 

company. 

John  J.  Foley.  The  story  of  the  life  of  John  J. 
Foley  is  one  of  pluck  and  a determination  to  win  in 
the  face  of  difficulties  that  would  have  proved  disas- 
trous to  nearly  anyone  save  a man  with  the  Irish  blood 
in  bis  veins,  the  blood  which  makes  a man  hang  on 

to  the  skirts  of  success  like  a bull  dog  on  to  the  coat 

tails  of  a man  with  a bone,  till  in  despair  the  man  gives 
the  dog  the  bone.  In  the  same  way  Mr.  Foley  clung 
to  the  belief  that  he  must  some  day  cease  to  be  the 
“under-dog,”  and  he  was  in  time  rewarded  for  his 

faith.  It  must  be  confessed,  however,  that  he  can  not 

lay  his  final  victory  to  Fate,  but  to  his  own  strength 
of  character  and  to  his  personality,  which  made  him 
so  popular  among  the  citizens  of  Butte  that  he  was 
elected  clerk  of  the  district  court.  He  has  proved 

worthy  of  the  trust  of  the  people  and  has  filled  the 
office  to  the  satisfaction  of  judges,  lawyers  and  liti- 
gants. He  is  only  a bit  over  thirty,  and  being  now 
firmly  planted  on  the  road  to  success,  he  will  very 
likely  take  many  steps  further  in  the  same  direction. 

John  J.  Foley  was  born  in  the  state  of  Michigan,  on 
the  1st  of  December,  1879.  His  father,  Patrick  Foley, 
was  born  in  Ireland,  but  was  only  a child  when  he 

was  brought  to  this  country  by  his  father,  Patrick 

Foley.  Patrick  Foley,  senior,  settled  in  Calumet,  Michi- 
gan, and  here  young  Patrick  grew  up.  He  was  put  to 
work  in  the  mines  as  soon  as  he  was  old  enough  to  be 
of  any  use,  this  being  at  the  age  of  nine.  He  con- 
tinued to  work  in  these  mines  after  he  became  a man, 
and  in  1879,  hoping  he  might  better  himself,  he  came 
out  to  Montana  to  look  over  conditions.  Finding  them 
immeasureably  better  than  in  the  east,  he  decided  to 
remain,  and  built  a home,  bringing  his  family  out  the 
following  year.  They  arrived  on  the  i6th  of  October, 
1880,  when  John  J.  Foley  was  not  yet  a year  old,  so 
he  knows  nothing  but  the  west  and  might  be  considered 
a westerner  as  truly  as  some  who  were  born  in  this 
country.  Patrick  Foley  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life  in  Butte,  where  he  died  in  1905,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-one.  He  was  an  active  Democrat,  always  ready 
to  fight  for  his  party.  The  mother  of  John  J.  Foley 
was  Catherine  Sullivan,  also  a native  of  the  Green 
Isle.  Her  parents  immigrated  to  America  when,  she 
was  six  years  old.  They  settled  in  Calumet,  Michigan, 
and  here  is  where  she  met  and  married  )roung  Patrick 
Foley. 

A tragic  event  occurred  in  the  life  of  John  J.  Foley 
when  he  was  scarcely  more  than  a babe.  He  was 
a child  of  four  at  the  time,  and  like  all  children  at- 
tracted by  a crowd,  he  wandered  over  to  where  a 
group  of  curious  people  were  gazing  at  the  first  ore 
car  that  had  ever  been  seen  in  that  vicinity.  With 
a child’s  fearlessness  he  walked  up  close  to  the  strange 
object  and  then  in  some  way  he  was  rolling  under- 
neath the  cars,  and  when  they  finally  picked  him  up 
it  was  found  that  he  had  lost  his  right  arm.  With 
this  great  handicap,  particularly  severe  to  a man  who 


iAS:-. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANxT 


1117 


depends  upon  his  hands  to  earn  livelihood,  John  Foley's 
cheerfulness  has  never  failed.  Perhaps  there  is  a good 
deal  of  truth  in  the  saying  that  God  afflicts  those  who 
are  best  able  to  bear  it.  that  the  strong  ones  of  the 
earth  are  those  who  must  suffer.  At  any  rate  few 
men  would  have  fought  the  fight  that  John  Foley  did. 

Flis  elementary  education  was  obtained  in  the  Butte 
public  schools,  and  later  he  attended  the  Butte  Busi- 
ness College,  where  he  took  a commercial  course.  He 
realized  that  he  would  probably  make  more  money  in 
the  mines  than  as  a bookkeeper,  but  how  could  he  do 
such  work?  He  therefore  prepared  for  the  business 
world,  and  secured  a position  as  bookkeeper  with 
Cooney  Brothers.  Later  he  went  to  the  Hennessy 
Company  in  the  same  capacity,  but  finally  he  gave  up 
mercantile  work  and  went  into  the  mines.  He  made 
a success,  despite  his  unfitness  physically,  and  for  five 
months  worked  underground.  He  was  then  given  the 
position  of  watchman,  which  work  brought  him  to 
the  surface  again.  For  three  years  he  held  this  po- 
sition, meanwhile  growing  in  popularity  and  winning 
friends  right  and  left. 

In  politics  he  had  always  been  a Democrat  and,  like 
his  father,  an  active  worker  for  his  party,  so  that  with 
his  popularity,  his  general  capability  and  trustworthi- 
ness, it  was  not  surprising  when  he  was  nominated  in 
1908  for  the  office  of  clerk  of  the  district  court.  It 
was  still  less  surprising  when  he  was  elected,  and 
since  that  time  he  has  held  this  office  of^  rpponsibility. 

Mr.  Foley  is  a loyal  member  of  the  Knights  of  Co- 
lumbus, of  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians,  and  of 
the  Robert  Emmet  Literary  Association.  In  all  of 
these  societies  he  takes  a deep  interest  and  is  an  ac- 
tive member.  He  was  married  on  the  28th  of  July, 
1909,  to  Margaret  G.  Stewart,  a native  of  the  state  of 
Minnesota.  Two  sons  have  been  born  to  them,  John 
T.,  on  the  19th  of  June,  1910,  and  Francis  J.,  born  Janu- 
ary 15,  1912. 

VoLNEY  C.  Whiting,  a well-known  and  highly  repre- 
sentative citizen  now  living  retired  at  Whitehall,  Jeffer- 
son county,  has  been  a resident  of  the  state  of  Montana 
for  nearly  a third  of  a century.  Mr.  Whiting  was  born 
February  13,  1852,  at  Lockport,  New  York,  the  son  of 
William  C.  and  Caroline  (Lawton)  Whiting.  The 
father  was  a shoemaker  by  occupation  and  in  1854  came 
west  from  New  York,  stopping  for  a short  while  in 
the  state  of  Michigan,  and  thence  to  Pardeeville,  Colum- 
bia county,  Wisconsin.  He  enlisted  in  1864  in  Company 
E,  Second  Wisconsin  Cavalry,  and  was  taken  prisoner 
and  confined  in  a Mississippi  prison.  His  health  became 
impaired  as  a result  of  the  prison  life,  and  so  continued 
until  his  death,  though  he  lived  to  an  advanced  age, 
and  died  at  Stillwater,  Minnesota. 

Volney  C.  Whiting  went  to  work  as  a wage  eanier 
at  the  early  age  of  fourteen  years,  and  thus  received 
but  a very  meager  education,  attending  school  two 
winters  only  after  he  reached  that  age.  He  was 
employed  as  a farm  laborer  until  his  marriage,  after 
which  for  three  years  he  conducted  a farm  on  shares  m 
Columbia  county,  Wisconsin. 

In  the  spring  of  1880  Mr.  Whiting  was  one  of  a partj' 
of  five  to  leave  the  village  of  Poynette.  Wisconsin,  for 
Montana,  one  member  of  the  party  being  his  brother- 
in-law,  William  J.  Alexander,  now  of  Whitehall.  The 
party  made  the  trip  up  the  Missouri  river  to  Fort  Ben- 
ton, and  thence  by  wagons,  with  their  household  goods, 
to  Butte,  via  Deer  Lodge.  They  arrived  in  Butte  in 
June,  1880,  and  there  Mr.  Whiting  at  once  engaged  in 
teaming,  in  which  business  he  enjoyed  a pleasing  meas- 
ure of  success.  On  May  28,  1884,  in  company  with  IMr. 
Alexander,  previously  referred  to,  they  engaged  in  a 
grocery  venture,  with  establishment  located  at  64  West 
Park  street,  in  Butte,  doing  business  under  the  firm 
name  of  Whiting  & Alexander.  The  new  firm  pros- 
pered from  the  start,  and  they  built  up  an  enviable  repu- 


tation for  integrity  and  reliable  business  dealings.  F'or 
fifteen  years  the  business  was  continued  here,  when 
they  disposed  of  it  and  removed  to  the  T.  T.  Black 
ranch  in  the  South  Boulder  Valley  in  Aladison  county, 
twelve  miles  from  Whitehall,  which  ranch  the  firm  had 
acquired  several  years  previous.  Here  the  firm  of 
Whiting  & Alexander  became  extensively  engaged  in 
the  raising  of  vegetables,  berries  and  small  fruits  of  all 
descriptions,  their  products  being  disposed  of  in  the 
Butte  market  and  acquiring  a high  standard  of  excel- 
lence, a tribute  to  the  knowledge  and  reliability  of  the 
individual  members  of  the  firm. 

Messrs.  Whiting  and  Alexander  continued  success- 
fully to  operate  their  ranch,  which  they  had  enlarged 
from  time  to  time,  until  in  October,  1911,  it  consisted  of 
1,643  acres,  when  they  disposed  of  it.  Mr.  Whiting 
purchased  property  in  Whitehall  and  has  there  erected 
a fine  home,  and  is  engaged  in  looking  after  his  private 
interests.  For  a number  of  years  he  has  also  been  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  mining  operations  in  Silver  Bow, 
Deer  Lodge  and  Mqdison  counties. 

In  1876  Mr.  Whiting  was  married  in  Poynette,  Wis- 
consin, to  Annie  E.  Alexander,  only  daughter  born  to 
John  and  Mary  (Cutsforth)  Alexander,  and  a sister  of 
William  J.  Alexander,  of  Whitehall.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Whiting  have  three  daughters,  as  follows : Lillian  M., 

married  to  George  Wotoring,  a merchant,  and  residents 
of  Boise,  Idaho.  They  have  two  daughters, — Elizabeth 
and  Margaret.  Mabel  C.  is  the  wife  of  Alexander  Hus- 
band, and  they  reside  at  Tooele,  Utah,  where  Mr.  Hus- 
band holds  the  responsible  position  of  cashier  of  the 
International  Smelting  and  Refining  Company.  Grace 
P.,  the  third  daughter,  is  the  wife  of  Major  W.  Smith, 
of  the  well  known  real  estate  firm  of  Wilson,  Smith  & 
Company,  of  Butte.  They  have  two  children,  Volney 
and  Woolridge. 

Mr.  Whiting  is  a Republican  in  politics,  but  not  a 
strict  partisan,  voting  for  the  men  and  measures  that 
he  deems  best,  regardless  of  party  affiliations.  He  is  a 
member  of  Butte  Lodge,  No.  22,  A.  F.  & A.  INI.,  of  the 
chapter,  council  and  commandery  at  Butte  and  of  Alge- 
ria Temple  of  the  Nobles  of  the  Alystic  Shrine  at 
Helena. 

iMr.  Whiting  is  a self-made  man  in  the  very  finest 
usage  of  the  term.  He  has  known  reverses  of  fortune, 
and  from  a small  beginning  built  up  a flourishing  busi- 
ness, the  manipulation  of  which,  as  a result  of  his  excel- 
lent business  methods,  his  unfailing  acumen  and  splen- 
did judgment,  has  won  him  a competency  and  enabled 
him  to  retire  at  middle  age  and  enjoy  the  fruits  of  his 
labors. 

WiLLi.VM  J.  Alex.\nder.  For  upwards  of  a third  of 
a century  William  J.  Alexander  has  been  a resident  of 
Montana,  and  his  life  was  one  of  ceaseless  activity  until 
October,  1911.  when  he  withdrew  from  more  active 
business  interests  and  is  now  living  retired  at  White- 
hall, Jefferson  county,  where  he  is  numbered  among 
the  well  known  and  substantial  citizens. 

Mr.  Alexander  was  born  in  Sandusky  county,  Ohio, 
near  what  is  now  the  city  of  Bellevue,  on  April  12, 
1853.  He  is  a son  of  John  and  Mary  J.  (Cutsforth) 
Ale.xander,  the  father  being  a native  of  Sandusky  county, 
Ohio,  while  his  grandfather  was  a Pennsylvania  Ger- 
man, and  a pioneer  of  that  section  of  the  Buckeye  state 
settled  largely  by  Pennsylvanians. 

Vdien  William  J.  Alexander  was  but  a small  boy  his 
parents  removed  to  Three  Rivers,  iMichigan,  and  soon 
afterward  his  father  enlisted  at  Burr  Oak,  IMichigan,  as 
a private  in  a IMichigan  regiment  of  infantry.  He  was 
taken  prisoner  in  the  south  and  confined  in  a Salisbury', 
North  Carolina,  prison,  and  died  there.  His  widow  later 
in  life  married  Robert  Tomlinson,  and  died  in  Butte,  on 
iMarch  12,  1912,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years.  Two 
children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  IMrs.  John  Alexander. 


1118 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


'I'he  elder  was  William  J„  and  the  other,  Annie  E.,  is 
now  the  wife  of  Volney  C.  Whiting,  of  Whitehall. 

William  J.  Alexander  was  twelve  years  old  when  his 
mother  took  up  her  home  at  Poynette,  Columbia  county, 
Wisconsin,  and  as  soon  as  he  was  able  he  went  to  woi;k 
that  he  might  contribute  to  the  support  of  the  family. 
His  educational  advantages  were  of  necessity  of  a lim- 
ited order,  but  he  thoroughly  learned  the  invaluable 
lesson  of  industry  and  self  reliance,  as  well  as  the  full 
value  of  a dollar.  He  continued  as  a farm  laborer 
until  his  marriage,  after  which  he  resided  on  rented 
farms  in  the  vicinity  of  Poynette,  Wisconsin,  until  the 
spring  of  1880,  when  he  came  to  Montana  as  one  of  a 
party  that  included  among  other  men  Volney  C.  Whit- 
ing, his  brother-in-law.  Tlieir  destination  was  Butte, 
where  a brother  of  Mrs.  Alexander,  W.  H.  Young,  was 
residing.  The  trip  to  Montana  was  made  up  the  Mis- 
souri river  to  Fort  Benton,  and  thence  to  Butte  by  way 
of  Deer  Lodge,  and  Mr.  Alexander’s  sole  possessions 
consisted  of  his  household  goods,  three  horses  and  a 
wagon.  He  arrived  at  Butte  in  J.une,  1880,  and  imme- 
diately engaged  at  teaming,  which  he  continued  for 
four  years.  He  then  became  interested  in  mercantile 
lines,  on  May  28,  1884,  entering  into  a partnership  with 
Volney  C.  Whiting.  They  conducted  a grocery  busi- 
ness at  64  West  Park  street,  in  Butte,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Whiting  & Alexander,  and  this  partnership  has 
continued  to  the  present  day.  While  the  line  of  busi- 
ness has  changed,  it  has  always  sustained  its  well  earned 
reputation  for  strictly  honorable  business  methods,  and 
the  partners  are  widely  known  for  men  of  substance 
and  the  highest  integrity.  Their  business  relations  have 
ever  been  most  cordial  and  each  has  found  in  the  other 
those  cjualities  that  have  contributed  to  the  formation 
of  a bond  of  deepest  friendship  and  regard.  Mr.  Alex- 
ander has  been  for  many  years  successfully  interested  in 
mining  operations  in  Silver  Bow,  Deer  Lodge  and 
Madison  counties.  In  1912  he  erected  a handsome  honie 
in  Whitehall,  on  property  adjoining  that  of  Mr.  Whit- 
ing. 

Mr.  Alexander  was  married  in  Poynette,  Wisconsin, 
to  Ella  Young,  of  that  place.  She  died  in  Butte  on 
May  24,  1884,  the  mother  of  four  children,  the  first  of 
whom  died  in  infancy.  The  son,  John  W.,  who  is 
engaged  in  the  ranching  business  near  Pony,  Montana, 
married  Ella  Rundell,  and  they  have  two  daughters. 
Martha  A.  Alexander,  the  third  child,  died  at  the  age 
of  twenty  years,  and  Ella  also  died  young.  In  Febru- 
ary, 1893,  Mr.  Alexander  contracted,  in  Butte,  a second 
marriage,  when  Martha,  the  daughter  of  Rev.  Slator  C. 
Blackiston,  of  Butte,  became  his  wife.  Rev.  Blackiston 
was  for  many  years  rector  of  St.  John’s  Episcopal 
church  of  Butte,  and  the  family  is  one  of  prominence 
and  popularity  in  that  city.  Three  children  have  been 
born  to  this  second  union.  Edward  Blackiston,  the 
eldest,  attended  the  public  schools  of  Butte,  and  was 
graduated  from  the  Houston  School  for  Boys  at  Spo- 
kane, Washington,  in  1912.  The  others  are  Nanruth 
and  Margaret  William. 

Mr.  Alexander  is  a Republican  in  national  issues,  but 
locally  is  not  bound  by  party  ties  and  makes  it  a point 
to  support  the  best  men  and  issues.  Fraternally  he  is 
a member  of  Butte  Lodge,  No.  22,  A.  F.  & A.  M,  Fie 
is  a member  of  the  chapter,  council  and  commandery, 
and  has  taken  the  thirty-second  degree  in  the  Scottish 
Rite.  Fie  is  also  a member  of  Algeria  Temple  of  the 
Ancient  Arabic  Order  of  the  Nobles  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine  at  Helena.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alexander  and  their 
two  oldest  children  are  members  of  the  Episcopal 
church. 

It  is  obvious  to  all  that  Mr.  Alexander’s  splendid  suc- 
cess has  been  the  results  of  his  own  well  directed  efforts, 
and  like  his  relative  and  long-time  business  associate, 
Mr.  Whiting,  is  enjoying  a competence  acquired  by 
industry,  economy,  fair  dealings  and  good  business 
judgment. 


William  J.  Johnson.  Anaconda  has  one  of  its  most 
prosperous  and  public-spirited  citizens  in  the  person 
of  Mr.  Johnson,  who  is  the  founder  and  active  head 
of  the  firm  of  Johnson  & Tuchsherer,  the  only  whole- 
sale liquor  house  in  this  city.  His  business  career  had 
a humble  beginning  as  water  boy  for  a railroad  labor 
crew,  and  from  that  he  has  progressed  and  built  up  a 
very  creditable  success. 

William  J.  Johnson  was  born  at  Oswego,  New  York, 
October  21,  1862.  His  parents  were  Christopher  and 
Catharine  (Gwin)  Johnson,  and  his  father  was  a na- 
tive of  Ireland  and  came'  as  a boy  to  America,  settling 
at  Oswego,  where  he  became  identified  with  the  Oswego 
Starch  Works,  the  largest  of  the  kind  in  the  world, 
and  was  an  officer  in  the  company  when  he  died  in 
1900.  The  mother  was  a native  of  Kingston,  New 
York,  and  she  is  also  deceased.  William  J.  was  one  of 
six  children,  the  other  five  being:  Anna,  widow  of 
William  Hartnett,  of  Oswego,  John  and  Alice,  de- 
ceased ; Thomas,  of  Oswego ; and  Catharine,  wife  of 
Leo  LaSalle,  of  Anaconda. 

At  his  native  city  of  Oswego  Mr.  Johnson  spent  the 
first  fifteen  years  of  his  life  principally  in  attending  the 
public  schools.  Then  as  water  boy  for  a railroad  gang 
he  began  earning  his  own  way,  and  for  five  years  fol- 
lowed railroading  in  various  capacities.  Fle  then  came 
to  Montana  and  entered  the  employ  of  his  uncle,  Wil- 
liam P.  Gwin,  who  had  a livery  business  at  Butte, 
and  in  1884  was  taken  in  as  partner.  Mr.  Johnson, 
after  selling  his  interests  at  Butte,  became  a resident 
of  Anaconda  in  1888,  and  for  nearly  twenty-five  years 
has  been  identified  with  this  city  in  increasing  busi- 
ness and  civic  capacities.  Fie  first  established  a retail 
liquor  store,  and  has  developed  this  into  the  only 
wholesale  house  of  the  kind  in  Anaconda. 

Fie  enjoys  a large  acquaintance  and  friendship  among 
the  prominent  men  of  the  state  and  for  a number  of 
years  has  taken  an  active  share  in  the  affairs  of  his 
home  city.  For  two  terms  he  served  as  alderman,  and 
in  igo8  was  elected  on  the  Democratic  ticket  for  the 
office  of  county  commissioner,  which  he  still  occupies. 
In  1912  he  was  a delegate  to  the  Democratic  national 
convention  at  Baltimore,  and  supported  Champ  Clark, 
for  whom  the  Montana  delegation  was  instructed,  for 
45  ballots  or  until  the  nomination  of  Mr.  Wilson  was 
made  unanimous.  His  home  is  one  of  the  finest  in 
the  city,  and  he  owns  other  valuable  real  estate.  Mr. 
Johnson  was  married  at  Butte,  January  8,  1888,  to  Miss 
Maud  Teitsworth,  who  was  born  in  Wisconsin.  They 
are  the  parents  of  three  children,  Edward  C.,  Anna 
Maud  and  Alice  Maud.  The  family  have  membership 
in  the  Catholic  church. 

Edgar  . B.  FIeagy,  who  occupies  a representative  posi- 
tion among  the  business  men  of  Anaconda,  Montana, 
where  he  owns  and  operates  a meat  market,  is  by  na- 
tivity a Floosier  but  has  spent  practically  his  whole  life 
in  Montana  and  is  unswervingly  loyal  to  it.  _ Its  pro- 
gressiveness, large  opportunities,  the  energy  it  imparts 
to  endeavor  and  the  recognition  it  gives  to  merit  are 
some  of  the  characteristics  of  the  state  which  to  Mr. 
Heagy  give  it  presti.ge  above  all  others. 

At  Anderson,  Indiana,  on  the  20th  of  January,  1872, 
Edgar  B.  Heagy  was  born  to  George  Heagy  and  his 
wife,  Martha  Mallory.  The  father  was  also  born  in 
Indiana,  was  a farmer  by  occupation,  and  died  in  his 
native  state  in  1874,  when  Edgar  B.  was  but  two  years 
old.  He  is  interred  at  the  citv  of  Anderson.  One  other 
child,  a daughter  younger  than  Edgar,  had  been  born 
to  this  union  but  is  now  deceased.  In  1880.  when  but 
eight  years  old.  Mr.  Heagy  accompanied  his  mother 
to  Montana,  settling  in  Deer  Lodge  valley,  about  seven 
miles  from  Anaconda,  but  in  1890  they  removed  to  An- 
aconda, and  there  the  mother  passed  away  in  1892, 
when  forty  years  of  age.  She  was  buried  at  Ana- 
conda. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1119 


After  attending  the  district  schools  of  Deer  Lodge 
valley  and  later  the  public  schools  of  Anaconda,  Mr. 
Heagy  took  a business  course  in  Eastman’s  Business 
College,  Poughkeepsie,  New  York.  In  the  meantime, 
while  still  a boy,  he  had  become  a bookkeeper  and  solic- 
itor in  the  meat  business  and  continued  this  line  of 
work  until  1902,  when  he  established  his  present  busi- 
ness. His  market  is  well  fitted  out  with  machinery,  cold 
storage  boxes  and  all  other  such  appliances  as  are  to 
be  found  in  the  most  modernly  equipped  meat  markets 
of  the  day.  The  same  progressiveness  which  he  so  much 
admires  in  his  state  forms  a part  of  his  own  character 
as  a business  man,  and  his  enterprise,  energy  and  fair 
dealings  have  won  him  a gratifying  patronage. 

Mr.  Heagy  was  married  at  Butte,  Montana,  on  June 
14,  1909,  to  Miss  Annie  K.  McDonald,  whose  former 
home  was  in  Nova  Scotia.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Heagy  have 
a son  Earl,  born  April  8,  1911.  Mr.  Heagy  by  a former 
marriage  also  had  one  son.  Herald  E.,  born  June  7, 
i8g8,  and  now  attending  public  school  and  business  col- 
lege at  Butte, 

As  a Republican  Mr.  Heagy  takes  no  other  than  a 
voting  interest  in  politics.  His  fraternal  associations 
are  with  the  Masonic  order,  in  which  he  has  held  dif- 
ferent offices  in  the  Chapter  degrees  and  is  also  a mem- 
ber of  Bagdad  Temple,  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.,  at  Butte. 

Harry  B.  Drum.  The  pursuits  of  _ industry  _ are 
admitted  by  all  civilized  nations  to  furnish  the  fairest 
field  for  the  triumphs  of  man;  and  the  earliest  and 
most  successful  of  its  cultivators  are  entitled  to  the 
most  grateful  remembrance  of  their  successors.  Harry 
B.  Drum,  a prominent  citizen  of  Belmont,  is  one  of 
those  whose  sagacity  and  industry  in  early  days  helped 
lay  the  foundation  of  the  agricultural  and  commercial 
progress  of  the  Yellowstone  valley,  and  now  after  he 
has  filled  out  a well-rounded  career,  he  may  well  lay 
claim  to  respite  from  the  responsibilities  of  business 
activities.  Harrv  B.  Drum  was  born  in  that  part  of 
Allegheny  City.  (Pa.)  that  is  today  included  in  the  city 
of  Pittsburgh,' December  3,  ^Sj9,  and  is  a son  of  Simon 
and  Elizabeth  (Workman)  Orum,  natives  of  Westmore- 
land county,  that  state. 

Simon  Drum  was  b-'in  in  1829  and  received  his  edu- 
cation in  Allegheny  City,  where  he  spent  the  greater 
part  of  his  life.  His  prominence  in  the  business  world 
and  the  ability  which  he  at  all  times  displar'ed,  caused 
his  election  to  the  office  of  mayor,  in  which  capacity  he 
was  serving  at  the  time  of  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil 
war.  At  that  time  he  organized  Company  H of  the 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-third  Regiment,  Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteer  Infantry,  with  which  he  served  as 
captain  until  the  close  of  hostilities,  at  which  time  he 
WAS  presented  with  a beautiful  silver  service  in  token 
r'  f the  regard  in  which  he  was  held  by  the  members  of 
''lis  company,  and  on  his  return  he  was  again  sent  to  the 
mayoralty  chair,  his  service  as  chief  executive  of  his 
city  covering  three  terms.  He  was  the  proprietor  of  a 
' large  planing  mill,  engaged  e.xtensively  in  the  hardware 
j business  as  a wholesaler,  was  one  of  the  organizers  of 
the  old  Benjamin  Franklin  Bank,  of  which  he  was 
i president,  and  assisted  in  organizing  the  Benjamin 
; Franklin  Fire  Insurance  Company,  and  was  acting  as 
I its  president  at  the  time  of  his  death  in  1896.  A stanch 
S Republican  in  his  political  views,  he  served  as  chair- 
man of  the  city  council  for  many  years  and  was  known 
is  a leader  of  his  party’s  forces.  Fraternally,  he  was 
1 prominent  Mason.  He  and  his  wife,  who  survives 
him  and  has  reached  her  eighty-fourth  year,  were  the 
parents  of  thirteen  children,  of  whom  four  survive: 
Martha,  who  is  the  wife  of  Austin  St.  John;  Harry  B; 
Amanda;  and  Julia,  who  is  the  wife  of  Louis  Lusten- 
! berger. 

i Harry  B.  Drum  received  his  education  in  the  public 
! schools  of  Allegheny  City  and  the  Newell  Institute  of 
i Pittsburgh.  Early  in  life  he  displayed  those  traits  of 

I 


industry  and  enterprise  which  had  made  his  father  suc- 
cessful, and  during  vacations,  while  his  comrades  were 
spending  their  time  in  recreation,  he  secured  employ- 
ment from  the  city  driving  a dump  cart  engaged  in 
grading  the  streets  of  Allegheny  City,  his  wages  being 
$4.50  per  week.  After  he  had  finished  his  studies  he 
became  a clerk  in  the  auditor’s  office  of  the  Allegheny 
Valley  Railroad,  which  is  now  a part  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania System,  continued  with  that  company  for  three 
years,  and  in  1880  started  for  the  west,  traveling  by  rail 
as  far  as  the  terminus  of  the  Northern  Pacific,  then 
Bismarck,  North  Dakota.  Mr.  Drum  then  boarded  the 
steamer  “Key  West,”  on  which  he  went  up  the  Missis- 
sippi river  to  Fort  Benton,  and  there  formed  an  acquain- 
tance with  a party  which  had  come  by  boat  from 
Chippewa  Falls,  Wisconsin.  This  party,  of  which  Mr. 
Drum  became  a member,  went  through  to  the  head  of 
the  Musselshell  river,  where  Mr.  Drum  entered  the 
employ  of  a Dick  Clendenin  as  a sheep  herder.  Subse- 
quently be  became  a cow  puncher,  an  occupation  at  which 
he  worked  until  the  fall  of  1883,  and  then,  having  care- 
fully saved  his  earnings,  invested  his  capital  in  sheep. 
This  venture,  however,  proved  unfortunate,  as  during 
the  winter  that  followed  all  of  his  animals  died  except 
about  ninety  head,  which  he  sold  during  the  spring. 
Nothing  daunted  at  this  misfortune,  Mr.  Drum  again 
took  a position  as  cow  puncher,  which  he  followed 
imtil  the  winter  of  1886-7,  when  he  was  employed  as 
stage  driver  between  Lavina  and  You  Bet,  in  the 
Judith  Gap,  and  after  again  following  cow  punching 
during  the  summer  of  1887  became  a rancher  in  the 
Mussellshell  valley.  At  first  he  followed  sheep  raising, 
but  eventually  gave  up  that  vocation  to  raise  cattle,  and 
so  successful  were  his  operations  that  he  became  the 
owner  of  eleven  thousand  acres  of  land.  He  sold  out 
all  of  this  property,  however,  in  1907;  in  the  summer  of 
1911  disposed  of  his  cattle,  and  is  now  not  only  actively 
engaged  in  scientific  farming,  but  is  also  largely 
interested  in  the  Belmont  State  Bank,  of  which  he  is 
president.  He  now  makes  his  home  in  Belmont,  near 
which  place  he  owns  some  sixteen  hundred  acres  of 
fine  land.  As  a citizen  i\Ir.  Drum  is  identifying  himself 
with  the  best  interests  of  his  city.  He  is  a Republican 
and  takes  a keen  interest  in  political  matters,  but  only 
as  a spectator.  He  is  prominent  and  popular  in  fra- 
ternal circles,  and  belongs  to  Ashler  Lodge  No.  29, 
A.  F.  & A.  M.,  Billings  Chapter  No.  6,  R.  A.  M., 
Aldemar  Commandery  No.  5,  K.  T.,  and  Algeria  Temple, 
A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S..  of  Helena;  and  to  Billings  Lodge 
No.  394,  B.  P.  O.  E. 

On  June  ii.  1890,  Mr.  Drum  was  married  to  Miss 
Lillias  Rae.  who  was  born  in  the  city  of  Glasgow, 
Scotland,  daughter  of  John  and  Agnes  (Crookston) 
Rae,  natives  of  Scotland.  Mrs.  Drum  was  the  fourth  in 
order  of  birth  of  her  parents’  children,  and  has  four 
sisters  and  two  brothers.  Mr.  Rae  brought  his  family 
to  the  Linited  States  when  Mrs.  Drum  was  a mere  child, 
settling  in  Allegheny  City,  Pennsylvania,  and  the  greater 
part  of  his  life  was  spent  as  a traveling  salesman.  He 
was  a Scottish  Rite  l\Iason.  Three  children  have  been 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Drum,  namely : Elizabeth,  who 
is  attending  school  in  Los  Angeles,  California;  Simon, 
a student  in  the  Polytechnic  Institute  of  Billings;  and 
Agnes,  who  attends  a young  ladies’  school  in  Pittsburgh, 
Pennsylvania. 

Henry  W.  Rowley.  In  considering  those  among  the 
Yellowstone  valley’s  citizens  whose  activities  have  been 
directed  toward  developing  the  resources  of  the  section, 
and  whose  foresight  has  been  rewarded  in  a most  sub- 
stantial manner,  one’s  mind  instinctively  turns  to  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  Henry  W.  Rowley,  a man  who, 
through  business  sagacity  and  acumen  has  risen  to  a 
commanding  position  in  this  locality’s  financial  and  in- 
dustrial circles.  He  was  born  at  Newport,  New  York, 
October  i,  1858,  and  is  a son  of  Nelson  and  Abigail 


J120 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


(Cofiin)  Rowley,  natives  of  the  Empire  state,  both  of 
whom  are  deceased. 

Nelson  Rowley,  who  in  his  native  state  followed  the 
occupations  of  farmer  and  lumberman,  left  the  east  in 
1868  and  settled  in  Farmington.  Minnesota,  where  he 
carried  on  farming  during  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
He  was  an  active  Republican,  was  prominent  in  Ma- 
sonry, and  was  known  as  a useful  and  public-spirited 
citizen.  He  and  his  wife  had  four  children,  Henry  W., 
the  youngest,  being  the  only  survivor. 

Henry  W.  Rowley  began  his  education  in  the  schools 
of  Newport,  New  York,  and  accompanied  his  parents 
to  Minnesota  when  he  was  ten  years  old.  After  com- 
pleting the  public  school  course,  he  entered  the  Uni- 
versity of  Minnesota,  and  on  graduating  therefrom  se- 
cured employment  in  the  engineering  department  of  the 
Northern  Pacific  Railroad.  In  the  spring  of  1880  he 
came  to  Montana  with  the  engineering  corps  of  the 
company,  in  the  service  of  which  he  remained  for  about 
two  anil  one-half  years,  after  which  he  became  con- 
nected with  the  Minnesota  and  Montana  Land  and 
Improvement  Company,  a concern  which  owned  about 
30,000  acres  in  the  Yellowstone  valley.  Mr.  Rowley's 
activities  were  devoted  to  surveying  the  land  for  irri- 
gation, the  canal  which  was  subsecjuently  built  being 
forty  miles  in  length  and  covering  some  60,000  acres. 
In  1885  Mr.  Rowley  became  one  of  the  organizers  of 
the  Billings  Water  Company,  which  installed  the  first 
water  works  and  electric  light  plant  in  Billings,  and  he 
continued  as  the  active  head  of  this  enterprise  until 
1908,  when  the  electric  plant  was  sold.  He  has  con- 
tinued, however,  as  president  of  the  water  company, 
and  is  also  president  of  the  Northern  Hotel  Company, 
and  a director  in  the  Merchants  National  Bank  of 
Billings  and  the  First  National  Bank  of  Seattle,  Wash- 
ington. In  addition,  he  has  large  real  estate  holdings 
and  is  interested  in  various  enterprises  of  an  expensive 
nature.  His  political  belief  is  that  of  the  Republican 
party,  but  has  had  no  desire  for  positions  of  public 
preferment.  As  an  organizer  and  an  executive  Mr. 
Rowley  has  been  the  chief  factor  in  developing  a num- 
ber of  large  industries,  and  no  movement  that  has  for 
its  object  the  advancement  of  the  city’s  interests  is 
considered  complete  until  his  name  has  been  enlisted  as 
one  of  the  supporters.  He  has  been  prominent  in  fra- 
ternal work,  and  is  a member  of  Ashlar  Lodge,  No.  29. 
A.  F.  & A.  M. ; Billings  Chapter,  No.  6.  R.  A.  M.; 
Aldemar  Commandery,  No.  5,  K.  T. ; and  Algeria  Tem- 
ple, A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.,  of  Helena. 

On  May  8.  1883,  Mr.  Rowley  was  married  to  Miss 
Harriet  iMeeker,  who  was  born  in  New  York,  daughter 
of  Lewis  Meeker,  and  six  children  have  been  born  to 
this  union,  as  follows : Farr  B. ; Hugli ; Helen,  who 
married  C.  D.  Howe,  a government  civil  engineer  of 
Huntley,  Montana;  Harriet;  Henry  N.,  and  Jules. 

Edw.\rd  B.  Howell,  of  Butte,  Montana,  is  a prominent 
attorney  of  that  city.  Among  mining  men  he  is  widely 
known  a.s  the  author  of  a manual  on  mining  law,  and 
he  also  gives  instruction  on  this  subject  to  the  students 
of  the  Montana  State  School  of  Mines.  Among  the 
farmers  he  is  known  as  the  inventor  of  the  weir  gauge, 
an  instrument  used  in  measuring  the  water  of  running 
streams. 

Mr.  Howell  was  born  at  Centreville,  Iowa,  on  the 
22nd  of  September,  1857.  He  was  the  son  of  Charles 
and  Lavinia  (Ward)  Howell,  who  were  natives  of  New 
York  state.  Charles  H.  Howell  migrated  from  New 
York  state  to  Iowa  in  1847  and  became  one  of  the 
pioneer  merchants  of  that  commonwealth.  At  the  time 
of  his  death,  in  1887,  he  held  the  honored  position  of 
being  the  oldest  citizen  of  Centreville.  Mr.  Howell’s 
ancestors  came  to  this  country  more  than  two  hundred 
years  ago,  and  some  of  them  were  soldiers  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary war. 

Edward  B.  Howell  grew  up  in  Centreville,  Iowa,  and 


attended  the  public  schools  of  his  home  town.  Upon 
completing  his  work  there  he  went  to  Grinnell,  Iowa, 
and  entered  Grinnell  College.  He  was  graduated  from 
this  institution  in  1879,  and  later,  the  same  college 
bestowed  upon  him  the  honorary  degree  of  A.  M.  He 
was  obliged  to  earn  his  own  way  to  a large  extent  in 
acquiring  his  education,  and  accomplished  this  by  teach- 
ing. During  his  college  course  he  taught  country 
schools  and  he  also  acted  as  tutor  to  preparatory  classes 
at  Grinnell.  After  graduation  he  was  employed  as 
principal  of  schools  at  Virginia  City,  Montana,  then  as 
teacher  of  the  high  school  at  Butte  and  afterwards  as 
city  superintendent  of  the  Jjiitte  schools.  Mr.  Howell 
took  his  professional  course  at  the  law  school  of  the 
State _ University  at  Iowa  City.  He  was  graduated 
therefrom  with  the  degree  of  LL.  B.  in  1882.  " His  first 
experience  in  the  practice  of  law  was  at  Grinnell,  Iowa, 
where  he  was  a member  of  the  firm  of  Haines,  Lyman 
& Howell.  For  nearly  twenty  years  Mr.  Howell  has 
been  practicing  law  at  Butte,  and  some  of  his  best 
clients  are  men  who  as  youngsters  went  to  school  to 
him  thirty  years  ago. 

In  politics  Mr.  Howell  is  a Republican.  In  his  pro- 
fessional life  he  is  a member  of  the  Silver  Bow  Bar 
Association  and  of  the  Montana  State  Bar  Association. 
Through  the  deeds  of  his  ancestors  he  is  entitled  to 
membership  in  the  society  of  the  Sons  of  the  American 
Revolution,  and  should  take  great  pride  in  belonging 
to  a society  which  has  for  its  foundations  the  noble 
deeds  of  the  fathers  of  our  country. 

Mr.  Howell  was  married  in  Butte,  Montana,  to  Miss 
Estina  Wylie,  the  ceremony  taking  place  on  the  2nd 
of  August,  1883.  His  wife  was  born  in  Virginia,  and 
her  family  later  moved  to  Winterset,  Iowa,  and  finally 
to  Centreville.  where  Mr.  Howell  first  met  her.  Three 
children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Howell.  The 
eldest,  Roxy,  was  born  in  Butte,  and  is  now  the  wife 
of  J.  F.  Derge,  of  Missoula,  Montana.  The  oldest  son 
is  Henry  Ward  Howell,  who  was  born  in  1889  in  Cali- 
fornia. He  is  now  a student  in  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania,  making  a specialty  of  the  study  of  archi- 
tecture. Richard,  the  youngest  son,  was  born  in  1894 
at  Butte,  and  is  at  present  a student  in  the  Butte  high 
school. 

Hon.  Charles  B.  Towers.  New  England  is  well 
represented  in  the  substantial  citizenship  of  Custer 
county,  Montana,  and  among  the  business  men  of 
Miles  City  it  is  not  unusual  to  find  college  graduates 
who  are  entitled  to  add  letters  to  their  names  indicating 
the  professional  degrees  which  they  have  won  in  the 
east,  while,  perhaps,  they  must  give  the  west  credit  for 
their  financial  independence.  Hon.  Charles  B.  Towers 
came  as  a civil  engineer  to  Montana  in  the  spring  of 
1880,  and  the  thirty  odd  years  he  has  spent  here  have 
been  busy  and  useful  ones  and  he  may  be  numbered 
with  the  constructive  men  of  this  section.  Mr.  Towers 
was  born  at  Richmond,  Chittenden  county,  Vermont, 
July  20,  1855,  and  is  a son  of  Robert  and  Harriet  (Bull- 
ard) Towers. 

Robert  Towers  was  born  in  1801,  a son  of  Robert 
Towers,  a Revolutionary  soldier  who  had  settled  at 
Richmond,  Vermont,  after  the  close  of  that  war.  The 
latter  Robert  Towers  was  a native  of  the  Orkney 
Island,  off  the  coast  of  Scotland,  and  was  a conscripted 
soldier  in  the  British  army  when  brought  to  the  Ameri- 
can colonies.  He  never  returned  to  his  native  place, 
but  became  an  American  citizen,  married  and  reared 
a family  of  two  daughters  and  four  sons,  the  second 
Robert  being  one  of  the  younger  children.  The  latter 
followed  an  agricultural  life  in  Chittenden  county, 
where  he  became  a man  of  affairs,  and  on  the  Republi- 
can ticket  was  twice  elected  a member  of  the  Vermont 
legislature.  He  was  a member  of  the  Universalist 
church.  His  death  occurred  in  1880,  surviving  his 
wife  for  nine  years.  She  was  born  in  Massachusetts. 


./  ■•  ' 'in 


i ,-  ' 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1121 


They  were  parents  of  ten  children,  two  daughters  and 
eight  sons,  Charles  B.,  being  the  seventh  son  in  order 
of  birth. 

Charles  B.  Towers  was  graduated  from  Goddan 
Seminary,  at  Barre,  Vermont,  in  the  class  of  1875,  and 
from  Tufts  College,  Boston,  Massachusetts,  in  1878, 
securing  his  degree  of  civil  engineer.  In  the  spring  of 
1880  he  came  to  Helena,  Montana,  and  after  a period 
of  prospecting  located  the  Richmond  mine,  on  the 
Deer  Lodge  range,  this  being  in  1882,  after  which  he 
came  to  Miles  City,  where  he  decided  to  embark  in 
business,  shortly  afterward  opening  a store  in  the  line 
of  gentlemen’s  furnishings,  boots  and  shoes.  In  1895 
he  turned  his  attention  to  the'  real  estate  business,  in 
which  he  so  prospered  that  in  1909  he  incorporated 
under  the  firm  name  of  C.  B.  Towers  & Company, 
dealers  in  real  estate  and  investments.  He  is  president 
of  this  company  and  is  also  president  of  the  Towers- 
Burt  Land  Company  and  of  the  Custer  Abstract  Com- 
pany. As  a citizen  of  jMiles  City  he  has  been  active 
and  public  spirited,  was  elected  the  first  alderman  from 
the  First  ward  after  the  city  was  organized  and  was 
instrumental  in  placing  the  public  schools  on  their  pres- 
ent solid  basis,  serving  several  terms  as  school  trustee. 
His  useful  activities  in  public  life  have  also  had  a 
wider  range,  as  in  1^7  he  was  elected  a member  of 
the  state  legislature,  in  which  body  his  services  were 
beneficial  to  his  constituents. 

On  October  22,  1885,  Mr.  Towers  was  married  to 
Miss  Adelaide  J.  Hodges.  They  are  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  church.  Mr.  Towers  is  a member  of 
Yellowstone  Lodge,  No.  26,  A.  F.  & A.  M. ; Miles  City 
Chapter,  No.  14,  R.  A.  M. ; and  Miles  City  Lodge  No. 
537  B.  P.  O.  E. 

Duncan  Cameron.  Of  all  the  compliments  paid  to 
Montana,  it  is  safe  to  say  that  none  have  exceeded  in 
eloquence  that  of  Duncan  Cameron,  who  has  thrice 
left  the  state  and  every  time  returned,  its  charms  and 
advantages  appealing  to  him  above  those  of  all  other 
sections.  The  list  of  enterprises  with  which  this 
progressive  and  resourceful  gentleman  has  been  iden- 
tified is  a long  one,  and  as  he  has  the  gift  of  making 
fine  ideas  realities  he  is  a distinct  asset  to  any  under- 
taking. He  is  now  engaged  extensively  in  real  estate 
business  in  this  county,  and  is  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant men  in  the  field,  being  at  the  head  of  the 
widely-known  D.  Cameron  Alining  and  Realty  Com- 
pany. He  is  a native  of  Canada,  but,  as  is  vividly  sug- 
gested in  his  name,  he  is  of  Scotch  origin  and  pos- 
sesses in  marked  degree  those  staunch  traits  for  which 
the  Scotch  nation  is  famed. 

Mr.  Cameron  was  born  in  Ontario,  Canada,  June 
5,  'i860.  Amid  the  scenes  of  his  birth_  he  remained 
until  about  eight  years  of  age,  when  his  parents  re- 
moved to  Alinnesota,  where  they  lived  until  1878.  In 
that  year  they  made ' another  change  of  residence,  this 
time  to  Kansas  and  Duncan  came  on  to  North  Dakota. 
■While  in  Bismarck  he  was  engaged  for  two  years  in  the 
freighting  business  from  Bismarck  to  the  Black  Hills 
in  South  Dakota,  where  he  engaged  in  construction 
work  on  the  Northern  Pacific  Railway,  west  of  Man- 
dan,  and  followed  the  same  as  far  as  Glendive,  Alon- 
tana.  At  Glendive  he  sent  men  out  with  two  teams 
to  .go  to  a tie  camp,  a distance  of  about  eighty  miles 
away,  on  the  Little  Alissouri  river.  The  trio  proved  a 
luckless  one,  for  they  were  attacked  by  Indians,  the 
horses  being  captured,  the  wagons  destroyed,  one  man 
killed  and  another  wounded.  Mr.  Cameron  was  dis- 
couraged over  travel  and  railroad  work  in  that  section 
of  the  west  and  in  consequence  he  sold  his  other  teams 
and  embarked  in  mercantile  business  at  Glendive,  where 
he  remained  for  about  a twelvemonth,  then  removing 
to  Miles  City,  where  he  remained  for  a year,  en- 
gaging in  the  same  line  of  business.  From  that 
point  he  went  on  to  Forsythe,  or  what  was  to  be 


Forsythe,  and  enjoys  the  distinction  of  having  built 
the  first  house  in  the  town.  In  the  new  settlement  he 
remained  for  the  space  of  two  years,  but  at  the  same 
time  he  had  interests  in  other  locations,  among  them 
at  Billings  and  Junction  City. 

Recently  after  a trip  to  Bozeman  and  through  the 
Gallatin  valley,  Mr.  Cameron  in  an  interview  pub- 
lished in  the  White  Sulphur  Springs,  contrasts  the 
country  as  it  is  now  and  as  it  was  at  the  time  he 
first  went  there.  He  says : "It  was  my  first  visit  since 

1879  to  that  city,  and  that  trip  was  made  on  horse- 
back in  company  with  the  famous  scout  and  horse- 
man, James  Cummings,  familiarly  known  by  the 
sobriquet  of  ‘Racehorse  Jim.’ 

"The  principal  reason  for  our  mode  of  locomotion 
at  this  period  was  the  unsafeness  of  stage  travel, 
the  country  being  infested  by  bandits,  who  daily  held 
up_  travelers,  making  the  territory  and  many  people 
living  here  remember  some  of  the  notorious  char- 
acters who  then  infested  this  and  other  parts  of  Alon- 
tana,  but  I will  onlv  mention  Dick  Turpin  and  Black 
Bart.  However,  there  were  many  others  of  this  stamp. 

“To  me,,  my  recent  trip  through  the  Gallatin  was 
one  of  many  surprises.  I could  not  help  but  contrast 
the  yesterday  with  the  today.  I could  but  close  my 
eyes  and,  looking  back,  almost  see  again  the  great 
herds  of  thousands  of  buffalo  and  antelope  which 
roamed  freely  over  the  vast  plains  to  eventually  fall 
and  pass  away  before  the  ever  and  determined  march 
of  civilization. 

"Bozeman,  then  a small,  struggling  place,  has,  by 
the  indomitable  pluck  and  energy  of  its  builders,  those 
sturdy  pioneers  who  braved  the  tough  conditions  of 
that  day,  now  become  a prosperous  and  beautiful  city 
with  a future  most  bright  assured  her.  Where  naught 
but  miles  and  iniles  of  arid  plains  existed  in  the  valley 
surrounding,  I find  a veritable  storage  of  wealth  and 
plenty.  Barren  plain  has  been,  by  the  husbandman, 
converted  into  rich  and  fertile  farm  country,  where 
peace  and  contentment  are  the  order  of  things.’’ 

Mr.  Cameron  then  gives  the  practical  application  of 
the  facts  he  has  noted  for  the  benefit  of  the  people  of 
the  Valley  of  Smith  river,  as  follows:  “'What  the 

Gallatin  valley  has  done  for  Bozeman,  our  valley  of 
Smith  river  can  do  for  White  Sulphur  Springs,  but 
we  need  builders,  men  with  energy  and  money  to 
assist  what  nature  holds  for  us  at  our  door.  We  can 
do  this  by  putting  forth  effort.  Our  resources  should 
be  advertised  and  our  efforts,  if  carried  out  along  the 
line  of  boost  instead  of  knock,  will  be  crowned  with 
success,  and  there  is  no  reason  that  my  statement 
in  Bozeman  that  five  years  hence  will  see  a city  here 
of  five  thousand,  will  not  have  become  a positive 
fact.’’ 

The  interview  concludes  with  a statement  by  the 
editor ; "That  Mr.  Cameron's  efforts  are  not  without 
result  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  several  investors  have 
already  visited  our  valley  from  Bozeman  and  are 
interested.” 

In  1882  Air.  Cameron  disposed  of  all  his  interests 
and  went  east,  traveling  over  the  country  with  trotting 
and  running  horses.  However  the  lure  of  the  west  was 
in  his  blood  and  in  1886  he  returned  to  Alontana  and 
located  at  Helena.  He  operated  in  general  mining 
business  in  various  camps  in  the  state  for  about  five 
years  and  in  1891  went  to  Colorado,  where  for  two 
years  he  operated  in  the  Cripple  Creek  and  Crede  dis- 
tricts. He  went  thence  to  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  and  again 
became  active  in  the  horse  business,  his  interests  in 
this  field  taking  him  to  Chicago.  In  the  Windy  City 
he  became  interested  in  real  estate  and  remained  there 
four  years.  Again  the  fascination  of  far-away  Alon- 
tana became  a disturbing  element  in  his  dreams  and 
he  returned  to  remain  within  the  boundaries  of  the 
state  from  that  time  till  the  present.  Despite  its  vast 
proportions  Air.  Cameron  is  familiar  with  every  corner 


1122 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


of  the  state,  his  real  estate  business  having  taken 
him  over  it.  He  became  interested  in  White  Sulphur 
Springs,  in  whose  future  he  believes  and  whose  peculiar 
advantages  impressed  him,  and  in  1910  he  established 
himself  here.  As  mentioned  previously,  he  divides 
his  energies  between  mining  and  the  realty  business. 

We  quote  several  passages  from  a letter  issued  to 
prospective  investors  as  exemplifying  the  fair  and  hon- 
est methods  of  the  D.  Cameron  Realty  Company. 
They  operate  on  a strictly  commission  basis,  and  con- 
sequently the  prices  are  as  low  as  possible,  and  from 
this  unexaggerated  account  of  the  advantages  of  Smith 
valley  it  can  be  seen  that  they  put  the  country  on  its 
own  merits  and  do  not  seek  to  attract  by  sensational 
stories. 

“The  land  of  grain  of  which  no  other  spot  on  the 
continent  produces,  a land  where  hardy  vegetables  are 
raised  equal  to  the  best  in  this  country,  a land  that 
for  the  want  of  effort  of  the  practical  farmer  of  mod- 
ern methods  has  had  its  real  resources  hidden  and 
until  now  has  been  used  for  little  else  than  cattle  and 
sheep  raising,  the  latter  industries  of  course  have  been 
most  profitable  in  not  only  Montana  but  the  entire 
west.  And  only  with  great  reluctance  are  the  great 
cattle  and  sheep  barons  giving  way  to  the  progressive 
onward  march  of  the  modern  method  ranching  and 
we  are  pleased  to  say  that  our  company  has  con- 
tributed no  small  part  in  bringing  about  this  new  con- 
dition, by  a persistent  endeavor  made  in  our  humble 
way  to  acquaint  the  eastern  farmer  of  the  great  pos- 
sibilities offered  in  western  ranching. 

“The  Smith  River  Valley  .occupies  a splendid  posi- 
tion. It  is  located  in  about  the  southern  central  part 
of  Montana,  lying  between  Castle  and  the  Elk  moun- 
tains on  the  east,  and  the  Big  Belt  mountains  of  the 
west,  and  is  about  fifty  miles  in  length  and  from  ten 
to  twenty  miles  in  width.  The  beautiful  Smith  river, 
which  parallels  a branch  line  connecting  with  the 
Chicago,  Milwaukee  and  St.  Paul  Railway,  with  its 
many  tributaries  which  feed  it.  run  through  the  center 
of  the  valley,  furnishing  ample  water  the  year  round 
for  all  necessary  uses,  yet  the  county  is  not  depend- 
ent on  the  river  or  other  streams,  for  wherever  prac- 
tical methods  have  been  resorted  to  it  has  been 
demonstrated  that  the  thousands  of  acres  of  bench 
lands  are  productive  for  drv  farming,  for  on  such 
lands  and  under  such  conditions  some  of  the  best 
crops  have  been  obtained,  these  lands  yielding  from 
thirty  to  forty  bushels  of  wheat  per  acre  and  from 
sixty  to  eighty  bushels  of  oats  per  acre,  and  it  is  de- 
cidedly advantageous  for  grasses  on  account  of  the 
superior  quality  of  soil.” 

Mr.  Cameron  is  a son  of  John  Cameron,  who  was 
born  in  Scotland  and  came  to  America  as  a boy.  He 
settled  in  Canada  upon  his  arrival  here  and  there 
resided  for  a good  many  years.  He  located  in  Min- 
nesota and  then  removed  to  Kansas,  where  he  followed 
the  mercantile  business  and  subsequently  took  up  his 
residence  in  Kansas  City,  where  he  was  gathered  to 
his  fathers  at  the  age  of  eighty-eight  years,  his  remains 
being  there  interred.  He  married  Rebecca  McRae  in 
Canada,  and  her  demise  occurred  in  1899,  when  her 
years  numbered  seventy-eight.  There’  were  eleven 
children  in  the  elder  Cameron  family,  the  subject  being 
the  third  in  order  of  birth.  The  young  Duncan  received 
his  public  school  education  in-  Minneapolis  and  first 
laiew  the  pleasurable  emotions  of  a capitalist  at  the 
age  of  twelve,  when  he  grubbed  out  trees  on  a farm 
twelve  miles  out  of  Minneapolis  for  the  compensation 
of  sixty-five  cents  per  day,  which  money  he  gave  to 
his  mother.  After  this  he  followed  a number  of 
occupations,  such  are  as  usually  intrusted  into  the 
hands  of  lads  prior  to  starting  out  into  the  world.  In 
religious  conviction  he  is  a Presbyterian  and  he  is  an 
active  Republican,  taking  no  inconsiderable  interest  in 
party  affairs  Fraternally  he  is  an  Eagle,  He  is  fond 


of  hunting  and  fishing  and  exceedingly  fond  of  base 
ball,  being  one  of  Meagher  county's  most  eloquent 
and  inspiring^  rooters.  He  is  an  enthusiastic  motorist 
and  owns  a fine  car,  in  which  he  has  viewed  the  gran- 
deur of  Montana’s  varied  scenery.  His  delight  in  auto- 
mobiling  has  not  extinguished  his  pleasure  in  fine 
horses  and  he  keeps  several  admirable  ones.  This  is 
his  testiinony  in  regard  to  Montana ; “I  left  Montana 
three  different  times  and  each  time  have  returned, 
more  satisfied  than  ever  that  it  is  an  ideal  section. 
I could  not  be  satisfied  anywhere  else.  I am  sure 
Montana  offers  more  inducements  and  better  oppor- 
tunities than  any  other  state.” 

Mr.  Cameron  was  married  at  Athens,  Wisconsin, 
in  1893,  his  chosen  lady  being  May  Johns.  Her  lam- 
entable demise  occurred  at  the  age  of  thirty  years,  in 
1899,  and  her  remains  are  interred  at  Athens.  There 
is  one  child,  a boy,  Edgar  Duncan,  now  attending 
school  at  Oshkosh,  Wisconsin. 

The  following  article  written  by  B.  E.  Green,  editor 
of  the  Martinsdale  Independent,  is  copied  herewith 
for  the  reason  that  it  casts  light  on  Mr.  Cameron’s 
public-spirited  interest  in  Meagher  county  and  at  the 
same  time  affords  a glimpse  of  the  attractiveness  of 
this  part  of  the  state. 

“While  visiting  in  White  Sulphur  Springs  last  week 
on  business,  it  was  my  g'ood  fortune  to  come  in  closer 
contact  with  the  hospitable  people  of  that  beautiful  and 
enterprising  community  than  on  any  of  my  previous 
visits.  ^ I was  most  forcibly  struck  by  the  marked 
expression  on  the  part  of  the  Springs  citizens  towards 
the  people  of  Martinsdale,  and  the  words  of  praise 
and  gratitude  for  the  magnificent  showing  and  assist- 
ance rendered  in  the  fight  for  the  Meagher  county 
court  house. 

“The  writer  is  particularly  indebted  to  Mr.  D.  Cam- 
eron, of  the  D.  Cameron  Realty  Company,  the  largest 
indiv'.dual  realty  dealer  in  this  section  of  the  state, 
who  placed  one  of  his  automobiles  at  my  disposal, 
thus  enabling  me  not  only  to  see  the  town  with  its 
adjacent  new  additions,  but  also  to  traverse  nearly 
the  entire  Smith  River  valley. 

“I  have  always  been  aware  of  the  fact  that  this 
beautiful  valley  possessed  great  resources  and  was 
destined  to  a most  successful  future,  but  one  must 
needs  visit  this  garden  spot  to  understand  and 
thoroughly  appreciate  its  vast  possibilities  and  seem- 
ingly^  indescribable  beauty. 

"Picture  to  yourself  a fertile  strip  of  peaceful  val- 
ley about  fifty  miles  in  length,  ranging  from  ten  to 
twenty  miles  in  width,  banked  on  either  side  by  snow- 
capped mountain  ranges  from  which  ever  flow  the 
beautiful  rivulets  that  go  to  make  and  feed  the  Smith 
river,  that,  in  its  turn,  furnishes  the  nourishment  for 
an  ever  responsive  soil ; witness  the  peace,  comfort 
and  prosperity  evidenced  by  the  magnificent  homes 
with  the  great  ample  outbuildings,  bursting  as  it  were, 
with  the  products  of  the  lands ; note  the  well-fed 
cattle  grazing  in  meadows  and  on  hill;  observe  the 
expression  of  contentment  of  the  wives  and  daughters 
of  its  ranchers,  and  you  have  but  a glimpse  only  of 
the  wonders  of  that  valley. 

“I  cannot  but  say  that  it  seems  to  me  that  no  words 
of  the  poet  or  brush  of  the  artist  can  do  justice  to  its 
beauty  and  time  itself  will  only  tell  of  its  vast  and 
boundless  opportunities. 

“On  Wednesday  of  last  week,  Mr.  Cameron  at  the 
wheel,  we  motored  to  the  famous  crystal  cave  in  the 
Castle  mountains,  about  eight  miles  east  of  White 
Sulphur  Springs.  This  particular  cave  has  been  much 
written  about  by  the  most  noted  paleontologists  and 
geologists  occupying  chairs  in  the  different  universi- 
ties not  only  of  this  country,  but  of  the  old  world. 
It  is  the  regret  of  the  writer  that  his  education  has 
not  been  sufficiently  advanced  in  the  sciences  to  in- 
telligently describe  this  remarkable  cave.  Suffice  it  to 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1123 


say,  however,  that  the  effort  necessary  to  reach  it  was 
well  rewarded  by  the  interesting  scenes  within  its 
wonderful  chambers.  The  cave  is  about  two  hundred 
feet  in  depth  and  comprises  a number  of  high,  dome- 
shaped roofs,  the  ceilings  of  which  reflect  in  its  crystal 
facets  and  stalactites,  myriads  of  beautiful  vari-colored 
lights,  one  chamber  in  particular,  known  as  the  bridal 
chamber,  and  in  which  our  party  lunched,  beirig  said 
to  be  the  most  gorgeous  cave  of  its  kind  in  existence. 

“On  our  return  we  visited  the  Ram’s  Horn  Cave, 
situated  about  five  miles  northeast  of  White  Sulphur. 
In  response  to  an  expressed  desire  to  visit  the  mines, 
we  were  immediately  whirled  out  to  Mr.  Cameron’s 
mine,  known  as  the  Cleaveland  Alabama  Mining  Com- 
pany, where  our  party  made  a tour  through  the  dif- 
ferent tunnels  and  underground  workings  of  this 
splendid  property.  Mining  bears  no  small  relation  to 
the  ot’ner  resouries  that  go  to  build  up  community, 
state  and  nation,  and  the  great  possibilities  offered  in 
this  line  from  the  vast  mineral  deposits  in  the  moun- 
tains surrounding  the  Smith  River  valley  must  ere 
long  contribute  its  share  to  the  building  up  of  this 
part  of  the  state.  Mr.  Cameron  tells  me  that  this  mine 
is  in  excellent  shape  and  he  is  arranging  for  the  im- 
mediate shipment  of  ore  from  it  and  that,  too,  there 
will  be  several  other  properties  in  close  proximity  to 
White  Sulphur  Springs  soon  in  ore  shipping  con- 
dition. 

“On  our  return  to  White  Sulphur  Springs  the  writer 
was  that  evening  a guest  at  a dinner  given  at  the 
Springs  Hotel  under  the  auspices  of  the  Meagher  County 
Boosters  Club,  where  a most  enjoyable  evening  was 
spent  and  renewals  of  friendship  and  fealty  pledged 
in  speeches  made  to  our  people  of  Martinsdale.” 

Elbridge  M.  Smith,  who  is  efficiently  filling  the  office 
of  treasurer  of  Madison  county,  Montana,  has  for  many 
years  been  a leading  and  influential  citizen  of  this 
county  and  his  activity  in  business  affairs,  his  co-opera- 
tion in  public  interests  and  his  zealous  support  of  all 
objects  that  he  believes  will  contribute  to  the  material, 
social  or  moral  improvement  of  this  section  keeps  him 
in  the  foremost  rank  of  those  to  whom  this  county  owes 
its  development  and  present  position  as  one  of  the  im- 
portant business  districts  of  Montana.  Mr.  Smith  main- 
tains his  home  at  Virginia  City,  where  his  genial,  kindly 
manner  has  won  him  the  high  regard  and  good  will  of 
all  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact. 

A native  of  Illinois,  Elbridge  M.  Smith  was  born  in 
Hampshire,  that  state,  April  29,  1878.  Elbridge  L. 
Smith,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  review,  was  born 
and  reared  in  Ohio,  whence  later  he  removed  to  Illinois. 
In  1880  he  came  to  Montana  and  settled  in  Madison 
county,  where  he  gained  prominence  along  mercantile 
lines.  At  one  time  he  had  stores  at  Twin  Bridges, 
Pony  and  Virginia  City  and  he  was  the  owner  of  con- 
siderable real  estate  throughout  this  section  of  the  state. 
His  death  occurred  June  14,  1893,  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
five  years,  and  he  is  buried  in  the  Masonic  cemetery  at 
Virginia  City,  where  his  wife,  who  passed  to  the  life 
eternal  in  1909,  is  likewise  interred.  Airs.  Smith,  whose 
girlhood  name  was  Augusta  A.  Grupp,  was  a great  help 
to  her  husband  in  his  business  affairs  and  after  his 
death  she  managed  the  entire  estate  with  marked  suc- 
cess. She  and  her  husband  had  but  one  child,  Elbridge 
M.,  of  this  notice. 

Mr.  Smith  was  a child  of  but  two  years  of  age  at  the 
time  of  his  parents’  removal  to  Montana,  in  1880,  and 
here  he  has  resided  during  the  long  intervening  years 
to  the  present  time,  in  1912.  His  preliminary  educa- 
tional training  consisted  of  such  advantages  as  were 
offered  in  Pony  and  Virginia  City  and  as  a youth  he  be- 
came associated  with  his  father  in  the  general  merchan- 
dise business.  In  1900  he  was  appointed  deputy  clerk 
of  court  at  Virginia  City  and  he  retained  that  position 
for  a period  of  five  years,  at  the  end  of  which  he  went 
voi.  n— IS 


to  Whitehall,  where  he  started  a hotel  with  his  mother. 
Subsequently  he  disposed  of  the  hotel  and  returned  to 
Virginia  City,  where  he  secured  a position  with  the 
Convey  Placer  Mining  Company,  working  for  that  con- 
cern at  Ruby  for  nearly  four  years.  At  first  he  was 
stock  clerk  but  later  assumed  charge  of  the  electrical 
department  of  the  company.  In  1910  he  resigned  and 
went  to  Twin  Bridges,  where  he  engaged  in  the  auto- 
mobile business  for  a short  time  and  where  he  became 
actively  interested  in  politics.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  he 
was  honored  by  his  fellow  citizens  with  election  to  the 
office  of  treasurer  of  Aladison  county,  a position  he  is 
now  filling  with  the  utmost  satisfaction  to  his  constitu- 
ents. Mr.  Smith  has  been  interested  in  mining  opera- 
tions during  the  greater  part  of  his  active  career  and  he 
is  the  owner  of  several  fine  properties  in  Madison 
county.  He  likewise  has  extensive  real-estate  holdings 
in  this  county,  being  the  owner  of  a number  of  lots 
in  Virginia  City,  Pony  and  Twin  Bridges. 

Ever  since  early  boyhood  Mr.  Smith  has  manifested 
great  talent  along  mechanical  lines  and  when  but  si.x- 
teen  years  of  age  he  built  a full  two-stamp  mill,  which 
was  moved  to  Summit  and  afterwards  used  for  freeing 
gold  ore,  and  has  a full  operating  engine  that  he  built 
himself  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years.  He  is  very  enthusi- 
astic about  Aladison  county,  where  he  has  lived  during 
practically  his  entire  lifetime  thus  far,  and  says  that 
from  any  point  of  view — mining,  agriculture,  cattle  and 
sheep-raising,  etc.,  it  is  pretty  hard  to  beat  us  and  find 
a country  more  promising. 

In  the  city  of  Butte,  Montana,  August  ii,  1902,  Air. 
Smith  was  united  in  marriage  to  Aliss  Sarah  E.  Walkers 
a daughter  of  James  G.  Walker,  of  Virginia  City.  Four 
children  have  been  born  to  this  union,  as  follows : 
Edith  V.  and  Aluriel,  both  in  school ; Garth  AI.,  de- 
ceased ; and  Geraldine  A.,  the  baby  at  home.  Air.  and 
Airs.  Smith  are  devout  communicants  of  the  Episcopal 
church  in  their  religious  faith  and  she  is  a stanch  church 
worker,  being  likewise  a member  of  the  Ladies  Guild. 
Fraternally  Air.  Smith  is  a Alason,  being  a valued  and 
appreciative  member  of  the  lodge,  chapter,  council  and 
commandery  of  the  York  Rite  branch  of  that  organiza- 
tion and  being  also  a member  of  the  Ancient  Arabic 
Order  of  the  Nobles  of  the  Alystic  Shrine.  He  is  fond 
of  music  and  is  a skilled  player  on  the  piano  and  he 
devotes  a great  deal  of  time  to  reading  along  scientific 
lines.  His  greatest  pleasure,  however,  is  in  the  study 
of  mechanics  and  its  application.  He  is  the  owner  of  a 
fine  automobile  and  he  and  his  family  enjoy  many  tours 
throughout  the  country  tributary  to  Virginia  City.  The 
Smith  home  is  renowned  as  a center  of  refinement  and 
most  generous  hospitality  and  it  is  the  scene  of  many 
attractive  social  gatherings. 

Thomas  E.  Castle,  foreman  of  the  Virginia  City 
Times  and  proprietor  of  the  Castle  Hennery,  a large 
and  well  known  chicken  farm  in  Aladison  county,  Alon- 
tana,  is  a representative  business  man  and  one  who  not 
only  has  achieved  his  individual  success  but  has  also 
public-spiritedly  devoted  himself  to  the  general  welfare 
of  his  fellow  citizens,  having  ever  been  foremost  in  ad- 
vancing enterprises  and  improvements  which  will  prove 
of  lasting  benefit  to  the  city,  county  and  state.  He  is, 
furthermore,  a self-made  man,  having  been  bereft  of 
his  parents  at  an  early  age  and  compelled  to  seek  his 
living  and  advancement  as  best  he  could.  From  the 
first  he  was  possessed  of  ambition  and  determination 
and  his  energy,  courage  and  business  judgment  have 
brought  him  to  a position  of  esteem  and  influence  among 
the  citizens  of  this  state,  where  he  is  a man  of  mark  in 
all  the  relations  of  life. 

In  Brookville,  Indiana,  on  the  20th  of  December,  1861, 
occurred  the  birth  of  Thomas  E.  Castle,  who  is  a son 
of  Thomas  I.  and  Alary  J.  (Knight)  Castle,  both  of 
whom  were  born  in  the  city  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  The 
father  was  a mechanic  by  trade  and  resided  during  the 


1124 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


major  portion  of  his  lifetime  in  Indiana,  where  his  de- 
mise occurred  in  1879,  at  the  age  of  forty-nine  years. 
He  was  a gallant  and  faithful  soldier  in  the  Union 
army  during  the  Civil  war  and  as  such  was  a member 
of  the  Thirteenth  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry.  His 
wife,  who  preceded  him  to  the  life  eternal,  died  in 
1876.  They  are  buried  in  Petersburg,  Indiana. 

Mr.  Castle,  of  this  notice,  was  a child  of  six  years  of 
age  at  the  time  of  his  parents’  removal  from  Brookville 
to  Petersburg,  Indiana,  in  which  latter  place  he  attended 
the  public  schools  until  his  mother’s  death,  in  1876. 
The  home  broke  up  about  that  time  and  after  his  fath- 
er’s death,  three  years  later,  Mr.  Castle  became  entirely 
dependent  upon  his  own  resources.  For  two  years  he 
was  employed  as  a farm  hand  on  various  estates  in 
Indiana  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he  entered 
upon  an  apprenticeship  to  learn  the  printer’s  trade.  In 
1879  lie  went  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  thence  to  Chicago, 
Illinois,  in  which  latter  city  he  remained  until  1886, 
when  he  went  to  California,  where  he  worked  on  news- 
papers in  San  Francisco  and  other  cities  for  the  ensu- 
ing two  years.  In  the  early  part  of  1888  he  came  to 
Montana  and  settled  lin  Butte,  which  place  repre- 
sented his  home  for  the  next  eleven  years,  during  which 
tirne  he  was  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  and  in 
printing.  In  1899  he  came  to  Virginia  City,  where  he 
has  since  resided  continuously  and  where  he  is  now 
incumbent  of  the  position  of  foreman  of  the  Virginia 
City  Times,  one  of  the  best  newspapers  in  the  west. 
In  the  year  1906  he  started  a chicken  ranch  about  two 
and  a half  miles  distant  from  Virginia  City  and  the 
same  is  known  as  the  Castle  Flennery.  Mr.  Castle  has 
the  largest  exclusive  poultry  ranch  in  Montana  and 
breeds  only  thoroughbred  fowls,  which  he  ships  to 
various  points  throughout  this  section  of  the  country. 
He  has  met  with  unusual  success  in  this  enterprise  and 
as  a business  man  is  commended  very  highly  for  his 
fair  and  honorable  career. 

In  politics  he  is  a stalwart  Democrat  and  in  a fraternal 
way  is  affiliated  with  the  Masons,  the  Elks,  the  Eagles 
and  the  Woodmen  of  the  World.  He  has  served  in  an 
official  capacity  in  the  Masonic  order  and  in  the  Wood- 
men of  the  World.  He  is  fond  of  fishing  and  takes 
many  long  rambles  through  the  woods  and  mountains. 
He  insists  that  Montana  is  the  best  state  in  the  best 
country  in  the  world  and  that  Madison  county  is  the 
best  county  in  the  best  state  in  the  world.  Mr.  Castle 
is  married,  his  wife’s  maiden  name  being  Miss  Sopha 
Werner,  and  has  three  children,  Edgar  G.,  Alathea  B. 
and  Helen  L.,  the  first  two  of  whom  are  now  attending 
school. 

Henry  N.  CoFFM.^N.  Among  the  public-spirited 
citizens  of  Billings  whose  standing  and  character  en- 
’title  them  to  conspicuous  mention  in  the  history  of 
Montana  is  Mr.  Henry  N.  Coffman,  who  came  to  Mon- 
tana in  1880  and  accordingly  must  be  numbered  among 
the  pioneers  of  this  section.  He  is  a native  of  Putnam 
county,  Indiana,  where  he  was  born  August  5,  1837. 
His  parents,  William  and  Mary  (Huffman)  Coffman, 
came  originally  from  Kentucky,  the  father  having  been 
born  in  that  state,  near  Lexington,  in  1812,  and  the 
mother  near  Cynthia,  in  1813.  They  came  to  Indiana 
when  young,  met  and  married  there,  and  became  the 
parents  of  ten  children,  six  of  whom,  including  Henry 
N.,  are  now  living.  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  Alfred 
Keller,  Nancy  is  the  widow  of  Jackson  Keller,  Pauline 
is  married  to  James  Houser,  Mary  is  the  wife  of 
Daniel  Hodge,  the  remaining  member  being  the  son 
William.  The  elder  Coffman  followed  the  occupation 
of  farmer  throughout  his  life,  first  in  Putnam  and  later 
in  Owen  county,  in  which  last  locality  he  died  in  1888, 
his  wife  having  preceded  him  to  the  better  land  a year 
earlier.  The  family  was  prominent  in  the  life  of  the 
community  in  which  they  lived  and  the  name  has  been 
an  honored  one  for  generations. 


Henry  N.  Coffman,  whose  life  this  sketch  briefly 
reviews,  spent  his  early  boyhood  days  on  his  father’s 
farm  in  Indiana  and  attended  school  during  the  win- 
ters. He  followed  the  occupation  of  farming  with  his 
father  in  Owen  county  for  several  years,  then  in  1869 
removed  to  a farm  in  Sullivan  county,  Missouri,  where 
he  operated  as  a general  farmer  and  stock  raiser.  In 
1880  he  came  to  Montana,  locating  first  in  Gallatin 
county,  where  for  the  ten  succeeding  years  he  pros- 
pered in  the  same  line  of  endeavor.  His  next  move 
was  to  Fergus  county,  in  which  place  he  farmed  for 
thirteen  years  and  then  decided  to  return  |to  his 
native  state  and  again  take  up  his  residence  there.  He 
had  become  thoroughly  imbued  with  western  life,  how- 
ever, and  only  remained  in  Indiana  about  a year  and  a 
half,  then  again  sought  a location  in  Montana  and  came 
to  Yellowstone  county  and  bought  the  farm  three  miles 
east  of  Billings  which  he  still  conducts.  Mr.  Coffman 
does  not,  however,  live  upon  his  ranch,  but  owns  a home 
in  Billings  which  he  occupies,  and  superintends  the 
farm  work  from  day  to  day,  driving  back  and  forth  as 
necessity  requires  his  presence  on  the  place. 

Mr.  (Coffman  was  first  married  in  1859  to  Miss  Mar- 
garet Jane  Modderl,  who  was  born  in  Indiana.  She 
became  the  mother  of  nine  children,  namely:  Mary  E., 
wife  of  Samuel  Belcher,  of  California;  Sarah  Jane, 
widow  of  J.  Henry  Watson,  and  a resident  also  of  Cali- 
fornia; Daniel  V.;  Henrietta,  the  wife  of  William  Mc- 
Callum ; William  S. ; Bertram;  Nettie  M.,  wife  of 
Nathan  Callantine ; Eva  Ellen,  wife  of  George  Crolus ; 
and  Thomas.  Mrs.  Coffman  died  in  1884,  and  Mr.  Coff- 
man took  as  his  second  wife  Elizabeth  Rose,  who  also 
died.  His  third  marriage  united  him  with  Mrs.  Fannie 
King,  nee  Mull.  She  had  been  married  three  times 
previously.  Her  first  husband  was  Mr.  Maderius,  by 
whom  she  bore  two  children,  the  second  was  Mr.  Spratt, 
four  children  being  born  of  that  union,  a boy,  who  died 
several  years  ago,  Elizabeth,  May  and  Frances,  the 
latter  the  wife  of  Steral  Pomeroy,  of  Chicago.  Her 
third  husband  was  Mr.  King,  and  a son  and  daughter 
were  born  of  that  union.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Coffman  have 
a very  pleasant  and  hospitable  home  in  Billings  and  are 
highly  esteemed  by  a wide  circle  of  friends  and  ac- 
quaintances. They  are  active  members  of  the  Christian 
church  and  take  a great  interest  in  all  that  makes  for 
the  best  welfare  of  the  community  in  which  they  reside. 

Mr.  Coffman  is  a man  of  many  fine  personal  qualities, 
has  broad  sympathies,  is  liberal  and  progressive  in  all 
that  pertains  to  civic  and  commercial  life  and  is  rightly 
counted  among  the  most  substantial  and  enterorising  of 
Billing’s  citizens. 

John  H.  Grant,  of  Roundup,  Montana,  is  the  lead- 
ing contractor  and  architect  of  the  district.  He  has 
many  imposing  buildings  to  his  credit,  among  them  the 
new  school  at  Judith  Gap.  He  has  been  engaged  in 
this  line  for  several  years,  but  had  never  devoted  his 
entire  time  to  it  until  1908,  when  he  opened  his  present 
office  at  Roundup. 

Mr.  Grant  is  not  far  from  having  the  honor  of  being 
a native  son  of  Montana.  Plis  parents  brought  him 
to  the  state  when  he  was  only  a few  months  old  and  he 
has  lived  within  its  bounds  ever  since.  He  was  born 
in  ‘Downey,  Iowa,  March  2,  1879,  the  son  of  John  M. 
and  Mary  (Cameron)  Grant.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grant 
were  both  born  in  Scotland,  came  to  America  when 
young  and  their  marriage  took  place  in  Canada.  Later 
they  moved  to  Iowa  and  came  to  Montana  in  1880, 
where  Mr.  Grant  took  up  ranching.  His  death  occur- 
red nine  years  later,  however,  at  White  Sulphur_  Springs. 
He  was  fifty-five  years  old  at  the  time  of  his  death. 
His  widow  now  lives  with  her  son,  John  H.,  in  Round- 
up, and  their  other  two  children  are  married  and  reside 
in  other  parts  of  Montana.  Annie  married  Martin  J. 
Settle  of  Bozeman,  and  Egbert  S.  is  married  and  re- 
sides at  Hodginsville. 


f- 


I 


i 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1125 


John  H.  Grant  attended  the  public  schools  at  Martins- 
dale,  White  Sulphur  Springs,  and  Helena,  and  finished 
his  education  with  a business  college  course  at  Helens'. 
He  earned  his  first  money  as  a boy  of  fifteen  by  herd- 
ing horses  and  cattle  at  a salary  of  forty  dollars  a 
month.  Later  he  started  in  the  ranch  and  stock  busi- 
ness for  himself,  and  for  eight  years  operated  a steam 
thrashing  outfit.  He  also  worked  as  a contractor  and 
builder  at  odd  times  until  1908,  when  he  decided  to  give 
all  of  his  attention  to  the  latter  business. 

Mr.  Grant  attends  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  as 
a Republican  takes  an  active  interest  in  politics.  He  has 
been  connected  with  the  school  board,  and  has  held 
several  offices  in  the  Knights  of  Pythias  lodge  of 
which  he  is  a member.  He  also  belongs  to  the  Odd 
Fellows  and  the  Elks.  He  has  never  married. 

Fred  P.  Holbrook.  Representative  men  from  all 
parts  of  the  United  States  have  recognized  the  advan- 
tages of  Butte,  Montana,  as  a commercial  center,  and 
foreseen  its  growth  and  development  as  the  leading 
metropolis  of  an  immensely  rich  section  of  the  great 
northwest,  and  those  who  came  early  and  participated 
in  that  rapid  progress  which  the  city  has  enjoyed  of 
recent  years  have  received  just  rewards  for  their 
shrewdness  and  insight.  It  was  thirty  years  ago  that 
Mr.  Fred  P.  Holbrook  came  from  his  Atlantic  coast 
home  to  Montana  and  decided  to  cast  in  his  lot  with 
the  fortunes  of  this  portion  of  the  west,  and  subse- 
quent years  have  amply  proved  the  wisdom  of  that 
decision.  Mr.  Holbrook  was  a young  man,  energetic 
and  ambitious,  and  the  country  was  new  and  in  need 
of  such  men  to  build  it  up.  He  came  of  hardy  old 
New  England  pioneer  stock  and  was  himself  a native 
of  Maine,  his  birth  having  occurred  at  Newport,  that 
state,  August  26,  1862.  His  father  was  William  Hol- 
brook, born  in  New  Hampshire  in  1820,  of  English 
ancestry,  the  first  members  of  the  family  having  come 
here  in  prerevolutionary  days  and  been  participators 
in  that  great  conflict  which  resulted  in  the  establish- 
ment of  this  independent  country  of  freedom.  Wil- 
liam Holbrook  was  a contractor  and  builder  of  New- 
port, Maine,  and  he  spent  his  entire  lifetime  in  that 
state,  dying  there  in  1877.  He  married  Caroline 
Boland,  who  was  born  in  Maine  in  1826,  and  whose 
family  came  originally  from  Ireland,  her  great-grand- 
father Boland  having  been  one  of  the  American  founders 
who  settled  in  Maine  very  early.  She  survived  her 
husband  several  years  and  died  in  December,  1884. 

Fred  P.  Holbrook  was  the  youngest  of  a family 
of  seven  children.  He  was  reared  and  educated  in 
his  native  state,  having  enjoyed  the  advantages  of 
study  in  the  public  schools  and  later  attended  Corrina 
Academy.  His  first  independent  business  venture  was 
with  the  Canastota  Publishing  Company  as  a salesman 
of  subscription  books  for  the  firm,  in  which  line  of 
work  he  was  very  successful  both  in  a financial  way 
and  in  acquiring  e.xperience  in  salesmanship  and  a 
knowledge  of  human  nature  that  was  valuable  to  him 
in  after  years. 

Coming  to  Montana  in  1880,  Mr.  Holbrook  first 
located  at  Helena.  During  his  residence  there  he  was 
for  a time  proprietor  of  the  old  Merchants  Hotel, 
which  he  purchased  and  conducted  for  two  years. 
He  later  disposed  of  that  hostelry  and  associated  him- 
self with  the  firm  of  Kleinschmidt  Brothers  & Co., 
general  merchants,  taking  charge  of  that  company’s 
store  at  Radersburg,  Montana,  and  conducting  it  for 
eight  years.  Upon  severing  his  connection  with  that 
firm  he  decided  to  engage  in  business  on  his  own 
account,  and  in  1891  came  to  Butte  and  established  the 
Fred  Holbrook  Shoe  Store  at  37  North  Main  street. 
He  did  a large  business  in  the  retail  sale  of  shoes  at 
that  place  until  1904,  when  he  sold  out  and  then  estab- 
lished the  Kumfort  Shoe  Company,  and  under  that 
firm  name  has  since  conducted  business  in  a com- 


modious store  at  ■ 16  West  Park  street.  He  makes  a 
specialty  of  dealing  in  medium  priced  shoes  and  has 
built  up  a fine  trade,  his  stock  being  complete  and  up- 
to-date,  his  goods  low  priced  and  of  high  proportion- 
ate value,  and  his  clerks  courteous  and  competent. 

Mr.  Holbrook  is  a man  of  keen  business  ability,  and 
by  judicious  investments  has  acquired  a large  amount 
of  property,  owning  a number  of  valuable  pieces  of 
real  estate  in  the  principal  business  section  of  the 
city,  where  values  are  high.  While  his  political  .sym- 
pathies .are  Republican,  he  takes  no  active  part  in  poli- 
tical matters,  but  devotes  his  time  to  the  management 
of  his  large  and  increasing  private  business  interests. 
He  is  prominent  in  club  and  fraternal  circles  being  a 
member  of  the  Butte  Country  Club,  the  Silver  Bow 
Club,  Silver  Bow  Lodge,  No.  48,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  of 
which  he  is  a past  master,  and  is  a member  also  of  the 
Chapter  and  Council.  He  has  a host  of  friends  in  this 
city  and  state  and  is  held  in  high  esteem  and  respect 
by  all  for  his  many  sterling  personal  qualities,  liber- 
ality and  broad  sympathies. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Holbrook  to  Miss  Margaret 
Grace  Scriber  occurred  February  28,  1894,  at  Salem, 
Oregon.  Mrs.  Holbrook  was  born  in  Oregon,  August 
22,  1869,  daughter  of  Charles  Scriber,  a pioneer  settler 
of  Marion  county,  Oregon,  and  she  died  November 
20,  1907,  without  issue.  On  April  29,  1911,  Mr.  Hol- 
brook and  Miss  Jessie  M.  Magill  were  united  in  mar- 
riage and  they  now  occupy  their  well  appointed  and 
hospitable  home  at  6241/^  North  Galena  street.  Mrs. 
Holbrook  is  a daughter  of  C.  O.  Magill,  of  Kansas, 
a former  resident  of  Butte. 

Ch.-\rles  B.  Cl.\rk.  Typical  of  the  sturdy  man- 
hood that  has  been  the  medium  through  which  the 
state  of  Montana  has  achieved  greatness  within  the 
span  of  a few  short  years,  Charles  B.  Clark  stands 
today  among  the  most  substantial  citizens  of  Billings. 
The  success  which  has  come  to  him  is  well  merited  and 
has  been  fairly  earned.  He  has  had  his  full  share  of 
disappointments  and  discouragements,  but  through- 
out his  career  he  has  displayed  a cheerful  character, 
philosophically  taking  his  misfortunes  as  a part  of 
the  trials  to  be  borne  by  the  pioneer  in  new  fields 
and  new  places,  and  that  today  he  is  regarded  as  one 
of  his  city’s  representative  men  is  but  the  result  of  a 
life  of  earnest,  steadfast  effort.  A'lr.  Clark  was  born 
at  Henderson,  Sibley  county,  Minnesota,  August  31, 
1856,  and  is  a son  of  John  A.  and  Sarah  (Butler) 
Clark.  , 

Mr.  Clark’s  parents,  natives  of  Ohio,  removed  from 
that  state  to  Illinois,  where  they  spent  some  time  in 
Jo  Daviess  county,  then  going  to  Henry  county,  Iowa. 
During  the  lead  excitement  at  Galena,  Illinois,  they 
returned  to  that  place,  the  father  engaging  in  lead 
mining  for  five  or  six  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time 
the  family  moved  to  St.  Paul,  Minnesota.  They  re- 
mained in  St.  Paul  until  the  spring  of  1852,  when  they 
settled  in  Henderson,  and  there  Mr.  Clark’s  death 
occurred  in  1857,  in  the  midst  of  a successful  mercan- 
tile career.  He  was  the  owner  of  a large  store,  and 
the  high  esteem  in  which  he  was  universally  held  was 
made  manifest  by  his  election  to  various  offices  of 
public  trust.  He  was  the  first  sheriff  of  Sibley  county, 
and  served  in  other  public  positions. 

The  education  of  Charles  B.  Clark  was  secured  in 
the  common  schools  of  his  native  place,  and  in  1866, 
when  he  was  ten  years  old,  went  with  his  mother  to 
Litchfield,  In  which  town  they  remained  until  1873. 
He  then  joined  the  Stanley  expedition  engaged  in  run- 
ning the  first  lines  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad, 
and  as  a member  of  the  surveying  party  made  his  first 
entrance  into  Montana.  He  remained  within  the  limits 
of  the  territory  until  the  expedition  disbanded  a few 
months  later,  when  he  went  to  Bismarck,  North  Dakota, 
and  in  the  fall  of  1876  joined  the  stampede  to  the 


1126 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


Black  Hills.  The  next  four  years  were  spent  in  mining 
and  freighting,  but  he  met  with  only  indifferent  suc- 
cess, and  in  the  spring  of  1880  he  came  up  the  Yellow- 
stone to  Bozeman.  In  the  fall  he  went  to  Helena  and 
engaged  in  sawmilling  with  Holter  Brothers,  remain- 
ing in  that  vicinity  until  1888,  and  during  that  time 
located  the  Jerusha  mine  at  Empire,  which  he  and 
“Deaf  John’’  Gleason  developed.  Mr.  Clark  sold  his 
interest  in  this  property  to  A.  J.  Seligman  after  he 
had  taken  out  about  $50,000  worth  of  ore,  and  he  then 
went  to  Butte  where  he  leased  and  worked  various 
mines  with  a fair  degree  of  success.  In  1893  he  gave 
up  mining  and  located  on  Clark’s  Fork,  fifteen  miles 
east  of  Red  Lodge,  where  he  developed  one  of  the 
finest  ranches  in  the  state,  with  every  improvement 
known  to  modern  ranch.ing.  For  a number  of  years 
he  gave  a great  deal  of  attention  to  the  raising  of 
Hereford  cattle,  and  at  times  had  as  high  as  500  head, 
but  sold  his  interest  in  this  line,  intending  to  give  up 
his  business  activities  and  retire.  This,  however,  was 
not  to  be.  In  1907  he  disposed  of  his  ranch  and  took 
a trip  to  Alaska,  and  during  the  summer  of  that  year 
associated  himself  with  T.  P.  McDonald  in  the  Behring 
coal  fields,  where  he  and  his  friends  invested  $200,000. 
A contract  was  drawn  with  the  Alaska  Syndicate  Rail- 
road to  build  a road  into  the  coal  mines  being  developed, 
they  to  take  300  tons  of  coal  per  day  at  $7.00  per  ton, 
but  the  interested  parties  were  notified  by  Government 
Agent  Garvis  that  mining  must  cease,  and  they  thus 
were  victims  of  the  Ballinger-Pinchot  controversy. 
During  the  winter  of  1907  Mr.  Clark  returned  to 
Seattle,  'W^ashington,  where  he  spent  the  winter  and 
spring  and  in  May,  1908,  went  to  Prince  Rupert,  the 
terminal  of  the  Grand  Trunk  Pacific  Railroad.  He 
then  moved  on  to  Skeena  and  some  200  miles  further 
to  Hazelton  where  he  began  prospecting  for  coal. 
With  his  associates  he  located  ten  sections  of  coal  lands 
and  during  that  summer  returned  to  Seattle.  During 
the  spring  that  followed  he  returned  to  Alaska,  going 
up  Cook’s  Pass  to  Knik  where  he  purchased  a saddle 
horse  and  pack  animals,  and  passed  on  to  Talkettna 
range,  near  Mount  McKinley.  Meeting,  however,  with 
only  indifferent  success,  Mr.  Clark  returned  to  Seattle, 
where  he  was  joined  by  his  family  and  they  all  came 
on  to  Billings.  During  the  summer  of  1911  he  made 
another  trip  to  British  Columbia,  and  took  a bond  on 
ten  copper  claims  in  the  Buckley  valley  which  he  had 
noticed  on  a previous  trip.  Crews  of  men  are  now 
developing  this  property. 

In  April,  1893,  Mr.  Clark  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
Barkley,  a native  of  Shakopee,  Minnesota,  and  daugh- 
ter of  John  Barkley.  They  have  no  children  except  an 
adopted  daughter,  Ruth.  In  fraternal  relations  he  is 
affiliated  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  Mr. 
Clark’s  home  is  situated  at  No.  803  North  Twenty- 
eighth  street.  Mr.  Clark  has  led  a busy  and  a useful 
life,  and  during  the  years  of  his  activity  has  done 
much  to  develop  the  resources  of  his  adopted  state. 
He  well  merits  the  esteem  and  confidence  in  which  he 
is  held  by  his  fellow  citizens. 

John  B.  Sulliv.\n,  M.  D.  A resident  of  Montana 
from  his  childhood  days.  Dr.  Sullivan  has  risen  to  a 
position  of  distinct  prominence  as  one  of  the  repre- 
sentative physicians  and  surgeons  of  the  metropolis 
of  the  state,  his  success  being  the  more  gratifying  to 
note  by  reason  of  the  fact  that  it  stands  as  the  concrete 
result  of  his  own  ability  and  efforts.  Through  his  own 
earning  he  defrayed  the  expenses  of  his  professional 
education,  and  to  one  of  such  marked  ambition  and 
determination  success  comes  as  a logical  sequel  of  well 
directed  endeavors.  The  doctor  has  served  as  city 

physician  of  Butte  and  has  been  secretary  of  the 
county  board  of  health  since  1905,  his  retention  of  this 
office  showing  his  strong  hold  upon  popular  esteem  in 


the  community  and  also  indicating  the  high  regard  in 
which  he  is  held  by  his  professional  confreres. 

Dr.  Sullivan  claims  the  old  Keystone  state  as  the 
place  of  his  nativity,  as  he  was  born  in  Newcastle, 
Lawrence  county,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  23d  of  October, 
1878.  He  is  a son  of  Timothy  D.  and  Johanna  (Con- 
nolly) Sullivan,  both  natives  of  Ireland,  the  former 
having  been  born  in  County  Kerry,  in  1836,  and  the 
latter  in  County  Kilkenny,  in  1848.  Timothy  D.  Sul- 
livan came  to  America  in  1852,  as  a boy  of  about  fifteen 
years,  and  thereafter  he  was  continuously  identified  with 
mining  operations  in  the  state  of  Pennsylvania  for 
more  than  a quarter  of  a century,  a man  of  sterling 
character  and  unflagging  industry.  In  1880  he  came 
with  his  family  to  the  territory  of  Montana  and  located 
at  Butte,  where  he  found  employment  in  connection 
with  the  mining  industry.  He  died  in  Helena  on  the 
nth  of  April,  1889.  There  are  few  dramatic  passages 
in  the  history  of  his  life,  but  his  course  was  marked 
by  impregnable  integrity  of  purpose  and  by  earnest 
effort  as  one  of  the  world’s  workers,  so  that  he  ac- 
counted well  in  all  the  relations  of  life  and  was  not 
denied  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  fellow  men. 
His  wife,  came  to  the  United  States  in  1870  and  their 
marriage  was  solemnized  in  1873,  at  Newcastle,  Penn- 
sylvania. The  devoted  wife  and  mother  was  sum- 
moned to  the  life  eternal  on  the  17th  of  February, 
1881,  her  death  having  occurred  at  Meaderville,  a sub- 
urb of  the  city  of  Butte.  Both  she  and  her  husband 
were  devout  communicants  of  the  Catholic  church, 
and  to  this  noble  mother  of  Christendom  three  of 
their  four  children  have  dedicated  their  lives.  Dr.  Sul- 
livan, of  this  review,  being  the  one  exception.  Rev. 
Ambrose  A.  Sullivan,  eldest  of  the  children,  is  a 
member  of  the  Jesuit  order  of  the  Catholic  priest- 
hood and  is  a resident  of  St.  Ignatius,  Montana, 
as  well  as  a missionary  among  the  Indians  of  that  sec- 
tion. Rev.  Stephen  J.  Sullivan  is  likewise  one  of  the 
representative  members  of  the  priesthood  of  the  Cath- 
olic church  in  Montana  and  is  president  of  St.  Charles’ 
College,  in  the  city  of  Helena.  Dr.  John  B.  Sullivan, 
subject  of  this  sketch,  is  the  youngest  of  the  sons,  and 
the  only  daughter,  Josie  C.,  who  was  born  in  the  city  of 
Butte,  on  the  14th  of  February,  1881,  is  a Sister  of 
Charity  in  the  Catholic  church,  her  present  residence 
being  at  Leavenworth,  Kansas. 

Dr.  Sullivan  is  indebted  to  the  parochial  and  public 
schools  of  Helena,  Montana,  for  his  early  educational 
advantages,  and  in  pursuance  of  his  higher  academic 
studies  he  entered  Gonzaga  College,  a fine  Catholic 
University  at  Spokane,  Washington,  in  which  he  was 
graduated  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1895  and  from 
which  he  received  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts. 
Thereafter  he  held  a clerical  and  executive  position  in 
the  office  of  one  of  the  extensive  smelting  plants  at 
Anaconda,  Montana,  until  1899,  taking  this  means  to 
secure  the  funds  with  which  to  complete  his  course 
in  medical  college,  as  he  had  early  formulated  definite 
plans  for  his  future  career.  He  finally  entered  the 
College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  in  the  city  of  St. 
Louis,  Missouri,  and  in  this  admirably  ordered  institu- 
tion he  was  graduated  as  a member  of  the  class  of 
1903,  the  while  he  earned  most  fully  his  coveted  degree 
of  Doctor  of  Medicine,  being  one  of  the  honor  grad- 
uates. After  his  graduation  Dr.  Sullivan  returned  to 
Butte  and  here  he  has  since  given  his  time  and  attention 
to  the  work  of  his  profession,  in  which  he  has  gained 
distinctive  success  and  prestige,  with  ^ specially  high 
reputation  as  a surgeon  and  with  a clientage  of  rep- 
resentative character.  For  five  years  after  his  gradua- 
tion he  continued  to  give  efficient  service  as  a member 
of  the  surgical  staff  of  St.  James’  hospital  and  in  this 
connection  he  gained  wide  and  varied  clinical  _ experi- 
ence. In  1909  he  held  the  office  of  city  physician  of 
Butte  and  he  has  been  secretary  of  the  board  of  health 
of  his  home  county  since  1905,  as  previously  stated 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1127 


in  this  context.  The  doctor  is  a close  student  and 
by  availing  himself  of  the  best  of  the  standard  and 
periodical  literature  of  his  profession  he  keeps  in  close_ 
touch  with  the  advances  made  in  the  sciences  of 
medicine  and  surgery.  He  is  a progressive  and  loyal 
citizen,  takes  a deep  interest  in  all  that  _ touches  the 
welfare  of  his  home  city  and  state  and  is  a staunch 
advocate  of  the  principles  and  policies  of  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  in  whose  cause  he  has  given  effective 
service.  Holds  the  unique  position  of  being  the  only 
physician  in  the  State  of  Montana,  who  is  a regularly 
qualified  and  practising  attorney,  having  been  admitted 
on  examination  before  the  supreme  court  of  the 
state  to  practice  law  in  all  the  courts  of  the  state.  He 
is  a communicant  of  the  Catholic  church  and  is  affiliated 
with  the  Knights  of  Columbus  and_  Elks.  Dr.  Sulli- 
van is  held  in  unqualified  esteem  in  the  community 
which  is  the  stage  of  his  earnest  and  effective  services 
in  his  profession.  Dr.  Sullivan  is  unmarried. 

Charles  McDonnell.  Coming  to  Big  Timker  more 
than  thirty  years  ago,  as  the  first  man  to  bring  sheep 
into  the  Yellowstone  valley,  Charles  McDonnell,  state 
senator  from  Sweet  Grass  county  and  president  ot 
the  Citizens  State  Bank  of  Big  Timber,  has  had  a varied 
and  eventful  career,  during  which  he  has  steadfastly 
progressed  in  business  and  public  life,  and  now  holds 
an  influential  position  among  the  citizens  of  the  com- 
munity in  which  he  has  resided  for  so  many  years.  Mr. 
McDonnell  was  born  in  County  Mayo,  Ireland,  April 
i6,  1850,  and  is  a son  of  John  and  Mary  (Hefiferon) 
McDonnell,  natives  of  County  Mayo.  John  McDonnell 
was  a merchant  and  farmer  and  spent  his  days  in  Ire- 
land. where  he  died  in  1871,  at  the  age  of  fifty-two 
years,  while  his  widow  still  resides  in  the  old  home 
and  has  attained  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-one  years. 
They  had  a family  of  four  children:  Charles;  James, 
who  resides  in  New  York  state;  Ellen,  who  is  deceased; 
and  Annie,  the  wife  of  Joseph  Holmes,  living  in 
Ireland. 

The  education  of  Charles  McDonnell  was  secured 
in  the  national  schools  of  his  native  country  and  in 
a private  academy,  and  he  subsequently  devoted  his 
attention  to  agricultural  pursuits.  In  1870  he  decided 
to  try  his  fortunes  in  America,  and  accordingly  came 
to  the  United  States.  Landing  in  New  York  City, 
he  remained  in  the  metropolis  only  a short  time,  when 
he  journeyed  to  Sacramento,  California,  and  from  there 
went  to  Red  Bluff,  \vhere  he  worked  as  a farm  hand 
and  sheep  herder.  Being  economical  and  industrious, 
he  carefully  invested  his  savings  in  sheep,  and  when 
he  had  accumulated  a band  of  3,000  started  overland 
for  Montana.  Driving  them  through  Forty-nine  Can- 
yon, Nevada,  he  crossed  the  Little  and  Big  Humboldt 
rivers,  and  when  he  came  to  the  Central  Pacific  Rail- 
road, followed  the  tracks  from  Hallack  to  Humboldt 
Wells,  then  going  north  to  the  Thousand  Spring- 
valley,  on  to  the  head  of  Goose  creek,  and  City  Rock, 
at  the  head  of  Raft  river.  He  went  down  that  stream 
to  Snake  river,  and  from  American  Falls  to  Fort 
Hall  and  then  on  to  Blackfoot  and  Camas,  Idaho,  sub- 
sequently crossing  the  Rocky  Mountains  into  Dillon, 
Montana,  through  Virginia  City,  and  on  to  Red  Rock. 
After  leaving  the  latter  place,  Mr.  McDonnell  came 
to  the  toll  bridge  of  Henry  Haywood,  who  demanded 
two  cents  toll  for  each  sheep  that  crossed  the  bridge. 
Money  was  a scarce  commodity  at  that  time  with  Mr. 
McDonnell,  and  he  was  having  a spirited  argument 
with  Mr.  Haywood  when  an  incident  that  occurred 
was  the  means  of  saving  him  considerable  money,  at 
least  what  was  to  him  considerable  money  in  those  days, 
a matter  of  some  forty  dollars.  Mrs.  Haywood  was 
the  owner  of  seven  fine  maltese  cats  who  took  exception 
to  the  presence  of  Mr.  McDonnell’s  shepherd  dog  and 
started  a regular  Kilkenny  fight.  Mrs.  Haywood,  com- 
ing from  milking  her  cows,  with  a large  bucket  of 


milk,  took  a hand  in  the  affair,  using  her  milk  pail 
and  spilling  its  contents  all  over  the  dog  and  cats 
and  finally  all  hands  joined  in,  the  dog  getting  consid- 
erably the  worst  of  the  argument.  The  sheep  becom- 
ing frightened  at  the  uproar  crossed  the  bridge,  and 
Mr.  McDonnell  followed  them.  When  asked  by  Mr. 
Haywood  what  he  was  going  to  do  about  the  matter, 
Mr.  McDonnell  replied  in  like  manner,  and  the  argu- 
ment came  to  a conclusion  when  Mr.  McDonnell  gave 
the  other  a twenty  dollar  gold  piece,  about  one-third 
of  what  was  originally  asked  by  Mr.  Haywood.  Mr. 
McDonnell  then  proceeded  on  through  the  Gallatin 
valley  into  Bozeman,  and  remembers  that  there  was 
not  more  than  a quarter  of  a mile  of  fence  all  along 
the  road.  He  continued  on  to  the  Yellowstone  valley, 
and  arrived  at  Big  Timber  creek  November  7,  1880, 
being  the  pioneer  sheepman  of  the  valley,  and  con- 
tinued to  do  business  until  1904,  since  which  time  he 
has  retired  from  active  work,  although  he  still  has 
considerable  money  invested  in  the  sheep  industry.  His 
feat  of  driving  his  sheep  over  the  Bozeman  pass  created 
quite  a lot  of  excitement  at  the  time  it  was  accom- 
plished. In  1881  he  removed  to  American  Fork  and 
took  up  a pre-emption  claim,  to  which  he  added  from 
time  to  time  until  he  had  26,000  acres.  He  was  for 
many  years  associated  with  Edward  Veasey,  having  as 
many  as  20,000  head  of  sheep  at  a time,  and  also  devot- 
ing a great  deal  of  attention  to  the  raising  of  hay,  the 
land  being  under  the  most  effective  irrigation.  A cross 
between  the  Cotswold  and  Merino  breeds  was  the  fav- 
orite with  this  firm. 

Mr.  McDonnell  was  generally  recognized  as  one  of 
the  leading  sheepmen  of  his  community,  and  it  was 
but  natural  that  he  should  turn  his  business  ability  to 
good  advantage  when  he  settled  in  Big  Timber.  He 
was  the  prime  mover  in  the  organization  of  the  Citi- 
zens State  Bank,  and  from  its  inception.  May  25,  1906, 
has  acted  as  its  president.  A stanch  and  active  Repub- 
lican, he  has  been  known  as  one  of  the  influential 
workers  in  the  ranks  of  his  party.  In  1904  he  was 
first  elected  state  senator  from  Sweet  Grass  county, 
was  again  sent  to  the  senate  in  1909,  and  has  succeeded 
himself  in  office  in  1910,  1911  and  1912.  He  is  fra- 
ternally connected  with  the  Odd  Fellows,  and  with  his 
family  attends  the  Roman  Catholic  church.  During 
his  long  residence  in  this  section  he  has  accumulated 
a wide  acquaintance,  and  in  business  and  public  and 
private  life  has  many  warm  friends. 

On  December  22,  1891,  Mr.  McDonnell  was  married 
to  Miss  Elizabeth  Feeley,  who  was  born  in  County 
Roscommon,  Ireland,  daughter  of  Patrick  and  Marie 
(Naughton)  Feeley,  natives  of  County  Roscommon, 
where  Mr.  Feeley  still  lives,  being  interested  in  farm- 
ing, while  his  wife  has  passed  away.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
McDonnell  have  had  six  children : Annie,  Bella,  Edith, 
Evaline,  Alexander  Ranald  and  Charles  E. 

Arthur  G.  H.\tch.  An  eminent  representative  of  the 
Montana  bar,  and  for  the  last  quarter  of  a century  one 
of  the  most  prominent  men  of  Sweet  Grass  county, 
both  in  public  and  professional  life,  Arthur  G.  Hatch, 
county  attorney  of  Sweet  Grass  county,  and  city  at- 
torney of  Big  Timber  since  its  organization,  holds  an 
enviable  position  among  the  legists  of  the  state.  His 
birth  occurred  in  Pike  county,  Illinois,  where  the  family 
held  precedence  as  pioneer  settlers,  October  ii,  1856, 
and  is  a son  of  Reuben  B.  and  Ellen  (Bush)  Hatch. 
Reuben  B.  Hatch  was  born  in  New  Hampshire  in  1830, 
and  during  the  early  ’thirties  accompanied  his  parents 
to  Pike  county.  Illinois,  where  he  secured  his  education. 
He  was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits,  which  he  fol- 
lowed until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war,  at  the  begin- 
ning of  which  struggle  he  was  made  chief  quartermaster 
of  the  Thirteenth  Army  Corps.  Later  he  served  on  Gen- 
eral Dana’s  staff,  and  his  military  career  was  an  active 
and  brilliant  one.  On  his  return  to  civil  life,  he  em- 


1128 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


barked  in  a mercantile  business  at  Quincy,  Illinois, 
with  which  he  was  identified  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
in  1871.  His  wife,  who  was  born  in  1824,  in  Pitts- 
field, Massachusetts,  survived  him  until  1893.  They  had 
a family  of  nine  children,  of  whom  five  are  living.  In 
political  matters  Mr.  Hatch  was  a Democrat. 

Arthur  G.  Hatch  received  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Pike  county,  Illinois,  and  subsequently 
became  a student  in  Columbia  (Missouri)  University. 
After  graduating  from  that  institution,  he  began  to 
read  law  in  the  office  of  C.  C.  Boland,  Rolla,  Missouri, 
and  in  1878  was  admitted  to  practice  in  the  Missouri 
courts.  In  1880  he  removed  to  White  Sulphur  Springs, 
Montana,  and  in  1887  came  to  Big  Timber,  where  he 
has  since  built  up  an  extensive  practice.  An  active 
and  energetic  Democrat,  he  has  served  as  city  attorney 
of  Big  Timber  since  the  organization  of  the  city,  and 
since  1911  has  been  county  attorney  of  Sweet  Grass 
county.  He  is  a valued  and  popular  member  of  the 
Montana  Bar  Association,  and  his  many  talents  have 
gained  him  the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  confreres.  As 
an  advocate  and  sane  and  conservative  counsel,  Mr. 
Platch  has  won  prestige,  having  that  most  essential 
quality  of  taking  infinite  care  in  the  preparation  of  his 
cases  and  never  presenting  a case  until  he  gained  com- 
plete mastery  of  its  salient  points.  As  a public  official 
he  has  shown  a conscientious  devotion  to  the  duties  of 
his  office,  and  Sweet  Grass  county  has  no  more  popular 
public  servant.  Fraternally,  Mr.  Platch  is  connected 
with  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

Jacob  Osenbrug.  Among  the  pioneer  business  men 
of  Butte,  Montana,  who  have  been  active  participators 
in  the  growth  of  the  city  from  a small  town  to  an  im- 
portant commercial  center  of  metropolitan  proportions 
such  as  it  now  stands,  is  Jacob  Osenbrug,  president  of 
the  Home  Baking  Company  of  Butte.  Mr.  Osenbrug 
was  born  in  the  province  of  Hanover,  Germany,  on  Jan- 
uary 28,  i860,  the  son  of  a prosperous  merchant  in  the 
province  of  Hanover,  near  Hamburg.  His  parents, 
Klaus  Osenbrug  and  Elizabeth  (Stockmann)  Osenbrug, 
were  both  born  in  Germany  and  passed  their  lives  in 
that  country.  The  father  died  at  Hollern  in  1881,  hav- 
ing reached  the  age  of  seventy-two  years,  while  the 
mother  survived  him  one  year  and  was  sixty-six  years 
of  age  when  she  died. 

Jacob  Osenbrug  attended  the  public  schools  of  Hollern 
as  a child  and  later  was  sent  to  a private  school,  where 
he  continued  to  pursue  his  studies  until  he  reached  his 
fourteenth  year.  He  was  then  apprenticed  to  learn  a 
trade,  as  is  the  invariable  custom  in  Germany  in  the 
case  of  the  sons  of  the  family,  whether  rich  or  poor,  and 
the  trade  he  elected  to  master  was  that  of  a baker  and 
confectioner.  After  a three  years’  apprenticeship  he 
worked  as  a journeyman  for  less  than  a year  in  Ger- 
many, then  went  to  England,  where  he  was  similarly 
employed  for  six  months.  In  the  spring  of  1879  he  de- 
cided to  seek  his  fortune  in  the  western  world,  and  em- 
barking, was  three  weeks  upon  the  ocean  in  the  vessel 
“Mosel.”  Arriving  in  America,  he  made  his  first  ob- 
jective point  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  He  remained  in  that 
city  but  a short  season,  however,  and  in  spite  of  the  fact 
that  he  had  insufficient  funds  in  hand  to  properly  finance 
the  journey,  determined  to  come  to  Butte.  When  he 
reached  Ogden,  Utah,  his  money  was  entirely  exhausted. 
He  sou.ght  and  secured  employment  there,  earning  a sum 
sufficient  to  buy  a pony,  having  in  the  meantime  walked 
a portion  of  the  way  to  Idaho  Falls.  From  that  point 
he  made  his  way  more  easily  on  horseback  and  finally 
arrived  in  Butte,  possessed  of  a fund  of  experience  he 
could  in  no  other  way  have  obtained,  and  undaunted 
determination  to  work  his  way  to  a position  of  success 
and  honor  in  his  new  home. 

There  was  no  bakery  in  Butte  at  the  time  Mr.  Osen- 
brug arrived  here  and  he  was  accordingly  obliged  to 


turn  his  hand  to  whatever  kind  of  lucrative  employment 
he  could  find.  In  a short  time,  however,  he  succeeded 
in  interesting  Joseph  Pitzer  in  the  establishment  of  a 
bakery  and  undertook  its  management.  The  enterprise 
represented  a struggle  from  the  beginning,  with  limited 
capital  and  a change  in  partners  at  intervals,  but  all 
united  in  demonstrating  Mr.  Osenbrug’s  fitness  for  the 
business,  and  in  1882  he  was  able  to  purchase  an  interest 
in  the  establishment.  This  acquisition  was  the  nucleus 
for  the  foundation  of  what  afterwards  became  known 
as  the  Home  Baking  Company,  as  now  reads  the  firm 
name  under  which  he  at  present  operates.  His  first 
little  shop  was  located  at  No.  13  east  Granite  street  and 
was  known  as  the  Eagle  Bakery,  and  the  pioneers  who 
remember  the  place  years  ago  find  it  difficult  to  believe 
that  the  present  immense  plant  is  its  immediate  suc- 
cessor. In  1884,  when  Mr.  Osenbrug  had  become  sole 
owner,  he  bought  the  property  at  No.  15-17  east  Granite, 
and  in  1885  he  built  the  building  that  still  stands  there. 
The  Home  Baking  Company  is  known  to  be  the  only 
machine  bakery  in  the  state,  and  it  has  a capacity  of 
thirty  thousand  loaves  of  bread  daily.  Twenty-one  peo- 
ple are  employed  in  operating  the  bakery  and  attending 
to  the  trade.  Not  only  are  local  sales  large,  but  an 
extensive  shipping  business  is  also  done,  many  stores  in 
other  parts  of  the  state  being  supplied  with  products 
from  the  Butte  plant.  Home  Baking  Company  bread 
and  other  bakery  products  are  known  for  their  superior 
quality  throughout  Montana  and  the  business  which  is 
already  so  extensive  is  constantly  increasing.  The  com- 
pany was  incorporated  in  1904  with  Mr.  Osenbrug  as 
president;  H.  J.  Rathmiller,  vice  president,  and  John 
Haller,  treasurer. 

In  addition  to  his  connection  with  the  ITome  Baking 
Company  as  its  executive  head,  Mr.  Osenbrug  has  other 
financial  interests  which  mark  him  as  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial elements  of  the  city’s  commercial  and  industrial 
life.  He  is  an  extensive  owner  of  valuable  city  and 
country  real  estate,  and  is  also  a financial  factor  in 
the  ownership  of  several  valuable  mining  properties. 
Throughout  his  residence  in  the  country  and  city  of  his 
adoption  he  has  manifested  a marked  interest  in  public 
and  civic  matters  and  discharged  his  duty  as  a con- 
scientious citizen  with  intelligence  and  integrity.  He 
was  a member  of  Company  F,  First  Montana  State 
Militia  for  eleven  years.  In  political  matters  he  advo- 
cates Republican  principles,  but  takes  no  active  part  in 
party  affairs.  He  holds  membership  in  several  of  the 
leading  clubs  and  fraternal  orders  of  the  city,  including 
the  Silver  Bow  Club,  the  Masonic  fraternity,  in  which 
he  is  a member  of  Butte  Chapter  No.  24,  R.  A.  M.,  the 
Knights  of  the  Maccabees,  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America  and  the  Sons  of  Hermann. 

On  March  9,  1883,  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Osen- 
brug to  Miss  Mary  M.  Heinbockel,  a native  of  Germany. 
Six  children  were  born  of  this  union,  five  of  whom  are 
living,  named  as  follows : Henry  Jacob,  Lydia,  Rudolph 
P,,  Edward  and  Albert  M.  Another  son,  Albert  by 
name,  died  when  nine  months  of  age.  The  mother  of 
this  family  died  October  18,  1900.  Mr.  Osenbrug  mar- 
ried again  on  December  5,  1901,  to  Mrs.  Anna  Kroeger, 
a sister  of  his  first  wife.  She  had  one  son  by  her  first 
marriage,  William  Kroeger.  The  family  home  is  main- 
tained at  No.  825  West  Broadway,  where  in  1895  Mr. 
Osenbrug  built  the  fine  residence  which  they  occupy. 

Mr.  Osenbrug  is  a citizen  who  is  held  in  the  high 
personal  esteem  of  all  who  know  him,  because  of  his 
many  fine  qualities  and  he  has  a wide  circle  of  friends 
and  acquaintances,  in  which  he  is  known  as  a g'entleman 
of  liberality  and  the  strictest  integrity,  and  as  one  who 
stands  always  ready  to  lend  the  weight  of  his  influence 
to  any  project  that  has  for  its  object  the  greatest  good 
of  the  community  in  which  he  resides. 

Jere  Joseph  Murphy.  Standing  at  the  head  of  the 
well-organized  and  efficient  police  department  of  the 


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HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1129 


city  of  Butte  is  Jere  Joseph  Murphy,  a whole-souled, 
broad-minded  Irishman;  a capable  and  popular  public 
official;  and  a citizen  of  integrity  and  worth,  who  is 
devoting  his  time  and  energies  to  the  duties  of  his 
position.  A native  of  Ireland,  he  was  born  February 
27,  1867,  in  Kilkenny.  His  parents,  John  and  Margaret 
(Conry)  Murphy,  spent  their  entire  lives  in  the 
Emerald  Isle,  his  mother  dying  in  1896,  at  the_  age  of 
forty-five  years,  and  his  father  in  1897,  aged  fifty-five 
years. 

Coming  in  boyhood  with  his  brother  John  to  the 
United  States,  Jere  Joseph  IMurphy  continued  his 
studies  in  the  schools  of  Pueblo,  Colorado,  where, 
after  completing  his  education,  he  began  work  in  the 
office  of  Chief  Desmond.  Leaving  that  position,  he 
made  his  way  to  Montana,  locating  in  Anaconda, 
where  he  worked  in  a smelter  for  a time,  and  also 
started  the  Saratoga  Hotel.  Disposing  of  his  interests 
in  that  locality,  Mr.  iMurphy  came,  in  1886,  to  Butte, 
and  here  opened  the  Edgerton  House,  which  he  con- 
ducted for  a time,  when  he  disposed  of  it  to  Daniel 
Drew  to  become  city  detective  under  Mayor  E.  O. 
Dugan.  He  continued  under  Mayor  Dugan  uptil  the 
administration  of  Mayor  Thompson,  when  he  retired 
and  entered  the  employ  of  the  Anaconda  Company. 
He  was  subsequently  made  city  detective  under  Mayors 
Harrington  and  Thompson  until  the  administration  of 
Mayor  McGinnis  began,  when  he  retired.  Mr.  Mur- 
phy was  subsequently  appointed  chief  of  police  for 
Butte,  under  Mayor  Nevin,  continuing  until  the  pres- 
ent time,  1912,  at  the  head  of  the  city’s  police  depart- 
ment, which,  under  the  leadership  of  Mr.  Murphy,  has 
reached  the  top  notch  of  efficiency.  In  addition  to 
being  a splendid  officer,  j\Ir.  Murphy  is  a loyal  citizen 
of  Butte,  and  in  its  army  of  progressive  men  not  one 
is  more  earnest  and  ardent  in  his  civic  pride  than  its 
chief  of  police. 

Mr.  Murphy  has  been  twice  married.  He  married 
first,  in  Pueblo,  Colorado,  Josephine  Keneally,  who 
died  in  Butte,  Montana,  in  1895.  Three  children 
blessed  their  union,  namely:  John,  a resident  of 

Butte ; Margaret,  deceased,  born  in  Anaconda,  Mon- 
tana, was  a Sister  of  Charity ; and  Mayme,  born  in 
Anaconda,  is  a sister  in  Dominican  Order,  Sinsina- 
wa,  Wisconsin.  Mr.  Murphy  married  second,  in  1899, 
in  Butte,  Delia  Wall,  a native  of  Elmira,  New  York, 
and  their  only  child,  Ronald  Thomas  Murphy,  born 
July  24,  1903,  is  now  attending  the  McKinley  School. 

Politically  Mr.  Murphy  is  a stanch  adherent  of  the 
Democratic  party;  fraternally  he  is  a member  of  the 
Knights  of  Columbus;  and  religiously  he  is  a Catho- 
lic. He  is  fond  of  athletics,  and  is  a baseball  enthu- 
siast. 

W.  F.  CoBBATsr  is  of  mixed  Scotch  and  American 
ancestry,  as  his  father  was  born  in  Aberdeen,  and 
his  mother,  Mary  Louise  Hardy  Cobban,  was  a de- 
scendant of  the  first  colonists  who  came  to  Massachu- 
setts for  religious  freedom.  The  father  was  only  a 
boy  when  his  parents  moved  from  Scotland  to  Canada, 
and  when  he  grew  up,  he  decided  to  settle  in  the 
United  States.  He  selected  Massachusetts  as  his  home, 
and  here  as  a young  man,  he  met  the  lady  who  be- 
came his  wife,  and  the  mother  of  our  subject.  Devo- 
tion to  principle,  which  is  the  heritage  of  the  true 
Scot,  as  well  as  of  the  children  of  the  Mayflower, 
induced  Mr.  Cobban  to  join  that  band  of  settlers  who 
went  to  Kansas  in  1852,  of  whom  Whittier  wrote : 

“We  cross  the  prairies  as  of  old 
The  Pilgrims  crossed  the  sea 
To  make  the  west,  as  they  the  east 
The  homestead  of  the  Free.” 

Later  Mr.  Cobban  located  at  Westport,  and  he  was 
one  of  the  commission  sent  by  the  governor  of  ]\Iis- 


souri  to  the  governor  of  Kansas,  to  try  and  settle  the 
question  of  the  boundary  by  arbitration. 

In  185s,  Mr.  Cobban  went  to  Horican,  Wisconsin, 
and  it  was  here  that  the  subject  of  this  review  was 
born  on  September  16,  1856.  After  a few  years  there, 
Mr.  Cobban  removed  to  Chippewa  Falls,  and  here  he 
conducted  an  extensive  lumber  business.  Besides  oper- 
ating a large  saw  mill,  he  owned  a sash  and  door 
factory,  and  both  enterprises  yielded  him  rich  returns. 
He  was  a man  of  the  loftiest  patriotism,  taking  active 
part  in  all  which  was  for  the  good  of  the  country. 
At  the  time  of  the  Civil  war,  he  joined  the  Thirty- 
seventh  Wisconsin,  and  while  in  service,  was  wounded 
at  the  battle  of  Petersburg!!.  He  never  recovered  from 
the  effects  of  this  injury,  and  it  was  instrumental  in 
hastening  his  death.  For  some  years  before  he  died, 
Mr.  Cobban  gave  up  active  participation  in  business, 
and  returned  to  Massachusetts,  where  he  had  spent 
the  years  of  his  young  manhood.  It  was  here  that 
he  died  in  1889. 

W.  F.  Cobban  went  to  school  in  Wisconsin,  and  as 
he  grew  older,  took  an  increasing  part  in  his  father’s 
business.  He  learned  the  machinist’s  trade,  and  for 
three  years  was  in  charge  of  this  department  of  the 
factory.  He  did  not  intend  to  settle  in  Wisconsin, 
so  he  started  out  to  find  a locality  which  suited  him. 
He  spent  two  years  in  search  of  this,  trying  various 
parts  of  the  south,  but  as  even  the  warm  climate  did 
not  reconcile  him  to  that  region,  in  1880,  he  decided 
to  come  to  Montana.  His  first  stopping  place  was 
Wicks,  then  a prosperous  mining  camp,  where  he 
remained  only  a few  months.  From  here,  he  went  to 
Butte,  and  took  up  the  business  with  which  he  had 
been  familiar  all  his  life,  entering  a lumber  concern 
operated  by  Sebree,  Ferris  & White.  Here  he  worked 
until  1886,  when  he  opened  up  a department  for  the 
manufacture  of  sashes  and  doors.  Later  Mr.  Cobban 
went  into  real  estate  and  mining  business  in  Butte, 
remaining  there  until  1907.  In  this  interval,  he  was 
connected  with  a number  of  the  famous  mining  prop- 
erties of  Butte.  He  was  at  .different  times,  part  owner 
of  the  Moonlight,  the  Hesperus,  the  Carlisle  and  the 
Protection.  All  these  were  sold  to  the  Amalgamated 
Company,  and  in  addition  to  these.  Air.  Cobban  bought 
and  disposed  of  much  other  valuable  mining  property. 

In  1907,  after  turning  the  business  over  to  his  son 
Ray,  Air.  Cobban  took  a year’s  vacation  which  he 
spent  in  California.  In  1909,  he  came  to  Missoula, 
where  he  has  been  in  the  real  estate  and  land  business, 
dealing  chiefly  in  Alontana  orchards.  Air.  Cobban’s 
eldest  son  Ray,  is  now  a large  ranch  owner  in  the 
famous  new  Flathead  country.  Of  the  four  other 
children,  Rena  Alay  is  at  home;  Ronald  H.,  in  the  auto- 
mobile business  in  Alissoula,  while  Alargery  and  Har- 
vey are  in  the  high  school.  Airs.  Cobban  is  a Ver- 
monter. and  was  previous  to  her  marriage  in  1884, 
Aliss  ■ Kate  Hurlburt,  whose  family,  like  that  of  Air. 
Cobban’s  mother,  bears  one  of  the  time-honored  names 
of  New  England.  They  belong  to  the  progressive 
class  of  Alontana’s  citizens,  as  well  as  to  that  which 
gives  the  state  its  substantial  commercial  standing. 

Air.  Cobban  has  the  honor  of  being  one  of  the  • 
charter  members  of  the  Oswego  lodge  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  of  Butte.  Aside  from  this,  he  is  not  affil- 
iated with  any  of  the  fraternal  orders.  In  politics,  he 
supports  the  Republican  party,  as  far  as  natio'nal  issues 
are  concerned,  and  in  local  affairs  gives  his  vote  to 
the  best  candidate  put  up  for  the  office.  Both  as  an 
individual,  and  as  a man  of  affairs.  Air.  Cobban  has 
the  respect  of  all  who  come  into  contact  with  him. 

Raymond  S.  Conger.  The  city  of  Thompson  Falls, 
Alontana,  is  well  represented  in  the  journalistic  line 
by  the  Sanders  County  Ledger,  one  of  the  leading  news- 
papers of  western  Montana,  the  manager  of  which, 
Raymond  S.  Conger,  is  one  of  the  wide-awake,  pro- 


1130 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


cressive  business  nien  who  have  done  so  much  to  make 
this  section  what  it  is.  Mr.  Conger,  a man  of  versatile 
abilities  has  not  confined  himself  to  the_  newspaper 
field  however,  but  is  widely  known  in  business  circ  p 
as  a member  of  the  firm  of  the  Treasure  State  Realty 
Company,  and  is  also  prominent  m fraternal  and  polit- 
ical matters.  He  was  born  at  Carmi,  Illinois,  August 
31,  1873,  and  is  a son  of  Judge  Everton  J.  and  Emily 

K.  (Boren)  Conger.  r rn 

Everton  J.  Conger  was  born  in  the  state  of  Ohio, 
and  as  a young  man  moved  to  Illinois,  where  for  a num- 
ber of  years  he  was  a prominent  attorney.  As  colone 
of  the  'First  District  of  Columbia  Cavalry,  he  served 
throughout  the  Civil  war,  and  gained  nation-wide  fame 
as  the  man  who  captured  John  Wilkes  Booth  after 
the  assassination  of  President  Lincoln.  He  continued 
to  practice  law  in  Illinois  until  1878,  in  which  year  he 
came  to  Montana,  and  here  was  appointed  territorial 
judge  by  President  Playes.  For  many  years  he  held 
positions  of  public  trust,  and  was  really  responsible 

for  the  bill  creating  a State  Law  Library  in  Montana, 
but  has  now  retired  and  is  living  quietly  at  Dillon. 

He  was  married  in  Ohio  to  Miss  Emily  K.  Boren, 

who  died  in  1904,  at  the  age  of  fifty-one  years,  and 
was  buried  at  Dillon.  They  were  the  parents  of  six 
children,  four  of  whom  survive,  as  follows:  C.  W., 
clerk  of  the  fourth  district  court  at  Dillon,  elected 

November  S,  1912;  Mrs.  Judge  Poindexter,  also  a resi- 
dent of  Dillon;  O.  D.,  who  also  lives  in  Thompson 


fi'aUs;  and  Raymond  S. 

Raymond  S.  Conger  was  about  five  years  of  age  when 
his  parents  removed  to  Fostoria,  Ohio,  and  in  1880 
came  to  Montana,  of  which  state  he  has  since  been  a 
resident.  His  early  education  was  secured  in  fire 
schools  of  Virginia  City  and  Dillon,  Montana,  this 
being  supplemented  by  a special  course  in  Valparaiso 
(Ind.)  State  Normal  School.  Even  as  a lad  he  devel- 
oped traits  of  industry,  and  when  but  nine  years  of 
age  earned  his  first  money  picking  currants  at  five 
cents  per  gallon,  for  “Old  Man  ’ Bartruff,  at  Virginia 
City.  He  also  accumulated  not  a little  spending  money 
trapping  squirrels,  the  bounty  being  five  cents  per  head, 
but  his  first  real  salaried  position  was  at  Dillon,  where 
he  learned  the  printer’s  trade  in  the  offices  of  the 
Dillon  Tribune,  with  which  newspaper  he  was  con- 
nected on  and  off  for  some  twelve  years.  His  first 
salary  in  the  newspaper  business  was  $4.00  per  week. 
Mr.  Conger  continued  to  reside  in  Dillon  from  1887 
to  1905.  and  in  the  latter  year  came  to  Plains,  where 
for  nearly  two  years  he  conducted  the  Plainsman,  but 
sold  out  to  come  to  Thompson  Falls,  securing  a clerical 
position  in  the  office  of  Ed.  Donlon.  In  1910  he  organ- 
ized the  Treasure  State  Realty  Company,  and  some  time 
later  formed  a partnership  with  Albert  W.  Thayer  of 
this  city,  and  took  over  the  Sanders  County  Ledger. 
Although  these  two  enterprises  are  entirely  independ- 
ent of  one  another  they  are  conducted  from  the  same 
office.  The  Ledger  is  a bright,  newsy  sheet,  advocating 
and  supporting  Republican  principles,  and  under  its 
new  management  has  prospered  greatly.  It  now  has 
an  excellent  equipment,  and  is  the  only  paper  west  of 
Missoula,  in  Montana,  to  use  a linotype  machine. 
That  it  has  done  much  to  influence  public  opinion  in  the 
way  of  progress  may  be  surmised  from  the  views  of 
its  manager,  who  states:  “If  I were  going  to  explain 
why  Montana  is  a great  state  I could  do  so  in  a thou- 
sand different  ways.  I can  say  with  all  candor  and 
honesty  that  if  a man  traveled  elsewhere  a thousand 
years  he  could  never  find  the  chances  or  opportunities 
offered  that  may  be  found  in  Montana.  Montana  will 
inspire  your  enthusiasm,  satisfy  your  ambition  and  give 
you  a bank  account  quicker  than  any  place  in  the  world.” 
It  is  probably  needless  to  add  that  Mr.  Conger  is  one 
of  the  enthusiastic  “boosters”  of  the  Thompson  Falls 
Development  League.  He  is  widely  known  in  news- 


paper circles  throughout  this  part  of  the  state,  still 
maintaining  his  membership  in  the  typographical  union 
and  being  vice-president  of  the  Montana  Press  Associa- 
tion. A stanch  Republican  in  politics,  he  has  served 
as  a delegate  to  numerous  state  conventions,  and  in 
religious  matters  is  an  Episcopalian,  as  is  also  his  wife 
who  is  an  active  worker  in  Trinity  Guild.  Mr.  Con- 
ger is  a prominent  Mason,  was  one  of  the  organizers 
of  the  lodges  at  Plains  and  Thompson  Falls,  and  has 
been  sent  as  delegate  to  the  grand  lodge  of  the  state. 
All  athletic  sports  have  interested  him,  and  he  is  also 
very  fond  of  music  and  literature.  He  served  with  the 
First  Montana,  U.  S.  V.  in  the  campaign  in  the  Phil- 
ippines and  was  mustered  out  in  San  Francisco,  in 
1909,  with  his  regiment. 

Mr.  Conger  was  married  at  Lewistown,  Montana, 
August  31,  1904,  to  Miss  Marion  E.  Weldon,  daughter 
of  James  M.  and  Rose  M.  Weldon,  of  an  old  pioneer 
family  of  Montana,  and  now  residing  on  a ranch  near 
Lewistown.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Conger  have  three  interest- 
ing children:  Judson  Weldon,  Raymond  Stuart  and 
Catherine  Marion,  the  two  first-named  being  pupils 
in  the  public  schools. 

Albert  W.  Thayer.  Possessing  talents  as  a busi- 
ness man  which  have  made  him  a prominent  figure  in 
commercial  and  realty  circles,  being  skilled  as  a civil 
engineer  and  metallurgist,  accomplished  as  a journal- 
ist, and  through  his  executive  ability  capably  serving 
his  communitv  in  positions  of  public  trust,  the  career 
of  Albert  W.  Thayer  has  been  replete  with  adventures 
and  experiences,  and  his  versatile  faculties  have  led  him 
to  distant  shores  and  diversified  fields  of  endeavor. 
During  the  last  six  years  he  has  been  identified  with  the 
interests  of  Thompson  Falls,  where  he  is  now  presi- 
dent of  the  Treasure  State  Realty  Company,  editor  of 
the  Sanders  County  Ledger  and  city  clerk,  as  well  as 
a citizen  who  has  gained  and  retained  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  the  entire  community.  Mr.  Thayer  was 
born  at  Acworth,  Sullivan  county.  New  Hampshire, 
October  10,  1867,  and  is  a son  of  William  M.  and  Marie 
(Marvin)  Thayer.  William.  M.  Thayer,  who  was 
editor  of  the  Boston  Post  for  twenty  years,  died  in 
1893,  at  the  age  of  fifty-eight  years,  and  was  buried  in 
Massachusetts.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  he 
was  war  correspondent  in  the  Union  army  and  passed 
safely  through  the  struggle,  but  two  brothers  who  had 
enlisted  at  the  same  time  were  captured  by  the  Con- 
federates and  died  in  Andersonville  prison.  Albert  W. 
Thayer  was  the  youngest  of  his  parents’  three  chil- 
dren, his  mother  dying  when  he  was  but  one  week  old. 

Albert  W.  Thayer  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Acworth  until  he  was  about  fourteen  years  of  age,  and 
at  that  time  went  to  Claremont,  New  Hampshire,  and 
worked  his  way  through  high  school.  Subsequently  he 
went  to  Boston,  where  he  attended  the  Institute  of 
Technology,  and  after  graduating  from  the  depart- 
ment of  civil  engineering  started  out  to  make  his  own 
way  in  the  world.  Removing  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  Mr. 
Thayer  remained  about  two  years  in  the  employ  of  the 
Cleveland  & Canton  Railroad,  and  in  1887  went  to 
Colorado,  where  for  fifteen  years  off  and  on  he  oper- 
ated as  a civil  engineer,  the  greater  part  of  this  time 
being  associated  with  Dave  Moffit,  Evan  Smith  and 
W.  P.  Dunham,  for  whom  he  made  trips  to  Oregon, 
Old  Mexico,  Alaska,  Central  America  and  other  points 
as  mining  engineer,  inspecting  and  passing  on  prospects 
and  properties.  During  one  year  he  was  with  John 
Hays  Hammond,  and  for  three  years  with  the  Cog 
Wheel  Railroad  as  general  passenger  agent,  and  when 
the  camp  at  Cripple  Creek  was  opened  he  was  one  of 
the  first  to  enter  the  famous  district.  In  1902  Mr. 
Thayer  removed  to  Sand  Point,  Idaho,  where  he  re- 
mained for  four  years  as  buyer  and  metallurgist  for 
the  Panhandle  Smelting  Company  and  during  the  sum- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1131 


mer  of  1906  came  to  Ihompson  Falls,  which  has  since 
been  his  field  of  endeavor.  For  five  years  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  mining  business,  but  in  January,  1911,  he 
became  associated  with  Raymond  S.  Conger,  and  since 
that  time  has  been  president  of  the  Treasure  State 
Realty  Company  and  editor  of  the  Sanders  County 
Ledger,  one  of  the  leading  newspapers  of  western  Mon- 
tana. 

Mr.  Thayer  is  an  active  Republican,  has  served  four 
years  as  a member  of  the  school  board,  and  at  pres- 
ent is  city  clerk  of  Thompson  Falls  and  bounty  inspec- 
tor for  Sanders  county.  He  is  an  enthusiastic  member 
of  the  Thompson  Falls  Development  League  and  gives 
his  unqualified  support  to  all  measures  that  promise  to 
be  of  benefit  to  his  community.  In  spite  of  the  various 
countries  and  communities  he  has  visited,  Mr.  Thayer 
has  found  no  place  to  suit  him_  like  the  Treasure  state, 
which,  to  use  his  own  words  “is  like  a great  panorama 
for  which  your  admiration  grows  continuously  as  you 
see  it  spread  before  you.”  He  bears  an  excellent  repu- 
tation for  business  integrity  and  in  whatever  locality 
he  has  found  himself  has  been  popular  with  all  classes. 
His  religious  belief  is  that  of  the  Congregational 
church. 

In  April,  1904,  Mr.  Thayer  was  married  at  bpokane, 
Washington,  to  Miss  Enid  Gibson,  daughter  of  Supreme 
Judge  Oren  and  Mary  (Gibson)  Gibson,  of  Pueblo, 
Colorado.  Mrs.  Thayer  is  a graduate  of  the  Illinois 
State  Normal  School,  is  a Greek,  Latin  and  German 
scholar,  and  is  an  accomplished  pianist  and  a leader  in 
social  circles. 

Walter  O.  Burrill.  It  may  be  not  inappropriately 
said  of  Walter  O.  Burrill,  of  Plains,  that  he  was  born 
to  the  lumber  business,  for  three  generations  of  the 
family  have  been  engaged  in  this  line,  covering  a ter- 
ritory that  reaches  from  the  Atlantic  coast  in  Maine, 
through  the  timber  district  in  Michigan,  and  into  the 
forests  of  Montana.  His  grandfather  was  a well- 
known  lumberman  of  the  New  England  States,  while 
his  father,  Simon  C.  Burrill,  a native  of  Maine  but  now 
a resident  of  Michigan,  has  been  engaged  m the  same 
line  all  of  his  life,  while  Walter  O.  has  won  an  en- 
viable reputation  and  built  up  a large  and  growing 
trade  in  the  lumber  industry.  Mr.  Burrill  s mother 
was  formerly  Miss  Mary  Northaway,  of  New  York, 
and  she  and  her  husband  had  seven  children,  of  whom 
Walter  O.  was  the  second  in  order  of  birth.  One  sis- 
ter is  in  Montana,  Grace,  who  married  Ernest  Gray 
and  resides  in  Plains. 

Walter  O.  Burrill  was  born  in  Steuben  county.  New 
York,  May  29,  1869,  and  there  received  his  education 
in  the  pubfic  schools.  He  was  about  thirteen  years 
of  age  when  taken  to  Michigan  by  his  parents,  and 
two  years  later  received  his  introduction  to  the  lum- 
ber business  as  chore  boy  in  a lumber  camp,  his  wages 
to  start  being  twenty  dollars  per  month.  On  reaching 
his  majority  Mr.  Burrill  came  to  Montana,  locating  in 
the  Bitter  Root  country  in  the  spring  in  1880,  and 
after  following  lumbering  there  for  one  year  went  to 
the  Flathead  country,  where  he  continued  in  the  same 
class  of  work  for  another  year.  During  the  next  seven 
years  he  worked  as  a ranchman  at  Paradise,  but  sub- 
sequently came  to  Plains  and  established  himself  in  a 
mercantile  business,  but,  although  he  had  a fair  meas- 
ure of  success  in  that  line,  sold  out  after  ten  years  to 
again  identify  himself  with  the  lumber  business.  Mr. 
Burrill  built  a large  sawmill  and  lumber  yard  and 
since  that  time  has  developed  an  extensive  general 
trade,  doing  business  with  some  of  the  largest  concerns 
in  this  section.  He  has  demonstrated  more  than  ordi- 
nary business  shrewdness  and  acumen  in  his  dealings 
and  has  conducted  his  affairs  along  lines  calculated  to 
be  of  benefit  to  his  community.  Like  numerous  other 
successful  men  of  this  part  of  the  state  he  believes  that 


Montana  offers  golden  opportunities  to  those  who_  are 
not  afraid  to  work  hard  and  industriously,  and  misses 
no  chance  to  advise  those  of  moderate  means  to  in- 
vest their  capital  here.  Mr.  Burrill  has  lost  none  of  his 
love  for  the  out-door  life  that  marked  his  youth,  hunt- 
ing, fishing  and  camping  being  his^  favorite  recreations, 
and  like  most  men  who  enjoy  living  in  the  open  is  a 
great  lover  of  horses,  always  keeping  several  fine  driv- 
ers on  hand.  An  omnivorous  reader,  he  is  a subscriber 
to  the  leading  periodicals  of  the  day  and  appreciates 
a good  lecture  or  speech.  His  fraternal  connection  is 
with  the  Elks,  in  which  he  has  numerous  warm  friends. 
Although  he  belongs  to  no  particular  church  he  sup- 
ports all  religious  denominations. 

S.AMUEL  Phillips.  It  scarcely  distinguishes  a resi- 
dent of  Lewistown  so  that  you  could  pick  him  out  in 
a crowd  to  say  that  he  regards  Montana  as  the  only 
place  in  the  world  which  a discriminating  person  would 
select  as  the  location  of  his  settled  habitation,  so  it 
will  scarcely  describe  Mr.  Phillips  to  state  that  is 
his  deliberate  opinion.  But  while  all  Montanians  hold 
thij  doctrine,  not  all  of  them  have  so  wide  a knowledge 
of  the  other  habitable  portions  of  this  globe  as  has 
Mr.  Phillips,  and  so  perhaps  one  can  venture  to  say 
that  he  finds  Montana  the  best  place  he  has  ever 
known,  without  laying  him  liable  to  the  charge  of 
merely  having  the  western  point  of  view,  irrespective 
of  the  advantages  which  other  places  offer. 

In  the  spring  of  1880,  he  went  to  Chicago,  and  be- 
fore the  fall,  he  had  worked  in  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa, 
in  Salt^Lake  City,  and  in  Helena.  He  spent  only  a 
month  in  the  capital,  and  then  came  to  Fergus  county. 
Lewistown  was  then  not  in  existence,  and  no  one 
dreamed  that  the  beautiful  Judith  Basin  was  suited 
for  anything  but  a grazing  country.  Mr.  Phillips  spent 
a year  at  Fort  Benton  and  Assiniboine,  from  which 
point  he  returned  overland  to  Benton,  and  thence  to 
Helena  remaining  in  the  capital  until  the  spring  of 
1881,  when  he  came  back  to  Lewistown,  where  he  has 
remained  ever  since.  He  went  into  the  stock  business 
as  soon  as  he  arrived  here,  and  has  ever  since  con- 
tinued to  raise  cattle,  sheep  and  horses.  He  was  one 
of  the  organizers  of  the  Empire  Bank  & Trust  Com- 
pany, of  which  he  is  now  the  president.  This  is  one 
of  the  solid  financial  institutions  of  the  Basin,  and  its 
officers  and  directors  have  always  been  of  the  county’s 
best  business  men. 

Mr.  Phillips  is  a Republican,  not  active,  but  inter- 
ested. He  has  not  shirked  the  duties  of  public  office, 
having  served  two  years  as  mayor  and  ten  years  as 
chairman  of  the  board  of  county  commissioners.  He 
is  a member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  as  is  proper 
to  a born  Scot  but  he  allows  Mrs.  Phillips  to  do  the 
heavy  work  in  the  ecclesiastic  line,  even  as  he  gives 
his  best  efforts  to  the  commercial  interests  of  Lewis- 
town. He  is  a member  of  the  city  commercial  club, 
and  one  of  its  directors.  He  also  belongs  to  the  Judith 
Club,  and  has  served  in  the  administrative  depart- 
ment • of  that  body. 

In  the  Masonic  lodge,  Mr,  Phillips  is  a member  of 
the  blue  lodge  and  also  of  the  Shrine.  In  the  former 
he  has  filled  all  the  chairs  and  has  held  office  in  the 
other  branches  of  the  order. 

In  18S4.  at  Billings,  Montana.  iMr.  Phillips  was  mar- 
ried to  Maggie,  the  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John 
Page,  at  Watkins,  New  York.  Their  union  has  been 
blessed  with  six  children,  all  born  in  Lewistown. 
One  daughter,  Mary,  is  married  to  T.  O.  Gorman  of 
Madison,  Wisconsin,  near  which  city  her  husband 
operates  a large  and  well-paying  ranch.  John,  the 
eldest  son,  resides  in  Fergus  county,  where  he  has 
charge  of  one  of  his  father’s  ranches.  The  other  son, 
and  the  three  daughters  live  in  Lewistown  with  their 
parents. 


1132 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


Charles  L.  Myersick.  The  county  auditor  of  Fer- 
gus county  is  a Montanian  by  birth,  and  he  has  lived 
in  the  county  for  twenty-nine  years,  rather  longer  in 
fact  than  the  county  as  such  has  existed.  He  was  but 
three  years  old  when  his  parents  moved  from  Can- 
ton, Montana,  to  their  ranch,  as  he  was  born  on  De- 
cember 6,  1880,  so  he  has  lived  practically  all  his  life 
eight  miles  from  Lewistown.  His  father,  William 
Myersick,  was  born  in  Germany,  but  left  that  country 
when  a boy.  He  first  settled  in  St.  Louis  and  came  to 
Montana  in  the  70's.  He  did  not  make  the  trip  over- 
land, but  came  by  boat  the  entire  distance  from  St. 
Louis  to  Fort  Benton,  and  only  there  did  he  enter 
the  wagon  train  bound  for  Diamond  City.  His 
marriage  took  place  in  Montana,  his  bride  being  Alice 
Elizabeth  Steele,  born  in  Kentucky.  She  died  at  the 
early  age  of  thirty-two  in  1887,  and  is  buried  beside 
her  father  and  mother.  There  were  nine  children  in 
the  family  of  the  elder  Myersick,  five  boys  and  four 
girls.  Four  are  residents  of  Montana.  Frank  W. 
Myersick,  Charles’  twin  l)rother,  is  in  the  mining 
business  at  Hilger.  Ann,  Mrs  Welch,  is  the  wife  of 
one  of  Fergus  county's  successful  ranchers.  Mrs. 
Victor  D’Autremont  lives  in  Helena,  where  her  hus- 
band, a traveling  salesman,  has  his  headquarters. 

Charles  Myersick  went  to  country  school  in  this 
county,  and  at  the  age  of  thirteen  became  a wage  earner 
in  the  capacity  of  a cattle-herder.  He  continued  to 
work  at  this  occupation  until  1900,  when  he  went  to 
Kendall,  the  then  famous  gold  mining  centre,  and 
worked  for  two  years  in  the  mine  there.  Here  he  was 
the  victim  of  an  unfortunate  accident,  in  which  he  lost 
his  left  leg.  It  was  necessary  to  amputate  the  limb 
above  the  knee,  and  when  Mr.  Myersick  recovered 
from  his  wound,  he  pluckily  prepared  to  take  a place 
in  some  less  active  , pursuit. 

In  the  fall  of  1902,  the  young  man  went  to  Oshkosh, 
Wisconsin,  where  he  remained  for  the  next  two  years 
as  a student  in  a business  college.  In  the  spring  of 
1904,  he  came  back  to  Lewistown  and  entered  the 
recorder’s  office  in  the  capacity  of  deputy  clerk.  At 
the  end  of  two  years,  he  was  elected  recorder,  and  held 
that  position  for  four  years,  and  then  in  the  fall  of 
1910,  he  was  nominated  for  the  office  which  he  now 
holds,  that  of  county  auditor.  His  repeated  election 
testifies  to  his  popularity  not  only  with  the  Democratic 
party,  which  has  in  him  a stanch  and  an  able  supporter, 
but  with  the  county  in  general.  He  is  a person  who  be- 
lieves in  cheating  the  evil  one  by  the  device  of  find- 
ing his  own  employment.  Accordingly  he  runs  a vaude- 
ville theatre  and  picture  show,  as  a side  line,  and  to 
further  occupy  his  time,  and  increase  his  bank  ac- 
count, he  owns  and  operates  a ranch.  It  might  be 
supposed  that  all  these  undertakings  would  leave  him 
no  time  for  recreation,  but  he  is  much  too  sagacious 
a business  man  to  work  all  the  time.  He  is  confessedly 
a baseball  fan  and  a rooter  of  prowess.  Another  diver- 
sion of  which  he  is  fond  is  horse  racing,  and  he  bal- 
ances these  lively  tastes  by  a fondness  for  reading  and 
a liberal  indulgence  in  good  books. 

The  advantages  of  Montana  is  a theme  upon  which 
Mr.  Myersick  is  prone  to  become  eloquent,  but  that 
is  almost  a universal  characteristic  of  Lewistonians. 
He  is  a charter  member  of  the  Judith  Club,  and  one  of 
the  prominent  men  in  the  Elks,  in  which  body,  he  was 
at  one  time  ruler. 

Mr.  Myersick  is  a self-made  man  in  every  sense  of 
the  word.  Since  he  was  thirteen,  he  has  been  finan- 
cially independent,  and  he  has  met  every  crisis  with 
wisdom  and  fortitude. 

Morris  Sellers  Largey.  Inheriting  wealth  and  its 
heavy  responsibilities,  sons  of  notable  fathers  have  not 
always  been  themselves  men  of  power  or  prominence, 
and  too  often  the  sad  spectacle  has  been  presented  to  the 


world  of  weak  and  futile  descendants  failing  through 
the  very  advantages  which  they  had  never  been  re- 
quired to  struggle  to  obtain  for  themselves.  On  the 
other  hand,  there  are  sons,  one  of  whom,  Morris  Sellers 
Largey,  of  Butte,  Montana,  being  in  mind,  who  not  only 
have  achieved  for  themselves  and  through  study,  con- 
centration and  enterprise,  have  won  their  way  and  have 
proved  faithful  and  efficient  stewards  of  inherited  trusts. 
Suddenly  called  upon  to  assume  the  direction  of  his  late 
father’s  vast  interests,  Morris  Sellers  Largey,  when  a 
youth  of  eighteen  years,  possessed  the  poise,  self-con- 
trol and  good  judgment  that  enabled  him  to  carry  to  a 
successful  conclusion  pending  responsibilities  and  to  effi- 
ciently continue  enterprises  that  affect  the  vast  family 
fortune  and  interests  many  and  varied  in  different  sec- 
tions of  Montana.  Morris  Sellers  Largey  was  born  at 
Butte,  Montana,  March  18,  1880,  and  is  a son  of  Pat- 
rick A.  and  Lulu  (Sellers)  Largey. 

In  County  Armagh,  Ireland,  the  grandparents,  Pat- 
rick and  Jane  (Casilly)  Largey,  were  born  and  from 
there  they  came  to  the  United  States  in  1814.  Their  ob- 
jective point  was  Perry  county,  Ohio,  and  there  they 
spent  the  remaining  years  of  their  busy  lives,  Patrick 
Largey  being  an  industrious  and  successful  farmer.  Of 
their  family  of  eleven  children,  Patrick  A.  was  the 
youngest  born,  his  birth  taking  place  in  1836.  He  came 
first  to  Montana  in  1865,  but  had  led  a busy  life  before 
this  time,  showing  enterprise  and  initiative  and  over- 
coming more  obstacles  than  usually  stood  in  the  way 
of  ambitious  youth.  He  had  managed  to  secure  through 
his  own  efforts  a fair  education,  one  that  qualified  him 
for  teaching  school,  and  included  a knowledge  of  book- 
keeping and  as  a bookkeeper  in  a business  house  in 
Cincinnati  he  became  acquainted  with  methods  and  peo- 
ple which  led  to  his  locating  for  some  two  years  at 
Keokuk,  Iowa,  and  such  an  appreciation  of  the  state  as  a 
possible  business  field  that  he  returned  from  the  east  in 
1861  and  embarked  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Des 
Moines.  In  the  following  year  he  disposed  of  his  store 
and  moved  to  Omaha,  Nebraska,  where  he  became  pur- 
chasing agent  for  the  well-known  freighter,  Edward 
Creighton,  and  in  1865,  as  captain  of  one  of  Mr.  Creigh- 
ton’s trains  of  sixty  wagons,  he  reached  Virginia  City, 
Montana.  Again  he  saw  business  possibilities  in  this 
far  western  territory  and  in  a short  time  he  embarked  in 
the  grocery  business  at  Helena.  Although  he  sold  his 
Helena  business  in  the  following  spring,  his  responsi- 
bilities increased  and  he  became  concerned  in  many  of 
the  leading  activities  of  the  time  and  section,  including 
freighting,  cattle  dealing  and  merchandising  at  differ- 
ent points.  In  1880  he  sold  his  hardware  store  that  he 
had  been  conducting  for  some  years  at  Virginia  City 
and  then  came  to  Butte,  organizing  here  the  Butte 
Hardware  Company  and  in  1883  established  a branch 
house  at  Anaconda.  Prior  to  coming  to  Butte  he  had 
been  otherwise  interested  than  already  mentioned,  as 
early  as  1867  having  built  a telegraph  line  for  the 
"Western  Union  Company  from  Virginia  City  to  Helena, 
and  in  the  following  year  extending  it  to  Bozeman.  In 
[879  he  built  the  line  between  Deer  Lodge  and  Butte, 
being  the  leading  stockholder  of  the  company,  which 
later  became  the  Montana  Central  Telegraph  Company, 
a part  of  which  was  subsequently  bought  by  the  United 
States  government. 

In  1891  Patrick  A.  Largey  founded  the  State  Savings 
Bank  of  Butte,  Montana,  became  its  president  and  con- 
tinued to  control  its  policy  and  also  built  up  banking 
institutions  at  Virginia  City  and  Helena.  He  was  ever 
ready  to  foster  public-spirited  enterprises  and  in  every 
way  to  assist  in  the  development  of  Butte,  and  mainly 
through  his  efforts  was  the  electric  light  plant  of  the 
city  built  and  sold  to  a company  that  gives  the  city 
most  satisfactory  service.  His  active  mind  led  him 
into  yet  other  fields,  and  while  many  were  lamenting 
the  want  of  a newspaper  to  give  voice  to  public  opinion 
and  exploit  this  section,  Mr.  Largey  founded  the  Butte 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1133 


Inter-Mountain,  a daily,  and  served  as  first  president  of 
the  company  that  issued  it.  He  was  so  closely  connected 
with  affairs  of  magnitude  in  different  parts  of  the  state 
and  was  so  universally  recognized  as  a man  of  great 
ability  and  public  usefulness,  that  the  tragic  closing  of 
his  life  made  a deep  impression  on  the  whole  northwest. 
On  January  ii,  1898,  he  was  assassinated  by  a maniac. 
His  death  was  a calamity  not  only  to  his  family,  but  to 
thousands  of  others  who  were  connected  with  his  nu- 
merous business  enterprises  and  to  hosts  who  were  more 
or  less  dependent  upon  his  bounty,  for  his  gifts  to 
charity  were  almost  limitless. 

On  April  30,  1877,  Patrick  A.  Largey  was  united  in 
marriage,  at  Chicago,  Illinois,  to  Miss  Lulu  Sellers, 
who  was  born  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  of  Pennsylvania  an- 
cestry. Four  of  their  family  of  six  children  survive, 
namely:  Morris  Sellers;  Lulu,  who  is  the  wife  of  Frank 
C.  McKim,  of  Omaha,  Nebraska;  Edward  Creighton 
and  Mary  Montana. 

Morris  Sellers  Largey  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Butte,  Montana,  spent  two  years  in  the  Georgetown 
preparatory  school  and  was  graduated  from  the  civil 
engineering  department  of  the  University  of  Michigan 
in  the  class  of  1902.  Immediately  after  graduating  from 
the  University  of  Michigan  he  was  called  to  take  his 
father’s  place  at  the  head  of  the  family  affairs  and  has 
continued  to  manage  the  estate  as  noted  above.  He  has 
innumerable  business  enterprises  of  his  own,  being  an 
officer  and  director  in  twenty-eight  corporations;  presi- 
dent of  the  Largey  Lumber  Company,  of  Butte,  Mon- 
tana ; president  of  the  Coeur  d’Alene  Lumber  Company, 
of  Coeur  d’Alene,  Idaho ; and  president  of  the  Speculator 
Mining  Company,  of  Butte,  Montana.  In  1907,  during 
the  panic  in  Montana  and  the  suspension  of  one  of 
Butte’s  leading  banking  institutions,  Mr.  Largey  proved 
the  quality  of  his  manhood  and  citizenship  by  coming 
forward  and  providing  for  the  entire  deposits,  assuring 
against  loss.  When  the  State  Savings  Bank,  which  his 
father  had  founded,  was  reorganized,  Air.  Largey  be- 
came its  president,  which  office  he  filled  until  July  i, 
1910,  since  when  he  has  been  vice-president  and  a 
member  of  its  directing  board. 

Air.  Largey  was  married  at  Omaha.  Nebraska,  Sep- 
tember 19,  1908,  to  A'liss  Alberta  Cressey,  who  is  a 
daughter  of  Albert  L.  Cressey,  of  Modesto,  California. 
Air.  and  Airs.  Largey  reside  at  the  Thornton  Hotel,  at 
Butte,  and  he  maintains  his  office,  in  the  State  Savings 
Bank  building.  They  are  members  of  the  Roman  Cath- 
olic church.  Air.  Largey  takes  "no  active  part  in  politics 
and  votes  independently.  He  is  identified  with  the  Elks 
and  with  a number  of  social  organizations,  including  the 
Chi  Psi  college  fraternity;  the  Lambs  Club,  of  New 
York  City;  the  Rocky  Alountain  Club,  of  New  York; 
the  Detroit  University  Club;  the  Chicago  Athletic  Asso- 
ciation ; the  Alontana  Club,  of  Helena,  Montana ; the 
Silver  Bow  Club,  the  Country  Club  and  the  LTniversity 
Club,  all  of  Butte,  Montana. 

John  S.  Reed.  One  of  the  prominent  retired  cit- 
izens of  Billings,  Alontana,  John  S.  Reed,  207  South 
Thirty-second  street,  was  for  a number  of  years  iden- 
tified with  the  cattle  and  sheep  raising  industries,  and 
for  a long  time  was  rated  among  the  foremost 
ranchmen  of  the  Yellowstone  valley.  He  belongs  to 
a family  which  traces  its  ancestry  back  to  1629,  in 
which  year  the  progenitor  came  to  America  from 
England,  settling  at  a point  in  the  colony  of  Alass- 
achusetts.  John  S.  Reed  is  a native  of  Trinity, 
California,  and  was  born  April  12,  1859,  a son  of 
George  W.  and  Emily  (Porter)  Reed. 

George  W.  Reed  was  born  in  Boston,  Alassachusetts, 
June  10  1829,  the  son  of  John  S.  and  Emily  (Allen) 
Keed,  the  father,  also  a native  of  Boston, ' removing 
to  Dover,  New  Hampshire,  when  George  W.  was  ten 
years  of  age.  He  remained  in  that  state  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  soon  thereafter,  having  fol- 


lowed the  trade  of  a shoemaker.  The  mother,  to 
whom  was  left  the  care  of  eleven  children,  was  a 
native  of  New  Brunswick.  With  a cheerfulness  and 
courage  that  was  characteristic  of  her  family,  she 
set  about  to  give  her  children  all  the  advantages 
possible,  but  some  of  them  had  to  be  content  with 
very  little  schooling,  and  early  in  life  they  began  to 
look  out  for  themselves.  George  W.  Reed  was  six- 
teen years  of  age  when  he  joined  a rifle  regiment 
for  service  during  the  Mexican  war,  under  Colonel 
Loren,  and  he  served  his  full  enlistment  of  five  years, 
being  in  action  long  after  the  close  of  the  war. 
Following  the  declaration  of  peace  his  regiment  went 
to  Vera  Cruz  for  some  time,  later  went  to  Cali- 
fornia, and  during  the  summer  passed  over  into 

Oregon,  building  the  barracks  at  F'ort  Vancouver. 
After  the  disbandment  of  the  rifle  regiment  he  was 
transferred  to  the  dragoons,  Gen.  Phil  Kearney  com- 
manding, and  this  detachment  made  a pretty  extensive 
tour  of  California,  visiting  nearly  all  the  principal 
points.  Air.  Reed  also  assisted  in  building  F’ort 

Kearney,  Fort  Laramie  and  Fort  Hall,  and  for  a time 
was  member  of  the  command  of  Col.  Stoneman,  who 
later  served  two  terms  as  govenror  of  California. 

After  being  mustered  out  of  the  service,  at  Benicia, 
California,  Air.  Reed  returned  to  Fort  Vancouver, 
where  he  located  on  a donation  claim,  but  did  not  re- 
main long  enough  to  perfect  the  title.  For  a period 
he  followed  mining  and  spent  two  years  at  Eureka, 
and  in  1855  went  from  there  to  Arkansas  Dam.  on 
Trinity  river,  where  he  mined  two  years  more,  but  in 
1859  crossed  the  mountains  to  Humbolt  county  and 
engaged  in  farming.  Here  he  remained  for  twenty- 
one  years  and  engaged  in  raising  sheep,  hogs  and 

cattle,  to  quite  a profitable  degree,  and  at  this  point 
his  children  were  reared  and  educated.  On  Alay  26, 
1880,  owing  to  ill  health  and  feeling  that  a change 
would  better  his  condition.  Air.  Reed  came  overland 
by  teams  to  Yellowstone  county,  settling  three  miles 
from  the  present  city  of  Billings,  a trip  that  occupied 
three  months  and  fourteen  days.  Purchasing  a squat- 
ter s right,  he  began  ranching,  remaining  there  four- 
teen y^ears,  and  at  the  opening  of  the  Crow  Reser- 
vation he,  with  his  son  John  S.,  located  on  Five-mile 
cieek,  on  another  ranch,  which  he  made  his  home 
until  1902.  In  (hat  year  he  retired  from  activity  and 
settled  m Billings,  where  his  death  occurred  December 
1905,  In  1848  George  W.  Reed  was  married  at 
City,  Oregon,  to  Miss  Emily  Porter,  who  was 
born  in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  in  1828.  With  her 
parents,  she  crossed  the  plains  to  the  Willamette 
ralley,  Oregon,  in  1845,  and  it  was  in  this  vicinity^  that 
she  was  reared.  Her  death  occurred  Alarch  i,  1895, 
having  been  mother  of  nine  children,  of  whom  seven 
grew  to  maturity:  Alfonso,  who  died  Aiio-ust  ii 

1906;  Alary  E.,  the  wife  of  Lawton  F.  Simmons 
hying  at  Fromberg,  Alontana;  George  W„  residing  in 
Billings;  Charles  A.,  a resident  of  Livingston,  Mon- 
tana; John  S. ; Delia,  who  died  February  28,  1906,  the 
wife  of  J.  S.  Kelley,  of  Lewistown,  Alontana;  and 
Emily  E.  _ the  wife  of  Charles  E.  Westbrook,  of 
bndger,  this  state.  The  life  of  George  W.  Reed  was 
an  active  one,  filled  with  the  experiences  of  a thrilling 
nature.  Three  years  of  his  life  were  spent  in  scouting 
during  the  Alodoc  war,  and  he  was  one  of  the  party 
sent  to  rescue  the  Otney  girls,  whose  parents  had 
been  killed  by  the  Indians.  After  a terrible  experi 
ence  in  which  the  rescue  party  was  lost  in  the  desert 
with  no  provisions,  and  when  they  had  lost  five  men 
in  the  skirmish,  one  of  the  girls  was  rescued.  The 
expel  lences  of  this  child,  who  had  been  tattooed  by 
hei  captors,  were  published  in  book  form  some  years 
later  and  proved  to  be  an  interesting  volume. 

The  boyhood  day's  of  John  S.  Reed  were  spent  under 
the  parental  roof,  and  as  a youth  he  attended  school 
when  he  could  be’ spared  from  the  duties  of  the  home 


1134 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


place.  When  the  Crow  Indian  Reservation  was 

thrown  open  to  the  homesteaders  he  located  on  320 
acres  of  land  and  engaged  in  the  sheep  business,  in 
which  he  continued  successfully  for  a number  of 
years.  Subsequently  he  disposed  of  his  six  thousand 
head  of  sheep  and  moved  to  Billings  to  live,  but  later 
took  up  ranching  again,  and  until  October,  iqiC  was  sit- 
uated on  a ranch  located  about  twenty-five  miles  north 
of  Billings.  Since  the  date  mentioned  he  has  not  en- 
gaged actively  in  business.  He  has  interested  him- 

self to  some  extent  in  fraternal  matters,  belonging  to 
Billings  Star  Lodge  No.  41,  I.  O.  O.  F.  He  was  first 
made  a member  of  the  Eureka  Lodge  No.  69,  and  sub- 
sequently affiliated  himself  with  Horn  Encampment 
No.  12,  of  which  he  is  past  chief  patriarch,  and  Canton 
Big  Horn  No.  9.  In  political  matters  he  is  a Re- 
publican, but  has  not  sought  nor  desired  public  office, 
preferring  to  give  his  time  and  attention  to  the  de- 
velopment of  ins  industry.  His  success  in  life  has 

been  due  entirely  to  his  own  efforts,  and  he  may  be 
rated  among  the  successful  self-made  men  of  Yellow- 
stone county,  and  one  who  has  numerous  friends. 

Charles  A.  IIarnois.  The  name  of  Mr.  diaries 
A.  Harnois  brings  to  the  mind,  by  the  association  of 
ideas,  the  thought  of  theatre,  because  he  is  the  owner 
and  proprietor  of  a splendid,  modern  theatre  that  is 
the  equal  in  every  way  of  the  city  houses  of  amuse- 
ment. It  is  not  only  Mr.  Harnois’  pride  but  the  pride 
of  Missoula  as  well  because  it  is  so  up-to-date  and  well- 
equipped  that  all  first  class  theatrical  attractions  stop 
at  this  city  because  of  the  good  theatre. 

Mr.  Harnois  was  born  in  St.  Joseph,  Missouri, 
October  31,  1857.  He  lived  there  until  he  was  about 
nineteen  j^ears  of  age  and  then  he  started  for  the  West. 
His  first  stop  was  made  at  Yankton,  South  Dakota, 
where  he  engaged  as  a cabin  boy  on  the  river  steamer 
“Josephine"  plying  between  Yankton  and  Fort 
Benton,  Montana.  He  continued  in  this  capacity  for 
about  three  years  and  then  he  quit  and  settled  in 
Montana  where  he  has  lived  ever  since.  (1880). 

He  first  settled  in  Maiden,  Montana,  where  he  con- 
ducted a restaurant  for  a short  time  when  he  was 
offered  a good  price  for  his  business.  So  he  sold  out 
and  moved  to  Helena,  Montana.  Fie  remained  here 
for  three  years,  following  various  occupations. 

Then  he  accepted  a position  on  the  railroad  as 
news  agent,  running  between  Bismarck  and  Spokane. 
When  the  Bitter  Root  branch  of  the  Northern  Pacific 
Railroad  started,  he  arranged  with  the  railroad  com- 
pany to  run  the  news  business  for  himself.  He  con- 
tinued this  arrangement  for  two  years.  While  he  had 
this  business  of  his  own,  he  also  took  charge  of  the  cir- 
culation department  of  two  opposition  newspapers, 
the  Daily  Missotilian  and  the  Daily  Gazette.  In  spite 
of  the  fact  that  these  two  newspapers  were  inimical 
to  each  other,  he  managed  them  both  with  absolute 
impartiality,  being  honest  and  fair  in  his  dealings  with 
them. 

He  continued  this  work  for  nearly  four  years  and 
then  he  went  back  to  Helena,  and  it  was  here  that 
he  conceived  his  first  leaning  toward  the  theatre  and 
made  the  entering  wedge,  so  to  speak,  into  the  pro- 
fession. He  bought  the  iDusiness  of  the  Bill  Posting 
and  Outdoor  Advertising  for  Helena  of  the  Mings 
Opera  House. 

He  carried  on  this  business  with  success  for  a num- 
ber of  years,  and  then  he  went  down  to  Butte  and 
bought  the  Butte  Bill  Posting  business  and,  a little 
later,  the  Anaconda  business. 

He  finally  sold  out  entirely,  and  returned  to  Mis- 
soula where  he  first  leased  the  Bennett  theatre  and 
later,  the  “family  theatre.”  He  managed  the  latter 
until  it  was  destroyed  by  fire.  This  caused  him  to 


meet  with  a very  serious  reverse  as  he  lost  a great 
deal  of  money  when  the  theatre  burned. 

In  spite  of  this  blow,  he  was  not  disheartened  en- 
tirely because  he  had  confidence  in  himself  and  in 
lais  ability  to  win  out.  Fie  had  great  faith  in  the 
future  of  Missoula  so  he  simply  went  ahead  and 
planned  to  build  a new  playhouse  in  place  of  the  one 
destroyed. 

Mr.  Harnois  has  always  dealt  honorably  and  justly 
with  his  fellow  men,  firmly  living  up  to  Alexander 
Pope’s  declaration  that  “an  honest  man’s  the  noblest 
work  of  God.”  And  because  the  people  knew  that  he 
was  a man  of  honor,  they  trusted  him  and  therefore 
he  had  no  difficulty  in  raising  the  necessary  funds  to 
rebuild  his  theatre.  A few  friends  came  to  his  rescue 
to  the  extent  of  forty  thousand  dollars  and  so  he  was 
enabled  to  build  the  present  Harnois  Theatre. 

This  theatre  is  a model  of  beauty  and  utility,  abso- 
lutely modern  in  every  respect  and  equal  to  any  of 
the  city  playhouses.  It  is  an  institution  that  Missoula 
is  very  proud  of,  and  it  will  stand  as  an  everlasting 
monument  to  the  ability  and  judgment  of  its  founder. 
On  the  opening  night  of  the  theatre,  the  happy  cit- 
izens of  Missoula  showed  their  appreciation  of  Mr. 
Harnois’  efforts  by  giving  him  a ten  thousand  dollar 
house.  That  is  to  say  he  sold  that  number  of  tickets 
for  the  initial  performance. 

Mr.  Harnois  earned  his  first  money  as  a boy  when 
he  was  only  about  ten  years  of  age.  He  got  a job 
working  on  the  fair  grounds  and  his  salary  was  to 
have  been  three  dollars  a week  but  unfortunately,  he 
never  received  it  because  his  boss  skipped  before  he 
paid  him.  After  this  episode,  he  followed  various 
occupations  until  he  began  his  steamboat  experience. 

His  early  education  was  obtained  in  the  public 
schools  in  Missouri.  Then  he  took  a course  at  Chris- 
tian Brothers’  College  at  St.  Joseph. 

FI  is  religion  leans  toward  the  Roman  Catholic  church. 
He  is  a Republican  and  takes  a very  active  interest  in 
politics.  He  is  now  public  administrator  of  Missoula. 

Mr.  Flarnois  belongs  to  several  societies.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Elks  and  has  been  an  active  worker 
in  this  organization.  When  the  Elks  moved  into 
their  new  hall,  they  presented  Mr.  Flarnois  with  a 
life  membership  certificate  as  a token  of  their  esteem 
and  love. 

Fie  is  a member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  the 
United  Workmen,  and  has  been  through  all  the  chairs 
in  this  organization.  He  is  also  a member  of  the 
Yeomen  and  Woodmen  of  the  World. 

Like  most  western  men,  he  is  fond,  of  riding.  He 
has  a hobby  for  fine  birds  and  chickens  and  raises  a 
great  many. 

He  is  a lover  of  music  and  other  arts  but  his  very 
greatest  pleasure  and  the  thing  that  gives  him  the 
most  happiness  in  life  is  to  see  other  people  enjoying 
themselves.  If  he  can  sit  in  his  private  office  while 
a performance  is  going  on  and  can  hear  the  audience 
applaud  in  satisfaction,  then  his  happiness  reaches  its 
climax  and  he  is  perfectly  contented. 

Mr.  Harnois  entered  the  blessed  bonds  of  matri- 
mony before  he  attained  his  majority,  in  fact  when 
he  was  only  nineteen  years  of  age.  In  September 
1876,  at  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  he  married  Miss  Emma 
Marshall,  the  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Ella  Marshall 
of  Marysville,  Kansas.  Three  children,  all  boys,  came 
to  bless  this  union.  They  are : Charles  Oliver,  married 
and  resides  in  Missoula;  John  Thomas,  single,  and 
lives  at  home;  Leo  Marshall,  married  and  resides  in 
Missoula. 

All  the  sons  are  associated  with  their  father  in  the 
theatrical  business;  one  is  the  treasurer,  one  is  the 
stage  manager,  and  the  third  is  the  electrician. 

In  regard  to  Mr.  Harnois’  parents,  his  father,  Peter 
Flarnois,  was  born  in  Canada.  He  came  to  these 


Vr 


■> 


h 


v' 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


/ 


1135 


United  States  and  settled  in  Missouri,  and  followed 
the  occupations  of  farming  and  occasional  outside 
lines.  He  died  at  the  age  of  eighty  years  in  1894, 
and  is  buried  at  St.  Joseph,  Missouri.  He  married 
Miss  Sarah  Holcomb  who  died  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
five  years  and  is  buried  beside  her  husband.  There 
were  eight  children  in  the  elder  Harnois  family,  Mr. 
Charles  A.  Harnois  being  the  seventh. 

In  spite  of  his  high  standing  in  the  community  and 
his  popularity,  Mr.  Harnois  is  very  modest  and  un- 
assuming. He  has  a pleasing  personality,  always 
cheerful  and  sunny  and  looking  on  the  bright  side  of 
life.  He  never  looks  for  trouble  and  consequently, 
never  has  any  with  anybody.  Even  in  the  early 
days  of  Montana’s,  history,  when  tough  characters 
were  numerous  and  he  had  occasion  to  mingle  with 
them,  he  never  “carried  a gun,”  in  fact,  never  even 
owned  one.  He  was  never  molested  in  any  way.  At 
one  time,  he  traveled  overland  with  his  little  family 
from  Bismarck  to  Helena  and  the  Indians  and  road 
agents  were  numerous  and  troublesome.  However, 
nothing  occurred  to  put  them  in  danger  and  they 
landed  in  Helena  safely  with  flying  colors. 

Mr.  Harnois  holds  a deep  affection  in  his  heart  for 
his  home  state,  and  says  he  would  not  give  up  Mon- 
tana for  any  other  place  in  the  world.  He  likes  the 
mountains  and  the  people  and  considers  it  the  coming 
country.  He  thinks,  too,  that  the  opportunities  it 
affords  are  even  better  today  than  when  he  first  came. 

Elmer  Jay  Anderson.  The  Buckej-e  state  has  laid 
claim  to  producing  an  unusually  fine  type  of  citizen  and 
the  prominent  gentleman  whose  name  stands  at  the 
head  of  this  article  has  done  all  that  could  possibly  be 
done  by  any  one  person  to  justify  this  claim.  He  is 
first  and  foremost  a splendid  citizen,  of  the  type  whose 
support  is  extended  toward  all  measures  which  seem 
likely  to  result  in  the  additional  welfare  of  the  whole 
of  society.  Of  this  he  has  given  many  proofs  and 
several  years  ago  as  senator  of  Meagher  county  ex- 
erted a praisewo  thy  influence  in  the  state  assembly. 
Ill  business  ana  financial  circles  he  stands  a figure  of 
powerful  proportions,  the  Anderson-Spencer  iMercan- 
tile  Company,  of  which  he  is  the  head,  being  the  largest 
concern  of  its  kind  in  the  valley  and  he  is  also  head 
of  the  Central  State  Bank.  A portion  of  Montana's 
great  ranching  interests  are  in  his  possession  and  he 
is  familiar  with  the  history  and  resources  of  the  state 
as  few  men  are. 

Elmer  Jay  Anderson  was  born  in  Columbiana  county, 
Ohio,  November  20,  1854,  and  there  resided  until 
about  the  attainment  of  his  majority.  He  then  left 
home  and  traveled  over  various  states  of  the  Union, 
stopping  where  his  fancy  bade  him  and  earning  his 
living  at  various  occupations  for  a time  and  then  travel- 
ing on  to  new  scenes.  It  was  the  adventurous  spirit 
of  youth,  the  “wanderlust,”  as  the  Germans  term  it, 
and  when  it  was  fully  satisfied,  he  decided  to  settle 
down.  He  had  consumed  five  years  in  his  wander- 
ings and  had  acquired  many  experiences,  wide  in- 
formation. but  not  much  money.  In  the  spring  of  1880 
he  came  to  Montana  and  was  so  favorably  impressed 
that  he  decided  to  make  it  his  permanent  stopping- 
place,  and  he  has  ever  since  that  time — a period  of 
over  thirty  years, — resided  in  Meagher  county.  For 
the  first  two  or  three  years  he  followed  cattle-raising 
and  ranching  and  in  1883,  embarked  in  the  mercantile 
business,  organizing  in  that  year  the  Anderson 
Brothers  Mercantile  Company,  which  grew  rapidly, 
meeting  from  the  first  with  the  best  of  fortunes  and 
was  later  merged  into  the  Anderson-Spencer  Company, 
which  is  by_  far  the  largest  establishment  of  its  kind 
m this  section  of  the  state.  Nor  have  his  energies 
been  limited  to  this  particular  field  of  endeavor,  for 
he  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Central  State 
Bank  and  has  ever  since  held  the  position  of  presi- 


dent. He  is  an  adherent  of  the  policies  and  principles 
of  the  Republican  party  and  takes  an  active  interest  in 
politics.  He  is  of  that  sound  material  to  which  the 
people  like  to  entrust  their  interests  and  he  was  elected 
to  the  office  of  state  senator  of  Meagher  county. 

Mr.  Anderson’s  father,  Joshua  B.  Anderson,  was 
born  in  Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  having  come  to  that 
section  in  early  days.  He  lived  there  throughout  the 
course  of  his  useful  life,  engaging  in  agriculture  and 
contracting  and  at  the  time  of  the  war  doing  a great 
deal  of  business  for  the  government.  He  survived  the 
great  conflict  between  the  states  by  less  than  a decade, 
passing  away  in  1873,  at  the  age  of  fifty-three  years. 
The  subject’s  mother  before  her  marriage  was  Mary 
J.  Beers,  also  an  Ohioan.  She  survived  her  husband 
for  many  years,  her  demise  occurring  in  1908,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty-four  years.  These  admirable 
people  are  interred  near  the  old  Buckeye  state,  home- 
stead side  by  side.  There  were  seven  children  in  their 
family,  the  subject  being  the  third  child  and  eldest 
son.  The  subject  was  deprived  of  a father’s  guidance 
when  a lad  of  fifteen,  but  being  the  eldest  son,  he 
valiantly  shouldered  responsibilitv  and  stuck  to  the 
family  and  ran  the  farm  until  his  brothers  were  old 
enough  to  take  hold.  Then  he  started  forth  in  quest 
of  the  adventures  for  which  his  soul  so  long  had 
yearned. 

Mr.  Anderson  received  his  earh'  education  in  the 
district  schools  of  Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  and  also 
took  a limited  course  in  the  business  department  of 
Mt.  Union  College  of  Alliance,  Ohio.  His  education, 
however,  did  not  terminate  with  his  school  days,  and 
he  is  now  a particularly  well-informed  man.  He 
is  an  attendant  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  in  which 
his  wife  is  an  active  member  and  worker.  His  affilia- 
tions are  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows 
and  the  Lambs'  Club  of  Helena.  In  the  former  he  has 
held  all  the  offices.  He  loves  out-door  life  and  nearer 
tires  of  huntine  and  fishing  or  of  motoring,  Meagher 
county  possessing  no  greater  automobile  enthusiast. 
He  is  a wide  reader,  enjoying  especially  history  and 
economics  and  his  library  is  one  of  the  well-selected 
ones  of  the  city. 

To  use  the  picturesque  expression  of  this  breezy 
Westerner,  you  could  not  drive  him  out  of  iMontana 
with  a pack  of  hounds,  so  great  an  attraction  does  it 
exert  upon  him — its  perfect  freedom  and  the  fine  democ- 
rac\"  of  the  people,  the  grandeur  of  its  sceneiw  and  the 
vastness  of  its  resources. 

i\Ir.  Anderson  was  married  in  Ohio,  December  25, 
1878,  the  young  woman  to  "become  his  bride  being  Eva 
King,  daughter  of  George  and  Sarah  King,  of  Home- 
worth,  that  state.  This  union  has  been  blessed  by  the 
birth  of  three  children,  two  sons  and  a daughter,  as 
follows : Glen,  married  and  residing  at  El  Oro.  Mexico, 
where  he  is  a mining  engineer — a graduate  of  Columbia 
L’^niversitv ; Olive,  wife  of  Moncure  Cockrell,  of  Deer 
Lodge,  Montana,  Mr,  Cockrell  being  state  senator  from 
Powell  county:  and  Elden,  married  and  residing  at 
White  Sulphur  Springs,  where  he  is  associated  with  his 
father  in  business. 

David  G.  Brow'ne.  In  the  foreground  of  Fort  Ben- 
ton’s conspicuous  citizens  we  find  David  G.  Browne,  a 
founder  and  director  as  well  as  the  president  of  the 
Stockmen’s  National  Bank,  the  largest  bank  in  northern 
Montana,  with  resources  of  nearh-  two  million  dollars. 
His  prominence,  however,  is  by  no  means  merely  local, 
nor  is  his  success  due  merely  to  the  turns  of  fortune’s 
wheel.  A most  interesting  demonstration  of  what  man 
can  accomplish  entirely  through  his  own  energy  and 
determination,  is  seen  in  the  use  which  David  G. 
Browne  has,  throughout  his  life,  made  of  the  oppor- 
tunities which  he  knew  so  well  how  to  adapt  to  his 
purposes. 

In  a modest  home  near  Belfast,  in  Ireland,  he  began 


1136 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


his  earthly  existence  on  the  sixteenth  day  of  January, 
in  the  year  1859.  His  education  was  that  to  be  de- 
rived from  the  local  schools  of  the  community  and  its 
period  was  concluded  with  his  fourteenth  year.  He 
continued  studying,  however,  for  his  was  ability  whose 
initiative  force  was  not  dependent  upon  teachers.  In 
the  course  of  two  or  three  years  he  had  made  himself 
an  expert  accountant  and  bookkeeper.  But  Ireland  was 
not  large  enough  nor  progressive  enough  to  hold  the 
ambitions  of  this  youth ; when  he  was  seventeen  years 
of  age  he  sailed  for  the  United  States,  where  he  imme- 
diately sought  an  uncle  who  had  been  in  this  country 
for  some  time  and  who  was  located  in  the  (then) 
territory  of  Utah.  He  soon  secured  a position  with 
the  Wells-Fargo  Express  Company  as  their  agent  at 
Kelton.  In  this  capacity  he  continued  for  about  a 
year,  making  good  use  of  his  opportunity  for  observing 
various  features  of  the  transportation  business,  in  which 
he  immediately  saw  practical  possibilities  for  himself. 

In  1878,  therefore,  he  resigned  his  position  in  the 
express  office  and  became  the  conductor  of  one  of  the 
mule  trains  which  were  then  a typical  form  in  which 
the  transportation  of  supplies  was  accomplished  in  that 
new  country.  In  a few  months  of  service  with  this 
train,  freighting  from  Corinne,  Utah,  to  various  Mon- 
tana points,  David  G.  Browne  saved  enough  to  pass 
from  the  position  of  a hired  conductor  to  that  of  the 
owner  of  a mule  team.  He  thereupon  proceeded  to 
engage  in  freighting  from  river  and  railroad  points  to 
business  centers  and  mining  camps  of  the  territory. 
Within  a year  he  had  bought  a second  mule  team  out- 
fit, and  by  the  time  another  year  had  passed  he  was 
the  owner  of  four  twelve-mule  teams,  all  thoroughly 
equipped.  It  was  at  that  time — in  the  year  1880 — that 
he  established  himself  at  Fort  Benton. 

Mr.  Browne  was  among  the  foremost  men  freighters 
in  this  region  throughout  the  notably  active  transporta- 
tion period  from  1879  to  1885.  His  returns  were  so 
gratifying  as  to  gradually  place  him  upon  a more  and 
more  sure  foundation  in  a financial  way.  As  his  trans- 
portation work  by  degrees  had  passed  from  the  active 
performance  of  work  on  trains  to  the  general  manage- 
ment of  the  same,  he  was  able  to  interest  himself  in 
other  lines  of  business  as  a side  issue.  He  had,  indeed, 
so  conclusively  proved  his  managing  ability  that  in  the 
spring  of  1881  he  was  offered  a position  with  the  mer- 
chants, W.  S.  Wetzel  & Company,  of  Fort  Benton. 
Accepting  this  position,  he  virtually  took  charge  of  the 
firm’s  affairs,  as  an  office  manager.  In  addition  to  this 
work,  and  that  of  superintending  his  mule  teams,  he 
also,  in  1882,  gained  a monopoly  of  the  ferry  busi- 
ness at  Fort  Benton,  which  enterprise  yielded  _ him 
a gain  of  $15,000  as  a secondary  phase  of  his  business. 
When,  in  1883,  Wetzel  & Company  failed,  Mr.  Browne 
was  appointed  assignee.  He  so  manipulated  the  assets 
of  the  house,  $250,000,  that  in  the  course  of  a little 
more  than  a year’s  time  he  had  succeeded  in  closing 
the  business  in  a manner  satisfactory  to  all  concerned. 

The  government  contracts  presented  possibilities  that 
Mr.  Browne’s  practical  mind  was  not  slow  in  seeing. 
In  1883  he  secured  several  of  these,  including  the 
large  hay  contract  at  Fort'  Assiniboine.  Two  years 
later  he  had  charge  of  the  government  transportation 
contracts  for  Montana,  Wyoming  and  the  state  of 
Nebraska.  His  conveying  of  forage  and  other  neces- 
sary supplies  to  the  military  posts  in  these  sections, 
including  Forts  Assiniboine,  Maginnis,  Shaw  and  Custer, 
was  accomplished  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  govern- 
ment and  all  individuals  concerned,  as  well  as  being 
another  notable  achievement  for  Mr.  Browne. 

It  was  natural  that  considering  the  growth  of  his 
pecuniary  gains,  Mr.  Browne  should  become  interested 
in  the  mechanism  of  banking  business.  In  1886  he 
became  one  of  the  active  corps  of  the  Bank  of  Northern 
Montana,  located  at  Fort  Benton.  He  was  made  secre- 
tary of  the  Fort  Benton  board  of  trade,  continuing  in 


that  office  for  fifteen  years.  When  the  Stockmen’s 
National  Bank  was  founded  in  Fort  Benton,  Mr.  Browne 
was  active  in  the  work  Of  its  organization,  subsequently 
becoming  one  of  its  largest  stockholders,  as  well  as  a 
member  of  its  directorate,  and  is  now  the  heaviest 
stockholder  in  that  flourishing  institution. 

As  an  evidence  of  his  interest  in  public  as  well  as 
private  affairs,  Mr.  Browne  is  notable  as  having  fre- 
quently been  the  incumbent  of  important  offices  in  the 
gift  of  the  people  or  of  prominent  officials.  For  a 
number  of  terms  he  served  his  municipality  in  the 
capacity  of  alderman,  and  was  also  commissioner  of 
his  county.  For  eight  years  he  was  chairman,  in  his 
district,  of  the  county  central  committee,  and  for 
twenty-four  years  has  been  a member  of  the  state  Demo- 
cratic central  committee,  being  the  oldest  member  in 
point  of  continuous  service  on  that  committee.  He  was 
an  alternate  delegate  to  the  Democratic  national  con- 
vention of  1892  at  Chicago,  when  Cleveland  was  made 
the  presidential  nominee  of  his  party  before  his  second 
election. 

One  of  the  chief  distinctions  that  have  come  to  Mr. 
Browne  is  that  of  membership  in  the  constitutional 
convention  at  the  time  when  Montana  became  a state. 
Another  was  his  appointment  in  1891  as  a member  of 
the  state  board  of  the  World’s  Fair  managers,  of  which 
body  he  was  treasurer.  He  was  further  honored  in 
1893,  when  President  Cleveland  made  him  collector  of 
customs  for  Montana  and  Idaho,  the  port  of  entry 
then  being  Fort  Benton.  When  in  1896  its  location 
was  again  .changed  to  Great  Falls,  Mr.  Browne  took 
up  his  residence  in  that  place,  where  he  remained  until 
1901.  He  held  his  government  office  throughout  the 
Cleveland  administration,  as  well  as  that  of  President 
McKinley’s  entire  first  administration,  and  during  the 
nine  years  of  his  incumbency  showed  the  exceptional 
judgment  and  ability  that  have  ever  been  characteristic' 
of  his  management  of  all  affairs  of  which  he  might 
have  charge. 

Mr.  Browne  was  also  for  many  years  engaged  in  the 
livestock  business,  being  manager  and  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal owners  of  the  Bar  Eleven  Cattle  Company.  As 
president  of  the  Stockmen’s  National  Bank  his  energies 
are  now  mainly  devoted  to  his  business  affairs  in  that 
and  related  lines,  to  which  he  gives  his  personal  atten- 
tion, as  well  as  to  his  home  interests. 

Mrs.  Browne,  nee  Emma  Wright,  of  Fort  Benton, 
died  in  1891,  and  Mr.  Browne  again  married  in  1895, 
Miss  Antoinette  Van  Hook  of  Washington,  D.  C.,  becom- 
ing his  wife.  The  two  sons  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Browne 
complete  the  family  of  this  capable  and  successful  man 
of  affairs. 

Ernest  Henry  Schumacher.  Sixteen  years  of  con- 
scientious public  service  have  made  the  name  of  Ernest 
Henry  Schumacher  familiar  to  the  people  of  Bozeman 
and  Gallatin  county,  and  repeated  appointments  in  the 
office  of  county  clerk  testify  to  the  esteem  and  respect 
in  which  he  is  universally  held.  Mr.  Schumacher  came 
to  his  present  office  fully  qualified  to  handle  its  affairs, 
and  has  brought  to  his  work  the  business  sagacity  and 
ability  so  necessary  in  directing  the  affairs  of  a pros- 
perous, growing  community,  his  early  training  having 
been  in  a business  line.  Mr.  Schumacher  is  a son  of 
the  Fatherland,  having  been  born  near  the  city  of  Ham- 
burg, Germany,  January  3,  1861,  a son  of  Henry  and 
Louisa  (Mohr)  Schumacher. 

Henry  Schumacher  was  born  on  the  Rhine,  Ger- 
many, and  as  a young  man  was  engaged  in  farming. 
His  death  occurred  in  i860,  caused  by  an  accident,  be- 
fore the  birth  of  his  only  son.  His  wife,  born  near 
the  city  of  Hamburg,  in  1834,  and  now  residing  in  the 
city  of  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  married  for  her  second  hus- 
band a Mr.  Shaffer,  by  whom  she  had  two  sons : Wil- 
liam and  August. 

When  still  a baby,  Ernest  H.  Schumacher  was  taken 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1137 


to  rear  by  his  grandmother,  Mrs.  Louisa  Schumacher, 
with  whom  he  lived  until  he  was  six  years  old,  at 
which  time  he  went  to  live  with  his  uncle  and  aunt, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Volkers,  in  Hamburg.  He  received 
a liberal  education  in  that  city,  and  when  he  had  com- 
pleted his  studies,  secured  employment  in  a wholesale 
delicatessen  house  as  bookkeeper.  During  the  year  1876 
he  embarked  for  the  United  States,  and  on  November 
1st  of  that  year  arrived  in  New  York  City  on  a steamer, 
.and  for  some  time  thereafter  traveled  through  the  east, 
visiting  various  points  of  interest  and  being  for  a time 
a visitor  at  the  Centennial  Exposition  in  Philadelphia. 
In  May,  1877,  he  removed  west  as  far  as  Waverly,  Iowa, 
where  he  engaged  in  business  with  his  cousin,  Henry 
Tiedt,  and  until  1880  was  engaged  in  farming.  That 
year  saw  his  advent  in  Bozeman,  where  he  engaged  as 
bookkeeper  with  the  firm  of  Strasburg  & Sperling,  gro- 
cers, and  after  the  death  of  both  partners  in  1890,  he 
was  made  manager  of  the  business.  In  1893  he  pur- 
chased the  establishment  with  Mr.  Langohr,  the  firm 
being  known  as  Schumacher  & Langohr,  a connection 
that  continued  until  1896,  Mr.  Schumacher  at  that  tinle 
selling  out  his  interest  in  the  business.  In  that  year 
he  was  appointed  deputy  county  clerk  of  Gallatin  county, 
under  Walter  H.  Sales,  and  he  successively  served  un- 
der county  clerks  H.  P.  McNaughton,  E.  V.  Blanken- 
ship, A.  A.  Cameron  and  W.  E.  Brandenburg.  Realiz- 
ing the  fact  that  here  was  a man  thoroughly  trained  for 
the  office,  in  1910  the  voters  of  Gallatin  county  elected 
Mr.  Schumacher  to  the  position  of  cjerk,  and  the  able, 
faithful  and  conscientious  manner  in  which  he  has  dis- 
charged the  duties  of  his  office  testifies  eloquently  in 
support  of  their  judgment  and  vindicates  their  confi- 
dence and  faith  in  him.  In  political  matters  Mr.  Schu- 
macher is  a Republican.  His  fraternal  connections  are 
with  Gallatin  Lodge  No.  6,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  Zona  Chapter 
^o.  12,  R.  A.  M.,  of  which  he  is  high  priest,  and  Boze- 
man Lodge  No.  463,  B.  P.  O.  E. 

Mr.  Schumacher  was  married  July  5,  1893,  to  Miss 
Lillie  Frances  Walton,  who  was  born  in  Kentucky, 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Annie  (Thompson)  Walton. 
Mr.  Walton  was  born  in  West  Virginia,  from  which 
state  he  removed  to  Kentucky  as  a young  man,  and 
there  engaged  in  farming.  In  1887  he  came  to  Gallatin 
count}',  Montana,  but  after  two  years  returned  to  the 
Blue  Grass  State,  where  he  spent  his  last  days  in  farm- 
ing, and  where  his  death  occurred  in  1894.  His  widow, 
who  survives  him,  now  resides  at  the  home  of  Mr. 
Schumacher  and  has  attained  the  age  of  seventy-two 
years.  They  had  a family  of  four  daughters  and 
three  sons.  _ Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schumacher  have  three  in- 
teresting children : Gladys,  Ernest  P.  and  Adena  J. 

Xerxes  Kemp  Stout.  A prominent  lawyer  of  Kalis- 
pell,  Montana,  is  Xerxes  Kemp  Stout,  whose  identifica- 
tion with  the  legal  profession  began  about  the  time 
Montana  was  admitted  to  statehood,  or  in  i88g,  though 
he  did  not  take  up  the  active  practice  'of  law  until 
recent  years.  Not  only  in  point  of  time  but  in  other 
ways  has  he  been  closely  associated  with  the  beginning 
and  subsequent  "rowth  of  this  prosperous  common- 
wealth. Joseph  Kemp  Toole,  the  first  governor  of  the 
state  of  Montana  and  previous  to  that  a territorial 
congressman,  was  his  uncle,  and  it  was  Mr.  Stout,  then 
a youth  of  eighteen  years,  who  at  the  first  inaugural 
ceremonies  of  the  state  administered  the  solemn  oath 
of  office  to  the  governor.  He  served  as  secretary  of 
me  state  senate  in  1902.  and  again  in  1904,  and  since 
November,  1910,  has  been  prosecuting  attorney  of 
Flathead  county. 

Born  in  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  on  the  20th  of  March, 
.71.  he  was  reared  there  to  the  age  of  nine  and  then 
m May  1880,  accompanied  his  parents  to  Helena,  Mon- 
tana, where  the  years  of  his  subsequent  youth  and  earlv 
young  manhood  were  spent.  Regulus  P.  Stout,  his 
tather,  was  a native  of  Missouri,  but  died  at  Helena, 


Montana,  on  September  15,  igoo.  He  was  a phar- 
macist by  profession  but  being  unable  to  endure  the 
close  confinement  of  in-door  life  he  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  agricultural  pursues  and  became  a farmer  and 
stockman.  For  a short  period  he  served  as  the  private 
secretary  of  Governor  Toole  during  the  latter’s  in- 
cumbency of  the  gubernatorial  chair.  He  wedded  Miss 
Ella  Toole,  a sister  of  Governor  Toole  and  a native  of 
Missouri,  whose  parents  were  both  Kentuckians  by 
birth  and  came  from  their  native  state  to  Missouri 
along  in  the  early  ’40s.  Mrs.  Stout  still  survives  and 
continues  to  reside  in  Helena.  To  this  union  were 
born  a daughter,  Cleora,  now  the  wife  of  Sidney  M. 
Logan,  a practicing  attorney  at  Kalispell,  and  a son, 
Xerxes  Kemp  Stout,  who  is  the  subject  of  this  review. 

Mr.  Stout  acquired  his  education  in  the  common  and 
high  schools  of  Helena.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he 
entered  the  law  office  of  Toole  & 'Wallace  in  that  city, 
the  senior  member  of  which  firm  was  Edwin  W.  Toole, 
his  uncle,  and  remained  with  them  until  his  removal  to 
Kalispell  in  September,  1894.  He  was  for  thirteen 
and  one-half  years  court  reporter  of  the  eleventh 
judicial  district,  residing  at  Kalispell,  and  in  1902  and 
1904  he  served  as  assistant  secretary  of  the  state  sen- 
ate. In  June,  1910,  Mr.  Stout  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
and  on  July  i following  he  began  the  active  practice  of 
his  profession  as  the  junior  member  of  the  law  firm  of 
Thompson  & Stout.  Elected  to  the  office  of  county  at- 
torney in  November,  1910,  he  has  continued  to  serve 
in  that  capacity  to  the  present  time,  discharging  the 
duties  of  that  office  while  also  continuing  his  private 
law  practice. 

His  political  allegiance  is  given  unswervingly  to  the 
Democratic  party,  in  the  affairs  of  which  he  has  al- 
ways taken  a very  active  part.  Fraternal  associations 
are  enjoyed  as  a member  of  the  Masons,  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  and  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
Elks  and  he  has  attained  the  rank  of  past  exalted  ruler 
in  the  latter  order. 

On  March  23,  1898,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of 
^Ir.  Stout  and  Miss  Mary  Ellen  Inglis,  a daughter  of 
John  and  Mary  Inglis.  of  Alount  Carmel.  Illinois.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Stout  stand  high  in  the  esteem  of  all  who 
know  them  and  are  numbered  amon.g  the  most  prom- 
inent people  of  their  city. 

Moses  D.  Rider.  Of  the  alert  and  enterprising  busi- 
ness men  of  Helena,  Moses  D.  Rider,  proprietor  of  the 
Capitol  Plumbing  Company  is  typical,  and  not  only  in 
commercial  and  industrial  circles,  but  in  other  im- 
portant channels  do  his  intelligent  initiative  and  pro- 
.gressiveness  find  expression.  A native  son  of  the 
Empire  state,  his  restless,  adventurous,  enterprising 
spirit  took  him  in  youth  to  the  free,  broad  life  of  the 
west  and  he  has  tasted  its  wholesome  experiences  in 
many  guises,  even  to  that  of  cowboy.  In  those  early 
days,  when  the  plains  were  his  home,  he  knew  Theo- 
dore Roosevelt,  their  ranches  adjoining,  and  the  two 
young  fellows  found  each  other’s  society  most  agree- 
able. It  is  needless  to  say  that  Mr.  Rider  is  a whole- 
souled  Progressive. 

IMr.  Rider  was  born  in  Tioga  county,  New  York, 
April  7,  1869.  The  birthplace  of  his  father,  Stephen 
J.  Rider,  was  identical  with  his  own.  and  the  date  of  the 
elder  gentleman's  entrance  upon  this  mundane  sphere 
February  6,  1834.  The  father  who  answered  the  dual 
calling  of  lumberman  and  farmer,  served  as  county  com- 
missioner and  superintendent  of  schools.  He  was  an 
Episcopalian  and  although  revered  in  his  community, 
found  his  greatest  pleasure  in  his  own  home,  clubs  and 
lodges  finding  no  place  in  his  idea  of  happiness.  The 
demise  of  this  good  man  occurred  in  Alarch,  1910.  His 
wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mary  Duff,  was  like- 
wise a native  of  Tioga  county,  and  her  death  preceded 
that  of  her  husband  by  two  years.  Their  union  was 
solemnized  on  July  29,  1857,  in  the  county  which  was 


1138 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


the  scene  of  birth,  life  and  passing  away.  Of  the  five 
children  born  to  them,  Moses  was  the  second  in  order 
of  nativity. 

Moses  D.  Rider  received  his  first  introduction  to 
Minerva,  goddess  of  wisdom,  in  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  county,  and  he  subsequently  entered  college 
at  Oswego,  New  York,  graduating  from  that  institution 
of  learning  with  the  class  of  1876.  Upon  leaving 
school  he  embarked  in  the  butcher's  trade  at  Nichols, 
New  York,  this  being  an  independent  venture.  Dur- 
ing his  attendance  at  school  he  had  learned  the  steam 
fitter’s  trade  with  Messrs.  Shapley  & Wells  of 
Binghampton,  New  York,  so  that  he  was  well  equipped 
with  trades.  He  followed  the  butcher’s  business  for 
a little  Over  a year,  then  selling  out  and  at  once  start- 
ing west.  He  first  located  in  Nebraska,  taking  uo  his 
residence  at  Crete,  Saline  county  and  there  he  en- 
gaged in  farming.  His  activities  in  connection  with 
the  great  basic  industry  engaged  him  only  about  a 
year,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  removed  to  the  west- 
ern part  of  the  state  and  engaged  in  the  cattle  business, 
in  the  picturesque  role  of  a cowboy.  He  followed 
ranching  life  until  1880,  which  year  marks  his  first 
identification  with  Montana.  His  first  residence  within 
Montana  territory  was  at  Stoneville,  where  he  found 
employment  with  the  firm  of  Pennell,  Roberts  & Bly, 
tie  contractors  for  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad.  He 
remained  with  this  firm  for  two  years  and  a half  and 
then  began  over  again  with  the  firm  as  a workman,  by 
efficiency  and  faithfulness  working  his  way  up  to  man- 
ager. He  began  very  modestly  with  a compensation 
of  thirty  dollars  a month.  In  course  of  time  he  re- 
signed and  became  associated  with  the  firm  of  Marquis 
De  Denores,  at  Medora,  North  Dakota,  and  later  was 
employed  as  cattle  buyer  for  the  Northern  Pacific  Re- 
frigerator Car  Company.  In  1887  he  removed  to 
Helena,  where  his  wandering  days  at  an  end,  he  has 
resided  ever  since,  prosperity  and  good  fortunes  com- 
ing his  way. 

Mr.  Rider’s  first  Helena  employment  was  with  the 
brick  manufacturing  company,  known  as  W.  B.  Gor- 
don & Company,  Mr.  Rider  being  one  of  the  three 
gentlemen  who  comprised  the  firm.  Frank  Keeler  was 
also  a member.  Their  first  important  contract  was  the 
manufacture  of  the  brick  for  the  Helena-Livingston 
Smeltering  & Reduction  Company,  the  contract  calling 
for  3,000,000  brick.  The  business  continued  with  re- 
markable success  for  two  years  and  then  went  out  of 
business.  Mr.  Rider  then  accepted  a position  with  the 
Helena  Steam  Heating  & Supply  Company,  which  has 
been  established  since  the  year  1886,  and  was  the 
pioneer  plant  of  its  kind  in  the  city,  and  remained  with 
it  for  three  years.  Then  Mr.  Rider,  in  association  with 
A.  N.  Adams,  purchased  the  business  later  known  as 
the  Adams-Rider  Company.  This  partnership  was  of 
a year  and  a half’s  duration,  Mr.  Rider  then  selling 
out  and  establishing  the  Rider  & Gilpatrick  Steam  Fit- 
ting & Plumbing  Company,  his  association  with  Mr.  Gil- 
patrick existing  from  1895  to  1897.  In  1902,  he  estab- 
lished the  Capitol  Plumbing  Company,  his  present  busi- 
ness. This  has  been  most  successful  and  its  location 
is  at  loi  Broadway.  The  Capitol  Plumbing  Company 
is  the  second  oldest  of  its  kind  in  Helena.  He  has 
other  interests  of  broad  scope  and  importance,  in 
the  way  of  mining  and  real  estate. 

Mr.  Rider  has  been  recognized  by  his  fellow  towns- 
men as  of  the  proper  material  for  public  office.  He 
was  deputy  sheriff  of  Saline  county,  Nebraska,  for  the 
year  1879  and  in  1884  held  the  same  position  in  Bill- 
ings county.  North  Dakota.  From  1898  to  1904  he 
held  the  office  of  alderman  of  Helena.  A tried  and 
true  Republican,  he  has  always  taken  an  active  part 
in  national,  state  and  local  affairs,  and  has  done  much 
to  bring  about  the  success  of  the  Grand  Old  Party. 

Fraternally,  he  is  a member  of  IMorning  Star  Lodge, 


No.  5,  of  Helena,  having  taken  fifteen  degrees  and 
filled  the  chairs  to  that  of  senior  deacon  in  the  blue 
lodge.  He  belongs  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  and  is  past  grand  of  Montana.  His  church 
is  the  Episcopal. 

Mr.  Rider  was  happily  married  at  Boulder,  Jefferson 
county,  Montana,  his  chosen  lady  being  Miss  Mary  E. 
Osborne.  Their  union  was  celebrated  on  October  ii, 
1888.  Ihe  date  of  Mrs.  Rider’s  birth  was  November 
19,  1865.  P'our  interesting  children  have  been  born  to 
them.  Octavia  Adelle,  born  November  17,  1892,  at 
Helena,  is  a teacher  of  violin ; Chester  F.,  born  Novem- 
ber 2,  1897,  is  his  father’s  bookkeeper;  Stanley  D. 
Rider,  born  in  July,  1901,  died  in  March,  1902;  and 
Stephen  Earnest,  born  in  Helena,  December  5,  1902. 
The  residence  of  the  Riders  is  located  at  704  Third 
street.  The  subject  finds  favorite  sources  of  diversion 
in  hunting  and  fishing  and  other  out-door  pursuits. 
He  is  very  loyal  to  Helena,  whose  inferiority  to  any 
spot  on  earth  he  refuses  to  acknowledge. 

Alexander  L.  Demers  has  been  a resident  of  Mon- 
tana for  nearly  a third  of  a century,  having  come  hither 
in  1880.  In  1907  he  located  at  Arlee,  where  he  has  since 
maintained  his  home,  and  here  he  is  a prominent  mer- 
chant and  the  popular  and  efficient  incumbent  of  the 
office  of  postmaster.  Mr.  Demers  has  ever  manifested 
a deep  and  sincere  interest  in  public  affairs  and  is  a 
willing  contributor  to  all  measures  and  enterprises  pro- 
jected for  the  good  of  the  general  welfare. 

A Canadian  by  birth,  Alexander  L.  Demers  was  born 
in  Montreal,  province  of  Quebec,  Canada,  October  16, 
1849.  Plis  father,  Louis  Demers,  was  born  and  reared 
in  Canada  and  resided  there  during  his  entire  life- 
time. In  his  younger  days  he  was  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  the  vicinity  of  Montreal  but  later  turned  his  at- 
tention to  the  contracting  business.  His  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Henrietta  Durancean,  was  likewise  a 
native  of  Canada  and  they  were  married  near  Mon- 
treal. Lie  died  in  1885  at  the  age  of  eighty-three  years, 
and  she  passed  away  in  1893  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine 
years.  They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  of  whom 
the  subject  of  this  review  was  the  first  born. 

In  the  public  schools  of  Montreal  Mr.  Demers  ob- 
tained his  early  educational  training  and  while  at  school 
he  learned  bookkeeping,  which  occupation  he  followed 
generally  until  he  left  home.  He  earned  his  first  money 
as  a boy  working  in  a dr\'-goods  store  in  Montreal. 
He  started  in  as  cash  boy  but  at  the  end  of  three  months 
was  put  behind  the  counter  as  salesman.  His  salary 
at  the  start  was  seven  dollars  per  month  and  this  sum 
he  handed  over  intact  to  his  mother.  He  remained 
at  home  until  he  had  reached  his  legal  majority  and 
then  came  to  the  United  States,  locating  first  in  the 
city  of  Chicago,  where  he  worked  for  two  years  in  a 
real-estate  office,  and  going  thence  to  the  southern  part 
of  the  country,  stopping  at  different  towns  and  follow- 
ing various  occupations  for  the  ensuing  year,  at  the 
end  of  which  he  returned  to  Montreal.  He  remained 
in  his  home  place  for  the  next  six  years  and  during  a 
part  of  that  time  was  engaged  in  the  grocery  business, 
later  turning  his  attention  to  contracting.  Many  fine 
buildings  in  Montreal  stand  as  a monument  to  his 
handiwork.  On  leaving  home  the  second  time  he  went 
to  Colorado,  where  he  was  clerk  for  a railroad  com- 
pany for  one  year,  at  the  expiration  of  which,  in  1880, 
he  came  to  Montana,  where  he  has  since  maintained 
his  home.  For  a number  of  years  he  conducted  a store 
at  the  Mission  in  the  Flathead  Reservation  and  he 
was  in  that  place  until  1901,  when  he  disposed  of  his 
business  and  went  to  Missoula,  where  he  ran  a harness 
and  saddle  shop  for  several  years.  In  1907  he  came 
to  Arlee  and  opened  his  present  store  and  he  is  now 
recop'nized  as  the  leading  merchant  in  this  place.  He 
has  been  postmaster  for  a period  of  twenty-five  years, 
part  of  the  time  in  the  Flathead  country  and  for  the 


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HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1139 


last  four  3’cars  at  Arlee.  He  is  also  the  owner  of  a 
large  ranch  eligibly  located  three  and  one-half  miles 
distant  from  Arlee.  He  is  a Democrat  in  politics  and 
IS  a valued  member  of  the  school  board.  In  fraternal 
matters  he  is  an  Elk  and  in  their  religious  faith  the 
family  are  devout  communicants  of  the  Catholic  church. 

Mr.  Demers  was  married  at  the  Agency,  in  i88i,  to 
Grace  E.  Lambert,  who  was  born  and  reared  at  St.  Paul, 
Minnesota,  and  who  is  a daughter  of  Judge  Lambert, 
formerly  of  St.  Paul,  Minnesota.  Seven  children  have 
been  born  to  this  union  and  concerning  them  the  follow- 
ing data  are  here  incorporated ; One  died  when  two 
3'ears  old;  Grace  E.  married  W.  H.  Lost  and  resides 
in  Butte,  Montana;  Louis  A.  is  associated  with  his 
father  in  business  at  Arlee;  he  is  also  notary  public 
and  United  States  commissioner;  Eugene  L.  is  engaged 
in  bookkeeping  at  Butte;  Alice  married  O.  V.  Mc- 
Intire  and  resides  at  Arlee,  Mr.  Mclntire  being  a clerk 
and  interested  in  the  Demers  Mercantile  Company; 
Florence  B.  is  a fine  artist  and  has  painted  some  beau- 
tiful pictures;  she  resides  at  home  with  her  parents; 
Lambert  L.  is  attending  school. 

Mr.  Demers  devotes  all  his  time  to  business  and  his 
family.  He  is  very  proficient  and  versatile  as  a musi- 
cian. In  fact  every  member  of  the  family  is  musical 
and  with  their  various  instruments  could  conduct  a 
little  band  or  orchestra  of  their  own.  The  daughters 
are  likewise  talented  as  artists  and  some  of  their  paint- 
ings might  really  be  termed  masterpieces.  The  home  is 
a scene  of  comfort  and  hospitality  is  extended  to  all 
comers. 

Harry  Helms.  Prominent  among  the  older  genera- 
, tion  of  business  men  in  Glendive,  one  whose  residence 
' in  this  city  covered  a period  of  more  than  thirty  years 
was  the  late  Harry  Helms,  in  whose  death,  ]\ionda}y 
July  15,  1912,  there  passed  away  a citizen  who  was 
identified  with  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  welfare  of 
the  city  or  Dawson  countj^  and  a man  whose  kindness 
of  heart  endeared  him  to  a wide  circle  of  friends. 
Harry  Helms  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  October  8, 
1849,  and  was  nine  years  of  age  when  his  parents  re- 
moved to  Indianapolis,  Indiana.  There  he  completed 
his  public  school  education  and  subsequently  took  a 
course  in  Professor  Kroll’s  Commercial  College,  from 
which  he  was  graduated.  He  immediately  chose  the 
trade  of  ship  carpenter  for  his  life  work,  the  details  of 
which  vocation  he  learned  at  Louisville,  Kentuckj^  and 
after  finishing  the  trade  he  traveled  in  that  capacity  on 
the  tributaries  of  the  Mississippi  river  for  ten  years. 
Under  the  command  of  Captain  Robert  IMason,  Mr. 
Helms  was  ship  carpenter  on  the  “E.  H.  Durfee,”  which 
came  up  the  Yellowstone  to  the  Big  Horn  river 
in  1876,  the  memorable  year  of  the  Custer  massacre, 
and  on  the  return  trip  brought  the  remnants  of  Reno’s 
soldiers  to  Fort  Lincoln.  His  personal  association  with 
those  events  was  a source  of  great  pleasure  to  him  in 
after  years  when  in  a reminiscent  mood. 

Prior  to  the  advent  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad, 
which  established  its  grade  in  1881,  Mr.  Helms  mi- 
grated to  Glendive  and  opened  a saloon  and  restaurant, 
the  letter  of  which  was  discontinued  after  several  years, 
the  liquor  business  receiving  all  of  his  attention  until 
1892,  when  Mr.  Helms  was  elected  a county  commis- 
sioner by  the  Democratic  party,  and  had  the  satisfaction 
of  seeing  the  handsome  steel  bridge  across  the  Yellow- 
stone river  completed  before  the  expiration  of  his  term 
of  office.  During  his  earl}'  days  he  developed  a liking 
for  the  harness  horse,  in  this  line  becoming  widely 
known  among  horse  lovers  throughout  the  west.  He 
developed  animals  that  established  records  on  various 
tracks,  among  his  famous  horses  being  “Major,”  “Al- 
toka,”  and  “Governor  Wilson,”  in  addition  to  several 
youngsters  which  were  ready  but  had  not  been  raced 
when  jMr.  Helms’  sudden  death  occurred.  Some  six 
years  prior  to  his  death,  Mr.  Helms  associated  himself 

Vol.  1—19 


in  business  with  Fred  Volkert,  another  pioneer  busi- 
ness man  of  Glendive,  and  with  him  erected  the  hand- 
some new  block  on  Bell  street. 

Mr.  Helms  was  married  the  second  time  to  Miss 
Annie  Devitt,  who,  with  a young  son  and  daughter  by 
his  first  marriage,  mourn  his  death.  The  funeral  ser- 
vices were  conducted  by  the  Reverend  Grefthens,  from 
Llr.  Helms’  residence.  A public  spirited  citizen,  with 
the  interest  of  his  adopted  city  and  county  at  heart, 
Mr.  Helms  did  much  to  advance  the  community’s  inter- 
ests. His  charities  were  many,  but  his  was  the  form 
of  benefaction  that  is  done  quietly,  modestly  and  un- 
ostentatiously, and  the  extent  of  his  donations  will 
probably  never  be  known.  Few  men  have  had  a greater 
number  of  friends,  and  none  will  be  held  in  kindlier 
remembrance. 

Charles  Krug.  It  has  been  the  privilege  of  some 
to  assist  in  the  development  of  their  country,  to  travel 
to  the  waste  places  and  blaze  the  trail  for  the  great 
migrations  which  take  place  from  one  section  to  another 
less  civilized.  From  earliest  days  in  this  country  the 
tendency  has  ever  been  to  press  westward,  and  when 
a certain  section  of  the  land  has  become  too  congested 
there  haA'e  always  been  intrepid  souls  who  have  jour- 
neyed forth  to  dangerous  and  forbidden  territory,  his- 
tory in  this  respect  constantly  repeating  itself.  In  the 
record  of  Montana’s  settlement  and  civilization  the  name 
of  Charles  Krug  holds  a conspicuous  place.  Coming 
to  the  west  in  1878,  in  an  endeavor  to  find  a locality 
where  an  invalid  sister  might  regain  her  lost  health, 
he  experienced  all  the  hardships  and  privations  inci- 
dental to  the  early  frontier,  and  not  only  accomplished 
his  original  purpose,  but  so  ably  conducted  his  affairs 
that  today  he  is  considered  one  of  the  leading  sheep- 
men of  eastern  Montana.  A record  of  his  career  is 
interesting  not  only  as  an  example  of  what  youthful 
energy,  ambition  and  perseverance  may  accomplish,  but 
also  as  depicting  something  of  Montana’s  early  life. 

Charles  Krug  was  born  November  i,  1846,  at  Peters- 
burg, Mahoning  county,  Ohio,  and  is  a son  of  Conrad 
and  Sophia  Krug,  natives  of  Germany.  Conrad  Krug 
came  to  the  United  States  in  young  manhood,  working 
steadil}'  at  his  trade  of  weaver  for  five  years  in  order 
to  earn  the  means  with  which  to  return  to  his  native 
country  and  be  married.  This  accomplished,  he  again 
came  to  America  and  located  in  Ohio,  remaining  there 
for  about  seven  years  and  then  moving  to  Michigan. 
Up  to  this  time  he  had  followed  almost  continuously 
the  trade  of  weaver,  and  his  son  still  preserves  jealously 
a number  of  pieces  of  his  handiwork  showing  his  skill 
in  weaving.  On  locating  in  Michigan,  however,  Conrad 
Krug  took  up  a claim  of  government  land  in  the 
heavily  wooded  district  of  the  state,  there  building  a 
primitive  cottage  of  logs  and  little  by  little  developing 
a farm  from  the  dense  wilderness  about  him.  This 
sturdy  and  sterling  old  citizen  passed  away  at  the  age 
of  eighty-four  years,  after  a long  and  honorable  career, 
while  his  faithful  wife  and  helpmate  died  when  eighty- 
three  years  old.  They  had  a family  of  three  sons  and 
two  daughters. 

Charles  Krug  was  the  oldest  son  of  his  parents’  chil- 
dren, and,  his  services  being  needed  on  the  old  home 
farm,  he  was  able  to  secure  but  little  schooling.  How- 
ever, he  continued  to  remain  under  the  parental  roof 
until  he  was  twenty-two  years  of  age,_  assisting  his- 
father  to  cultivate  the  homestead,  of  which  he_  is  still 
the  owner,  and  on  which  he  had  lived  since  his  sixth 
year.  In  1868  Mr.  Krug  went  to  Grand  Rapids,  Michi- 
gan, and  for  a time  was  engaged  in  railroading,  sub- 
sequently turning  his  attention  to  lumbering  in  con- 
nection with  railroad  construction  work.  _ He  so  con- 
tinued for  eight  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  cir- 
cumstances made  it  advisable  for  Charles  to  come  to 
the  west.  His  sister  Emma  was  afflicted  with  a severe 
case  of  asthma,  and  her  suffering  at  length  became  so 


1140 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


acute  that  she  decided  to  seek  relief  in  a climate  further 
west.  Accordingly,  in  1878,  Charles  Krug  left  home 
and  made  a trip  through  Colorado,  New  Mexico, 
Utah  and  Arizona,  in  the  meantime  doing  some  work 
for  the  Santa  he  Railroad.  He  was  also  seeking  a 
country  where  he  could  establish  himself  in  business, 
and,  hearing  of  Montana  as  a place  fitted  for  his  needs, 
took  the  old  Narrow-Gauge  iHilroad  from  Salt  Lake 
City  north  as  far  as  it  ran,  and  at  Red  Rock,  Idaho, 
with  a companion,  secured  horses  and  started  east.  At 
that  time  there  were  no  such  towns  as  Livingston  or 
Billings,  and  no  railroad  had  been  built  through  that 
country,  and  they  were  compelled  to  ride  1,000  miles  on 
horseback,  through  the  wild  and  dangerous  section, 
constantly  menaced  by  wild  animals  and  hostile  Indians. 
As  they  reached  Fort  Keogh,  where  General  Nelson  A. 
Miles  was  stationed,  the  famous  and  bloodthirsty  In- 
dian chief  Rain-in-the-Face  had  just  surrendered  after 
a long  and  murderous  campaign  against  the  travelers. 
These  two  hardy  pioneers,  however,  pushed  on  to  Man- 
dan,  Dakota,  to  which  the  Northern  Pacific  had  recently 
been  built,  and  there  Mr.  Krug,  being  short  of  funds, 
secured  employment  in  the  railway  service.  He  re- 
mained in  the  employ  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad 
for  eleven  years  and  during  this  time  brought  his  si.ster 
here.  She  was  one  of  the  pioneer  white  women  of  this 
section,  and  was  successful  in  regaining  her  health  for 
some  time,  but  her  death  was  eventually  caused  by  the 
same  disease.  In  1881  Mr.  Krug  built  one  of  the  first 
cottages  in  Glendive,  and  it  still  stands  today,  being 
across  the  street  from  the  present  home  of  Mr.  Krug, 
a beautiful  residence  of  brick,  modern  in  construction 
and  appointments,  which  he  erected  in  1907. 

As  soon  as  he  settled  down  to  work  Mr.  Krug  started 
in  the  cattle  business,  and  by  the  year  1885  was  the 
owner  of  500  head  of  cattle.  Like  many  other  cattle- 
men of  that  time  and  locality,  however,  he  lost  nearly 
all  of  his  animals  in  the  fierce  storms  of  the  winter  of 
1886-7,  but  he  immediately  began  to  replenish  his  stock, 
and  in  1887  embarked  in  the  sheep  business.  From  that 
time  on  his  rise  was  rapid,  and  at  one  time  he  owned 
fifty-four  sections  of  land  and  was  the  largest  sheep- 
man in  this  part  of  Montana.  He  still  owns  12,000 
acres  of  land,  his  ranch  being  sixteen  miles  southwest 
of  Glendive,  and  has  800  acres  under  irrigation  and 
100  acres  in  alfalfa. 

On  November  16,  1900,  Mr.  Krug  was  married  to 
Mrs.  F.  B.  Ketchen,  daughter  of  G.  D.  and  Barbara 
(Chalmers)  Hackney,  natives  of  Scotland.  jMrs.  Krug’s 
parents  immigrated  to  Canada  at  an  early  day,  and  there 
fourteen  children,  including  two  pair  of  twins,  were 
born  to  them,  and  in  1881  they  came  to  Dakota.  They 
now  make  their  home  in  Idaho.  Mr.  Hackney  being 
seventy-six  years  of  age  and  his  wife  sixty-seven.  Mrs. 
Krug  was  born  in  Canada,  and  while  the  family  resided 
in  Dakota,  met  and  married  F.  B.  Ketchen,  who  left 
her  with  two  children  : Lovina  and  Florence.  Mr.  and 

Mrs.  Krug  have  had  five  children : Charles  C.,  Emma 
A.,  Irene,  George  D.  and  Paul.  Mrs.  Krug  and  her 
daughters  are  members  of  the  Congregational  church. 
Mr.  Krug  is  a Democrat  in  his  political  views,  but 
aside  from  serving  for  eight  years  as  commissioner 
of  Dawson  county  has  had  no  public  record.  He  has 
at  all  times,  however,  been  before  the  people  as  a man 
whose  extensive  operations  have  added  to  his  com- 
munity’s industrial  importance  and  who  has  had  at 
heart  the  welfare  of  his  adopted  state.  A representative 
of  the  old  band  of  pioneers  whose  ranks  are  thinning 
day  by  day,  he  is  well  deserving  of  the  respect  and 
esteem  in  which  he  is  universally  held  and  commands 
a high  place  in  the  regard  of  those  who  are  admirers 
of  self-made  manhood. 

Fred  Volkert.  Nothing  is  more  certain  than  that 
thrift,  industrv  and  preseverance  will  eventually  lead 
to  success.  These  are  the  leading  characteristics  of  the 


German  race,  and  it  is  generally  for  that  reason  that  the 
natives  of  the  batherland  readily  gain  positions  of  in- 
dependence m whatever  locality  they  establish  them- 
selves. One  of  the  most  notable  examples  of  self- 
made  manhood  is  found  in  the  person  of  Fred  Volkart 
of  Gleiidive,  pioneer  business  man,  rancher,  real  estate 
owner,  banker  and  financier,  whose  career  has  been 
filled  \yith  industrious  effort  since  boyhood,  and  whose 
labors  have  had  their  reward  in  the  attainment  of  a posi- 
tion of  importance  among  his  fellow  citizens.  Mr. 
Volkert  was  bora  in  Germany,  December  10,  i860,  and 
came  to  the  United  States  with  his  parents,  four  broth- 
ers and  two  sisters.  The  family  arrived  in  Baltimore 
Maryland,  m May,  1872,  and  there  the  father  died  in 
1877,  and  his  mother  during  the  following  year. 

Fred  Volkert  was  not  given  many  opportunities  of  an 
educational  nature  when  he  was  a lad,  but  observation 
and  many  years  of  experience  have  made  him  the  pos- 
sessor of  a broad  and  comprehensive  fund  of  informa- 
tion far  exceeding  that  of  some  whose  early  training 
was  of  a much  more  extensive  nature.  After  the  death 
of  his  parents,  the  family  became  somewhat  separated, 
and  Fred  secured  employment  in  a picture  frame  fac- 
tory, where  he  worked  for  some  time.  Later  he  re- 
moyed  to  Chicago,  Illinois,  where  he  also  followed  that 
business,  earning  enough  there  to  pay  his  way  to  Minne- 
apolis, where  he  arrived  in  1880.  In  the  latter  city  he 
repeated  the  process,  and  the  month  of  March,  1881, 
found  hirn  in  Bismarck,  North  Dakota.  There  Mr. 
Volkert  hired  out  to  work  his  passage  on  a boat  com- 
ing up  the  Yellowstone  river,  and  when  this  vessel 
reached  Glendive,  then  a hamlet  of  two  blocks  of  log 
houses,  he  left  the  boat  and  secured  a position  as  jani- 
tor of  the  temporary  court  house,  where  he  continued 
to  work  for  some  time.  Following  this,  for  ten  years 
he  accepted  whatever  honorable  employment  presented 
itself,  being  for  a time  clerk  and  bartender  in  the  old 
Yellowstone  hotel.  During  this  time,  with  others,  he 
organized  the  Glendive  Stock  Company,  a business  de- 
voted to  the  raising  of  sheep  on  Beaver  Creek,  and 
at  one  time  this  concern  had  six  thousand  sheep.  After 
three  years,  Mr.  Volkert  returned  to  Glendive,  and 
formed  a partnership  with  Harry  Helms  in  the  liquor 
business,  building  a fine  brick  block  on  West  Bell  street. 
No.  112,.  a two-story  building,  where  they  conducted  a 
retail  and  jobbing  business  together  until  the  death  of 
Mr.  Helms,  since  which  time  Mr.  Volkert  has  con- 
ducted the  business  alone.  In  addition,  Mr.  Volkert 
owns  some  one  thousand  four  hundred  and  forty  acres 
of  land,  of  which  five  hundred  are  under  cultivation  and 
are  devoted  to  wheat,  barley  and  flax,  this  ranch  being 
located  twenty  miles  southwest  of  Glendive.  He  has 
much  real  estate  in  the  city  itself  and  owns  a handsome 
modern  residence  here,  as  well  as  in  Great  Falls;  is 
a director  of  the  Exchange  State  Bank,  of  (41endive,  a 
position  which  he  has  occupied  since  that  institution  was 
changed  from  a private  bank  to  a state  one,  and  he  has 
numerous  other  valuable  interests  in  Glendive  and  Daw- 
son county.  He  is  known  as  an  alert  and  shrewed, 
but  upright  and  honorable  business  man.  and  has  the 
entire  confidence  of  his  associates.  His  politics  are  those 
of  the  Republican  party,  but  public  matters  have  not 
claimed  his  attention  to  the  extent  of  inducing  him  to 
seek  office.  Fraternally,  Mr.  Volkert  is  connected  with 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  in  which  he  has 
many  friends,  as  he  has,  indeed,  throughout  the  city. 


Stephen  Sulliv.\n.  A worthy  representative  of  the 
energetic  younger  and  native  generation  of  Montana 
is  Stephen  Sullivan,  the  popular  treasurer  of  Lewis 
and  Clark  county,  who  was  born  at  Marysville,  this 
state,  December  26.  1881.  There  he  was  reared  in 
the  home  of  worthy  parents  and  was  educated  up  to 
the  eighth  grade  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
city.  This  training  he  supplemented  by  a course  in 
the  Helena  Business  College,  from  which  he  was  grad- 


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HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1141 


uated  in  1899.  Upon  leaving  school  he  became  state 
agent  for  the  Scranton  (Pa.)  Correspondence  Schools, 
and  pushed  the  business  with  that  vim  and  resolution 
which  not  only  made  a record  for  him  in  that  capacity 
but  which  have  been  marked  characteristics  of  his  sub- 
sequent career.  After  some  two  years’  service  in  that 
position,  he  became  city  solicitor  for  the  Montana  Daily 
Record  of  Helena,  but  six  months  later  resigned  to 
take  up  an  appointment  under  Percy  R.  Witmar  as 
county  clerk  and  recorder.  He  filled  that  office  two 
years  and  five  months,  and  then  was  appointed  deputy 
clerk  of  the  court  under  Mayor  P'rank  Reece.  It  was 
at  the  close  of  his  two  years’  term  as  deputy  clerk 
of  the  court  that  he  made  his  race  for  the  Republican 
nomination  as  county  treasurer,  and  in  the  following 
election  (in  1910)  secured  the  office  by  twelve  votes. 
The  contest  was  a spirited  one,  Mr.  Sullivan  having 
as  his  opponent  A.  J.  Duncan,  former  treasurer  and 
one  of  the  strongest  men  politically  in  the  county. 
Mr.  Sullivan  is  accredited  with  an  able  and  consci- 
entious discharge  of  his  official  duties,  and  his  accom- 
plishments thus  far  in  life  presage  for  him  a very 
successful  future  career,  whether  in  the  field  of  busi- 
ness or  in  political  life. 

Mr.  Sullivan  is  the  son  of  Daniel  D.  Sullivan,  a 
native  of  Cork,  Ireland,  where  he  was  born  in  1847. 
He  came  to  this  country  in  1864,  at  the  age  of  seven- 
teen, a stranger  in  a strange  land,  to  push  his  own 
way.  He  first  located  at  Hancock,  Michigan,  where 
he  worked  in  the  mines  several  years.  There  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Mary  Sullivan,  who  not  only  bore 
the  same  name  but  was  also  a native  of  the  Emerald 
Isle,  she  having  immigrated  to  America  when  a young 
girl.  Having  decided  to  make  his  home  in  the  west, 
Daniel  D.  Sullivan  and  his  wife  started  on  their  long 
and  hazardous  journey  overland  across  the  plains  in 
1878,  and  after  five  months  of  the  hardships  and  dangers 
incident  to  their  mode  of  travel  in  that  early  day,  they 
reached  Marysville,  Montana,  where  they  decided  to 
remain.  For  thirty-four  years  they  made  their  home 
in  that  city  in  the  heart  of  the  Rockies  and  are  among 
its  oldest  and  most  respected  pioneers.  These  years 
have  been  spent  by  Mr.  Sullivan  as  a miner  and  mine 
operator,  but  he  now  lives  retired. 

On  October  9,  1907,  at  Helena,  Montana,  were  per- 
formed those  solemn  rites  of  marriage  which  united 
Stephen  Sullivan  and  Miss  Elma  C.  Barnes,  a daughter 
of  James  M.  and  Margaret  Barnes,  the  former  of  whom 
is  deceased  and  the  latter  of  whom  now  resides  in 
Helena.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sullivan  have  three  children ; 
Margaret  C.  Sullivan,  born  October  i,  1908;  Stephen 
D.  Sullivan,  Jr.,  born  June  10,  1910,  and  John  J.  Sul- 
livan, April  4,  1912.  Helena  being  the  birthplace  of 
all. 

Mr.  Sullivan  is  a devout  communicant  of  the  Catholic 
church,  and  in  political  affairs  is  a Republican.  Fra- 
ternally he  affiliates  with  the  Royal  Highlanders,  the 
Benevolent  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and  the  Knights 
of  Columbus,  and  is  a trustee  of  the  last  named  order 
in  Helena.  Vigorous,  alert  and  resourceful  in  busi- 
ness life,  to  these  personal  qualities  is  added  a genial 
personality  which  wins  for  him  a warm  friendship 
from  those  he  meets,  whether  in  the  affairs  of  daily 
life  or  in  the  social  and  fraternal  circles  in  which  he 
mingles.  Helena  numbers  Mr.  Sullivan  among  its 
popular  and  wide-awake  young  men. 

William  Craig  Carroll.  This  honorable  old  family 
has  for  nearly  two  hundred  years  been  identified  with 
the  growth  and  development  of  this  country,  and  is 
represented  in  Butte  by  William  C.  and  Joseph  T. 
Carroll,  leading  business  men  and  representative  citi- 
zens. These  gentlemen  are  descendants  in  the_  sixth 
generation  from  Joseph  Carroll,  who  was  born  in  the 
lowlands  of  Scotland  about  1660,  the  line  of  descent 
from  this  ancestor  being  shown  by  Roman  numerals. 


■(I)  Joseph  Carroll  was  born  in  the  lowlands  of 
Scotland  in  1660,  and  was  a member  of  the  body  of 
Protestants  that  sought  refuge  in  the  north  of  Ireland 
at  the  time  of  the  religious  difficulties  in  Scotland. 
Joseph  Carroll  served  under  the  Duke  of  Schomburg, 
in  the  army  of  William  Prince  of  Orange  and  par- 
ticipated in  the  engagement  at  the  River  Boyne,  for 
which  service  he  became  a beneficiary  under  the  act 
passed  during  William’s  reign,  which  granted  pensions 
to  the  soldiers  of  the  Prince  of  Orange  in  the  shape 
of  grants  of  land  in  the  British  Colonies  of  North 
America.  He  was  given  a grant  of  one  league  square, 
which  was  never  laid  by  him,  but  descended  to  his  son 
Joseph  and  was  laid  by  him  in  York  District,  South 
Carolina,  in  1751,  more  than  sixty  years  after  the  serv- 
ice was  rendered  for  which  it  was  given.  In  his  family 
was  a son — 

(II)  Joseph  Carroll  was  born  in  Ulster  county, 
Ireland,  in  1699,  and  married  in  that  country  Jane 
Swance,  an  Irish-protestant  lady,  with  whom  he  immi- 
grated to  America  about  1730,  settling  in  what  is  now 
Chester  county,  Pennsylvania.  Here  he  resided  more 
than  twenty  years  and  it  was  where  a number  of  his 
children  were  born.  That  restless  spirit  of  adventure 
pictured  in  his  mind  the  beautiful  and  fruitful  lands 
of  Georgia  and  the  Carolinas,  when  he  in  company  with 
a large  number  of  others  migrated  to  that  section  c.f 
the  country.  A portion  of  the  company  settled  near 
Charlotte,  North  Carolina,  another,  including  Joseph 
Carroll  and  family,  continued  the  journeys  farther  south 
until  they  came  to  Allisons  creek,  in  York  District, 
South  Carolina,  near  where  this  stream  empties  into  the 
Catawba  river.  This  was  in  the  latter  part  of  1751 
or  early  in  1752.  He  had  some  time  prior  to  this 
obtained  a grant  of  land  from  the  British  Crown  and, 
selecting  a tract  of  840  acres  on  Allisons  creek  he 
began  a settlement  there  in  1753.  He  also  obtained  by 
this  grant  a large  tract  of  land  five  or  six  miles  south 
of  his  homestead  and  another  tract  along  the  Catawba 
river,  in  all  amounting  to  five  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land.  In  1753  he  built  a dwelling 
house  in  the  bottom  lands  of  Allisons  creek,  from 
yellow  swamp  pine  logs  cut  from  his  lands  five 
miles  distant  and  hauled  to  where  they  were  used. 
This  house  was  a two  story^  structure,  twenty-four  by 
thirty  feet,  and  stood  for  more  than  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  _ years.  His  great-grandson,  Thomas  M. 
Carroll,  visited  that  section  in  1878,  and  the  old  house 
was  still  standing,  but  unoccupied.  It  was  in  this 
home  that  Joseph  Carroll  died  in  1786,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-seven  years.  He  was  one  of  those  sturdy  old 
pioneers  who  lived  up  to  his  religion  seven  days  in  a 
week,  a devout  Presbyterian.  His  son — 

(HI)  Joseph  Carroll  was  born  in  Chester  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  moved  with  his  parents  to  York 
District,  South  Carolina,  when  a young  man.  He 
married  in  the  latter  state,  and  lived  on  a part  of  his 
father’s  old  homestead,  which  subsequently' fell  to  him 
by  virtue  of  that  parent’s  last  will  and  testament.  He 
remained  a resident  of  South  Carolina  until  his  death. 
Included  in  his  family  was  a son — 

(IV)  Joseph  Carroll,  born  September  25,  1781,  in 
York  District,  South  Carolina.  When  a young  man 
he  apprenticed  himself  to  Matthew  Moffit,  a blacksmith, 
and  worked  with  him  until  he  had  acquired  a sufficient 
amount  of  skill  in  the  use  of  such  tools  that  he  was 
able  to  begin  business  for  himself.  On  February  15, 
1810,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Isabella 
Henry,  at  the  old  homestead  in  Lincoln  county.  North 
Carolina,  the  state  line  dividing  the  farm  within  one 
hundred  yards  of  the  house.  Afterwards,  in  order 
to  have  their  citizenship  in  South  Carolina,  the  house 
was  removed  across  the  line.  This  section  of  the 
south  is  connected  with  the  history  of  the  Revolutionary 
struggle,  as  but  twelve  miles  away  the  battle  of  King’s 
Mountain  was  fought  in  October,  1780,  an  engagement 


1142 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


wherein  the  British  troops  under  Colonel  Ferguson 
were  signally  defeated  by  the  colonists  composed  mostly 
of  militia  without  any  regular  commander,  while  but 
thirty-five  miles  distant  was  fought  the  battle  of  the 
Cow  Pens,  in  1781.  In  the  latter  engagement  was  the 
father  of  Isabella  Henry.  She  was  born  July  S,  1788, 
in  Lincoln  county,  North  Carolina,  the  daughter  of 
Major  William  Henry,  who  was  born  in  York  District, 
South  Carolina,  in  i7.S3,  and  died  September  12,  1807. 
He  was  a soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war  and  at  the 
battle  of  the  Cow  Pens  was  a member  of  Captain 
Gordon’s  Company,  under  General  Morgan.  Major 
William  Henry  often  related  to  his  family  and  friends 
how  the  soldiers  were  awakened  at  four  o’clock  in  the 
morning  of  January  17,  1781,  and  informed  that  they 
were  to  stand  and  give  battle  to  the  British  under 
General  Tarleton.  The  poorly  clad  colonists  were  glad 
for  this  opportunity,  as  for  several  days  they  had  been 
fleeing  from  the  enemy,  many  of  them  were  worn  out 
with  fatigue  and  were  glad  of  a chance  to  fight.  Soon 
after  daylight  Tarleton’s  Legions  came  in  sight  and  on 
a piece  of  high  ground  to  the  east  mustered  his  men, 
and  at  sunrise  t.he  charge  was  made.  The  comrade 
of  William  Llenry,  Andrew  Soften,  fell  dead  at  the 
first  fire  and  dropped  lengthwise  in  front  of  him.  Step- 
ping over  his  dead  body  to  a Black  Jack  tree,  Mr. 
Henry  fired  his  rifle  seventeen  times,  when  the  British 
were  routed.  After  the  battle  he  took  a pair  of  shoes 
from  the  feet  of  a dead  British  soldier  and  placed 
them  on  his  almost  bare  feet.  The  father  of  William 
Henry  was  also  William,  born  1715,  in  County  Down, 
Ireland,  and  lived  to  the  age  of  one  hundred  and  four 
years.  The  mother  of  Isabella  Henry,  and  wife  of 
Major  William  Llenry,  was  Rosanna  Moore,  a native 
of  Chester  county,  Pennsylvania.  Her  father  and 
brothers  were  murdered  by  the  Indians  at  the  mas- 
sacre at  McLords  Fort  in  1764.  She  often  told  of 
how  she  heard  the  roar  of  musketry  at  the  battle  of 
King’s  Mountain,  as  well  of  other  incidents  that  hap- 
pened before  and  after  that  battle. 

In  March  of  1810  Joseph  Carroll  with  his  bride  set- 
tled on  his  father’s  homestead  on  Allisons  creek,  and 
resided  there  until  he  removed  to  the  west.  Lie  and 
his  wife  early  united  with  the  Seceder  church  (which 
is  Presbyterian  Assential),  and  remained  in  that  con- 
nection until  they  bade  adieu  to  the  Carolinas.  After 
the  close  of  the  war  of  1812  Joseph  Carroll  came  to  a 
realization  of  the  fact  that  his  opportunities  for  making 
proper  provision  for  his  family  in  a section  where  lands 
were  high  in  nrice  and  inferior  in  quality  were  not 
nearly  as  good  as  what  a new  country  could  offer. 
Consequently,  in  September,  1816,  with  his  wife  and 
four  children,  he  set  out  for  the  territory  of  Missouri, 
where  strong  inducements  were  being  held  out  to  those 
desiring  homes.  The  family  and  all  their  earthly  effects 
were  carried  in  one  wagon.  This  little  party  crossed 
the  Blue  Ridge  mountains  at  a place  called  .Swanano 
Gap.  and  in  November  arrived  at  South  Warpath, 
Davidson  county,  Tennessee.  Here  they  passed  the 
winter  of  1816-17,  with  a brother  of  Mrs.  Carroll, 
William  Henry,  who  had  settled  there  some  years 
before.  In  March.  1817.  they  resumed  their  journey 
westward  and  in  May  arrived  at  Edwardsville,  Illinois, 
which  was  then  the  seat  of  the  territorial  government. 
Mr.  Carroll  rented  a small  piece  of  farming  ground 
here  and  planted  it  in  corn,  also  began  work  at  his 
trade.  While  there  the  s-urveyqr  general  of  Illinois 
territory  came  to  Edwardsville  to  visit  the  Governor, 
and  Mr.  Carroll  formed  his  acquaintance.  This  gentle- 
man strongly  urged  Air.  Carroll  to  move  up  into  the 
Sangamon  valley,  in  Illinois,  pointing  out  to  him  the 
great  future  of  that  section. 

But  as  a great  many  of  his  friends  and  family  con- 
nections from  the  Carolinas  had  settled  in  Missouri, 
and  others  were  on  the  way,  all  of  whom  possessed 
more  or  less  slave  property,  which  could  not  be  retained 


in  Illinois,  he  again  loaded  his  precious  household  and 
staited  for  Missouri.  They  crossed  the  Mississippi 
ri\er  at  what  is  now  Alton,  Illinois,  but  was  then 
called  Smelser’s  Ferry,  which  landed  them  in  St 
Charles  county,  in  June,  1817.  They  proceeded  on  their 
way  and  stopped  near  the  Buffalo  Lick,  where  they 
paused  while  Mr.  Carroll  was  able  to  take  a look  at 
the  country.  Selecting  a location  on  Haw  creek,  he 
proceeded  to  cut  logs  preparatory  to  erecting  a cabin 
when  he  met  with  Bennet  Goldsberry,  of  Frankford 
who  informed  him  that  the  land  he  had  selected  was 
covered  by  a confirmed  French  claim,  that  the  heirs 
lived  in  France,  and  in  all  probability  the  land  would 
not  come  into  the  market  for  many  vears,  which  proved 
to  be  true,  for  not  until  1853  did  the'  land  change  hands 
James  Templeton,  Sr.,  having  settled  on  and  preempted 
four  quarter  sections  of  land  on  the  middle  of  the 
dividing  line  between  sections  4 and  5,  in  township  53, 
I.  W.,  he  tendered  Air.  Carroll  the  southwest  quarter 
of  section  4,  reserving  ten  acres  of  the  northwest 
corner  to  be  deeded  to  Air.  Templeton  when  Mr.  Car- 
10x1  obtained  a patent  to  the  same.  This  arrangement 
was  carried  out  in  1838.  On  this  tract  of  land  Mr. 
Carroll  settled,  and  here  the  remainder  of  his  family 
were  born.  It  remained  in  his  possession  until  1858, 
when  he  sold  it  to  two  of  his  nephews,  James  and 
Baniah  Carroll.  In  1818  Air.  Carroll  attended  the  first 
puhhe  land  sale  in  St.  Louis,  then  a French  village  of 
3,600  people,  and  entered  by  preemption  the  old  home- 
stead in  Pike  county,  Alissouri. 

Air.  Carroll  survived  until  i860,  his  good  wife  having 
passed  away  on  November  17,  1840,  and  hers  was  the 
first  death  in  a family  of  eleven  children  and  parents. 
The  children  all  lived  to  adult  ages.  Joseph  Carroli 
and  his  wife  were  most  earnest  and  devout  Christians 
and  their  lives  offered  both  lessons  and  incentives  to 
all  ^ who  came  within  the  sphere  of  their  influence. 
Originally  a member  of  the  Seceder  church,  in  1842 
he  united  with  the  Associate  Reform  church  in  Mis- 
souri. with  which  he  continued  to  be  affiliated  until  his 
death.  Concerning  him  the  following  statements  have 
been  written  in  a history  of  the  family;  “He  was  a 
man  of  good  sense,  generous  impulses  but  strong  preju- 
dices, sometimes  to  a fault,  but  he  was  a practical 
Christian,  strongly  Calvanistic  in  his  faith.”  He  was 
a constant  reader  of  the  Bible,  loved  to  pore  over  the 
old  writings  of  Erskine,  Boston,  Dickinson  and  Brown, 
who  wrote  his  favorite  system  of  divinity;  was  sternly 
opposed  to  all  innovations  in  religion,  and  was  proverb- 
ially scrupulous  in  his  reverence  for  and  observance 
of  the  Sabbath  day.  He  was  buried  in  the  old  Buffalo 
burying  ground  in  Pike  county,  Missouri.  Lie  was  one 
of  the  genuine  pioneers  of  that  county,  and  it  is  said 
that  his  blacksmith  tools  were  the  first  of  the  kind  ever 
brought  into  Pike  county.  His  family  of  eleven  chil- 
dren comprised  six  sons  and  five  daughters : Henry, 

Elias  Lewellyn,  John  Moore,  Edward  Byers,  Thomas 
M.  and  Joseph  Alexander  being  the  sons;  while  Louisa 
Jane,  Cynthia  Ann,  Alartha  Rosanna,  Isabella  and  Eliza- 
beth Catharine  were  the  daughters.  Of  these  children 

(V)  Thomas  M.,  was  the  father  of  William  C.  and 
Joseph  T.  Carroll  and  was  born  December  17,  1823,  in 
Pike  county,  Alissouri,  about  four  miles  south  of  the 
city  of  Louisiana.  Reared  as  was  the  custom  of  farmer 
boys  in  his  time  and  locality,  he  attended  the  country 
schools  of  that  section  until  about  the  age  af  fourteen, 
when  he  began  to  learn  the  blacksmith  trade  with  his 
father  and  continued  to  work  with  him  until  in  1844. 
He  was  married  that  year  and  soon  afterward  turned 
his  attention  to  farming.  In  1852  he  settled  on  what 
became  known  as  the  old  family  homestead,  and  here 
developed  one  of  the  fine  landed  estates  of  Pike  county, 
Alissouri,  He  was  a prominent  agriculturist  and  also 
gained  marked  success  in  the  breeding  of  fine  live 
stock,  especially  blooded  horse's,  and  he  operated  a mill 
for  many  years.  He  was  bne  of  the  influential  citizens 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1143 


of  his  native  county,  a man  who  wielded  a good  in- 
fluence, and  was  always  interested  in  the  moral  and 
intellectual  advancement  of  his  community.  His  death 
occurred  on  the  Qth  of  May,  1896,  while  on  a visit  in 
New  York  City.  Mr.  Carroll  “lived  a godly,  righteous 
and  sober  life.”  He  was  a man  of  strong  individuality 
and  ever  commanded  a secure  place  in  the  esteem  of  his 
fellow  men.  He  served  as  assessor  of  his  native  county 
for  four  successive  years,  being  first  elected  in  August, 
i860.  In  November,  1868,  he  was  elected  to  represent 
the  district  comprising  Pike,  Lincoln  and  Montgomery 
counties  in  the  state  senate  of  Missouri,  of  which  he 
was  a member  for  four  years,  during  which  time  he 
made  a record  for  faithful  and  efficient  service.  In 
1854  he  joined  the  Old  School  Presbyterian_  church,  in 
which  denomination,  until  his  death,  he  continued  to  be 
one  of  the  leaders,  always  taking  a foremost  part  in 
the  work  of  the  church,  serving  in  various  official 
positions,  and  being  one  of  its  most  substantial  sup- 
porters. 

On  the  22nd  of  August,  1844,  Thomas  M.  Carroll  ivas 
married  to  Miss  Martha  Walker  Bryson,  who  was  born 
April  26,  1828,  at  the  old  homestead  of  her  parents 
on  Grassy  creek  in  Pike  county,  Missouri,  and  she  died 
January  21,  1905  at  the*  old  homestead  in  Missouri. 
Her  parents  were  William  and  Eliza  A.  (Yater)  Bryson, 
who  were  pioneers  in  that  section  of  Missouri.  William 
Bryson  was  born  December  13,  1801,  on  Allisons  creek, 
York  District,  South  Carolina.  His  father,  John  Bry- 
son, was  a wagonmaker  and  wheelwright  by  trade^  and 
before  the  invention  of  the  cotton  gin  this  business 
was  one  of  importance.  The  father  of  John  Bryson 
was  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  and  came  from  the  north 
of  Ireland  about  1725  or  1730,  settling  in  Pennsylvania 
from  where  his  descendants  have  scattered  over  a 
number  of  states.  He  subsequently  settled  in  the  Caro- 
linas,  where  his  son  John  was  born  March  15,  I777> 
and  about  1800  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Craig,  who 
went  with  him  to  Pike  county,  Missouri,  in  1816,  set- 
tling on  a tract  of  land,  where  now  stands  the  city  of 
Louisiana.  After  a couple  of  years  he  located  on  what 
was  known  as  the  old  homestead  farm  on  Grassy  creek, 
where  he  died  September  3,  1821.  His  son  William 
was  but  a boy  in  his  ’teens,  when  his  parents  migrated 
to  Missouri,  and  where  he  was  one  of  the  real  pioneers. 
In  1817  he  cultivated  for  his  father  a field  of  corn 
through  which  now  runs  Georgia  street  in  Louisiana, 
Missouri.  He  married  Miss  Eliza  A.  Yater,  and  reared 
a family  of  children,  among  whom  was  the  daughter 
Martha  Walker,  who  married  Thomas  M.  Carroll, 
becoming  the  mother  of  the  following  children;  John 
Moore,  born  February  12,  1846,  died  January  23,  1892; 
Orlena  Lucretia,  born  November  15,  1847,  and  died 
January  4,  1848;  Helen  Margaret,  born  March  30, 
1849,  married  Gen.  P.  R.  Dolman  and  is  mentioned 
later;  Homer  Bryson,  born  May  16,  1851,  resided  in 
New  York  for  many  years,  connected  with  the  Ameri- 
can Horse  Exchange,  and  died  April  16,  1908,  in  New 
York;  William  Craig,  born  January  8,  1854,  is  -men- 
tioned later;  and  Joseph  Thomas,  born  September  18, 
1858.  Concerning  those  of  this  family  who  have  lived 
in  Montana,  Helen  Margaret  became,  December  3,  1873, 
the  wife  of  Gen.  P.  R.  Dolman,  who  was  commander 
of  the  Montana  department  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic  at  the  time  of  her  death,  on  March  27,  1895. 
She  vras  a noule  Christian  woman  and  left  a deep 
impress  upon  tue  social  and  religious  activities  of 
Montana.  From  an  appreciative  article  appearing  in 
a local  newspaper  at  the  time  of  her  death  are  taken 
the  following  statements : .“The  death  of  Mrs.  Dolman 
deprives  Butte  of  one  of  the  best  women  the  city  has 
ever  known.  She  was  charitable  to  a fault,  but  her 
modesty  prevented  her  from  heralding  to  the  public 
the  many  good  deeds  she  performed  in  the^vay  of  re- 
lieving distress.  After  the  explosion  (in  the  Butte 
mines)  she  became  a self-appointed  committee  to  min- 


ister to  the  wants  of  the  crippled  and  needy.  She  was 
a Christian  and  loved  her  home,  husband  and  children 
as  only  a true  woman  can.  Besides  being  a member  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  church  she  belonged  to  the 
Woman's  Relief  Corps  and  several  literary  clubs  for 
women.”  Another  article  published  at  the  time  of  Mrs. 
Dolman’s  death  stated  as  follows : “All  the  virtues  of 

Christianity  and  humanity  were  combined  in  Mrs.  Dol- 
man’s noble  character,  and  her  death  has  aroused  the 
most  widespread  expressions  of  regret  and  sympathy 
from  all  classes,  from  the  governor  of  the  state  down 
to  the  lowly  sufferers  of  poverty  and  misery  who  have 
been  assisted  times  without  number  by  her  unosten- 
tatious charity  and  who  will  greatly  miss  her  kind 
and  helping  hand.  Airs.  Dolman’s  life  was  largely 
devoted  to  the  assistance  of  unfortunate  humanity. 
She  was  the  founder  of  the  Silent  Charity  movement 
in  Butte  and  her  charity  was  always  regular,  con- 
sistent and  judicious.” 

(VI)  William  Craig  Carroll,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  sketch,  was  born  on  the  fine  old  family  home- 
stead on  the  Frankford  road,  near  Louisiana,  the  county 
seat  of  Pike  county,  Alissouri,  the  date  of  his  birth  being 
January  8,  1854.  He  is  the  owner  of  this  homestead 
at  the  present  time,  it  being  considered  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  places  in  northeastern  Missouri,  commanding, 
as  it  does,  a fine  view  of  the  Mississippi  river  for  many 
miles,  besides  having  a wealth  of  fine  old  forest  trees, 
maple,  hickory,  oak  and  wild  cherry,  which  stand  in 
evidence  of  his  father's  deep  appreciation  of  the  beauties 
of  nature.  One  hundred  and  ten  acres  of  this  beautiful 
estate  are  given  over  to  such  timber,  which  is  becoming 
both  rare  and  valuable.  It  is  needless  to  say  that  it 
is  a source  of  great  pride  and  satisfaction  to  Mr.  Car- 
roll  to  retain  this  ancestral  homestead  as  his  own,  and 
his  frequent  visits  there  not  only  bring  back  the  scenes 
of  his  boyhood,  but  reminds  him  of  the  satisfaction  it 
would  be  to  his  honorable  father  to  know  that  the 
farm  remains  in  the  family. 

William  Craig  Carroll  secured  his  early  education  in 
the  common  schools  of  his  native  county  and  supple- 
mented this  by  higher  academic  study  in  Westminster 
College,  at  Fulton,  Alissouri,  in  the  meantime  receiving 
the  wholesome  discipline  of  the  homestead  farm  on 
■which  he  was  reared  to  maturity.  In  1874,  at  the  age 
of  twenty  years.  Air.  Carroll  went  to  Texas,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1878,  he  made  his  way  to  Carson  City,  Nevada, 
from  which  place  he  continued  his  journey  by  stage 
to  Bodie,  Alono  county,  California.  At  that  time  the 
latter  place  was  a typical  mining  camp  in  the  Sierra 
Nevada  mountains,  with  the  mines  producin.g  in  large 
volume  and,  with  much  attendant  activity.  There,  for 
two  and  one-half  years.  Air.  Carroll  was  manager  for 
the  feed  stables,  corrals  and  wood  lands  of  the  firm 
of  Boone  & Wrights,  in  which  connection  he  often 
cared  for  more  than  four  hundred  freight  teams  in  a 
single  night. 

Fie  recalls  in  connection  with  the  pioneer  affairs  of 
that  section  that  barley  was  sold  for  as  high  a price 
as  eight  and  one-half  cents  a pound ; hay  at  fifty-five 
dollars  a ton ; and  wood  at  twenty-two  dollars  a cord. 
In  the  spring  of  1881  Air.  Carroll  set  out  from  Bodie, 
with  freight  teams  for  Montana.  He  crossed  the  Mono 
desert  by  way  of  the  old  overland  immigrant  trail,  and 
at  that  time  much  of  the  route  was  literally  covered 
with  the  bones  of  oxen  and  other  cattle  that  had  died  en 
route  in  the  earlier  days  of  migration  across  the  plains 
to  California.  The  conditions  attending  his  journey 
were  virtually  the  same  as  the  earlier  period,  save  the 
menace  from  Indians  was  not  so  great.  He  passed  a 
portion  of  the  month  of  July,  1881,  at  the  new  mining 
camp  on  Wood  river,  Idaho,  and  in  passing  around  the 
great  lava  beds  on  his  way  to  Butte,  Alontana,  his  outfit 
was  one  of  the  few  whose  horses  were  not  run  off  by  the 
marauding  Indians.  On  the  12th  of  August,  1881.  he 
arrived  in  Butte  and  the  next  day  he  put  his  teams  into 


1144 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


service,  hauling  scrap  iron  for  “Billy”  Hall,  of  the 
Alice  mill  and  mine,  to  the  foundry  operated  by  the 
late  Andrew  J.  Davis.  Mr.  Carroll  continued  to  utilize 
his  outfit  in  general  teaming  work  until  the  autumn 
of  1882,  when  he  sold  his  horses  and  equipment  to  the 
Cooper  Brothers  of  Great  Falls.  He  has  since  con- 
tinued to  maintain  his  home  in  Butte  and  through  well 
directed  enterprise  has  become  one  of  the  representative 
business  men  of  that  city.  He  has  been  actively  asso- 
ciated with  his  brother,  Joseph  T.,  in  the  upbuilding  of 
the  large  and  important  business  enterprise  controlled 
by  the  J.  T.  Carroll  Lumber  Company,  of  which  he  is 
manager  and  of  which  his  brother  is  president.  The 
business  of  this  company  is  one  of  the  largest  in  the 
Northwest,  and  in  addition  to  a large  retail  and  whole- 
sale lumber  business,  it  includes  builders’  supplies, 
wagons  and  vehicles  of  all  kinds,  agricultural  imple- 
ments, farm  machinery  and  complete  farm  equipment. 
Fair  and  honorable  dealing  and  progressive  methods 
have  given  to  the  company  a reputation  for  commercial 
integrity  that  is  not  surpassed  by  that  of  any  business 
house  in  the  state.  William  Craig  Carroll  has  stood 
as  an  exponent  of  the  most  loyal  and  progressive  citi- 
zenship, and  has  given  his  support  to  measures  and 
enterprises  tending  to  advance  the  civic  and  material 
welfare  of  his  home  city.  He  has  been  an  active  and 
influential  factor  in  political  affairs  as  a staunch  advo- 
cate of  the  principles  and  policies  of  the  Repuldican 
party,  yet  has  shown  no  special  predilection  for  official 
preferment  in  a personal  way.  Fie  is  a valued  member 
of  the  Butte  Business  Men's  Association,  and  the  Butte 
Merchants’  Association,  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights 
of  Pythias.  Both  he  and  his  wife  hold  membership  in 
the  First  Presbyterian  church.  Mr.  Carroll  is  a member 
of  the  Society  of  tlie  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution 
and  Mrs.  Carroll  is  a member  of  the  Daughters  of  the 
American  Revolution. 

In  the  city  of  Butte,  on  March  20,  1906,  was  solemn- 
ized the  marriage  of  Mr.  Carroll  to  Miss  Harriet  Lane 
McKay,  who  had  previously  been  for  a number  of  years 
a successful  and  popular  teacher  in  the  public  schools 
of  this  city  and  a native  of  Saginaw,  Michigan.  She  is 
a daughter  of  John  Graham  and  Mary  Jane  (Ludlum) 
McKay,  the  former  a native  of  Scotland,  born  at  Tain, 
and  the  latter  native  of  Craigsville,  Orange  county. 
New  York,  a daughter  of  Albert  and  Elizabeth 
(Tooker)  Ludlum.  Elizabeth  Tooker  was  a daughter 
of  Nathan,  who  was  a son  of  Sclah,  who  was  a son  of 
Reuben  Tooker,  who  served  in  the  First  Regiment  of 
the  Orange  county.  New  York,  militia  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary war.  Mrs.  Carroll  is  a lady  of  gracious  per- 
sonality and  is  a popular  factor  in  the  best  social  activi- 
ties of  her  home  city.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carroll  have  two 
sons:  William  Craig,  Jr.,  born  August  29,  1907,  and 
John  Moore,  born  October  27,  1911. 

Charles  M.  Johnson  is  a prominent  merchant, 
banker  and  land  owner  of  Whitehall,  Montana.  He 
was  born  in  Truro,  Nova  Scotia,  on  the  thirteenth  of 
February,  186.3.  Here,  on  the  same  piece  of  land,  his 
father,  William  M.  Johnson,  first  saw  the  light  and  iiere 
he  has  spent  the  seventy-nine  years  of  his  life  in  an 
endeavor  to  coax  from  the  soil  a living  for  himself  and 
family.  The  life  of  a Nova  Scotia  farmer  did  not  ap- 
peal to  the  son  Charles,  who  was  anxious  to  push  ahead 
more  rapidly.  In  1881,  being  then  eighteen  years  of 
age.  he  started  out  all  alone  for  America,  his  destina- 
tion being  Butte,  Montana,  where  some  acquaintances 
had  preceded  him. 

Leaving  his  northern  home  for  a strange  land  meant 
the  breaking  of  most  of  the  ties  of  a life  time.  He  did 
not  then  realize  that  it  meant  a final  leave  taking  of 
Ids  mother,  who  passed  away  at  her  home  in  Truro  on 
the  tenth  day  of  January,  1904,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five. 
She  was  Amelia  Wilson  Johnson,  the  daughter  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Joseph  Wilson,  of  Londonbury,  Nova  Scotia. 


Four  years  after  her  death  the  husband  and  father 
visited  their  son  in  his  new  Montana  home.  Although 
pleased  with  his  promise  of  prosperity  and  impressed 
\vith  the  richness  of  the  land,  his  heart  remained  in 
his  own  country  and  there  he  returned  after  a visit  of 
some  three  months’  duration. 

Charles  M.  Johnson  had  reached  Montana  after  a 
hard  journey,  his  only  capital  being  his  courage  and 
ambition.  At  that  time  no  railroad  ran  into  Butte,  so 
the  last  of  the  journey  was  made  by  stage.  A washout 
at  Ogden,  Utah,  held  him  there  for  more  than  a week, 
so  that  by  the  time  he  came  to  his  journey’s  end  he  had 
not  a dollar  with  which  to  buy  him  a meal.  Work  was 
plentiful,  however,  and  appetite  lends  it  a zest.  The 
very  day  of  his  arrival  found  Mr.  Johnson  cutting  wood 
on  the  range  above  Columbia  Gardens,  not  far  distant 
from  Butte.  This  occupation  kept  him  from  being 
hungry  until  he  could  look  about  him  and  find  employ- 
ment in  one  of  the  mines.  Diligent  and  observing,  he 
quickly  grasped  the  important  features  of  the  work. 
In  a surprisingly  short  space  of  time  he  was  leasing 
mining  property  and  operating  it  for  himself.  Reverses 
there  were,  and  some  disastrous  ones,  but  he  never 
permitted  these  to  spell  failure. 

In  sixteen  years  he  had  accumulated  enough  to  buy 
for  himself  a good  ranch  in  Madison  county,  about 
three  miles  from  Whitehall.  The  next  seven  years  he 
devoted  to  cattle  raising.  At  the  end  of  this  time  he 
sold  his  ranch  and  moved  into  Whitehall  that  his 
children  might  have  better  school  advantages.  In 
Whitehall  he  entered  the  lumber  and  hardware  business 
and  is  still  interested  in  these  lines. 

While  yet  a mine  operator  in  Butte  he  had  been 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Eliza  Ka  Del,  the  union 
having  taken  place  on  the  third  of  December,  1887. 
Mrs.  Johnson  is  the  daughter  of  Charles  and  Caroline 
(Brower)  Ka  Del,  of  Belle  Plain,  Iowa.  Mr.  Ka  Del 
was  a prominent  farmer  of  his  region  who  lived  upon 
his  horne  place,  the  farm  where  his  daughter  was  born, 
until  his  eighty-ninth  year.  Flis  wife  passed  away  and 
was  laid  to  rest  in  Belle  Plain  some  twenty  years 
earlier. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  are  members  of  no  religious 
denomination  but  are  frequent  attendants  of  the  Chris- 
tian church.  Three  children,  two  girls  and  one  boy, 
have  been  born  to  them.  Orpha,  the  older  daughter, 
is  now  Mrs.  Reed  H.  Brackney,  of  Three  Forks.  Her 
husband  is  the  superintendent  of  the  Madison  River 
Power  Company  of  that  city.  Her  younger  sister, 
Mabel,  aged  eighteen,  is  her  father’s  secretary,  while 
the  boy,  Charles  M.  Johnston,  junior,  is  but  three  years 
of  age. 

Mr.  Johnson  is  actively  interested  in  Republican  pol- 
itics. and  has  been  the  president  of  the  Whitehall  State 
Bank  since  the  second  year  of  its  organization,  and  the 
active  manager  of  his  own  land  interests.  Flis  leisure 
is  spent  in  the  home  to  which  he  is  more  than  usually 
devoted. 

Charles  M.  Johnson,  although  an  indefatigable 
worker  always  and  now  a power  in  the  financial  world 
of  his  community,  is  a man  of  few  words,  believing  that 
one  should  permit  his  works  to  speak  for  him. 

Henry  Dion.  One  of  the  representative  and  pro- 
gressive citizens  of  Glendive,  who,  occupying  positions 
of  public  trust  and  responsibility,  holds  prestige  as  a re- 
sult of  his  ability  and  unswerving  integrity  of  character, 
is  Henry  Dion,  president  of  the  Exchange  State  Bank. 
Ever  since  1882,  when  he  was  appointed  the  first  sheriff 
of  Dawson  county,  Mr.  Dion  has  been  identified  with 
the  public  welfare  of  his  community,  and  the  vast  trans- 
actions with  which  he  has  been  connected  have  made 
his  name  known  and  respected  in  all  lines  of  commercial 
and  financial  activity.  Mr.  Dion  comes  from  a country 
that  has  given  Montana  many  of  its  best  citizens,  having 
been  born  in  the  Province  of  Quebec,  Canada,  Septem- 


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HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1145 


I)er  7,  1846,  a son  of  G.  B.  and  Rosalie  (Mulneer)  Dion, 
who  were  both  natives  of  the  same  province,  of  French 
parentage.  Mr.  Dion’s  parents,  farming  people,  spent 
their  entire  lives  on  the  old  homestead  in  Canada.  Of 
their  eleven  children,  two  daughters  and  seven  sons  are 
still  living,  Henry  being  the  sixth  in  order  of  birth. 

Like  other  farmer’s  sons  of  his  day  and  locality, 
Henry  Dion  spent  his  youth  in  working  on  the  home 
farm  during  the  summer  months,  while  his  winters  were 
passed  m attendance  at  the  district  schools.  In  April, 
1866,  he  went  to  Massachusetts,  and  during  the  fall 
of  1867  went  west  as  far  as  Omaha,  Nebraska,  in 
which  city  he  arrived  November  27.  In  the  following 
spring  he  engaged  in  working  on  the  line  of  the  Union 
Pacific  Railroad,  building  water  tanks  as  far  as  Chey- 
enne, Wyoming,  and  continuing  in  the  employ  of  the 
railroad  until  the  spring  of  1870,  at  which  time  he  went 
to  Dodge  county,  Nebraska,  to  visit  his  brother,  Jerry. 
When  the  full  extent  of  the  great  Chicago  fire  was 
learned  men  were  enlisted  from  every  state  in  the 
Union  to  help  rebuild  the  destroyed  industries  of  the 
stricken  city,  and  Mr.  Dion  was  one  of  the  first  to  go 
to  the  aid  of  the  city  on  the  lake,  where  he  was  first 
employed  in  car  building  with  the  Chicago,  Rock  Is- 
land & Pacific  Railroad,  and  later  in  doing  various 
kinds  of  carpenter  work.  In  July,  1872,  he  went  to 
Fort  Lincoln,  North  Dakota,  where  he  was  employed 
in  the  construction  of  the  fort,  but  in  April,  1873, 
moved  on  to  Bismarck.  During  the  fall  of  1875  he 
left  the  latter  city  with  the  first  wagon  train  that  made 
the  trip  overland  into  the  Black  Hills,  where  he  ar- 
rived on  Christmas  day,  December  25,  1875,  and  from 
that  time  until  August,  1876,  was  engaged  in  prospect- 
ing and  working  a claim.  He  then  returned  overland 
to  Bismarck,  and  in  the  fall  of  1877  went  back  to  his 
old  home  to  visit  his  parents.  After  spending  some  four 
or  five  months  on  the  homestead,  in  February,  1878,  he 
returned  to  Bismarck,  and  during  the  next  month  ar- 
rived in  the  old  town  of  Miles  City,  Montana.  Here 
he  remained  only  until  the  spring  of  1879,  however, 
when  he  again  went  back  to  Bismarck  and  engaged  in 
the  merchandise  business  along  the  line  of  the  Northern 
Pacific  Railroad,  following  the  line  from  point  to  point 
as  construction  of  the  road  was  completed.  In  1880 
he  settled  in  Cedar  Creek,  and  the  year  1881  saw  his 
advent  in  the  little  town  of  Glendive,  where  he  estab- 
lished himself  in  a general  merchandise  business  and 
also  embarked  in  the  cattle  and  horse  business.  Mr. 
Dion  disposed  of  his  mercantile  interests  in  1908,  but 
has  continued  to  raise  stock  to  the  present  time,  and 
has  built  up  a substantial  reputation  for  integrity  and 
fair  dealing,  as  well  as  for  business  tact  and  good  judg- 
ment. In  1901  he  became  identified  with  the  banking 
interests  of  Dawson  county,  when  he  was  made  presi- 
dent of  the  Exchange  Bank,  a position  which  he  held 
until  July,  1911,  at  which  time,  with  others,  he  estab- 
lished the  Exchange  State  Bank,  a safe,  solid  and  con- 
servative financial  institution  of  which  he  has  since 
been  president. 

In  his  political  proclivities  Mr.  Dion  has  ever  been 
a stanch  supporter  of  the  Republican  party  in  his  prin- 
ciple's. He  was  appointed  the  first  sheriff  of  Dawson 
county  in  1882  by  Governor  Potts;  was  elected  county 
treasurer  in  1895,  and  served  one  term ; has  been  county 
commissioner  of  Dawson  county  and  chairman  of  the 
board  since  1906;  and  for  the  past  fifteen  years  has 
acted  in  the  capacity  of  school  director.  The  true 
western  spirit  of  progress  and  enterprise  has  ever  been 
exemplified  in  Mr.  Dion’s  life,  and  the  service  that 
he  has  rendered  to  his  county  and  state,  both  as  one 
of  its  most  conscientious  officials,  and  as  a promoter 
of  its  commercial  and  financial  interests,  has  given  him 
a place  among  the  most  representative  men  of  his  sec- 
tion. 

On  September  7,  1882.  Mr.  Dion  was  married  to  Mrs. 
iMargaret  (O’Connor)  Elliott,  a native  of  Virginia,  and 


four  children  have  been  born  to  them,  namely;  Henry 
N.,  Frederick  E.,  William  F.  and  Marie. 

Charles  Jacob  Pruett  was  born  in  Colchester,  Illi- 
nois, on  April  13,  1861.  The  year  following  his  birth, 
however,  his  parents  moved  from  Colchester  to  Schuy- 
ler county,  near  Birmingham  of  the  same  state.  No 
sooner  was  the  family  well  settled  here  than  his  father, 
Nicholas  Pruett,  who  was  a native  of  Tennessee,  took 
the  ox  team  from  the  furrows  and  hitching  them  to  a 
prairie  schooner  started  his  long  journey  across  the 
plains.  In  the  spring  of  1863  he  reached  Alder  Gulch. 
For  eighteen  months  he  tried  his  hand  at  stock  ranch- 
ing, but  at  the  end  of  that  time  he  was  obliged  to  re- 
turn to  his  Schuyler  county  home,  disappointed  and 
discouraged  but  yet  certain  of  the  future  of  Montana 
and  the  northwest.  On  a second  trip  to  the  same  dis- 
trict, some  years  later,  he  made  a few  investments  that 
proved  satisfying.  For  ten  years  he  chafed  under  his 
work  as  farmer  in  Schuyler  county  and  then,  hoping 
to  better  the  conditions,  he  moved  to  Charleston,  Iowa. 
This  country  pleased  him  little  or  no  better,  so  after 
the  third  season  he  once  more  moved  westward,  set- 
tling in  Lynn  county,  Kansas,  where  he  purchased  a 
farm.  During  the  three  years  lie  farmed  in  Kansas  his 
fever  for  the  far  west  grew  upon  him  until  in  1881  he 
made  his  third  and  last  trip  to  Montana,  this  time  ac- 
companied by  his  young  son,  Charles  Jacob,  and  his 
son-in-law,  Elias  S.  Tincher,  the  husband  of  his  young- 
est daughter.  At  last  the  efforts  of  the  three  men  were 
well  rewarded.  Mr.  Pruett’s  wife  and  family  joined 
him  six  years  later  in  1887.  During  the  remaining  seven 
years  of  his  life  he  was  successful  in  accumulating  a 
large  and  well  stocked  ranch  in  the  north  part  of  Mad- 
ison county.  Here  he  passed  away  in  1888,  on  the 
eighteenth  day  of  February,  having  reached  the  age  of 
sixty-four  years.  He  is  buried  in  the  Fish  Creek 
cemetery.  Mrs.  Nicholas  Pruett  was  Ingaber  Smith. 
She  was  born  in  what  is  now  West  Virginia,  in  1827, 
her  parents  being  Mr.  and  Mrs.  David  Smith,  them- 
selves natives  of  Virginia.  While  she  was  yet  but  a 
child  her  parents  brought  her  overland  from  Virginia 
to  Schuyler  county,  Illinois,  and  later,  in  1887,  came  to 
Madison  county,  Montana,  where  she  lived  to  the  ripe 
age  of  seventy-four,  dying  in  April,  1902,  and  was  laid 
to  rest  by  the  side  of  her  husband  in  the  cemetery  at 
Fish  Creek. 

Even  during  his  boyhood  Charles  Jacob  Pruett  was 
ambitious  to  become  a wage  earner.  With  his  father’s 
permission  he  had  often  assisted  the  neighboring  farm- 
ers in  Iowa  with  a day’s  work,  laboring  from  sunup 
until  sundown  for  the  munificent  wage  of  one  dollar 
and  twenty-five  cents  a day,  which  were  high  wages 
at  that  time.  On  accompanying  his  father  to  Montana 
in  i88r  they  settled  first  at  Sheridan,  the  largest  town 
in  Madison  county  at  that  time.  Shortly  afterward  they 
purchased  the  ranch  on  the  northern  border  of  the 
county  where  his  father  spent  his  remaining  years.  It 
was  here  and  on  the  ranches  nearby  that  the  young 
man  found  his  first  regular  employment  as  a laborer  in 
the  harvest  fields,  and  it  Ijps  been  remarked  that  a har- 
vest field  is  more  picturesque  in  the  moonlight  than  in 
the  middle  of  a July  day.  While  living  on  the  Madison 
county  farm  Mr.  Pruett  met  Mr.  E.  M.  Clarke,  who 
brought  about  the  crisis  in  his  life. 

Mr.  Clarke  was  a mining  assayer  of  no  mean  ability, 
and  as  the  friendship  developed  it  was  decided  that  he. 
Air.  Pruett  and  Mr.  S.  R.  Fair,  a third  friend,  should 
establish  a partnership.  Together  they  located  the  May 
Flower  mine.  The  business  association  continued  until 
1896,  when  they  sold  the  mine  to  Air.  W.  A.  Clark. 
Air.  Pruett,  through  his  own  efforts  and  the  assistance 
lent  him  by  his  partner,  Air.  Clarke,  had  so  well  mas- 
tered the  work  of  the  assayer  that  he  moved  to  White- 
hall and  opened  an  office  and  laboratory. 

The  following  year  he  was  married,  in  Butte,  Alon- 


1146 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


tana,  to  Miss  Annie  E.  Bray,  of  Silver  Star,  Madison 
county.  Mrs.  Annie  E.  Pruett  was  born  near  St. 
Joseph,  Missouri,  on  November  i,  1878,  a daughter  of 
John  and  Mary  Frances  OlcGann)  Kidd.  Her  father 
was  killed  in  a lead  mine  in  Missouri,  when  Mrs. 
B.  Pruett  was  quite  young  and  her  mother  survived  him 
but  a few  months.  Soon  after  the  death  of  her  mother 
she  was  brought  to  Montana  and  adopted  by  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  William  M.  Bray,  Mrs.  Bray  being  a sister  of 
Mrs.  Kidd.  Mr.  William  M.  Bray,  the  father  of  Mrs. 
Pruett,  came  from  Missouri  to  Silver  Star  district  in 
sixty-two.  He  had  in  his  early  days  tried  his  luck  at 
mining  but  later  became  a very  well  to  do  ranchman. 
Pie  died  at  his  ranch  home,  “Lake  View,”  in  1905,  and 
was  laid  to  rest  in  Beaverhead  county.  Mrs.  Bray  con- 
tinues living  at  “Lake  View,”  Centennial  Valley, 
Beaverhead  county,  and  is  still  active  in  the  manage- 
ment of  her  stock  and  cattle  interests  on  the  ranch. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  Pruett  became  the  parents  of 
six  children,  but  the  first,  William  Edwin,  died  in  in- 
fancy. The  next  son,  aged  eleven,  is  named  Ira  Ed- 
ward. Next  in  years  comes  Dorothy  Ingaber,  so  called 
for  her  paternal  grandmother.  Ellen  Frances  is  four 
years  of  age,  while  the  youngest  son,  Marcus  William, 
is  little  more  than  two.  Isabel  May,  the  pet  of  the  en- 
tire household,  is  still  in  her  infancy. 

Mrs.  Pruett  is  a member  of  the  Christian  church, 
being,  when  her  family  cares  permit,  an  active  worker 
in  the  Ladies’  Aid  Society.  Her  husband  does  not  be- 
long to  any  church  organization,  although  he  expresses 
a strong  sympathy  with  the  Seventh  Day  Adventists. 

Mr.  Pruett’s  early  education  was  obtained  before  he 
was  thirteen  years  of  age,  while  his  family  resided  in 
or  near  Birmingham,  Illinois.  His  only  other  schooling 
was  procured  during  the  three  years  that  his  parents 
lived  in  Charleston,  Iowa.  He  started  his  life  work 
alone,  without  advantages  and  unaided  by  any  external 
means.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  valuable  ranches  in 
both  Madison  and  Jefferson  counties,  not  to  mention 
the  property  that  he  has  accumulated  in  Whitehall.  It 
was  through  his  efforts  that  the  Whitehall  State  Bank 
was  founded.  This  was  the  initial  banking  establish- 
ment of  the  city  and  Mr.  Pruett  was  chosen  as  its  first 
president. 

He  has  never  felt  that  he  had  the  leisure  to  devote 
to  political  affairs  aside  from  voting  the  Republican 
ticket.  He  did  realize,  however,  that  the  quality  of  the 
schools  in  a city  depends  upon  the  material  that  makes 
up  its  board  of  education,  and  as  the  education  of  his 
little  family  was  at  stake  he  finally  consented  to  become 
a member  of  the  Whitehall  school  board.  To  this  he 
gives  of  his  best  energy  and  ability. 

Although  interested  in  banking  and  other  sedentary 
occupations,  Mr.  Pruett  has  never  lost  his  love  for 
out-door  life  and  spends  his  hard-won  vacations  in 
hunting  and  fishing  in  the  nearest  mountains.  Neither 
has  he  given  up,  entirely,  the  work  of  his  first  choice — 
assaying  and  prospecting,  at  both  of  which  he  has  be- 
come an  expert.  Now  a man  of  fortune,  he  looks  back 
with  pleasure  and  thanksgiving  on  the  days  when  his 
boyhood  friend,  Mr.  E.  M.  Clarke,  first  taught  him 
the  secrets  of  the  earth  and  how  to  make  them  his 
own.  The  only  secret  organization  to  which  Mr. 
Pruett  has  ever  belonged  is  the  Order  of  Maccabees. 

Goodwin  T.  Paul.  No  record  of  the  representative 
men  of  the  Beaverhead  valley  would  be  complete  with- 
out appropriate  mention  of  the  well-known  gentleman 
whose  name  stands  at  the  head  of  this  sketch  and  who 
for  thirty  years  and  more  has  played  a prominent  part 
in_  business  and  public  life  in  this  locality.  As  pro- 
prietor of  The  Dillon  Furniture  Company,  the  largest 
furniture  concern  in  the  county,  he  has  contributed  to 
the  bone  and  sinew  of  commercial  strength.  He  is  a 
man  endowed  with  fine  eloquence  and  logic,  and  is 
much  sought  to  convey  at  public  meetings  the  wishes 


of  the  people  of  the  vicinity  in  matters  of  general  in- 
terest. It  has  been  said  of  him : “His  ease  and  readi- 
ness of  speech  make  him  eminently  fitted  for  this  work 
and  it  is  a foregone  conclusion  that  when  Mr.  Paul  is 
called  upon  to  express  a sentiment  it  will  be  expressed 
with  accuracy  and  eloquence.”  He  has  had  most  valu- 
able influence  in  local  educational  matters,  his  ideas 
in  this  field  being  enlightened  and  advanced.  He  is 
president  of  the  Beaverhead  county  high  school  board 
and  is  a member  of  the  state  board  of  education.  For 
many  years  he  has  been  active  in  state  and  local  pol- 
itics and  was  sent  by  the  Democrats  to  represent  the 
interests  of  the  county  at  the  Sixth  session  of  the  Mon- 
tana legislature,  his  services  at  that  time  being  a matter 
for  congratulation  to  all  concerned. 

^ Mr.  Paul  is  one  of  the  good  citizens  whom  Iowa  has 
given  to  the  state,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  Marion, 
November  9,  1856.  He  resided  amid  the  scenes  of  his 
birth  until  about  twenty-five  years  of  age  and  then, 
convinced  of  the  superior  advantages  of  the  great,  de- 
veloping west,  he  came  direct  to  Montana  and  located 
at  Dillon,  arriving  here  in  August,  1881.  He  entered 
the  employ  of  the  Eliel  Brothers,  serving  them  in  a 
general  capacity  for  some  three  years.  Severing  his 
connection  with  that  firm,  he  undertook  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Dillon  Furniture  Company,  which  was  es- 
tablished with  the  following  officers : Robert  T.  Wing, 
president;  G.  T.  Paul,  secretary  and  manager.  In  1892 
Mr.  Paul  bought  the  entire  interests  of  the  company  and 
has  continued  as  sole  proprietor  ever  since  that  time. 
The  enterprise  began  on  a modest  scale,  but  increased 
rapidly  to  the  proportions  which  it  bears  at  present. 
This  large  cash  and  credit  establishment  is  situated  on 
Montana  street  and  an  extensive  warehouse  is  main- 
tained in  connection  with  it.  An  elaborate  stock  of 
furniture  is  always  on  hand  and  Mr.  Paul  als.o  has  in 
connection  departments  for  artistic  picture-framing  and 
upholstering.  The  stock  is  constantly  being  replenished 
and  extended  by  car-lots  to  meet  the  ever  increasing 
demand  of  satisfied  customers.  This  large  and  modern 
establishment  is  preeminent  in  its  line  in  the  Beaver- 
head valley. 

Mr.  Paul  received  his  early  education  in  the  Iowa 
public  schools  and  then  took  a course  at  Cornell  Col- 
lege at  Mount  Vernon,  Iowa.  His  record  as  a money- 
maker is  almost  record  breaking,  for  he  first  felt  the 
peculiar  joys  of  a self-made  capitalist  at  the  age  of  eight 
years ; the  momentary  remuneration  he  received  was  in 
return  for  dropping  corn  behind  a one-horse  shovel 
plow,  such  being  the  tedious  method  of  planting  corn 
at  that  time.  This  is  worthy  of  mention  for  more  rea- 
sons than  one,  since  it  takes  an  expert  to  place  the 
grains.  His  wages  were  fifty  cents  a day  and  he  made 
two  dollars  on  the  job.  Nothing  could  be  a more 
eloquent  comment  on  his  character  than  the  fact  that 
he  gave  the  entire  sum  to  his  mother. 

Mr.  Paul  laid  the  foundation  of  a happy  life  com- 
panionship by  his  marriage  in  Dillon,  on  December  i, 
1889,  to  Mary  Bourret,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Ma- 
thilda Bourret,  of  Dillon.  Their  three  children  are  as 
follows ; Hortense,  a native  of  Dillon,  as  are  the  other 
children,  is  a graduate  of  the  county  high  school 'and 
the  State  Normal  College  and  is  now  teaching  school 
in  Helena.  Lucile  is  a student  in  the  Dillon  high  school 
and  Frank  Goodwin  is  enrolled  in  the  public  school. 

Mr.  Paul  is  a prominent  Mason,  standing  high  in 
that  great  fraternity.  He  is  connected  with  the  Shrine, 
with  its  social  proclivities,  and  he  has  filled  the  various 
chairs  in  all  the  bodies.  He  is  an  advocate  of  athletics 
and  is  himself  extreniely  fond  of  baseball,  being  an 
efficient  fan,  and  he  has  done  'inuch  toward  bringing 
good  players  to  Dillon  and  keeping  the  sport  upon  a 
high  plane.  He  believes  that  whatever  is  worth  doing 
at  all — baseball  not  excluded — is  worth  doing  well.  He 
finds  one  of  his  chief  pleasures  in  the  art  of  the  “Divine 
Cecilia,”  enjoying  vocal  and  Instrumental  music  equally. 


■v.. 

' ^ ■ 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1147 


The  father  of  this  loyal  citizen  of  Montana  was 
Alexander  Paul,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1823 
and  came  to  Iowa  in  1845.  He  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  throughout  the  course  of  his  long  life  and  died 
in  Iowa  in  March,  1906,  his  years  numbering  eighty- 
three  at  the  time  of  his  demise.  The  mother  (maiden 
name  Justan  Taylor)  was  born  in  Virginia,  but  met 
her  husband  in  Iowa  and  there  became  his  wife.  She 
preceded  him  to  the  other  world  by  many  years,  dying 
in  1876,  at  the  age  of  forty-four.  There  were  eight 
children  in  the  family  of  these  good  people,  seven  be- 
ing sons  and  one  daughter,  and  Mr.  Paul  is  the  eldest 
of  the  number.  Another  brother  has  chosen  Montana 
for  his  home,  this  being  Bert  H.,  who  is  married  and 
resides  in  Monida,  where  he  is  engaged  in  the  mer- 
cantile and  stock-raising  business.  These  brothers  are 
associated  in  the  latter  industry,  and  possess  extensive 
ranching  interests  in  the  Centennial  valley,  near  Monida. 

Mr.  "Paul  is  an  indisputably  good  citizen.  He  is  lib- 
eral in  his  views,  temperate  in  his  habits,  upright  and 
honorable  in  his  relations  in  business,  municipal  and 
social  life.  He  is  conservative  in  his  business  deal- 
ings and  possesses  a well-poised  intellect  which  quali- 
fies him  as  one  of  sound  judgment,  and  he  has  ever 
been  able  to  hold  positions  of  responsibility  and  trust 
in  a manner  to  merit  the  confidence  of  the  public. 

Hon,  Joseph  B.  Poindexter,  judge  of  the  fifth  judi- 
cial district,  was  born  in  Canyon  City,  Oregon,  April 
14,  1869.  He  lived  in  that  city  until  he  was  about 
twelve  years  of  age  and  then  removed  with  his  parents 
to  Montana,  settling  in  Dillon,  which  has  been  his  home 
ever  since.  His  early  education  was  received  in  the 
public  schools  of  Canyon  City  and  then  in  the  public 
schools  of  Dillon.  He  then  went  to  Ohio  Wesleyan 
University  at  Delaware,  Ohio,  where  he  took  a scien- 
tific course.  He  passed  from  that  institution  to  Wash- 
ington University,  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  where  he  was 
graduated  and  received  his  degree  in  1892.  After 
his  graduation  he  returned  to  Dillon  and  began  the 
practice  of  the  law,  which  he  has  always  continued 
alone. 

In  1895  hs  was  elected  city  attorney,  but  in  1896, 
before  his  term  expired,  he  was  elected  county  attor- 
ney, which  office  he  held  for  three  terms,  six  years. 
Since  then  he  has  several  times  filled  the  office  of  city 
attorney,  has  also  served  on  the  school  board,  has  been 
alderman,  and  at  one  time  was  president  of  the  execu- 
tive board  of  the  Dillon,  Montana,  State  Normal 
College,  for  four  years.  The  Eleventh  State  Legisla- 
tive Assembly  provided  for  one  additional  judge  in 
the  fifth  judicial  district,  and  he  was  appointed  to  fill 
this  position.  He  assumed  these  duties  April  i,  1909, 
and  has  continued  in  this  position  since  that  time. 

Judge  Poindexter  is  a Democrat  and  prior  to  his 
appointment  as  judge  took  an  active  part  in  politics. 
He  is  a member  of  the  Episcopal  church,  belongs  to 
the  order  of  Elks,  and  is  a member  of  the  Beaver- 
head Club  and  was  at  one  time  its  president.  He  is 
very  fond  of  hunting  and  fishing  and  of  good  reading. 
Judge  Poindexter  owes  his  advancement  to  his  own 
industry  and  talents. 

He  was  married  in  Dillon,  Montana,  on  April  22, 
1897,  to  Miss  Margaret  Conger,  daughter  of  Judge  E. 
J.  and  Emma  Conger,  of  Dillon.  There  are  two  chil- 
dren in  the  household,  a boy  and  a girl.  Everton  G. 
was  born  September  3,  1899,  and  is  now  attending 
school.  Helen  was  born  February  27,  1902,  and  is  also 
in  school. 

The  father  of  Judge  Poindexter  was  Thomas  W. 
Poindexter,  who  was  born  in  Virginia  in  March,  1829. 
He  came  west  in  the  early  ’fifties  and  first  settled  in 
California,  where  he  followed  mining  and  ranching. 
After  removing  to  Montana  he  followed  the  mercan- 
tile business.  He  died  in  Dillon  in  April,  1905,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-six.  The  mother  was  Margaret  Pipkin 


Poindexter  who  was  born  in  St.  Louis  county,  Mis- 
souri. She  was  married  to  Mr.  Poindexter  in  1861  and 
they  immediately  started  for  California,  by  way  of 
Panama.  She  now  resides  in  Dillon.  In  the  elder 
Poindexter  family  there  were  five  children,  all  sons. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  third  child.  One 
of  the  brothers,  Thomas  W.,  Jr.,  died  in  May,  1907. 
He  was  the  state  auditor  from  1897  to  1901.  Phillip 
E.  Poindexter,  Dr.  F.  M.  Poindexter,  Eugene  Poin- 
de.xter  and  the  subject  of  this  sketch  all  reside  in  Dil- 
lon. 

Jasper  B.  Seely  is  supervisor  of  the  national  forests 
of  Montana;  an  interesting  occupation  to  which  he 
brings  a real  enthusiasm  and  a fund  of  technical 
knowledge.  He  was  born  in  Niles,  Michigan,  on 
the  twelfth  day  of  October,  1857.  After  com- 
pleting his  high  school  course  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
he  at  once  began  teaching  in  the  schools  of  Osceola 
county,  that  state.  When  he  had  reached  his  majority 
he  joined  his  father  in  the  lumber  and  milling  business 
in  Osceola  county,  his  life  work  from  the  beginning  be- 
ing more  or  less  connected  with  the  question  of  the  na- 
tional timber  supply.  Two  years  later  he  left  his  father’s 
business  to  make  a start  for  himself.  After  a year’s  at- 
tempt in  Washington,  which  proved  that  he  could  succeed 
alone,  he  moved  to  Missoula  county,  Montana,  where  he 
was  employed  by  the  Hammond  Lumber  Company  in 
locating  timber  and  lumbering  in  the  Big  Black  Foot 
river  country.  This  expedition  was  under  the  super- 
vision of  Mr.  G.  L.  Hammond,  who  kept  his  men  busily 
at  work  from  1885  until  1889,  when  Mr.  Seely  left 
the  Hammond  Lumber  Company.  In  the  autumn  of 
that  same  year  he  made  arrangements  to  operate  a stage 
line  from  Orando  to  Drummond  in  connection  with  a 
general  mercantile  business  at  Orando,  at  the  same  time 
devoting  all  of  his  leisure  to  stock-raising  on  a ranch  in 
Missoula  county.  Until  1898  he  continued  these  varied 
occupations,  selling  out  that  he’  might  enter  the  United 
States  forestry  service.  In  1902  he  was  appointed  super- 
visor of  the  national  forests,  tendered  him  by  the  in- 
terior department  of  the  United  States.  He  is  the 
oldest  in  service  of  the  supervisors  in  the  northwest. 
He  still  owns,  however,  a farm  in  Madison  county,  and 
valuable  real  estate  in  both  Helena  and  Great  Falls. 
After  accepting  the  position  under  the  government 
which  he  now  holds  it  became  desirable  for  him  to 
make  his  future  home  in  Helena.  Here,  in  1893,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Leonora  Turrell,  herself  of 
Helena.  Six  children  brighten  the  home,  all  but  the 
youngest  of  whom  are  daughters.  Mary  is  a graduate 
of  the  Helena  high  school,  while  the  younger  sisters, 
Ruth  graduates  from  the  high  school  in  1913  and  Doris 
and  Joyce  are  still  attending  the  grades.  Francis  and 
the  baby  of  the  house,  Jasper  B.,  Jr.,  are  not  yet  of 
school  age.  The  Seely  family  are  members  of  the 
Congregational  church,  in  support  of  which  they  are 
are  most  generous. 

Mr.  Seely  is,  as  seems  most  natural  in  his  position, 
greatly  interested  in  the  political  condition  of  the  coun- 
try, his  sympathies  being  with  the  progressive  Republi- 
cans. He  belongs  to  the  Benevolent  Protective  Order 
of  Elks,  Oro-Y-Plata  Lodge,  No.  390,  and  to  the  Odd 
Fellows,  Samaritan  Lodge  No.  10,  of  Sheridan,  Mon- 
tana, of  which  he  is  past  grand.  His  father,  Nathaniel 
R.  Seely,  went  from  Pennsylvania  to  Michigan  at  the 
age  of  twenty-two,  where  he  settled  on  a farm  near 
Niles.  Here  he  became  interested  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness and  in  1876  moved  to  Osceola  county  of  the  same 
state,  where  he  purchased  a sawmill  and  took  his  son 
Jasper  into  partnership  with  him.  The  remainder  of  his 
life,  which  ended  in  1907,  was  spent  in  this  county 
where  the  proceeds  from  his  mill  and  lumber  yard  per- 
mitted him  and  his  family  to  live  in  the  greatest  of 
plenty.  His  wife,  Annie  Hagerty  Seely,  lived  only  one 
year  after  her  husband’s  death,  passing  away  at  the  age 


1J48 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


of  sixty-seven  years.  They  were  the  parents  of  nine 
children,  all  but  three  of  whom  departed  this  life  in 
advance  of  their  parents.  The  daughters  now  living 
are  Adelia,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Charles  W.  Johnson  of  Mil- 
liards, Michigan,  and  Edna  A.  who  is  Mrs.  Van  Avery 
of  Cadillac,  same  state. 

Mr.  Seely  left  his  young  family  to  the  care  of  his 
competent  wife  to  go  to  the  rescue  of  his  country  in 
1863.  He  enlisted  in  Company  C of  the  Twelfth  regi- 
ment, Michigan  Volunteer  Infantry;  was  wounded  in  a 
struggle  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh  and  sent  home  on  fur- 
lough. He  was,  during  his  entire  life,  a man  of  strong 
faith  and  much  Christian  fortitude,  preserving  to  the 
end  his  membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
Always  he  was  ready  at  the  call  of  his  country,  state  or 
county.  A Republican  in  political  views,  he  served  as 
justice  of  the  peace  in  Osceola  county  for  many  years. 
He  was  a member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

j 

Dr.  Frederick  M.  Poindexter,  who  is  one  of  the 
leading  physicians  of  Dillon,  is  a native  of  Canyon 
City,  Oregon,  having  been  born  there  January  5,  1875. 
Until  he  was  about  six  years  of  age  he  continued  to 
live  in  Canyon  City,  and  then  he  was  brought  by  his 
parents  to  Dillon,  Montana.  This  family  arrived  here 
in  1881,  and  this  has  been  Dr.  Poindexter’s  home  ever 
since. 

The  early  education  of  Dr.  Poindexter  was  received 
in  the  public  schools  of  Dillon.  He  has  the  distinction 
of  having  been  the  first  graduate  of  the  high  school  of 
this  town.  Later  he  entered  upon  his  studies  in  the 
medical  department  of  the  Northwestern  University, 
Chicago,  where  he  was  graduated  and  received  his  de- 
gree. After  graduating  from  high  school  and  before 
entering  college  he  was  clerk  in  the  office  of  the  state 
auditor  at  Helena.  Upon  graduation  at  the  medical 
school  he  served  as  a hospital  interne,  having  ob- 
tained the  position  by  passing  a competitive  examina- 
tion at  St.  Luke’s  Hospital  in  Chicago.  After  this 
experience  he  returned  to  Dillon  and  took  up  the  ac- 
tive practice  of  medicine  here  and  has  continued  very 
successfully  in  his  professional  work  ever  since. 

One  of  the  pleasantest  incidents  of  Dr.  Poindexter’s 
professional  career  happened  during  his  residence  at 
St.  Luke’s  Hospital.  A gentleman,  who  was  a stranger, 
was  waiting  in  the  ante  room  in  anticipation  of  an 
operation.  When  Dr.  Poindexter  appeared  this 
stranger  was  recognized  as  Colonel  Wilbur  Sanders, 
of  Montana.  During  the  conversation  that  followed 
the  colonel  learned  that  Dr.  Poindexter  was  also  from 
Montana,  and  this  fact,  as  well  as  the  pleasing  person- 
ality of  the  phvsician,  made  him  feel  that  during  his 
ordeal  he  would  be  in  the  hands  of  a friend.  Dr. 
Poindexter  himself  administered  the  anaesthetic  and 
the  colonel  went  through  the  operation  safely.  When 
later  he  awakened,  he  expressed  much  satisfaction  at 
being  with  a friend  at  such  a time.  Such  confidence  on 
the  part  of  a man  of  the  standing  of  Colonel  Sanders 
was  naturally  pleasant  to  the  physician. 

Dr.  Poindexter  has  been  a member  of  the  state 
hoard  of  examiners  for  a number  of  years.  He  be- 
longs to  the  order  of  the  Elks.  He  is  an  enthusiastic 
lover  of  out-door  amusements,  and  is  a devotee  of  good 
books.  He  belongs  to  the  Democratic  party,  interested 
as  an  individual  only,  and  takes  no  active  part  in 
politics.  He  has  various  other  interests  and  follows 
mining  on  the  outside,  more  or  less  as  a diversion. 
Dr.  Poindexter  is  a brother  of  Judge  Poindexter. 

John  Barns  Wilson.  By  the  death  of  John  Barns 
Wilson,  which  occured  at  his  home  in  Helena  on 
April  19,  1912,  after  a brief  illness,  there  was  removed 
from  life  a man  who  was  not  only  a pioneer  of  Mon- 
tana, but  one  who  by  the  force  of  his  makeup  and 
character,  as  well  as  by  his  blameless  life,  attained  a 


high  position  in  the  esteem  and  regard  of  his  fellow 
men. 

John  Barns  Wilson  was  of  Scotch  descent  and  was  a 
native  of  West  Newton,  Pennsylvania,  the  son  of  James 
and  Sarah  (Barns)  Wilson.  John  B.  Wilson  was  born 
on  March  25,  1828,  and  received  such  educational  ad- 
vantages as  were  common  to  boys  of  that  time  and 
place.  He  early  learned  the  lesson  of  industry  and 
thrift  and  was  wont  to  tell  of  his  working  as  errand 
boy  for  twenty-five  cents  a week,  his  wages  being  given 
to  his  mother.  He  and  his  brother  James  were  boy- 
hood friends  and  companions  of  Andrew  Carnegie,  and 
their  friendship  continued  throughout  the  remainder 
of  the  life  of  Mr.  Wilson. 

In  1852  Mr.  Wilson  crossed  the  plains  by  wagon,  go- 
ing to  California.  After  six  years  spent  in  the  gold 
mines  of  that  state  he  returned  home  by  way  of  the 
Isthmus  of  Panama.  The  passengers  on  the  vessel 
were  mostly  miners  homeward  bound,  carrying  their 
money  in  belts  worn  beneath  their  clothing.  En  route 
the  ship  was  wrecked  on  the  east  coast  of  Central 
America,  but  all  the  passengers  were  rescued  and 
landed  at  Havana,  save  the  few  who,  maddened  with 
fear,  leaped  overboard  and  were  dragged  down  by  the 
weight  of  their  precious  gold.  Mr.  Wilson  was  a poor 
man  when  he  left  Pittsburgh.  He  returned  with  a sum 
sufficient  to  engage  in  business  for  himself.  He  was 
not  long  content  with  life  and  business  in  the  east — 
he  longed  for  the  west,  with  its  dangers  and  diffi- 
culties, its  broader  views  of  life  and  men,  its  lofty 
mountains  and  wide  plains.  The  discovery  of  gold 
at  Pikes  Peak  filled  him  with  the  enthusiasm  that 
only  a miner  can  understand  and  in  1859  he  again  set 
his  face  towards  the  setting  sun,  to  become  one  of  the 
founders  of  this  great  western  empire.  From  Colo- 
rado he  journeyed  on  to  California,  to  Oregon,  to  Brit- 
ish Columbia,  at  times  a miner,  a business  man,  at 
other  times  owning  a store,  a livery  stable  or  a hotel. 
In  1865  Mr.  Wilson  and  his  brother,  James  Robb 
Wilson,  left  The  Dalles,  Oregon,  with  a pack  train  of 
mules,  laden  with  goods  suited  to  the  needs  of  a pio- 
neer community.  They  followed  the  famous  old  Mul- 
lan  road,  which  exacted  from  the  traveler  its  full  toll 
in  labor  expended  and  packs  lost.  He  became  impressed 
with  the  country  in  the  vicinity  of  Blackfoot  City,  Deer 
Lodge  county,  and  decided  to  locate  there,  where  he 
Imilt  and  conducted  the  Carey  House,  the  first  hotel 
in  that  part  of  the  territory.  The  two  brothers  bought 
a placer  mine  on  Nevada  Creek,  Deer  Lodge  county, 
which  developed  into  a good  paying  proposition  and 
proved  to  be  the  foundation  of  their  future  prosperity. 
The  proceeds  of  this  mine  were  invested  in  Pittsburgh 
in  iron  and  steel  companies  with  Andrew  Carnegie, 
notably  the  Lucy  Furnace,  the  Pittsburgh  Car  Works, 
the  Edgar  Thompson  Steel  Works  and  the  William 
Walker  Iron  Mills.  Mr.  John  B.  Wilson  sold  his  hold- 
ings in  these  firms  before  their  absorption  by  the  United 
States  Steel  Company. 

In  1881  Mr.  Wilson  came  with  his  family  to  Helena 
and  showed  his  faith  in  the  future  of  the  city  by  in- 
vesting heavily  in  real  estate  in  the  business  district. 
His  purchase  of  property  on  Main  street  for  the  sum 
of  $35,000  was  the  first  large  deal  in  real  estate  in  the 
city  and  this  substantial  evidence  of  his  confidence  did 
much  to  encourage  the  progress  of  the  city.  Mr.  Wil- 
son continued  to  be  actively  interested  in  mines  and 
mining  until  death  called  him  after  he  had  reached  the 
advanced  age  of  eightv-four  years. 

Before  he  went  to  California  in  1852  Mr.  Wilson  mar- 
ried Catherine  Quin,  a native  of  Londonderry.  Ireland. 
W^hen  he  finally  located  in  Montana,  Mrs.  Wilson  and 
little  daughter.  Ida,  started  from  Pennsylvania  to  join 
him.  Mrs.  Wilson,  accustomed  to  railroad  trains  and 
short  distances,  began  her  long,  difficult  journey  in  Sep- 
tember. The  two  traveled  by  train,  by  stage,  by  wagon 
and  by  sleigh,  for  the  journey  extended  through  the  au- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1149 


tumn  into  winter,  the  crossing  of  the  Platte  river  be- 
ing made  on  the  ice.  At  Omaha  she  vainly  sought  in- 
formation concerning  the  route  to  be  taken  to  Montana 
and  to  Helena,  necessitating  a delay  until  she  re- 
ceived a letter  from  her  husband.  Even  at  Salt  Lake 
City  she  experienced  difficulty  in  obtaining  the  informa- 
tion necessary  to  enable  her  to  proceed  on  her  journey. 
To  a woman  not  a pioneer  by  instinct  and  unusually 
timid,  the  journey  was  a trying  one.  Mr.  Wilson  met 
his  wife  and  daughter  in  Virginia  City  on  Christmas 
day  and  they  proceeded  to  their  home  in  Deer  Lodge 
county.  Mrs.  Wilson  readily  established  herself  in  her 
new  environment  and  the  influence  of  her  fine  char- 
acter and  splendid  religious  training  soon  manifested  it- 
self in  the  community.  She  was  reared  in  the  Pres- 
byterian faith  and  her  home  was  the  scene  of  many 
religious  gatherings,  regardless  of  creed.  Physicians 
were  few  in  the  pioneer  days  and  Mrs.  Wilson  minis- 
tered skillfully  to  many  a sick  man,  woman  and  child. 
She  was  one  of  the  early  members  of  the  First  Pres- 
byterian church  of  Helena  and  continued  in  its  service 
until  she  was  taken  ill.  She  died  in  Helena,  April 
30,  1888,  leaving  four  daughters,  as  follows : _ Ida,  who 
married  Lucien  I.  Rosencrans,  of  Helena.  Five  daugh- 
ters were  born  to  them : Nora  W.,  Edna  M.,  Myra  K., 
Ida  Elizabeth  and  Florence  Lucia,  the  first  three  being 
deceased.  Katherine,  the  second  daughter  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Wilson,  is  the  wife  of  Daniel  Perrin  Mumbrue, 
of  Helena.  Mary,  the  third  daughter,  married  Thomas 
M.  Martin  Swindleburst,  of  Livingston,  at  one  time  sec- 
retary of  state;  Alberta,  the  youngest  became  the  wife 
of  J.  Bundy  Johnston  and  died  in  Helena  in  1898.  In 
1891  Mr.  Wilson  married  Mary  Eliza  Kirk,  a native  of 
Iowa,  and  one  daughter,  Helen,  was  born  to  them. 

John  B.  Wilson  was  a Whig  in  his  youth  and  trans- 
ferred his  allegiance  to  the  Republican  party  when  the 
latter  came  into  existence.  He  was  never  an  office 
seeker  but  his  party  nominated  and  elected  him  as  a 
representative  from  Lewis  and  Clark  county  to  the 
state  legislature.  He  was  a member  of  the  Eighth 
Legislative  Assembly,  the  first  legislature  that  convened 
in  the  State  Capitol  building.  He  belonged  to  the  So- 
ciety of  Montana  Pioneers  and  took  a great  interest  in 
its  affairs.  He  united  with  the  Methodist  church  in 
early  youth  and  the  cause  of  humanity  ahyays  found 
him  a warm  supporter.  He  was  liberal  in  his  contribu- 
tions regardless  of  creed,  and  was  ever  found  ready  to 
support  any  movement  tending  to  the  advancement  of 
a worthy  cause.  Mr.  Wilson  never  identified  himself 
with  any  secret  organizations  or  clubs,  but  was  a nian 
exceedingly  domestic  in  his  inclinations,  fond  of  his 
home  and  family.  Retiring  in  manner,  yet  he  was  a 
man  of  strong  force  of  character.  Stern  when  he  need 
be,  but  beneath  it  all  there  beat  a most  kindly  and 
generous  heart,  at  all  times  betraying  a courtly  and 
honest  gentleman.  His  mental  faculties  and_  vigor  were 
retained  and  his  business  activities  continued  until 
his  last  illness,  which  was  of  short  duration.  He  was 
a man  strong  in  his  likes  and  dislikes,  and  when  once 
convinced  he  was  right,  he  could  not  be  moved  from 
his  conviction  although  he  was  ever  tolerant  of  the 
opinions  of  others.  He  never  shirked  his  full  duty 
toward  his  state  and  contributed  his  portion  towards 
its  advancement.  The  passing  of  such  a man  must  in- 
evitably be  regarded  as  a distinct  loss.  He  was  a self- 
made  man  of  the  highest  integrity,  and  his  word  was 
as  good  as  his  bond,  and  neither  were  ever  questioned. 
He  achieved  much  business  success  and  left  to  his 
family  not  only  a goodly  estate,  but  the  priceless  heri- 
tage of  an  unsullied  name. 

Marshall  E.  Doe  has  been  a resident  of  the  state  of 
Montana  for  thirty  years,,  and  is  one  of  the  most  en- 
thusiastic “boosters”  of  the  Treasure  state  that  might 
be  found  in  considerable  search.  He  has  been  the  pro- 


prietor of  a drug  Inisiness  in  Philipsburg  since  1885, 
and  has  carried  on  a thriving  and  ever  growing  business 
during  the  intervening  years,  reaching  a place  of  much, 
prominence  among  the  representative  business  men  of 
the  city  and  winning  to  himself  the  esteem  and  confi- 
dence of  his  fellow  townsmen  the  while. 

Mr.  Doe  is  a native  of  Canada,  born  April  25,  1858, 
and  when  the  family  moved  to  Michigan,  Marshall  E. 
Doe  was  about  eight  years  of  age.  He  remained  with 
them  in  the  Michigan  home  until  1881,  when  he  first 
came  to  Montana.  He  settled  in  Butte  City  at  first, 
staging  in  from  Dillon,  as  was  the  prevailing  custom 
in  those  early  days,  and  in  that  city  he  remained  for 
perhaps  three  j’ears.  For  a time  he  was  engaged  in 
mining,  and  for  about  a year  and  a half  he  ran  a skating 
rink  in  the  old  Amphitheatre.  He  sold  out  his  interests 
there  and  joined  a surveying  party  going  to  Anaconda, 
and  after  two  years  in  the  surveying  work  went  to  Cali- 
fornia. He  remained  there  for  a year,  after  which  he 
returned  to  Montana  and  settled  at  Philipsburg  in 
1885.  In  that  year  he  established  the  present  drug 
business  which  he  is  conducting,  and  since  that  time 
has  been  continuously  identified  with  the  growth  and 
prosperity  of  Philipsburg,  and  has  contributed  his  full 
quota  to  its  advancement  in  his  capacity  as  a worthy 
citizen  and  a modern  and  progressive  business  man. 

Mr.  Doe  is  a man  of  quiet  tastes,  although  he  is  a 
lover  of  baseball  and  enjoys  out-door  exercise  perhaps 
better  than  the  average  man.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Woodmen  of  the  World,  with  regard  to  his  fraternal 
affiliations,  and  is  a member  of  the  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce. He  is  a Democrat,  but  takes  no  active  part  in 
the  political  upheavels  that  recurr  at  intervals,  and  has 
no  political  ambitions. 

Mr.  Doe  was  married  at  Los  Angeles,  California,  on 
July  25,  1895,  to  Miss  Jennie  C.  Crable,  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Elizabeth  Crable,  of  that  city.  Four  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  them,  three  sons  and  one 
daughter.  The  eldest,  Edwin,  is  deceased.  Margaret, 
Everett  and  Milton  are  all  in  school  in  Philipsburg. 
The  family  are  attendants  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  although  not  members  of  it.  Mrs.  Doe  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  Ladies  Aid  Society  and  is  active  in  all  its 
good  works. 

George  May.  From  early  youth,  the  life  of  George 
May,  now  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  Stevens- 
ville,  has  been  one  of  hard,  industrious  labor,  and  in  the 
rise  of  the  poor  apprentice  to  the  wealthy  financier  and 
merchant  there  may  be  found  something  of  a nature 
encouraging  to  the  young  men  of  to-day,  illustrating  as 
it  does  that  honesty,  integrity  and  perseverance,  if 
coupled  with  ability  properly  directed,  will  eventually 
bring  success.  Mr.  May  is  a native  of  Clinton,  Ontario, 
Canada,  and  was  born  September  17,  1858,  a son  of  Wil- 
liam H.  and  Sarah  Anna  (Davis)  May.  William  H. 
May  was  born  in  the  city  of  London,  England,  in  1832, 
and  as  a young  man  came  to  America,  settling  in  Clin- 
ton, Ontario,  where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his  life  in 
agricultural  pursuits,  and  where  his  death  occurred  in 
1887.  Mrs.  May  was  a native  of  Worcestershire,  Eng- 
land, and  when  she  died,  in  1897,  had  been  the  mother 
of  eleven  children,  namely;  W.  H.,  of  Stevensville ; 
Charles,  residing  at  San  Dimas,  California;  George; 
Lewis,  a stockman  and  rancher  of  Ravalli  county; 
Allen,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Michigan;  Frank 
and  John,  both  deceased;  Lucy,  who  married  William 
Langslow,  and  resides  in  Duluth,  Minnesota;  Fanny, 
who  married  Harry  Goodrich,  of  Edmonton,  Canada; 
Albert,  president  of  the  Stevensville  Mercantile  Com- 
pany, and  a child  who  died  in  infancy. 

George  May  attended  the  country  schools  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  home  farm  until  he  was  sixteen  years  of 
age,  at  which  time  he  apprenticed  himself  to  the  trade 
of  cabinet-maker  for  three  years  at  Clinton.  He  received 
thirty  dollars  for  his  first  year’s  work,  forty  dollars 


1150 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


for  the  second  year  and  fifty  dollars  during  the  last 
year,  and  out  of  this  saved  enough  to  purchase  a service- 
able set  of  tools.  Thus  equipped  he  traveled  to 
Toronto,  in  which  city  he  secured  employment  at  organ 
and  piano  manufacturing,  and  remained  there  until 
i88i,  when  he  removed  to  Denver,  Colorado.  After 
about  six  weeks  spent  in  the  latter  city  at  carpenter 
work  he  went  to  the  end  of  the  railroad,  Dillon,  where 
he  took  the  stage  to  Helena  and  then  on  to  White  Sul- 
phur Springs,  and  after  two  months  at  the  latter  point 
went  on  to  Judith  Basin.  He  was  there  employed 
about  a year  on  the  sheep  ranch  of  W.  B.  Edgar,  but 
in  the  fall  of  1882,  went  to  Rocky  Point,  and  thence  by 
boat  on  the  Missouri  river  to  Bismarck,  North  Dakota, 
a trip  that  took  three  weeks  owing  to  the  low  state  of 
the  water.  Subsequently  he  went  to  Fargo,  North  Da- 
kota, where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  for  six  years, 
and  at  the  end  of  that  time  joined  his  brother,  Albert 
May.  During  all  this  time  Mr.  May  had  been  carefully 
saving  his  earnings,  and  thus  had  accumulated  enough 
to  engage  in  the  sheep  business  in  the  Yellowstone 
country  with  his  brother,  thus  sebsequently  branching 
out  to  Bitter  Root  county,  where  they  now  own  three 
thousand  acres  of  fine  land.  In  1900,  with  his  brother 
he  assisted  in  organizing  the  Stevensville  Mercantile 
Company,  a concern  capitalized  at  $100,000,  in  which 
they  are  the  principal  stockholders.  This  has  become 
the  leading  department  store  of  the  city,  employing  a 
small  army  of  clerks,  and  the  business  is  constantly  on 
the  increase.  Mr.  May  enjoys  a well-established  repu- 
tation for  probity  in  business  dealings  and  private  life, 
and  no  man  stands  higher  in  public  esteem.  In  political 
matters  he  is  a Republican,  but  while  he  takes  an  in- 
terest in  the  success  of  his  party  and  stanchly  supports 
its  principles  and  candidates,  he  has  never  cared  to 
enter  the  public  arena  on  his  own  account.  He  has 
identified  himself  with  Masonry,  and  is  a popular  mem- 
ber of  Stevensville  blue  lodge. 

Mr.  May  was  married  .to  Miss  Lillian  W.  Rearden, 
of  Appleton,  Wisconsin,  and  they  have  two  interesting 
children ; George  R.,  who  is  completing  his  educa- 
tional training  in  Wesleyan  University;  and  Miss  Sarah 
May,  a student  in  the  Woman's  College  at  Jackson, 
ville,  Illinois. 

Charles  Williaji  Ellingwood,  owner  of  the  Gold- 
smith mine  at  Butte  and  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of 
the  ciUq  was  born  in  Andover,  Massachusetts,  on  the 
loth  day  of  October,  1856,  and  is  a son  of  Henry  Os- 
good and  Augusta  (Martin)  Ellingwood.  The  ancestry 
of  Charles  William  Ellingwood,  in  both  paternal  and 
maternal  lines,  dates  back  to  early  colonial  history.  His 
father  was  a native  of  the  North  Parish  of  the  old  town 
of  Andover,  Massachusetts,  and  his  mother  was  a na- 
tive of  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire.  Henry  Osgood 
Ellingwood  was  a ship  carpenter  by  occupation  and  was 
engaged  at  his  trade  until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war, 
when  he  enlisted  in  Company  K,  Sixteenth  Regiment, 
New  Hampshire  Volunteers.  He  did  not  serve  long  in 
the  Union  cause,  however,  as  he  was  taken  ill  and  died 
on  March  i,  1863,  in  the  hospital  at  Camp  Mansfield, 
Carrollton,  Mississippi.  He  was  thirty-one  years  of  age 
at  the  time  of  his  death.  His  tvidow  survived  him  until 
1907,  passing  away  at  Sanford,  Maine. 

Charles  W.  Ellingwood  was  graduated  from  the  John- 
son high  school  at  North  Andover,  Massachusetts,  and 
soon  afterward  secured  a clerkship  in  the  city  engi- 
neer’s office  at  Lawrence,  Massachusetts.  He  next  went 
to  work  as  a clerk  and  salesman  in  a grocery  store  in 
that  city.  In  1881  he  carne  direct  from  Lawrence  to 
Butte,  Montana,  which  he  found  at  that  time  to  be  a 
typical  mining  camp,  possessing  great  possibilities,  but 
the  greater  part  of  them  still  undeveloped.  He  did 
not  stake  all  his  hopes  on  the  prevailing  industry  of 
the  state,  but  prudently  accepted  a position  with  the 
Lavell  Brothers  Lumber  Company,  whereby  he  mi.ght 


provide  for  his  immediate  needs  until  an  opening  in 
mining  operations  was  found. 

It  was  not  long  before  Mr.  Ellingwood  saw  a better 
opening  before  him,  being  on  the  lookout  for  every 
opportunity  to  advance  himself,  and  accepted  it,  going 
to  work  in  the  grocery  store  of  Lee  W.  Foster  & Com- 
pany. He  remained  in  this  employment  until  July  i, 

1886,  when  he  and  a fellow  clerk,  one  John  C.  Reznor, 
started  a grocery  store  on  their  own  responsibility,  loca- 
ting in  the  Renshaw  block  on  West  Park  street.  They 
were  successful  in  their  venture,  and  conducted  a flour- 
ishing business  until  they  disposed  of  it  in  1898. 

In  the  meantime  Mr.  Ellingwood  had  in  1894  taken  a 
lease  from  the  A.  J.  Davis  estate  in  the  Hibernia  mine, 
which  he  operated  for  two  years.  His  partners  in  the 
venture  were  G.  A.  Kornberg  and  the  Richards  Broth- 
ers. The  mine  proved  to  be  a big  producer,  and  made 
them  all  prosperous  with  its  bountiful  yield.  At  the  end 
of  the  flrst  year  of  operations  the  Richards  Brothers 
retired  and  returned  to  England,  Mr.  Ellingwood  and 
Mr.  Kornberg  working  it  alone  the  second  year.  From 
that  time  Mr.  Ellingwood  continued  mining  on  leased 
properties,  and  eventually  began  operating  the  Gold- 
smith mine,  which  he  has  since  continued  with  success. 
In  1905  he  bonded  and  bought  the  ground  on  which  the 
Goldsmith  mine  is  located,  after  having  held  the  lease 
since  1896.  The  property  adjoins  the  Moulton  mine,  one 
of  the  famous  producers  in  the  Butte  district,  and  all  its 
ore  is  smelted  at  the  Washoe  smelter.  This  is  easy  of 
access,  and  affords  Mr.  Ellingwood  many  advantages 
in  the  handling  of  his  ore. 

I Mr.  Ellingwood  was  married  at  North  Andover,  Mas- 
sachusetts, on  November  15,  1884,  to  Miss  Gertrude 
lEmily  Downing,  a daughter  of  Samuel  and  Rebecca 
Hildreth  (Bailey)  Downing,  residents  of  that  town. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ellingwood  became  the  parents  of  four 
children  as  follows:  Osgood  Raymond,  born  March  ii, 

1887,  is  now  a resident  of  Butte;  he  married  Ethel  Vera 
McCormick,  of  Butte,  and  they  have  two  children,  Ethel 
Gertrude,  born  July  17,  1907,  and  Dorothy,  born  No- 
vember 21,  1909.  Ruby  Downing,  born  May  23,  1889, 
died  April  10,  1890.  Columbia  Gertrude,  born  January 
16,  1893,  is  a graduate  of  the  Butte  high  school,  and 
Charles  W.,  Jr.,  who  was  born  July  17,  1896,  is  a stu- 
dent at  the  Butte  high  school  at  this  time. 

Mr.  Ellingwood  is  a member  of  the  Masonic  order 
and  a charter  member  of  Camp  No.  153,  Woodmen  of 
the  World,  in  Butte.  In  political  affiliations  he  is  a 
staunch  Republican,  and  takes  a keen  and  active  interest 
in  the  success  of  his  party.  He  is  now,  in  1912,  a rnem- 
ber  of  the  city  council  as  alderman  from  the  Eighth 
ward  in  Butte.  While  Mr.  Ellingwood  is  an  active 
partisan,  standing  firmly  by  the  principles  of  his  politi- 
cal creed  because  he  feels  that  they  are  the  promise  and 
fulfillment  of  the  greatest  good  to  the  state,  he  has 
never  allowed  partisan  considerations  to  overbear  his 
zeal  for  the  general  weal  or  his  earnestness,  activity  ana 
efficiency  in  promoting  that  condition  in  every  way  open 
for  his  efforts.  Mr.  Ellingwood  represOTts  the  highest 
type  of  citizenship  to  be  found  jn  his  city  or  state,  and 
as  such  a representative  is  cordially  and  universally  es- 
teemed. 

Fred  D.  Booth,  one  of  the  popular  and  successful  real 
estate  men  of  the  Bitter  Root  valley,  has  traveled  a 
rugged  road  to  prosperity.  With  him,  success  was  cer- 
tainly not  attained  at  a single  bound.  Nothing  but  his 
indomitable  coura.ge  and  faith  in  his  future  welfare 
could  have  carried  him  over  the  rough  places  on  the 

''^He  was  born  in  Adams  county,  Illinois,  on  the  third 
day  of  March,  18^4.  After  attending  the  schools  of 
Adams  county  until  his  tenth  year,  his  people  moved  to 
New  London,  Iowa.  Here  he  completed  his  schooling 
and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  became  an  employee  on  the 
Chicago  & "international  Railway.  After  remaining 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1151 


with  this  company  for  one  year  and  receiving  much 
valuable  experience,  he  transferred  his  services  to  the 
Missouri  Pacific.  With  this  road  he  worked  up  to 
freight  conductor  receiving  such  good  compensation  for 
his  services  that  by  the  spring  of  i88i,  he  had  been  en- 
abled to  accumulate  a capital  of  ten  thousand  dollars. 
Unfortunately  for  Mr.  Booth,  he  heard  much  of  the  gold 
excitement  of  Montana,  and  met  during  his  busy  life 
on  the  road  a number  of  men  who  had  grown  rapidly 
wealthy  in  the  mining  regions.  His  ten  thousand  dol- 
lars began  to  look  paltry  to  him  and  the  years  of  hard 
labor  spent  in  its  accumulation  seemed  doubly  long  in 
retrospect.  Carefully  cashing  his  little  fortune,  he  set 
out  for  the  gold  fields  of  Montana  hoping  to  treble  it 
within  the  year.  Scarcely  had  he  reached  Helena,  the 
capital  city,  when  an  opportunity  came  to  him — an 
opportunity  that  promised  to  be  all  for  which  he  had 
hoped.  It  is  the  old  story,  new  to  him  then.  The  town 
was  full  to  overflowing.  All  were  miners.  A few  were 
successful,  but  the  many  were  losers  in  the  great 
gamble.  Mr.  Booth  and  a railroad  friend  who  had 
come  to  the  west  with  him  fell  into  the  hands  of  an 
unscrupulous  speculator.  They  did  not  realize  that 
their  past  experience  had  scarcely  prepared  them  for 
life  in  a mining  camp  and  that  their  knowledge  of  mines 
was  limited  indeed.  The  speculator  convinced  them 
that  he  was  forced  to  sell,  at  a great  sacrifice,  a mine 
of  unusual  value.  The  little  ore  on  the  surface  looked 
good  to  them.  The  excitement  was  at  its  height.  The 
contagion  for  buying  was  general.  It  was  no  difficult 
matter  to  sell  “a  sure  thing”  to  two  railroad  men  from 
Iowa.  For  more  than  a year  they  worked  at  their 
bogus  mine,  sinking  what  remained  of  their  small  cap- 
ital. When  they  were  finally  convinced  of  the  worth- 
lessness of  their  property,  they  left  for  Missoula,  the 
entire  fortune  of  the  pair  consisting  of  fifty  dollars  in 
gold.  However,  both  Fred  Booth  and  John  Williams 
were  men  of  courage  and  both  knew  that  a good  rail- 
road man  is  never  long  out  of  employ^ment.  Almost 
immediately  on  reaching  Missoula,  they  secured  work 
with  the  Northern  Pacific  company  where,  after  a 
brief  space  of  time,  Mr.  Booth  was  advanced  from 
brakeman  to  freight  conductor.  After  three  years  of 
conscientious  labor  he  again  saved  a competence.  This 
time  he  invested  it  in  the  safest  of  all  sureties — land. 
In  1889,  he  took  up  a claim  consisting  of  a quarter  of  a 
section  near  what  is  now  the  town  site  of  Darby.  Here 
he  began  ranching  and  stock  raising  in  earnest,  con- 
tented now  to  win  his  wealth  by  slower  and  more  legiti- 
mate methods.  As  the  town  began  to  grow,  Mr.  Booth 
prospered.  Finally  he  sold  his  ranch  and  invested  the 
proceeds  in  town  property  on  which  he  erected  a store 
building,  residences,  etc.  This  was  the  beginning  of  his 
efforts  in  the  real  estate  business.  He  now  owns,  aside 
from  his  holdings  in  the  Bitter  Root,  valuable  property 
in  Kansas,  the  rentals  from  which  furnish  him  a good 
income.  His  own  future  seems  entwined  with  that  of 
the  city  of  Darby,  but  Mr.  Booth  is  more  than  willing 
that  it  should  so  be,  as  he  has  the  greatest  faith  in  the 
city’s  brilliant  prospects. 

Mr.  Booth’s  personal  tastes  are  domestic  in  char- 
acter, and  his  chief  pastime  comprises  the  study  and 
discussion  of  historical  events.  He  is  also  a deep  stu- 
dent of  English  and  American  literature.  In  1898,  Mr. 
Booth  won  in  marriage  Miss  Frances  M.  Demick,  of 
Colorado.  They  have  no  family,  but,  sharing  many 
tastes  in  common,  are  contented  with  a quiet  home  life. 

Fred  D.  Booth  is  the  son  of  Milton  Booth,  originally^ 
a farmer  from  Virginia.  Being  a Federal  sympathizer, 
Mr.  Booth,  Sr.,  moved  to  the  north  about  the  time  that 
the  first  war  cloud  appeared  upon  the  horizon.  He 
settled  first  in  Illinois  but  later  moved  his  family  to 
Iowa.  His  first  wife  and  the  mother  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  Miss  Agatha  Moore,  a native  daughter 
of  the  Blue  Grass  region  of  Kentucky.  Five  childern 
were  born  of  the  union,  three  of  whom  are  now  living. 


Thomas  J.  Booth,  whose  home  is  in  Independence, 
Kansas,  is  a large  dealer  in  real  estate  and  oil  lands. 
He  was  instrumental  in  his  brother’s  investments  in 
Kansas  lands.  The  only  sister,  Ella,  is  the  wife  of 
L.  F.  Pickier,  a farmer  from  near  Independence.  Mrs. 
Booth,  the  mother,  died  in  her  home  at  New  London, 
Iowa,  after  which  her  husband  and  family  moved  to 
Kansas,  where  he  himself  passed  away  in  1880.  William 
Booth,  his  brother,  never  left  the  family  estate  in  Vir- 
ginia. During  the  war  he  was  a loyal  Confederate  sol- 
dier and  in  two  of  the  prominent  battles.  Donnelson 
and  Chalangee,  it  was  his  misfortune  to  fight  against 
his  own  nephew,  the  oldest  son  of  his  brother  Milton, 
a son  by  his  first  marriage  and  hence  a half  brother  to 
Fred  D.  Booth,  the  Montana  capitalist. 

John  L.  Fisso,  the  sheriff  of  Roundup,  Montana,  is 
one  of  its  earliest  settlers  and  regards  it,  with  more 
conviction  each  year,  as  promising  to  be  one  of  the 
greatest  states  in  the  Union.  Mr.  Fisco  came  to  Mon- 
tana in  1881,  and  has  been  a resident  of  the  state  ever 
since.  His  first  position  in  Montana  was  in  the  con- 
struction department  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad, 
but  on  reaching  Bozeman  he  sold  his  outfit  of  teams, 
etc.,  and  joined  issues  with  the  Balch  and  Bacon  Cattle 
Company.  This  latter  position  brought  him  into  Mus- 
selshell county,  where  he  has  remained  ever  since  as  a 
ranch  and  stockman.  For  five  years  before  his  present 
appointment  in  1911  as  sheriff  of  the  New  Musselshell 
county,  he  -was  deputy  sheriff  under  three  administra- 
tions in  Yellowstone  county. 

Mr.  Fisco  is  the  son  of  Charles  and  Charlotte  (Ditt- 
man)  Fisco.  They  were  both  natives  of  Germany,  but 
their  marriage  did  not  take  place  until  they  came  to 
this  country.  He  was  a machinist  and  blacksmith  by 
trade,  and  served  as  a soldier  in  the  Union  army  during 
the  Civil  war.  John  L.  is  the  eldest  of  their  eight  chil- 
dren, all  the  rest  of  whom  are  still  living  in  Iowa,  their 
native  state. 

John  L.  Fisco  was  born  in  Davenport,  Iowa,  March 
26,  1861.  He  remained  there  until  he  was  eighteen 
years  of  age,  attending  school  and  learning  the  black- 
smithing  trade.  He  then  started  west,  spending  the  first 
year  in  North  Dakota,  living  as  a hunter.  But  he  did 
not  see  in  this  in  the  future  his  ambitions  realized,  and 
the  result  was  his  moving  to  Montana.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  1901,  at  Billings,  Montana,  to  Zelma  Scrutch- 
field,  formerly  of  Sheridan,  Wyoming,  and  they  have 
had  five  children,  Lawrence,  Evelyn,  John  L.,  Jr., 
Louise  and  Margaret.  The  three  oldest  are  in  school, 
but  Louise  and  the  baby  are  at  home. 

Mr.  Fisco  attends  the  Lutheran  church,  but  he  has  no 
prejudice  against  any  denomination.  He  is  a member 
of  the  Roundup  Commercial  and  Pioneer  Clubs,  and  as 
a Democrat,  takes  an  active  interest  in  politics.  He 
served  as  chairman  of  the  school  board  in  his  district 
for  ten  years. 

Isaac  Boyer  is  of  German  ancestr^  His  father, 
John  Boyer,  came  to  America  in  the  earlj’  ’40  and  took 
up  his  residence  in  Washington,  D.  C.  It  was  here  that 
the  four  sons  and  four  daughters,  who  made  up  the 
family  of  John  and  Pauline  Lasky  Boyer  were  born. 
The  mother  was  a native  of  New  York  state,  but  she 
passed  all  her  married  life  at  the  national  capital,  dying 
there  in  1880,  Isaac  Boyer  is  the  next  to  the  oldest  of 
the  children,  the  date  of  his  birth  being  December  15, 
1864,  Until  he  was  seventeen  he  attended  the  public 
schools  of  Washington,  but  at  that  age  began  to  work 
independently.  His  father  was  a merchant,  and  had 
he  grown  up  in  the  country  of  his  ancestors  it  would 
have  been  the  wise,  and  indeed  almost  the  only  possible 
course  for  him  to  follow,  to  pursue  the  same  line.  But 
it  was  precisely  for  this  that  the  father  had  come  to 
America,  so  that  he  and  his  children  might  be  free  to 
choose  any  field  of  effort.  Here  there  was  unlimited 


1152 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


scope  for  new  enterprises,  and  the  commercial  sphere 
was  not  so  completely  occupied  that  in  order  to  make  a 
living  the  only  safe  plan  is  for  a man  to  step  into  a 
business  which  has  already  an  established  clientele.  Mr. 
Isaac  Boyer  wished  a place  where  there  was  plenty  of 
opportunity,  so  in  the  fall  of  i88i  he  came  to  Montana 
and  went  to  work  for  the  government  in  the  post  office 
at  Miles  City.  He  stayed  there  for  two  years,  and  in  1884 
came  to  Helena.  His  father  moved  here  in  the  same 
year,  continuing  in  the  marcantile  business,  as  he  had 
done  in  Washington.  For  a time  his  son  was  asso- 
ciated with  him,  but  after  ten  years  of  successful  work 
in  Helena  the  elder  Boyer  removed  to  Portland,  Ore- 
gon, and  six  years  later  retired  from  business.  For 
the  last  decade  of  his  life  he  resided  in  Rose  City,  and 
enjoyed  his  leisure  in  that  delightful  climate,  until  he 
passed  away  in  1910. 

After  Mr.  Boyer’s  father  left  Helena,  the  son  con- 
tinued to  clerk  for  various  firms  for  a few  years,  and 
then  went  on  the  road  as  a traveling  salesman.  It  was 
largely  through  his  efforts  that  the  Montana  branch  of 
the  United  Commercial  travelers  was  organized,  and  he 
is  a charter  member  of  the  association.  In  January, 

1911,  Mr.  Boyer  decided  to  go  into  business  for  him- 
self, and  since  that  time  has  been  engaged  in  the  whole- 
sale liquor  business. 

He  is  a Republican,  but  of  late  years  has  taken  no 
part  in  the  activities  of  the  party,  being  wholly  oc- 
cupied in  his  business.  He  is  a Mason  of  high  rank, 
having  taken  all  degrees  to  the  thirty-second  and  being 
a Shriner,  affiliating  with  Algeria  Temple  at  Helena. 
He  and  Mrs.  Boyer  are  members  of  the  Hebrew  church. 
Mrs.  Boyer  was  formerly  Miss  Carrie  Feldberg,  whose 
father,  Jacob  Feldberg,  belongs  to  one  of  the  pioneer 
families  of  Helena.  Miss  Feldberg  became  Mrs.  Boyer 
on  January  18,  1907,  the  marriage  being  celebrated  in 
Helena,  the  birthplace  of  the  bride  and  the  residence 
of  her  parents.  One  daughter  has  been  born  of  their 
union,  Nancy  Boyer,  born  at  Helena  on  May  7,  1909, 
and  one  son,  John  Feldberg  Boyer,  born  September  14, 

1912. 

Mr.  Boyer’s  idea  of  enjoyment  is  to  spend  his  time 
with  his  family,  and  so  when  he  is  at  leisure  he  is 
generally  to  be  found  at  the  pleasant  home  on  Dearborn 
street,  which,  like  all  he  possesses,  is  the  guerdon  of 
his  unaided  efforts. 

Edgar  Boyd  Camp.  One  of  the  leading  citizens  of 
Billings,  who  was  the  pioneer  business  man  of  the 
city  and  the  owner  of  the  first  store  here,  is  Edgar 
Boyd  Camp,  who  is  now  engaged  in  the  real  estate, 
loan  and  insurance  business,  with  offices  in  the  Chi- 
cago Building.  Mr.  Camp  was  born  at  Bloomington, 
Illinois,  November  25,  1856,  and  is  a son  of  Edgar  B. 
and  Mary  (Porter)  Camp,  natives  of  the  Empire  state. 
His  grandfather  was  Elisha  Camp,  a colonel  in  the 
War  of  1812,  and  two  of  his  father’s  brothers  were 
colonels  in  the  Union  army  during  the  Civil  war,  and 
were  buried  jfith  military  honors  in  Arlington  Ceme- 
tery, Washington,  D.  C.  Edgar  B.  Camp,  Sr.,  a 
banker,  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-six  years,  shortly 
after  leaving  his  native  home  at  Sacket  Harbor,  New 
York,  for-  the  then  far  western  prairies  of  Illinois. 
Mr.  Camp’s  mother  was  born  and  educated  in  New 
York  City,  a daughter  of  David  C.  Porter,  a wealthy 
business  man  of  that  city,  and  Rose  Ann  (Hardy) 
Porter,  daughter  of  Sir  William  Hardy,  of  England. 
The  families  on  both  sides  were  noted  for  their  literary 
attainments,  and  members  thereof  have  gained  dis- 
tinction in  the  field  of  letters  down  to  recent  times. 
Miss  Rose  Porter,  whose  death  occurred  September 
7,  1906,  at  her  home  in  New  Haven,  Connecticut, 
having  been  a well-known  writer  and  the  authoress 
of  some  forty  books.  Mrs.  Laura  Porter  Sanford,  of 
Genoa,  Italy,  although  only  having  published  one  vol- 
ume of  poetry  in  her  own  name,'  is  a constant  con- 


^ i leading  magazines  and  periodi- 

sought  after.  Both  of 
tln^e  ladies  are  sisters  of  Mr.  Camp’s  mother 

Edgar  Boyd  Camp  was  reared  in  Illinois,  and  at 
various  times  lived  at  Odell,  Bloomington,  Normal 
and  Pontiac,  _ and  at  those  places  received  a public 
school  education.  On  leaving  school  he  secured  em- 
ployment m a dry  goods  store  in  Pontiac,  where  he  re- 
mained for  five  years,  and  in  the  spring  of  1880 
engaged  in  the  real  estate  business  on  his  own  T- 
count.  During  the  fall  of  1881,  however,  he  disposed 
of  his  business  and  turned  his  face  toward  the  west 
and  on  November  21,  1881,  arrived  at  Glendive,  Mon- 
ti  M secured  employment  in  the  yards 

of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad,  but  after  spending 
a few  days  in  the  exhausting  work  of  loading  buf- 
falo hides  and  other  heavy  work,  decided  that  his 
former  sedentary  life  had  not  prepared  him  for  such 
heavy  labor,  and  he  accordingly  pushed  on  to  Miles 
City,  arriving  on  the  first  train  to  enter  that  place 
after  the  construction  train,  which  had  reached  that 
point  the  day  before,  November  30,  1881.  Here  Mr 
Camp  soon  found  employment  with  the  hardware  firm 
oi  Miles  & Stravell,  with  whom  he  continued  until 
i^ebruary  26,  1882,  at  which  time  he  formed  a part- 
nership  with  Arthur  W.  Miles,  of  Livingston,  Mon- 
tana, who  was  then  paymaster’s  clerk  at  Forth  Keogh 
and  representing  the  firm,  Mr.  Camp  went  to  Coulson' 
at  that  time  a lively  frontier  town  located  on  the  banks 
ot  the  Ye  lowstone  river,  two  miles  east  of  the  present 
site  of  Bilhngs,  traveling  i6o  miles  by  stage  and  being 
followed  by  his  merchandise,  which  was  hauled  by 
freight  teams.  On  his  arrival  he  established  himself 
in  the  hardware  business  in  a tent,  but  some  time 
later  was  able  to  secure  some  green  cottonwood  lum- 
ber  at  $6o  per  thousand  feet,  and*  erected  a store 
building.  Even  at  this  time  Mr.  Camp  possessed  the 
foresight  to  discern  that  Bilhngs  would  be  the  city  of 
the  future,  and  he  patiently  carried  on  his  business 
at  Coulson  until  the  townsite  of  Billings  had  been 
out  and  lots  were  placed  on  the  market,  and  on 
May  12,  1882,  he  opened  the  initial  store  in  the  magic 
city  of  Billings.  During  that  summer,  however,  he 
disposed  of  his  interest  in  the  hardware  business  to 
Mr.  Miles,  and  became  interested  in  the  first  brick  yard 
in  the  Yellowstone  Valley,  known  as  Camp  & Penny, 
which  firm  manufactured  the  brick  for  the  Northern 
Pacific  round  house  and  a number  of  the  first  brick 
buildings  in  Billings. 

In  October,  1882,  Mr.  Camp  re-entered  the  hard- 
ware business,  in  partnership  with  his  brother,  Charles 
D.  Camp,  under  the  firm  name  of  Camp  Brothers, 
which  became  one  of  the  largest  concerns  in  eastern 
Montana  and  built  the  building  now  known  as  the 
Commercial  Hotel,  at  the  corner  of  Montana  avenue 
and  Twenty-sixth  street.  During  the  year  1886,  how- 
ever, the  widespread  commercial  depression  affected 
this  part  of  the  state,  and  along  with  various  other 
houses  the  firm  of  Camp  Brothers,  in  July,  was  forced 
to  make  an  assignment  for  the  benefit  of  its  cred- 
itors. In  January,  1887,  the  firm  having  paid  its  cred- 
itors in  full,  a new  company  was  organized,  known  as 
the  Williston  Hardware  Company,  with  which  Mr. 
Camp  was  connected  for  some  time.  On  retiring  from 
the  hardware  business,  he  entered  the  newspaper  field, 
and  purchased  the  plant  of  the  Gazette  Publishing 
Company  which  had  just  consolidated  with  the  other 
three  newspapers,  the  Post,  the  Herald  and  the 
Rustler,  and  thus  became  the  owner  of  all  the  news- 
papers published  in  Yellowstone  county.  He  con- 
ducted the  Gazette  daily  and  weekly  for  one  year,  and 
after  that  continued  to  publish  a weekly,  known  as  the 
Montana  Stock  Gazette,  until  September,  1888.  Dur- 
ing the  time  from  March  4,  1885,  until  March  4,  1887, 
Mr.  Camp  served  as  treasurer  of  Yellowstone  county, 
and  for  a time  acted  as  alderman  of  Billings.  In  1888 


I 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1153 


he  disposed  of  his  journalistic  interests  to  E.  H. 
Becker,  and  in  that  same  year  was  elected  to  the  office 
of  mayor  of  Billings,  serving  in  that  capacity  until 
January,  i^.  Subsequently  he  removed  from  Bil- 
lings with  his  family  and  lived  at  various  times  in 
Helena,  Spokane,  Washington  and  Chicago,  and  re- 
turned to  Billings  from  the  latter  city  in  March,  1897. 
For  the  year  that  followed  he  was  associated  with  the 
well-known  merchants,  Yegen  Brothers,  and  then 
opened  a general  merchandise  store  in  partnership 
with  his  brother  at  Laurel,  the  townsite  of  which  he 
owned  and  platted,  but  in  December,  1905,  disposed  of 
most  of  his  interests  in  that  town.  In  May,  1902,  Mr. 
Camp  returned  to  Billings  and  engaged  in  the  real 
estate,  insurance  and  loan  business,  in  which  he  has 
been  uniformly  successful,  and  in  addition  is  interested 
in  several  large  ranches  in  the  valley.  Mr.  Camp  has 
always  maintained  an  active  interest  in  all  that  per- 
tains to  the  welfare  of  his  city,  and  at  present  is  serv- 
ing as  president  of  the  Library  Board,  and  a director 
and  secretary  of  the  Board  of  the  Polytechnic  Insti- 
tute. During  1911  he  served  as  president  of  the  Bil- 
lings Chamber  of  Commerce,  of  which  he  was  a mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  trustees  for  six  years,  and  during 
1910  and  1911  was  president  of  the  Central  Commer- 
cial Club,  made  up  of  the  various  commercial  bodies 
of  the  Midland  Empire.  He  is  vice-president  of  the 
Bank  of  Billings,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  or- 
ganizers in  1911,  and  is  widely  known  in  financial  and 
industrial  circles.  In  the  campaign  of  1912  Mr.  Camp 
was  elected  on  the  Republican  ticket  a representative 
of  the  lower  house  in  the  Montana  legislature,  and 
served  with  credit  his  party.  Fraternally  he  is  con- 
nected with  the  Elks  and  other  societies.  In  the  spring 
of  1882  Mr.  Camp  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  first 
church  in  Billings,  and  he  has  always  been  active  in 
church  and  charitable  work.  He  is  an  adherent  of  the 
Congregational  faith. 

On  January  21,  1886,  Mr.  Camp  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Ida  L.  Carter,  at  Jersey  City.  Mrs. 
Camp  was  born  at  Bridgeport,  Connecticut,  and  is  a 
dati.ghter  of  Gilman  and  Ila  H.  (Hudson)  Carter,  the 
former  a native  of  Boston,  Massachusetts,  and  the  lat- 
ter of  Newburg,  New  York.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Camp 
have  two  children : Gilman  L.,  special  agent  of  the 

Insurance  Company  of  North  America  of  Philadelphia; 
and  Ruth  Esther,  who  is  attending  St.  Helen’s  Hall, 
a school  for  young  ladies  at  Portland,  Oregon.  Mrs. 
Camp’s  sister,  Mrs.  Emma  H.  Anderson,  is  a resident 
of  San  Francisco,  California.  Charles  D.  Camp,  Mr. 
Camp’s  brother,  with  whom  he  was  in  business  for  a 
number  of  years,  is  now  an  agriculturist  near  Laurel. 

Edgar  Boyd  Camp  has  led  a very  active  and  indus- 
trious life,  and  has  made  his  money  solely  through 
his  personal  exertions.  He  is  recognized  by  his  fellow 
citizens  as  a man  of  enterprise,  ever  ready  to  promote 
all  projects  designed  for  the  public  good.  His  social 
standing  is  with  the  best  people  of  the  com.munity,  and 
his  business  integrity  has  ever  been  without  reproach. 

Jerome  G.  Locke.  Montana  had  but  eight  years  to 
exist  as  a territory  when  the  young  man  who  holds  the 
important  post  of  United  States  surveyor  general  for 
the  state  was  born  at  Bozeman.  In  him  has  been  given 
to  the  state  one  of  the  most  brilliant  and  able  of  her 
native  sons,  whose  career,  necessarily  short  on  account 
of  his  youth,  has  been  such  as  to  warrant  the  trust  and 
confidence  of  the  world,  while  his  devotion  to  the  public 
good  is  unquestioned  and  arises  from  a sincere  interest 
in  the  welfare  of  his  fellow  men. 

The  date  of  Mr.  Locke’s  nativity  was  April  2,  1881. 
His  father,  John  Franklin  Locke,  who  was  of  Scotch- 
Irish  parentage,  was  born  in  Kentucky  about  1847.  His 
father  and  mother  had  removed  from  Virginia  to 
Kentucky  about  1840,  and  when  he  was  six  years  of 
age  his  parents  again  removed  to  Iowa,  where  John 


Franklin  received  a meagre  common  school  education 
and  learned  the  business  of  a flour  miller.  He  left 
Iowa  about  1870  for  the  west,  coming  by  the  way  of 
the  Black  Hills  in  South  Dakota  to  the  Crow  Agency 
in  Montana.  He  was  variously  engaged  from  1870  to 
1880  as  a gold  miner  in  the  Black  Hills,  as  a hunter  and 
trapper,  as  a government  packer  and  as  a freighter. 
He  was  in  several  Indian  fights,  the  best  known  of 
which  was  the  Canyon  Creek  fight  near  where  Billings 
now  stands,  at  which  place  he  and  some  twenty-one 
soldiers  and  civilians  captured  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty  members  of  the  Nez  Perce  tribe  after  having  killed 
several  of  their  number.  He  barely  missed  the  Custer 
massacre  in  1876,  having  been  with  Reno’s  command 
as  a dispatch  bearer  less  than  a week  before  the  cele- 
brated fight. 

The  subject’s  mother,  Fidelia  Alice  Stone,  was  born 
in  California,  in  1855,  her  parents  having  gone  to  that 
state  from  Missouri  in  the  gold  rush  of  “49.”  She 
came  overland  to  Bozeman,  Montana,  about  1877.  Her 
father  for  a short  time  was  fortunate  in  mining  advan- 
tures  in  California  and  acquired  a considerable  amount 
of  money,  so  that  she  received  as  good  an  education  as 
could  then  be  obtained  in  the  west.  In  1882  Mr.  Locke’s 
parents  removed  to  a ranch  in  the  Yellowstone,  about 
fifteen  miles  east  of  where  Livingston  now  stands,  where 
the  father  engaged  in  the  stock  business.  Young  Jerome 
spent  his  early  life  on  the  range  and  acquired  an  educa- 
tion by  attending  the  country  school  from  two  to  three 
months  each  summer  from  the  time  he  was  eight  years 
of  age  until  the  age  of  thirteen.  He  then  took  his  first 
trip  on  the  railroad,  to  southern  Idaho  and  northern 
Nevada,  where  he  spent  the  summer  with  a roundup 
outfit  in  the  employ  of  an  uncle.  In  the  fall  of  1894 
he  entered  the  preparatory  department  of  the  Montana 
State  College  at  Bozeman.  The  faculty  at  that  time 
consisted  of  only  six  or  eight  members  and  the  school 
was  held  in  various  places  in  the  town,  no  buildings 
having  yet  been  erected.  Mr.  Locke  had  an  allowance 
of  only  twenty  dollars  per  month  from  home  and  he 
added  to  this  by  sawing  wood  and  doing  janitor  work 
at  twenty  cents  per  hour.  In  the  school  season  of  1895 
and  1896  his  finances  were  too  low  to  attend  and  he  spent 
the  time  on  his  father’s  ranch,  caring  for  cattle.  In  the 
fall  of  1896  he  again  entered  school,  and  after  finishing 
a preparatory  course,  entered  the  college  proper,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  1904  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor 
of  Civil  Engineering,  having  contributed  to  his  own 
support  during  the  course. 

During  the  spring  of  1902  Jerome  C.  Locke  entered 
the  United  States  reclamation  service  and  spent  the 
summer  of  1902  and  1903  on  various  projects  in  Montana 
and  Dakota.  In  1904,  after  graduation,  he  was  employed 
by  the  Emigrant  Gulch  Placer  Mining  Company,  as 
assistant  engineer,  in  charge  of  the  installation  of  placer 
mining  machinery  at  Chico,  Montana,  and  later  in  min- 
eral surveys  in  and  around  Cook  City ; in  the  spring 
of  1905  he  was  employed  as  transitman  on  irrigation 
work  near  Billings,  and  was  later  raised  to  assistant 
engineer,  where  he  continued  until  the  spring  of  1906, 
when  he  took  a position  as  engineer  in  charge  of  an 
irrigation  project  in  the  Clark’s  Fork  Valley,  east  of 
Red  Lodge  and  in  which  project  he  was  financially  intei'- 
ested.  In  the  summer  of  1907  the  company  failed  and 
his  father  died,  and  Mr.  Locke  taking  charge  of  his 
estate  and  resided  at  Livingston  until  the  fall  of  1908, 
working  at  odd  time  as  deputy  sheriff.  Having  practi- 
cally settled  all  the  affairs  of  his  father’s  estate  by  the 
fall  of  1908,  he  then  took  a position  as  engineer  in 
charge  of  an  irrigation  project  in  the  Upper  jMadison 
valley,  east  of  Virginia  City,  where  he  continued  until 
the  fall  of  1909,  when  he  took  a position  as  engineer  in 
charge  of  the  Willow  Creek  irrigation  project  near  Three 
Forks.  In  the  summer  of  1910,  the  project  having  failed 
to  materialize,  he  accepted  a position  as  special  agent 
in  charge  of  the  census  of  irrigation  for  INIontana  and 


1154 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


North  Dakota  and  continued  in  this  capacity  until  July 
I,  1911,  when,  in  recognition  of  his  ability  and  faithful- 
ness to  duty,  he  was  appointed  surveyor  general  for 
Montana. 

In  politics  Mr.  Locke  is  a Progressive.  He  is  affiliated 
with  no  church  but  is  unswervingly  altruistic  and  kindly 
and  generous  in  his  dealings  with  his  brother.  Frater- 
nally he  has  taken  all  the  various  Masonic  rites.  In  1908 
he  received  the  Master’s  degree  in  civil  engineering  at 
the  Montana  State  College.  On  August  7,  1912,  Mr. 
Locke  was  married  to  Pearl  A.  McNutt,  a Minneapolis 
school  teacher,  For  three  years  previous  to  her  marriage 
she  taught  in  the  graded  schools  of  Plelena. 

J.\MES  Edie.  For  many  years  James  Edie  was  one 
of  the  prominent  and  prosperous  sheep  breeders  and 
dealers  in  Montana,  having  lived  in  this  part  of  the 
country  for  over  a quarter  of  a century.  He  was  born 
in  Fifeshire,  Scotland,  1856,  and  came  to  Montana  in 
1881,  coming  directly  across  the  continent.  He  settled 
on  Horse  Prairie,  and  immediately  took  up  the  business 
in  which  he  was  to  spend  the  remainder  of  his  life, 
that  of  sheep  breeding  and  dealing.  In  the  country  of 
his  birth  he  had  been  engaged  as  quarry  master.  He 
became  a successful  man,  a well-known  citizen  of  this 
section,  removing  to  Dillon  from  the  ranch  on  Plorse 
Prairie  about  1892,  and  his  Scotch  traits  came  out 
strongly  in  the  rough  and  arduous  life  of  the  sheep 
country.  Pie  was  a nephew  of  the  late  Hon.  George 
M.  Brown.  Plis  death  occurred  in  New  York  City, 
on  the  28th  of  December,  1897.  He  was  starting  on 
a journey  back  to  visit  the  home  of  his  boyhood, 
accompanied  by  his  family,  when  he  was  suddenly  over- 
taken l)v  his  fatal  illness.  Pie  left  his  family  in  com- 
fortable circumstances,  and  his  widow  has  ably  main- 
tained his  reputation  as  a keen  and  scrupulously  honest 
business  man. 

Mr.  Edie  was  married  in  1S79  to  Miss  Maggie  Play 
Morrison,  who  was  born  in  Fifeshire,  Scotland.  She 
was  educated  at  St.  Andrews  Madras  College,  Scotland, 
and  since  her  husband's  death  she  has  become  one  of  the 
largest  land  holders  and  realty  owners  in  Beaverhead 
county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edie  became  the  parents  of 
seven  children,  but  of  these  only  two,  Margaret  and 
John,  are  living.  Mr.  Edie  was  a member  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  in  the  fraternal  world  was  a member  of 
the  Masonic  order.  He  was  a member  of  the  Presby- 
terian church,  as  are  all  the  members  of  the  family. 
Mrs.  Edie  is  a very  active  worker  in  church  affairs  and 
has  been  of  great  aid  in  the  upbuilding  of  the  church 
in  Dillon.  In  1908  she  and  her  daughter  made  the 
journey  to  Scotland  and  then  over  to  the  Continent, 
the  journey  that  Mr.  Edie  had  planned.  She  and  her 
daughter  are  valued  and  distinctly  useful  citizens  of 
Dillon. 

Robert  Leavens  has  been  prominent  as  a ranchman 
and  general  business  man  in  and  about  Billings,  Mon- 
tana, for  the  past  twenty  years.  Coming  to  Montana 
when  he  was  in  his  ’teens,  he  has  taken  active  part  in 
many  affairs  of  public  interest  since  his  early  manhood, 
and  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  solid  man  of  his  section. 

He  was  born  in  Beverly,  New  Jersey,  August  24, 
1869,  and  is  the  son  of  'William  T.  and  Mary  (Kain) 
Leavens.  The  father,  now  a resident  of  BillingSj  Mon- 
tana was  born  in  Yorkshire,  England,  in  1839.  The 
mother  was  a native  of  New  Jersey,  born  in  Beverly 
in  that  state,  and  she  died  there  in  1869,  when  her  son, 
Robert,  was  but  six  months  old.  One  other  child  was 
born  to  them,  Teresa,  the  wife  of  Major  Hugh  Stuart, 
of  the  British  Army. 

William  T.  Leavens  came  to  this  country  at  an  early 
age,  and  from  New  York  City  he  drifted  to  Old  Mexico. 
Returning  from  Mexico,  he  eventually  found  himself 
in  Beverly,  New  Jersey,  where  he  married  and  settled 
down,  engaging  in  the  mercantile  business.  Following 


the  death  of  his  wife,  crushed  by  the  blow,  he  went  back 
to  his  old  home  in  England,  taking  his  two  infant 
children  with  him.  He  remained  there  for  a number  of 
years,  finally  returning  to  the  United  States  in  1881, 
and  bringing  his  son  with  him.  They  went  direct  to 
Philadelphia  upon  landing,  and  shortly  after  they  came 
up  the  Missouri  river  to  Fort  Benton,  and  later  in 
the  summer  of  1881  they  located  on  Judith  Basin,  on 
Little  Rock  Creek,  iMontana,  where  the  elder  Leavens 
homesteaded  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  govern- 
ment land  and  engaged  in  the  stock  raising  business.  In 
1883  they  removed  to  Judith  Gap,  Montana,  where  he 
bought  a ranch,  in  addition  to  which  he  took  up  another 
tract  of  government  land,  and  again  entered  the  stock  ■ 
business.  He  continued  thus  until  1897,  when  he  came 
to  Billings,  where  he  now  resides  with  his  son,  Robert. 

Robert  Leavens  spent  the  early  years  of  his  life  in 
England,  where  he  received  the  usual  schooling,  and 
he  was  about  twelve  years  of  age  when  his  father 
brought  him  back  to  the  land  of  his  birth.  He  began 
early  to  ‘‘rough  it,”  and  while  he  was  still  but  a lad  he 
earned  his  first  money  working  in  a sawmill  on  Beaver 
Creek,  Meagher  county,  Montana,  receiving  as  his  wage 
for  a month’s  work  the  sum  of  forty  dollars.  'When 
he  was  sixteen  years  old  he  began  “cow  punching,” 
which  he  followed  for  several  years.  He  saved  his 
money  carefully  while  he  was  thus  employed,  and  in 
a few  years  he  was  able  to  start  ranching  on  his  own 
responsibility,  locating  a piece  of  land  in  Judith  Gap 
and  buying  cattle  and  horses  with  his  savings.  In  1890 
he  located  a second  ranch  and  sold  his  first  holdings 
to  his  father.  In  1894  he  took  a government  con- 
tract to  carry  the  United  States  mail  between  Billings 
and  Ubet,  carrying  the  contract  under  the  firm  name 
of  Hughes  & Leavens,  and  continued  the  work  for 
four  years,  running  his  ranch  at  the  same  time.  In  1896 
he  sold  his  second  ranch,  replacing  it  with  another  nine 
miles  .south  of  Billings  in  the  Yellowstone  valley,  and 
beginning  operations  there  on  a large  scale. 

At  the  time  of  the  breaking  out  of  the  Spanish-Amer- 
ican  war  Mr.  Leavens  was  second  lieutenant  of  Troop 
A,  Montana  National  Guards,  their  company  located  at 
Billings.  He  enlisted  with  his  troop  for  service  in  the 
United  States  Cavalry,  as  Troop  M,  Third  Cavalry,  U. 

S.  V.,  and  was  sent  to  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  where 
he  spent  the  summer  of  1898  with  his  regiment.  At  the 
close  of  the  war  he  returned  to  Billings  with  his  troop. 

During  the  summer  of  1900  he  was  engaged  in  tak- 
ing the  United  States  census  of  Yellowstone  county, 
Montana.  Following  that  he  was  in  the  service  of 
Jackson  & Pliggins  Company,  of  South  Omaha,  Ne- 
braska, in  the  live  stock  commission  business  until  1901, 
and  he  then  engaged  in  buying  horses  for  the  British 
government  during  the  Boer  war,  working  under  the 
supervision  of  the  firm  of  Herford  & Louther,  and  oper-  * 
ating  in  'Washington,  Montana,  Idaho,  Oregon  and^J 
Utah.  He  was  engaged  in  this  business  until  1902.  In||B 
the  fall  of  that  year  Mr.  Leavens  sold  his  ranch,  with^H 
all  stock  and  equipment,  in  Yellowstone  county  and  hisiH 
town  property  in  Billings,  and  removed  to  Bear  Creek, aB 
Carbon  county,  Montana,  and  bought  a ranch,  also  a^Rj 
half  interest  in  another,  and  engaged  in  the  sheep  busi- 
ness. He  organized  the  firm  known  as  the  Bear  Creek* 
Sheep  Company,  and  in  1905  assisted  in  founding  the 
firm  doing  business  under  the  name  of  The  Bear  Creek 
Coal  Company,  he  being  vice-president  of  the  latter. 

Seeing  the  possibilities  of  their  location  with  refer- 
ence to  future  advancement,  Mr.  Leavens,  together  with 
George.  T.  Lamport,  his  father-in-law,  organized  and 
platted  the  village  known  as  Bear  Creek,  in  Carbon 
county,  Montana,  and  became  actively  engaged  in  the  | 
merchandise,  banking  and  real  estate  business.  They 
organized  the  Bear  Creek  Banking  Company  in  1908, 
which  has  done  a thriving  business  since  that  time. 

Mr.  Leavens  has  never  taken  more  than  a reasonable  j 


fe' 

IS- 


iT-T  :> 


- , -.3' 


--^T' 


V'C;';'.; 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1155 


interest  in  politics,  but  was  elected  alderman  from  the 
Fifth  ward  in  the  fall  of  igii. 

In  fraternal  circles  he  is  more  than  ordinarily  promi- 
nent, being  a member  of  Ashlar  Lodge,  No.  29,  A.  F. 
& A.  M. ; Billings  Chapter,  No.  6,  R.  A.  M. ; Aldemar 
Commandery,  No.  5,  K.  T. ; Algeria  Temple,  Helena, 
Montana,  and  Billings  Lodge,  No.  394,  B.  P.  O.  E. 

He  was  a member  of  the  old  Maverick  Hose  Com- 
pany, of  Billings,  the  first  fire  organization  of  the  town, 
a volunteer  department,  J.  C.  Bond  being  chief,  and 
while  they  now  have  a paid  department  the  old  Maver- 
ick Company,  limited  to  forty  members,  is  still  in 
existence  and  maintains  a club  room,  where  they  meet 
and  discuss  reminiscences  of  the  fires  of  Billings  dur- 
ing the  palmy  days  of  the  Maverick  department. 

On  December  8,  1897,  Mr.  Leavens  and  Elle  E.  Lam- 
port were  united  in  marriage.  She  is  the  daughter  of 
George  T.  Lamport,  before  mentioned.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Leavens  are  the  parents  of  one  child,  a daughter  named 
Dorothy. 

Arthur  C.  Logan.  Lying  eight  miles  west  of  the 
city  of  Billings,  in  the  Yellowstone  Valley,  is  the 
1,000-acre  ranch  of  Arthur  C.  Logan,  a prominent 
stockman  and  the  heaviest  importer  of  blooded  stock 
in  the  state.  For  many  years  Mr.  Logan  followed  the 
profession  of  teaching  and  became  well  and  favorably 
known  as  an  educator  in  various  parts  of  the  country, 
but  during  the  past  several  decades  he  has  given  his 
whole  attention  to  ranching  and  now  holds  pre-emi- 
nence among  the  leading  stockmen  of  the  Yellowstone 
Valley.  IMr.  Logan  is  a product  of  the  east,  having 
been  born  at  New  Milford,  Connecticut,  June  9,  1853, 
a son  of  James  and  Ann  (Denning)  Logan,  and  a 
member  of  an  old  New  England  family  of  Scotch  an- 
cestry, members  of  which  participated  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war.  Mr.  Logan’s  mother  was  a native  of 
Ireland,  who  came  to  the  United  States  about  1849, 
and  her  death  occurred  in  1900,  at  Brookfield,  Con- 
necticut, her  husband  having  passed  away  near  New 
Milford,  in  1881. 

Arthur  C.  Logan  graduated  from  the  Danbury 
(Connecticut)  high  school  when  he  was  fifteen  years 
of  age,  and  when  he  was  sixteen  began  teaching  school. 
He  was  only  eighteen  years  old  when  he  held  the  posi- 
tion of  principal  of  the  schools  of  New  Milford,  and 
during  the  next  fifteen  years  held  the  principalship  of 
three  graded  schools.  In  1880  he  migrated  to  Bis- 
marck, North  Dakota,  and  after  acting  as  principal  of 
schools  there  for  one  year  came  to  Miles  City,  Montana. 
For  one  year  he  edited  the  Miles  City  Press,  a daily 
newspaper,  and  was  principal  of  schools  there  for  six 
years,  being  the  real  factor  in  the  establishment  of  the 
public  school  system  at  that  place.  In  1886  he  was  ap- 
pointed superintendent  of  schools  by  Governor  Sam 
Hauser,  of  the  then  territory  of  Montana,  and  was 
reappointed  to  the  same  position  by  Governor  Preston 
B.  Leslie  but  refused  the  nomination  for  the  position 
after  VIontana  had  become  a state  and  turned  his  at- 
tention to  the  stock  business,  to  which  he  has  given 
his  whole  time  ever  since.  He  now  has  an  excellent 
property  of  1,000  acres  situated  eight  miles  west  of 
Billings,  and  has  been  greatly  interested  in  the  im- 
portation and  breeding  of  imported  stock.  He  has 
conducted  his  operations  with  signal  discretion  and 
ability,  and  his  success  has  been  a due  reward  for  his 
well  directed  efforts.  He  also  has  a 1,200  acre  ranch 
within  three  miles  of  Billings  and  1,800  acres  at  Bull 
Mountain,  a stock  ranch  which  he  and  his  son  Tom  own 
together. 

Since  1874,  when  he  joined  St.  Peters  Lodge,  A.  F. 
& A.  M.,  at  New  Milford,  Connecticut,  Mr.  Logan  has 
taken  an  active  and  enthusiastic  interest  in  Masonry', 
having  passed  through  the  chairs  of  Yellowstone 
Lodge,  No.  26,  Miles  City,  and  in  1889  was  elected 
grand  master  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Montana.  He 
voi.  1—20 


belongs  to  Miles  City  Chapter,  R.  A.  M.,  of  which  he 
is  a past  high  priest,  and  is  a charter  member  of  Bil- 
lings Commandery,  K.  T.,  and  past  grand  potentate  of 
Algeria  Temple  at  Helena.  With  others  he  assisted 
in  organizing  the  Shrine  at  Spokane,  Washington,  and 
he  has  always  had  the  best  interests  of  Masonry  at 
heart. 

i\Ir.  Logan  was  married  (first)  at  Bismarck,  North 
Dakota,  in  1884,  to  Miss  Grace  Southmayd,  who  was 
born  at  Columbus,  Wisconsin,  and  she  died  April  2,  1892. 
On  June  17,  1893,  Mr.  Logan  married  the  sister  of  his 
first  wife.  Miss  Bessie  Southmayd,  also  a native  of  Wis- 
consin. Her  father  was  Captain  Ogden  Southmayd,  a 
native  of  Middletown,  Connecticut,  his  father  having 
been  born  at  the  same  place.  He  was  a lineal  descend- 
ant of  Elder  William  Brewster,  who  came  from  Eng- 
land to  America  on  the  Mayflower.  Mrs.  Logan's 
mother  was  a native  of  New  York  state.  The  five  chil- 
dren of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Logan,  Fay,  Tom,  Dick,  Harris 
(a  daughter)  and  Grace,  are  possessed  of  remarkable 
musical  talent,  and  have  formed  an  orchestra  that  is 
well  and  favorably  known  all  over  the  state.  Tom 
married  Miss  Florence  Polmer,  of  Helena,  Montana, 
and  Fay  Logan  married  Rev.  George  Kesseluth.  The 
family's  religious  connection  is  with  the  Episcopal 
church. 

Otis  C.  Haynes.  There  can  be  no  more  satisfactory 
business  connection  anywhere  than  that  which  exists 
between  father  and  son,  for  to  the  older  man’s  long 
experience  and  intimate  knowledge  of  the  business  is 
added  the  enthusiasm  and  enterprise  of  youth,  a com- 
bination thus  being  formed  that  is  desirable  in  every 
way.  Such  a connection  is  that  existing  between 
Erastus  C.  and  Otis  C.  Haynes,  of  Custer  county,  who 
are  engaged  in  raising  fruit  and  vegetables  for  the 
Miles  City  market,  as  well  as  some  live  stock.  The 
former  is  an  old  resident  of  Custer  county,  having 
located  here  more  than  thirtj"  j-ears  ago,  while  the 
latter  is  now  acting  in  the  capacity  of  county  clerk. 

Erastus  Chapman  Haynes  was  born  in  Ohio,  in  1841, 
and  is  a son  of  Philo  and  Electa  (Chapman)  Haynes, 
who  removed  to  Ohio  from  Connecticut  about  1834, 
and  from  there  to  Iowa  in  1842,  the  father  spending  the 
remainder  of  his  life  in  agricultural  pursuits  and  mill- 
ing. Erastus  C.  was  the  oldest  of  a family  of  seven 
children,  was  educated  in  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  whence 
his  parents  had  removed  in  1844,  and  was  there  married 
in  1874  to  Miss  Edith  Campbell,  a native  of  Ohio.  To 
this  union  there  were  born  four  children : Otis  C. ; 
Alda,  who  died  in  infancy;  Robert  Halsey;  and  Dixie 
E.  In  1881  the  father  came  by  rail  to  Sentinel  Butte, 
Dakota,  and  from  that  point  traveled  overland  to  Cus- 
ter county,  Montana,  locating  on  a tract  of  160  acres, 
situated  one  mile  from  Miles  City,  which  he  purchased 
from  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad  Company.  The 
family  followed  in  the  same  year  by  steamboat  from 
Glendive,  Montana,  at  that  time  the  terminal  of  the 
Northern  Pacific  Railroad.  For  a number  of  years 
he  gave  the  greater  part  of  his  attention  to  the  coal 
business,  but  in  recent  years  vegetable  and  fruit  rais- 
ing have  been  his  chief  ocupations.  He  is  a Republi- 
can in  his  political  views,  taking  a good  citizen’s  in- 
terest in  matters  of  public  welfare.  He  is  essentially 
the  architect  of  his  own  fortune,  and  does  credit  to 
the  good  old  New  England  Revolutionary  stock  from 
which  he  descends. 

Otis  C.  Haynes  was  born  in  Johnson  county,  Iowa, 
November  20,  1875,  and  has  been  a resident  of  Custer 
county  since  he  reached  his  sixth  year.  After  attend- 
ing the  public  schools  of  Miles  City  he  became  a stu- 
dent in  the  normal  school  at  Lebanon,  Warren  county, 
Ohio,  from  which  he  was  graduated.  Returning  to 
Custer  county,  he  associated  himself  in  business  with 
his  father,  with  whom  he  has  continued  to  the  present 
time,  and  has  nroved  that  he  possesses  his  father's 


1156 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


sterling  integrity  and  business  ability.  He  is  a Repub- 
lican in  his  political  views,  and  in  1908  was  elected  to  the 
office  of  clerk  of  Custer  county,  succeeding  himself  in 
that  position  in  November,  1910.  He  is  a capable, 
faithful  and  conscientious  official,  these  traits  having 
won  for  him  the  confidence  of  the  people  of  the  county, 
while  his  genial  and  courteous  manner  has  rnade  him 
many  friends.  Although  his  business  and  official  duties 
have  demanded  a great  deal  of  his  attention  he  has 
found  time  to  cultivate  and  enjoy  the  companionship  of 
his  fellow  men,  and  is  a popular  member  of  Miles  City 
Lodge,  No.  537,  B.  P.  O.  E. 

Charles  H.  Buford.  In  addition  to  extensive  real- 
estate  and  banking  interests  in  Madison  county,  Mon- 
tana, Charles  H.  Buford  is  proprietor  of  the  Virginia 
City  Garage  in  Virginia  City,  and  also  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business  in  Virginia  City  and  Alder.  He 

is  a business  man  of  unusual  executive  ability  and 

during  his  residence  in  this  state,  which  has  covered  a 
period  of  nearly  a third  of  a century,  he  has  been  en- 
gaged in  a number  of  different  enterprises,  in  all  of 
which  he  has  met  with  marked  success.  He  is  loyal 

and  public-spirited  in  his  civic  attitude  and  figures 

prominently  in  Democratic  politics. 

In  Knox  county,  Missouri,  April  7,  i860,  occurred 
the  birth  of  Charles  H.  Buford,  who  is  descended 
from  a fine  old  Southern  family,  his  ancestors  having 
been  natives  of  the  Old  Dominion  commonwealth, 
Virginia.  His  father,  Wellington  Buford,  was  born 
near  Richmond,  Virginia,  as  was  also  his  mother,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Amanda  Staples.  The  Senior  Bu- 
ford migrated  to  Missouri  as  a young  man  and  settled 
in  Knox  county,  where  he  gained  prominence  as  a 
successful  agriculturist.  He  was  a Democrat  in  his 
political  convictions  and  during  his  lifetime  was  in- 
cumbent of  a number  of  important  public  positions. 
He  was  a devout  Christian  and  was  a man  of  broad 
mind  and  most  generous  impulses.  He  was  summoned 
to  the  life  eternal  in  1888,  at  the  age  of  seventy 
years,  and  his  wife  died  in  1889,  aged  sixty-nine  years. 
They  became  the  parents  of  fifteen  children,  of  whom 
thirteen  are  living  (1912).  They  reside  in  Missouri, 
Washington,  Idaho,  California  and  Montana. 

The  tenth  in  order  of  birth  in  a family  of  fifteen 
children,  Charles  H.  Buford  was  reared  to  maturity 
on  the  old  homestead  farm,  in  the  work  and  manage- 
ment of  which  he  early  began  to  assist  his  father  and 
brothers.  His  early  educational  training  consisted  of 
such  advantages  as  were  offered  in  the  public  schools 
of  Knox  county.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  he 
came  to  Montana  and  located  in  Virginia  City,  where 
he  has  since  resided.  His  first  occupation  after  coming 
to  this  state  was  that  of  freighting  between  Virginia 
City  and  Corinne,  Utah,  and  subsequently  he  engaged 
in  the  general  merchandise  business  for  several  years. 
He  now  has  extensive  banking  interests,  is  the  owner 
of  a ranch  in  Madison  county  and  has  considerable 
money  invested  in  mining  enterprises  of  note  in  this 
section  of  the  state.  In  1911  he  opened  the  Virginia 
City  Garage  in  Virginia  City  and  in  automobile  repair 
work  he  has  met  with  unusual  success.  He  has  as- 
sociated with  him  in  this  business  his  son,  Luther  L. 

In  Virginia  City,  Montana,  April  7,  1886,  Mr.  Bu- 
ford was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Emilia  Steffens, 
a daughter  of  Ernest  and  Margaret  Steffens,  formerly 
of  Illinois.  Two  children  have  been  born  to  this  union, 
namely : Walter  W.,  a resident  of  Sheridan,  where  he 
is  connected  with  the  Sheridan  State  Bank;  and  Luther 
L.,  in  business  with  his  father  in  Virginia  City.  In 
religious  matters  the  Buford  family  are  devout  mem- 
bers of  the  Baptist  church,  to  whose  charities  and 
benevolences  they  are  most  liberal  contributors. 

In  politics  Mr.  Buford  is  an  uncompromising  Demo- 
crat and  he  has  been  chairman  of  the  Democratic 
county  central  committee  for  several  years.  In  1898 


he  was  honored  by  his  fellow  citizens  with  election  to 
the  office  of  county  treasurer,  of  which  he  was  incum- 
bent for  four  years,  and  at  the  present  time,  in  1912, 
he  is  a valued  member  of  the  city  council.  Fraternally 
he  is  an  Odd  Fellow  and  Elk  and  in  the  former  organ- 
ization he  has  filled  all  the  official  chairs  twice  and  is 
now  noble  grand  for  the  third  time.  As  a sportsman 
he  indulges  in  extended  camping  trips,  being  exceed- 
ingly fond  of  hunting  and  fishing,  and  Tie  always  has 
several  good  horses  on  hand  for  riding  and  driving. 
He  is  fond  of  reading  and  thoroughly  enjoys  a good 
public  speech  or  lecture.  Mr.  Buford  is  a man  of 
broad  mind  and  high  ideals  and  the  circle  of  his 
friends  is  coincident  with  that  of  his  acquaintances. 

Walter  A.  Cameron.  It  undoubtedly  is  true  that 
no  particular  part  of  the  world  invariably  produces  men 
who  attain  a large  degree  of  success  in  their  different 
paths  of  life,  for  this  desirable  condition  is  governed  by 
individual  effort,  but  it  is  generally  conceded  that  there 
are  characteristics  in  those  whose  ancestry  reaches  back 
to  Scotland  that  are  notably  contributive  in  this  direc- 
tion. In  the  best  citizenship  of  Montana  there  are  those 
who_  bear  the  Highland  names  and  have  the  courage, 
persistence,  industry  and  business  foresight  that  have 
brought  financial  independence,  and,  also,  in  the  case 
of  Walter  A.  Cameron,  a leading  man  in  Custer  county, 
a prominence  in  public  affairs.  Mr.  Cameron  was  born 
at  Boston,  Massachusetts,  May  i,  1862,  and  is  a son  of 
James  M.  and  Frances  H.  (Dodge)  Cameron,  a grand- 
son of  John  C.  and  a great-grandson  of  John  Angus 
Cameron. 

During  the  Revolutionary  war  between  England  and 
her  American  colonies,  John  Angus  Cameron  was  a 
lieutenant  in  one  of  the  Highland  regiments  called  into 
the  service,  and  for  his  valor  and  fidelity  received  from 
the  British  government  the  island  of  Grand  Manan,  off 
the  coast  of  Nova  Scotia,  and  he  is  credited  with  erect- 
ing the  first  frame  nouse  in  Sydney,  Cape  Breton.  Of 
his  family,  John  C.  Cameron  was  his  eldest  son.  He 
followed  the  sea  until  he  was  twenty-four  years  of 
age,  when  he  married  Hannah  Hayden  and  settled  on  a 
bit  of  land  at  South  Brookfield,  Nova  Scotia.  She  was 
born  on  Ragged  Island,  Nova  Scotia,  and  they  both 
survived  into  old  age,  she  reaching  the  century  mark 
and  he  passing  away  at  the  age  of  ninety-four.  Of 
their  nine  children,  James  M.  was  the  sixth  in  order  of 
birth. 

James  M.  Cameron  was  born  at  South  Brookfield, 
Nova  Scotia,  July  10,  1819,  and  died  in  1892.  When  he 
was  sixteen  years  of  age  he  was  apprenticed  to  his 
uncle,  who  was  a merchant  at  Halifax,  Nova  Scotia, 
but  life  there  proved  unattractive  and  he  ran  away  and, 
through  many  adventures  reached  Fort  Dearborn,  Il- 
linois, and  secured  a position  as  clerk  in  the  post  trader’s 
store  on  this  Indian  frontier.  Later  he  started  into  a 
bakery  business  in  the  village  of  Chicago  but  had  so 
little  encouragement  from  the  housewives  that  he  dis- 
continued and  returned  to  New  England,  in  the  gov- 
ernment arsenal  at  Boston,  Massachusetts,  finding  em- 
ployment in  the  manufacturing  of  gun  carriages.  From 
there  he  went  to  St.  John,  New  Brunswick,  and  be- 
came interested  in  the  manufacturing  of  trunks  and 
valises.  Here  his  wife  died,  and  with  his  domestic 
affairs  .thus  disturbed,  he  lost  interest,  sold  out  and 
returned  to  Nova  Scotia.  He  then  embarked  in  con- 
tracting and  building,  which  he  continued  until  1878, 
when  he  bought  a farm  near  South  Brookfield,  Nova 
Scotia,  and  there  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He 
married  Frances  H.  Dodge,  who  was  born  in  Canada 
and  died  in  New  Brunswick  in  1869,  a most  estimable 
woman  who  is  tenderly  recalled  by  her  son  Walter  A., 
who  was  seven  years  old  at  that  time.  To  this  mar- 
riage four  sons  and  one  daughter  were  born,  all  the 
sons  surviving:  Clarence  B.,  Arthur  H.,  Walter  A.  and 
Fred  H.,  but  the  daughter  died  in  infancy. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1157 


Walter  A.  Cameron  went  to  live  with  his  uncle, 
Joseph  H.  Cameron,  after  the  death  of  his  mother  and 
worked  on  the  farm  and  attended  school  in  the  mean- 
while until  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age,  when  he  re- 
turned to  his  father,  the  latter  having  purchased  a 
farm,  and  remained  at  home  for  one  year.  Afterward, 
through  one  season,  he  worked  as  a farm  hand  at  Nic- 
taux.  Nova  Scotia,  and  then  embarked  for  the  United 
States,  and  after  reaching  Old  Town,  Maine,  secured 
work  with  the  firm  of  Gilmore  & Webster,  sawmill 
operators  and  lumbermen,  and  when  the  season  for  farm 
work  opened  again  went  to  Pittsfield,  Maine,  where  he 
was  a farm  hand  for  the  next  six  months.  In  March, 
i88i,  Mr.  Cameron  came  as  far  west  as  Crystal  Lake 
six  miles  west  of  Minneapolis,  Minnesota,  and  found 
his  services  gladly  accepted  on  the  farms  there  and  re- 
mained until  the  middle  of  the  following  September, 
when  he  went  to  Minneapolis  and  engaged  in  teaming 
there  until  November,  when  he  started  for  Montana. 
On  December  8,  i88i,  he  reached  Miles  City,  where 
he  entered  the  employ  of  Pennell  & Jones,  a contract- 
ing firm  engaged  in  building  the  Big  Horn  tunnel  for 
the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad  Company,  and  con- 
tinued work  here  until  April,  1882,  when  he  was  en- 
gaged with  John  Lamey  on  construction  work  on  the 
Northern  Pacific  Railroad  east  of  the  Big  Horn  tunnel 
through  to  Helena  until  the  fall  of  this  year.  Then, 
with  three  other  young  men,  he  entered  into  what  ap- 
peared an  excellent  business  scheme  at  the  time  but 
was  later  abandoned,  but  not  before  they  built  a boat 
at  Canyon  ferry,  twelve  miles  from  Helena,  to  be  used 
in  hunting  game  up  and  down  the  river.  For  several 
reasons  it  was  not  feasible  and  Mr.  Cameron  then  se- 
cured work  in  constructing  roads  near  Fort  Buford, 
in  the  woods  at  the  mouth  of  the  Yellowstone  river, 
for  the  firm  of  Leighton  & Jordan,  government  con- 
tractors. 

In  May,  1883,  Mr.  Cameron  returned  to  Miles  City 
and  soon  secured  work  as  a sheep  herder  on  a ranch 
eighty  miles  south,  where  he  remained  until  December, 
1^3,  when  he  located  a homestead  on  Little  Pumpkin 
creek,  in  Custer  county,  Montana,  and  lived  there  until 
April,  1902.  He  was  engaged  in  the  sheep  business  ex- 
tensively from  1889  until  1907,  and  at  one  time  owned 
8000  acres  of  land.  In  the  spring  of  1902,  after  selling 
his  homestead,  he  concluded  to  visit  other  sections  to 
see  if  they  presented  better  business  attractions  than 
Montana,  and  before  he  returned  to  his  chosen  home, 
in  a contented  state  of  mind,  he  had  visited  Washing- 
ton, Oregon  and  California.  In  the  autumn  of  1902  he 
located  permanently  near  Terry,  in  Custer  county, 
where  he  still  retains  500  acres  of  land,  as  a summer 
home,  retiring  to  Terry  during  the  winter  seasons  and 
giving  his  personal  attention  to  one  of  the  leading  busi- 
ness enterprises  of  the  town.  This  is  a modern,  steam 
equipped  laundry,  for  which  he  erected  a commodious 
brick  building,  with  its  machinery  costing  some  $9,000. 
He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Terry  Drug  Com- 
pany, of  which  he  was  president  until  January,  1911,  and 
was  also  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Star  Lumber 
Company  of  Terry  and  served  as  its  vice-president  un- 
til March,  1911,  when  he  sold  his  interest.  He  assisted 
in  the  organization  of  the  Farmers’  Brick  Company 
of  Terry  and  is  president  of  this  concern.  His  many 
business  interests  do  not  conflict,  as  he  is  careful  and 
methodical  and,  in  this  way,  is  also  well  fitted  for  the 
public  services  that  his  fellow  citizens  from  time  to  time 
have  asked  of  him.  Politically  he  is  in  sympathy  with 
the  principles  of  the  Republican  party  and  wherever 
he  has  maintained  his  home  has  been  an  influential 
member  of  it.  While  residing  on  his  homestead  on 
Little  Pumpkin  creek,  he  served  two  terms  as  a member 
of  the  school  board  and  it  was  mainly  through  his 
efforts  that  the  school-house  at  Stacey,  in  Custer  county, 
was  erected.  He  was  also  instrumental  in  securing  the 
organization  of  the  school  district  in  this  section,  feel- 


ing that  the  educating  of  the  children  is  one  of  the 
vital  problems  of  the  age.  On  February  2,  1910,  he 
was'  appointed  county  commissioner  of  Custer  county, 
to  fill  out  the  unexpired  term  of  J.  W.  Stith,  and  no 
better  selection  could  have  been  made.  Although  he 
has  led  a busy  and  during  much  of  the  time  a laborious 
life,  Mr.  Cameron  is  a broad-thinking  man,  one  whose 
experiences  have  widened  his  horizon  and  fitted  him 
well  for  positions  of  trust  and  responsibility. 

On  October  18,  1892,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Frances 
E.  Sweeney,  a daughter  of  James  and  Bridget  Sweeney. 
They  were  born  in  Ireland  and  both  are  now  deceased. 
When  a young  man  the  father  of  Mrs.  Cameron  came 
to  the  United  States  and  all  his  later  life  was  spent 
as  a farmer  in  Wisconsin  and  Iowa.  Of  his  family  of 
six  children,  Mrs.  Cameron  is  the  youngest.  Five 
children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cameron, 
namely:  Clyde  S.,  Ruby,  Ray  E.,  Fred  H.,  and  Cecil  M. 
Mr.  Cameron  is  a valued  member  of  the  Commercial 
Club,  and  fraternally  is  identified  with  Miles  City  Lodge, 
No.  537,  B.  P.  O.  E.,  Crusade  Lodge,  No.  7,  K.  of  P., 
and  Camp  No.  11168,  M.  W.  of  A. 

Louts  V.  Bogy.  Prominent  among  the  leading  citi- 
zens of  Chinook  stands  Louis  V.  Bogy,  who  is  essential- 
ly a self-made  man,  no  one  having  owned  much  less 
than  he  in  early  life  to  what  is  termed  good  fortune. 
He  is  one  of  the  more  successful  merchants  of  the 
place,  his  prosperity  being  due  to  years  of  persevering 
industry,  wise  management,  and  sound  judgment.  A 
son  of  the  late  Charles  Bogy,  he  was  born  September 
10,  1850,  in  Dunleith,  Illinois.  The  father  moved  to  St. 
Louis,  Missouri,  when  Louis  was  but  an  infant  and 
thence  to  Texas,  where  the  family  remained  until  the 
youth  was  nineteen  years  of  age. 

A native  of  Missouri.  Charles  Bogy  was  bom  at 
Saint  Genevieve,  coming  from  a family  of  pioneer 
steamboat  men,  owning  boats  on  both  the  Mississippi 
and  Missouri  rivers.  He  began  life  as  a river  boat- 
man, living  in  Illinois  and  in  Missouri  during  his  earlier 
life,  and  afterwards  being  engaged  in  mining  in  Col- 
orado. About  1869  he  moved  with  his  familv  to  Bon- 
ham, Texas,  where  he  resided  until  his  death,  in  1873. 
He  married  Cornelia  McKnight,  who  was  born  at  St. 
Louis,  Missouri,  and  died  in  Bonham,  Texas,  in  1900. 
Five  children  were  born  of  their  union,  as  follows : 
William,  now  living  in  Bloomfield,  Indiana ; Hattie, 
wife  of  Charles  E.  Phillips,  of  Bonham,  Texas;  Thomas, 
deceased,  who  came  to  Montana  in  1865,  becoming  one 
of  the  early  settlers  of  Fort  Claggett,  now  Judith,  and 
later  being  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  at  Fort 
Benton:  and  Louis  V. 

Acquiring  his  early  education  in  the  city  schools  of 
St.  Louis,  Missouri,  Louis  V.  Bogy  completed  his 
studies  in  Bonham,  Texas,  where  his  parents  located 
when  he  was  a boy.  In  1879  he  returned  north,  for 
two  years  living  and  laboring  in  St.  Louis.  Lured  still 
further  northward,  thinking  to  find  better  opportunities 
for  improving  his  fortunes  in  a newer  country,  Mr. 
Bogy  settled  at  Poplar,  Montana,  in  1881,  and  during 
the  ensuing  five  years  there  clerked  in  a general  store. 
The  following  winter  and  summer  he  spent  at  Fort 
Benton,  thence  going,  in  the  fall  of  1887,  to  Belknap, 
where  he  first  found  employment  with  the  T.  C.  Power 
Mercantile  Company,  afterwards  being  associated  with 
the  Thomas  O’Hanlan  Mercantile  Company  of  Chi- 
nook for  eleven  years.  In  1900  Mr.  Bogy  organized  the 
Bogy  Mercantile  Company,  at  Chinook,  and  has  since 
carried  on  a large  and  highly  remunerative  business, 
his  establishment  being  today  one  of  the  best  stocked 
and  most  liberally  patronized  stores  in  the  place.  In 
1903  Mr.  Bogy  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Chinook, 
and  has  held  the  office  ever  since,  his  prompt  and 
faithful  discharge  of  the  duties  devolving  upon  him  in 
that  capacity  winning  for  him  the  good  will  of  the 
people.  From  year  to  year  Mr,  Bogy  has  added  ma- 


1158 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


terially  to  his  wealth  ; owning  not  only  a fine  ranch  m 
Blaine  county,  but  valuable  business  and  city  property, 
and  a pleasant  home  in  Chinook. 

Mr.  Bogy  married,  in  March,  1889,  Miss  Grace  Bar- 
rett, a native  of  Nevada,  and  they  have  one  son,  Tom 
V.  Bogy.  Politically,  Mr.  Bogy  is  a republican,  and 
fraternally  is  a member  of  the  Ancient  tree  and  Ac- 
cepted Order  of  Masons,  being  past  master  of  his 
lodge. 

James  H.  Daly.  This  enterprising,  progressive  and 
successful  sheep  raiser  of  Custer  county,  who  is  the 
owner  of  a fine  ranch  of  four  hundred  acres  located 
not  far  from  Miles  City,  has  been  a resident  of  Mon- 
tana for  more  than  thirty  years,  during  which  time 
he  has  risen  from  humble  circumstances  and  obscurity 
to  a position  of  independence  and  prominence  among 
his  fellow  men.  He  may  truly  be  termed  the  archi- 
tect of  his  own  fortunes,  for  his  success  has  been 
won  through  the  medium  of  his  own  efforts,  thus  plac- 
ing himself  among  those  whose  activities  have  made 
Montana  the  prosperous  state  that  it  is^  today.  Mr. 
Daly  was  born  in  Hancock  county,  Illinois,  November 
30,  1861,  and  is  a son  of  Charles  and  Katherine  Daly, 
the  former  a native  of  County  Clare,  Ireland,  who 
died  when  seventy  years  of  age,  and  the  latter  of 
whom  passed  away  when  James  H.,  the  youngest  of 
the  four  children,  was  a baby.  Charles  Daly  came 
from  his  native  Erin  to  the  United  States  in  young 
manhood,  the  journey  occupying  six  weeks,  and  landed 
at  New  York  City.  After  spending  some  length  of 
time  in  that  metropolis  he  came  to  Hancock  county, 
Illinois,  there  working  at  his  trade  of  stone  cutter 
until  the  early  seventies.  He  then  removed  to  David 
City,  Buffer  county,  Nebraska,  and  engaged  in  build- 
ing and  contracting  up  to  within  a few  years  of  his 
death,  when  he  retired.  He  was  a Democrat  iit  his 
political  views,  but  his  was  a business  life  rather  than 
one  that  was  devoted  to  politics,  and  he  was  content 
to  give  his  whole  attention  to  his  own  interests. 

James  H.  Daly  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Han- 
cock county,  Illinois,  and  David  City,  Butler  county, 
Nebraska,  and  in  1881  came  to  Beaverhead  county, 
Montana,  and  accepted  employment  herding  sheep. 
Subsequently  he  engaged  in  work  as  a cowboy,  but 
in  1895,  having  been  thrifty  and  economical,  found 
himself  with  enough  capital  to  engage  in  business  on 
his  own  account,  and  embarked  in  sheep  raising  on 
the  Powder  river,  in  Custer  county,  where  he  had 
purchased  a ranch.  In  1903  he  removed  to  Miles  City, 
where  he  lived  while  continuing  to  ranch,  but  in 
1909  went  to  his  present  ranch  and  has  here  lived  ever 
since.  He  has  an  excellent  property  of  400  acres, 
150  of  which  are  under  cultivation  and  thoroughly  ir- 
rigated, and  he  now  has  a band  of  about  6,000  sheep. 
Mr.  Daly  has  made  numerous  improvements  on  his 
land,  and  has  the  ranch  thoroughly  equipped  with 
modern  buildings.  He  has  an  intimate  and  compre- 
hensive knowledge  of  the  business  of  sheep  raising, 
and  results  have  shown  that  he  is  an  able  business 
man.  Like  his  father,  he  has  given  his  whole  atten- 
tion to  his  ranch  and  has  not  engaged  in  active  poli- 
tics, although  he  takes  a good  citizen’s  interest  in  the 
issues  of  the  day,  is  ready  at  all  times  to  assist  in 
movements  for  the  betterment  of  his  community,  and 
votes  the  Republican  ticket.  Fraternally  he  is.  con- 
nected with  Custer  Lodge,  No.  13,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and 
Miles  City  Lodge,  No.  537,  B.  P.  O.  E. 

In  February,  1898,  Mr.  Daly  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Julia  Barker,  who  was  born  at  Rowan, 
Wright  county,  Iowa,  and  to  this  union  there  have  been 
born  four  children,  namely:  James  H.,  Jr.,  Ernest,  Fred 
and  Ruth. 

Edward  T.  Broadwater.  In  the  founding  of  the  city 
of  Havre  and  its  subsequent  commercial  and  civic 


history,  the  man  whose  name  most  clearly  belongs  at 
the  top  of  the  pioneers  and  among  those  whose  efforts 
and  inlluence  have  contributed  most  to  the  city’s  pros- 
perity is  E.  T.  Broadwater. 

Mr.  Broadwater,  whose  career  has  been  identified 
with  Montana  for  more  than  thirty  years,  was  born 
at  Memphis,  Scotland  county,  Missouri,  on  the  22d 
of  November,  1861,  and  comes  of  a prominent  family. 
His  parents  were  Thomas  and  Martha  A.  (Smoot) 
Broadwater.  The  father,  a Virginian  by  birth,  came 
to  Memphis  at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  and  lived  there 
until  his  death  on  February  29,  1908,  aged  eighty-three 
years  five  months  and  seventeen  days.  An  architect 
and  builder  by  profession,  he  was  also  engaged  in  the 
live  stock  business,  and  for  some  years  furnished 
under  contract  mules  to  the  Diamond  R.  Company. 
The  mother  was  born  in  Scotland  county,  Missouri, 
and  still  resides  on  the  old  homestead  in  that  vicinity. 
One  of  the  sons,  Wm,  C.  Broadwater,  died  at  Mem- 
phis, January  14,  1912,  at  the  age  of  forty-four. 

Up  to  the  age  of  fifteen  E.  T.  Broadwater  attended 
the  public  schools  at  Memphis.  Although  reared  in  a 
good  home  and  having  more  than  ordinary  advantages 
in  his  youthful  training,  he  possessed  the  independent 
spirit  which  early  ventures  forth  upon  its  own  enter- 
prise, and  since  boyhood  has  depended  on  his  own 
resources  and  fashioned  his  own  career.  On  leaving 
school  he  spent  five  years  in  the  employ  of  one  cloth- 
ing firm,  and  there  .gained  a business  experience  that 
was  useful  in  his  subsequent  career.  On  May  15, 
1881,  he  arrived  at  Fort  Assiniboine  and  became  book- 
keeper in  the  posttrader’s  store.  He  was  in  business 
at  that  point  for  ten  years,  during  part  of  which  time 
the  firm  was  Broadwater,  McColloch  & Company. 

In  1891,  in  company  with  Simon  Pepin,  he  moved  to 
the  site  of  the  present  city  of  Havre  and  inaugurated 
the  enterprise  which  may  properly  be  considered  the 
cornerstone  of  that  city’s  upbuilding  and  subsequent 
prosperity.  Under  cover  of  a tent  they  opened  a gen- 
eral merchandise  store  on  ground  now  occupied  by 
the  Great  Northern  Railway  yards.  Upon  the  location 
of  the  railroad,  with  public-spirited  enterprise  they 
donated  to  the  railway  company  the  land  on  which 
their  business  was  being  conducted,  the  condition  of 
this  transfer  being  that  the  company  should  make  this 
a division  point  on  the  road.  These  mutual  conces- 
sions on  the  part  of  the  local  business  men  and  the 
railway  company  gave  the  first  real  impetus  to  Havre. 
The  firm  then  erected  a substantial  store  building,  and 
this,  with  Mr.  Broadwater’s  residence,  was  the  pioneer 
structure  in  Havre.  For  twenty  years  the  firm  of 
Broadwater  & Pepin  has  ranked  foremost  among  the 
mercantile  concerns  of  Havre  and  northern  Mon- 
tana; and  their  enterprise  has  led  the  way  for  many 
important  improvements  in  this  vicinity.  Mr.  Broad- 
water has  also  been  engaged  in  stock  raising,  and  in 
connection  with  others  controls  many  thousand  acres 
of  grazing  and  farming  lands.  He  is  secretary  and 
treasurer,  while  Mr.  Pepin  is  president  of  the  Broad- 
water-Pepin  Company.  He  was  also  one  of  the  organ- 
izers and  is  a director  of  the  Security  State  Bank  of 
Havre. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Broadwater  has  been  one  of  the 
influential  Democrats  in  this  portion  of  the  state.  Dur- 
ing Cleveland’s  administration  in  the  nineties,  he  served 
four  years  as  postmaster  at  Havre,  and  was  also  an 
alderman  of  the  city  two  terms,  or  four  years.  Fra- 
ternally he  is  a member  of  the  Elks,  Havre  Lodge  No. 
1201. 

In  October,  1890,  Mr.  Broadwater  was  married  at 
Cape  Girardeau,  Missouri,  to  Miss  Sadie  Moon,  who 
was  born  in  that  city,  where  her  father.  Dr.  Henry 
B.  Moon,  was  a prominent  dentist.  Her  brother. 
Major  H.  G.  Moon,  of  the  Twentieth  _U.  S.  In- 
fantry, now  recruiting  officer  at  Philadelphia,  was  for 
a number  of  years  stationed  at  Fort  Assiniboine.  He 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1159 


also  took  an  active  part  in  the  Cuban  war,  and  was 
seriously  wounded  in  one  of  the  engagements  about  the 
city  of  Santiago.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Broadwater  are  the 
parents  of  two  -children,  Marian  Louise,  attending 
the  state  University  at  Missoula,  and  Kathlyn  Eddwina, 
a student  of  the  Havre  high  school. 

Isaac  A.  Heilbronner.  The  west  is  replete  with 
young  business  men  who  through  their  town  well 
applied  efforts  have  made  of  success  not  an  accident 
but  a logical  result.  Prominent  among  the  representa- 
tive self-made  men  of  Butte  is  Isaac  A.  Heilbronner, 
president  of  the  Heilbronner  Company,  which  con- 
ducts an  extensive  and  well-known  mining  brokerage 
business. 

Isaac  A.  Heilbronner  was  born  at  Salt  Lake  City. 
August  2,  1875,  and  he  is  a son  of  Henry  and  Hen- 
rietta (Steinhauser)  Heilbronner,  the  former  of  whom 
was  summoned  to  the  life  eternal  August  26,  1884, 
and  the  latter  of  whom  is  now  living,  at  the  venerable 
age  of  75  years,  at  Butte.  The  father  was  a native 
of  Bavaria,  Germany,  where  his  birth  occurred  Dec. 
2,  1836,  and  he  came  to  America  from  France  about 
the  year  1856,  at  which  time  he  was  twenty  years  of  age. 
He  settled  first  in  New  York,  going  to  Portland,  Ore., 
in  the  sixties  by  way  of  Isthmus  of  Panama,  and  was 
engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  until  he  came  to  Butte, 
in  1881,  here  turning  his  attention  to  the  retail  furn- 
iture business.  He  did  not  long  survive  his  adverit 
in  Butte  but  died  three,  years  later.  At  the  time  of  his 
demise  he  had  extensive  mining  interests  at  Carlin, 
Nevada,  and  he  left  his  family  fairlv  well  provided 
for.  Mrs.  Heilbronner  was  born  at  Nuremburg,  Ger- 
many, May  I,  1837,  and  when  a child  she  accompanied 
an  older  sister  to  America.  Location  was  made  in 
Philadelphia,  later  in  San  Francisco,  and  subsequently 
in  Portland,  Ore.,  where  she  was  married  to  Mr.  Heil- 
bronner. Six  children  were  born  to_  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Heilbronner,  namely,  Theresa,  who  is  the  wife  of 
I.  N.  Symons,  a prominent  dry-goods  merchant  at 
Butte;  Charles  H.,  who  is  engaged  in  business  at 
Wenachie,  Washington;  Max  H.,  who  is  located  at 
Prince  Rupert,  northwestern  Canada;  Isaac  A.,_  the 
immediate  subject  of  this  review;  Julian  H.,  a resident 
of  Hood  River,  Oregon  and  Adolph  H.,  who  is  con- 
nected with  the  San  Pedro  Railway  Company  at  Butte. 

In  the  public  schools  of  Butte,  Isaac  A.  Heilbronner 
received  his  early  educational  training.  At  the  age  of 
nine  years,  however,  he  was  taken  from  school  and 
made  cash  boy  in  the  Bonner  Mercantile  Company, 
remaining  with  that  concern  for  the  ensuing  eight 
years  and  eventually  becoming  a salesman.  Believing 
that  broader  opportunities  existed  in  other  fields  than 
the  general  merchandise  business,  he  resigned  his  posi- 
tion with  the  Bonner  Company  and  became  a sales- 
man in  the  employ  of  Louis  D.  Cohn,  a wholesale 
cigar  manufacturer.  After  considerable_  experience  in 
the  cigar  business  Mr.  Heilbronner  decided  to  launch 
out  in  that  line  himself  and  accordingly,  in  i8g8,  formed 
a partnership  with  E.  C.  Kulli  and  opened  a whole- 
sale and  retail  cigar  and  tobacco  establishment  in 
Butte,  Mr.  Kulli  eventually  withdrew  from  the  con- 
cern and  his  place  was  taken  by  Patsy  Brown,  the  firm 
becoming  that  of  Brown  & Heilbronner  Company.  In 
1899  Mr.  Heilbronner  withdrew  from  the  above  con- 
cern and  opened  the  Heilbronner  Cigar  Company,  at 
No.  23  East  Broadway.  He  conducted  the  latter  busi- 
ness independently  for  the  next  three  years,  at  the  ex- 
piration 6f  which  he  sold  out  in  order  to  engage  in 
the  mining  brokerage  business,  opening  offices  under 
the  name  of  the  National  Mining  & Investment  Com- 
pany, a concern  which  was  incorporated  in  igo6  ,and 
which  was  officered  as  follows : Walter  C.  Lewis,  pres- 
ident; G.  A.  Lauzier,  vice  president;  and  Isaac  A, 
Heilbronner,  secretary  and  treasurer.  The  above  cor- 
poration continued  until  igop;  when  Messrs.  Lauzier 


and  Heilbronner  withdrew.  About  that  time  the  Heil- 
bronner Company  was  incorporated,  with  I.  A.  Heil- 
bronner, president;  J.  C,  Adams,  general  superintend- 
ent of  the  Boston-Montana  Company,  vice  president ;' 
and  H.  H.  Walrath,  secretary  and  treasurer.  The 
offices  of  the  Heilbronner  Company  are  maintained  at 
No.  200  North  Main  street,  Butte,  and  a large  mining 
brokerage  business  is  controlled,  the  same  including 
extensive  mining  investments. 

Mr.  Heilbronner  has  built  up  a splendid  business  for 
himself  in  Butte  and  his  sterling  integrity  of  char- 
acter as  allied  with  his  fair  and  honorable  business 
transactions  has  gamed  to  him  the  friendship  and 
esteem  of  many  of  the  most  prominent  citizens  of 
Butte.  In  politics  he  is  an  uncompromising  Republican 
and  while  he  has  no  time  for  active  participation  in 
public  affairs  he  is  always  ready  to  exert  his  in- 
fluence in  support  of  all  measures  and  enterprises  ad- 
vanced for  the  good  of  the  general  welfare.  In  a 
fraternal  way  he  is  a member  of  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks,  the  United  Commercial  Trav- 
elers, the  Silver  Bow  Club,  the  Rocky  Mountain  Club 
of  New  York,  and  the  Butte  Country  Club. 

February  6,  1900,  at  Butte,  was  solemnized  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Heilbronner  to  Miss  Rose  Hall,  youngest 
daughter  of  Capt,  W.  E.  Hall,  manager  of  the  Alice 
Mining  Company.  Captain  Hall  has  figured  very  prom- 
inently in  national,  state  and  local  politics  and  was  the 
first  mayor  of  Walkerville,  Montana.  Mrs.  Heilbronner 
was  born  in  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  February  17,  1879. 
She  is  a woman  of  most  gracious  personality  and  is 
deeply  beloved  by  all  with  whom  she  has  come  in  con- 
tact. She  is  a devout  member  of  the  Episcopal  church 
and  they  are  popular  factors  in  connection  with  the 
best  social  activities  of  Butte,  their  home  being  recog- 
nized as  a center  of  refinement  and  generous  hos- 
pitality. ]\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Heilbronner  have  one  son, 
Walter  Lewis  Heilbronner,  whose  birth  occurred  the 
i6th  of  September,  1910. 

Frank  E.  Blakesi.ee.  One  of  the  best  known  and 
most  popular  hostelries  in  Sweet  Grass  county  is  the 
Blakeslee  Hotel,  favorably  located  at  the  county  seat. 
Big  Timber,  the  proprietor  of  which,  Frank  E.  Blakes- 
lee, is  a business  man  of  versatile  talents  and  promi- 
nent in  the  public  and  social  life  of  the  city.  Coming 
first  to  Montana  about  thirty  years  ago,  he  was  for 
a time  employed  in  minor  capacities,  but  after  he  had 
embarked  in  business  on  his  own  account  his  rise  was 
rapid  and  continuous  and  he  is  now  recognized  as  one 
of  his  community’s  most  substantial  citizens.  Mr. 
Blakeslee  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  November  17, 
1848,  and  is  a son  of  Edward  and  Emmeline  (Wood- 
ford) Blakeslee. 

The  Blakeslee  family  is  one  of  the  old  and  honored 
ones  of  New  England,  its  progenitors  having  come 
to  America  on  the  Mayflower,  and  members  participated 
in  both  the  Revolutionary  war  and  War  of  1812-14. 
Edward  Blakeslee  was  born  in  Plymouth  Hollow,  Con- 
necticut, known  at  this  time  as  Thomaston,  in  1800,  and 
as  a youth  learned  the  trade  of  clock  maker,  being  for 
some  time  in  partnershio  with  the  noted  Seth  Thomas 
in  the  manufacture  of  clocks.  He  came  west  to  Alle- 
ghany, Pennsylvania,  by  stage  at  an  early  day,  and  then 
went  down  the  Ohio  river  on  a flatboat  to  Cincinnati, 
where  he  became  the  pioneer  clock-maker  of  the  city, 
and  from  the  early  ’forties  had  the  controlling  trade 
of  the  Thomas  clocks  throughout  the  western  country. 
He  was  also  well  known  in  Democratic  politics,  and 
in  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1866,  his  city  lost^  an 
able  business  man  and  representative  public-spirited 
citizen.  His  wife,  also  born  at  Plymouth  Hollow,  died 
in  1864,  having  been  the  mother  .of  six  children,  of 
whom  two  survive : Emmeline,  the  widow  of  George 
Deprans,  living  at  New  Haven,  Connecticut;  and  Frank 
E.,  of  Big  Timber. 


1160 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


The  education  of  Frank  E.  Blakeslee  was  secured  in 
the  public  and  high  schools  of  Cincinnati,  and  in  that 
city  he  also  attended  Woodward  College.  On  com- 
pleting his  studies,  he  learned  the  carpenter’s  trade, 
but  subsequently  accepted  a position  as  clerk  in  the 
wholesale  grocery  establishment  of  William  Glenn  & 
Sons.  He  continued  with  this  Cincinnati  firm  from 
1865  until  1881,  when  he  embarked  in  business  for  him- 
self in  Montana.  As  a broker  he  handled  the  output 
of  a cotton  mill  for  about  three  years,  and  then  came 
to  Montana  and  became  manager  at  Couer  de  Leon, 
for  the  St.  Paul  firm  of  Glidden,  Griggs  & Company, 
now  Griggs,  Cooper  & Company.  After  spending  four 
years  in  this  business,  Mr.  Blakeslee  went  to  California, 
but  a year  later  returned  to  Montana,  locating  at 
Thompson’s  Falls,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  liquor 
business  for  some  length  of  time.  Later  he  went  to 
Hunter’s  Springs,  Montana,  and  for  some  time  was 
employed  as  a cowboy,  but  subsequently  came  to  Big 
Timber  and  engaged  in  the  restaurant  business.  He 
now  devotes  his  entire  attention  to  his  hotel  business, 
and  the  Blakeslee  enjoys  a large  share  of  representa- 
tive patronage.  The  proprietor  endeavors  to  make  his 
house  homelike  and  comfortable  for  his  guests,  and  as 
a host  he  is  genial  and  obliging  and  very  popular  with 
the  traveling  public.  He  is  a stanch  Republican  in  his 
political  views,  and  for  four  years  has  served  as  aider- 
man  of  his  ward. 

On  December  13,  1889,  Mr.  Blakeslee  was  married  to 
Miss  Mabel  Follansbee,  who  was  born  in  Concord,  New 
Hampshire,  daughter  of  Richard  Follansbee,  a promi- 
nent citizen  of  Concord  and  a member  of  an  old 
and  honored  New  England  family.  Mrs.  Blakeslee  died 
December  5,  1901.  She  and  her  husband  had  no  children 
of  their  own,  but  reared  an  adopted  daughter,  who  is 
now  the  wife  of  Robert  Brownlee,  who  has  twice  repre- 
sented Sweet  Grass  county  in  the  state  assembly. 

Ben  Falk.  Those  local  characteristics  which  are 
most  apparent  to  the  stranger  when  he  first  mingles 
with  the  people  of  Montana  are  their  progressiveness, 
their  ability  to  begin  large  projects  and  carry  them  to  a 
successful  conclusion,  their  whole-heartedness  and  their 
intense  loyalty  to  the  state  of  their  adoption.  This  has 
largely  been  the  quality  of  the  citizenship  of  the  Treas- 
ure state  since  her  pioneer  days.  Then  it  was  that  pio- 
neers of  large  ability  and  of  strong  character,  laid  the 
foundation  of  this  promising  commonwealth,  of  which 
few  who  have  lived  within  her  boundaries  ever  speak 
in  other  than  terms  of  praise.  One  of  the  prosperous 
cities  of  this  thriving  state  and  one  especially  favored 
in  the  calibre  of  the  men  who  have  cast  their  fortunes 
here,  is  Anaconda.  Among  its  strong  business  firms 
we  note  particularly  that  of  Falk  Brothers,  who  both 
operate  the  Independent  meat  market  there  and  also 
conduct  a wholesale  business  in  that  line.  The  founder 
of  this  successful  business  was  Ben  Falk,  the  father  of 
the  present  proprietors  and  now  a retired  resident  of 
Anaconda,  whose  people  esteem  him  as  one  of  the 
city’s  most  honored  pioneers.  A record  of  the  events 
of  his  life  is  of  especial  interest. 

The  proverbial  thrift,  industry  and  business  acumen 
of  the  German  nation  descended  as  an  ancestral  gift  to 
Ben  Falk,  who  was  born  near  Bruchsall  in  Obergram- 
bacli,  Groscherzogtheim,  Baden,  Germany,  on  July  13, 
1835.  His  father  was  a butcher  and  stock  dealer,  whose 
business  thus  gave  Ben  early  opportunities  for  learning 
the  butchering  business.  He  lived  at  his  home  in  the 
Fatherland  until  early  in  the  year  1857,  at  which  time 
he  came  to  America,  sailing  from  Havre  on  a sailing 
vessel  and,  after  a voyage  of  forty-two  days,  landing 
in  New  York.  There  an  older  brother,  Nathan  Falk, 
who  was  engaged  in  the  meat  business,  met  young  Ben 
Falk  and  took  him  into  his  employ.  After  a time  the 
latter  was  admitted  into  partnership  in  the  business 
which  was  then  located  on  Stanton  street.  New  York 


City.  From  March  12,  1857,  until  December  2,  1862, 
Ben  Falk  remained  a resident  of  New  York.  On  the 
latter  date  he  embarked  for  new  scenes  and  varied  ad- 
ventures, but  with  definite  vocational  purposes  in  view. 

Having  taken  passage  on  the  steamer  “Ariel,”  Mr. 
Falk  was  once  more  on  the  sea,  bound  this  time  for 
California  via  the  isthmus.  When  off  the  coast  of 
Cuba,  the  vessel  was  fired  upon  and  stopped  by  the 
Confederate  cruiser  “Alabama,”  from  which  a shot 
was  fired  so  close  to  the  “Ariel”  that  it  cut  off  part  of 
the  mast.  After  being  detained  for  three  days  in  West 
Indian  waters,  the  “Ariel”  was  permitted  to  proceed  on 
its  course,  and  after  a journey  of  twenty-eight  days 
Mr.  Falk  landed  at  San  Francisco.  There  he  imme- 
diately found  work  at  his  trade  and  a month  later  be- 
came a partner  in  a stall  in  the  old  Metropolitan  market. 
Disposing  of  his  interest  there,  he  went  by  boat  to 
Portland,  Oregon,  en  route  to  Boise,  Idaho.  When, 
however,  he  went  to  Walla  Walla — three  hundred  miles 
from  Boise — to  take  the  stage,  he  found  that  space  in 
the  coaches  on  the  line  running  to  Boise  was  all  taken 
for  the  next  three  weeks. 

Mr.  Falk  and  a companion  thereupon  determined 
to  set  out  for  Boise  on  foot.  During  the  first  day  they 
walked  twenty-five  miles.  Then,  on  the  Blue  Mountains, 
they  encountered  snow,  waist  deep.  That  made  it  seem 
advisable  that  they  retrace  their  steps  to  Walla  Walla, 
which  they  did.  There  Mr.  Falk  temporarily  accepted 
a position  in  a meat  market,  where  he  remained  at  work 
for  two  months.  News  from  the  gold  fields  of  the 
Kootenai  country  in  British  Columbia  attracted  him  to 
that  country,  five  hundred  miles  'from  Walla  Walla. 
Fie  made  the  journey  thither,  finding  on  his  route  not  a 
single  house,  until  he  reached  Fisherville,  his  destina- 
tion, in  July  of  1864.  That  camp  was  at  the  time  very 
rich  in  placer  mining  and  there  were  several  hundred 
men  in  camp.  Late  in  the  fall,  about  two  hundred 
men  arrived.  By  February  the  supplies  which  had  been 
laid  in  for  the  regular  population  had  run  so  low  that 
prices  became  exceedingly  high.  Mr.  Falk  has  seen 
flour  sell  as  high  as  one  dollar  per  pound  and  potatoes 
at  nearly  half  that  value.  The  winter  of  1864-65  was 
unusually  long  and  extremely  severe  one.  Mr.  Falk 
conducted  a market  in  Fisherville  until  August,  1865, 
when  he  sold  out  and  located  at  Helena,  Montana. 

In  the  city  of  Helena  Mr.  Falk’s  residence  was  short. 
He  established  on  Wood  street  a market  which  was 
successfully  conducted.  But  on  April  28,  1869,  a great 
fire  swept  the  city  and  one  of  the  many  buildings  that 
were  burned  was  that  of  the  Falk  meat  market.  There- 
upon his  period  of  less  than  four  years  in  Helena  was 
followed  by  eleven  years  in  the  great  American  me- 
tropolis, the  scene  of  Mr.  Falk’s  earliest  experiences  in 
this  country.  There  he  purchased  a meat  market  at 
the  corner  of  Third  avenue  and  Fifty-ninth  street.  He 
left  New  York  City  a second  time,  in  July  of  1881, 
returning  to  Montana  and  settling  at  Butte  and  there 
opening  a market  at  East  Park  street.  In  August  of 
1883,  he  came  to  this  place,  which  has  ever  since  been 
his  home. 

At  the  time  of  Mr.  Falk’s  arrival  here.  Anaconda 
was  a city  of  tents.  In  the  first  business  block  erected 
on  Commercial  street,  he  established  the  first  butcher 
shop  ever  conducted  in  Anaconda.  Here  he  continued 
to  pursue  his  habitual  business  activities  until  his  retire- 
ment a few  years  ago,  at  which  time  he  was  succeeded 
in  business  by  his  sons,  Barry  and  David. 

Both  during  the  years  of  his  active  business  career 
and  since  his  retirement  ten  years  ago,  Ben  Falk  has 
been  prominent  in  the  Montana  Society  of  Pioneers,  of 
which  he  was  in  1912  elected  president  of  Deer  Lodge 
county.  He  has  also  taken  much  interest  in  political 
affairs,  being  a stanch  Republican,  but  has  always  re- 
fused such  offices  of  public  preferment  as  have  been 
tendered  him.  His  religious  attitude  is  best  expressed 
by  his  endorsing  and  actively  carrying  out  the  prin- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1161 


ciples  of  human  conduct  so  compactly  stated  in  the 
Golden  Rule.  Mr.  Falk  is,  like  other  pioneers,  possessed 
of  a fund  of  interesting  reminiscences  of  personal  ex- 
periences. While  the  foregoing  account  is  but  a brief 
record  of  the  life  of  a rugged  and  doughty  pioneer,  it 
can  be  said  of  him  in  general  that  he  was  ever  ready 
to  do  his  part  in  the  preservation  of  law  and  order, 
that  he  was  a strong  advocate  of  fair  play  and  that  he 
well  represents  the  type  of  citizen  that  the  state  is  proud 
to  claim. 

Not  only  has  Mr.  Falk’s  exemplary  living  established 
him  firmly  in  the  high  esteem  of  all  who  know  him,  but 
the  wealth  that  has  accrued  to  him  as  a result  of  his 
successful  business  activity  has  added  to  his  personal 
prestige  and  influence.  It  is  further  greatly  to  his 
credit  to  be  the  father  of  the  superior  family  of  nine 
children  that  have  been  so  creditably  reared  by  him  and 
Mrs.  Falk — nee  Fredericka  Gottschalk,  to  whom  he  was 
married  in  New  York  City  in  1870.  The  members  of 
the  second  generation  are  as  follows : three  sons,  Barry, 
David  and  Jacob,  who  are  residents  of  Anaconda  and 
still  members  of  the  parental  home;  a daughter,  Emma, 
who  is  also  one  of  the  family  circle  at  Anaconda ; a son, 
Abraham  Falk,  of  Livingston,  Montana ; a second  daugh- 
ter, Emma,  who  is  Mrs.  W.  N.  McCarty  of  Pocatello, 
Idaho;  Rose,  now  Mrs.  Morris  Lewis  of  San  Francisco, 
California;  and  Felix  Falk,  unmarried,  of  Seattle, 
Washington. 

Messrs.  Barry  and  David  Falk,  who  assumed  the  man- 
agement of  the  business  interests  formerly  conducted 
by  their  father,  have  in  the  ensuing  ten  years  well 
demonstrated  their  ability  to  sustain  the  high  reputa- 
tion already  established  by  the  house  and  have  also 
made  evident  their  own  energy  and  large  business  abil- 
ity. The  remainder  of  this  review  will  be  devoted  to  a 
brief  consideration  of  the  main  details  in  the  career 
and  local  status  of  each. 

Barry  Falk  was  born  in  New  York  City  on  the  third 
day  of  April,  1871,  the  first  child  of  his  parents,  and  was 
about  fifteen  years  of  age  when  they  settled  in  Ana- 
conda, Montana.  His  schooling  was  begun  in  New 
York  City,  where  he  concluded  his  education  as  a high 
school  graduate.  In  that  city,  too,  he  gained  his  first 
business  experience,  being  employed  there  in  a whole- 
sale hosiery  and  glove  house  a short  time  before  the 
family’s  removal  west.  After  locating  at  Anaconda  he 
assisted  his  father  in  the  meat  business  until  the  lat- 
ter’s retirement,  when,  together  with  his  brother  David, 
he  took  charge  of  the  business  and  has  since  been  en- 
gaged in  its  conduct.  He  is  interested  in  all  up-to-date 
features  fxossible  for  use  in  an  establishment  of  the 
kind  the  Falk  Brothers’  meat  market  stands  for.  The 
shop  is  fully  equipped  with  every  modern  appliance  es- 
sential to  that  business.  The  proprietors  have  their 
own  slaughter-houses  and  are  excellently  prepared  to 
handle  both  their  retail  and  wholesale  trade.  Mr.  Falk 
is  a prominent  figure  in  the  fraternal  circles  of  Ana- 
conda, being  a member  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protec- 
tive Order  of  Elks,  the  Order  of  Eagles  and  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  besides  being  a member 
and  past  president  of  the  Sons  and  Daughters  of 
Montana  Pioneers.  In  politics  he  is  a Republican  and 
is  actively  interested  in  the  work  of  his  party.  He 
firmly  believes  that  any  individual  sustains  the  highest 
business  efficiency  by  giving  a just  proportion  of  time 
to  recreation,  and  is  himself  a patron  of  different  whole- 
some amusements.  In  the  way  of  out-door  sports  he 
is  especially  fond  of  baseball  and  also  enjoys  a good 
boxing  contest.  There  is  probably  no  citizen  in  the 
state  who  holds  more  optimistic  views  of  the  future  than 
does  Barry  Falk. 

David  Falk,  the  junior  member  of  the  above-men- 
tioned firm,  was  born  in  New  York  City  on  November 
21,  1880.  and  since  the  age  of  six  years  has  lived_  in 
Anaconda.  He  is  a graduate  of  the  Anaconda  high 
school  and  began  business  activity  about  1902  when  he 


and  his  brother  took  charge  of  the  business  which  had 
been  established  by  their  father,  Ben  Falk.  David 
Falk’s  vim  and  business  sagacity  have  made  him  an 
able  partner  in  the  management  of  these  business  in- 
terests, and  he  too  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  alert 
and  progressive  business  men  of  Anaconda.  His  broth- 
er’s views  regarding  athletic  diversion  are  shared  by 
David  Falk,  who  has  often  actively  participated  in  base- 
ball and  football.  His  fraternal  associations  are  with 
the  Order  of  Eagles,  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America 
and  the  Order  of  Moose.  He  also  is  a Republican. 

Consistent  with  their  belief  in  a great  future  for 
Montana,  these  young  men  are  by  their  business 
activity  contributing  to  that  end.  Like  their  father, 
Ben  Falk,  they  well  represent  that  western  energy  which 
is  satisfied  only  with  large  accomplishments. 

Almon  S.  Robertson.  A resident  of  Montana  for 
more  than  thirty  years,  during  which  time  he  has  identi- 
fied himself  with  the  business  activities  of  several  locali- 
ties and  acted  in  official  positions  of  importance  and 
responsibility,  Almon  S.  Robertson  has  been  closely 
connected  with  the  growth  and  development  of  the 
Treasure  state  and  is  now  one  of  the  foremost  resi- 
dents of  Livingston.  He  is  a native  of  County  Gren- 
ville, Ontario,  Canada,  and  was  born  December  12, 
1863,  a son  of  George  Fulton  and  Ellen  (Stitt)  Robert- 
son. His  father,  a native  of  Scotland,  came  to  America 
with  his  parents,  Thomas  and  Ellen  Robertson,  pioneer 
farming  people  of  Ontario  and  later  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business.  George  Eulton  Robertson  learned 
the  trade  of  carriage  maker,  worked  thereat  for  a num- 
ber of  years,  eventually  engaging  in  the  manufacture 
of  carriages  and  wagons  on  his  own  account,  and 
becoming  a well  known  and  highly  esteemed  citizen 
and  the  incumbent  of  a number  of  public  offices.  He 
and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 
Mr.  Robertson  passed  away  when  only  forty-four  years 
of  age,  but  his  widow,  a native  of  County  Grenville,  still 
survives,  and  is  living  in  Livingston  at  the  age  of 
seventy-seven  years.  They  had  seven  children,  as  fol- 
lows : Margaret,  who  died  in  young  womanhood ; Ellen, 
the  wife  of  Perry  J.  Moore,  now  living  at  Two  Dot, 
Montana;  Minna,  the  wife  of  H.  C.  Pound,  of  Big 
Timber,  Montana;  Almon  S. ; George,  who  married 
Mabel  Spencer  and  lives  in  Montana,  where  he  is  en- 
gaged in  the  sheep  and  cattle  business ; William,  of 
Butte,  who  married  Miss  Nagus;  and  Percy  F.,  a busi- 
ness man  of  Livingston. 

_ Alrnon  S.  Robertson  received  a common  school  educa- 
tion in  the  Canadian  institutions,  and  his  first  money 
was  earned  as  a lad,  when  he  received  fifty  cents  per 
day  for  digging  potatoes.  He  was  then  apprenticed  to 
the  trade  of  blacksmith  in  Brockville,  Ontario,  and  when 
he  had  mastered  that  vocation,  started  for  Montana, 
in  1881.  He  was  able  to  travel  by  rail  as  far  as  Bis- 
marck, North  Dakota,  but  on  reaching  that  point  started 
overland  and  eventually  arrived  at  White  Sulphur 
Springs,  where  he  was  engaged  in  working  at  his  trade 
until  1885.  From  that  time  until  1887  he  lived  in  Butte, 
and  in  the  latter  year  removed  to  Costle,  where  he 
carried  on  a successful  business  until  1893.  In  Costle 
he  served  very  acceptably  as  city  treasurer  and  aider- 
man  for  two  terms  each,  and  after  he  had  been  a 
resident  of  Livingston  for  about  ten  years,  in  No- 
vember, 1902,  he  received  the  election  to  the  office  of 
sheriff  of  Park  county.  The  success  with  which  he 
cleared  his  section  of  the  country  of  cattle  thieves, 
murderers  and  disreputable  characters  convinced  the 
voters  that  he  was  the  right  man  for  the  office,  and 
accordingly  re-elected  him  thereto  in  1904,  and  during 
his  second  administration  his  excellent  record  con- 
tinued. When  his  term  of  office  had  closed,  Mr.  Robert- 
son went  back  to  the  blacksmith  business,  in  which 
he  has  continued  to  the  nresent  time.  Success  attended 
his  industrious  efforts,  and  in  1910  he  embarked  in 


1162 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


the  livery  business,  erecting  a large  brick  feed  and 
sales  barn  at  No.  226  South  Alain  street.  This  venture 
has  also  proved  a happy  one,  the  manner  in  which  he 
conducts  his  affairs  having  won  the  entire  confidence 
and  patronage  of  the  community.  In  April,  1912,  A'lr. 
Robertson  was  the  successful  Republican  candidate  for 
the  office  of  alderman  from  the  Second  ward,  being 
elected  for  a term  of  two  years.  As  in  the  past  he  is 
discharging  his  duties  in  a capable  and  highly  satis- 
factory manner.  He  has  also  been  prominent  in  fra- 
ternal work  here,  being  a member  of  Livingston  Lodge 
No.  32,  A.  F.  & A.  M. ; Livingston  Chapter  No.  7,  R. 
A.  M. ; St.  Bernard  Commandery  No.  6,  K.  T. ; Par- 
ticular Consistory  of  Eastern  Montana  No.  i,  and  other 
societies. 

On  April  12,  1888,  Mr.  Robertson  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Alice  E.  Pound,  who  was  born  at 
Chippewa  Falls,  Chippewa  county,  Wisconsin,  daughter 
of  Albert  and  Sarah  E.  Pound,  and  the  third  of  their 
six  children,  of  whom  five  are  living.  Airs.  ^ Robert- 
son’s father  was  born  in  New  York  state,  but  in  youth 
removed  to  Wisconsin,  being  engaged  in  the  operation 
of  sawmills  and  in  the  general  merchandise  business 
at  Chippewa  Falls  until  1879.  In  that  year  he  re- 
moved to  Meagher  county,  Montana,  where  he  carried 
on  a sheep  and  cattle  business  until  1900,  then  returning 
to  Chippewa  Falls,  where  he  was  postmaster  for  some 
time.  On  his  return  to  Missoula,  Montana,  he  engaged 
in  the  real  estate  business,  but  is  now  retired  from 
active  pursuits,  being  eighty-one  years  of  age.  His 
wife  is  deceased.  He  has  been  a prominent  Republican 
politician,  and  is  also  well  known  in  Alasonic  circles. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robertson  have  one  son,  Almon  Fulton, 
who  secured  his  education  in  the  common  and  high 
schools  of  Park  county,  and  .graduated  from  the  min- 
ing engineering  department  of  the  University  of  Wis- 
consin, at  Aladison,  with  the  class  of  1911.  He  is  a 
young  man  with  a very  promising  future,  and  at 
present  is  acting  in  the  capacity  of  county  surveyor  of 
Park  county,  elected  in  1912.  Mrs.  Robertson  is  a 
valued  member  of  the  Ladies  Literary  Club,  and  the 
family  home  is  a center  of  culture  and  social  refinement. 

Patrick  J.  BRornY,  actively  identified  with  mercan- 
tile and  mining  interests  in  Alontana,  makes  his  home  at 
Butte.  He  is  deeply  interested  in  community  affairs  and 
his  efforts  have  also  been  a potent  element  in  the 
business  progress  of  this  section  of  the  state.  Fie  has 
with  ready  recognition  of  opportunity  directed  his  labors 
into  various  fields  wherein  he  has  achieved  success  and 
he  holds  distinctive  prestige  as  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent and  popular  citizens  of  Butte.  From  1888  to  1906 
Air.  Brophy  was  sole  owner  of  P.  J.  Brophy  & Com- 
pany, importing  grocers,  etc.,  but  in  the  latter  year  he 
retired  from  the  more  active  management  in  order  to 
devote  his  entire  time  and  attention  to  some  gold  placer- 
mining interests  he  has  in  Lincoln  county,  this  state. 

A native  of  the  fair  Emerald  Isle,  Patrick  J. 
Brophy  was  born  in  County  Carlow,  Ireland,  on  the  5th 
of  August,  1855.  Flis  father,  Thomas  Brophy,  was  a 
well-known  farmer  in  Ireland,  where  he  was  born  and 
where  he  resided  during  the  entire  period  of  his  life- 
time. Thomas  Brophy  was  born  in  1808  and  he  lived  to 
the  venerable  age  of  seventy-two  years,  his  demise  hav- 
ing occurred  in  1879.  His  wife  was  Johanna  (Walsh) 
Brophy,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Wexford  county,  Ire- 
land. where  she  died  in  1903,  at  the  age  of  eighty-six 
years.  Of  the  nine  children  born  to  Air.  and  Airs. 
Thomas  Brophy  three  are  living  in  1912. 

To  the  public  schools  of  his  native  land  Mr.  Brophy, 
of  this  notice,  is  indebted  for  his  early  educational 
discipline.  After  completing  the  equivalent  of  a high- 
school  course  in  Ireland  he  entered  upon  an  apprentice- 
ship to  learn  the  mercantile  business.  He  came  to 
America  in  1876,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  and  his 
first  year  in  this  country  was  spent  in  Chicago,  Illinois, 


whence  he  removed  to  Evanston,  Wyoming.  He  re- 
mained in  the  latter  place,  working  in  a mercantile 
concern,  for  the  ensuing  three  years,  at  the  expiration 
of  which,  in  February,  1881,  he  came  to  Butte.  After 
his  advent  in  this  city  he  formed  a partnership  alli- 
ance with  George  H.  Casey,  establishing  the  Casey 
& Brophy  Company,  which,  with  the  passage  of  years, 
has  grown  to  gigantic  proportions.  Air.  Casey  withdrew 
from  the  concern  in  1888  and  from  that  time  until 
1906  the  business  was  conducted  as  P.  J.  Brophy  & 
Company.  In  1906  the  company  was  incorporated  un- 
der the  laws  of  the  state  of  Alontana,  with  a capital 
stock  of  twenty-five  thousand  dollars  and  with  an 
official  corps  as  follows, — P.  J.  Brophy,  president, 
James  H.  Rowe,  vice  president,  and  H.  W.  Johnson, 
secretary  and  treasurer.  Air.  Brophy  devotes  much  of 
his  attention  to  the  operation  of  the  Libby  Placer 
Mining  Company  in  Lincoln  county,  this  state,  he  be- 
ing the  secretary-treasurer  and  general  manager  of  the 
corporation.  Inasmuch  as  Air.  Brophy’s  splendid  suc- 
cess in  life  is  the  result  of  his  own  well-directed  en- 
deavors, it  is  the  more  gratifying  to  contemplate.  He 
is  a self-made  man  in  the  most  significant  sense  of  the 
word  and  his  splendid  achievements  in  the  business 
world  have  won  him  the  admiration  and  esteem  of  his 
fellow  citizens  at  Butte. 

Mr.  Brophy  has  been  twice  wed,  his  first  union  having 
been  to  Miss  Margaret  D’Arcy,  the  ceremony  was 
performed  at  Joliet,  Illinois,  in  January,  1893.  Airs. 
Brophy  -was  summoned  to  the  life  eternal  at  Butte  in 
1902  and  is  survived  by  three  children,  concerning  whom 
the  following  brief  data  is  here  incorporated, — Thomas 
D’Arcy  Brophy  was  born  at  Butte,  in  October,  1893,  and 
he  is  now  a senior  at  Gonzaga  College,  at  Spokane, 
Washington;  John  A.  Brophy  was  born  in  June,  1895, 
and  is  a sophomore  in  Gonzaga  College,  at  Spokane; 
and  Patrick  J.  Brophy,  Jr.,  born  in  April,  1899,  is  atr 
tending  a parochial  school  in  Butte.  For  his  second 
wife  Air.  Brophy  married  Aliss  Mary  E.  Ryan,  a native 
of  Canada.  There  have  been  no  children  born  to  the 
second  union. 

In  his  political  proclivities  Air.  Brophy  is  a stalwart 
supporter  of  the  principles  and  policies  for  which  the 
Democratic  party  stands  sponsor  and  while  he  is  not 
an  active  politician  he  is  deeply  interested  in  all  matters 
tending  to  promote  progress  and  improvement.  For 
eight  years  he  was  a member  of  the  Butte  school  board. 
In  fraternal  circles  he  is  prominent  as  a Knight  of 
Columbus  and  he  is  also  affiliated  with  the  Ancient  Or- 
der of  Hibernians,  the  Silver  Bow  Club  and  the  Butte 
Country  Club.  In  religious  matters  he  is-  a stanch 
Catholic,  and  in  this  faith  he  is  rearing  his  children. 
He  vvas  president  of  the  Butte  Business  Men’s  Associa- 
tion in  1910-11,  and  his  civic  attitude  is  distinctly  loyal 
and  public-spirited. 

Samuel  AIcConnell.  Today  more  than  ever  before, 
men  are  measured  by  what  they  accomplish.  In  1881 
Samuel  AIcConnell,  then  a youth  in  his  seventeenth 
year,  came  to  Montana  to  avail  himself  of  the  greater 
opportunities  the  West  afforded  the  young  man  begin- 
ning an  independent  career.  He  was  ambitious  and  had 
that  courage  and  energy  so  essential  to  success,  espe- 
cially so  in  a new  country.  In  the  interim  of  thirty  years- 
or  more  since  then,  his  merit  has  won  steady  advance- 
ment until  today  he  is  filling  the  responsible  position  of 
general  manager  and  superintendent  of  the  Butte  Cen- 
tral Copper  Alining  Company,  of  Butte,  Alontana. 

Born  in  Ontario,  Canada,  November  20,  1864,  Mr. 
AIcConnell  is  a son  of  Robert  and  Alargaret  (Car- 
ruthers)  AIcConnell.  Ontario,  Canada,  was  also  the 
nativity  of  his  father,  who  was  born  there  in  1832  but 
who  died  in  1887  in  Wilmington,  Ohio,  where  his  body 
now  reposes.  Alargaret  Carruthers  was  born  in  Edin- 
burgh, Scotland,  in  1830,  and  came  to  Canada  with  her 
parents  when  but  a child.  She  was  married  to  Robert 


HISTORY  OF  AIONTANA 


1163 


McConnell  in  Canada,  and  she  too  passed  away  at 
Wilmington,  Ohio,  her  death  having  occurred  m 1888. 

Samuel  McConnell  received  his  early  education  in  the 
schools  of  Canada.  While  still  a youth  he  left  home 
and  first  went  to  the  state  of  Ohio,  where,  however, 
he  remained  but  a short  time.  From  there  he  went  to 
Covington,  Kentucky,  where  he  secured  a position  in  the 
rolling  mill  of  Mitchell,  Trenter  & Co.,  as  an  apprentice 
to  learn  the  machinist’s  trade.  In  1881,  having  mas- 
tered his  trade,  and  having  heard  of  the  opportunities 
Montana  afforded  one  of  his  vocation,  he  came  to 
Helena,  where  he  was  first  employed  in  the  Nettie  mine 
and  later  in  the  Whitlach  mines,  in  ^ each  case  as  a 
machinist.  He  was  thus  engaged*  until  1896,  when  he 
secured'  a position  as  chief  machinist  for  the  Holder 
Hardware  Company  of  Helena.  He  remained  with  this_ 
company  until  1906,  when  he  resigned  to  take  charge  of 
the  Ophir  mine  at  Butte.  After  a short  time  he  was 
placed  in  charge  of  the  property  of  the  Butte  Central 
Mining  and  Smelting  Company,  which  was  later  sold  to 
the  Butte  Boston  Company,  which,  in  turn,  disposed  of 
it  to  the  Butte  Central  Copper  Mining  Com.pany,  owned 
and  controlled  by  eastern  and  Canadian  capitalists. 
When  Mr.  McConnell  took  charge  of  this  property  it  was 
in  an  undeveloped  state,  as  the  mine  was  continually  ac- 
cumulating considerable  water  and  the  owners  had  never 
solved  the  problem  of  how  to  dispose  of  the  annoy- 
ance. 'With  characteristic  determination,  Mr.  McCon- 
nell in  a short  time  had  mastered  the  difficulty  and  the 
mine  became  a big  producer,  it  now  being  considered 
one  of  the  best  in  the  Butte  district.  The  main  shaft 
is  now  down  to  the  1,000  foot  level,  with  numerous 
lengthy  lead  tunnels,  and  the  ore  is  of  a high  grade. 
In  1912  the  most  modern  and  up-to-date  concentrator 
and  cyanide  plant  for  the  treatment  of  ores  in  this  sec- 
tion of  the  country,  was  completed,  under  the  rnanage- 
ment  of  Mr.  McConnell.  The  company  has  its  offices  at 
829  South  Dakota  street  and  employs  a force  of  125 
men.  At  the  last  meeting  of  the  board  of  directors, 
Mr.  McConnell  was  promoted  from  the  office  of  geneml 
superintendent  to  that  of  general  manager  and  superin- 
tendent. He  is  also  a large  stockholder  in  the  com- 
pany. 

On  September  22,  1886,  Mr.  McConnell  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Hannah  C.  Millikan,  of  Wilmington, 
Ohio,  daughter  of  John  and  Margaret  C.  (Himel- 
wright)  Millikan.  They  have  three  children ; Edna, 
wife  of  William  A.  McDonald,  now  a resident  of  Brit- 
tannia,  British  Columbia.  She  was  born  at  Wilmington, 
Ohio,  in  1887  and  attended  the  State  Normal  school  at 
Dillon,  Montana ; Samuel  Verner  McConnell,  who  was 
born  at  Helena,  Montana,  in  1903,  and  is  now  Mtending 
the  public  schools  of  Butte ; and  Montana  Delight  Mc- 
Connell, who  was  born  in  Butte,  in  1906. 

Fraternally  Mr.  McConnell  affiliates  as  a member  of 
the  Masonic  order,  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America, 
the  Loyal  Order  of  Moose  and  the  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks.  In  political  affairs  he  gives  his 
allegiance  to  the  Democratic  party,  and  in  church  faith 
and  membership  he  is  a Presbyterian. 

Men  like  Mr.  McConnell  do  not  travel  successward 
by  luck,  but  by  ability  and  conscientious  effort,  and  the 
high  and  responsible  position  Mr.  McConnell  holds  has 
come  to  him  as  a reward  of  his  own  well-directed  ener- 
gies. His  investments  have  been  judicious  and  have 
prospered,  and  he  is  well  known  in  the  mining  circles 
of  Montana.  Of  genial  disposition  and  charitable  in 
his  views  and  dealings  with  his  fellow  men,  he  is  appre- 
ciated by  his  business  associates  both  for  his  ability 
and  personal  character,  and  those  same  qualities  render 
him  an  agreeable  companion  in  social  circles.  While  he 
is  essentially  a business  man,  yet  he  believes  in  a pru- 
dent equalization  of  work  and  recreation  and  is  fond  of 
all  kinds  of  sport. 

Gustave  Theo.  Nickel.  One  of  the  enterprising_  and 
progressive  business  men  of  Butte  who  has  achieved 


success  in  his  chosen  field  of  endeavor  through  the 
medium  of  his  own  individual  efforts,  is  Gustave  Theo. 
Nickel,  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Nickel  & Olden- 
dorff,  proprietors  of  the  Old  Silver  Bow  Buffet,  at  No. 
39  North  Main  street.  The  youngest  of  a family  of 
nine  children,  his  father  died  when  he  was  only  three 
years  old,  and  he  was  left  an  orphan  when  only  fifteen 
years  of  age,  since  which  time  he  has  made  his  own 
way  in  the  world,  and  stands  today  as  an  example  of 
what  may  be  accomplished  through  thrift,  perseverance 
and  industry.  iMr.  Nickel  was  born  in  'VVurtemberg, 
Germany,  November  10,  1861,  and  is  a son  of  Henry 
and  Katherine  (Frederick)  Nickel.  Henry  Nickel  was 
born  February  9,  1818,  and  spent  his  life  in  the  meat 
business,  dying  in  his  native  Fatherland  in  Februarj-, 
1864.  His  wife  was  born  in  1824  in  Germany,  and 
brought  her  family  to  the  Lffiited  States  in  1874,  pass- 
ing away  in  New  York  in  1876. 

The  education  of  Gustave  Theo.  Nickel  comprised 
five  years  of  study  in  his  native  country  and  two  years 
in  the  schools  of  New  York  City.  His  first  employ- 
ment was  as  a Western  Union  Telegraph  messenger 
boy  in  New  York  City,  and  after  spending  two  years 
in  that  capacity  went  to  work  for  Madame  Rudersdorff, 
the  mother  of  Richard  i\Iansfield,  on  whose  farm  he 
continued  to  work  from  1878  to  1881.  In  May  of  the 
latter  year  Air.  Nickel  came  to  Butte,  and  here  he 
was  engaged  in  the  meat  business  with  his  brother 
Henry  until  1890,  at  which  time  he  engaged  in  the 
retail  liquor  business.  This  has  grown  to  be  one  of 
the  leading  establishments  of  its  kind  in  the  city  and 
caters  to  a large  and  representative  trade.  When  the 
Spanish-American  war  broke  out.  Mr.  Nickel  became 
first  lieutenant  in  Company  F,  First  Alontana  “Volun- 
teers, and  during  the  greater  part  of  the  war  served  in 
the  Philippine  Islands.  He  was  engaged  in  a number 
of  hotly  contested  engagements,  among  which  was 
Calocon,  where  his  captain,  William  Hill  of  Helena, 
was  wounded.  Mr.  Nickel  was  mustered  out  of  the 
service  at  San  Francisco,  and  at  once  returned  to  Butte, 
where  his  business  had  been  carried  on  by  his  partner 
during  his  absence.  Air.  Nickel  has  been  prominent 
in  fraternal  circles,  and  belongs  to  the  Sons  of  Her- 
mann, of  which  he  is  treasurer  and  ex-grand  treasurer 
of  the  state;  the  B.  P.  O.  E.,  the  Eagles,  and  the 
and  while  he  has  not  cared  for  office  on  his  own  account 
Bohemian  Alaennercher.  Politically,  he  is  a Republican, 
he  has  taken  an  active  part  in  local  matters,  and 
wields  wide  influence  in  his  part  of  the  city.  He 
resides  at  No.  217  North  Alabama  street,  where  he  has 
a comfortable  home. 

On  November  30,  1889,  Mr.  Nickel  was  married  at 
Butte  to  Miss  Mary  Riehl,  a native  of  Germany,  who 
was  brought  to  this  country  as  a child  and  settled 
first  in  Peoria,  Illinois.  Three  children  have  been 
born  to  Air.  and  Airs.  Nickel : Carl,  born  September 
12,  1890,  who  is  now  associated  with  the  R.  G.  Dun 
Alercantile  Agency;  Alinnie,  born  in  June,  1893;  and 
Isma,  born  July  6,  1895,  who  is  now  a pupil  in  the 
Butte  high  school.  Air.  Nickel  has  a thriving,  up- 
to-date  business  and  conducts  it  along  progressive 
lines.  He  may  feel  a pardonable  degree  of  pride  in 
what  he  has  accomplished,  as  he  started  out  in  life  a 
poor  boy,  with  no  financial  aid  or  strong  influence  be- 
hind him.  An  able  and  straightforward  business  man 
■ and  patriotic  and  public-spirited  citizen  he  is  esteemed 
by  a wide  circle  of  acquaintances  and  has  hosts  of 
friends  in  the  city  of  his  adoption, 

William  G.\llick,  Among  the  men  of  foreign  birth 
and  breeding  who  have  come  to  this  country  in  early 
manhood,  and  through  their  own  persevering  efforts 
have  worked  their  way  upwards  to  places  of  importance 
and  influence  among  their  fellow  associates  is  William 
Gallick,  a well-known  citizen  of  Butte.  A son  of 
William  Gallick,  he  was  born.  August  30,  1830,  in  Gne- 


1164 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


sen,  Germany.  His  father  spent  his  entire  ninety- 
eight  years  of  life  in  the  Fatherland,  during  his  active 
career  having  been  engaged  in  business  as  a clothing 
merchant.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Jane 
Gumpert,  died  in  1842,  at  a cornparatively  early  age. 

Brought  up  in  Germany,  William  Gallick  received 
good  educational  advantages  for  his  days.  When  twen- 
ty years  old  he  followed  in  the  footsteps  of  many  of 
his  enterprising  countrymen,  immigrating  to  the  United 
States,  landing  in  New  York  City  in  1850.  In  1852 
he  settled  in  New  Haven,  Connecticut,  where  he  met 
the  lady  whom  he  subsequently  wooed  and  won  as  his 
bride.  Going  from  New  England  to  California,  he 
lived  there  a few  years,  and  then  located  in  Portland, 
Oregon,  which  was  his  home  for  nineteen  years,  while 
there  being  profitably  engaged  in  the  wholesale  prod- 
uce business.  Coming  to  Montana  in  1881,  Mr.  Gal- 
lick located  in  Butte,  becoming  one  of  the_  pioneer 
wholesale  liquor  dealers  of  the  city,  a business  in  which 
he  was  actively  employed  until  his  retirement  from 
active  pursuits,  in  1908. 

Mr.  Gallick  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for  James 
Buchanan,  but  has  since  been  affiliated  with  the  Re- 
publican party,  while  in  Portland  having  been  a leader 
in  the  political  arena.  During  the  Dugan  administra- 
tion, Mr.  Gallick  served  as  police  commissioner.  _ He 
has  been  a regular  attendant  at  political  conventions, 
and  as  a member  of  the  reception  committee  has  ex- 
tended a welcome  to  every  president  of  the  United 
States  that  has  visited  the  far  western  states. 

In  1908,  Mr.  Gallick  was  elected  presidential  elector 
when  W.  H.  Taft  was  nominated  for  president. 

Mr.  Gallick  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in 
church  affairs  and  has  for  many  years  been  president 
of  the  Congregation  B’nai  Israel  of  Butte,  Montana. 

Mr.  Gallick  married,  in  New  Haven,  Connecticut, 
February  20,  1852,  Bliimchen  Mendel.  Of  the  chil- 
dren born  of  their  union  three  survive,  all  being  resi- 
dents of  Butte,  namely;  Mrs.  J.  G.  Sternfels;  Mrs. 
Meyer  Genzberger;  and  Emanuel  Gallick.  Mr.  Gal- 
lick has  three  grandchildren  and  one  great-granddaugh- 
ter. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Gallick  is  a member,  and  has  passed 
all  of  the  chairs,  of  the  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted 
Order  of  Masons,  having  attained  the  32nd  degree  in 
the  Scottish  Rite  and  is  a Noble  of  the  Mystic  Shrine ; 
of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows ; and  of  the 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  and  is  a member 
of  B’nai  B'rith. 

Reno  H.  Sales.  To  Reno  H.  Sales  has  come  the 
attainment  of  a distinguished  position  in  connection 
with  the  great  mining  industry  of  the  state  of  Mon- 
tana. His  life  achievements  worthily  illustrate  what 
may  be  attained  by  nersistent  and  painstaking  effort. 
He_  is  a man  of_  progresive  ideas;  although  versatile 
he  is  not  superficial ; exactness  and  thoroughness  char- 
acterize all  his  attainments ; his  intellectual  posses- 
sions are  unified  and  assimilated ; they  are  his  own. 
Mr.  Sales  is  chief  geologist  of  the  Anaconda  Copper 
Mining  Company,  with  headquarters  at  Butte,  where 
he  has  resided  since  1900. 

At  Storm  Lake,  Iowa,  on  the  loth  of  September, 
1876,  occurred  the  birth  of  Reno  H.  Sales,  who  is  a 
son  of  Charles  and  Albertina  (Zahn)  Sales,  the  for- 
mer of  whom  was  born  in  England  in  1835,  and  the 
latter  of  whom  was  a native  of  Germany,  where  her 
birth  occurred  in  1843.  Charles  Sales  immigrated  to 
the  United  States  in  1844  and  after  residing  in  Iowa 
for  a number  of  years  he  came  to  Montana,  settling  in 
the  vicinity  of  Bozeman,  in  1881.  He  was  a farmer  by 
occupation  and  continued  to  be  identified  with  that 
line  of  enterprise  until  the  time  of  his  demise,  in  Aug- 
ust, 1910.  Mrs.  Sales  came  to  America  from  Germany 
in  1856  and  she  was  summoned  to  the  life  eternal  in 
1898.  at  the  age  of  fifty-five  years.  Reno  H.  Sales  was 


the  sixth  in  order  of  birth  of  the  six  children  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  Sales. 

Mr.  Sales,  of  this  notice,  was  a child  of  but  five 
years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  parents’  removal  from 
Iowa  to  Montana.  He  was  reared  to  the  invigorating 
discipline  of  the  old  homestead  farm,  in  the  work  and 
management  of  which  he  early  became  associated  with 
his  father.  His  preliminary  educational  training  was 
obtained  in  the  public  schools  of  Helena  and  later 
he  supplemented  that  training  by  a course  of  study  in 
the  Montana  Agricultural  College,  at  Bozeman,  being 
graduated  in  the  mining  engineering  department  of  that 
institution  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1898.  Subse- 
quently he  was  matriculated  as  a student  in  Columbia 
University,  in  the  city  of  New  York,  and  was  gradu- 
ated in  that  celebrated  institution  in  1900,  duly  receiv- 
ing his  degree  of  Engineer  of  Mines.  Upon  complet- 
ing his  collegiate  work  Mr.  Sales  came  to  Butte,  where 
he  secured  a position  in  the  engineering  department 
of  the  Boston  Montana  Mining  Company.  He  rer 
mained  in  the  employ  of  that  company  for  one  year, 
at  the  expiration  of  which  he  entered  the  service  of 
the  Anaconda  Copper  Mining  Company,  as  assistant 
in  the  geological  department.  In  1906  Mr.  Sales  was 
made  chief  of  the  geological  department  and  as  the 
efficient  incumbent  of  that  position  he  is  accomplish- 
ing remarkable  results.  His  work  carries  him  to  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  state  and  he  is  daily  proving  him- 
self of  more  value  to  his  employers. 

While  not  an  active  participant  in  public  affairs,  Mr. 
Sales  is  a stalwart  Republican  in  his  political  convic- 
tions and  he  gives  freely  of  his  aid  and  influence  in 
support  of  all  measures  and  enterprises  advanced  for 
the  good  of  the  general  welfare.  He  is  affiliated  with 
the  Silver  Bow,  Butte  Country  Club.  In  religious 
matters  he  and  his  wife  are  devout  communicants  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  church,  in  the  various  depart- 
ments of  whose  work  they  are  most  zealous  factors. 
In  connection  with  his  work  Mr.  Sales  is  a valued 
and  appreciative  member  of  the  Arnerican  Institute  of 
Mining  Engineers,  the  Montana  Society  of  Engineers 
and  the  Mining  and  Metallurgical  Society  of  America. 
Mr.  Sales  is  exceedingly  fond  of  all  out-door  sports 
and  it  may  be  said  concerning  his  popularity  that  the 
circle  of  his  friends  is  coincident  with  that  of  his 
acquaintances. 

At  Keokuk,  Iowa,  on  the  6th  of  July,  1909,  was  sol- 
emnized the  marriage  of  Mr.  Sales  to  Miss  Lorene 
Townsend,  a daughter  of  J.  W.  Townsend,  one  of  the 
early  pioneers  of  Montana.  Mr.  Townsend  is  now 
engaged  in  the  general  merchandise  business  at  Keo- 
kuk, Iowa,  where  he  has  resided  for  many  years  past. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sales  became  the  parents  of  one  child, 
Mary  Townsend  Sales,  born  on  the  8th  of  May,  1910, 
and  died  February  18,  1911.  The  Sales  home  at  Butte 
is  a center  of  refinement  and  generous  hospitality  and 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sales  are  very  popular  in  connection 
with  the  best  social  activities  of  the  city. 

Charles  J.  Schatzlein.  It  would  be  difficult  to  make 
any  intelligent  estimate  of  the  value  that  has  accrued 
to  the  state  of  Montana,  and  particularly  to  the  city  of 
Butte,  as  a direct  result  of  the  life  and  works  of  the 
late  Charles  J.  Schatzlein.  An  artist  of  exceptional 
ability,  he  gave  his  attention  to  the  portrayal  of  west- 
tern  life  and  scenes,  and  in  the  wide-spread  popularity 
which  his  productions  have  enjoyed  throughout  the 
country,  the  great  Treasure  State  has  never  been  the 
loser.  Indeed,  his  work  has  done  more  to  correct 
erroneous  ideas  of  Montana  than  either  the  press  or  the 
people,  the  accuracy  of  his  portrayals  being  their  most 
salient  feature.  For  thirty  years  a resident  of  Butte, 
he  was  known  and  loved  by  the  people  most  understand- 
ingly.  His  acquaintance  in  that  city  dates  back  to_  the 
time  when  he  arrived  there,  penniless  but  ambitious, 
and  Butte  has  watched  him  evolve  from  the  status  of  a 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1165 


paper-hanger  and  decorator  to  an  artist  of  national 
fame.  His  life  was  a model  of  gentleness  and  virtue, 
and  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  17th  of_  August, 
1911,  was  felt  as  a distinct  loss  in  every  home  in  Butte. 
He  will  not  soon  be  forgotten  and  his  work  will  never 
die. 

Born  in  the  town  of  Mauch  Chunk,  Pennsylvania,  on 
January  21,  1857,  Charles  J.  Schatzlein  was  the  son  of 
John  Schatzlein,  a native  of  Germany,  born  there  in 
1834.  He  came  to  America  as  a young  man  and  set- 
tled in  Pennsylvania,  carrying  on  a merchant-tailoring 
business.  He  died  in  1906,  on  the  17th  of  August.  He 
was  married  to  Fredericka  Saunders,  born  in  Ger- 
many in  1842,  who  came  as  a child  to  America  with  her 
parents  and  was  reared  in  Pennsylvania.  She  passed 
away  in  January,  1896,  in  that  state  where  she  had  been 
reared  and  where  she  had  passed  her  worthy  life. 
Charles,  their  son,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  the  town  of  his  birth,  and  after  leaving  school  he 
was  apprenticed  to  learn  the  paper-hanging  and  dec- 
orating business  at  Bethlehem,  Pennsylvania.  He  com- 
pleted his  term  of  apprenticeship,  and  was  regarded  as 
a finished  workman  and  artistic  decorator  by  all._  His 
ambition  was  to  see  the  western  country,  and  without 
waiting  to  earn  sufficient  money  to  bring  him  to  Mon- 
tana, he  set  out  courageously,  and  made  his  way  across 
the  country  as  best  he  might  with  his  slender  purse. 
To  “tramp  it”  was  no  hardship  to  him  with  his  blithe 
spirits  and  his  ardent  love  of  the  beautiful  out-of- 
doors,  and  when  necessity  made  that  mode  of  traveling 
expedient,  he  cheerfully  accepted  it  and  the  joys  of  the 
road  more  than  repaid  him  for  any  possible  inconven- 
iences he  might  have  suffered.  From  Baltimore  to  Rea 
Rocks  he  came  by  rail,  and  from  the  latter  named  place 
he  started  by  wagon  across  the  plains  of  Montana, 
reaching  Black  Foot'  on  April  8,  1881 ; from  that  point 
he  came  by  stage  to  Butte,  arriving  on  the  loth  of 
April,  1881.  The  mining  industry  in  Butte  was  at  its 
height  at  that  time  and  the  customary  industrial  boom 
was  on.  Charles  Schatzlein  could  not  remain  idle  for 
long  with  his  slender  purse,  and  the  cost  of  living  was 
phenomenal  in  the  new  camp.  His  determination  to 
start  something  on  his  own  responsibility  resulted  in  his 
opening  a small  paper-hanging  shop,  and  he  conducted 
a decorating  business  with  excellent  success  for  some 
time.  The  business  expanded  sufficiently  for  him  to 
require  help  and  he  took  a partner, — none  other  than 
ex-Governor  Reickerts  of  Montana,  and  they  carried  on 
a growing  business  for  a number  of  years.  Finally 
Mr.  Schatzlein  bought  out  the  interest  of  his  partner 
and  continued  with  the  business  alone.  In  the  mean- 
time, the  growing  demands  of  the  business,  had  made 
expedient  a succession  of  moves  into  larger  quarters, 
his  last  move  being  the  present  location  of  his  shop  on 
Broadway.  During  all  these  years  the  latent  artistic 
talent  of  the  man  had  been  fostered  and  encouraged, 
and  he  had  been  giving  a deal  of  his  time  to  studies  and 
to  the  production  of  his  earlier  work  in  this  line.  He 
always  took  for  his  subjects  western  scenes,  never 
varying  from  that  idea  in  his  productions,  even  in  later 
years  when  he  had  gained  a degree  of  prominence  in 
art  circles.  The  early  history  of  the  west  was  a par- 
ticularly attractive  type  with  him  and  his  work  has  been 
regarded  as  the  most  accurate  portrayals  of  any  of  the 
modern  artists.  He  was  the  contemporary  of  Charles 
M.  Russell,  the  well  known  cowboy  artist,  whose  work 
is  recognized  throughout  the  country,  and  they  were 
close  friends  from  the  time  of  Mr.  Schatzlein’s  arrival 
in  Montana.  The  productions  of  Mr.  Russell’s  brush 
are  on  exhibition  at  the  place  of  business  of  Mr. 
Schatzlein  in  Butte. 

Mr.  Schatzlein  was  always  interested  in  the  civic  wel- 
fare of  Butte,  and  unlike  many  men  of  artistic  tempera- 
ment, was  willing  to  share  his  time  with  the  people. 
The  unique  plan  of  decoration  of  the  new  capitol  build- 
ing at  Helena,  was  conceived  by  Mr.  Schatzlein-  and 


while  his  death  occurred  before  the  work  could  be  com- 
pleted, his  suggestions  were  followed  and  his  efforts 
were  mainly  responsible  for  the  magnificent  mural  scenes 
which  now  adorn  the  walls  of  this  structure.  He  always 
took  a man’s  place  in  the  political  affairs  of  the  city  and 
state,  and  he  was  three  times  elected  alderman  from 
the  fourth  ward  of  Butte,  defeating  John  Forbis,  Judge 
John  G.  McHatton  and  John  Gillie,  who  were  counted 
among  the  strongest  men  of  the  Democratic  party.  His 
personal  popularity  was  great,  his  friends  belonging  to 
every  walk  of  life,  and  had  he  chosen  a political  career, 
the  honors  which  would  have  been  his  would  have  only 
been  limited  to  those  within  the  gift  of  his  fellow  citi- 
zens. He  was  a member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  as 
well  as  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and 
of  the  Benevolent  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  He  was 
also  a member  of  the  Silver  Bow  Club,  and  was  at  one 
time  president  of  the  Business  Men’s  Association. 

Charles  Schatzlein  lived  his  own  life,  he  did  what  he 
thought  to  be  right,  and  cared  nothing  of  what  others 
might  think  of  his  actions.  No  display  ever  influenced 
him  and  nothing  was  more  distasteful  to  him  than 
shams  of  any  description.  He  possessed  some  of  the 
eccentricities  of  genius  but  these  were  natural  to  him 
and  he  neyer  tried  to  hide  them  nor  felt  any  necessity 
for  apologizing  for  them!  His  word  was  as  good  as  his 
bond  and  no  man  had  any  keener  regard  for  an  obliga- 
tion. His  stand  for  what  he  considered  right  was  im- 
movable. The  high  esteem  and  love  which  was  accorded 
him  in  the  city  where  he  made  his  home  for  so  many 
years  was  ably  voiced  by  the  editor  of  the  Treasure 
State,  on  August  26,  1911,  and  it  is  not  out  of  keeping 
with  the  fitness  of  things  that  his  heartfelt  tribute  be 
recorded  in  this  brief  memoir.  Here  follows  the  arti- 
cle : “I  first  met  Charlie  Schatzlein  about  four  years  ago. 
I knew  instinctively  that  I was  in  the  presence  of  a 
rare  and  precious  spirit.  Men  rarely  realize  a new 
friendship  after  forty,  and  yet  he  and  I achieved  this — to 
me — most  inestimable  prize.  It  was  as  though  I had 
known  him  happily  and  wisely  in  some  far  off,  long 
forgotten  springtime  when  we  were  both  boys,  or 
gnomes,  or  trolls  or  nixies.  For  the  prankish  youth, 
the  elfin  fancy,  the  infinite  adolescence  of  him  shone  out 
in  his  far-seeing  eyes  even  yet;  and  not  the  torment 
of  disease,  the  agony  of  surgical  incision  or  the  pres- 
ence of  looming  death  could  dim  the  quenchless  bov- 
light  of  his  eyes  until  they  closed  forever. 

“It  is  not  often  that  one  finds  in  the  incongruous  days 
the  heart  of  a boy,  the  mind  of  a man  and  the  soul  of 
an  artist,  symmetrical,  harmonious  and  content,  in  one 
individual.  And  yet  all  these  gracious  endowments 
were  radiant, — vocal, — vibrant  in  Schatzlein.  He 

seemed  to  know  something  about  everything  that  was 
good  to  serve,  savor  or  sweeten  life.  A poet  of  thought 
and  deed,  but  not  of  words,  for  like  all  deeply  impres- 
sionable and  bravely  prescient  men,  Charlie  Schatzlein 
was  a man  who  spoke  seldom,  and  yet  with  a sweet 
gravity  that  gave  an  ultimate  significance  to  all  his 
utterances.  The  very  catholicity  of  his  interests  gave 
token  of  the  incessaiit-  keen  versatility  of  his  calmly 
inquisitive  mind._  His  earnest  poise,  his  unobtrusive 
energy,  his  unerring  instinct  for  truth,  his  gravely  happy 
satisfaction  with  all  the  wholesome  manifestations  of 
everyday  life  made  him  always  an  inspiring  influence 
in  the  affairs  of  men  and  things  around  him. 

“I  have  known  few  men  whose  mental  mettle,  flexible 
yet  trenchant,  clove  so  cleanly  and  directly  to  the  essen- 
tial heart  of  truth,  nor  one  who  cherished  truth  more 
jealously.  For  more  than  twenty  years  Charlie  Schatz- 
lein has  been  the  chief  inspirational  agent  of  art  in 
Montana.  In  the  banal  life  of  Butte,  his  store  became 
a studio,  a conservatory,  a work-shop,  a home  and  sanc- 
tuary for  pictorial  expression  and  he  manifested  a 
trained  and  unerring  instinct  for  that  which  is  comelv, 
ornate,  harmonic  and  beautiful.  His  mind  was  a 
treasure  trove  of  beauty  and  he  carried  qualities  of  wise 


1166 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


benignance,  of  dynamic  graciousness  into  politics,  into 
commerce,  into  public  and  private  enterprise  for  he  was 
a man  of  many  attainments  and  universal_  sympathies, 
and  from  every  facet  of  his  singularly  gifted  natuie 
shone  always  the  warm  radiance  of  spiritual  beauty.  I 
shall  not  forget  Charlie  Schatzlein  because,  as  many 
must  have  done,  I envied  him  when  he  lived  and  rev- 
erence him  now.  His  was  the  bookless  wisdom — the 
unwritten  erudition,— the  matchless  nurture,— splendid 
development,— the  priceless  diploma  and  the  graduated 
completion  of  a modest  and  gentle  man.”  He  was  in 
art  for  art’s  sake,  and  worked  incessantly  for  the  devel- 
opment of  art.  This  was  in  a new  country,  and  while 
not  receiving  the  response  it  would  have  in  other  sec 
tions,  was  not  without  its.  good  results.  In  years  to 
come  these  efforts  by  Mr.  Schatzlein,  will  be  found  to 
be  the  very  foundation,  as  has  already  began  to  appear, 
of  art  development  in  the  state. 

On  the  17th  of  June,  1885,  Mr.  Schatzlein^  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Emma  Martin,  born  in  Saint  Qaire, 
Pennsylvania.  She  was  the  daughter  of  James  Thomas 
and  Margaret  (Corby)  Martin,  both  natives  of  Eng- 
land. The  father  settled  in  Pensylvania  as  a young 
man  coming  from  England  and  was  a prominent  con- 
tractor in  that  state  while  he  lived.  He  was  a veteran 
of  the  Civil  war,  having  served  in  a regiment  of  Penn- 
sylvania  Volunteers.  The  mother  is  still  a resident  of 
Truro,  Massachusetts.  Mrs.  Schatzlein  has  three  sis- 
ters- Mrs  W.  E.  Carroll,  of  Butte;  Mrs.  Horace  Snow, 
of  Truro,  Massachusetts,  and  Mrs.  I.  N.  Congdon,  of 
Butte.  Mr.  Schatzlein  was  fortunate  in  his  selection  of 
a wife,  for  Mrs.  Schatzlein  was  an  ideal  helpmate, 
herself  keenly  appreciative  of  art,  and  the  two  had 
many  tastes  in  common.  Since  his  death  the  widow^  has 
ably  managed  the  estate  with  its  business  connections, 
giving  her  personal  attention  to  various  details,  with  a 
skill  and  vigor  which  would  reflect  credit  upon  almost 
any  veteran  of  finance. 

Ralph  H.  Bemis.  Well  known  in  Montana  is  Ralph 
Bemis,  U.  S.  commissioner,  who  is  one  of  the  interested 
principals  in  the  ownership  and  management  of  Xht  Belt 
Valley  Times  and  in  other  ways  is  prominently  iden- 
tified with  interests  in  his  section  of  the  state. 

Mr.  Bemis  is  of  Irish  and  Scotch  descent  and  on 
both  the  paternal  and  maternal  sides  has  sprung  from 
old  American  families,  as  the  Bemis  family  was  estab- 
lished here  a number  of  generations  before  the  Revo- 
lution, by  Irish  emigrants,  and  his  mother’s  people,  the 
Nevens,  were  Scotch  settlers  in  New  England  long 
prior  to  the  conflict  that  established  us  a nation. 

Ralph  H.  Bemis  was  born  in  Worcester,  Massachu- 
setts, August  19,  1861.  His  father  was  Horace  C.  Bemis 
and  his  mother  was  Harriet  Nevens  prior  to  her  mar- 
riage. Horace  C.  Bemis  was  a native  of  Vermont  and 
for  a number  of  years  was  a shoe  manufacturer  in  the 
east  prior  to  his  removal  to  Minnesota  about  1871. 
There  he  followed  farming  until  about  1890  when  he 
retired  from  active  life  and  became  a resident  of  Osh- 
kosh, Wisconsin,  where  he  died  in  1893  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  ninety-three.  He  was  one  of  the  Union’s 
brave  defenders  during  the  Civil  war,  his  service  having 
been  as  a member  of  Company  A,  First  Massachusetts 
Heavy  Artillery.  His  marriage  to  Harriet  Nevens 

took  place  in  Boston,  though  she,  too,  was  a native  of 
Vermont.  They  were  the  parents  of  three  children, 
of  whom  Ralph  H.  was  the  youngest.  Mr.  Bemis  at-  ' 
tended  the  public  schools  of  Manchester,  New  Hamp- 
shire to  the  age  of  thirteen,  and  after  leaving  school 
spent  two  years  on  his  grandfather’s  farm  in  Vermont. 
In  1878  he  joined  his  father  in  Minnesota,  but  after 
one  year  on  the  farm  there  he  took  up  the  life  of  a 
sailor  on  Lake  Superior  and  followed  it  a couple  of 
seasons.  Next  he  joined  the  lumber  camps  in  the 
pineries  of  northern  Wisconsin  where  he  worked  about 


one  year.  From  there  he  came  to  Montana,  arriving  in 
the  spring  of  1881  and  settling  first  in  the  Yellowstone 
valley.  During  his  earlier  days  there  he  followed  va- 
rious vocations,  was  for  a time  a cowboy,  then  did 
freighting,  and  for  eight  years  was  employed  in  the 
quartz  mines  at  Butte,  Bannack  City  and  other  points. 
In  1895  he  came  to  Belt  and  purchased  an  interest  in  the 
Belt  Valley  Times,  which  had  been  established  the 
year  previous  and  which  he  continued  to  own  jointly 
with  J.  E.  Sheridan  until  the  company  became  incor- 
porated in  1900.  At  that  time  Mr.  Bemis  became  man- 
ager and  the  principal  stockholder ' in  the  corporation, 
which  relation  he  still  sustains.  The  paper  is  Repub- 
lican in  its  political  nature  and  is  a publication  which 
aims  to  advance  the  interests  of  this  section  of  Mon- 
tana and  to  aid  in  laying  the  foundations  of  an  en- 
lightened commonwealth. 

In  1908  Mr.  Bemis  was  appointed  U.  S.  commissioner 
for  the  district  of  Montana,  the  duties  of  which  re- 
sponsible distinction  he  continues  to  perform  with 
ability  and  fidelity.  He  is  an  ardent  Republican  and 
for  years  has  been  an  active  and  prominent  participant 
in  Republican  party  counsels  in  their  relation  to  na- 
tional, state  and  local  affairs. 

In  January,  1893,  at  Neihart,  Montana,  was  solemnized 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Bemis  and  Miss  Elizabeth  White. 
She  is  the  daughter  of  Albert  G.  and  Mary  S.  White, 
both  natives  of  Illinois  who  became  early  settlers  in 
Montana,  locating  at  White  Suphur  Springs  in  1883. 
Three  children  have  come  to  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bemis;  namely:  Elsie  C.,  born  at  Neihart,  and  Harriet 
M.  and  John  A.,  both  of  whom  were  born  at  Belt. 

From  1903  to  1908  Mr.  Bemis  served  as  trustee  of  the 
Belt  school  board  and  at  all  times  has  been  recognized 
as  one  of  that  city’s  most  public-spirited  citizens.  He 
is  a member  of  the  Belt  Commercial  Club,  of  which  he 
was  also  secretary  from  1909  to  1912,  and  fraternally  is 
identified  with  the  local  lodge  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 
Hunting  and  fishing  are  his  chief  diversions  in  the  way 
of  outdoor  sports.  He  is  a lover  of  good  literature  and 
is  also  interested  in  the  art  of  music,  being  the  leader 
of  the  Crescent  orchestra  at  Belt. 

George  F.  Brooks.  Numbered  among  the  substan- 
tial business  men  of  Missoula  is  George  F.  Brooks,  a 
valued  and  highly  useful  citizen,  who  throughout  his 
years  of  residence  in  this  locality  has  ever  taken  a 
warm  interest  in  local  progress  and  improvements, 
heartily  endorsing  all  enterprises  that  promise  to  be 
of  benefit  to  city  or  county.  Of  New  England  ances- 
try, he  was  born.  May  i,  1858,  in  Boston,  Massachusetts, 
and  there  received  his  early  education.  His  father, 
James  B.  Brooks,  a native  of  Vermont,  migrated  to 
Boston  when  young,  and  was  there  connected  with  the 
police  force  until  his  death,  at  the  early  age  of  thirty- 
eight  years,  being  then  in  manhood’s  prime.  His 
widow,  whose  maiden  name  was  Eliza  Cushman,  was 
born  and  reared  in  New  Hampshire. 

Fitted  for  college  in  the  Boston  schools,  George  F. 
Brooks  continued  his  studies  in  Hanover,  New  Hamp- 
shire, entering  Dartmouth  College  in  1877,  and  being 
graduated  as  a civil  engineer  with  the  class  of  1881, 
in  June  of  that  year.  His  record  for  attainments  and 
ability  being  especially  good,  he  was  selected  from 
among  his  classmates  to  fill  the  offered  position  of 
.rodman  with  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad  Company, 
and  came  to  Bozeman,  Montana,  where  he  entered  the 
employ  of  Colonel  Dodge,  surveyor  for  the  road.  At 
the  end  of  the  season,  Mr.  Brooks  came  to  Missoula 
as  topographer  on  location,  serving  in  that  capacity 
under  I.  S.  P.  Weeks,  who  had  charge  of  the  work, 
and  has  since  made  this  city  his  home.  For  three 
years  he  had  charge  of  construction  for  position  of 
the  Northern  Pacific  road  in  this  state,  and  was  then 
sent  to  Yakima.  Returning  to  Missoula  in  1885,  Mr. 
Brooks  was  for  two  years  connected  with  the  operat 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1167 


ing  department  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad  in 
this  vicinity.  In  the  meantime  he  was  appointed 
county  surveyor  of  Missoula  county,  and  in  addition 
to  his  work  in  Missoula  was  employed  as  a surveyor 
in  Ravalli,  Flathead,  Lincoln  and  Sanders,  doing  gen- 
eral surveying  for  the  government  in  various  places. 
Giving  up  his  professional  work  in  1889,  i\Ir.  Brooks 
has  since  been  actively  and  prosperously  engaged  in 
the  real  estate  and  loan  business,  and  through  diligent 
labor  and  wise  management  has  acquired  a goodly 
share  of  this  world's  goods. 

Mr.  Brooks  married.  June  4,  1885,  in  Missoula,  Fanny 
J.  Cate,  a native  of  New  Hampshire.  Although  not 
a politician.  Mr.  Brooks  takes  an  active  interest  in 
public  matters,  lending  his  influence  towards  the  estab- 
lishment of  beneficial  enterprises.  Fraternally  he  is 
a member  of  the  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Order  of 
Masons. 

Jerry  Mullins.  An  active  and  prosperous  business 
man  of  Butte,  Montana,  Jerry  Mullins  was  born,  August 
23,  1858,  in  Quebec,  Canada,  of  Irish  parentage,  his 
father.  Daniel  Mullins,  having  been  born  and  reared 
in  Ireland.  The  latter,  who  was  born  in  County  Cork 
in  1827,  immigrated  to  America  in  1846.  He  first  settled 
in  Massachusetts,  but  during  the  building  of  the  Grand 
Trunk  Railway  went  to  Canada,  where  he  assisted  in 
the  construction  of  that  road  as  a contractor.  In 
i'886  he  came  to  Butte,  Montana,  and  was  there  engaged 
in  mining  pursuits  until  his  death,  at  the  Saint  James 
hospital,  on  September  7,  1901,  the  day  following  the 
assassination  of  President  McKinley.  He  married,  in 
Canada,  Mary  Mahoney,  who  was  born  in  Ireland  in 
1826,  and  died,  January  20,  1873,  in  IMichigan,  where 
the  family  were  then  living. 

The  youngest  of  a family  of  nine  children,  Jerry 
TMullins,  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  IMarquette 
county,  Michigan,  attending  regularly  until  fourteen 
years  old.  He  subsequently  earned  his  first'  money  by 
driving  a horse,  receiving  a dollar  a day  wages,  while 
his  first  permanent  employment  was  as  a day  laborer 
on  the  Canadian  Pacific  Railroad.  In  1879  he  started 
out  for  himself  alone  going  to  Black  Hills,  where  he 
followed  mining  for  two  years.  Coming  thence  to 
Butte  in  1881,  Mr.  IMullins  continued  his  mining  opera- 
tions for  five  years,  after  which  he  made  his  first  mer- 
cantile venture,  opening  a saloon  on  the  east  side  of 
Main  street,  where  he  continued  in  business  a year. 
The  ensuing  four  years  he  was  variously  emplo}-ed,  and 
from  February.  1890,  until  1895,  was  in  partnership 
with  John  A.  Stromberg,  being  junior  member  of  the 
firm  of  Stromberg  & Mullins.  Since  the  withdrawal 
of  the  senior  member  of  the  firm,  Mr.  Mullins  has  con- 
tinued the  business  alone.  He  is  secretary  and  treas- 
urer of  Tivoli  Brewing  Company,  and  is  serving  as 
president  of  the  Montana  Protective  Association. 

_ Politically,  Mr.  Mullins  uniformly  supports  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  Democratic  party  by  voice  and  by  vote, 
and  takes  great  interest  in  local  affairs.  He  represented 
the  Sixth  ward  of  Butte  for  four  years  in  the  city 
council,  two  years  of  the  time  being  president  of  the 
council,  and  in  1885  and  1886  served  as  deputy  sheriff 
under  Eugene  D.  Sullivan.  Fraternally,  Mr.  IMullins 
belongs  to  the  Benevolent  Protective  Order  of  Elks, 
and  to  the  Order  of  Eagles. 

On  August  i_8,  1893,  at  Deer  Lodge,  Montana,  Mr. 
Mullins  was  united  in  marriage  with  Katharine  O’Neil, 
who  was  born  in  Michigan,  a daughter  of  John  and 
Mary  O’Neil,  and  their  only  child,  IMary  Leona  Mullins, 
\yas  born  in  Butte,  Montana,  June  15,  1894.  Mul- 

lins and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
church,  and  have  a pleasant  home  at  No.  510  North 
Galena  street. 

O.  A.  Fallang.  When  a man  has  been  elected  to 
a public  office  for  more  than  fourteen  successive  years 


and  holds  the  honor  of  having  been  chosen  to  fill  his 
position  more  times  than  any  other  official  in  the  same 
office  in  his  state,  it  must  be  conceded  that  he  has 
proven  himself  eminently  worthy  to*  discharge  the 
duties  of  his  position.  Such  is  the  record  of  O.  A.  Fal- 
lang, sheriff  of  Sweet  Grass  county,  a man  whose 
courage  and  persistence  have  made  him  feared  by  the 
criminal  class  throughout  Montana.  Mr.  Fallang  was 
for  some  years  engaged  in  a successful  business,  but 
gave  up  his  private  interests  to  accept  the  call  from 
the  public  arena,  and  has  given  to  his  office  the  same 
conscientious  attention  that  characterized  all  his  busi- 
ness dealings.  IMr.  Fallang  was  born  at  Black  Brook, 
Polk  county,  Wisconsin,  December  28,  1874,  and  is  a 
son  of  Peter  O.  and  Marie  (Olsen)  Fallang,  natives 
of  Norway.  His  father  came  to  the  United  States  in 
1870,  and  located  in  Polk  county,  Wisconsin,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  lumbering  and  farming,  subsequently- 
removing  to  Fillmore  county,  IMinnesota,  where  he 
served  as  deputy  sheriff.  In  1881  he  came  to  Gallatin 
county,  Montana,  where  for  something  more  than  a 
year  he  was  engaged  in  lumbering,  but  in  1882  took 
up  a homestead  at  the  east  base  of  the  Crazy- 
mountains,  on  Otter  creek.  There  he  is  still  engaged 
in  the  sheep  business.  He  went  into  the  sheep  busi- 
ness in  1^3  and  has  also  raised  cattle  and  horses.  A 
stanch  Republican,  he  has  always  interested  himself 
in  public  matters,  and  at  the  time  Sweet  Grass  county 
was  organized  from  a part  of  Park  county,  he 
served  as  a member  of  the  board  of  county  commis- 
sioners. He  and  his  wife,  who  also  survives,  have  had 
eight  children,  of  whom  six  are  living. 

O.  A.  Fallang  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Melville,  Montana,  and  the  IMontana  Agricultural  Col- 
lege at  Bozeman,  where  he  took  a course  in  mechanical 
engineering.  In  IMay,  1898,  he  became  a volunteer  in 
Company  L,  First  Regiment,  Montana  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, which  saw  hard  fighting  in  the  Philippines  and 
during  the  Spanish-American  war,  IMr.  Fallang  partic- 
ipating in  twenty-six  engagements.  An  efficient  and 
faithful  soldier,  his  courage  was  never  questioned,  and 
he  earned  the  admiration  of  his  comrades  and  the  re- 
spect of  his  officers.  He  was  mustered  out  at  San 
Francisco,  California,  October  17,  1899,  and  on  his 
return  to  Sweet  Grass  county  purchased  a ranch. 
This  proved  a decidedly  successful  venture,  but  in  1901 
he  sold  his  property,  having  decided  that  he  should 
give  all  his  attention  to  the  duties  of  sheriff,  to  which 
office  he  had  been  elected  in  1900.  He  received  the 
successive  re-elections  in  1902,  1904,  1906,  1908,  1910, 
1912,  with  a larger  majority  than  ever  before,  and  has 
made  a record  that  should  prove  worthy-  of  emulation 
by  others  holding  a like  position.  Since  January  7, 
1901,  he  has  made  his  home  in  Big  Timber,  the 
county  seat  of  Sweet  Grass  county,  and  here  he 
has  a wide  acquaintance  and  manv  friends.  He  is  a 
stanch  Republican,  and  in  fraternal  matters  is  a popu- 
lar member  of  Doric  Lodge  No.  53,  A.  F.  & A.  M., 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  the  World,  the  Knights  of 
the  Maccabees,  and  Big  Timber  Lodge  No.  25,  Knights 
of  Pythias  and  Dornix  Camp  W.  O.  W. 

Mr.  Fallang  was  married  December  23,  1902,  to  Miss 
Susie  Whitfield,  who  was  born  near  London,  England, 
and  for  several  years  was  a schoolteacher  in  IMaquoketa, 
Iowa,  and  Big  Timber.  She  died  November  2,  1907, 
having  been  the  mother  of  two  sons ; Eugene  and 
Kenneth.  On  August  2,  1911,  Mr.  Fallang  was  married 
(second)  to  IMiss  Sarah  IM.  Whitfield,  who  was  born 
in  Iowa;  she  also  was  for  many  years  a teacher  in  the 
schools  in  Maquoketa,  Iowa,  and  Big  Timber,  Montana. 

J.  IM.  Keith.  Our  Canadian  cousins  may  decline 
to  enter  into  reciprocity  treaties  with  us,  but  they  have 
been  more  than  generous  in  contributing  to  our  citi- 
zenship Missoula,  like  so  many  cities  of  the  great 
northwest,  has  drawn  upon  the  Dominion  of  Canada 


1168 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


for  men  to  fill  the  highest  places  in  all  professions  and 
all  the  lines  of  business.  Their  representatives  are 
found  everywhere,  and  as  they  are  the  best  of  Cana- 
dians, so  they  are  the  best  of  Americans.  Mr.  Keith 
was  born  in  the  eastern  portion  of  British  America, 
as  New  Brunswick  is  his  birthplace.  Both  Lewis 
Keith  and  his  wife,  Rebecca  Blakely  Keith,  were  born 
in  that  province  and  ended  their  lives  there.  Our  sub- 
ject was  born  June  5,  1859,  and  received  his  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  New  Brunswick.  His  father 
was  a farmer,  but  the  son  did  not  choose  that  calling. 
Upon  finishing  school,  he  spent  a few  years  in  mercan- 
tile business  in  his  home  town,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
two  came  to  Missoula.  In  1881,  the  city  was  a very 
small  place  indeed.  Mr.  Keith  was  engaged  in  clerical 
work  for  the  Eddy,  Hammond  Company,  an  organiza- 
tion which  has  now  become  the  great  Missoula  Mercan- 
tile Company,  one  of  the  powerful  corporations  of  the 
state.  For  seven  years  Mr.  Keith  was  in  charge  of  the 
office  of  the  company,  but  in  August,  1888,  he  left  this 
place  to  become  cashier  of  the  Missoula  National 
Bank.  He  remained  in  this  bank  until  1910  and  in  the 
twenty-two  years  during  which  he  was  connected  with 
it,  he  was  responsible  for  much  more  than  the  mere 
fulfillment  of  the  duties  of  cashier.  For  a number  of 
years  before  he  severed  his  connection  with  the  bank, 
lie  was  vice-president  of  it,  and  has  almost  entire 
charge  of  its  business.  To  the  wisdom  of  his  policies, 
and  to  his  discernment  in  choosing  its  investments, 
that  establishment  owes  a large  part  of  its  prosperity. 
In  February,  1910,  Mr.  Keith  became  president  of  the 
Missoula  Trust  & Savings  Bank,  and  he  still  holds 
that  position.  His  connection  with  this  bank  is  one  of 
its  valuable  assets,  for  his  career  has  been  one  of 
steady  advancement  and  unvarying  success. 

Mr.  Keith  is  not  a politician,  but  he  is  deeply  inter- 
ested in  all  matters  of  civic  welfare,  and  has  served 
three  terms  as  mayor  of  Missoula.  His  campaign  did 
not  demand  a great  deal  of  his  time  for  he  was 
selected  by  a citizens’  movement,  and  elected  without 
opposition.  Fie  brought  to  the  administration  of  the 
city  affairs  that  efficiency  which  has  made  his  success 
in  the  commercial  realm  and  to  this  was  added  his 
pride  and  interest  in  all  which  makes  for  the  supremacy 
of  the  city  and  of  the  state.  He  has  served  on  the 
school  board  and  on  the  public  library  board,  and  is 
always  ready  to  push  any  movement  for  the  good  of 
the  community.  The  confidence  with  which  Mr.  Keith 
is  regarded  is  a measure  of  the  loyalty  with  which  he 
has  served  his  fellow  citizens. 

In  1890,  Mr.  Keith  was  married  to  Miss  Harriet 
Beckwith,  who  is  also  a native  of  New  Brunswick. 
Her  parents  were  Charles  and  Sarah  Beckwith.  One 
daughter,  Jennie,  was  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Keith, 
but  died  at  the  age  of  four  years. 

In  the  fraternal  organizations  of  the  city,  Mr.  Keith 
is  connected  with  the  Masons,  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
and  with  the  Elks. 

F.  W.  Kuphal.  One  of  the  most  efficient  and  pop- 
ular county  officers  who  has  ever  served  the  public 
here,  is  F.  W.  Kuphal,  a German  by  birth,  but  a resi- 
dent of  Montana  since  1881.  He  was  born  on  the  3rd 
day  of  November  in  the  year  1846,  his  parents  being 
F.  W.  and  Dorothy  (Wegener)  Kuphal,  both  resi- 
dents of  Germany  until  the  time  of  their  death.  After 
completing  the  thorough  course  in  the  German  schools, 
Mr.  Kuphal  received  the  benefit  of  the  best  business 
training  which  Germany  could  furnish,  and  for  a num- 
ber of  years  was  in  business  there,  He  was  married 
in  1875  to  Bertha  Harold  and  the  two  older  children, 
Fred  and  Henry,  were  born  before  the  family  came 
to  this  country. 

When  Mr.  Kuphal  arrived  in  this  state,  he  at  once 
identified  himself  with  the  various  activities  of  the 
community.  He  was  engaged  in  mercantile  business. 


but  this  did  not  prevent  him  from  taking  active  part 
in  all  public  affairs.  He  had  a natural  aptitude  for  state- 
craft, and  soon  was  recognized  as  a power  in  local 
politics.  In  1898,  he  was  elected  to  the  legislature,  and 
in  the  stirring  times  following  this  period,  Mr.  Kuphal 
bore  a prominent  part.  In  1900  he  gave  up  his  mer- 
cantile work,  and  went  to  Butte  to  accept  a position 
under  Senator  Clarke,  with  whom  he  remained  until 
1905,  as  clerk  in  his  general  office  in  that  city.  When 
the  Bonner  dam  was  constructed,  Mr.  Kuphal  was 
entrusted  with  the  financial  management  of  the  enter- 
prise, and  by  the  time  the  work  was  completed,  in  I 
1908,  he  had  decided  that  Missoula,  the  garden  city, 
was  the  place  he  desired  to  live  in,  and,  accordingly, 
he  established  his  domicile  here.  He  opened  a real  ; 
estate  office,  but  before  he  had  been  many  months  in 
the  business,  the  representatives  of  the  Democratic 
party  waited  upon  him,  and  requested  him  to  be  their 
candidate  for  the  office  of  county  clerk  and  recorder. 

He  was  nominated  and  elected  by  a large  majority,  and 
when,  in  1910,  he  again  ran  for  the  office,  he  was  re- 
turned for  it  with  the  largest  majority  ever  given  to  a 
Missoula  county  candidate  for  any  office.  On  Novem- 
ber s,  1912,  by  the  biggest  majority  given,  Mr.  Kuphal 
was  elected  to  the  state  legislature  from  the  thirteenth 
district. 

F.  W.,  junior,  is  one  of  the  men  who  have  made  a 
reputation  in  musical  circles  in  the  city,  and  he  is  one 
of  the  most  popular  performers  at  high  class  enter- 
tainments in  both  Butte  and  Helena.  At  present  he  is 
studying  in  Berlin,  and  previously  he  has  been  in  the 
conservatory  at  Leipsic.  The  second  son,  Henry  E.,  j 
is  a mining  engineer,  and  is  as  distinguished  in  his 
profession  as  is  his  brother  in  his  more  artistic  calling.  « 
The  other  brother,  Herbert,  is  now  a student  in  the 
University  of  Montana  and  the  two  sisters,  Antoinette, 
and  Elisabeth,  are  both  married.  The  former  is  Mrs. 
Fred  Hensolt,  and  the  latter,  Mrs.  W.  H.  Sonntag. 

Mr.  Kuphal  is  a member  of  a number  of  the  fra- 
ternal orders,  including  the  Elks  and  the  Sons  of 
Hermann.  In  the  latter,  he  is  one  of  the  mo.st  active 
and  earnest  workers,  and  for  a number  of  years  has 
been  grand  president  of  the  society.  He  is  keenly 
alive  to  the  importance  of  preserving  to  the  German 
citizens  of  our  country  those  traits  and  customs  which 
have  been  the  sources  of  strength  in  their  native  land.  A 
man  of  education  and  of  culture,  he  is  eager  for  all  that 
advances  progress  in  his  adopted  country.  The  high 
regard  in  which  he  is  held  as  a public  official  is  due  I 
to  the  capable  and  honorable  manner  in  which  he  dis- 
charges the  duties  of  his  office.  As  a man,  his  popu- 
larity is  not  less  than  as  a public  officer,  and  it  would 
be  hard  indeed  to  find  a higher  measure  of  praise 
than  that. 

George  L.  Bickle.  As  sheriff  of  Chouteau  county 
since  1909,  and  now  serving  his  second  term  in  that 
office,  George  L.  Bickle  has  given  further  evidence  of  , 
the  splendid  ability  as  a public  official  which  he  has  I 

shown  throughout  the  years  in  which  he  has  served  I 

the  county  in  various  public  capacities.  As  chief  of 
police  of  Havre  for  ten  years,  he  made  an  adrnirable 
record  for  efficiency,  and  previous  to  his  election  to 
the  office  of  chief  of  police  he  was  collector  of  customs 
at  Havre  from  1892  until  the  opening  of  Cleveland’s 
first  administration,  when  he  resigned  to  assume  the 
duties  of  the  position  of  chief.  His  life  has  ever  been 
a busy  one,  and  has  been  marked_  with  worthy  progress  I 
in  every  line  of  endeavor  to  which  he  has  applied  his  I 
energies.  As  a ranchman  and  horse  breeder  he  is 
today  known  for  one  of  the  most  capable  and  pros- 
perous men  in  the  county,  and  he  is  in  every  respect 
worthy  of  the  high  esteem  and  generous  confidence 
which  is  everywhere  accorded  to  him. 

Mr.  Bickle  was  born  in  Jackson  county,  Wisconsin, 
on  June  29,  1858,  and  is  the  son  of  William  and  Susie 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1169 


(Alvord)  Bickle.  The  father  was  a native  of  England, 
who  came  to  America  as  a boy  of  fourteen  years  with 
his  parents.  He  was  a veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  and 
from  1870  until  the  time  of  his  death  made  his  home  in 
Kansas,  where  he  engaged  in  farming.  He  died  in 
Beloit,  Kansas,  in  1909,  when  he  was  in  his  sixty- 
fifth  year  of  life.  The  wife  and  mother  was  born  of 
German  parents.  She  died  in  1862. 

The  early  education  of  George  Bickle  was  secured 
in  the  public  schools  of  Fayette,  Iowa,  and  Beloit, 
Kansas,  and  his  studies  did  not  extend  beyond  his 
sixteenth  year.  He  assisted  his  father  with  the  general 
farm  work  until  he  was  nineteen,  when  he  struck  out  in 
life  for  himself.  His  first  work  was  range  riding.  He 
fell  in  with  a Texas  company  of  rangers  in  Kansas, 
who  were  trailing  a herd  of  cattle  that  were  being 
supplied  to  the  Indian  agencies  at  the  Yankton  agency, 
and  he  accompanied  them.  In  the  following  spring  he 
engaged  in  roundup  work,  and  in  the  summer  of  1881 
came  to  Montana,  where  he  followed  the  free  and 
easy  life  of  the  cowboy  until  1887.  His  employment 
took  him  through  the  Yellowstone  district  and  Miles 
City.  While  there  he  formed  the  acquaintance  of 
Theodore  Roosevelt,  becoming  intimately  acquainted 
with  him.  In  1887  he  gave  up  his  life  on  the  plains 

and  went  to  Fort  Benton,  there  following  various 

occupations  for  about  a year,  after  which  he  went  to 
Havre,  Montana,  very  soon  thereafter  being  made 
chief  of  police,  a position  which  he  held  for  ten  years. 
He  was  also  a constable  for  fourteen  years  in  Havre. 
In  1909  Mr.  Bickle  was  elected  to  the  office  of  sheriff 
of  Chouteau  county,  and  is  now  serving  his  second 
term  in  that  position.  His  service  during  the  years 

when  he  was  chief  of  police  was  characterized  by  his 

contact  with  the  roughest  element  the  state  has  ever 
known,  but  he  handled  the  office  in  a manner  which  left 
nothing  to  be  desired  on  the  part  of  the  citizens  of 
Havre.  In  his  experience  as  chief  and  sheriff  Mr.  Bickle 
has  met  with  the  most  dangerous  and  hardened  crim- 
inals, but  in  all  the  years  of  his  service  he  has  never 
found  it  necessary  to  make  an  arrest  at  the  point  of  a 
gun  but  on  one  occasion.  His  methods  are  unique,  but 
effective,  and  his  reputation  as  an  officer  of  the  law  is 
one  which  will  stand  any  test.  He  is  regarded  as  one  of 
the  most  efficient  officers  the  county  has  known  since  its 
reorganization,  and  his  position  in  the  regard  of  the 
residents  of  the  city  and  county  is  most  secure.  ^ 

Mr.  BicKle  is  a Republican  in  his  political  affiliations 
and  has  always  been  an  important  factor  in  the  interests 
of  the  party  since  he  has  been  a resident  of  the  state. 
He  is  a member  of  the  Benevolent  Protective  Order  of 
Elks  and  of  the  Order  of  Eagles,  both  of  Havre. 

On  April  i,  1885,  Mr.  Bickle  was  united  in  marriage 
at  Miles  City,  Montana,  with  Miss  Martha  Hatfield,  the 
daughter  of  Mr.  Hatfield,  a native  of  Iowa.  Three  sons 
and  three  daughters  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bickle.  They  are:  Ernest,  Hiram,  Lamed,  Bernice,  Eva, 
the  wife  of  William  McCloud  of  Havre,  and  Margaret. 

Mr.  Bickle  is  one  of  those  men  who  have  made  the 
best  of  their  lives,  and  despite  early  difficulties  have 
made  excellent  progress  in  things  material.  His  mother 
died  in  his  infancy,  thus  depriving  him  of  the  greatest 
influence  for  good  that  might  have  been  his,  and  his 
early  life  was  attended  by  many  untoward  circum- 
stances. The  splendid  qualities  of  character  and  deter- 
mination were,  however,  inherent  in  him,  and  his  life 
has  been  shaped  accordingly,  with  the  good  results  that 
are  willingly  attested  by  all  who  know  him. 

Thomas  James  Bry.\n.  Although  now  a resident  of 
California,  where  he  is  devoting  his  activities  to  fruit 
growing  and  cattle  raising.  Col.  Thomas  James  Bryan 
was  so  closely  identified  for  a long  period  of  years  with 
the  history  of  Montana  that  no  record  of  the  Treasure 
State  would  be  complete  without  a sketch  of  his  career. 
A pioneer  of  Custer  county,  whence  he  came  in  1881, 


he  immediately  began  to  e.xert  his  influence  in  behalf 
of  good  government  and  the  growth  and  development 
of  the  community,  and  in  public  life  displayed  the  same 
courage  and  conscientious  devotion  to  duty  that  marked 
his  services  and  gained  him  promotion  in  the  Union 
ranks  during  the  Civil  war. 

Thomas  James  Bryan  was  born  in  Winnebago  county, 
Illinois,  nine  miles  northwest  of  Rockford,  the  county 
seat,  in  1838,  and  is  a son  of  Thomas  McCune  and 
Christiana  (Manchester)  Bryan,  the  former  a native 
of  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter  of  New  Brunswick.  His 
paternal  great-grandparents  were  of  Irish  birth  and 
settled  in  the  Keystone  State  at  an  early  day,  and  there 
his  grandfather  Bryan  was  born.  The  latter  served 
under  General  Washington,  in  the  campaign  of  Valley 
Forge.  On  the  maternal  side,  Mr.  Bryan’s  grandfather 
was  John  Manchester,  of  English  parentage,  born  in 
New  Brunswick,  where  was  born  also  his  wife,  Eliza- 
beth, whose  parents  were  Welsh.  Two  years  before  the 
birth  of  Thomas  J.  Bryan  his  parents  settled  in  Winne- 
bago county,  Illinois,  and  there  he  secured  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools,  subsequently  spending  one 
term  in  the  Howard  Seminary,  at  Durand,  Illinois.  His 
father  was  originally  a Whig  and  later  a Republican 
in  politics,  and  was  a farmer  by  vocation,  the  youth 
being  thoroughly  trained  in  the  cultivation  of  the  soil 
as  practiced  in  those  days.  He  was  sixteen  years  of 
age  when  the  family  moved  to  Howard  county,  Iowa, 
the  journey  being  made  by  ox  team  and  the  Mississippi 
river  being  crossed  on  a ferry-boat  from  Prairie  du 
Chien  to  McGregor’s  Landing.  Here  he  resided  in 
Howard  county,  Iowa,  until  1858,  when  he  returned  to 
Winnebago  county,  Illinois.  It  was  from  this  latter 
place  that  Mr.  Bryan  enlisted  in  the  Union  army,  and 
after  his  services,  of  which  more  will  be  said  later,  \vere 
completed,  he  returned  to  his  home  and  in  the  spring 
of  1866  went  to  Harrison  county,  Iowa,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  railroad  grading  in  Iowa  and 
Nebraska,  with  his  home  at  Dunlap,  Iowa.  He  em- 
barked in  the  mercantile  business  at  Dunlap  in  1868, 
but  after  a few  years  disposed  of  his  interests  therein. 
He  continued  to  reside  at  Dunlap,  engaged  in  raising 
thoroughbred  cattle  and  hogs  and  feeding  for  market 
until  July,  1881,  which  month  saw  his  advent  in  Miles 
City,  Montana,  as  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Custer  county. 
The  Northern  Pacific  Railroad,  then  being  constructed, 
did  not  reach  Miles  City  until  the  following  Thanks- 
giving day.  There  he  became  actively  engaged  in  the 
early  development  of  the  section,  and  in  1^3,  when  the 
Eastern  Montana  Stock  Growers’  Association  was  or- 
ganized, he  became  its  first  president.  Subsequently,  in 
April,  1884,  he  became  the  first  president  of  the  Mon- 
tana Stock  Growers’  Association,  the  other  officers  be- 
ing: B.  F.  Potts,  of  Townsend,  Montana,  first  vice- 
president  ; William  Harmon,  of  Miles  City,  Montana, 
second  vice-president ; and  R.  B.  Harrison,  of  Helena, 
Montana,  secretary-treasurer.  The  executive  committee 
of  this  organization  was  composed  of  prominent  stock 
growers  from  every  county  in  Montana  and  three  mem- 
bers from  Dakota  territory.  Theodore  Roosevelt,  then 
residing  at  Medora,  was  one  of  the  committeemen  repre- 
senting Dakota  territory.  Mr.  Bryan  engaged  ex- 
tensively in  stock  growing,  with  ranches  on  Otter  creek, 
and  still  holds  his  stock  interests  in  Custer  county, 
where  in  connection  with  his  ranches  he  has  also  been 
engaged  in  the  development  and  distribution  of  water 
for  irrigation.  He  also  engaged  in  the  lumber  business 
and  building  in  Miles  City  for  several  years.  In  1895 
Mr.  Bryan  removed  to  Lemon  Grove,  San  Diego  county, 
California,  where  he  has  since  resided,  engaged  in  the 
growing  of  citrus  fruits.  Cattle  raising _ in  Sonora, 
Mexico,  has  also  occupied  a part  of  his  attention. 
Since  residing  in  California,  he  has  been  a member 
of  the  board  of  directors  and  a large  part  of  the  time 
president  of  the  Lemon  Grove  Mutual  Water  Company, 
and  at  this  time  is  vice-president  of  the  Lemon  Grove 


1170 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


l''ruit  Growers’  Association.  He  is  a member,  and  has 
served  on  the  directorate,  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce 
of  San  Diego.  He  has  resided  in  pioneer  settlements 
from  I)oyhood  almost  to  the  present  time,  and  the  signal 
services  he  has  rendered  the  various  communities  in 
which  he  has  made  his  home  cannot  be  overestimated. 

Mr.  Bryan  entered  the  ranks  of  the  Republican  party 
uiion  attaining  his  majority,  and  was  connected  with  that 
oI•gani^ation  until  the  birth  of  the  new  Progressive 
jiarty,  with  which  he  has  since  been  identified.  He  was 
a delegate  from  Crawford  county,  Iowa,  to  the  Re- 
puljlican  state  convention  at  Des  Moines,  in  1880,  and 
in  1888  was  a delegate  from  Custer  county,  Montana, 
to  the  state  convention  held  at  Livingston,  Montana, 
supjiorting  Harrison's  nomination.  At  the  fall  election 
of  1882,  in  Custer  county,  county  commissioners  were 
elected  by  fraudulent  returns  from  unsettled  districts 
and  by  stuffing  the  ballot  boxes.  In  March,  1883,  the 
county  was  over  $300,000  in  del:)t,  with  nothing  to 
show  for  this  indebtedness  except  a small  courthouse, 
costing  perhaps  one-third  of  that  amount,  and  the  in- 
debtedness rapidly  increasing.  A number  of  prominent 
citizens  held  mass  meetings  to  discuss  the  financial  con- 
dition of  the  county,  but  did  not  meet  with  success  in 
providing  a remedy  for  existing  conditions.  Mr.  Bryan 
then  solicited  and  obtained  the  signatures  of  fifty-two 
of  tile  leading  business  men  in  the  community  to  work 
together  to  bring  about  a better  and  more  economical 
management  of  county  affairs.  This  committee  organ- 
ized immediately  and  pledged  themselves  to  work  to- 
gether for  the  purpose  of  securing  an  honest  and  law- 
ful administration  of  county  affairs,  and  a sub-committee 
of  four  persons  was  immediately  appointed,  viz.,  Thomas 
II.  Irvine,  Judge  Garlock,  Benj.  W.  Ladd  and  Mr.  Bryan, 
to  go  before  the  legislature  for  the  purpose  of  having 
the  fraudulently  elected  commissioners  removed.  In 
March,  1883,  this  sub-committee,  with  the  assistance  of 
Col.  W.  F.  Sanders  and  Judge  Blake,  of  Helena,  went 
before  the  territorial  legislature  during  the  last  three 
days  of  its  session,  and  upon  its  representation  suc- 
ceeded in  having  the  board  of  commissioners  of  Custer 
county  removed  and  an  election  ordered  for  the  purpose 
of  electing  a new  board.  This  success  was  due  largely 
to  the  influence  and  efficient  services  of  Colonel  Sanders 
and  Judge  Blake,  to  whom  Custer  county  owes  a large 
debt  of  gratitude.  A temporary  board  of  commissioners 
was  appointed  by  the  legislature  to  serve  until  such 
election  could  be  held,  and  consisted  of  William  Van 
Gasken,  George  M.  Miles  and  Mr.  Bryan.  This  ap- 
pointed board  removed  the  county  treasurer  and  county 
clerk.  At  the  election  so  ordered  by  the  legislature, 
William  Bullard,  Charles  W.  Anderson  and  Mr.  Bryan 
were  chosen  commissioners.  By  its  economical  admin- 
istration and  by  bonding  the  county  for  its  indebtedness, 
this  board,  of  which  Mr.  Bryan  was  chairman,  brought 
its  warrants  up  to  par,  where  they  have  since  remained, 
although  at  the  time  they  took  charge  of  affairs  county 
warrants  were  selling  at  forty-five  cents  on  the  dollar. 

Mr.  Bryan  was  the  oldest,  and  now  the  only  one 
living-,  of  five  brothers  who  enlisted  as  volunteers  in 
the  Federal  army  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion.  On 
April  21,  1861,  Mr.  Bryan  enlisted  at  Rockford,  Illinois, 
in  Colonel  Ellsworth’s  famous  company  of  zouaves,  at 
the  call  of  President  Lincoln  for  seventy-five  thousand 
volunteers  for  three  months’  service.  This  company, 
commanded  by  Captain  Nevius,  was  placed  as  Com- 
pany D,  in  the  Eleventh  Illinois  Volunteers,  William 
H.  L.  Wallace,  colonel.  It  served  along  the  lower  Ohio 
rn-er  and  at  Birds  Point,  Missouri,  under  General 
hremont,  until  August,  1861,  at  which  time  Mr.  Bryan 
^yas  mustered  out  on  account  of  sickness  and  expira- 
tion of  time.  Having  recovered  his  health  during  a 
year  at  home,_  he  again  enlisted,  August  6,  1862,  at 
Durand,  Illinois,  and  was  made  third  sergeant  of  the 
company,  this  being  placed  as  Company  H.  in  the 
Seventy-fourth  Regiment,  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry, 


at  Rockford,  Illinois,  and  mustered  into  the  service  at 
Camp  Fuller,  September  4,  1862.  On  account  of  the 
promotion  of  the  captain  of  the  company,  Mr.  Bryan 
was  elected  captain  and  took  command  of  the  company 
September  8,  1862,  both  of  the  lieutenants  of  the  com- 
pany giving  him  their  vote,  and  all  of  the  enlisted  men 
with  the  exception  of  the  orderly  sergeant.  He  was 
commissioned  captain  by  Richard  Yates,  governor  of 
the  state  of  Illinois,  March  2,  1863,  to  take  effect  from 
the  8th  day  of  September,  1862,  the  issue  of  commission 
having  been  dela}'ed  on  account  of  press  of  business 
in  the  adjutant  general's  office.  On  December  21,  1864, 
he  was  commissioned  by  Governor  Yates,  lieutenant 
colonel  of  the  Seventy-fourth  regiment,  Illinois  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  with  rank  from  August  3,  1864.  On  May 
10,  1865,  he  was  commissioned  colonel  of  the  same  regi- 
ment, by  Gov.  Richard  J.  Oglesby,  with  rank  from  the 
same  date.  He  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment,  at 
Nashville,  Tennessee,  June  10,  1865,  in  accordance  with 
instructions  from  the  war  department. 

Captain  Bryan  served  in  all  the  battles  in  which  the 
regiment  engaged,  except  the  battle  of  Franklin,  at  which 
time  he  was  in  the  hospital  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  for 
about  two  weeks,  that  being  the  only  time  he  was  ever 
absent  from  duty  with  his  regiment.  With  the  excep- 
tion stated  above,  the  following  is  a list  of  battles  in 
which  he  took  part  with  the  regiment : Perryville,  Ken- 
tucky, October  8 and  g,  1862;  Nolansville,  Tennessee, 
December  26,  1862;  Stone  River,  December  31,  1862  to 
January  3,  1863;  Liberty  Gap,  Tennessee,  June  26,  1863; 
Chickamauga,  September  20,  21,  22,  23,  1863;  Missionary 
Ridge,  November  25,  1863:  Tunnel  Hill,  May  7,  1864; 
Rocky  Face  Ridge,  Georgia,  May  9,  1864;  Resacca, 
Georgia,  May  14,  15,  1864:  action  at  Calhoun,  Georgia, 
May  17,  1864;  Adairsville,  Georgia,-  May  17,  1864;  Dallas, 
Georgia,  May  25  to  June  5,  1864;  Pine  Mountain, 
Georgia,  June  15,  1864;  action  at  Lost  Mountain.  June 
16,  1864;  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June  22  to 
June  27,  1864;  Smyrna  Camp  Ground,  Georgia,  July  4, 
1864:  Peach  Tree  Creek,  Georgia,  July  20,  1864;  Atlanta, 
July  27,  to  August  27,  1864;  Jonesboro,  Georgia,  Sep- 
tember I,  1864;  Lovejoy  Station,  Georgia,  September  2 
and  3,  1864;  Springhill,  Tennessee,  November  29,  1864: 
Franklin,  Tennessee,  November  30,  1864:  and  Nash- 
ville, Tennessee,  December  15  and  16,  1864.  Besides 
the  above  battles,  he  was  with  the  regiment  in  skirmishes 
at  Lancaster,  Kentucky,  and  in  a great  number  in  Ten- 
nessee and  Georgia. 

At  the  battle  of  Stone  river.  Captain  Bryan  was 
knocked  down  by  a spent  shell  and  his  right  hip  badly 
bruised,  but  he  remained  with  his  company  on  duty. 
At  Missionary  Ridge,  November  25,  1863,  his  regiment 
was  in  the  charge  up  the  hill  to  General  Bragg’s  head- 
quarters. This  charge  was  on  double  quick  time  across 
an  open  plain  to  the  foot  of  the  mountain  where  the 
Union  forces  captured  the  enemy’s  line  of  breastworks. 
The  Confederate  troops  fled  through  the  Federal  lines 
towards  Chattanooga,  as  did  also  those  in  the  riflepits 
over  which  the  Union  troops  charged,  and  were  looked 
after  by  others  than  those  in  the  charge.  Arriving  at 
this  line  of  works  at  the  foot  of  the  hill,  everybody 
being  “winded,”  the  LTnion  troops  piled  against  the 
works  for  protection  from  the  enemy’s  fire  until  they 
could  regain  their  breath.  Beyond  these  works  most  of 
the  timber  had  been  cut  off,  so  that  there  were  many 
logs  and  stumps  on  the  hillside  between  the  two  forces. 
Noticing  this,  Captain  Bryan  threw  off  his  canteen 
and  heavy  cavalry  overcoat  and  clambered  through 
the  troops  and  over  the  works  to  an  oak  log  a short 
distance  to  the  front.  From  that  point  he  motioned 
with  his  sword  to  the  color-bearer,  who  was  a little 
to  the  right  and  still  behind  the  works,  to  come  for- 
ward, which  he  immediately  did,  followed  by  the 
troops,  thus  making  the  flag  of  the  Seventy-fourth  the 
first  of  the  brigade  to  cross  the  captured  works  at  the 
foot  of  the  mountain.  From  this  point  on  to  the  crest 


HISTORY  OF  ^lONTANA 


1171 


of  the  mountain,  it  was  ever_v  man  for  himself,  climb- 
ing the  hill  as  rapidly  as  possible  and  taking  shelter 
occasionally  behind  the  logs  and  stumps.  Wherever 
possible,  tlie  officers  urged  the  men  by  word  or  motion 
to  press  forward.  There  was  a continuous  racket  of 
musketry  from  both  sides  as  well  as  artillery  from  the 
enemy.  ' In  this  manner  the  Federals  gained  the  crest 
of  the  hill  and  captured  the  enemy’s  works  thereon, 
behind  which  the  enemy’s  dead  were  found  in  consider- 
able numbers,  most  of  them  shot  through  the  head. 
Here,  too,  the  flag  of  the  Seventy-fourth  was  in  the 
lead  in  crossing  the  line  of  works,  and  was  so  reported 
in  Colonel  Marsh’s  report  of  the  battle.  This  flag,  a 
new  silk  banner  ■ presented  to  the  regiment  a few  days 
before  by  the  ladies  of  Rockford,  received  fifteen  bullet 
holes  during  the  charge.  Color-bearer  Charles  E.  Allen, 
of  Company  E,  had  not  advanced  far  beyond  the  works 
at  the  foot  of  the  hill  when  he  was  severely  wounded ; 
then  Alba  Miller,  of  Company  C,  took  the  flag  and  car- 
ried it  for  quite  a distance,  when  he  was  also  severely 
\vounded.  Corporal  Compton  of  Company  D was  next 
to  take  the  flag,  and  carried  it  to  within  a short  distance 
of  the  enemy’s  works  at  the  top  of  the  ridge,  when 
he  was  shot  down,  mortally  wounded.  Fred  Hensey, 
of  Company  I,  then  took  the  flag  and  had  the  honor 
of  planting  it  on  the  hill  within  the  enemy’s  works. 
In  Colonel  Marsh’s  report  of  this  charge  and  battle, 
he  complimented  Captain  Bryan  on  the  part  he  had 
taken  in  it.  At  the  time  of  the  Missionary  Ridge  battle, 
the  Seventy-fourth  Regiment,  Illinois  Volunteers,  was 
serving  in  the  first  brigade,  second  division  of  the 
fourth  army  corps.  At  this  time  the  division  was  com- 
manded by  Gen,  Phil  Sheridan.  General  Sheridan  was 
the  first  general  officer  Captain  Bryan  saw  after  cross- 
ing the  upper  line  of  works.  Captain  Bacon  of  Com- 
pany G,  Seventy-fourth,  stepped  up  to  fhe  general  and 
placing  his  hand  on  the  general’s  leg  (he  being  on 
horseback)  asked,  "What  shall  we  do  now.  General?” 
The  general  replied : “Drive  them  to  hell.” 

Two  days  after  the  battle  of  iMissionary  Ridge,  the 
regiment  marched  to  the  relief  of  Burnside  at  Knox- 
ville, Tennessee.  -In  this  vicinity  the  regiment  wintered 
and  gathered  supplies  from  the  country,  running  flour 
mills,  boating  down  the  streams  and  hauling  by  wagon 
supplies  to  different  points  on  the  railroad.  In  this 
work  Captain  Brj-an  served  as  miller  at  two  different 
mills,  besides  directing  his  company’s  operations  in 
bringing  in  supplies  of  wheat,  corn  and  bacon.  On  Fri- 
day of  each  week  small  grists  were  ground  that 
were  brought  in  by  the  settlers  on  horseback. 

The  regiment  participated  in  many  skirmishes  and 
battles  from  Buzzards  Roost,  Georgia,  to  Atlanta,  with 
considerable  loss,  although  not  so  heavy  as  were  the 
losses  at  Missionary  Ridge  and  at  Kenesaw  Mountain, 
the  latter  on  June  27,  1864.  At  the  last-named  battle 
the  regiment  sustained  its  greatest  loss  during  the  cam- 
paign. Lieut. -Col.  James  B.  Kerr,  commanding  the 
regiment  at  that  time,  was  severely  wounded  and  died 
six  days  after  in  the  enemy’s  camp.  Adjutant  Neiman 
was  also  wounded.  Four  of  the  seven  captains  who 
went  into  the  charge  were  killed  on  the  field,  and  Cap- 
tain Bryan,  being  the  ranking  captain  left,  took  com- 
mand of  the  regiment  and  commanded  it  until  mustered 
out  at  the  close  of  the  war. 

The  day  before  the  fall  of  Atlanta,  the  regiment  was 
engaged  in  tearing  up  railroad,  and  after  heating  the 
rails  in  the  center  by  laying  the  ends  on  ties  and  build- 
ing fires  under  the  center,  wound  them  around  tele- 
graph poles,  trees  and  stumps  until  nearly  nightfall, 
when  the  regiment  began  skirmishing  and  driving  the 
enemy  until  it  was  so  dark  that  the  men  fell  over  the 
guy  ropes  of  the  hospital  tents  in  which  the  lights  had 
been  extinguished.  It  was  so  dark  that  one  could  hardly 
distinguish  friend  from  foe.  The  regiment  was  on  the 
picket  line  during  the  night  and  lost  thirteen  men,  in- 
cluding Lieutenant  Swift,  taken  prisoners  by  the  enemy, 
voi.  n— 2 1 


One  little  incident  occurred  that  nio-ht  that  is  interesting, 
and  will  probably  never  be  forgotten  by  Colonel  Bryan. 

Finding  that  the  picket  line  had  no  connection  on  the 
left,  Captain  Bryan  reported  the  fact  to  Colonel  Updyke, 
commanding  the  brigade,  who  sent  Captain  Hatch  of  the 
Seventy-fourth  regiment  on  duty  at  brigade  headquarters 
to  investigate  and  report.  Captain  Hatch  and  Captain 
Bryan  started  an  investigation,  and  going  out  on  a 
by-road  to  the  left  of  the  picket  line  and  in  front  of 
the  Forty-fourth  Illinois  Regiment,  which  was  building 
earthworks  by  torchlight.  Captain  Bryan  being  in  ad- 
vance of  the  captain,  stepped  up  to  a man  standing  by 
a tree  with  his  bayoneted  gun  at  right  shoulder  shift 
and  asked  him  if  he  was  a sentinel  from  the  Forty- 
fourth.  About  this  time  he  noticed  two  other  men 
coming  towards  him  and  getting  a glimmer  of  light 
from  the  torches  at  the  earthworks,  saw  they  belonged 
to  the  enemy.  Dropping  his  steel  scabbard  sword,  which 
he  carried  in  his  left  hand,  he  grabbed  the  gun  from  the 
sentinel  and  demanded  a surrender  under  threat  that 
he  would  shoot.  Captain  Hatch  had  come  up  closer  by 
this  time  and  cried : "Shoot  them,  captain,  shoot  them 
if  they  don’t  surrender.”  They  surrendered  immediately 
and  with  the  prisoners  they  retired  to  Colonel  Russell’s 
command,  the  Forty-fourth  Illinois,  and  secured  a 
guard.  Captain  Hatch  accompanied  them  to  head- 
quarters and  reported  the  conditions  on  the  left  front, 
and  soon  a detail  of  men  were  sent  to  fill  up  the  gap. 
These  three  men  had  been  watching  the  construction 
of  the  earthworks  by  Colonel  Russell,  and  had  the  ap- 
pearance of  watching  for  stragglers,  and  it  was  probably 
their  intention  to  take  Captain  Bryan  prisoner.  "When 
questioned  by  General  Updyke,”  relates  the  colonel, 
“why  three  strong  men  surrendered  to  one  man,  they 
replied  that  I got  the  start  of  them.” 

From  Atlanta,  when  General  Sherman  started  on  his 
march  to  the  sea,  the  regiment  moved  with  General 
Thomas’  command  north  to  protect  the  railroad  from 
General  Hood’s  forces,  in  order  that  further  supplies 
might  be  _ carried  by  rail  to  General  Sherman,  and 
during  this  march  a good  portion  of  the  time  the 
troops  lived  from  supplies  gathered  from  the  country. 
The  battle  of  Franklin  was  one  of  the  severest  in  which 
the  _ regiment  was  engaged,  but  its  loss  not  so  great 
as  in  sorne  of  the  other  battles.  With  General  Up- 
dyke’s  brigade,  to  which  the  Seventy-fourth  belonged, 
in  reserve  a short  distance  back  of  the  line  behind  a 
small  rise  of  ground,  they  were  somewhat  protected 
until  the  enemy  broke  the  Union  line  on  the  turnpike, 
at  which  time  General  Updyke’s  brigade  charged  the 
enemy  and  retook  the  works,  fighting  hand  to  hand. 

Captain  Bryan  rejoined  the  regiment  in  the  vicinity 
of  Nashville,  and  at  the  battle  of  Nashville,  which  had 
been  admirably  planned  by  General  Thomas  and  his 
officers,  his  reginient  and  that  of  the  Eighty-eighth 
Illinois,  both  having  been  decimated  by  losses,  the  two 
regiments  were  thrown  together  undH  his  command. 
.A.t  daylight  on  the  morning  of  December  15,  1864,  the 
Union  army  rnoved  forward  on  to  the  works  of  the 
Confederates  in  front  and  made  several  charges,  cap- 
turing their  batteries  and  works  and  driving  everything 
before  them  in  the  two  days’  battle.  On  the  second  day 
the  enemy  was  driven  to  rout  and  the  Federal  troops 
followed  closely  on  their  heels  and  so  rapidly  that  a 
portion  of  their  field  guns  were  dumped  from  bridges 
into  Duck  river  as  they  fled.  The  northern  army  moved 
forward  steadily  and  never  hesitated  on  account  of 
anything  in  front  of  it,  but  took  batteries  and  lines  of 
rifle  pits  and  kept  the  enemy  moving  until  they  had 
crossed  the  Tennessee  river.  Up  to  this  time  the 
advance  was  almost  continuously  skirmishing  with  the 
enemy’s  rear  guard.  Much  of  the  time  the  weather 
was  severe  and  the  ground  frozen  so  hard  that  it  would 
bear  the  weight  of  horses  and  vehicles.  The  men  were, 
scant  of  clothing  and  almost  barefooted.  From  the 


1172 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


Tennessee  river  the  army  turned  towards  Huntsville, 
Alabama  where  it  went  into  winter  quarters,  for  the 
winter  of  1864-65.  At  Huntsville,  under  orders  of  the 
division  commander,  camps  were  laid  out,  each  regiment 
having  a street  to  itself,  and  here  were  also  built  fine 
log  cabins,  each  cabin  to  contain  four  men,  and  having 
a fireplace  for  heating  and  cooking  purposes.  The 
cabins  were  covered  with  "pup-tents”  which  the  ^ 
had  carried  for  shelter  during  stormy  weather.  “The 
chaplain  of  the  regiment,  E.  F.  Pettibone,”  relates  the 
colonel,  "rendered  splendid  service  as  a worker  and 
builder  of  these  cabins,  and  the  officers  and  men  worked 
as  they  had  fought.”  When  the  camps  of  the  division 
had  all  been  completed,  the  Seventy-fourth  Regiment 
was  complimented  by  the  division  commander  in  a 
general  order,  as  having  built  the  best  camp  in  the 
division.  There  they  remained  until  March,  when  they 
were  ordered  to  Blue  Springs  in  eastern  Tennessee, 
where  the  regiment  was  engaged  in  rebuilding  the  rail- 
road which  the  enemy  had  torn  up.  Here  Captain 
Bryan  had  charge  of  daily  details  of  about  eight  hun- 
dred men  to  make  ties  for  the  road,  and  it  was  at  this 
point  that  the  regiment  was  stationed  at  the  time  of 
General  Lee’s  surrender  to  General  Grant  and  the 
assassination  of  President  Lincoln.  Upon  the  receipt 
of  the  news  of  General  Lee’s  surrender,  there  was  a 
great  jubilee  in  the  evening,  and  the  troops  could  not 
be  prevented  from  firing  a large  amount  of  their  amrnu- 
nition.  With  the  news  of  Lincoln’s  death  following 
closely,  the  camp  of  rejoicing  was  turned  into  mourning; 
no  other  experience  of  war  had  caused  such  general 
gloom. 

Upon  Col.  Jason  Marsh’s  retiring  from  the  army  by 
resignation  on  account  of  his  wounds,  he  recommended 
to  Governor  Yates,  Captain  Bryan  for  promotion  to 
the  head  of  the  regiment  over  the  major,  who  was  then 
and  had  been  for  some  time  on  detached  duty.  On  the 
day  before  the  battle  of  Nashville,  Captain  Bryan  rode 
to  Nashville  in  company  with  Chaplain  Pettibone,  and 
upon  their  return  Adjutant  Potter  notified  Captain 
Bryan  that  a letter  had  been  received  from  Captain 
Blakesley,  who  was  on  leave  of  absence  and  had  visited 
Springfield  and  talked  with  the  state  officers  in  regard 
to  promotions  in  the  regiment,  in  which  it  was  stated 
that  the  governor  and  adjutant  general  did  not  wish  to 
promote  one  officer  over  another  without  the  recommen- 
dation of  the  line  officers  then  with  the  regiment,  but 
would  appoint  such  officer  as  might  be  recommended 
by  a majority  of  the  officers  of  the  regiment.  The 
adjutant  further  notified  Captain  Bryan  that  they  had 
already  held  an  election  and  had  elected  him  unani- 
mously for  such  promotion  and  had  forwarded  the  result 
of  the  election  to  the  adjutant  general  of  Illinois,  and 
he  received  his  commission  as  lieutenant  colonel  on 
arrival  at  Huntsville,  Alabama,  and  later  received  his 
commission  as  colonel. 

On  July  4,  1868,  at  Dunlap,  Iowa,  Colonel  Bryan  was 
married  to  Fannie  A.  Bishop,  daughter  of  Benjamin 
B.  and  Mehitable  Bishop,  pioneers  of  Iowa,  residing  at 
that  time  on  a farm  near  Dunlap.  Miss  Bishop  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Wisconsin  and  had 
taught  school  for  a time.  Always  a lover  of  animals, 
she  became  m later  life  proficient  in  the  art  of  painting 
them,  particularly  cattle  and  horses.  She  died  Septem- 
ber 21,  1904,  at  Lemon  Grove,  California,  at  the  age  of 
fifty-seven  years,  having  been  the  mother  of  one  child : 
Mary  A.,  born  in  1869,  who  died  in  infancy.  Mrs. 
Bryan  made  many  friends  wherever  she  resided,  and 
had  been  an  affectionate  and  faithful  wife  for  thirty-six 
years.  She_  was  a consistent  Christian  and  a member 
of  the  Baptist  church. 

On  October  25,  1905,  Colonel  Bryan  was  married  to 
Miss  Eveleen  Kennedy,  daughter  of  Cornelius  and  Mary 
Ann  Kennedy,  during  their  lifetime  well-known  resi- 
dents of  Delaware  county,  Iowa,  having  for  many  years 


resided  on  a farm  near  Colesburg,  Iowa.  Mrs.  Bryan 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Delaware  county 
and  at  Lenox  College,  at  Hopkinton,  Iowa.  She  taught 
school  for  a time  and  then  became  a stenographer,  the 
latter  profession  leading  to  the  study  of  law,  which  she 
pursued  for  some  time,  followed  by  her  admission  to 
the  bar  of  Montana,  in  which  state  she  practiced  for 
several  years  at  Miles  City.  In  1905  she  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  of  California,  and  began  the  practice  of  her 
profession  at  San  Diego,  which  she  discontinued  at  the 
time  of  her  marriage  and  has  not  since  resumed  it.  She 
was  a charter  member  of  Custer  Chapter  No.  25,  Order 
of  the  Eastern  Star,  at  IMiles  City,  Montana,  and  is  a 
past  matron  of  that  chapter.  She  also’  takes  an  active 
interest  in  church  work  and  women’s  clubs.  Colonel 
and  Mrs.  Bryan  have  one  son,  Thomas  James  Bryan, 
Jr.,  born  January  28,  1908,  who  was  received  into  their 
home  June  15,  1908,  and  legally  adopted  by  them  June 
15,  1909.  They  reside  in  their  beautiful  home,  “Casa 
Coronelia,”  at  Lemon  Grove,  where  they  entertain  many 
Montana  friends. 

George  L.  Williams.  Nearly  forty  years  ago,  a young 
New  Englander,  inoculated  with  the  desire  for  the  West, 
crossed  the  North  American  continent  to  find  for  him- 
self whether  it  was  all  his  imaginings  had  painted  it, 
and  roseate  as  are  the  dreams  of  youth,  he  found  them 
to  have  been  true.  In  other  words,  he  followed  the 
celebrated  advice  of  Horace  Greeley,  “Go  West  young 
man,  and  grow  up  with  the  country.”  He  is  to  be 
found  today  a worthy,  progressive  and  generally  re- 
spected citizen  of  White  Sulphur  Springs.  He  is  typ- 
ically Western — democratic,  independent,  honest,  enter- 
prising— popular  with  the  law-abiding,  feared  by  those 
whose  business  takes  them  into  devious  ways,  for  he  is 
serving  his  third  term  as  sheriff,  and  Meagher  county 
has  never  had  a more  effective  and  faithful  enforcer 
of  the  laws.  The  offender  against  the  rights  of  society 
remembers  uncomfortably  that  when  George  L.  Williams 
starts  after  a man  he  gets  him.  In  addition  to  his 
praiseworthy  service  in  this  most  difficult  and  important 
of  public  capacities,  Mr.  Williams  is  interested  in 
ranching  and  owns  a fine  property,  and  is  familiar  with 
the  natural  resources  of  the  state  as  are  few  men. 

Mr.  Williams  was  born  in  West  Stockbridge,  Massa- 
chusetts, February  7,  1861.  He  resided  in  the  locality 
of  his  birth  until  about  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  and 
then  started  forth  to  seek  his  fortunes.  He  tarried  in 
Michigan  for  about  six  months,  pursuing  various  occu- 
pations and  went  from  that  state  to  Wyoming.  There 
for  one  year  he  herded  horses  and  then  came  on  to 
Montana,  reaching  the  state  in  1881.  He  secured  work 
herding  cattle  again  and  engaged  in  this  life  for  about 
a decade,  after  which  he  embarked  in  cattle-raising 
and  ranching  for  himself  and  he  has  followed  this 
continuously  ever  since  that  time.  He  has  prospered 
in  marked  degree  and  is  now  one  of  the  large  opera- 
tors of  Meagher  county.  He  is  known  throughout  the 
length  and  breadth  of  the  county  and  has  contributed 
in  marked  degree  to  its  development. 

Mr.  Williams  is  the  son  of  Lorenzo  Williams,  who 
was  born  in  Connecticut  and  made  his  home  in  that 
state  until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war.  He  was  one 
of  the  gallant  host  who  offered  their  services  to  their 
country  in  its  hour  of  need,  serving  three  years  in 
the  great  conflict  and  losing  his  left  eye  in  an  engage- 
ment, after  which  he  was  honorably  discharged.  After 
the  termination  of  hostilities,  he  located  in  Massa- 
chusetts, where  he  resided  until  his  death,  1912.  This 
much  respected  gentleman  was  in  his  younger  days  a 
wheelwright,  but  has  followed  farming  throughout  the 
greater  part  of  his  life,  and  was  retired  from  the  more 
strenuous  activities  of  life.  His  cherished  and  devoted 
wife  and  life  companion  was  before  her  marriage  Jennie 
Lyons,  and  her  demise  occurred  in  June,  1911,  at  the 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1173 


age  of  seventy-three  years.  Both  their  remains  are 
interred  near  the  old  Massachusetts  homestead.  There 
were  six  children  in  the  elder  Williams  family,  the 
subject  being  the  second  in  order  of  birth  and  the 
eldest  son.  He  has  one  brother  in  this  state,  Ira  I. 
Williams,  who  resides  on  a ranch  in  Meagher  county. 

Mr.  Williams  received  ■ his  early  education  in  the 
schools  of  the  Bay  state.  He  disciplined  his  young 
strength  to  the  labor  of  his  father’s  farm  and  became 
very  familiar  with  the  many  departments  of  agriculture. 
He  earned  an  occasional  small  amount  working  for 
neighbors  and  always  gave  this  money  to  his  father. 

In  his  political  faith  Mr.  Williams  gives  hand  and 
heart  to  the  Democratic  part)-,  which  he  has  supported 
since  his  earliest  voting  days.  He  takes  an  active  in- 
terest in  matters  political  and  his  support  is  deemed  a 
very  material  acquisition.  He  was  under  sheriff  for  four 
years  previous  to  his  election  to  the  main  office.  He 
was  also  sheep  inspector  at  one  time  and  has  been  a 
member  of  the  school  board.  As  sheriff  he  has  had 
some  wonderful  experiences  and  has  made  many  note- 
worthy arrests.  One  particularly  important  was  that 
of  the  notorious  outlaw  Metzger,  whom  the  subject, 
assisted  by  only  one  man,  brought  to  bay  in  the  moun- 
tains and  landed  him  safely  behind  the  bars.  jMetzger 
was  tried,  convicted  and  hanged.  In  fact,  the  sheriff’s 
strenuosity  in  the  performance  of  his  duties  is  said  'to 
have  a noticeable  and  salutary  effect  upon  morals  in 
the  county. 

Mr.  Williams  leans  towards  no  particular  church, 
but  believes  that  all  are  working  towards  the  same 
good  end  and  is  glad  to  give  all  what  help  he  can. 
He  is  a prominent  and  popular  fraternity  man,  belong- 
ing to  the  Masons,  the  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Knights  of 
Pythias.  In  Oddfellowship  he  has  twice  passed  the 
chairs.  Mr.  Williams  is  wholesomely  inclined  towards 
out-of-door  life,  is  a renowned  follower  of  Nimrod 
and  equally  fond  of  fishing.  His  home  is  adorned  with 
a number  of  fine  heads  which  he  secured  himself  in 
the  hunt.  He  loves  the  great  American  game — baseball, 
delights  in  horses  and  driving  and  always  keeps  some 
fine  stock  on  hand.  He  owns  a nice  private  library, 
well-selected  and  high  class,  and  well  enjoys  a quite 
hour  therein.  He  is  one  of  the  most  loyal  of  the  citi- 
zens of  Montana,  believing  it  the  very  garden  spot  of 
the  world.  Said  he,  apropos  of  this  subject,  “I  have 
seen  Montana  go  through  various  stages  of  develop- 
ment and  am  fully  convinced  that  it  is  the  best  state 
in  the  Union.”  With  Montana  the  lines  are  appro- 
priate, 

“None  knew  thee  but  to  love  thee, 

None  named  thee  but  to  praise.” 

Mr.  Williams  was  happily  married  in  Meagher  county 
on  his  ranch,  the  date  of  his  union  being  October  29, 
1895,  and  the  young  woman  who  promised  to  share 
his  fortunes  thereafter  being  Effie  Smith,  daughter  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fielding  R.  Smith,  of  Quincy,  Illinois. 
They  have  two  interesting  children,  both  sons,  as  fol- 
lows; Earl  and  Fulton.  Ira,  the  eldest  son,  died 
Alarch  29,  1903. 

Patrick  Fenton  Dowling.  Among  the  men  who 
began  their  careers  at  the  bottom  of  the  ladder  in  Mon- 
tana and  have  since  attained  independence  in  material 
circumstances  _ and  distinction  as  citizens,  one  whose 
name  is  familiar  to  hundreds  of  the  mining  men  of  the 
state,  is  Patrick  Fenton  Dowling,  of  Basin. 

Born  in  Redfield,  Oswego  county.  New  York,  on  the 
5th  of  November,  1861,  and  educated  in  the  public 
schools  there,  at  the  age  of  twenty  he  came  west  and 
located  in  Butte,  December,  1881.  His  first  dollar  was 
earned  by  shingling  a barn  for  old  Billy  Thompson  at 
Butte.  He  also  did  teaming  and  various  other  kinds 
of  work,  and  then  began  working'  at  day  wages  in  tiie 
Alta  mine.  From  this  time  his  progress  was  steady  and 


sure.  He  'vvas  made  superintendent,  of  the  Daisy  Min- 
ing Company's  properties  at  Cook  City,  then  became 
manager  of  the  Bonanza  Chief  mine,  and  later  leased 
this  property.  In  1907  Mr.  Dowling  bought  from  W.  A. 
Clark  the  Ruby  gold  and  silver  mine  in  Jefferson  county, 
twelve  miles  from  Basin,  the  purchase  price  being 
seventy-five  thousand  dollars.  This  mine  has  been  a 
great  producer  and  has  made  its  owner  independent. 
Under  Mr.  Dowling’s  management  the  mine  has  been 
finely  equipped,  and  he  resides  during  the  greater  part 
of  the  year  near  enough  to  give  his  personal  direction 
to  the  enterprise,  having  a pleasant  home  at  Basin.  He 
is  also  owner  of  valuable  city  property  in  Helena.  Mr. 
Dowling  is  a director  of  the  Montana  Life  Assurance 
Company. 

In  1908  he  was  honored  by  election  to  the  stare  legis- 
lature, and  served  one  term.  In  politics  he  is  a Demo- 
crat. Fraternally  his  affiliation  is  with  the  Masons,  of 
which  he  is  past  master,  and  the  Odd  Fellows,  in  which 
he  is  a past  grand. 

Mr._  Dowling’s  wife  was,  before  her  marriage.  Miss 
Maggie  B.  'Wells.  Her  father,  Luke  F.  Wells,  was 
among  the  pioneers  of  California..  Seven  children  were 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dowling:  Irene  D.,  who  is  a 

graduate  of  high  school  and  business  college;  Amy  D., 
a student  in  high  school ; Eugene ; Edna ; Lelia ; George ; 
and  Ernest. 

The  father  of  Air.  Dowling  was  Michael  Dowling,  a 
native  of  Ireland,  and  who  for  many  years  was  a sub- 
stantial farmer  in  Redfield,  Oswego  county.  New  York, 
where  he  is  buried.  ' The  mother  was  Mary  Cavanaugh, 
who  was  born  in  New  York  and  is  still  living  on  the 
old  home  farm  in  that  state. 

John  AIartin  Seaman.  Although  a native  of  North 
Dakota,  John  AIartin  Seaman,  of  Livingston,  has  spent 
practically  his  entire  life  within  the  limits  of  Alontana, 
for  he  came  to  this  state  when  but  five  years  of  age, 
and  still  remembers  the  trip  up  the  Yellowstone  river 
on  a wood-burning  steamer.  He  is  now  one  of  the 
prominent  and  successful  business  men  of  Livingston, 
being  proprietor  of  a first  class  pharmacy  in  the  post 
office  block,  and  has  also  joined  in  activities  of  a public 
and  social  nature.  Air.  Seaman  was  born  August  12, 
1876,  in  Valley  City,  North  Dakota,  and  is  a son  of  Peter 
and  Julia  (Pursell)  Seaman.  His  father  was  a native 
of  Berlin,  Germany,  whence  he  came  to  the  United 
States  as  a young  man,  and  drifted  to  Alinnesota. 
Later  he  located  in  Barnes  county.  North  Dakota,  and 
at  one  time  owned  the  land  on  which  now  stands  the 
city  of  Valley  City,  with  4,606  population.  He  engaged 
in  railroad  contracting  on  the  Northern  Pacific,  along 
the  line  into  Alontana,  and  came  to  Clark  City,  now 
Livingston,  Alontana,  in  1881.  For  some  years  he  was 
engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising,  and  also  built 
the  first  lime  kiln  in  Park  county  in  1888.  For  a time 
he  resided  in  Anaconda,  but  eventually  returned  to 
Livingston,  engaging  in  the  bakery  and  confectionery 
business  for  about  five  years  and  then  locating  in  Butte. 
In  addition  to  being  the  owner  of  considerable  real 
estate  in  Butte,  he  continues  in  the  cattle  business,  and 
has  a large  ranch  near  Boulder.  He  is  a stanch  Repub- 
lican in  politics,  and  was  the  first  postmaster  of  Valley 
City,  while  his  religious  belief  is  that  of  the  German 
Lutheran  church.  His  wife,  a native  of  Ireland,  passed 
away  in  1900. 

John  AIartin  Seaman  was  the  only  child  of  his  par- 
ents, and  although  he  was  but  a mere  child,  well  re- 
members the  trip  made  by  the  family  in  1881.  They 
traveled  as  far  as  they  could  by  rail,  to  Bismarck, 
North  Dakota,  then  going  up  the  Yellowstone  river  on 
an  old  wood-burning  steamer  to  the  present  site  of 
Aliles  City,  and  moving  on  to  Clark  City,  now  known 
as  Livingston,  In  the  public  schools  of  the  latter  place,. 


1174 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


^Ir.  Seaman  secured  his  early  education,  and  this  train- 
in^r  was  supplemented  by  attendance  at  Northwestern 
University,  Chicago.  Graduated  in  the  pharmaceutical 
class  of  1898,  he  returned  to  Livingston  and  engaged 
in  business,  and  has  built  up  an  excellent  trade  among 
the  people  in  whose  community  he  has  spent  almost 
all  of  his  life.  He  has  a well-conducted  establishment, 
with  every  department  complete,  and  numerous  con- 
veniences for  his  large  patronage.  Added  to  a natural 
gift  for  his  profession,  he  is  possessed  of  progressive 
ideas,  business  ability,  and  a pleasant  and  courteous 
manner  that  has  drawn  to  him  many  friends.  His 
popularity  was  evidenced  in  1906  when  he  was  the  suc- 
cessful Republican  candidate  for  the  office  of  alderman 
of  the  Second  ward.  In  fraternal  matters  Mr.  Seaman 
has  associated  himself  with  Livingston  Lodge,  B.  P. 
O.  E. : Zephyr  Camp  No.  151,  W.  O.  W.,  and  other 
societies. 

In  1901,  Mr.  Seaman  was  married  to  Miss  Agnes 
Main,  who  was  born  in  Scotland,  a daughter  of  James 
and  Margaret  Main,  the  former  of  whom  died  in  1910, 
while  the  latter  survives.  Mrs.  Seaman  is  the  fourth 
in  order  of  birth  of  her  parents’  five  children.  She 
and  her  husband  have  had  six  children:  John  Martin, 

Ir.,  James  who  died  in  infancy,  Aline  Helen,  Richard, 
Donald  and  Julia  Elizabeth. 

Ex-Mayor  William  C.  Whipps.  A man  of  versatile 
attainments  and  of  superior  distinction  in  Kalispell  and 
extensive  surrounding  regions  is  William  C.  Whipps 
whose  history  is  one  of  especial  interest.  He  is  of  Eng- 
lish ancestry  in  early  generations.  His  great-grand- 
father. Beniamin  Whipps,  a former  slave-owner  in 
Maryland,  was  among  the  very  first  white  men  to  set- 
tle in  Ohio.  His  father,  Lloyd  Whipps,  also  a native  of 
Mai'yland  and  an  Ohio  pioneer,  began  life  as  a farmer 
but  later  became  a hardware  dealer.  He  was  a Civil  war 
veteran  in  an  Ohio  regiment  and  served  with  distinction 
■during  the  Rebellion.  Louise  Grant  Whipps,  the  mother 
■of  our  subject,  was  a Virginian  by  birth,  but  was  living 
in  Ohio  at  the  time  of  her  marriage,  her  family  also 
being  among  the  earlj^  settlers  of  southern  Ohio  and 
remotely  connected  with  the  family  of  General  Grant. 
Mr.  Wliipps  died  in  1902  at  the  age  of  81,  and  Mrs. 
Whipps  in  1865.  Of  their  nine  children  William  C.  was 
the  fifth. 

He  was  born  near  New  Lexington,  Perry  county, 
Ohio,  on  the  30th  of  August,  1856.  His  education  con- 
sisted of  the  courses  of  the  public  schools  of  that 
place  and  some  study  in  the  high  school.  When  fifteen 
years  of  age  he  went  to  Oberlin  College  and  took  a 
year's  course  in  the  commercial  department  and  inci- 
dentally learned  telegraphy.  Returning  home,  he  re- 
mained' but  a few  months  but  left  in  1872  for  Nebraska 
which  was  at  that  time  in  the  far  west.  He  soon  se- 
cured employment  by  the  Union  Pacific  Railway  and 
was  sent  to  McPherson  as  operator.  This  place  was 
located  at  the  junction  of  the  North  and  South  Platte 
rivers  and  Fort  McPherson  was  but  a few  miles  away. 
Here  a large  garrison  was  maintained  and  this  place 
was  the  home  of  Buffalo  Bill  (W.  F.  Cody),  Texas 
Jack  (Jack  Omohondro)  and  Dr.  W.  F.  Carver,  the 
rifle  shot.  Mr.  Whipps  here  became  the  intimate  friend 
of  all  of  these  celebrities  and  soon  was  dubbed  “Buf- 
falo Bill,  Jr.,'’  and  was  known  by  this  appellation  for 
several  years  afterwards.  Fort  McPherson  was  on 
the  extreme  frontier,  and  in  the  midst  an  Indian  coun- 
try (the  Pawnees,  Sioux  and  Cheyennes)  and  the  cen- 
ter of  the  buffalo  region.  The  little  town  where  the 
railroad  station  was  located  was  peopled  mostly  by 
“bad”  men,  gamblers,  horse-thieves  and  murderers,  and 
Indian  massacres  of  small  white  parties  were  of  fre- 
quent occurrence.  Mr.  Whipps  was  the  subject  of 
several  exciting  adventures  while  located  at  this  place 
and  other  places  _ farther  west  where  he  was  later  lo- 


cated. Space  will  not  permit  of  their  telling  here. 
In  1875  he  had  been  transferred  to  Sidney,  Neb- 
raska, an  important  division  point.  Here  also  bar- 
racks were  maintained  and  a regiment  of  soldiers  kept. 
Always  alive  to  opportunities  of  profit  and  adventure 
it  was  here  that  Mr.  Whipps  resigned  his  position  with 
the  railway  company  and  joined  a little  party  of  five  on 
an  expedition  into  the  Black  Hills,  over  200  miles  away 
and  in  the  midst  of  the  Sioux  and  Cheyenne  reservation, 
a most  hazardous  undertaking.  The  Indians,  though 
not  on  the  war  path  at  that  particular  time  were  hostile 
and  exceedingly  averse  to  white  men  entering  or  com- 
ing upon  their  reservation,  especially  the  Black  Hills. 
Every  pass  and  every  trail  were  watched  by  them  and 
the  military  also  had  instructions  not  to  permit  white 
men  to  enter  the  hills  or  go  upon  the  reservation. 
Aware  of  this  the  little  party  of  five  stole  out  of  Sidney 
at  one  o’clock  in  the  morning  of  June  26,  1875.  Travel- 
ing mostly  by  night  and  keeping  hid  during  the  day 
and  undergoing  many  hardships  and  dangers,  the 
party  finally  reached  the  hills  and  enteced  them  and 
arrived  at  French  Creek  near  Flarney’s  Peak  on  July 
16,  1875,  being  the  first  party  to  arrive  there.  Two  or 
three  other  parties,  one  from  Yankton,  one  from  Pierre 
and  one  from  Sioux  City  arrived  soon  after.  Going  on 
to  Spring  Creek  the  party  located  claims  and  com- 
menced work  on  them.  Hardly  had  the  party  gotten 
started  in  active  operations  when,  on  the  29th  day  of 
July  General  Crook  issued  a proclamation  ordering  all 
miners  and  other  white  men  out  of  the  Hills,  giving 
them  until  the  loth  of  August  to  vacate  and  get  out. 
If  found  in  there  after  the  date  mentioned  they  were 
to  be  made  prisoners  and  taken  to  Ft.  Laramie.  As  Gen- 
eral Crook  had  a large  command  in  there  at  that  time 
there  was  no  recourse  but  to  obey  his  proclamation. 
After  dividing  their  supplies  with  others  who  had  run 
short,  the  little  party  started  on  its  return  to  Sidney 
and  were  reduced  to  starvation  rations  before  arriving 
there,  having  nothing  left  for  several  days  but  a little 
flour.  Thus  summarily  ended  what  might  have  been  a 
profitable  episode  for  Mr.  Whipps  and  his  party.  Arriv- 
ing at  Sidney  Mr.  Whipps  again  entered  the  services  of 
the  LTnion  Pacifific  Railway  as  agent  and  operator  and 
was  located  at  North  Platte  and  later  other  places  in 
Nebraska  and  Wyoming  and  for  a time  as  train  des- 
patcher  at  Cheyenne.  Desiring  a change  Mr.  Whipps 
applied  for  and  secured  a position  as  express  messenger 
on  the  Union  Pacific  road  and  for  a time  was  located 
in  Omaha,  Denver  and  later  in  Ogden  and  Salt  Lake, 
in  the  spring  of  1881  Mr.  Whipps  severed  his  connec- 
tion with  the  Express  Company  and  went  to  Dillon, 
Montana,  the  then  terminus  of  the  Utah  & Northern 
Railway,  the  first  railroad  to  enter  Montana,  and  accept- 
ed a position  with  the  firm  of  Sebree,  Ferris  & White 
who  were  engaged  in  merchandising,  banking  and  for- 
warding of  freight.  Mr.  Whipps’  position  was  with  the 
Forwarding  department  and  he  soon  rose  to  be  the  head 
bookkeeper  and  cashier  of  this  department.  The  Forward- 
ing house  and  business  was  moved  from  terminus  to 
terminus  until  the  railroad  reached  Butte  in  the  winter  of 
1881-2.  Mr.  Whipps  then  returned  to  Dillon  and  re- 
mained in  the  employ  of  the  same  firm  and  on  January 
3,  1883,  was  sent  to  Livingston,  Montana,  the  then  ter- 
minus of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad,  to  establish  a 
forwarding  business  there.  He  managed  this  forwarding 
business  and  moved  from  terminus  to  terminus  until  the 
road  reached  Helena  in  the  summer  of  1883.  He  then 
severed  his  connection  with  Sebree,  Ferris  & White  and 
accepted  a position  with  the  Merchants  National  Bank 
of  Helena.  He  remained  with  this  bank  until  the  spring 
of  1891,  having  been  advanced  from  bookkeeper  to  teller 
and  the  practical  management  of  the  bank  in  the  mean- 
time. He  left  Helena  on  the  17th  of  March.  1891,  for 
Demersville,  the  then  metropolis  of  the  Flathead  coun- 
try and  arrived  there  on  the  19th  of  March.  He  there 


•0  ■ 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1175 


organized  and  started  the  Northwestern  Bank  of  Dem- 
ersville  which  was  the  first  bank  to  be  started  in  what  is 
now  Flathead  county.  A little  later  he  organized  and 
started  the  First  National  Bank  of  Kalispell  and  erected 
the  first  brick  building  to  be  erected  in  Kalispell  for  the 
occupancy  of  the  bank.  He  was  its  cashier  and  manager 
until  1898  when  he  severed  his  connection  with  it  to 
accept  the  receivership  of  the  United  States  Land  Office, 
which  position  he  held  for  over  five  years,  capably  dis- 
charging the  duties  of  the  office.  Mr.  Whipps  next  ven- 
ture was  in  the  mercantile  line  which  he  has  since  fol- 
lowed and  today  he  is  the  owner  of  one  of  the  largest 
and  handsomest  furniture  and  house  furnishing  stores 
in  Montana,  conducted  under  the  firm  name  of  W.  C. 
Whipps  & Son.  In  1904  Mr.  Whipps  erected  the 
“Whipps  Block”  one  of  the  largest  and  best  buildings 
in  Kalispell  and  occupied  a portion  of  the  building  with 
his  furniture  emporium.  Aside  from  the  interests  noted 
he  has  many  others,  including  some  of  the  finest  summer 
home  and  fruit  lands  on  the  shores  of  Flathead  lake, 
a tract  of  land  adjoining  the  city  of  Kalispell,  several 
ranches,  etc.  His  summer  home  at  Lake  iMcDonald  in 
the  Glacier  National  Park  was  the  first  to  be  built  there 
for  private  use.  Years  before  the  creation  of  the  Park 
Mr.  Whipps  and  his  family  had  been  spending  their  sum- 
mers at  this  beautiful  lake.  It  was  he,  who  in  April, 
1907,  learning  that  the  Forestry  Department  was  nego- 
tiating for  the  sale  to  private  parties  of  the  timber  on 
the  shores  of  Lake  McDonald,  took  the  initiative  in  the 
creation  of  the  wonderful  Glacier  National  Park.  Know- 
ing from  observation  that  the  denuding  of  this  beau- 
tiful section  of  its  verdant  growth  of  timber  meant  its 
utter  despoliation  and  ruin,  he  immediately  took  the  mat- 
ter up  by  letter  with  the  Montana  senators  and  repre- 
sentatives in  congress,  with  the  Great  Northern  Rail- 
way, asking  their  cooperation,  and  with  President  Roose- 
velt direct.  Describing  the  beauties,  the  magnificent 
scenery  and  wonders  and  the  cool  delightful  summer 
climate  of  this  grand  region,  and  in  the  letter  to  Presi- 
dent Roosevelt  mentioning  the  various  kinds  of  wild 
animals,  game  and  fish  abounding  there,  he  pictured  the 
desolation  that  would  result  if  the  lumbermen  were  per- 
mitted to  operate  there  and  suggested  that  the  entire 
region  extending  from  the  line  of  the  Great  Northern 
Railway  to  the  Canadian  boundary  be  created  into  a Na- 
tional Park  and  Game  Preserve.  No  sooner  had  these 
letters  reached  Washington  than  a telegram  came  to 
the  forestry  superintendent  at  Kalispell  telling  him  not 
to  make  any  deals  for  the  sale  of  any  timber  in  the  Lake 
McDonald  region  and  soon  thereafter  Senator  Carter 
introduced  the  bill  creating  the  Glacier  National  Park. 
Thus  was  conserved  to  the  American  people  for  all  time 
a resort  and  playground  second  to  none  in  the  world. 

It  is  the  public  interests  with  which  ]\Ir.  Whipps  has 
identified  himself  that  made  him  so  necessary  to  the  peo- 
ple of  Kalispell  and  gained  for  him  their  high  regard. 
Being  exceedingly  public  spirited  and  progressive,  every 
subject  of  civic  welfare  is  of  deep  interest  to  him  and 
he  has  ever  been  tireless  in  furthering  the  growth  and  in 
promoting  the  beauty  of  the  city  in  which  he  lives.  It 
therefore  was  a logical  sequence  that  he  should  have 
received  honors  at  their  hands.  He  was  chosen  in  1893 
as  the  city’s  first  elective  mayor.  He  then  served  for 
three  consecutive  terms  and  having  consummated  during 
these  three  terms  all  of  the  civic  betterments  he  then 
had  in  hand  he  refused  to  accept  the  nomination  for  a 
fourth  term.  During  this  time  Mr.  Whipps  caused  to 
be  put  in  a complete  system  of  sewerage  and  paved  the 
principal  streets  and  initiated  the  parking  of  streets  and 
the  planting  of  trees  etc.,  etc.  Many  times  thereafter 
he  was  solicited  to  accept  the  mayoralty  again  but  re- 
fused until  the  spring  of  1910  when  the  demand  for  him 
was  so  pressing  and  so  universal  that  he  felt  it  his  duty 
to  accept  which  he  did  and  was  elected  without  opposi- 
tion to  the  fourth  term.  Among  the  more  notable 


achievements  accomplished  by  Mr.  Whipps  during  his 
fourth  term  was  the  reclaiming  of  a tract  of  forty-three 
acres  of  brushy,  marshy  land,  which  most  people  thought 
to  be  a worthless,  disease-breeding,  mosquito  hole  and 
transforming  it  into  one  of  the  most  beautiful  municipal 
parks  to  be  found  in  even  cities  of  five  or  six  times  the 
size  of  Kalispell.  Nothing  else  in  ^Montana  compares 
with  it.  The  marshes  now  are  beautiful,  shaded  lagoons, 
extending  for  a half  mile  or  more  which  can  be  used  in 
the  summer  for  boating  and  swimming  and  in  the  winter 
for  skating.  Walks,  drives,  a children's  play-ground 
equipped  with  the  latest  devices,  summer-houses,  beauti- 
ful wooded  islands  and  many  artistically  constructed 
rustic  bridges  may  now  be  found  there.  This  park  was 
named  W oodland  Park  and  any  city  might  well  be  proud 
of  it.  Court  House  Park  was  another  to  be  reclaimed 
by  Mr.  Whipps.  Here  a system  of  drives  were  artis- 
tically laid  out  and  paved,  cement  sidewalks  constructed 
and  hundreds  of  trees  and  shrubs  planted  and  the  whole 
converted  into  a beautiful  lawm.  Miles  of  street  park- 
ing, cement  sidewalks  and  street  grading  were  accom- 
plished ; a uniform  system  of  cluster  lights  w'as  installed 
on  the  business  streets ; experts  were  employed  to  audit 
the  city  accounts  and  an  up-to-date  system  of  municipal 
account  books  installed ; the  city  ordinances,  found  in  a 
chaotic  condition  were  segregated,  codified  and  printed 
in  book  form ; he  obtained  a reduction  in  \vater  rates  for 
the  consumer  of  forty  per  cent,  and  had  the  minimum 
rate  for  electric  lights  reduced  from  $2.50  to  $1.00.  A 
pretty  busy  man  was  Mayor  Whipps  during  this  two 
year  term,  especially  as  most  of  what  w^as  accomplished 
by  him  had  to  be  fought  through  against  strong  oppo- 
sition. Another  notable  act  of  Mr.  Whipps  during  this 
administration  was  to  take  the  police  force  out  of  politics 
and  appoint  the  members  thereof  to  serve  indefinitely 
or  during  good  behavior.  Completing  this  term  5Ir. 
WTipps  was  strongly  urged  to  accept  another  but  feeling 
that  his  private  affairs  needed  his  attention  w^orse  than 
did  the  city  he  declined. 

IMr.  Whipps  was  instrumental  and  one  of  the  prime 
movers  in  the  building  of  the  Masonic  Temple,  one  of 
the  finest  in  the  state.  He  is  a Mason,  a Knight  Tem- 
plar, a thirty-second  degree  Scottish  Rite  IMason  and  a 
Noble  of  the  jMystic  Shrine.  He  is  also  a member  of 
the  Odd  Fellows,  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Elks. 
His  religious  affiliations  are  with  the  Episcopal  church. 

In  Helena  on  October  20,  1886.  W^illiam  C.  Whipps 
was  married  to  Miss  Annie  E.  Osterhout,  a daughter  of 
Edgar  Osterhout  and  a native  of  Pennsylvania.  Their 
children  are  two  in  number.  A son,  William  O.,  born  in 
Helena  on  January  25,  1888.  a graduate  of  Columbia 
University  and  now  associated  wdth  his  father  in  busi- 
ness, and  a daughter,  Caroline  Louise  Whipps,  born  in 
Kalispell  September  30,  1895. 

]Mr.  Whipps  is  a Republican,  a contemporary  and  warm 
personal  friend  of  the  late  Senator  Thomas  H.  Carter. 
Mr.  Whipps  has  the  distinction  of  having  been  the  leader 
in  many  political  fights  and  of  having  never  been  de- 
feated. ' To  him  is  due  much  of  the  growth  and  prosper- 
ity of  Kalispell.  5Iuch  credit  therefore  accrues  to  him 
both  in  his  public  capacity  and  also  in  his  personal  en- 
counter with  fate,  which  through  years  he  has  con- 
ducteo  so  successfully  and  honorably. 

]Mrs.  Nellie  R.  Brown.  Prominent  among  Montana's 
women  of  intelligence  and  culture  is  l\Irs.  Nellie  R. 
Brown,  the  present  superintendent  of  public  instruction 
in  Teton  county,  who  has  filled  that  responsible  posi- 
tion one  term  previous  to  this  and  has  been  numbered 
among  Montana's  educators  since  1881.  Strongly  quali- 
fied in  character  and  personality  as  well  as  in  educa- 
tional attainments,  her  labors  in  the  educational  field 
have  been  of  a high  order  and  her  intellectual  force 
and  executive  power  have  made  her  official  service 


1176 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


marked  for  efficiency.  She  is  one  of  the  strong  women 
of  Montana  and  as  such  merits  a place  on  these  pages. 

Mrs.  Brown,  who  was  Miss  Nellie  R.  RoBard  prior 
to  her  marriage,  was  born  in  Audrain  county,  Missouri, 
on  the  17th  of  January,  i860.  She  is  a daughter  of 
John  M.  and  Anna  (Phillips)  RoBard,  the  former  of 
whom  was  a Kentuckian  by  birth  but  became  a pioneer 
settler  in  Missouri  along  in  the  ’40s.  During  the  gold 
excitement  of  1849  he  removed  to  California  but  re- 
mained only  a short  time,  returning  from  thence  to 
Missouri  where  he  took  up  business  activity  as  a mer- 
chant. He  was  educated  for  the  law  but  owing  to  ill 
health  could  not  pursue  the  profession.  He  was  a 
Democrat  in  politics  and  took  a very  active  and  promi- 
nent part  in  the  public  and  political  affairs  of  Audrain 
county,  Missouri,  and  its  county  seat  of  Mexico,  having 
served  for  a time  as  mayor  and  as  postmaster  of  Mexico, 
and  he  was  also  a prominent  member  of  the  Masonic 
circles  of  Missouri.  W.  A.  RoBard,  a brother  of  John 
M.,  was  one  of  Missouri's  eminent  men,  having  served 
many  years  as  attorney  general  there,  and  at  Jefferson 
City,  Missouri,  the  state  has  erected  a monument  to  his 
memory.  Anna  Phillips,  who  was  born  in  Virginia, 
came  to  Missouri  in  girlhood  and  at  Mexico,  Missouri, 
was  married  to  John  M.  RoBard.  To  their  union  were 
born  nine  children,  of  whom  Mrs.  Brown  is  fifth  in  or- 
der of  birth.  Both  parents  are  deceased,  the  father  hav- 
ing passed  away  in  1880  at  the  age  of  fifty-five  and  the 
mother’s  death  having  occurred  in  1900  when  seventy- 
five  years  old.  Both  are  interred  at  Mexico,  Missouri. 
The  Phillips  family  is  Scotch,  while  the  RoBards  are 
of  Scotch-Irish  descent. 

Mrs.  Brown  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Mexico,  Missouri,  and  in  Hardin  College,  of  that  city, 
which  institution  conferred  on  her  the  degree  of  Bach- 
elor of  Arts  in  1887.  Upon  the  conclusion  of  her  col- 
legiate studies  she  taught  school  one  year  in  Centralia, 
Missouri.  On  October  6,  1880.  at  Centralia,  she  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Solan  H.  Brown,  and  in  1881 
accompanied  her  husband  to  Montana,  locating  first  at 
Helena.  During  their  residence  there  Mrs.  Brown 
taught  six  years  in  the  schools  at  Helena  and  of  Lewis 
and  Clark  county.  About  1892  they  removed  to  what 
is  now  known  as  Teton  county  but  then  was  a portion 
of  Chouteau  county,  and  located  at  Dupuyer,  where 
Mrs.  Brown  spent  three  years  more  in  teaching.  From 
there  they  removed  to  Choteau,  where  Mr.  Brown  died 
on  June  25,  1901.  Mrs.  Brown  has  taught  six  years 
since  becoming  a resident  of  Choteau  and  is  now  ffiling 
her  third  term  as  superintendent  of  public  instruction 
in  Teton  county,  her  first  term  having  included  1907  and 
1908,  her  second  term  having  begun  in  1911,  and  she  has 
just  been  re-elected  for  the  third  time  as  county  super- 
intendent of  schools.  Cultivated  in  mind  and  with  her 
years  of  practical  experience  as  a teacher,  she  has  most 
efficiently  and  acceptably  filled  the  position  of  executive 
head  of  the  Teton  county  schools. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown  were  born  four  children; 
RoBard  Brown,  deceased;  Nellie,  now  Mrs.  P.  H. 
Crossen,  of  Choteau ; Grace,  who  is  the  wife  of  Wilson 
Nored  and  resides  at  Oakdale,  North  Dakota;  and 
Hazel  Brown,  now  a high-school  student. 

PIenry  Louvili.e  Knight.  The  year  1881  marked 
the  advent  of  PIenry  Louville  Knight  into  the’  west, 
and  the  passing  years  have  since  found  him  for  the 
most  part  engrossed  in  newspaper  enterprises  of 
varied  nature.  He  has  been  identified  with  journalistic 
work  in  many  capacities  and  for  years  has  been  a 
potent  force  in  the  field  of  publicity  in  this  section  of 
the  state.  Since  June.  1909,  he  has  been  a member  of 
the  firm  of  Knight  & Cade,  proprietors  of  the  Kalispcll 
Times,  a paper  founded  in  the  interests  of  the  Rejiub- 
licans  of  the  city  and  of  the  district. 

An  easterner  by  birth,  Henry  Louville  Knight  was 


born  m Bridgeton,  New  Jersey,  on  April  20,  1863,  and 
IS  the  son  of  Rev.  Franklin  LaFayette  Knight  and 
Lavina  Howard  Dorsey. 

Rev.  Franklin  LaFayette  Knight  was  born  in  1826 
in  Maine  and  was  educated  in  the  east.  He  was  a 
graduate  of  Bowdoin  College,  in  Maine,  and  his  vocar 
tion  that  of  a minister  of  the  Episcopalian  church. 
He  died  in  Washington,  D.  C„  while  the  assistant  rec- 
tor of  St.  John’s  church.  Rev.  Knight  was  a scholar 
of  brilliant  attainments,  his  knowledge  of  the  dead 
languages  being  most  unusual  and  far  reaching.  In 
1867  he  was  professor  of  Latin  and  Greek  in  the 
University  of  the  South,  at  Sewanee.  Tennessee,  but 
in  1869  returned  to  Washington,  D.  C.,  with  his  fam- 
ily, where  he  remained  until  his  death,  which  took 
place  in  1876.  The  wife  and  mother  was  a member 
of  a well  known  Maryland  family, — the  Howard-Dor- 
seys  by  name,  and  she  died  in  the  month  of  October, 
in  1912,  in  the  eighty-fourth  year  of  her  life,  her  death 
taking  place  in  the  home  of  her  son,  M.  D.  Knight,  of 
Rockville,  Maryland.  Seven  children  were  born  to 
Rev.  and  Mrs.  Knight.  The  family  is  one  of  the  old 
established  ones  in  America,  the  first  of  the  name  to 
locate  in  America  having  been  George  S.  Knight,  who 
.came  from  England  in  1700  and  settled  in  Maine. 
The  family  has  ever  displayed  a strong  tendency  to.- 
wards  things  of  an  ecclesiastic  nature,  and  many  of 
the  name  have  given  their  lives  to  the  work  of  the 
church. 

PIenry  Louville  Knight  received  a somewhat  super- 
ficial education,  the  height  of  his  scholastic  training 
being  represented  by  a year  in  the  preparatory  depart- 
ment of  Columbian  College,  in  Washington,  D.  C.,  in 
1877.  In  June,  1881,  he  turned  his  face  in  a westerly 
direction,  and  reached  Miles  City,  Montana,  on  the 
old  steamer  Helena  full  six  months  ahead  of  the 
Northern  Pacific  Railroad.  In  that  year  he  busied 
himself  in  keeping  books  for  the  county  sheriff,  and 
in  the  next  winter  he  inaugurated  his  newspaper 
career  with  work  on  the  Yellowstone  Journal  at  Mites 
City.  In  1884  he  was  editor  of  the  Daily  Press  in 
Miles  City  and  he  left  that  place  in  1885,  making  his 
way  to  Big  Horn,  Wyoming,  where  in  company  with 
E.  H.  Becker,  he  founded  the  Big  Horn  Sentinel.  He 
later  moved  the  plant  to  Buffalo,  Wyoming,  but  in 
1886  sold  out  and  returned  to  Miles  City.  He  worked 
on  the  Journal  there  until  1888,  when  he  bought  the 
Courier  at  Rathdrum,  Idaho.  This  venture  was  not 
a success,  and  Mr.  Knight  lost  his  investment  as  a 
result  of  the  enterprise.  He  then  returned  to  Billings 
in  eastern  Montana  and  secured  employment  in  the 
office  of  the  Gazette,  where  he  remained  for  some 
years.  In  1893,  once  more  emboldened  to  start  out 
on  his  own  responsibility,  Mr.  Knight  started’  the 
Yellozi'Stone  J^alley  Recorder.  In  1896  he  moved  the 
plant  to  Missoula  and  there  started  the  Missoula 
Daily  Messenger.  This  enterprise  was  also  doomed 
to  failure,  and  he  weathered  the  storms  of  financial 
adversity  for  two  years,  when  he  gave  up  the  struggle 
in  Missoula.  The  spring  and  summer  of  the  year 
1899  Mr.  Knight  spent  in  a printing  office  in  Spokane, 
Washington,  the  winter  following  finding  him  once 
more  at  the  helm  in  his  old  position  on  the  Journal  in 
Miles  City.  In  the  fall  of  1900  Mr.  Knight  edited  a 
campaign  daily  for  W.  A.  Clark  and  in  the  winter  of 
1900-01  went  to  Billings  to  take  over  the  management 
of  the  Billings  Times.  In  March,  1901,  he  went  to 
Kalispell.  Montana,  to  accept  a responsible  position 
on  the  Daily  Bee,  and  in  1903  he  became  a stock- 
holder of  the  Bee  Publishing  Company,  continuing 
as  secretary  and  manager  until  1909.  when  the  Kalispell 
'Times  was  founded  in  the  interests  of  the  Republi- 
cans of  Kalispell.  As  mentioned  in  a previous  para- 
graph, Mr.  Knight  is  one  of'  the  firm  of  Knight  & 
tade,  managers  and  proprietors  of  that  paper,  and 


i^T" 


) 


HISTORY  OF  ^lOXTANA 


1177 


the  Times  has  under  their  management  and  direction 
prospered  most  undeniably  as  a “stand  pat”  organ  oi 
the  Republican  party. 

Mr.  Knight  is  a member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
since  the  year  1891,  when  he  joined  the  order  in 
Billings.  He  is  past  chancellor  of  the  lodge,  and  a 
member  of  the  uniform  rank.  He  has  been  a delegate 
to  many  of  the  grand  lodge  conventions  of  the  order 
and  has  taken  a prominent  place  in  the  society  in  the 
years  of  his  affiliation  with  it.  Mr.  Knight  is  not  a 
member  of  any  church.  He  is  a nature  lover  and  a 
naturalist  of  no  small  learning.  He  is  a pedestrian, 
and  is  especially  fond  of  fresh  air  and  out-of-door 
exercises.  He  is  unmarried  as  yet,  and  is  quoted  as 
having  said  that  in  that  regard  his  “prospects  are 
poor.”  . 

Frank  G.  Cole.  The  life  of  Frank  G.  Cole  stands 
forth  as  an  example  of  the  way  in  which  a man  may 
rise  in  his  trade  or  profession  from  a humble  position 
to  membership  in  a prominent  and  successful  firm. 
Frank  G.  Cole  began  life  as  a machinist,  and  as  a mere 
boy  he  determined  that  he  would  do  his  work  so  thor- 
oughly that  he  would  always  be  the  one  thought  of 
when  a vacancy  occurred  above  him.  Therefore  by  de- 
votion to  his  work,  by  acquiring  a knowledge  of  every 
branch  of  it,  and  by  always  showing  that  he  was  not 
in  a business  for  what  he  could  get  out  of  it  but  for 
what  he  could  give  to  it,  he  rose  from  one  level  to  the 
next  higher  until  he  is  now  the  manager  of  one  of  the 
most  important  industrial  plants  in  Kalispell,  Montana.* 

Frank  G.  Cole  is  a western  man  by  birth,  having  been 
born  in  Pioche,  Nevada,  on  the  20th  of  January,  1875. 
His  father  was  William  G.  Cole,  who  was  born  in 
foggy  old  London,  across  the  water  in  Merry  England. 
The  date  of  his  birth  was  the  year  1844  and  he  came  to 
America  at  the  age  of  nineteen  in  1863.  He  first  settled 
in  California,  and  followed  mining  as  his  profession. 
He  later  moved  to  Nevada,  and  finally  in  1868  came  to 
Montana  and  took  up  placer  mining  near  Unionville, 
Montana.  Here  he  lived  for  many  years,  and  was 
accounted  one  of  the  successful  mining  men  of  the  com- 
munity. He  was  a man  of  great  reserve,  quiet  and  al- 
though interested  in  the  affairs  of  the  community  in 
general,  not  caring  to  take  a prominent  part  in  them  or 
to  hold  public  office.  It  was  in  1881  that  he  came  to 
Butte,  Montana,  and  became  associated  with  the  Amal- 
gamated Company,  with  whom  he  remained  for  about 
seven  years.  He  then  spent  several  years  in  connection 
with  the  Parrott  Company  and  during  the  last  three 
years  of  his  life,  he  turned  to  ranching,  owning  and 
operating  a ranch  in  the  Bitter  Root  country.  His  death 
occurred  in  Butte  in  1901,  and  he  is  survived  by  his 
wife  and  five  children.  He  was  married  in  California 
to  Anna  Hodson,  who  like  her  husband  was  born  in 
England,  Preston  being  her  native  town.  She  lives  at 
present  in  Butte.  Of  the  five  living  children,  William 
H.  Cole,  the  eldest,  is  a resident  of  Salt  Lake  City  and 
is  in  charge  of  the  Highland  Boy  mine ; Louise  Cole 
married  Charles  Bole  and  now  lives  in  Coeur  de  Ellis, 
Montana;  Walter  Cole  is  in  the  automobile  business  in 
San  Diego,  California:  Frank  is  the  next,  and  Harry, 
the  youngest,  is  living  in  Montana,  and  like  his  brother, 
Frank,  is  a machinist. 

Frank  Cole  was  educated  in  Butte,  and  is  a grad- 
uate of  the  Butte  high  school,  being  a member  of  the 
class  of  1891.  On  completing  his  high  school  work  he 
entered  Butte  Business  College  and  after  a year  spent 
in  this  institution,  decided  that  he  preferred  some  work 
where  he  might  use  his  hands.  He  was  therefore  ap- 
prenticed to  a machinist  in  the  Western  Iron  Works, 
and  here  learned  his  trade.  He  followed  the  trade  of 
machinist,  as  a journeyman,  for  about  six  years,  and 
then  after  leaving  Butte,  became  master  mechanic  for 
the  Bridger  Coal  Company  at  Bridger,  Montana.  He 


remained  with  them  for  several  years  and  then  became 
connected  'with  the  Heinze  Smelting  Company,  with 
whom  he  remained  for  some  time.  His  ne.xt  move  was 
to  Australia  where  he  became  associated  with  the  North 
Lyle  Smelting  Company,  his  work  being  the  erection 
of  engines.  In  each  of  these  moves  Mr.  Cole  took  an 
upward  step,  though  it  may  have  been  a tiny  one,  upon 
the  ladder  of  success,  and  his  worth  was  so  well  realized 
by  the  North  Lyle  Smelting  Company  that  during  the 
last  eighteen  months  of  his  connection  with  them  he  was 
superintendent  of  the  plant. 

On  his  return  to  this  country  he  went  to  work  for  the 
Union  Iron  Works  of  San  Francisco,  where  he  remained 
for  a year.  He  next  went  to  Vancouver  Island,  in  Brit- 
ish Columbia  to  take  charge  of  the  Northwestern  Smelt- 
ing and  Refinery  Company,  at  Crofton,  British  Colum- 
bia. After  two  years  spent  here,  he  went  to  Salt  Lake 
City  to  install  some  machinery  for  a mining  compan3^ 
at  that  place.  It  took  him  six  months  to  complete  this 
task  and  at  the  end  of  this  time  he  took  charge  of  the 
Western  Iron  Works.  He  was  foreman  of  this  big 
plant  for  six  years  and  the  company  felt  his  loss  greatly 
when  he  determined  to  resign  his  position  to  accept  the 
management  of  the  Kalispell  Iron  Works.  He  is  not 
onl\^  the  very  efficient  manager  but  also  a member  of 
the  firm,  and  the  years  and  years  of  practical  experience 
which  he  has  had  are  now  proving  extremely  valuable. 
The  company  was  incorporated  in  1906  and  has  had 
a very  prosperous  career,  especially  since  Mr.  Cole 
has  had  its  affairs  in  charge. 

Like  his  father,  Mr.  Cole  does  not  care  to  interest 
himself  in  active  politics,  but  he  is  well  known  in  fra- 
ternal circles,  being  a member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
and  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  In  his  re- 
ligious beliefs  he  is  a firm  adherent  and  faithful  com- 
municant of  the  ancient  Protestant  Episcopal  church. 

Mr.  Cole  was  married  on  the  25th  of  December,  1894, 
to  Miss  Katherine  Foley,  a daughter  of  Edward  Foley, 
who  is  now  deceased.  Mrs.  Cole  is  a native  of  the  state 
of  Michigan.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cole  are  the  parents  of  three 
children.  Frank  W.,  the  eldest,  was  born  in  Butte. 
August  29,  1896.  Tasmania,  who  was  born  in  far-off 
Australia,  in  Crothy,  Tasmania,  on  the  29th  of  April, 
1902.  Raymond  Andrew  Cole  was  born  in  Butte,  Mon- 
tana, on  the  15th  day  of  Ma\%  1908. 

Through  the  years  in  which  Mr.  Cole  has  been  in 
close  touch  with  men  of  many  different  nationalities  and 
modes  of  thinking,  he  has  not  devoted  himself  alone  to 
learning  the  technical  side  of  his  business,  but  to  study- 
ing the  various  types  of  humanity  with  whom  he  has 
been  associated.  This  is  one  of  the  reasons  for  his  suc- 
cess in  an  executive  position,  for  he  is  seldom  mistaken 
in  a man,  and  being  a firm  believer  in  the  spark  of  good- 
ness underlying  the  bad  in  all  of  us,  he  has  often  been 
successful  in  bringing  this  to  the  surface  in  men  whom 
other  employers  have  given  up  as  no  good.  He  is  un- 
doubtedly a man  whose  life  has  been  of  use  to  his 
fellows,  and  were  he  not  a successful  man,  this  would 
be  sufficient  to  make  him  a man  to  be  remembered. 

Joseph  Chauvin.  There  are  perhaps  other  rnen  in 
Montana  who  are  wealthier  and  hold  more  conspicuous 
places  in  the  eye  of  the  nation  than  Joseph  Chauvin  of 
Butte,  but  none  of  them  is  bigger.  None  has  more 
public  spirit,  nor  a greater  love  and  loyalty  for  the 
state.  He  has  been  a resident  of  Butte  from  the  days 
when  it  was  a straggling  mining  camp,  when  pay  day 
meant  wild  carousals  and  six-shooters,  and  the  cow- 
boy who  today  inhabits  the  vaudeville  stage  was  then 
a real  object.  With  the  foresight  of  a born  business 
man,  Mr.  Chauvin  felt  that  this  rough  collection  of 
shacks  and  tents  held  in  its  unkempt  bosom  the  germ 
of  something  better,  and  his  confidence  was  not  mis- 
placed. In  the  development  of  Butte,  ^Ir.  Chauvin 


1178 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


took  an  active  and  prominent  part.  When  men  wanted 
advice  as  to  where  they  should  place  their  money, 
when  they  considered  some  move  which  would  improve 
the  appearance  of  the  city,  when  political  questions 
arose,  Mr.  Chauvin  was  the  man  to  whom  they  instinc- 
tively turned.  He  was  not  only  ready  and  willing  to 
give  both  of  his  time  and  services,  hut  he  had  many  more 
years  of  experience  than  had  most  of  the  citizens  of 
Butte,  along  the  lines  in  which  they  sought  help.  He 
had  grown  up  with  the  country,  had  learned  to  know 
not  only  the  country  but  the  men.  There  was  not  a man 
of  importance  in  the  state  that  he  did  not  know,  and 
he  likewise  knew  the  miners  and  the  cowboys,  knew 
how  they  thought  and  felt  and  reasoned.  He  was 
invaluable  to  his  political  party  because  of  this  ability 
to  judge  men,  and  while  never  caring  to  hold  office 
himself  he  has  always  been  one  of  the  prominent 
men  of  his  party  in  the  state.  No  man  in  Montana 
possesses  a larger  number  of  personal  friends  than 
Mr.  Chauvin,  and  this  popularity  seems  only  too 
small  a reward  for  one  wdio  has  given  of  himself  so 
generously  to  the  service  of  his  city  and  state. 

The  ancestry  of  Joseph  Chauvin  is  hy  no  means  the 
most  uninteresting  thing  concerning  him.  On  his 
paternal  side  his  ancestry  makes  him  a descendant  of 
one  of  the  oldest  families  of  the  French  nobility, 
whose  founder  was  Marquis  De  Leveille.  He  also 
numbers  among  his  ancestors,  a man  w'ho  was  brought 
to  the  notice  of  the  public  at  the  ter-centenary  of  the 
coming  of  the  great  explorer.  This  man  was  Henri 
Chauvin,  who  was  first  lieutenant  under  Champlain  and 
was  captain  of  a three  hundred  foot  barque,  the  Don 
d’Dieu.  An  ancestress  of  his.  Mile.  Chauvin,  was  the 
first  prioress  in  the  first  convent  in  Quebec.  His 

family  have  thus  always  been  pioneers,  and  have  found 
their  places  in  life  on  the  edges  of  civilization.  It  is 
therefore  not  strange  that  Joseph  Chauvin  should  have 
sought  the  wilds  of  Montana  so  far  in  advance  of 
many  of  his  present  fellow  citizens. 

Mr.  Chauvin  comes  from  a family  noted  on  both 
sides  for  their  longevity.  His  father  and  mother 
are  both  living,  after  sixty-four  years  of  wedded  life. 
His  father,  Leander  J.  Chauvin,  was  born  in  Vir- 
rennes,  near  Montreal,  Canada,  in  1827.  He  emigrated 
to  Vermont  in  1842,  and  five  years  later,  in  1847, 
married  Harriet  Pepin.  Harriet  Pepin  was  born  in 
Vercher,  Canada,  and  was  a daughter  of  Joseph  Pepin 
and  his  wife.  Joseph  Pepin  was  one  of  a family  of 
twenty-six  children,  and  the  mother  of  this  large 
family  lived  to  the  remarkable  age  of  one  hundred 
and  four.  One  of  his  brothers  was  a trapper  and 
hunter  in  the  thirties,  and  in  the  early  forties  camped 
on  the  headwaters  of  the  Missouri  river.  He  there- 
fore might  have  been  on  the  very  spot  where  his  grand- 
nephew now  lives.  Joseph  Pepin  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy-two  and  his  wife  died  at  the  age  of  ninety- 
four.  Mr.  Chauvin's  maternal  grandmother  lived  to 
be  ninety  years  of  age,  and  so  it  can  well  be  imagined 
that  Mr.  Chauvin  at  the  age  of  sixty-four  tells  the 
truth  when  he  says  he  feels  like  a young  man.  He 
surely  looks  like  one,  and  since  a man  is  as  young  as 
he  feels  he  has  many  more  years  of  usefulness  yet 
remaining  to  him.  Leander  and  Harriet  Chauvin 
became  the  parents  of  sixteen  children,  eight  sons 
and  eight  daughters,  of  whom  six  sons  and  four 
daughters  are  yet  alive.  The  father  and  mother  are 
now  living  at  the  old  homestead  in  Shelburn,  Ver- 
mont, where  Mrs.  Chauvin  has  lived  since  her  parents 
brought  her  here  as  a child.  The  old  home  is  not 
far  from  the  celebrated  Webb  farm,  and  is  situated 
in  one  of  the  most  picturesque  portions  of  the  old 
state. 

Joseph  Chauvin  was  born  in  Shelburn,  Vermont,  on 
the  27th  of  November,  1848.  His  parents  were  poor, 
for  life  was  hard  and  Vermont  farms  have  never  had 
a reputation  for  great  fertility.  The  lad  was  brought 


up  on  a farm,  and  attended  the  common  schools.  He 
was  eager  for  an  education,  and  since  his  father  was 
unable  to  give  him  one,  he  sawed  wood,  lighted  the 
fires  at  the  schoolhouse,  and  rang  the  bells,  thus 
paying  his  way  through  the  high  school,  or  more  prop- 
erly the  academy,  for  it  was  a private  institution.  It 
was  conducted  by  that  learned  man,  H.  H.  Fisk,  who 
is  now  a prominent  professor  in  Northwestern  Uni- 
versity, at  Evanston.  Illinois.  Under  the  tutelage  of 
this  able  man  Mr.  Chauvin  received  a thorough  edu- 
cation, but  at  the  age  of  fifteen  he  deserted  his  books 
and  attempted  to  enlist  in  a Vermont  regiment  that  was 
then  being  formed.  This  was  in  1863,  during  the  days 
when  it  was  evident  that  the  North  would  conquer, 
but  when  men  were  being  rushed  to  the  front  to  fill  the 
gaps  caused  by  the  carnage  at  Gettysburg  a.nd  Vicks- 
burg, Joseph  Chauvin  was  not  permitted  to  enlist 
on  account  of  his  youth  and  was  forced  to  watch  the 
regiment  march  away  without  him  and  later  to  see 
it  return,  covered  with  glory. 

Upon  finding  that  he  could  not  be  a soldier  he  went 
to  Burlington,  Vermont,  and  there  accepted  a clerk- 
ship in  a grocery  store.  He  remained  here  for  five 
years,  saving  his  money  and  learning  the  business. 
His  business  ability  early  asserted  itself,  and  at  the 
age  of  twenty,  he  resigned  from  his  clerkship,  and 
opened  a small  grocery  store  of  his  own.  Within  four 
years  he  was  doing  the  largest  business  of  this  kind 

in  town,  and  was  one  of  the  wealthiest  and  most 

important  citizens.  At  the  age  of  thirty  he  was  made 
‘alderman  of  the  Fourth  ward,  which  was  normally  a 
Democratic  ward.  He  served  a two-year  term,  and  this 
was  his  introduction  to  the  field  in  which  he  was  later  to 
play  so  proniinent  a part.  He  was  a member  of  the  fa- 
mous old  Ethan  Allen  Engine  Company  of  Burlington, 
and  is  yet  an  honorary  member  of  the  company.  The 

freedom  and  the  future  which  he  saw  in  the  great 

territories  of  the  West  had  for  some  time  appealed  to 
him  strongly,  and  at  last,  just  after  the  close  of  his 
term  as  alderman,  the  old  pioneer  instinct  fuliy  awake, 
he  set  out  for  those  unknown  lands.  The  trip  was 
made  before  the  railroad  had  reached  Butte,  and  it 
was  by  no  means  an  easy  place  to  reach.  He  arrived 
here  on  the  ist  of  June,  i^i,  and  rough  as  the  camp 
looked  he  saw  its  possibilities  with  half  a glance. 

He  opened  up  a furniture  store,  and  from  the  first 
modest  beginning  it  grew  in  time  into  a large  and 
prosperous  business.  Six  years  ago  he  retired  from 
the  mercantile  life  and  went  into  the  mining  business, 
both  as  mine  owner  and  as  broker.  In  this  business 
he  is  still  engaged,  and  is  known  all  over  the  state 
as  one  of  the  most  successful  brokers  and  authorita- 
tive men  on  mining  questions.  He  has  won  and  lost 
several  fortunes  since  coming  to  Montana,  but  which- 
ever way  the  tide  turns  his  equanimity  is  never  disturbed. 
He  now  hopes  to  make  another  fortune  before  his  active 
life  is  ended.  He  is  not  the  type  of  man  who  cares 
for  money  as  money:  it  is  the  making  of  it  that 
interests  him,  the  playing  of  the  game.  He  is  one  .of 
the  most  active  stockbrokers  on  the  Butte  Stock  Ex- 
change and  during  moments  of  excitement,  he  is  one 
of  the  men  who  is  watched  most  closely,  for  whichever 
way  he  moves,  many  are  certain  to  follow.  He  is 
owner  of  several  mining  properties  of  great  value, 
and  is  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Butte  Cable 
Copper  & Gold  Mining  Company.  He  is  also  vice- 
president  and  director  in  the  North  Pacific  Placer 
Mining  Company.  In  both  of  these  concerns  he  is  a 
heavy  stockholder. 

In' politics  Mr.  Chauvin  has  always  been  a steadfast 
Republican,  and  since  1888  he  has  taken  a prominent 
part  in  the  many  stirring  campaigns  for  which  Mon- 
tana has  become  famous.  He  was  a personal  friend 
of  the  late  Colonel  Sanders,  and  was  his  guest  in  his 
Washington  home  a number  of  times.  He  was  a 
warm  and  loyal,  friend  of  the  late  Senator  Carter,  and 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1179 


upon  his  death  a letter  which  he  wrote  to  the  editor 
of  the  Inter  Mountain,  was  one  of  the  truest  tributes 
paid  to  the  politician,  who,  as  Mr.  Chauvin  said,  “one 
had  but  to  go  to  Washington  to  learn  how  great  a 
man  he  was  among  the  big  men  of  the  nation.”  He 
also  spoke  of  him  as  “a  genial  acquaintance,  a warm 
friend,  never  so  great  as  to  overlook  these  little  things 
that  make  life  worth  living  and  made  him  the  big 
man  he  was.”  It  would  be  very  easy  to  turn  the 
tables  and  apply  these  words  to  their  author,  for  they 
are  certainly  true  of  him.  He  served  as  a delegate 
to  many  state,  county  and  city  conventions,  and  was 
a dominant  force  that  helped  to  shape  the  destinies  of 
the  Republican  party  in  the  state  of  ^Montana.  He  is 
of  too  retiring  a disposition  to  have  ever  thrust  him- 
self forward,  but  he  has  been  nominated  for  several 
county  offices,  and  was  one  of  the  leading  candidates 
for  mayor  of  Butte  in  iSga.  He  was  defeated  in  the 
convention  by  only  eight  votes,  which  was  a more 
bitter  disappointment  to  his  followers  than  to  the 
candidate  himself. 

Mr.  Chauvin  is  a popular  member  of  the  social 
world  of  Butte.  He  has  been  an  active  member  of  the 
Silver  Bow  Lodge  of  Elks,  No.  240,  since  the  first 
years  of  its  organization.  He  was  one  of  the  founders 
of  the  Canadian  Institute,  and  for  tw'enty  years  has 
been  an  active  member  of  this,  one  of  the  oldest  social 
clubs  in  Butte.  He  is  one  of  the  most  noted  sports- 
men in  the  West,  and  it  would  be  hard  to  find  his  equal 
with  a rod.  The  Inter  Mountain  published  quite  a 
lengthy  article  a short  time  ago,  calling  attention  to 
Mr.  Chauvin’s  prowess  in  this  sport.  The  following 
extracts  are  quoted : “Mr.  Chauvin,  besides  being  a 

broker,  is  certainly  an  angler,  and  enjoys  the  sport; 
to  wade  across  fields  of  green  grass,  green  trees,  hear 
the  whippoorwill  and  meadow  lark  sing  is  better  than 
medicine,  and  he  can't  understand  how  millionaires 
basking  and  roasting  in  the  East  don't  come  out  and 
enjoy  the  finest  climate  in  the  world.  He  has  fished 
with  one  pole  bought  in  1885,  and  caught  enough  fish 
to  load  a car  in  streams  wdthin  a hundred  miles  of 
Butte.  He  seldom  speaks  of  his  catches,  but  he  can 
usually  be  found  with  more  fish  on  the  same  stream 
than  anybody.  In  five  trips  recently  to  Red  Rock  river 
he  has  brought  home  an  average  of  forty  pounds 
of  dressed  trout,  grayling  and  whitefish,  and  takes  pleas- 
ure in  distributing  the  same  to  his  friends.” 

Mr.  Chauvin  has  traveled  widely,  in  the  Lffiited  States 
and  Canada,  and  such  travel  has  broadened  his  mind, 
and  given  him  an  understanding  of  many  conditions 
of  men.  He  is  a true  lover  of  the  best  in  art  and 
literature,  and  his  mind  has  had  the  best  of  training, 
through  contact  w'ith  some  of  the  keenest  thinkers 
of  the  day.  He  had  a wide  acquaintance  over  the  w'hole 
country,  and  since  casting  his  first  vote  for  General 
Grant,  he  has  knowm  personally  many  of  the  men  who 
have  influenced  the  public  affairs  of  our  nation.  Mr. 
Chauvin  is  a member  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church,  but 
is  a man  of  broad  views  and  tolerant  attitude  in  mat- 
ters of  religion. 

The  marriage  of  Joseph  Chauvin  to  Caroline  Ger- 
main, took  place  in  Burlington,  “Vermont,  in  1870.  The 
mother  and  father  of  Mrs.  Chauvin  w'ere  old  pioneers 
of  Burlington,  and  lived  there  until  they  died  at  a 
ripe  old  age.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chauvin  have  one  son. 
Charles  Frederic  Chauvin,  who  was  born  in  Burlington, 
Vermont,  in  1874.  He  was  married  in  Boston,  to  Miss 
Derby,  a daughter  of  Mr.  Derby,  rvho  was  the  founder 
and  proprietor  of  the  famous  Derby  Desk  Company 
of  Boston.  Charles  F.  Chauvin  entered  the  employ 
of  this  company  at  the  time  of  his  marriage,  and  he 
has  since  continued  in  the  office  furniture  business, 
at  present  bemg  connected  wdth  a prominent  office 
and  bank  furnishing  house  in  New  York  City.  He  has 
two  children,  Doris  Chauvin  and  Joseph  Edward 
Chauvin.  Mr.  Joseph  Chauvin  also  adopted  his  oldest 


sister's  child  at  the  death  of  the  mother,  Carrie  Anna 
Chauvin.  The  child  in  question  was  only  fourteen 
days  old  at  her  mother's  death,  and  she  came  to  the 
West  with  her  adopted  parents  in  1881.  She  has  lived 
in  the  West  ever  since,  having  married  W.  L.  Fant, 
of  Butte,  in  1891.  They  had  one  child.  Beulah  L. 
Fant.  who  is  now  the  ward  of  Mr.  Chauvin,  for  her 
father  died  in  1904.  Mrs.  Fant  has  since  married 
W.  M.  Jermain,  a prominent  contractor,  who  resides 
at  Missoula. 

Frederick  Paul  Auerbach,  president  of  the  Central 
Meat  Company,  is  one  of  the  more  prominent  and  pro- 
gressive business  men  of  Great  Falls.  He  is  one  who 
has  made  his  own  position  in  the  business  world  by  the 
persistent  application  of  the  many  traits  of  sturdy  Ger- 
man character  which  are  his  by  right  of  birth,  and  adds 
one  to  the  already  long  list  of  German  emigrants  who 
have  made  good  in  all  walks  of  life  in  America. 

Born  in  Saxony,  Germany,  Mr.  Auerbach  is  the  son 
of  Frederick  Paul  Auerbach,  Sr.,  a native  German,  who 
was  a textile  worker  or  weaver  by  trade,  and  who 
served  in  the  German  army  throughout  the  Franco- 
Prussian  war.  The  rough  campaign  life  unseated  his 
health  in  a deplorable  degree,  and  after  his  return  from 
the  war  he  lingered  through  several  months  of  illness 
and  died  in  1873,  at  the  early  age  of  forty-five  years. 
His  wife  was  Dorothy  Anna  (Wiese)  Auerbach,  born 
in  Saxony  in  1829.  She  is  still  living  in  her  native  land. 
Their  son,  Frederick  Paul,  Jr.,  was  born  April  18,  1865, 
and  as  a boy  attended  the  public  schools  of  his  home 
town.  When  he  reached  the  age  of  fourteen,  his  par- 
ents, in  common  with  others  of  their  class,  apprenticed 
their  son  to  the  meat  business,  but  he  only  remained  in 
the  shop  for  one  year,  and  when  he  was  fifteen  immi- 
grated to  America,  alone,  and  dependent  entirely  upon 
his  own  resources.  On  reaching  these  shores,  he  pro- 
ceeded at  once  to  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin,  but  the  city  did 
not  appeal  to  him  and  he  had  a desire  to  see  more  of 
the  countr}^  particularly  the  westerly  portion  of  it.  In 
1881  he  came  to  Montana,  stopping  first  in  Missoula, 
where  he  found  work  in  a meat  shop.  He  remained  in 
that  city  for  five  years,  employed  in  various  capacities, 
and  while  there  took  out  his  first  citizen's  papers.  Al- 
ways a saving  and  industrious  youth,  the  young  man, 
after  about  six  years  in  America,  decided  to  visit  his 
home  once  more,  and  he  accordingly  made  the  trip 
home  and  paid  a pleasant  visit  to  his  mother  and  othcr 
members  of  his  family.  In  a short  time  he  returned 
once  more  to  Montana,  this  time  locating  in  Anaconda, 
and  he  again  secured  employment  in  a meat  shop,  where 
he  remained  for  three  years.  In  1889  jMr.  Auerbach 
went  to  Butte  where  he  was  employed  for  a number  of 
years,  coming  from  there  to  Great  Falls,  where  he 
launched  out  in  business  for  himself.  He  sold  out  in  a 
short  time,  returning  to  Butte,  but  his  better  judgment 
soon  brought  him  to  Great  Falls  once  more,  and  there, 
together  with  Mr.  Frank  P.  Johnson,  in  1894  he  estab- 
lished the  business  since  that  time  known  as  the  Cen- 
tral Meat  Company.  The  industry  has  grown  apace, 
and  has  with  the  passing  years  developed  into  one  of  the 
leading  establishments  of  its  kind  in  the  city,  or  indeed, 
in  northern  Montana.  They  conduct  a wholesale  and 
retail  business,  and  the  shop  is  in  every  way  one  of  the 
most  modern  and  complete  known  to  the  trade. 

Mr.  Auerbach  has,  despite  the  heavy  demands  upon  his 
time  by  his  business,  been  able  to  devote  a considerable 
attention  to  civic  affairs,  and  has  been  a member  of  the 
board  of  aldermen  of  Great  Falls  for  twelve  years.  For 
six  years  he  was  president  of  the  council,  and  in  both 
capacities  has  been  instrumental  in  bringing  about  many 
improvements  and  benefits  in  a municipal  way.  He  is  a 
Democrat  in  his  political  convictions,  and  with  hfs  fam- 
ily, is  a member  of  the  Lutheran  church.  He  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Sons  of  Hermann,  the 
Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles  and  the  Woodmen  of  the 


J180 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


World.  Mr.  Auerbach  is  a man  of  action,  and  is  espe- 
cially fond  of  outdoor  life.  He  has  acquired  a consider- 
able amount  of  real  estate  in  Great  Falls  and  other 
points  throughout  the  state,  and  is  regarded  as  a man 
of  some  wealth. 

In  November,  1890,  Mr.  Auerbach  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Theresa  Matt  of  Anaconda.  Six  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  them,  named  as  follows : Dora, 
born  in  August,  1892,  assistant  in  offices  of  her  father; 
Paul,  born  in  1894,  in  business  with  the  father;  Francis, 
born  in  1896,  also  in  the  office  of  the  Central  Meat  Com- 
pany; Theresa,  born  in  1899;  Pauline,  born  in  1901  and 
Helen  born  in  1904,  all  are  attending  school  in  Great 
Falls. 

J.  C.  Orrick.  The  sheriff  of  Yellowstone  county, 
J.  C.  Orrick,  needs  no  introduction  to  the  people  of  the 
Yellowstone  valley.  That  he  is  well  and  favorably 
known  is  evidenced  by  the  office  with  which  they  have 
honored  him,  and  which  he  now  holds  and  fills  so 
acceptably.  He  was  born  September  15,  1872,  at  Ste- 
vens Point,  Wisconsin,  and  is  a son  of  Dr.  John  PI. 
and  Hattie  (Nichols)  Orrick,  the  former  a native  of 
Baltimore,  Maryland,  and  the  latter  of  Lowell,  Massa- 
chusetts. Dr.  Orrick  was  educated  in  the  old  Balti- 
more Medical  College,  and  became  one  of  the  pioneer 
physicians  and  surgeons  of  Wisconsin,  his  field  of 
practice  being  the  town  of  Stevens  Point.  Fie  served 
with  distinction  as  a surgeon  of  a Wisconsin  regiment 
during  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  and  on  his  return 
therefrom  built  up  a large  and  lucrative  practice,  but 
his  career  was  cut  short  by  early  death  in  1876.  He 
was  a member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  His  widow 
survives  him,  making  her  home  in  Chicago,  and  their 
three  children  are  all  living : Carrie,  who  is  married 

and  living  in  Chicago;  Nellie,  the  wife  of  Robert  E. 
Gruwell,  of  Billings;  and  J.  C. 

J.  C.  Orrick  was  only  four  years  of  age  when  his 
father  died,  and  when  he  was  nine  years  of  age  he 
accompanied  his  mother  to  the  home  of  his  grand- 
father, Josiah  Nichols,  a pioneer  of  California  and 
Idaho,  who  was  then  living  at  Junction,  Custer  county, 
Montana.  His  education  was  secured  in  the  public 
schools  of  Miles  City,  Montana,  and  until  1894  he  was 
employed  on  various  ranches,  at  that  time  going  into 
business  for  himself  as  a raiser  of  and  dealer  in  horses 
and  cattle.  He  was  first  appointed  deputy  county 
assessor  in  igoo,  a position  in  which  he  served  ably 
for  one  term,  when  he  was  made  deputy  sheriff  under 
Sheriff  W.  P.  Adams,  and  later  acted  in  the  same 
capacity  under  Sheriff  James  T.  Webb.  The  latter 
was  murdered  in  1907,  and  in  1908  Mr.  Orrick  was 
chosen  for  the  office,  and  the  capable  manner  in  which 
he  handled  the  affairs  and  duties  that  devolved  upon 
him  caused  the  voters  to  return  him  to  that  position 
in  igio  and  was  the  candidate  of  his  party  again  in  1912. 
He  has  been  one  of  the  best  and  most  popular  sheriffs 
Yellowstone  county  has  ever  had,  and  the  highest 
compliment  that  can  be  paid  him  is  the  general  opinion 
among  all  who  know  him  that  he  is  a man  who  does 
his  duty  as  he  sees  it,  and  that  he  is  upright,  fearless 
and  absolutely  sincere.  Politically  he  is  a Republican, 
and  his  fraternal  affiliation  is  with  Billings  Lodge  No. 
394,  B.  P.  O.  E. 

On  January  25,  1897,  Sheriff  Orrick  was  married  to 
Miss  Cora  Wear,  who  was  born  at  Elko,  Nevada, 
daughter  of  Robert  G.  and  Louisa  (McCutcheon)  Wear, 
the  former  of  whom  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-three 
j'ears,  in  1906,  while  the  latter  passed  away  when  Mrs. 
Orrick  was  a mere  child.  Mrs.  Orrick’s  parents  were 
both  natives  of  Missouri,  in  which  state  they  were 
married.  During  the  early  seventies  they  removed  to 
Nevada,  where  Mr.  Wear  engaged  in  stock-raising, 
giving  the  greater  part  of  his  attention  to  horses.  Dur- 
ing the  gold  excitement  they  came  overland  to  Mon- 
tana by  ox-team,  settling  at  Virginia  City  in  1865, 


later  returned  to  Nevada  and  in  1885  located  near  Miles 
City,  Mr.  Wear  being  engaged  in  raising  horses  and 
cattle  until  the  time  of  his  death.  A Democrat  in  his 
political  views,  he  served  as  county  commissioner  of 
Custer  county  for  some  time  and  in  various  township 
offices.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Orrick  have  had  two  children: 
Jack  and  Cecille. 

J.\MES  King  is  another  of  those  valuable  citizens 
for  whose  contributions  to  our  development  we  are 
indebted  to  our  good  neighbor,  Canada.  Eastern  Ontario 
is  the  place  of  his  birth  and  also  that  of  his  parents, 
Michael  and  Mary  Young  King,  who  still  reside  there. 
There  were  two  girls  and  eight  boys  in  the  family  and 
James  is  the  second  in  point  of  age.  Michael  Young  is 
a farmer,  but  his  son  did  not  follow  that  occupation 
after  he  grew  up,  although  he  earned  his  first  money 
at  the  age  of  sixteen  by  mowing  buckwheat  for  fifty 
cents  a day. 

Mr.  King’s  education  was  received  in  the  institu- 
tions of  Canada,  and  it  is  therefore  superfluous  to  say 
that  his  training  has  been  thorough,  for  anyone  familiar 
with  the  schools  in  our  neighboring  country  is  obliged 
to  acknowledge  that  in  educational  matters,  as  well  as 
in  some  other  departments  of  national  life,  we  might 
well  pattern  after  our  Canadian  cousins.  Mr.  King 
graduated  from  the  high  school  after  finishing  the  pub- 
lic school,  and  then  completed  the  teachers’  training 
course,  supplementing  this  vocational  instruction  by 
study  in  the  Collegiate  Institute.  Three  years  were 
spent  in  teaching  in  the  Canadian  schools,  and  during 
vacation  time  he  went  to  the  Ontario  Business  College 
in  Bellville,  Ontario,  from  which  he  graduated.  All 
this  preparation  was  finished  by  the  time  Mr.  King  was 
twenty-one,  and  in  May,  1882,  he  arrived  in  Butte,  two 
months  before  his  twenty-first  birthday,  which  occurred 
on  July  26. 

When  Mr.  King  first  came  to  the  city  he  obtained  his 
first  position  as  an  accountant  in  a mercantile  estab- 
lishment. Next  he  was  associated  with  the  Bell  Min- 
ing & Smelting  Company,  and  when  he  left  their  em- 
ploy it  was  to  undertake  the  contract  of  supplying  the 
Viola  Mining  & Smelting  Company  of  Idaho  with  char- 
coal. Mr.  King  spent  two  years  at  this,  but_during  that 
time  he  did  not  give  up  his  legal  residence  in  Montana. 
When  he  came  back  to  Butte  his  first  venture  was  a 
brick  yard,  and  he  also  went  into  some  mining  projects, 
at  which  he  worked  for  three  years.  He  sold_  out  his 
holdings  in  these  in  1890,  and  went  into  the  dairy  busi- 
ness. He  conducted  this  industry  until  he  bought^the 
Goldberg  Building  in  1896.  Since  that  date  Mr.  King 
has  been  occupied  in  managing  this  property,  which  is 
one  of  the  modern  buildings  of  the  city.  A European 
hotel  occupies  the  entire  structure  above  the  street 
floor  and  comprises  the  most  modern  as  well  as  the 
leading  business  of  its  kind  in  the  city. 

On  June  9,  1896.  Mr.  King  was  married  to  Miss 
.Anna  F.  Sehulze,  daughter  of  August  and  Wilhelmina 
Schulze.  The  marriage  was  solemnized  in_  Butte. . but 
at  the  m-esent  time  Mrs.  King's  parents  live  in  Spokane. 
Both  Mr.  King  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Catholic  church  and  take  an  active  nart  in  its  work. 
Mr.  King  is  one  of  the  Knights  of  Columbus  and  one 
of  the  most  popular  members  of  that  fraternity. 

Political  matters  have  claimed  much  of  his  time  and 
attention.  He  is  a firm  believer  in  the  princinles  of  the 
Democratic  partv.  and  he  has  been  a man  of  influence 
in  the  local  orgainzation.  When  Mr.  Kenvon  was  mayor 
of  Butte.  Air.  King  served  under  S.  W.  Graves  as 
assistant  citv  clerk.  His  party  sent  him  to  Helena  as 
a member  of  the  Eleventh  legislative  assembly  and  in 
that  session  he  earned  the  gratitude  of  all  friends  of 
good  government  hy  introducing  the  Anti-Pool  Room 
Bill,  of  which  he  is 'the  author.  • 

Diming  his  college  days  Air.  King  took  a prominent 
part  in  athletics,  and  was  known  as  a football  and  a 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1181 


baseball  player,  besides  being  excellent  at  La  Crosse. 
He  retains  his  fondness  for  all  these  games  and  he  has 
never  lost  his  college  habit  of  reading.  He  has  col- 
lected a library  which  is  for  use  and  not  for  furniture 
only,  as  the  friends  who  frequent  the  home  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  King  at  1039  Alluminum  avenue  can  testify. 

John  H.  Duffy.  Holding  high  rank  in  his  profes- 
sion, and  with  a record  of  achievement  to  which  he  can 
justly  point  with  satisfaction,  John  H.  Duffy  may  with 
perfect  propriety  be  called  one  of  the  leading  attorneys 
of  the  city  of  Anaconda.  He  is  a Californian  by  birth, 
and  in  all  his  life  has  shown  himself  thoroughly  imbued 
with  the  western  spirit  of  activity  and  progress. 

Mr.  Duffy  was  born  in  Sacramento,  California,  on 
March  4.  1859.  The  foundation  of  his  education  was 
laid  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  city  and  he 
finished  this  with  a course  in  a business  college  from 
which  he  was  graduated  when  he  was  seventeen  years 
old.  He  did  not  take  up  the  profession  of  the  law  until 
1876,  when  he  began  the  study  of  Blackstone,  and  on 
August  13,  1882,  he  was  admitted  to  practice  by  the 
supreme  court  of  Montana  territory.  He  immediately 
swung  his  shingle  to  the  breeze,  and  success  was  not 
long  in  coming  to  him.  He  practiced  at  Butte,  Mon- 
tana, until  1895,  when  he  removed  to  Anaconda.  His 
ability  was  promptly  recognized  in  this  city,  both  pro- 
fessionally and  personally.  He  became  active  in  public 
affairs,  made  speeches  for  the  Democratic  party  through 
the  western  part  of  the  state  and  was  elected  county 
attorney,  in  which  office  he  held  the  confidence  of  the 
people  for  two  terms.  Returning  to  private  life  he 
rapidly  built  up  a practice,  and  now  holds  a position 
preeminent  in  county  and  state.  One  of  his  dominant 
ideas  is  that  the  judiciary  should  be  entirely  divorced 
from  politics. 

Mr.  Duffy’s  wife  was  formerly  Miss  Martha  Welch, 
of  New  York.  She  came  west  in  childhood  and  was 
raised  in  Montana.  Shortly  after  her  mother’s  death 
her  father  located  in  IMichigan,  where  he  was  a suc- 
cessful farmer.  Two  children  have  been  born  to  the 
household  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Duff;  Katherine 
Emilia  and  Floy  Marie  Duffy. 

Mr.  Duffy’s  father  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  came  to 
the  United  States  when  a youth  of  eighteen,  settling  in 
California.  He  was  prominent  in  the  transfer  and 
teaming  business  at  Sacramento,  where  he  died  in 
189,3.  Mr.  Duffy’s  mother  was  Katherine  Smith,  born 
in  Ireland.  She  is  now  living  with  her  son  and  is 
enjoying  good  . health  though  eighty-seven  years  of  age. 
IMr.  Duffy  had  five  brothers  and  sisters. 

The  owner- of  a handsome  home  in  Anaconda  and  in 
the  enjoyment  of  the  best  of  health,  John  H.  Duffy, 
is  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Anaconda,  and,  in 
spite  of  his  age  is  a deep  student  of  the  law  and  of 
history.  His  life  has  been  a successful  one  and  he 
holds  high  place  in  the  regard  of  his  fellow  citizens. 

James  Henry  Lynch.  One  of  the  representative 
citizens  of  Butte.  ^Montana,  and  a man  who  has  been 
prominently  identified  with  the  buildin.g  up  and  develop- 
ment of  that  city,  has  been  for  nearly  one-third  of  a 
century  variously  connected  with  her  business  interests, 
and  as  a public  official  has  rendered  valuable  service 
in  every  capacity  that  he  has  been  chosen  to  fill.  Mr. 
Lvnch  was  born  at  Galena.  Illinois,  on  the  irth  of  April, 
in  which  section  of  that  state  the  family  were 
pioneers.  His  father.  John  Lynch,  was  a native  of 
County  Fermana.gh,  Ireland ; was  born  in  1814.  and 
was  a young  man  of  twenty  years,  when  he  came  to 
.■\merica  with  his  father,  Terry  Lvnch,  settling  at 
Galena,  Illinois,  prior  to  the  Black  Hawk  war. 

In  Galena,  John  Lynch  became  intimately  acquainted 
with  and  a warm  personal  friend  of  U.  S.  Grant,  after- 
ward the  successful  general  of  the  Union  armv  and  still 
later  president  of  the  LTnited  States.  In  Galena,  also. 


he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Manley,  and  there  a 
number  of  their  children  were  born.  , 

In  Galena  the  father  worked  in  the  mines  until  1869, 
when  he  moved  his  family  to  Vermilion,  South  Dakota, 
where  he  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  the  country. 
There  he  became  the  owner  of  a large  ranch  and 
engaged  extensively  in  raising  live  stock  for  the  markets. 
He  and  his  sons  took  up  an  aggregate  of  3,000  acres 
of  government  land,  and  this  estate,  which  is  now  very 
valuable,  is  still  in  the  possession  of  the  family.  The 
father  died  in  1881  and  the  mother  in  1884,  universally 
and  highly  respected  in  all  parts  of  Clay  county.  South 
Dakota,  the  place  of  their  last  residence  in  this  country, 
and  in  every  other  locality  in  which  they  were  known. 

James  H.  Lynch  was  the  second  born  in  a family  of 
ten  sons,  being  educated  in  Galena,  Illinois,  and  gradu- 
ated from  its  high  school  in  1869.  He  accompanied 
his  parents  to  South  Dakota  in  that  year,  and,  for 
some  time  after  his  arrival  in  the  state,  taught  in  its 
public  schools.  He  began  his  business  career  at  Ver- 
milion in  that  state  as  a salesman  of  agricultural  imple- 
ments and  a purchaser  and  shipper  of  grain  and  kin- 
dred commodities  for  the  firm  of  Thompson  & Lewis, 
with  whom  he  remained  from  1874  to  1876.  In  Decem- 
ber, 1876,  he  moved  to  the  Black  Hills,  at  that  time  a 
part  of  the  Sioux  Indian  reservation  and  under  military 
rule.  Mr.  Lynch  was  one  of  a party  of  300  who  made 
this  peaceful  invasion  of  the  Indian  lands,  and  the 
journey  was  made  from  Yankton  by  way  of  Fort  Pierre. 
He  associated  himself  with  Messrs.  Dudley,  Caldwell 
& Company,  who  erected  the  first  saw  mill  operated  in 
the  Black  Hills  region,  and  of  this  he  had  charge  for 
two  years.  After  that  he  was  under  sheriff  of  Lawrence 
county.  South  Dakota,  for  two  years  and  deputy  county 
assessor  for  an  equal  length  of  time. 

In  February,  1882,  Mr.  Lynch  came  to  Montana  and 
located  in  Butte,  where  he  became  manager  of  the 
extensive  lumber  business  of  Messrs.  Parron,  Wall  & 
Company,  of  which  he  was  in  charge  until  the  fall  of 
1883.  At  that  time  he  moved  over  to  Anaconda,  which 
was  then  a city  of  tents.  There  he  represented  the 
Montana  Lumber  and  Produce  company,  and  also  united 
with  Giles  Brownell  in  establishing  the  first  livery  stable 
in  the  city.  In  addition,  he  formed  a partnership  with 
C.  W.  Mather,  under  the  firm  name  of  Lynch  & Mather, 
and  together  they  opened  and  conducted  the  Homestake 
Hotel,  an  extensive  hostelry  with  accommodations  for 
five  hundred  guests.  In  the  winter  of  1883-4  he  dis- 
posed of  all  his  interests  in  Anaconda  except  his  real 
estate,  and  went  to  Eagle  City  in  the  Coeur  d’  Alene 
region,  which  was  then  attracting  the  attention  and 
thrilling  the  heart  of  the  whole  world  through  the  rich 
deposits  of  gold  found  in  it.  He  found  life  there  one 
continual  succession  of  hardships,  with  the  necessaries 
of  existence  held  at  fabulous  prices  and  difficult  to  attain 
even  for  them.  On  one  occasion  he  was  obliged  to  pa}'’ 
one  dollar  for  the  privilege  of  sleeping  in  a pit  covered 
with  snow,  and  other  requisites  were  in  proportion. 
But  he  had  gone  to  the  wild  region  for  business  and 
he  determined  to  brave  its  dangers  and  endure  its 
privations  for  a time  at  least.  He  became  interested  in 
and  manager  for  the  Eldorado  Mining  company,  and 
continued  to  look  after  its  business  for  a number  of 
months,  trying  as  the  situation  was. 

In  1884  Mr.  Lynch  returned  to  Butte  and  purchased 
a wholesale  liquor  business,  which  he  conducted  suc- 
cessfully and  profitably  until  February,  1892.  He  then 
sold  this  business  and  turned  his  attention  to  real  estate 
dealing  on  a large  scale,  in  which  he  is  still  engaged. 
His  connection  with  this  line  of  trade  has  given  him 
opportunities  to  do  much  for  the  improvement  and 
extension  of  the  city.  In  1893  he  built  the  Lynch  block 
and  a little  later  the  Silver  block,  in  the  erection  of 
w'hich  John  Curtis  was  associated  with  him.  He  also 
put  up  the  Park  block  and  other  business  structures 
large  in  value  and  imposing  in  appearance.  Mr.  Lynch 


1182 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


is  president  of  the  J.  H.  Lynch  Investment  Company 
and  is  president  and  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Ama- 
zon-Butte Copper  Company. 

From  his  youth  Mr.  Lynch  has  been  warmly  and 
serviceably  allied  with  the  Democratic  party  in  political 
affairs,  and  wherever  he  has  been  has  done  what  he 
could  to  make  it  successful  in  all  campaigns.  As  a 
member  of  that  party,  and  as  a clear-headed  and  pro- 
gressive business  man  he  was  chosen  alderman  from 
the  F'ourth  ward  in  ]886.  and  served  in  that  position 
until  1890.  During  this  ])eriod  the  city  was  reincor- 
porated and  its  boumlaries  w'ere  e.xtended  by  additions 
etjual  to  half  its  original  size.  The  streets  were  graded 
also,  and  many  other  valuable  and  commendable 
improvements  were  m;ide,  in  all  of  which  he  took  a 
leading  part  as  an  advocate  of  progress  and  wielded  a 
potential  influence  in  making  others  zealous  in  the 
movement.  Me  was  chairman  of  the  linance  committee 
in  the  city  council  and  for  one  term  president  of  the 
council.  In  1884  President  Cleveland  appointed  him 
postmaster  of  the  city  for  a term  of  four  years,  and 
in  this  office  he  gave  the  people  service  that  was  uni- 
versally commended.  Mr.  Lynch  served  one  term  as 
representative  from  Butte  and  was  a member  of  the 
first  body  of  the  legislature  that  met  in  the  new  capitol 
building. 

The  fraternal  life  of  the  community  has  interested 
Mr.  Lynch  almost  as  much  as  its  political  affairs,  and 
its  social  activities  have  had  the  benefit  of  his  energetic 
and  helpful  support.  He  is  a member  of  the  Order  of 
Elks,  and  has  been  E.xalted  Ruler  of  Butte  Lodge  No. 
240  in  the  order.  He  has  also  served  as  district  deputy 
grand  exalted  ruler  for  Montana  several  terms,  and  has 
represented  his  lodge  in  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  order. 
Socially  he  is  an  active  member  of  the  Silver  Bow 
Club.  He  is  a charter  member  of  Butte  Council  No. 
666,  Knights  of  Columbus. 

On  March  29,  1880,  Mr.  Lynch  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Mary  Jane  Lackie,  a native  of  County  Pon- 
tiac, province  of  Quebec,  Canada,  and  the  daughter  of 
Hugh  and  Mary  (Kelley)  Lackie,  also  Canadians  by 
birth,  the  marriage  being  solemnized  at  Deadwood,  in 
the  Black  LI  ills,  where  the  bride  was  then  residing  with 
her  parents. 

Mr.  Lynch  is  a gentleman  of  unusual  force  of  char- 
acter and  straightforwardness,  candid,  fearless  and  out- 
spoken, where  matters  of  principle  are  involved,  though 
courteous  and  considerate  at  all  times.  As  a business 
force  in  the  community  he  has  been  of  great  service 
and  influence.  As  a citizen  he  is  progressive,  enter- 
prising, farseeing  and  indomitable  in  his  will  to  do 
all  in  his  power  for  the  good  of  his  city  and  state. 
And  here  and  elsewhere,  in  all  he  has  undertaken,  he 
has  bent  circumstances  to  his  purposes  and  made  them 
ministers  to  his  advancement.  Mr.  Lynch  is  a fine 
sample  of  the  men  who  have  made  the  great  West  and 
the  state  of  Montana  what  they  are. 

Frederick  Edwin  Hoss.  An  honest,  courteous  and 
efficient  public  official,  Frederick  Edwin  Hoss,  state 
examiner  of  Montana,  is  a consistent  and  persistent 
booster  of  his  adopted  state,  believing  it  to  be  the  best 
in  the  Lffiion,  with  Helena,  his  place  of  residence,  its 
finest  city,  A native  of  Pennsylvania,  he  was  born  June 
6,  i8s5,  in  Philadelphia,  where  he  was  bred  and  edu- 
cated, His  father,  the  late  John  C.  Hoss,  was  born  in 
Germany,  and  there  learned  the  trade  of  a miller. 
Shortly  after  his  marriage  he  immigrated  to  the  Lhiited 
States,  settling,  in  1850,  at  Philadelphia,  where  he  was 
subsequently  prosperously  engaged  in  the  transfer  busi- 
ness until  his  death  in  1908.  He  married  in  Germany 
Magdalena  Eckstein.  She  died  at  Philadelphia  in  1878, 
leaving  three  children,  as  follows;  Frederick  Edwin; 
John  C.,  of  Camden,  New  Jersev;  and  Katherine,  wife 
of  Rudolph  Beck,  of  Philadelphia, 

Receiving  his  early  education  in  the  grammar  schools 


of  his  native  city,  Frederick  E,  Hoss  afterward  studied 
the  languages  in  a private  school,  and  received  his 
business  training  in  a commercial  college.  At  the  age 
of  seventeen  years  he  became  clerk  for  Seltzer  & Mil- 
ler, wholesale  liquor  dealers,  with  whom  he  remained  in 
that  capacity  for  a number  of  years,  during  which  time 
he  was  almost  a constant  attendant  at  the  evening 
schools.  'Leaving  Philadelphia  in  1879,  Mr.  Hoss  went 
to  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  where  he  learned  the  trade 
of  a printer,  serving  an  apprenticeship  of  three  years 
with  the  firm  of  Ramsey,  Millet  & Hudson.  Coming 
thence  to  Montana  in  1882,  Mr.  Hoss  located  at  Deer 
Lodge,  and  during  the  following  year  worked  for  Capt 
James  H.  Mills,  proprietor  of  the  leading  newspaper  of 
that  city.  The  Northzvcst,  being  foreman  of  the  print- 
ing office.  He  was  afterward  in  the  railway  mail  serv- 
ice for  eighteen  months,  resigning  the  position  to 
become  assistant  postmaster  of  Llelena,  an  office  which 
he  held  four  years,  from  1887  until  1891.  Mr.  Hoss  was 
afterwards  under-sheriff  of  Lewis  and  Clark  county, 
Montana,  six  years,  then  becoming  deputy  assessor,  and, 
later,  deputy  county  treasurer  under  C.  B.  Garrett,  Mr, 
Garrett  resigning  from  the  office,  Mr,  Hoss  succeeded 
him,  filling  out  his  unexpired  term  as  treasurer. 

Subsequently  locating  at  Bozeman,  Montana,  Mr, 
Hoss  assumed  the  management  of  the  Bozeman  Chroi^- 
icle.  When  that  publication  changed  hands  Mr.  Hoss 
instituted  the  Gallatin  Farmer  and  Stockman,  which  he 
published  for  a year  and  a half  before  selling  out. 
Returning  then  to  Llelena,  Mr.  LIoss  was  for  three 
years  manager  of  the  Capitol  Brewing  Company,  a posi- 
tion which  he  resigned  on  account  of  ill  health.  At  the 
end  of  six  months,  having  recovered  his  former  physical 
vigor,  Mr.  LIoss  accepted  the  position  of  second  assist- 
ant state  examiner,  and  has  ^ince  been  advanced  to  the 
office  of  first  assistant  state  examiner,  and  state  exam- 
iner— a position  which  he  is  filling  ably  and  faithfully. 
He  became  head  of  his  department  by  appointment  of 
Governor  Norris,  July  i,  1912.  Lie  has  been  successful 
in  life,  owning  his  home  in  Helena,  and  other  interests 
in  the  city. 

Politically  Mr.  Hoss  is  a Democrat,  and  works  hard, 
though  quietly,  in  the  interest  of  his  party.  Fraternally 
he  is  a member  of  King  Solomon  Lodge,  No.  9,  Ancient 
Free  and  Accepted  Order  of  Masons. 

Mr.  Hoss  married  Miss  Anna  Bell,  of  Stockton,  Cali- 
fornia, whose  parents,  William  and  Margaret  Bell, 
natives  of  Wisconsin,  were  pioneer  settlers  of  Califor- 
nia. Mr.  and  Mrs.  LIoss  are  the  parents  of  two  chil- 
dren, namely  : Margaret  M.,  wife  of  H.  G.  Torley,  of 

San  Francisco,  California;  and  Fred  W.,  living  at  home. 

Ch.\rles  W.  Cannon.  Among  the  thousands  of  men 
who  cast  their  lot  with  the  new  and  growing  west, 
leaving  civilization  and  all  the  pleasures  and  enjoy- 
ments to  be  found  in  older  settled  communities,  de- 
termined to  hew  out  a career  for  themselves,  was 
Charles  Wesley  Cannon.  He  was  a man  of  broad  guage 
and  possessed  of  a foresight  that  was  truly  remarkable, 
In  character  he  was  the  peer  of  the  best  of  the  Mon- 
tana pioneers,  and  when  that  is  said  it  is  a testimonial 
that  carries  wdth  it  the  assurance  that  he  was  one  of 
nature's  noblemen.  He  was  a merchant,  upright  and 
honorable  in  all  his  dealings,  and  possessed  the  con- 
fidence and  esteem  of  all  who  knew'  him,  and  as  such, 
and  in  many  other  ways,  was  one  of  the  founders  and 
upbuilders  of  the  great  state  of  Montana.  His  domin- 
ant traits  were  partly  the  inheritance  from  a sterling 
ancestry,  and  partly  the  result  of  his  own  innate  and  in- 
flexible determination  to  do  right  and  good ; and  in 
all  he  was  an  eminent  and  unqualified  success.  His 
ancestors  were  of  the  French  Huguenot  stock  and  he 
dated  his  earliest  forebears  to  Jan  Cannon,  the  founder 
of  the  family  in  America  who  sought  refuge  in  the  new 
world  on  the  revocation  of  the  edict  of  Nantes  in  France. 
He  settled  in  New  York  in  1692,  and  w'as  one  of  the 


HISTORY  OF  ^lOXTAXA 


1183 


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leading  merchants  and  citizens  of  that  city.  His  de- 
scendants have  had  much  to  do  with  the  best  life  and 
history  of  the  United  States,  and  of  community  life, 
and  the  name  of  Charles  W.  Cannon  occupies  a con- 
spicuous place  among  these  distinguished  and  worthy 
citizens.  His  father  was  George  Cannon  of  Stratford, 
Connecticut. 

Charles  W.  Cannon  was  born  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  July 
I,  1833.  and  removed  at  an  early  age  with  his  parents 
to  Iowa,  which  was  at  that  time  a part  of  Michigan. 
In  the  town  of  Dubuque  the  father  established  him- 
self in  the  business  of  merchandising,  and  there  Charles 
W.  Cannon  passed  his  early  youth,  receiving  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  the 
elder  Cannon  was  incapacitated  from  attending  to  busi- 
ness by  reason  of  ill  health,  and  the  result  was  that 
young  Cannon  was  called  upon  to  assume  those  du- 
ties, which  he  did  with  great  credit  and  ability.  He 
applied  himself  diligently  and  gained  a knowledge  and 
e.xperience  that  were  invaluable  in  after  life.  He  con- 
tinued in  the  merchandising  business  in  Iowa  until  1859, 
when  by  double  bereavement  in  the  death  of  his  father 
and  sister,  he,  with  his  brother  Henry,  decided  to 
leave  that  section  of  the  country  and  try  their  for- 
tunes in  the  far  west.  With  this  end  in  view  they  pur- 
chased a team  and  wagon  and  started  for  Montana,  then 
one  of  the  most  widely  advertised  gold-mining  regions 
in  the  world.  They  traveled  by  the  way  of  the  South 
Platte  river,  the  overland  route,  across  South  Pass  of 
the  Rocky  mountains,  and  Lander’s  cut-oft'  to  Snake 
river,  thence  north  to  the  place  of  their  destination 
which  was  Alder  gulch.  This  plain  statement  of  their 
trip  across  the  plains  does  not  include  the  thrilling  ad- 
ventures with  the  Indians,  and  the  hardships  encount- 
ered in  the  long  trek  to  the  land  of  gold.  But  they 
had  adventures  in  plenty,  and  not  the  least  of  these 
was  their  encounter  with  hostile  Indians.  The  dust, 
the  sand,  the  alkali  waters,  the  dearth  of  fuel  and  all 
the  discomforts  were  experienced  by  the  travelers,  but  , 
they  withstood  them  all  and  arrived  safely  in  Virginia  ' 
City.  In  that  town  they  at  once  started  a store  which  ; 
was  successfully  conducted  by  the  brothers  until  the  dis-  1 
covery  of  gold  in  Last  Chance  gulch,  when  Charles  W.  j 
Cannon  immediately  went  to  that  camp  and  in  Helena  ' 
started  another  merchandising  store  which  was  even- 
tually merged  into  the  firm  of  Kerchival,  Cannon  & 
Company,  one  of  the  largest  wholesale  grocery  and  min- 
ing supply  houses  in  the  then  territory  of  Montana.  As 
an  item  of  expense  the  company  was  obliged  to«pay  on 
one  installment  of  freight  from  St.  Louis  to  Helena, 
the  sum  of  $67,000,  or  at  the  rate  of  sixteen  cents  per 
pound. 

Mr.  Cannon  continued  his  merchandising  and  also 
engaged  in  mining,  until  1882.  when,  with  unusual  fore- 
sight, he  saw  the  future  of  the  citv  of  Helena  with  a 
discernment  that  was  a little  less  than  marvelous.  He 
at  once  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business  in  his 
adopted  city  and  home,  and  branched  out  into  Butte 
and  Great  Fall  until  he  became  one  of  the  most  ex- 
tensive real  estate  operators  and  owners  in  Montana. 
He  was  also  the  leader  in  many  civic  enterprises  and 
was  mainly  instrumental  in  establishing  the  first  gas. 
electric  light  and  street  railway  system  in  Helena.  He 
was  president  of  each  of  these  companies,  vice  pres- 
ident of  the  Montana  Central  Railway  and  a director 
in  the  Montana  National  Bank.  His  enterprise  was  not 
confined  to  the  various  important  projects  above  men- 
tioned, but  included  stock  raising.  He  established  and 
owned  in  conjunction  with  his  brother  one  of  the  larg- 
est sheen,  cattle  and  horse  ranches  in  the  state. 

On  March  17,  i8tt,  in  Dubuque,  Iowa,  Mr.  Cannon 
rvas  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Catherine  B.  iMar- 
tine.  the  only  child  of  Capt.  W.  W.  Martine.  of  New 
York  Citv,  and  Asenath  Newell,  of  Boston.  Two  beau- 
tiful children  were  to  bless  their  home,  but  were  stricken 
while  barely  entering  upon  their  lives  as  a young  man 


and  young  woman.  Bernice  Martinique  died  in  1889,  at 
the  age  of  eighteen  years.  William  LeGrand,  the  son, 
the  pride  of  his  father  and  the  idol  of  his  mother,  was  a 
young  man  of  much  promise,  handsome,  chivalrous,  of 
engaging  manner  and  generous  nature,  possessing  all 
those  loving  attributes  that  are  so  endearing  to  par- 
ents and  friends  alike.  He  had  all  the  promise  of  a 
life  of  usefulness  and  honor  among  his  fellow  men 
and,  had  he  been  permitted  to  live,  would  no  doubt 
have  been  a citizen  of  the  fine  traits  of  character  and 
progressiveness  that  so  distinguished  his  father.  He 
died  February  9,  1903. 

Bereft  of  all  that  w^as  most  dear  to  her,  IMrs.  Cather- 
ine B.  Cannon,  the  fond  mother  and  devoted  wife,  con- 
tinues to  reside  at  her  home  in  Helena,  a beautiful 
residence  on  Broadway.  She  has  many  friends  among 
the  old  time  citizens,  as  well  as  among  the  newer  gen- 
eration, and  is  looked  upon  as  a genuine  type  of  the 
heroic  women  of  the  early  history  of  Montana,  who 
braved  all  for  those  they  loved  and  were  as  undaunted 
by  hardship  trouble  and  danger  as  was  their  brothers 
and  fathers.  A distinguishing  monument  to  the  mem- 
ory of  William  LeGrand  Cannon  and  one  that  is 
destined  to  last  for  ages,  is  the  LeGrand  Cannon  boule- 
vard, a beautiful  wide  thoroughfare  leading  from  the 
west  side  of  the  city  to  the  scenic  regions  of  Ten  Mile 
creek,  the  Broadwater  hotel  and  Natatorium.  This 
boulevard  is  pronounced  by-  travelers  to  be  one  of  the 
very  best  from  a scenic  point  of  view  to  be  found  in 
the  entire  world. 

Charles  W.  Cannon  survived  the  death  of  his  two 
children  and  lived  among  the  scenes  and  people  he  so 
well  loved,  until  September  4,  1909,  when  he  crossed 
the  Great  Divide  and  his  earthly  career  closed.  He 
was  in  his  seventy-seventh  year. 

Judge  David  M.  Durfee,  a practicing  attorney  in 
Philipsburg,  Montana,  since  1882,  was  born  in  the 
Empire  state  on  July  22,  1855.  He  is  the  son  of  David 
P.  and  Margaret  E.  (Rector)  Durfee,  both  natives  of 
New  York  state.  The  father  was  born  in  Schenectady 
county,  and  there  passed  his  life  in  farming  pursuits. 
He  died  in  1887,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five,  and  his  wife 
passed  awa\-  in  1878,  aged  sixty-one  years.  They  are 
buried  side  by  side  in  the  old  burial  place  in  their  home 
town  in  Schenectady  county.  Of  the  nine  children  born 
to  them,  David  M.  of  this  review  was  the  si.xth  in 
order  of  birth. 

The  early  education  of  David  i\[.  Durfee  was  received 
in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town,  followed  by 
a^thorough  course  in  the  Lhiion  Academy  at  Schoharie, 
New  York.  The  first  money  the  boy  earned  was  in 
the  capacity  of  chore  boy  on  a neighboring  farm. 
While  thus  employed,  he  carried  on  his  studies  and 
through  careful  application  to  his  books  fitted  himself 
for  the  position  of  a teacher  in  the  schools  of  New 
York  state.  He  taught  for  some  years,  duri'/g  that 
time  reading  law  and  making  such  progress  as  he 
might  unaided  by  the  advice  of  professional  men  or 
other  scholars.  He  gave  up  school  teaching  after  a 
few  years  and  entered  the  law  office  of  N.  P.  Hinman 
at  Albany.  After  three  years  teaching  school  in  Somer- 
set county.  Maryland,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at 
Annapolis,  immediately  after  which  he  came  west,  arriv- 
ing in  Philipsburg  in  1882.  He  here  took  up  the  active 
practice  of  his  profession,  and  here  he  has  remained  in 
continuous  practice  since  that  time.  He  has  made  rapid 
advances  in  his  profession  and  is  regarded  as  one  of 
the  foremost  men  among  the  legal  fraternity  of  this 
section  of  the  state.  He  was  the  first  county  attornev 
elected  in  Deer  Lodge  county  in  1886.  In  1899  he  was 
elected  a member  of  the  constitutional  convention,  and 
in  the  same  year  was  elected  to  the  office  of  the  first 
district  judge  of  Deer  Lodge  county.  Later  he  was 
elected  county  attorney  of  Granite  county,  and  is  now 
serving  his  fourth  term  in  that  capacity.  Judge  Durfet 


11H4 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


has  been  mayor  of  Philipsburg,  and  in  that  office,  as 
well  as  in  the  other  official  positions  he  has  occupied 
and  still  fills,  his  services  were  of  a high  order,  always 
tending  to  uplift  and  enhance  the  communal  life. 

Judge  Durfee  is  a member  of  the  Knights  of  Colum- 
bus, the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Royal  Highlanders  and 
the  Order  of  Kedmen.  In  the  latter  named  society  he 
has  filled  all  chairs  and  has  been  great  sachem  of  the 
state.  Pie  is  a Democrat,  and  is  ever  active  and  alert 
in  matters  of  political  import,  and  is  rightly  regarded 
as  one  of  the  greatest  fighters  and  most  valuable  men 
the  party  claims  today  in  his  section  of  the  country. 

Judge  Durfee  has  been  twice  married.  Plis  first 
marriage  occurred  at  Baltimore,  Maryland,  on  Feb- 
ruary I,  1888,  when  Amelia  J.  Irving  became  his  wife. 
The  marriage  ceremony  was  performed  by  Cardinal 
Gibbons  of  Baltimore,  an  old  and  much  loved  friend 
of  the  Irving  family.  She  died  in  Missoula  in  1902, 
and  is  buried  in  Philipsburg.  Four  children  were  born 
of  this  union,  three  daughters  and  one  son.  They  are: 
Amelia  F..,  a graduate  of  Bellingham  (Washington) 
Normal  College,  who  lives  at  home  in  Philipsburg; 
Thomas  I.,  a student  in  the  Montana  State  University 
at  Missoula;  Adelaide,  a graduate  of  the  Philipsburg 
high  school,  at  present  engaged  in  teaching;  Marie  J., 
a graduate  of  the  Philipsburg  high  school  and  living 
at  home. 

In  November,  1904,  Judge  Durfee  was  married  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Kelly,  a daughter  of  Patrick  Kelly,  of 
San  Francisco.  The  family  are  communicants  of  the 
Roman . Catholic  church,  to  which  faith  Judge  Durfee 
was  a convert,  and  which  he  has  faithfully  maintained 
since  the  days  of  his  conversion. 

Judge  Durfee  is  a man  of  unwavering  public  spirit, 
and  is  enthusiastically  devoted  to  the  state  of  Montana. 
He  does  not  hesitate  to  pronounce  Montana  potentially 
the  greatest  agricultural  state  in  the  Union,  and  pre- 
dicts that  her  future  will  be  as  much  indebted  to  her 
farming  industry  as  to  her  great  mineral  wealth. 

Franklin  Griffith.  Although  not  now  a resident 
of  Montana,  having  left  the  Treasure  state  in  1909  for 
the  health-giving  climate  of  the  Pacific  coast,  Frank- 
lin Griffith  was  for  so  many  years  identified  with  the 
cattle  and  horse  raising  industry  of  Dawson  county 
that  every  old  pioneer  of  the  eastern  part  of  the  state 
will  remember  him  with  pleasure.  Given  the  choice 
in  young  manhood  of  entering  upon  a business  career 
or  devoting  his  activities  to  agricultural  pursuits  and 
the  breeding  of  stock,  he  chose  the  latter,  and  in 
after  years  found  no  reason  to  regret  his  choice, 
although  like  others  engaged  in  this  line  of  endeavor 
he  suffered  his  discouragements  and  his  disappoint- 
ments, but  in  the  end  he  triumphed  over  all  obstacles 
and  gained  not  only  material  success,  but  the  unquali- 
fied esteem  of  those  in  whose  midst  he  had  carried  on 
his  life  work.  Franklin  Griffith  was  born  January  16, 
1850,  in  Putnam  county.  Illinois,  and  is  a son  of  George 
and  Lydia  (Comley)  Griffith,  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 
His  father  journeyed  to  the  Prairie  state  in  1836,  and 
settled  in  Putnam  county,  where  he  was  married.  Sub- 
sequently he  became  one  of  the  prominent  men  of  his 
locality,  engaging  e.xtensively  in  agricultural  opera- 
tions and  also  being  the  owner  of  a large  flour  and 
grist  mill.  He  and  his  wife  had  three  children:  Hiram, 
who  now  resides  on  Morgan  Creek,  Dawson  county, 
Montana:  Franklin;  and  Isabel,  who  married  H.  E. 
Beck  and  resides  at  Delta,  Utah. 

Franklin  Griffith  grew  to  manhood  on  his  father’s 
farm  in  Putnam  county,  Illinois,  and  received  his  early 
education  in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  vicinity. 
Later  he  attended  the  normal  school  at  Carbondaie 
for  a short  time,  but,  preferring  farming  to  a busi- 
ness life,  returned  home  and  there  remained  until 
1^2.  In  that  year  he  came  to  Glendive,  Montana,  and 
with  his  brother  Hiram  conducted  a dairy  for  one  year. 


but  subsequently  settled  on  a ranch  located  seven  and 
one-half  miles  east  of  Glendive.  There  he  established 
himself  m the  cattle  business,  with  which  he  was  soon 
carrying  on  a successful  horse  business,  and  was  ad- 
vancing rapidly,  when  the  severe  winter  of  1886-7  nearly 
caused  his  failure,  and  all  but  wiped  out  his  little  cap- 
ital. Nothing  daunted,  however,  he  continued  to  make 
his  home  on  the  same  ranch,  where  he  gradually  rebuilt 
his  business,  dealing  extensively  in  cattle  and  horses 
Md  shipping  great  numbers  to  the  eastern  markets! 
He  still  has  a large  band  of  horses  on  this  property 
under  the  charge  of  Helland  Brothers,  approximately 
300  head.  In  1909,  on  account  of  the  failure  of  his 
wife  s health,  Mr.  Griffith  took  her  to  California.  The 
old  homestead,  however,  with  its  memories  and  the 
friends  that  surround  it,  have  always  the  first  place 
in  their  hearts,  just  as  they  still  have  a warm  place  in 
the  memories  of  those  who  knew  them  here.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Griffith  are  remembered  as  kindlv  Christian  people 
as  charitable  neighbors  and  as  excellent  friends. 

In  1884  Mr.  Griffith  was  married  to  a former  school- 
mate, Izadora  Beck,  daughter  of  Lewis  I.  and  Cynthia 
(Winters)  Beck,  the  former  a pioneer  of  1829  in  Put- 
nam county,  Illinois,  where  he  'was  a farmer  and  saw 
mill  owner,  his  mill  being  first  operated  by  twelve  horses 
and  later  by  steam. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Griffith  now  have  a pleasant  home  at 
Haywood,  a suburb  of  Oakland,  California.  He  was 
reared  in  the  faith  of  the  Quaker  church,  or  Society 
of  Friends,  and  true  to  his  early  training,  has  never 
used  alcoholic  liquor  nor  tobacco  in  any  form.  His 
wife  is  a faithful  member  of  the  Baptist  church,  and 
like  her  husband  has  the  entire  esteem  and  respect  of 
all  who  know  her. 


Arthur  Armitage  Needham.  The  Englishman  is 
preeminently  a colonist.  With  the  same  attributes  of 
character  and  standards  of  life  which  have  made  the 
greatness  of  America  he  has  sought  the  uttermost  parts 
of  the  earth  in  finding  scope  for  his  capabilities.  If 
England’s  area  were  measured  in  millions  instead  of  in 
thousands  of  square  miles,  we  should  hear  wondrous 
• tales  of  the  vas.t  schemes  of  internal  development  of 
that  country,  but  as  it  is_,  the  whole  world  has  reaped 
the  benefit  of  English  ideals,  and  nowhere  than  in 
America  is  this  more  evident.  It  was  the  English 
colonists  who  set  their  stamp  upon  the  civilization  of 
our  country,  and  from  those  times  until  now  the  little 
island  has  contributed  to  our  highest  and  most  desir- 
able citizenship.  Of  such  ancestry  is  Mr.  A.  A.  Need- 
ham, the  son  of  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Salt  Lake, 
and  himself  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Montana.  John 
Needham,  his  father,  was  born  in  Preston,  England, 
and  it  was  there  that  he  was  married  to  Mary  Ann 
Booth,  _ who  was  a native  of  the  same  district, 
her  birthplace  being  between  Manchester  and 
Preston.  When  the  family  first  came  to  America  Mr. 
Needham  was  in  the  mercantile  business  in  St.  Louis, 
with  a branch  establishment  in  the  frontier  town  of 
Council  Bluffs,  Iowa.  For  some  time  Mrs.  Needham 
was  in  charge  of  this  latter  store,  and  this  was  in  the 
days  when  the  wagon  trains  were  crossing  the  prairies 
■ — then  as  trackless  as  inland  seas — to  and  from  the 
gold  country  beyond  the  western  mountains.  Mrs. 
Needham  bought  the  first  lot  of  goods  that  came  over- 
land through  her  place  of  business,  and  a little  while 
afterward,  Mr.  Needham  disposed  of  his  interest  in  St. 
Louis  and  in  Iowa,  and  with  his  family  boarded  a 
“prairie  schooner”  and  made  the  trip  to  Salt  Lake  City. 
There  were  several  families  in  that  caravan,  drawn  by  , 
teams  of  oxen,  and  not  all  who  started  were  permitted 
to  finish  the  journey.  More  than  one  of  the  emigrants 
lost  their  lives  in  skirmishes  with  the  Indians.  Upon 
arriving  in  the  Mormon  city  Mr.  Needham  again  went 
into  the  mercantile  business,  and  he  followed  this  until 
his  family  of  seven  boys  and  five  girls  were  grown, 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1185 


after  wiiicli  Ire  retired.  IBotli  lie  and  Mrs.  Reedhani 
ended  tlieir  days  in  Salt  Lake.  Mr.  Needham  passed 
away  in  i899>  some  eighteen  years  after  the  death  ot 

his  wife,  . , . 

Arthur  Needham  was  the  youngest  of  the  tamily, 
and  was  born  in  Salt  Lake  City  on  July  15,  i860.  Al- 
though he  early  decided  to  follow  the  same  course 
which  his  father  had,  and  to  engage  in  business  rather 
than  in  one  of  the  professions,  he  finished  the  course 
of  the  public  schools  of  his  native  city  and  also  spent 
a year  in  the  Normal  there.  From  the  time  he  was 
twelve  Mr.  Needham  put  in  his  vacations  and  his  .spare 
time  in  working  in  the  stores  of  Salt  Lake.  His  first 
position  was  with  Siegel  Brothers,  a clothing  firm,  and 
from  there  he  went  to  Auerbachs,  where  he  remained 
as  long  as  he  stayed  in  the  city. 

At  the  age  of  twenty  Mr.  Needham  set  up  his  own 
household  and  the  lady  whom  he  selected  to  preside 
over  his  home  was  Miss  Matilda  Tuckfield.  She  was 
born  in  Swanzy,  Wales,  and  her  father,  John  Tuck- 
field, in  Lancashire,  England.  He  was  a mechanician, 
and  immigrated  to  America  when  Mrs.  Needham  was 
a child  of  six.  In  Salt  Lake  he  conducted  a foundry 
and  machine  shop,  following  the  trade  for  which  he 
had  been  trained  in  his  birthplace.  His  wife,  Marion 
Powell  Tuckfield,  died  in  Salt  Lake  in  1881.  Her  hus- 
band survived  her  thirteen  years,  and  both  are  laid  at 
rest  in  the  city  of  their  adoption. 

Two  years  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Needham  decided 
to  follow  the  example  of  his  forebears,  and  to  try  his 
fortune  in  a new  country.  Accordingly  he  came  alone 
to  Montana  and  secured  a position  in  the  lively  mining 
town  of  Anaconda  as  weigher  for  the  Anaconda  Com- 
pany. While  in  charge  of  the  concentrator  he  weighed 
some  of  the  first  ore  brought  in,  and  for  a year  he 
worked  for  the  mining  company.  He  then  decided 
that  he  would  cast  his  lot  in  the  state,  or  rather  in  the 
territory,  of  Montana,  and  he  brought  his  wife  to  the 
place  and  also  left  the  mine  to  resume  the  work  with 
which  he  was  most  familiar.  Entering  the  Foster 
Estes  Mercantile  Company  as  manager,  he  remained 
with  the  firm  for  thirteen  years,  having  entire  charge 
of  the  dry  goods  department.  He  then  came  to  White- 
hall and  for  a period  of  three  years  was  with  the  AIc- 
Kay  & Carmichael  Mercantile  Company  here.  Mr. 
Needham  then  went  into  business  for  himself,  and  or- 
ganized the  Whitehall  Trading  Company,  of  which  he 
is  the  head.  It  was  not  long  until  he  bought  the  dry 
goods  and  the  clothing  departments  of  the  store  in 
which  he  had  been  employed,  and  his  business  is  now 
one  of  the  largest  and  most  lucrative  in  this  section 
of  the  country.  When  it  is  stated  that  Mr.  Needham  has 
attained  his  present  position  through  his  own  unaided 
efforts,  no  further  comment  upon  his  efficiency  and 
business  acumen  is  necessary.  He  has  had  the  trying 
experiences  which  are  the  portion  of  the  early  comers 
into  undeveloped  regions,  but  his  confidence  in  the 
country  has  never  failed. 

Mr.  Needham  does  not  confine  his  activities  in  the 
agencies  which  make  for  the  progress  of  Whitehall 
entirely  to  the  commercial  field.  He  is  a rnember  of  the 
Episcopal  church  and  an  active  worker  in  that  body. 
A man  of  rare  strength  and  nobility  of  character,  he 
possesses  also  the  charm  of  manner  which  is  so  strong 
a factor  for  popularity,  and  the  combination  of  these 
traits  makes  him  a powerful  influence  in  every  move- 
ment for  the  upbuilding  of  the  city  along  every  line. 
In  the  secret  orders  Mr.  Needham  belongs  to  the 
Masons,  and  he  takes  no  small  interest. in  lodge  mat- 
ters. At  present  he  is  secretary  of  Whitehall  Lodge, 
and  he  is  also  a past  master.  Civic  matters,  too,  claim 
a good  share  of  his  attention,  and  he  is  active  in  the 
councils  of  the  Republican  party.  With  all  his  various 
occupations  he  finds  time  for  recreation  out  of  doors, 
and  his  ideal  of  a day  off  is  to  shoulder  a gun  and  to 
stalk  some  Montana  game. 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Needham  have  four  children  and  three 
grandchildren.  The  eldest  son,  Arthur  Joseph  Need- 
ham, has  a son,  whose  baptismal  name  is  also  Arthur. 
Livingston  is  the  home  of  the  younger  Needham  fam- 
ily. rhe  older  daughter,  her  mother's  namesake,  is 
also  married  and  has  a son  and  a daughter.  She  was 
born  in  1885,  two  years  after  her  brother.  Her  hus- 
band is  Mr.  John  I.  Johnson,  station  agent  at  Spencer, 
Idaho,  for  the  Oregon  Short  Line.  John  Estes  Need- 
ham, aged  twenty  in  1912,  is  associated  with  his  father 
in  the  store  at  Whitehall,  and  Dorothy,  the  youngest  is 
still  in  school.  The  young  people  share  in  the  popu- 
larity of  their  parents  and  bid  fair  to  fill  as  honored  and 
as  useful  spheres  in  the  community.  Theirs  is  a heritage 
of  not  merely  worldly  substance  but  of  high  principles 
and  of  neighborly  kindness,  the  essentials  of  happy 
living. 

Thom.\s  J.  W.'tLKER.  An  eminently  esteemed  and 
useful  citizen  of  Butte,  Montana,  Thomas  J.  Walker 
is  not  only  an  able  representative  of  the  legal  frater- 
nity of  Silver  Bow  county,  .but  is  prominently  identi- 
fied with  public  affairs,  having  served  two  terms  in 
the  state  legislature  and  being  now  county  attorney. 
A son  of  David  Walker,  he  was  born  March  25,  1878, 
in  Plymouth,  Pennsylvaia,  of  excellent  Irish  ancestry, 
his  paternal  grandfather.  Lieutenant  William  Walker, 
who  immigrated  from  Ireland  to  the  United  States, 
having  served  as  an  officer  in  the  Civil  war. 

Born,  reared  and  married  in  Pennsylvania,  his  birth 
occurring  there  in  1844,  David  Walker  came  with  his 
family  to  Montana  in  the  early  eighties,  and  was  sub- 
sequently identified  with  the  mining  interests  in  and 
around  Butte  until  his  death,  in  1902.  He  married 
Ellen  Commerford,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania 
in  1851,  a daughter  of  John  Commerford,  who  was 
born  and  bred  in  Ireland,  and  on  immigrating  to 
America  settled  in  the  Keystone  state.  She  is  still 
living  in  Butte,  and  is  the  mother  of  the  following 
children ; Thomas  J.,  with  whom  this  sketch  is  chiefly 
concerned;  Frank  C.  Walker,  a lawyer  now  employed  in 
the  office  of  the  county  attorney,  in  Butte;  Katharine 
T.,  widow  of  John  W.  Cotter,  a well-known  attorney 
of  Butte;  Mary,  wife  of  Glenn  B.  Harrington,  a prom- 
inent real  estate  dealer  of  Spokane,  Washington;  and 
Nellie  Walker  and  Marguerite  Walker,  attending  school 
in  Butte. 

Obtaining  his  preliminary  education  in  the  public 
and  parochial  schools  of  Butte,  Thomas  J.  Walker  con- 
tinued his  studies  in  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  at  All 
Hallows  College.  Subsequently  entering  Georgetown 
University,  he  spent  three  years  in  the  classical  course 
and  then  entered  the  Universitr^  of  Virginia,  where 
he  was  graduated  from  its  Law  Department,  with 
the  degree  of  LL.  B.,  in  1902,  and  immediately  began 
the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession  in  Butte,  where 
he  has  met  with  noteworthy  success,  having  been  a 
leading  factor  since  in  the  courts  of  the  state.  For 
three  years  after  becoming  a full-fledged  lawyer  he 
was  associated  with  the  w'ell-known  firm  of  McHat- 
ton  & Cotter,  but  since  1905  he  has  been  in  partner- 
ship with  Edwin  M.  Lamb,  and  has  won  a substantial 
patronage,  his  practice  being  extensive  and  lucrative. 

Politically  Mr.  Walker  is  a sound  Democrat,  and  in- 
fluential in  the  party.  He  represented  his  district  in 
the  state  legislature  during  the  term  of  1905  and  1906, 
serving  with  acceptability.  In  1908  Mr.  Walker  was 
elected  attorney  of  Silver  Bow  county,  and  in  that 
capacity  proved  himself  so  capable  and  efficient  that  his 
constituents  gladly  returned  him  to  the  same  office 
in  1911. 

Prominent  and  active  in  social  and  fraternal  organ- 
izations. Mr.  Walker  is  a member  of  the  Country 
Club;  the  Silver  Bow  Club;  the  University  Club;  the 
Lambs’  Club ; the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order 
of  Elks ; the  Order  of  Eagles ; and  the  Knights  of 


1186 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


Columbus.  Religiously  he  is  a consistent  member  of 
ilie  Roman  Catholic  church.  He  is  an  ardent  sports- 
man, fond  of  fishing  and  hunting,  and  has  been  partic- 
ularly successful  in  bringing  down  big  game. 

■Mr.  Walker  married,  June  7,  1905,  in  Helena,  Mon- 
tana, Maud  Galen,  whose  parents,  Hugh  and  Matilda 
Galen,  were  early  settlers  of  Helena,  and  there  spent 
the  last  years  of  their  lives. 

Henri  J.  Haskell.  From  the  time  of  the  dark  days 
of  the  great  Civil  war,  in  which  he  acted  as  a loyal 
soldier,  Henri  J.  Haskell  has  done  much  for  each  com- 
munity in  which  he  has  lived,  this  fact  being  attested 
by  the  warm  regard  and  high  esteem  in  which  he  is 
universally  held.  Mr.  Haskell  was  born  in  Palmyra, 
Somerset  county,  Maine,  July  20,  1843,  and  is  a son  of 
Aretas  and  Sophia  (Hathorn)  Haskell.  The  early  edu- 
cation of  Henri  J.  Haskell  was  secured  in  the  Maine 
Central  Institute,  at  Pittsfield,  and  when  he  was  nine- 
teen years  of  age,  in  July,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Company 
B,  First  Maine  Cavalry,  joining  the  Army  of  the  Poto- 
mac. On  securing  his  honorable  discharge,  March  31, 
1865,  he  returned  home,  and  after  he  had  recuperated 
from  his  wound,  engaged  in  working  on  his  father’s 
farm.  In  1867  he  left  his  native  state  and  went  to 
California,  where  he  began  to  read  law  in  Marysville, 
with  the  law  firm  of  Eastman  & Merrill  until  his  admit- 
tance to  the  bar  in  that  city  in  1875.  He  then  continued 
in  practice  alone  for  one  year,  when  he  returned  to  his 
native  state  and  practiced  law  in  Pittsfield  until  1882, 
which  year  saw -his  advent  in  the  little  city  of  Glen- 
dive, Montana,  which  has  since  been  his  home. 

In  1883  Mr.  Flaskell  was  appointed  deputy  clerk  of 
the  Third  District  court,  an  office  which  he  held  until 
1886,  and  in  1887  was  appointed  deputy  district  at- 
torney. In  1888  he  was  elected  county  attorney,  and  he 
subsequently  became  a member  of  the  First  territorial 
house  of  representatives,  sixteenth  regular  session,  end- 
ing in  March,  18S9,  as  well  as  ot  the  constitutional 
convention. 

In  i88g  Mr.  Haskell  was  elected  attorney  general  of 
the  state,  serving  three  years  during  his  first  term  and 
being  reelected  to  a term  of  four  years.  In  1884  he  was 
.'ippointed  local  attorney  for  the  N'orthern  Pacific  Rail- 
road by  his  friend,  Wilbur  Fisk  Sanders,  a po.sition 
which  he  held  until  1889,  and  since  that  year  has  been 
engaged  in  general  practice. 

In  1868  Mr.  Haskell  was  made  a member  of  Medidian 
Lodge  No.  32,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  at  Pittsfield,  Maine, 
and  later,  in  1S85,  he  became  a charter  member  of 
Glcndive  Lodge  No.  31,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  of  which  he  is 
past  master.  He  is  also  identified  with  Yellowstone 
Chapter  No.  5,  R.  A.  M.,  at  Glendive,  of  which  he  is 
past  high  priest;  Damascus  Commandery  No.  4,  K.  T., 
of  which  he  is  past  eminent  commander ; and  Algeria 
Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.,  at  Helena,  Montana;  and 
Chapter  No.  5,  O.  E.  S.  In  politics  he  is  a Repub- 
lican. 

In  June,  1883,  Mr.  Haskell  was  married  to  Miss  Nellie 
1'owle,  a native  of  Enfield,  Grafton  county.  New  Hamp- 
shire. and  two  children  were  born  to  this  union,  both 
of  whom  died  in  infancy.  After  the  death  of  his  first 
wife,  Mr.  Haskell  married  Ella  Knowles,  who  died  in 
igio,  without  issue. 

Francis  E.  Foote  was  born  in  Ithaca.  New  York, 
June  16,  1857,  and  resided  there  until  1882,  when  he 
came  to  Montana,  settling  first  in  Helena.  He  re- 
mained there  only  three  months  and  then  came  to  Dil- 
lon. reaching  here  in  May.  1882.  This  has  been  his 
home  since  that  date.  After  a few  months  in  Dillon 
he  took  charge  of  the  Tribune  and  has  managed  it 
continuously  all  these  years.  At  first  it  was  a very 
meager  plant  and  only  a small  four-page  paper.  To- 
day it  IS  well  equipped  and  is  one  of  the  most  modern 
newspaper  plants  in  the  state,  as  well  as  one  of  the 


leading  papers.  Mr.  Foote  has  followed  newspaper 
work  all  his  life,  and  through  his  own  personal  efforts 
and  ability  has  built  up  his  present  business.  He  has 
made  his  own  way  absolutely. 

His  first  vvork  in  the  printing  business  and  where 
he  learned  his  trade  was  with  Andrus  McChain  and 
Lyons  in_  Ithaca,  New  York.  But  previous  to  this  he 
earned  his  first  money  as  a boy  working  in  a grocery 
store.  His  early  education  was  received  in  the  public 
schools  of  Ithaca  and  in  the  night  schools.  He  at- 
tended lectures  in  the  evenings. 

Mr.  Foote  is  a Republican  and  is  very  active  in  the 
councils  of  the  party,  but  he  positively  refuses  to  ac- 
cept office  for  himself,  as  his  business  takes  all  his 
time.  His  paper  by  its  admirable  quality  reveals  the 
fact  that  it  receives  the  steadfast  attention  of  its 
manager.  Mr.  koote  is  an  enthuiastic  lover  of  music. 

^He  was  married  in  Ithaca,  New  York,  April  15, 
1880,  to  Miss  Ida  May  Massey,  daughter  of  Jacob 
and  Fanny  Massey  of  Ithaca.  Mrs.  Foote  belongs  to 
various  societies  and  is  an  active  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist church. 

Mr.  Foote's  father  was  Christopher  J.  Foote,  who 
was  born  in  New  York.  He  ran  canal  boats  on  the 
Erie  Canal  from  Ithaca  to  New  York.  He  died  in 
May,  1879,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine,  and  is  buried  at 
Ithaca.  The  mother  was  Abigail  S.  Foote,  who  was 
born  June  26,  1816.  and  died  November  12,  1874.  The 
father  and  mother  are  buried  side  by  side  in  Ithaca. 
There  were  five  children  in  the  elder  Foote  family,  all 
boys,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  being  the  youngest. 

William  Haskill  Orr  was  born  in  Sherbrook, 
Canada,  on  February  5,  1859.  His  father,  Samuel  Orr, 
was  a Scot  of  the  city  of  Glasgow,  who  came  to  Canada 
in  his  youth,  and  took  up  the  occupation  of  farming 
in  the  new  country,  continuing  in  that  occupation  until 
his  death  in  1906,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years.  Mr. 
Orr  was  married  to  a young  woman  who  like  himself, 
was  born  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic,  Miss  Maryan 
Johnson,  a native  of  Wales.  She  was  three  years  his 
junior  but  she  passed  from  this  life  in  the  same  year 
in  which  her  husband  did,  and  they  are  buried  side  by 
side  in  Sherbrook.  They  were  the  parents  of  four 
girls  and  six  boys,  and  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is 
the  ninth  of  the  family  in  point  of  age. 

Mr.  Orr  attended  school  in  the  district  where  he  was 
born,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  began  his  commercial 
career.  He  earned  his  first  money  at  this  time  carrying 
water  for  the  Quebec  Central  Railway.  For  this  serv- 
ice he  received  twenty-five  cents  a day.  At  the  age 
of  eighteen,  he  graduated  from  the  Sherbrook  high 
school,  and  the  same  year  left  his  native  place  and 
came  into  the  states.  He  first  settled  in  Colorado, 
where  he  worked  for  the  Boston-Colorado  Smelting 
Company,  having  a position  in  their  assaying  office.  He 
remained  with  this  concern  for  five  years  and  then 
came  to  Montana  and  began  a contracting  business  in 
Helena. 

The  twelve  years  which  Mr.  Orr  spent  in  the  capital 
were  eventful  and  prosperous  ones.  He  soon  gained 
recognition  as  a business  man  of  unusual  acumen  and 
was  also  prominent  in  the  civic  affairs  of  the  com- 
munity. He  held  the  offices  of  street  commissioner, 
building  inspector  and  inspector  of  weights  and  meas- 
ures while  residing  in  Helena.  The  Republican  party 
found  in  him  one  of  its  strongest  powers,  and  the 
organization  was  prompt  to  employ  his  talent  for  or- 
ganization and  leadership.  More  than  once  he  was 
called  upon  by  his  party  to  serve  as  chairman  of  the 
central  committee  of  the  county  while  a resident  of 
Silver  Bow,  and  previous  to  that  time  while  residing 
in  Lewis  and  Clark  county,  he  several  times  filled 
the  same  office  there. 

Mr.  Orr  left  Helena  to  accept  a position  in  Butte 


r 


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'.:ia 

'"V 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1187 


with  the  Great  Northern  Railway.  He  had  charge  of 
their  coal  industry,  and  the  vast  volume  of  business 
which  they  did  both  in  the  wholesale  and  in  the  retail 
lines,  was  under  his  exclusive  management.  His  work 
attracted  attention  of  the  O.  R.  & N.  Company,  and 
they  induced  him  to  leave  the  Great  Northern  to  be- 
come their  traveling  agent.  He  was  to  look  after  their 
coal  claims  in  four  states,  Montana,  Utah,  Idaho  and 
Wyoming.  After  some  time  with  this  company  Mr. 
Orr  decided  to  go  into  business  for  himself,  and  ac- 
cordingly he  opened  a real  estate  office,  and  for  a num- 
ber of  years  has  been  engaged  in  this  line  of  work, 
dealing  chiefly  in  farm  lands.  It  is  superfluous  to  say 
that  he  has  been  successful  in  this  undertaking.  In 
fact  his  business  absorbs  so  much  of  his  time  and  at- 
tention that  he  has  ceased  to  take  any  active  part  in 
politics,  but  none  the  less,  he  is  regarded  as  one  of  the 
able  counselors  of  the  party,  and  he  is  frequently  called 
into  consultation  by  the  leaders  who  profit  by  his 
wisdom  and  his  experience.  James  A.  Garfield  w'as  the 
first  president  for  whom  Mr.  Orr  cast  his  vote,  and 
he  has  done  a generous  share  ever  since  that  time  to- 
ward placing  the  candidates  for  office  into  the  various 
posts  which  the  Republican  party  has  filled. 

Not  only  in  politics  but  in  lodge  circles  Mr.  Orr 
has  become  known  for  his  enthusiasm  and  his  willing- 
ness to  work  for  the  good  of  the  order.  He  belongs 
to  the  Elks,  in  which  body  he  has  passed  through  all 
the  chairs  and  is  past  exalted  ruler  of  the  Helena 
Lodge,  No.  193.  In  the  Masonic  order  of  the  same 
city  he  is  a member  of  Myrtle  Lodge,  No.  3,  and  a 
past  chancellor,  and  in  the  Queen  City  Lodge  of  the  Odd 
Fellows  he  is  a past  master.  Mr.  Orr  is  a member  01 
the  Episcopal  church,  as  is  befitting  a native  of  Canada, 
but  he  does  not  find  time  to  take  a very  active  part 
in  the  work  of  that  denomination,  though  he  is  genu- 
inely interested  in  its  progress  and  always  ready  to 
advance  its  interests.  His  career  has  been  one  of 
achievement  and  of  effort,  and  he  can  truly  be  said 
to  be  a contribution  to  the  development  of  the  country. 

Henry  A.  Meyer  was  born  at  Hanover,  Germany, 
on  February  i,  1864.  He  lived  in  the  famous  German 
city  until  he  was  fourteen,  and  in  its  superior  schools 
laid  the  foundation  of  his  education.  The  family 
came  to  America  in  1878,  and  Henry  continued  his 
schooling  in  the  city  of  New  York  until  he  was  six- 
teen. Here,  too,  he  took  his  first  position  as  a wage 
earner,  that  of  clerk  in  a grocery  store,  and  he  kept 
it  until  he  came  to  Montana  in  1882. 

It  was  in  1883  that  Mr.  Meyer  first  embarked  in  the 
hotel  business,  and  from  the  first  he  made  a success  of 
it.  A good  hostelry  is  an  immense  business_  asset  to 
any  community,  but  in  a country  where  transients  and 
pioneers  make  up  so  large  a proportion  of  the  popula- 
tion as  in  the  northwest,  the  man  who  feeds  and  shel- 
ters the  sojourners  satisfactorily  is  nothing  short  of  a 
benefactor.  Mr.  Meyer  commenced  his  career  in  this 
line  with  Jacob  Tietjen,  at  Helena,  in  “The  Golden 
Spike,”  and  the  partnership  lasted  for  one  year.  Mr. 
Meyer  then  sold  out  his  interests  and  went  to  work  for 
I.  Marks,  with  whom  he  remained  for  four  years.  At 
this  juncture,  he  was  prevailed  upon  to  accept  the  posi- 
tion of  steward  for  the  Montana  Club,  and  in  February, 
1889,  entered  upon  the  duties  of  that  office.  He  thus 
served  until  August  i,  1903,  when  he  and  Mr.  Peterson 
secured  a lease  on  the  Helena  Hotel.  For  three  years 
they  conducted  the  place  with  profit  to  themselves  and 
satisfaction  to  their  patrons,  and  then  Mr.  Meyer  bought 
out  his  partner.  Mr.  Meyer's  next  step  was  to  organize 
the  Capital  City  Hotel  Company,  and  he  continued  to 
run  the  Helena  hotel  until  the  lease  expired  in  1906. 
It  was  at  this  time  that  he  bought  the  Grandon  Hotel, 
which  is  known  as  one  of  the  finest  in  Montana.  It  was 
one  of  the  first  high  grade  hotels  in  the  state,  and,  un- 
like many  an  old-time  favorite,  has  not  been  left  behind 
voi.  n— 22 


in  the  march  of  improvement,  but,  under  its  excellent 
management,  maintains  the  reputation  of  its  best  days. 
Another  enterprise  of  Mr.  Meyer’s  in  1907,  was  the 
opening  and  remodeling  (as  manager)  of  the  famous 
Broadwater  Hotel,  owned  by  Mr.  James  Breen  and 
others.  This  hotel  was  operated  in  connection  with 
the  Broadwater  amusement  park  during  the  summer 
months,  and  as  many  were  attracted  by  the  remedial 
benefits  of  the  famous  hot  spring,  as  well  as  by  the 
summer  resort  features,  the  hotel  had  a large  patronage. 
Mr.  Meyer  is  one  of  the  very  best  hotel  men  in  the 
state,  as  well  as  one  of  the  most  popular. 

Mrs.  Meyer  was  formerly  Miss  Sarah  Wood,  a popu- 
lar young  woman  in  Helena  society.  Her  marriage  to 
Mr.  Me3^er  took  place  in  Helena  on  October  7,  1891. 
There  have  been  three  children  born  of  their  union; 
Jesse  Henry  Meyer,  July  30,  1892;  Elona  Marie,  March 
17,  1894,  and  Robert  John,  August  13,  1896.  The  eldest 
boy  is  a graduate  of  the  Helena  Business  College  and 
is  now  steward  of  the  Grandon  Hotel ; the  daughter  is 
in  high  school,  and  the  youngest  is  in  the  grades. 

Mr.  Meyer  had  three  brothers  and  the  same  number 
of  sisters.  One  of  the  latter  is  dead.  Miss  Wilhelmina 
Meyer.  Of  the  others,  Ferdinand  lives  in  New  York 
City,  as  does  also  Richard.  Mary  and  Katherine  re- 
side in  New  York,  and  John  resides  in  Germany  with 
his  mother,  Marie  Swanamann  Meyer.  She  is  now 
seventy-two  years  old,  as  she  was  born  in  1840.  Her 
lamented  husband,  Hartwig  F.  Meyer,  was  born  in  Ger- 
many in  1832,  and  died  in  that  country  in  1883.  He  was 
a farmer  and  a soldier,  as  his  ancestors  were  before 
him,  one  having  been  in  the  battle  of  Waterloo. 

Mr.  Meyer  is  a man  of  some  influence  in  the  Republi- 
can party,  though  he  has  not  much  time  for  political 
activities.  He  served  as  alderman  from  the  Seventh 
Ward  from  1901  to  1903.  In  the  lodges  he  is  prominent 
and  popular.  He  belongs  to  the  Elks,  the  Eagles  and  to 
the  Woodmen  of  the  World,  besides  having  taken  all 
degrees  in  the  Masonic  order,  and  being  grand  treasurer 
of  state  in  the  order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  has  long  been 
one  of  the  enthusiastic  members  of  the  Montana  Club, 
whose  affairs  he  administered  so  well  in  earlier  days. 
Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Meyer  are  communicants  of  St. 
Peter's  Episcopal  church,  and  here  as  in  all  circles  in 
which  he  mingles,  Mr.  Meyer  has  a gratifyingly  long  list 
of  friends.  Montana  claims  him  as  one  of  her  repre- 
sentative business  men,  and  he  is,  of  course,  a thorough 
Montanian. 

Frank  D.  Sayrs,  prominent  in  real  estate  and  in- 
surance circles  and  police  magistrate  and  justice  of 
the  peace  in  Philipsburg,  was  born  in  Battle  Creek, 
Michigan,  on  March  7,  1855.  He  is  the  son  of  George 
M.  and  Mary  J.  (Ferris)  Sayrs.  The  father  was  born 
in  New  Jersey,  and  settled  in  Michigan  as  a young 
man,  locating  on  a tract  of  government  land  and  de- 
voting the  remainder  of  his  life  to  the  improving  and 
working  of  the  farm  thus  gained.  He  died  in  1858, 
at  the  age  of  fifty-five  years.  His  widow  still  survives 
him  and  lives  on  the  old  home  place  which  her  father 
filed  on  from  the  government  in  1836,  and  of  which 
she  eventuall}^  became  the  owner.  They  were  the 
parents  of  two  children,  Frank  D.  being  the  younger. 
The  other,  Mrs.  Emma  Connolly,  lives  at  Hammond, 
Indiana. 

The  early  education  of  Frank  Sayrs  was  received 
in  the  district  school  of  his  locality.  In  that  day  the 
free  institution  was  not  yet  in  vogue,  and  the  schools, 
such  as  the>'  were,  were  maintained  by  a pro  rata  sub- 
scription by  the  parents  of  the  children.  He  remained 
at  home  until  he  was  nineteen  j^ears  of  age  and  then 
went  to^  work  on  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad,  con- 
tinuing in  that  manner  for  eight  years.  During  the  last 
five  years  of  his  service  with  the  Michigan  Central 
he  worked  in  the  capacity  of  a conductor,  and  when 
he  came  west,  after  eight  years  with  the  Michigan  Cen- 


1188 


HISTORY  OF  ^lONTANA 


tral,  he  entered  the  same  line  of  work  for  the  Northern 
i'ac’ilic  Railroad.  He  took  his  first  train  out  of  Glen- 
dive in  May,  1882,  and  has  been  a resident  of  the  state 
of  Montana  continuously  since  that  time.  He  con- 
tinued with  the  Northern  Pacific  for  five  years  as  a 
conductor,  after  which  he  came  to  Philipsburg,  since 
which  time  he  has  made  this  place  his  home.  The  first 
year  he  was  located  in  Philipsburg  Mr.  Sayrs  engaged 
in  the  clothing  business.  Pie  sold  out  in  a year’s  time, 
iKjwever,  and  thereafter  devoted  his  undivided  atten- 
tion to  mining  interests  for  a number  of  years.  His 
ne.xt  business  venture  was  in  mercantile  lines  again, 
and  he  followed  that  business  for  a matter  of  seven 
years.  For  the  past  eight  years  he  has  been  engaged 
in  real  estate  and  insurance  and  conducts  a thriving 
trade  in  these  lines.  He  maintains  his  offices  in  the 
Sayrs  Building,  of  which  he  is  the  owner. 

Mr.  Sayrs  is  a Democrat  and  is  always  up  and  do- 
ing in  the  interests  of  the  party.  Pie  is  justice  of  the 
jieace  and  police  magistrate  in  Philipsburg,  offices  which 
he  has  held  for  the  past  four  years.  He  is  a member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity  at  Jackson,  Michigan,  and 
is  associated  with  Jackson  Lodge,  No.  17,  Jackson 
Chapter,  No.  3,  Jackson  Council,  No.  8,  and  Jackson 
Commandery,  No.  9,  Knights  Templar.  He  became  a 
Alaster  Mason  in  1878  and  a Knight  Templar  in  1880. 
He  also  retains  his  old  time  membership  in  the  Or- 
der of  Railway  Conductors,  although  it  is  many  years 
since  he  has  been  out  of  the  service.  He  is  a member 
of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  and  is  prominent  and 
active  in  all  matters  tending  to  enhance  the  general 
warfare  of  the  community.  Mr.  Sayrs  is  a man  who 
lias  done  a considerable  traveling  in  his  day,  and  he  is 
enthusiastic  in  regard  to  the  superiority  of  Montana 
over  other  states  and  countries.  lie  says  that  from 
Alaska  to  Chile,  he  saw  nothing  to  compare  with  the 
state  of  Montana  in  climate,  hospitality,  business  oppor- 
tunities. and  all  qualities  of  excellence. 

Mr.  Sayrs  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Amanda 
L.  Erickson  at  Philipsburg  on  June  14,  1891.  Mrs. 
Sayrs  is  a native  of  Sweden.  They  are  members  of  the 
Eastern  Star,  Pearl  Chapter,  at  Philipsburg,  and  Mrs. 
Sayrs  served  as  worthy  matron  in  1904  and  has  held 
offices  in  the  Grand  Chapter. 

Lawrence  Hauck.  There  is  perhaps  no  more  pop- 
ular or  better  known  man  in  Philiosburg  than  Lawrence 
Hauck,  a resident  of  the  state  since  1882,  and  of  this 
city  for  the  greater  part  of  the  time  since  then.  Mr. 
Hauck  is  actively’’  connected  with  a number  of  the 
more  important  enterprises  known  to  the  city,  and  has 
been  postmaster  since  1899.  He  is  president  of  the 
First  State  Bank  of  Philipsburg,  established  in  April, 
1912,  and_a  principal  stock-holder  in  the  institution; 
he  is  president  of  the  McClees  Jewelry  Company,  and 
editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Philipsburg  Mail.  In 
his  various  business  associations  he  has  won  to  him- 
self a prominence  commensurate  with  the  importance 
of  these  several  industries,  and  stands  high  in  the  es- 
teem_  and  regard  of  the  community  with  which  he  cast 
in  his  lot  more  than  a quarter  of  a century  ago. 

Air.  FTauck  was  born  in  Germany,  on  December  22, 
r867.  Tie  is  the  son  of  John  and  Lena  (Koetzner) 
FIauck._  natives  of  Germany,  who  have  there  passed 
their  lives.  The  father  is  in  the  government  service 
and  has  been  for  manv  years,  in  the  canacitv  of  road 
master.  The  wife  and  mother  died  in  1873,  at  the  age 
of  forty-four  years.  Of  their  four  children  Lawrence 
Hauck  was  the  second  born.  One  sister,  Mrs.  F.  F. 
AlcSpadden,  lives  in  Missoula.  Alontana. 

When  Lawrence  Hauck  was  about  fifteen  years  old 
he  came  to  America.  He  made  his  way  directlv  to  Deer 
Lodge,  Montana,  on  arriving  on  these  shores,  and 
since  7882  Montana  has  been  his  home. 

When  in  the  Fatherland,  young  Hauck  had  attended 
the  public  schools  until  the  time  of  his  departure  for 


America,  and  after  locating  here  he  decided  that  it 
would  be  best  for  him  to  continue  his  studies  in  Ameri- 
can schools,  and  he  accordingly  gave  up  his  winters  to 
study  in  the  Montana  College  for  a number  of  years, 
working  on  a ranch  in  the  summer  time.  In  1^7  he 
came  to  Philipsburg  and  secured  a position  as  clerk 
in  a store.  His  knowledge  of  the  German  made  him 
a valuable  salesman,  and  he  remained  there  for  a year, 
then  going  to  Virginia  City,  Montana,  where  he  ac- 
cepted a clerical  position  with  S.  R.  Buford  & Company. 
He  continued  in  their  service  for  three  years  and  then 
returned  to  Philipsburg,  w'here.he  took  a similar  po- 
sition with  Freyschlag  Huffman  & Company.  After  two 
years  in  that  connection  he  went  into  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Philipsburg  in  a clerical  capacity,  remaining 
with  them  until  they  went  out  of  business.  In  189S 
Mr,  Hauck  purchased  an  interest  in  the  Philipsburg 
Mail.  A little  later  he  bou.ght  out  his  partners,  and  for 
the  last  eight  years  he  has  been  running  it  as  owner  and 
editor.  It  is  an  enterprising  and  newsy  sheet  under 
his  management,  and  is  the  leading  and  most  popular 
newspaper  in  the  county  today,  as  well  as  the  oldest. 

Mr.  Hauck  is  a member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity, 
and  is  affiliated  with  Flint  Creek  Lodge,  Hope  Chapter 
and  the  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star.  He  is  also  a mem- 
ber of  the  Sons  of  Hermann,  and  is  a member  of  the 
Chamber  of  Commerce.  Mr.  Hauck  was  city  treasurer- 
for  one  term,  and  was  for  years  a member  of  the  county 
school  board,  being  its  president  for  two  terms.  He 
is  a Republican,  and  is  active  and  helpful  in  all  the 
interests  of  the  party.  He  has  been  chairman  of  the 
county  central  committee  for  ten  years,  and  is  regarded 
as  one  of  the  strong  men  of  the  party  in  his  district. 
In  all  the  years  that  Mr.  Hauck  has  been  connected  with 
the  municipal  and  commercial  life  of  Granite  county, 
it  is  a noted  fact  that  he  has  never  once  made  a failure 
of  any  project  he  gave  his  aid  and  support  to.  To  win 
the  co-operation  of  this  man  to  any  enterprise  has  been 
to  make  a success  of  the  highest  order  of  that  enter- 
prise. His  deliberate  methods,  his  conservatism,  his 
excellent  judgment  and  his  unusual  business  acumen,  all 
conspired,  with  his  sturdy  character,  to  make  of  his 
life  a real  and  worthy  success,  and  he  is  justly  regarded 
as  one  whose  career  might  in  all  fitness  be  emulated 
by  the  rising  generation. 

Mr.  Hauck  was  married  on  August  28,  1893,  at  Phil- 
ipsburg, to  Miss  Dora  Kroger,  daughter  of  Charles  and 
Anna  Kroger,  of  Philipsburg.  Five  children  have  been 
born  to  them,  two  sons  and  three  daughters.  The 
eldest,  Herman,  has  passed  through  the  public  schools 
of  Philipsburg  and  is  now  attending  the  Granite  county 
high  school.  Catherine  D.  is  attending  school,  and  is 
an  advanced  pupil  in  music,  for  which  she  shows  an 
unusual  talent.  Elsie  C.  and  Dora  M.  are  also  attend- 
ing school  in  the  home  town,  while  the  youngest,  John 
C.,  is  not  yet  of  school  age.  The  family  are  communi- 
cants of  the  Episcopal  church  of  Philipsburg,  and  Mrs. 
Hauck  is  especially  active  in  the  7vork  of  the  church. 

John  C.  Sorenson.  It  would  be  far  beyond  the 
realms  of  necessity  to  introduce  John  C.  Sorenson,  the 
efficient  and  popular  postmaster,  to  the  people  of  Glen- 
dive, for  during  the  five  years  that  he  has  been  the  in- 
cuml3ent  of  his  present  office  he  has  discharged  the 
duties  connected  therewith  in  such  a satisfactory  man- 
ner as  to  win  the  entire  confidence  and  esteem  of  his 
fellow  townsmen.  Mr.  Sorenson  was  born  at  Ulfsten. 
Norwav,  February  24,  1861,  and  is  a son  of  Soren  and 
Helen  '(Ellingsen)  Sorenson,  natives  of  that  place,  both 
of  whom  are  deceased.  They  were  farming  people  and 
had  a family  of  six  children,  of  whom  five  still  sur- 
vive, while  John  C.  is  the  third  in  order  of  birth. 

John  C.  Sorenson  was  educated  in  his  native  country, 
and  came  to  the  United  States  in  1880,  on  July  2nd  of 
which  year  he  settled  in  Lyon  county,  Minnesota.  After 
working  one  year  as  a farm  hand  he  removed  to  Fargo, 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1189 


North  Dakota,  but  on  October  25,  1882,  came  to  Glen- 
dive, Montana,  which  city  has  since  been  his  home.  He 
first  secured  work  in  the  construction  of  the  Northern 
Pacific  Railroad,  and  in  the  fall  of  1883  began  work- 
ing in  the  mechanical  department  of  that  road.  Pie 
continued  in  the  shops  and  roundhouse  for  some  years, 
then  becoming  a locomotive  fireman,  a position  which 
he  held  until  being  promoted  to  engineer.  Mr.  Soren- 
son took  his  first  run  in  the  latter  position  July  2, 
1888,  and  continued  as  freight  and  passenger  engineer 
until  1900.  He  was  hurt  and  when  able  to  work  again 
he  was  given  the  position  of  inspector  of  engines.  This 
position  he  held  until  February,  1907,  when  he  was  first 
appointed  postmaster,  and  on  December  18,  1911,  re- 
ceived his  second  appointment.  Holding  in  high  re- 
gard the  responsibilities  of  his  office,  Mr.  Sorenson  has 
made  a most  excellent  official,  and  the  record  made  and 
maintained  b>'  him  entitles  him  to  the  high  regard  in 
which  he  is  universally  held.  Pie  has  improved  condi- 
tions in  the  local  service  in  numerous  ways  at  all  times 
being  conscientious  in  his  regard  for  the  public  wel- 
fare. Fraternally  Mr.  Sorenson  is  connected  with 
Glendive  Lodge,  No.  31,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  Chapter  No. 
5,  R.  A.  M.,  Damascus  Commandery,  No.  4,  K.  T., 
and  Yellowstone  Chapter,  No.  5,  0.  E.  S.,  of  which 
latter  his  wife  and  daughter  are  also  members.  He 
belongs  to  the  Brotherhood  of  Locomotive  Engineers, 
and  in  politics  strictly  supports  the  principles  and  can- 
didates of  the  Republican  party. 

On  February  29,  1888,  Mr.  Sorenson  was  married  in 
Glendive,  Montana,  to  Miss  Alice  Twible,  who  was  born 
in  Chicago,  Illinois,  daughter  of  George  and  Mary 
Twible,  the  former  a native  of  Ireland  and  the  latter 
of  England.  Mr.  Twibble  is  now  a resident  of  Glen- 
dive, but  his  wife  is  deceased.  They  had  three  children, 
of  whom  Mrs.  Sorenson  is  the  second  in  order  of 
birth.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sorenson  have  had  two  children  : 
Robert,  who  died  at  the  age  of  two  years,  and  Etta  J. 
During  his  residence  in  Glendive  Mr.  Sorenson  has 
made  numerous  friends,  and  in  addition  to  being  promi- 
nent in  fraternal  and  official  circles  of  the  city,  has  a 
wide  acquaintance  among  railroad  men  in  this  section 
of  the  state. 

Lewis  H.  Fenske.  Possessing  the  thrift,  energy 
and  enterprise  which  characterizes  his  race,  Lewis  H. 
Fenske  is  one  of  the  successful  business  men  of  Bil- 
lings, where  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  wholesale 
liquor  and  cigar  business  for  thirty  years.  Starting 
in  life  a poor  boy,  with  only  an  ordinary  educational 
training,  and  no  financial  advantages  nor  influential 
friends  to  assist  him,  he  has  steadily  forged  his  way 
forward,  grasping  opportunities  as  they  have  presented 
themselves,  until  he  now  stands  in  the  front  rank  of 
the  men  engaged  in  his  line  of  industry.  Mr.  Fenske 
was  born  in  Brandenburg,  Germany,  July  7,  1854,  and 
is  a son  of  Lewis  Karl  and  Rosia  (Stinke)  Fenske, 
natives  of  the  same  place. 

Lewis  Karl  Fenske  was  a farmer  and  wagon  maker 
by  occupation  in  his  native  country,  and  in  1865  de- 
cided to  try  his  fortune  in  the  United  States.  Arriving 
in  New  York  City,  on  the  steamer  “Hanzer,”  with  his 
wife  and  six  children,  he  made  his  way  to  Berlin,  Wis- 
consin, and  there  continued  in  business  until  No- 
vember, 1899,  following  the  same  lines  in  which  he  had 
become  skilled  in  Germany.  On  retiring  from  business 
activities  he  removed  to  Billings,  and  here  his  death 
occurred  in  1908.  He  and  his  wife  were  consistent 
members  of  the  German  Lutheran  church,  and  in  polit- 
ical matters  he  was  an  adherent  of  Republican  prin- 
ciples. Of  the  seven  children  born  to  Lewis  Karl  and 
Rosia  (Stinke)  Fenske,  three  are  now  living,  namely: 
A.  A.,  Lewis  H.  and  T.  H. 

Lewis  H.  Fenske  was  eleven  years  of  age  when  he 
accompanied  his  parents  to  the  United  States,  and  his 
education  was  completed  in  the  schools  of  Berlin, 


Wisconsin.  When  he  had  reached  the  age  of  twenty 
years  he  removed  to  Oshkosh,  Wisconsin,  at  which 
place  he  learned  the  tinner’s  trade,  at  which  he  worked 
for  about  five  years,  and  then  went  to  Bismarck,  North 
Dakota.  At  that  place  he  began  to  deal  in  wholesale 
liquors  and  cigars,  and  on  coming  to  Billings,  in  1882, 
continued  to  follow  the  same  line.  As  the  city  has 
gnown,  so  has  Mr.  Fenske's  business  increased,  and 
he  now  has  a successful  and  thriving  trade  which  ex- 
tends all  over  this  part  of  the  Yellowstone  Valley. 
His  long  experience  in  the  business  has  made  him 
thoroughly  conversant  with  every  detail  of  this  in- 
dustry, and  the  manner  in  which  he  has  conducted  his 
operations  has  won  him  recognition  as  .a  business  man 
of  the  highest  integrity.  One  of  the  pioneer  busi- 
ness men  of  the  city,  he  was  elected  the  first  aider- 
man  from  the  First  ward  of  Billings,  and  served  in 
that  capacity  with  credit  to  himself  and  to  the  entire 
satisfaction  of  his  constituents.  He  is  a recognized 
Republican  leader  in  his  district.  Fraternally  Mr. 

Fenske  is  affiliated  with  Ashlar  Lodge,  No.  29,  A.  F. 
& A.  M. ; Billings  Chapter,  No.  6,  R.  A.  M. ; Aldemar 
Commandery,  No.  5,  K.  T.,  and  Algeria  Temple, 
Helena,  Montana,  in  all  of  which  he  is  very  popular. 
In  addition  to  the  enterprise  which  he  has  built  up  him- 
self, he  is  interested  in  the  oil  business  in  Wyoming, 
and  in  insurance  matters  in  Spokane,  Washington,  and 
is  a stockholder  in  the  Yellowstone  National  Bank,  of 
which  he  was  for  some  time  a director. 

Mr.  Fenske  was  married  in  November,  1884,  to  Miss 
Virginia  Ross,  who  was  born  in  Minneapolis,  Minne- 
sota. daughter  of  John  Ross.-  The  comfortable  family 
home  is  situated  at  No.  3633  Montana  avenue. 

William  Howard  Trippet,  a prominent  lawyer  of 
Anaconda  and  a resident  of  the  state  since  1882,  is  a 
native  of  the  Hoosier  state,  born  near  Princeton  on  the 
i8th  of  April,  1847.  He  is  the  son  of  Caleb  Trippet 
and  his  wife,  Mary  M.  (Fentriss)  Trippet.  who  were 
married  in  Indiana  in  June,  1846.  Caleb  Trippet  was 
born  in  Gibson  county,  Indiana,  on  April  19,  1818,  and 
he  lived  there  all  his  life.  He  was  a prominent  farrner 
and  was  a leader  in  the  political  life  of  his  community, 
holding  many  important  offices.  He  died  in  1893,  aged 
seventy-five  years,  and  his  death  was  felt  as  a great 
loss  in  the  county  where  he  had  lived  so  long  and  with 
such  worthy  accomplishments.  Mrs.  Trippet  died  in 
1884,  nine  years  before  her  husband’s  death.  They 
were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  William  H.  of  this 
personal  record  being  the  eldest  of  the  number. 

The  early  education  of  William  H.  Trippet  was  re- 
ceived in  the  public  schools  of  Indiana,  after  which 
he  attended  the  state  university  at  Bloomington,  In- 
diana, from  which  institution  he  was  graduated  in  1869. 
He  then  entered  the  law  department  of  the  same  uni- 
versity, graduating  therefrom  in  1871,  receiving  his 
degree  and  being  simultaneously  admitted  to  the  bar  of 
the  state.  He  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  at 
Princeton,  and  there  he  continued  until  he  came  west, 
reaching  Montana  in  1882.  He  first  located  in  Deer 
Lodge  and  in  that  city  carried  on  a law  practice  for 
about  fifteen  years,  after  which  he  removed  to  Ana- 
conda. In  the  years  of  his  association  with  the  business 
activities  of  Anaconda  Mr.  Trippet  has  continued  to 
merit  the  excellent  reputation  for  ability  and  fair  deal- 
ing that  he  won  to  himself  in  the  previous  years  of  his 
practice,  and  he  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  foremost 
men  in  his  profession  in  this  section  of  the  country, 
with  a reputation  for  being  invariably  found  defending 
the  cause  of  right  and  justice,  regardless  of  what  the 
conditions  or  consequences  may  be.  He  is  a Democrat, 
and  has  served  his  party  in  many  ways  throughout  his 
career.  Pie  has  filled  various  public  offices  during  the 
past  years,  and  always  with  a high  degree  of  efficiency 
that  has  won  to  him  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  his 
constituents.  While  yet  in  Princeton,  Indiana,  he  was 


1190 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


prosecuting  attorney  for  two  terms,  and  he  was  attor- 
ney of  Deer  Lodge  county,  Montana,  during  three  terms 
and  city  attorney  in  Anaconda  for  two  terms.  Mr. 
Trippet'is  not  the  only  member  of  the  family  who  has 
shown  pronounced  legal  ability,  his  brother  Oscar, 
who  lives  in  Los  Angeles,  California,  being  an  espe- 
cially prominent  member  of  the  California  bar. 

In  October,  1876,  Mr.  Trippet  was  married  at  Wash- 
ington. Indiana,  to  Miss  Anna  Smyth  Kennedy,  the 
daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  David  H.  Kennedy,  recently 
of  Florida.  She  died  at  Deer  Lodge,  Montana,  in  1896, 
aged  forty-nine  years,  the  mother  of  three  children. 
Tlie  eldest,  Ruth,  died  in  1894;  Ethel  is  the  wife  of 
M.  O.  Roark  and  is  living  at  Lebanon,  Indiana,  where 
Mr.  Roark  is  engaged  in  farming;  the  son,  William  K., 
married  Florence  Atwater,  of  Manchester,  Iowa,  and 
they  have  two  children,  Frank  H.  and  William  A. 
William  K.  Trippet  is  engaged  in  the  lumber  business 
at  Columbia  Falls,  Montana,  where  he  makes  his  home. 

Mr.  Trippet  was  married  a second  time,  on  October 
.t.  1900,  to  Miss  Flarriet  McGuffey  Osborne,  the  mar- 
riage taking  place  at  Dayton,  Ohio.  She  was  for  a 
number  of  years  engaged  as  a teacher  in  the  mission 
schools  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  Mrs.  Trippet  is 
a niece  of  Dr.  McGuffey,  author  of  the  widely  known 
McGuffey  readers  for  school  use.  Like  her  husband, 
she  is  a member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  is  an 
active  participant  in  all  the  good  works  of  that  body. 

Fred  August  Henderson.  A man  who  has  carved  his 
own  fortune  and  achieved  business  success  coupled  with 
a financial  competence  early  in  life  is  Mr.  F.  A.  Hender- 
son, retired  hardware  merchant  of  Butte,  Montana.  Mr. 
Henderson,  who  is  a native  of  Carlin,  Nevada,  where  he 
was  born  May  12,  1877,  came  with  his  parents  to  Butte 
when  he  was  a_  small  boy.  He  attended  the  public 
schools  of  this  city  for  a time,  but  was  early  obliged  to 
contribute  to  his  own  support,  and  in  doing  so  turned 
his  hand  to  whatever  lucrative  employment  he  coifld  find 
to  do.  Like  many  other  of  our  successful  men  Mr. 
Henderson  was  a plucky  newsboy  in  youth  and  for  sev- 
eral years  he  lustily  cried  his  papers  on  the  streets  of 
Butte.  In  fact  he  was  one  of  the^first  newsboys  of  this 
city  and  enjoys  the  distinction  of  having  sold  the  first 
copy  of  that  well-known  publication,  the  Anaconda 
Standard , that  was  ever  sold  in  Butte  by  a newsbo}^ 
Mr._  Henderson  also  gained  a part  of  his  preparatory 
business  experience  as  helper  in  a meat  market,  and  he 
was  at  one  time  a messenger  boy  here.  , 

Flis  first  mercantile  position  was  secured  when  he 
accepted  employment  in  W.  R.  Kenyon’s  store  at  the 
age  of  thirteen  years.  He  proved  to  be  trustworthy, 
industrious  and  ambitious  and  was  advanced  from  time 
to  time  as  he  proved  his  ability,  and  so  well  did  he 
perform  his  every  task  that  he  was  retained  by  Mr. 
Keiu'on  in  his  store  for  thirteen  years.  At  the  end 
of  that  period  he  resigned  to  enter  the  mercantile 
world  on  an  independent  basis,  and  in  partnership  with 
his  brother  established  a hardware  store.  The  busi- 
ness was  continued  for  eight  years  with  remarkable 
success  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  Mr.  Henderson 
retired,  and  is  now  enjoying  the  fruits  of  his  labors. 
Since  his  retirement  from  business  he  has  taken  a 
prominent  part  in  public  affairs,  is  active  in  Republican 
party  politics,  and  among  the  positions  of  trust  he  fills 
is  that  of  a trustee  in  bankruptcy.  Religious  circles 
know  him  as  a devout  and  liberal  member  of  the  Epis- 
copal church,  and  he  is  fraternally  affiliated  with  the 
Masonic  lodge,  of  which  he  was  treasurer  for  four 
years.  Outdoor  life  appeals  strongly  to  him  and  he  is 
an  especially  enthusiastic  follower  of  Isaac  Walton,  the 
occupation  in  which  he  takes  the  greatest  enjoyment 
being  that  of  fishing. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Henderson  to  Miss  Martha 
Else,  a daughter  of  W.  H.  and  Margaret  Else,  occurred 
in  Butte  in  1897.  The  union  has  been  blessed  in  the 


birth  of  one  child,  F'rederick  Marvin,  whose  birthday 
was  June  8,  1904.  Mrs.  Henderson's  parents  were  both 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  who  came  to  Montana  in  an 
early  day,  but  are  now  residents  of  California.  She 
has  three  sisters  living  in  Butte  and  one  in  Salt  Lake 
City.  Mr.  Henderson  is  of  English  descent.  His  father, 
George  Henderson,  settled  in  Nevada  when  that  por- 
tion of  the  country  was  newly  opened,  and  assisted 
in  the  development  of  the  west  as  a railroad  builder, 
he  having  been  a constructing  engineer  on  the  Union 
Pacific  Railroad  when  it  was  built  to  the  Coast.  The 
elder  Henderson  later  moved  to  Montana  and  lived 
here  for  a number  of  years,  and  is  now  retired  from 
active  business  and  lives  at  Portland,  Oregon.  His 
wife  died  in  Butte  in  1903,  aged  fifty-five  years.  The 
three  sons,  Fred,  Charles  and  Bert,  all  are  residents  of 
Butte. 

Frank  H.  Drinkenberg.  A life  history  of  Frank  H. 
Drinkenberg,  a prominent  and  influential  citizen  of 
Hamilton,  Montana,  and  president  of  the  First  National 
Bank,  would  fill  a large  volume,  and  would  read  like  a 
romance,  being  full  of  thrilling  experiences  and  epi- 
sodes. He  was  born  January  9,  1857,  in  Hanover,  Ger- 
many, where  his  parents,  Reuben  and  Josephine  (Nor- 
man) Drinkenberg,  were  then  visiting.  Until  he  was 
fourteen  years  he  attended  the  public  schools  of  Cin- 
cinnati, and  was  then  sent  by  his  parents  to  a university 
in  Bremen,  Germany,  in  order  that  he  might  study  the 
languages  and  fit  himself  for  a literary  career.  Dissatis- 
fied with  his  surroundings  and  his  prospects,  he  ran  away 
from  the  college  to  follow  the  fortunes  of  an  American 
theatrical  troupe,  with  which,  within  the  ensuing  nineteen 
months,  he  traveled  through  Germany,  Russia,  France, 
Italy  and  Austria.  Leaving  the  company  at  the  city  of 
Cologne,  Mr.  Drinkenberg  made  a two  hundred  mile  trip 
down  the  Rhine  to  Amsterdam,  Holland,  the  home  of 
one  of  his  uncles,  who  there  owned  a beet  sugar  factory. 
Receiving  a small  sum  of  money  from  the  uncle,  he 
again  started  down  the  Rhine,  going  to  Rotterdam, 
whence  he  embarked  on  board  a cattle  boat  for  Hull, 
England,  paying  his  way  thither  by  feeding  the  stock. 
Starting  then  for  Liverpool,  England,  he  was  put  off 
the  train  three  times  while  en  route,  but  arrived  there 
with  the  train.  For  four  days,  having  no  money,,  he 
lived  with  the  rats  on  the  Liverpool  wharves,  eating 
herring.  He  there  became  acquainted  with  a sailor, 
who  stowed  him  away  on  a schooner  supposedly  bound 
for  America,  but  when  he  disembarked  a few  days  later 
he  found  himself  in  London.  Begging  his  food  in  that 
city  for  two  days,  Mr.  Drinkenberg  again  beat  his  way 
to  Liverpool,  and  once  more  lived  with  the  tramps,  or 
rats.  At  the  end  of  six  days  he  interviewed  the  captain 
of  an  emigrant  ship  destined  for  the  United  States, 
and  found  that  he  could  earn  his  passage  across  the 
ocean  by  doing  a little  work.  On  the  third  day  out, 
when  off  Queenstown,  the  ship  was  wrecked  and  forced 
to  stay  there  two  weeks  for  repairs,  the  fourteen  hun- 
dred passengers  on  board,  mostly  women  and  children,- 
living  like  hogs  during  the  entire  trip  of  twenty-three 
days. 

On  arriving  at  New  York,  the  captain  told  Mr,  Drink- 
enberg to  remain  on  board  the  vessel,  and  he  would 
send  him  to  Cincinnati,  but,  after  the  ship  had  been 
unloaded  by  lighters  and  taken  to  the  wharf,  he  forgot 
all  about  the  captain  and  made  a break  for  liberty. 
Securing  a position  in  a butcher’s  shop  on  Green  street, 
he  worked  there  three  months,  and  by  saving  his  earn- 
ings had  then  money  enough  to  pay  his  railroad  fare  to 
Cleveland,  Ohio.  Fle  then  beat  his  way  to  Cincinnati, 
but  his  arrival  at  his  home  caused  such  consternation, 
and  proved  such  a shock  to  the  family,  that  he  decided 
to  leave  at  once.  Borrowing  a small  sum,  Mr.  Drinken- 
berg went  to  Minnesota,  arriving  in  St.  Paul  in  the 
spring  of  1874.  Joining  a government  outfit  of  fifteen 
boys,  all  being  older  than  himself,  he  went  with  the 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1191 


little  party  to  Fort  Lincoln,  on  the  Missouri  river,  where 
the  boys  were  outfitted  as  a cavalry  brigade. 

In  the  fall  of  1874  the  brigade  was  sent  on  an  experi- 
mental trip  to  Fort  Buford,  then  to  Fort  Benton,  Mon- 
tana ; thence  Mr.  Drinkenberg  was  sent  with  two  horses 
on  a trial  trip  for  time  and  endurance  to  the  American 
Falls,  Montana,  thence  to  Fort  Shaw,  and  on  through 
Helena  and  Bozeman  to  Yellowstone  river,  where  the 
government  had  a small  camp  at  what  is  now  Fort 
Keogh.  During  the  entire  trip,  which  was  successful  in 
every  respect,  Mr.  Drinkenberg  had  changed  horses 
seven  times,  and  had  each  day  averaged  eighty-three 
miles — following  wagon  trails  some  days, — blazing  his 
own  trail  other  days,  and  relying  on  government  maps 
for  routes.  Wintering  in  that  camp,  he  journeyed  down 
the  Yellowstone  river  and  back  the  following  summer,, 
being  engaged  in  making  and  filing  notes,  and  remaining 
there  until  the  fall  of  1875,  when  he  was  ordered  to 
the  Black  Hills.  Very  little  was  done  until  the  spring 
of  1876,  when  the  main  detachment  of  the  Seventh 
Cavalry  was  ordered  to  the  Missouri  and  Yellowstone 
rivers  to  quell  the  Indian  outbreaks.  In  an  engagement 
with  the  (Tree  Indians,  who  had  crossed  the  Canadian 
line,  Mr.  Drinkenberg  was  seriously  wounded  by  a 
bullet  charged  with  rattlesnake  poison,  losing  a part  of 
the  knee  cap  and  the  fleshy  part  of  the  leg  below  the 
knee.  Subsequently  he  had  various  encounters  with 
the  Indians  prior  to  1879,  his  wound  troubling  him  con- 
tinuously until  1883,  when  Dr.  Wells,  of  Stevensville, 
Montana,  extracted  the  poison  and  healed  the  wound. 
In  1877  Mr.  Drinkenberg  was  again  wounded  in  the 
right  knee,  in  an  engagement  near  the  Three  Buttes,  or 
Pumpkin  mountain,  in  Montana,  when  his  company 
formed  a part  of  a small  scouting  brigade.  He  was  then 
receiving  forty-five  dollars  a month,  double  the  pay  of 
the  ordinary  soldier,  having  been  engaged  for  a special 
duty  in  St.  Paul.  While  serving  with  Colonel  Broad- 
water, in  the  spring  of  1880,  Mr.  Drinkenberg  was  taken 
ill  and  left  the  service. 

With  the  money  which  he  had  saved  while  employed 
as  a soldier,  Mr.  Drinkenberg  went  with  some  mining 
prospectors  to  Lima,  Peru,  where  he  lost  the  greater 
part  of  his  money,  reserving  enough  to  take  him  around 
“the  Horn.”  Landing  at  Vera  Cruz,  Mexico,  he  traveled 
(partly  on  foot  and  partly  on  horseback)  to  the  City  of 
Mexico,  arriving  there  a stranger  in  a strange  land,  ill 
and  almost  penniless.  Picking  up  a little  Spanish,  he 
remained  there  three  months,  working  as  waiter  in  a 
hotel.  Going  thence  by  way  of  Vera  Cruz,  to  Tampico, 
he  found  no  work,  and  with  the  few  dollars  that  he  had 
left  paid  his  passage  across  the  Gulf  to  Houston,  Texas; 
thence  going  overland  to  El  Paso  with  a cattle  outfit 
belonging  to  Miller  & Lux,  San  Francisco  packers,  and 
accompanying  them  to  Chilhauhua,  Mexico,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  smuggling  six  thousand  head  of  cattle  into  the 
States,  swimming  the  Rio  Grande  about  forty  miles 
above  El  Paso,  Mr.  Drinkenberg,  who  had  charge  of  the 
band,  lost  a few  cattle  and  some  of  his  Mexican 
employees,  by  drowning.  Four  days  after  gaining  the 
American  side,  the  cattle  were  stampeded  by  the 
Indians,  but  with  the  assistance  of  some  cattlemen, 
Mr.  Drinkenberg  succeeded  in  getting  control  of  his 
herd  and  arrived  in  the  San  Joaquin  valley,  California, 
with  about  one-half  of  his  original  herd. 

After  working  for  Miller  & Lux  for  a time,  Mr. 
Drinkenberg  went  by  boat  to  Portland,  Oregon,  and 
was  there  for  awhile  in  the  employ  of  the  O’Shea 
Brothers,  meat  packers.  The  Northern  Pacific  Rail- 
road Company  subsequently  let  the  contract  for  clear- 
ing the  roadway  from  Courtney,  Idaho,  to  Thompson 
Falls,  Montana,  to  Small  Brothers,  of  Walla  Walla, 
Washington,  and  Mr.  Drinkenberg  secured  the  position 
of  manager  of  the  thirty-eight  provision  camps  along 
the  route.  In  the  work  thirty-two  hundred  Chinamen 
were  employed,  sixteen  hundred  white  men,  and  four- 
teen hundred  mules  and  horses;  the  Chinamen  being 


under  the  control  of  Du  Bois  King  & Company,  of 
Portland,  Oregon,  and  the  engineering  corps  under 
that  of  J.  H.  Uhl,  now  of  Elk  post-office,  Wyoming. 

Leaving  the  railroad  work  in  the  spring  of  1882,  Mr. 
Drinkenberg,  in  company  with  J.  H.  Uhl,  started  for 
Missoula,  Montana,  crossing  the  Blue  Slide.  On  arriv- 
ing at  Horse  Plains,  these  enterprising  travelers  con- 
ceived the  brilliant  idea  of  raising  potatoes,  and  paid 
six  cents  a pound  for  seed,  which  they  planted.  No  evi- 
dence of  potato  sprouts  being  seen  at  the  end  of  three 
weeks,  Mr.  Uhl  became  disgusted  and  began  digging  up 
the  seed.  After  watching  his  partner  several  hours,  Mr. 
Drinkenberg  saddled  his  ponjq  and  with  one  pack  horse 
left  camp  en  route  for  Missoula.  Mr.  Uhl  at  once  stopped 
digging  and  followed  with  the  other  horses.  That  night 
the  six  horses  of  .Messrs.  Uhl  and  Drinkenberg  were 
frightened  away,  doubtless  by  Indians,  but  they  were 
fortunate  enough  to  secure  one  and  proceeded  on  their 
way,  alternately  walking  and  riding  until  reaching 
Missoula.  Not  liking  Missoula  and  vicinity,  Mr.  Drink- 
enberg, who  had  previously  heard  a good  deal  about 
the  Bitter  Root  valley,  came  to  the  region  and  for  sixty 
days  worked  for  Frank  Ives  in  a saw  mill.  He  then 
leased  a tract  of  land  on  Three  Mile  creek,  and  em- 
barked in  sheep  raising,,  investing  the  two  thousand 
dollars  he  had  cleared  in  the  provision  camps,  in  sheep. 
In  1899  disaster  came,  there  being  neither  snow,  grass 
nor  hay.  He  was  forced  to  transfer  his  seven  thous- 
and sheep,  and  his  horses,  to  Bear  Paw  mountains,  five 
hundred  miles  away.  Locating  at  Chinook  mountain 
he  lost  four  thousand  sheep  that  winter,  but  he  remained 
there  two  years,  recuperated  his  losses  and  sold  out. 
Returning  to  Ravalli#  county  he  attended  the  opening- 
sale  of  lots  in  Hamilton,  invested  heavily,  and  platted 
and  sold  lots  through  the  boom  of  1896. 

Mr.  Drinkenberg  still  owns  mining  property  in  Dur- 
ango, Mexico,  and  also  in  Lima,  Peru,  where  he  made 
a second  trip  a few  years  ago.  On  his  return  trip  from 
South  America,  he  took  steamer  at  Valparaiso,  Chilli, 
for  the  Isthmus  of  Panama,  and  having  crossed  it  pro- 
ceeded to  Vera  Cruz,  Mexico,  where  four  miles  from 
the  city,  he  was  quarantined  with  yellow  fever.  He 
gave  a sailor  twenty  dollars  for  the  loan  of  a small 
boat,  and  set  out  for  port.  The  fever  took  a serious 
turn,  and  he  was  placed  in  an  American  hospital  with 
seventy-two  other  yellow  fever  patients,  who  were 
dying  with  astonishing  rapidity.  i\Ir.  Drinkenberg  began 
e^ing  quinine,  braced  up,  gave  a ^lexican  revenue 
officer  two  hundred  dollars  to  smuggle  him  out  of  the 
aty.  Placed  on  a revenue  cutter,  he  was  taken  to 
Tampico,  Mexico,  and  proceeded  to  the  ^Mexican 
National  Railroad  to  the  City  of  Mexico,  where  he  was 
again  forced  to  go  to  the  hospital.  He  partly  lost  his 
speech  and  hearing,  owing  to  the  quantities  of  quinine 
he  had  taken,  and  had  to  remain  there  three  weeks  He 
then  journeyed  by  the  Mexican  Central  Railway  to  El 
thence  going  by  rail  to  Los  Angeles  and 
to  bait  Lake  City,  where  he  was  ill  for  a long  time, 
being  threatened  with  pneumonia.  Returning  as  soon 
as  able  to  Bitter  Root  valley,  Mr.  Drinkenberg  deter- 
mined to  settle  down  permanently,  and  with  the  e.xcep- 
tion  of  having  recently  spent  five  months  witli  his 
family  in  Los  Angeles,  has  not  since  left  the  valley. 

Air.  Drinkenberg  has  erected  and  owns  several  fine 
modern  business  blocks  in  Hamilton,  has  a beautiful 
residence  in  the  city,  and  valuable  ranch  lands  in  the 
valley.  On  August  i,  1909,  he  organized  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Hamilton,  of  which  he  is  president. 
He  is  a Republican  in  politics,  and  is  a personal  friend 
of  ex-President  Roosevelt,  knowing  all  about  his 
cattle  ranching  experiences  and  of  the  trouble  between 
him  and  Alarcus  De  Alorris  Aladura,  in  North  Dakota. 
Air.  Drinkenberg  is  not  an  aspirant  for  official  honors, 
but  he  has  served  one  term  as  mayor  of  Hamilton,  hav- 
ing been  elected  to  the  position  in  1908  and  in  1910. 


1192 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


Fraternally  he  is  a member  and  past  grand,  Lodge 
No.  48,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

Although  surrounded  by  temptations  of  all  kinds 
during  his  wild  life  at  home  and  abroad,  Mr.  Drinken- 
berg  has  never  succumbed  to  either  drinking  or  gam- 
bling, scarcely  knowing  the  taste  of  liquor.  The  greatest 
grief  of  his  life  is  in  remembering  the  sorrow  he  caused 
his  parents  in  his  boyhood  days.  His  trials,  tribulations 
and  varied  e.xperiences  have  taught  him  many  lessons 
of  value,  and  his  one  desire  now  is  to  instill  in  the 
hearts  of  his  children  a spirit  of  kindness,  benevolence, 
and  generosity. 

Mr.  Drinkenberg  married  Miss  Maud  Overturf,  of 
Iowa,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  two  children,  namely; 
Ruth,  born  in  1905 ; and  Doris,  born  in  1910. 

John  Dowling.  There  is  nothing  more  certain  than 
that  industry,  determination  and  perseverance  are  the 
necessary  attributes  for  a man  to  possess  in  order  to 
secure  success,  but  the  quality  that  success  will  be 
governed  by  the  amount  of  ability  and  the  condition  as 
to  whether  or  not  it  is  directed  along  proper  channels. 
Many  of  Montana’s  most  prominent  business  men  have 
earned  the  title  of  “self-made  man,”  owing  their  posi- 
tion entirely  to  their  own  efforts,  and  among  these  John 
Dowling,  of  Stevensville,  takes  a foremost  place.  Mr. 
Dowling  has  been  instrumental  in  founding  and  pro- 
moting some  of  the  largest  business  enterprises  of  the 
city,  displaying  marked  ability  as  an  organizer,  promoter 
and  e.xecutive,  and  has  fully  discharged  his  duties  of 
citizenship  by  service  in  public  office  and  by  supporting 
all  measures  calculated  to  be  of  benefit  to  the  com- 
munity. He  was  born  at  Halifax,  Nova  Scotia,  No- 
vember 10,  1859,  and  is  a son  of  James  and  Helen 
(Annand)  Dowling,  natives  of  Nova  Scotia.  His 
father,  who  for  many  years  was  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  in  his  native  country,  has  now  retired  from 
activities  and  is  living  in  California,  while  his  mother 
passed  away  while  on  a visit  to  Mr.  Dowling  and  his 
family,  at  Stevensville,  November  10,  1910. 

John  Dowling  received  a common  school  education, 
and  after  completing  his  studies  continued  to  work  on 
the  home  farm  until  1880.  At  that  time,  deciding  to 
enter  the  field  of  business  on  his  own  account,  he  bor- 
rowed one  hundred  dollars  from  friends  and  journeyed 
to  California.  On  his  arrival  at  Red  Bluffs,  he  secured 
employment  in  the  lumber  and  planing  mills  of  the 
Sierra  Nevada  Lumber  Company,  but  in  April,  1882, 
came  to  Butte,  Montana,  to  enter  the  lumber  business 
with  William  Parsons,  a partnership  which  continued 
until  1886.  In  August  of  that  year  he  sold  his  hold- 
ings to  Mr.  Parsons,  and  came  to  the  Bitter  Root  valley, 
locating  five  miles  north  of  Stevensville  on  a large 
ranch.  He  immediately  set  out  four  thousand  apple 
trees,  having  the  grafts  expressed  from  Monroe  county, 
Michigan,  and  not  only  worked  his  ranch  and  orchard 
successfully,  but  in  addition  acted  as  manager  for  the 
logging  crew  of  William  McKeen.  Later,  on  receiving 
the  election  to  the  office  of  county  treasurer  of  Ravalli 
county,  he  sold  his  ranch  to  good  advantage,  and  on  the 
expiration  of  his  term  of  office  purchased  an  interest 
in  the  Amos  Buck  Mercantile  Company,  at  Stevensville, 
which  he  sold  two  years  later.  He  then  organized  the 
Stevensville  Mercantile  Company,  of  which  he  acted 
as  general  manager  for  ten  years,  and  in  April,  1910, 
disposed  of  his  interests  and  purchased  property  on 
Main  street,  where  he  erected  a fine  modern  business 
block,  a credit  to  the  city  and  to  his  enterprise.  In 
addition  to  a general  mercantile  business,  Mr.  Dowling 
is  engaged  in  undertaking,  being  thoroughly  trained  in 
embalming,  and  having  an  establishment  that  furnishes 
every  convenience  for  his  patrons.  He  has  business  abil- 
ity of  a high  order,  and  is  recognized  by  his  associates 
as  a man  of  the  strictest  integrity  and  honest  business 
principles.  In  political  matters  a Republican,  in  addi- 
tion to  serving  as  county  treasurer,  }ie  has  been 


twelve  3^ears  a member  of  the  school  board.  He  has 
shown  his  supreme  faith  in  the  future  greatness  of 
Stevensville  by  investing  heavily  in  real  estate,  and 
owns  a comfortable  residence  in  the  city.  Fraternally, 
he  is  connected  with  the  local  lodge  of  the  Masonic 
order. 

On  October  10,  1883,  Mr.  Dowling  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Mary  A.  McHeffey,  a native  of  Nova 
Scotia,  and  they  have  had  eight  children,  as  follows : 
George  R.,  deceased;  Minnie  E.,  who  keeps  the  books 
for  her  father;  Helen,  who  married  Harry  Whitesette, 
of  Stevensville;  Louis  E.,  clerk  and  manager  for  his 
father;  Grace  and  John  W.,  who  are  attending  high 
school;  and  Eva  and  Fred,  students  in  the  graded 
schools. 

George  T.  Lamport.  No  biographical  history  of  the 
state  of  Montana  would  be  complete  without  special 
mention  were  made  of  George  T.  Lamport,  his  ability, 
his  loj'alty  to  dut>'  and  his  fidelity  having  earned  him 
a place  among  this  section’s  representative  men,  while 
the  part  he  has  played  in  developing  the  natural  re- 
sources of  the  state  gives  him  high  rank  among  those 
whose  activities  have  been  so  directed  as  to  advance 
their  communities.  Mr.  Lamport  is  a native  of  Mil- 
waukee, Wisconsin,  and  was  born  September  28,  1844, 
a son  of  Joseph  and  Marietta  (DeMuth)  Lamport. 

Joseph  Lamport  was  born  in  England,  and  as  a 
small  boy  was  brought  to  America  by  his  parents,  first 
settling  in  Canada.  . Later  he  removed  to  Michigan, 
where  he  was  married,  and  in'  the  early  ’forties  re- 
moved to  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  carpentering  and  contracting  for  bridges.  He 
erected  the  bridges  for  the  Lake  Shore  Railroad  be- 
tween Milwaukee  and  Chicago,  this  now  being  a part 
of  the  Chicago  & Northwestern  systeln,  and  he  also 
contracted  in  building  docks  and  warehouses  in  Mil- 
waukee and  packing  houses  for  the  pioneer  packer, 
Plankinton,  of  Milwaukee.  In  1854  Mr.  Lamport  re- 
moved to  Sauk  countjq  Wisconsin,  took  up  government 
land,  and  hewed  himself  a home  out  of  the  wilderness. 
After  the  death  of  his  wife  he  removed  to  the  home 
of  his  son,  near  Heckly,  South  Dakota,  but  after  a 
short  time  returned  to  'VVisconsin  and  settled  in  the 
town  of  North  Freedom,  where  he  spent  his  last  days 
at  the  home  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Samuel  Maxham, 
and  there  died  at  the  age  of  seventy  years.  He  and 
his  wife,  who  was  sixty-eight  years  old  at  the  time  of 
her  death,  were  members  of  the  Church  of  England. 
Originally  a Whig,  in  1854  Mr.  Lamport  became  a Re- 
publican, and  that  party  received  his  support  ever 
afterward.  They  had  a large  family  of  children, 
George  T.  being  the  third  in  order  of  birth,  and  six 
of  the  cliildren  are  still  living. 

The  early  education  of  George  T.  Lamport  was  se- 
cured in  the  public  schools  of  Milwaukee,  but  when 
he  was  ten  years  of  age  he  accompanied  the  family 
to  the  Sauk  county  farm,  and  there  he  worked  during 
the  summer  months  and  attended  a log  schoolhouse 
during  winter  terms.  The  breaking  out  of  the  Civil 
war  found  him  a patriotic  youth  of  seventeen  years, 
and  it  was  not  until  1863  that  he  was  able  to  enlist. 
At  that  time  he  became  a member  of  Company^  L, 
Third  Wisconsin  Cavalry,  which  was  mustered  into 
the  service  at  Madison,  Wisconsin,  and  was  mustered 
out  of  the  service  at  Fort  Leavenworth,  in  1865.  The 
greater  part  of  the  first  year  the  regirnent  was  engaged 
in  fighting  the  bushwhackers  in  Missouri,  Arkansas 
and  Kansas,  and  it  was  later  sent  out  on  the  Santa 
Fe  trail.  'Under  General  Blunt  the  detachment  went 
up  the  Arkansas  river  to  the  present  site  of  Dodge 
City,  where  the  scouts  brought  news  that  some  3.000 
or  4,000  Indians  were  camped  about  sixty  miles  north. 
Preceded  by  the  fifteen  Delaware  scouts,  the  men 
marched  until  noon,  when  they  came  across  the  first 
Indian,  but  could  not  force  him  to  give  any  infonna- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1193 


tion.  The  next  morning  brought  about  a skirmish 
with  the  Indians,  in  which  a number  of  the  hostiles 
were  killed,  while  the  loss  to  the  whites  was  four 
killed.  Ihe  troops  then  camped  on  the  ground  where 
the  Indians  had  formerly  had  their  camp,  and  on  the 
next  morning  followed  them  for  some  distance.  Gen- 
eral Blunt  then  returned  to  Fort  Riley,  where  Mr. 
Lamport’s  company,  L,  was  left  at  Walnut  Creek  to 
establish  a fort,  Zarah.  There  they  remained  until 
February,  1865,  when  the  company  was  .ordered  back 
to  Fort  Riley,  and  was  then  sent  to  Lawrence,  Kansas. 
About  forty  men  of  the  company,  including  Mr.  Lam- 
port, were  detailed  to  assist  the  provost-marshal,  and 
the  duties  of  this  position  kept  him  occupied  until  he 
was  honorably  discharged  from  the  service.  He  was 
ever  found  to  be  a faithful,  brave  and  cheerful  soldier, 
and  when  he  returned  to  his  home  in  Sauk  county, 
Wisconsin,  he  took  up  the  duties  of  peace  and  dis- 
charged them  with  the  same  conscientious  care  that 

had  characterized  his  army  service.  For  a time  he 
was  engaged  in  driving  the  stage  between  Baraboo 
and  Kilbourn  City,  but  later  went  to  Chippewa  Falls, 
where  he  was  employed  in  the  mill  of  Stanley  Broth- 
ers, running  a mill  in  the  summer  months  and  scaling 
timber  in  the  winters  at  the  camp  on  the  Chippewa 
river.  Subsequently  he  purchased  a farm  in  Chippewa 
county,  Wisconsin,  near  Bloomer,  and  after  spending 
three  years  in  clearing  and  developing  work  sold  out 

and  purchased  some  cows.  These  he  broke  to  draw 

a wagon,  and  with  a team  of  oxen  and  two  wagons 
started  for  the  Black  Hills.  Chet  White,  a young  mar- 
ried man  wishing  to  go  to  the  Black  Hills,  drove  Mr. 
Lamport’s  cow  team,  four  yoke,  through  with  him  to 
the  Hills.  Mr.  Lamport  was  also  married  and  had 
two  children,  and  in  June  of  1878  the  little  party 
crossed  the  Mississippi  river  at  St.  Paul  and  followed 
the  railroad  line  to  Worthington,  Minnesota,  heading 
for  Fort  Pierre.  At  that  time  the  Indians  were  very 
bad  throughout  that  part  of  the  country,  and  the  emi- 
grants decided  that  it  would  be  wise  to  attach  them- 
selves to  an  outfit,  for  mutual  protection.  Finally 
they  arrived  at  Sturgis  City,  in  the  Black  Hills,  in  the 
month  of  July,  and  here  Mr.  Lamport  built  a cabin 
and  settled  on  a tract  of  land.  He  engaged  in  the  dairy 
business  and  gave  a great  deal  of  attention  to  butter- 
making, but  in  the  spring  of  1882  sold  out  and  came 
overland,  via  Mills  City,  to  Billings,  then  only  a strag- 
gling tent  town.  He  made  his  first  camp  on  the  banks 
of  the  Yellowstone,  at  Mr.  Orson  Newman’s  ranch, 
and  soon  thereafter  engaged  in  the  dairy  business,  sell- 
ing milk  in  Billings.  After  continuing  in  the  same  line 
for  several  years,  he  was  elected  the  first  county  sur- 
veyor of  Yellowstone  county,'  a position  which  he  held 
a number  of  years,  and  then  became  government  sur- 
veyor. He  was  especially  examined  for  the  latter  posi- 
tion under  General  G.  O.  Eaton.  In  the  spring  of  1887 
Mr.  Lamport  discovered  the  Bear  Creek  coal  fields  in 
Carbon  county,  and  in  company  with  Robert  Leavens, 
his  son-in-law,  he  organized  and  platted  the  village  of 
Bear  Creek  in  Carbon  county  and  became  actively  en- 
gaged in  merchandise,  banking  and  real  estate  in- 
terests. The  bank  was  organized  in  1908,  and  when 
the  title  was  perfected  a company  was  formed, 
he  being  a stockholder  and  a director  for  a number 
of  years.  Since  1909  Mr.  Lamport  has  not  been 
engaged  actively  in  business.  Many  and  great  are 
the  changes  that  have  come  over  this  section  since 
1881,  when  he  was  engaged  in  hunting  buffalo  for  their 
hides  on  the  Little  Powder  and  at  the  head  of  the 
Little  Misouri  river,  and  he  has  done  his  full  share 
in  bringing  these  marvelous  changes  about.  In  what- 
ever locality  he  has  made  his  home  he  has  always  been 
in  the  foremost  rank  of  movements  which  have  made 
for  progress.  He  served  as  county  commissioner  of 
Park  county  at  the  time  when  Carbon  county  was  a 
part  of  Park,  and  also  acted  as  city  engineer  of  Bil- 


lings for  speral  years.  He  was  the  second  man  made 
a Mason  in  Ashlar  Lodge,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  and  he 
also  belongs  to  Billings  Chapter,  R.  A.  M.  ; ’Aldemar 
Commandery,  No.  5,  K.  T. ; and  Algeria  Temple, 
Helena.  In  his  political  belief  he  is  a Republican. 

In  May,  1873,  Mr.  Lamport  was  married  to-  Miss 
Emma  Edd}-’,  who  was  born  in  Wisconsin,  and  she  died 
in  1874.  He  was  again  married,  in  1876,  to  Mrs. 
Lodenia  (McCoy)  Dake,  who  was  born  in  New  York 
state,  and  four  children  were  born  to  this  union,  of 
whom  three  survive:  Ella,  who  is  the  wife  of  Robert 
Leavens,  of  Billings;  Ida,  the  wife  of  Charles  E. 
W right,  of  Red  Lodge,  Montana ; and  Walter,  inter- 
ested in  mining  and  in  the  ice  and  coal  business  at 
Bear  Creek,  married  a Miss  Maxwell.  Clara,  the 
youngest  child,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-two,  in  March, 
1910.  _Mr.  Lamport  and  his  family  occupy  prominent 
places  in  the  social  life  of  Billings,  and  their  spacious 
and  attractive  home,  at  323  South  Twenty-ninth  street, 
is  a center  of  gracious  and  unreserved  hospitality. 

I.  _D.  O’Donnell.  Irrigation  is  probably  the  earliest 
application  of  science  to  agriculture  and  has  wholly 
changed  the  appearance  of  the  western  one-third  of  the 
United  States.  The  recent  world-wide  extension  of 
irrigation  in  lands  hitherto  uninhabited  and  unproductive 
has  added  many  millions  of  acres  to  the  world’s  pro- 
ductive area,  and  is  causing  the  commercial  and  social 
importance  of  this  art  or  science  to  be  appreciated  as 
never  before.  That  it  has  been  one  of  the  great  indus- 
trial factors  of  the  Twentieth  Century  cannot  be  denied, 
and  both  its  methods  and  institutions  are  being  studied 
by  men  of  scientific  training.  It  has  been  only  within 
practically  recent  years,  however,  that  irrigation  has 
been  developed  to  its  greatest  measure  of  usefulness, 
and  until  a short  time  ago  there  was  no  legislation  for 
the  adequate  public  control  of  streams  and  the  systematic 
divisions  of  their  waters  among  users.  The  state  of 
Montana  owes  much  to  irrigation,  but  it  is  also  deeply 
indebted  to  those  men  who  have  devoted  their  energies 
to  perfecting^  the  system  and  to  securing  the  enactment 
•of  laws  providing  for  government  control.  Preeminent 
among  this  class  stands  I.  D.  O’Donnell,  adherent  and 
promoter  of  irrigation,  financier,  leading  alfalfa  farmer 
and  a man  than  whom  there  is  none  better  known  in  the 
Yellowstone  valley. 

Mr.  O’Donnell  was  born  in  county  Norfolk,  Ontario, 
Canada,  September  19,  i860,  and  is  a son  of  Daniel  and 
Margaret  (McIntosh)  O’Donnell.  Daniel  O’Donnell  was 
a native  of  County  Mayo,  Ireland,  and  in  1831,  when 
seven  years  of  age  was  brought  to  the  Dorninion  of 
Canada  by  his  parents.  There  he  grew  to  manhood  and 
received  his  education,  and  for  a number  of  years  was 
engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits,  but  on  coming  to  the 
United  States,  in  1864,  he  settled  at  Saginaw,  Michigan, 
and  interested  himself  in  the  timber  business.  After 
some  years  spent  in  that  line  of  endeavor,  Mr.  O’Don- 
nell settled  on  a farm  in  Midland  county,  Michigan,  but 
he  has  now  retired  and  is  living  quietly  at  Midland  City. 
Originally  a Democrat,  he  became  a great  admirer  of 
James  G.  Blaine  and  cast  his  support  with  the  Repub- 
lican party.  He  is  highly  esteemed  in  his  community, 
where  he  has  served  in  various  local  offices,  including 
that  of  township  treasurer.  He  was  married  in  Canada 
to  Margaret  McIntosh,  who  was  born  there,  and  she 
still  survives,  having  been  the  mother  of  ten  children, 
of  whom  I.  D.  was  the  second  born,  and  all  of  whom 
are  living. 

I.  D.  O’Donnell  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Saginaw,  Michigan,  where  his  early  business 
training  was  secured  in  the  timber  industry  of  his 
father.  He  did  his  share  of  clearing  the  wilderness  of 
that  section,  and  when  twenty-one  years  of  age  removed 
to  Chicago,  from  whence,  in  April.  1882,  he  made  his 
way  to 'Montana.  He  first  located  at  Miles  City,  but 
subsequently  went  overland  to  Coulson,  Billings  at  that 


1194 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


time  being  a city  of  tents  and  only  partially  platted. 
After  a few  day  he  joined  the  stampede  for  the  Maden 
mining  camp,  and  on  his  return  connected  himself  with 
the  I.  J.  Horse  Ranch,  owned  by  J.  K.  Doze,  which  was 
later  taken  over  and  enlarged  by  Seligman,  Bailey  & 
Kennett.  He  continued  with  this  firm  for  about  one 
and  one-half  years,  when  he  came  to  the  Yellowstone 
valley  with  Mr.  E.  G.  Bailey  and  took  charge  of  the 
Fiederick  Billings  Ranch,  near  Billings.  Mr.  O’Donnell 
was  superintendent  of  this  property  at  the  time  Mr. 
B'illings  was  having  his  land  cultivated  to  prove  that 
this  was  a productive  farming  locality,  and  subsequently 
remained  as  a representative  of  the  Billings  interests, 
being  at  present  the  executor  of  the  estate  in  this 
section.  In  1887  Mr.  O'Donnell  took  charge  of  the 
Minnesota  and  Montana  Land  and  Improvement  Com- 
pany's irrigation  canal,  now  known  as  the  Big  Ditch, 
the  first  large  canal  in  eastern  Montana,  and  since_  that 
time  has  interested  himself  in  vast  irrigation  projects. 
He  has  made  an  exhaustive  study  of  methods  used  in 
other  countries,  in  France,  Spain  and  Italy,  where  irri- 
gation has  been  used  for  centuries,  and  no  man  in  the 
Yellowstone  valley  is  better  informed  on  this  subject 
than  he.  An  enthusiast  in  this  work,  he  has  been  the 
leading  factor  in  the  building  of  the  Highland,  Subur- 
ban, Cove  and  B.  L.  and  I.  Ditches.  In  1^7  Mr.  O’Don- 
nell formed  a partnership  with  E.  G.  Bailey,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Bailey  & O’Donnell,  and  began  farm- 
ing and  stock  raising.  In  1892  this  firm  purchased  the 
Hesper  Farm,  and  the  partnership  continued  until  1900, 
when  Mr.  O'Donnell  bought  his  partner's  interest,  and 
has  since  continued  to  conduct  the  property  alone.  This 
is  one  of  the  best  known  tracts  in  the  valley,  and  its 
640  acres  are  all  under  a high  state  of  cultivation,  its 
present  productiveness  having  been  brought  about 
through  irrigation.  Several  world’s  records  for  alfalfa, 
sugar  beets,  wheat  and  oats  have  been  broken  on  this 
farm,  and  in  1906  it  held  the  world’s  championship  for 
wheat.  In  addition  this  property  can  boast  of  one  of  the 
finest  apple  orchards  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  state. 
He  has  taken  an  active  part  in  the  work  of  the  Irriga- 
tion Congress,  and  was  one  of  five  that  framed  the  or- 
ganization. The  facts  and  figures  gathered  by  Mr. 
O’Donnell  in  the  Yellowstone  valley  were  probably  the 
strongest  arguments  presented  to  congress  that  se- 
cured the  passage  of  the  Reclamation  Act.  In  addition, 
Mr.  O’Donnell  was  the  first  president  of  the  Yellow- 
stone Fair  Association,  and  at  present  is  a director  in 
the  State  Fair  Association.  He  has  been  on  the  board 
of  sheep  commissioners,  was  the  first  president  of  the 
board  of  horticulture,  and  at  present  is  a life  member  of 
the  State  Horticultural  Society.  He  has  always  taken 
an  active  part  in  the  work  of  the  Farmers’  Institute, 
and  works  all  over  the  state  in  behalf  of  modern  methods 
of  alfalfa  raising  and  stock  breeding.  Mr.  O’Donnell 
has  probably  done  more  for  the  alfalfa  industry  than 
any  other  one  man  in  the  state.  He  is  a director  in 
the  Merchants  National  Bank  and  secretary  of  the 
Suburban  Homes  Company;  built  and  was  president  of 
the  first  creamery  here,  known  as  the  Billings  Creamery; 
is  president  of  the  Billings  Foundry  and  Manufacturing 
Company  and  of  the  Big  Ditch  Company;  and  is  past 
president  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  and  of  the 
Parmley  Billings  Library,  of  which  he  is  at  present  one 
of  the  trustees.  He  has  served  as  a member  of  the 
school  board  of  Billings,  and  is  a member  of  the  execu- 
tive committee  and  director  of  the  Young  Men’s  Chris- 
tian Association.  Politically  Mr.  O’Donnell  does  not 
recognize  party  ties,  but  reserves  the  right  to  cast  his 
influence  and  support  with  the  candidate  whom  his 
judgment  convinces  him  is  best  fitted  for  the  position 
at  stake. 

On  October  31,  1887,  Mr.  O’Donnell  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Louise  Roeser,  who  was  born  in 
Saginaw  county,  Michigan,  daughter  of  Gustave  Roeser, 
and  six  children  have  beer,  born  to  this  union : Helene 


R. ,  Louise  AL,  Carol,  Ignatius  D.,  Gustave  R.  and 
Kathleen. 

Ever  since  coming  to  this  community  in  1882  Mr. 
O’Donnell  has  been  one  of  those  who  have  believed 
in  the  future  of  the  place  they  had  chosen  for  their 
home,  and  by  his  active  and  progressive  spirit  has  done 
much  to  promote  its  growth.  He  has  never  been 
actuated  by  narrow,  selfish  motives,  but  prospering  him- 
self he  has  rejoiced  in  the  prosperity  of  others,  knowing 
that  the  welfare  of  one  individual  alone  never  furthers 
but  only  retards  the  growtlP  of  a community.  He  has 
been  honorable  and  upright  in  all  his  business  dealings 
with  his  fellow  men  and  has  won  and  merited  the  esteem 
of  all  who  knew  him,  and  is  the  possessor  of  numerous 
warm  friends  among  the  citizens  of  the  Yellowstone 
valley  in  whose  interest  he  has  worked  for  so  many 
years. 

John  Buekman.  On  June  25,  1876,  on  the  Little 
Big  Horn,  occurred  one  of  the  events  that  made  Mon- 
tana history,  for  it  was  on  that  date  that  General  George 
Armstrong  Custer  and  his  1,100  United  States  soldiers 
were  annihilated  by  a band  of  9,000  Siou.x  Indian  war- 
riors. Few  indeed  there  are  to-day  who  can  lay  claim 
to  having  belonged  to  the  regiment  that  set  out  to  do 
battle  that  summer  morning,  but  such  is  the  distinction 
that  attaches  to  John  Burkinan,  formerly  a soldier  of 
Custer’s  command,  and  now  a highly  esteemed  resident 
of  Billings,  who  is  living  retired  after  many  years  spent 
in  the  United  States  service.  Mr.  Burkinan  was  born 
in  the  state  of  Pennsylvania,  January  10,  1839,  the  only 
son  of  John  and  Eva  Burkinan,  whose  other  five  chil- 
dren were  girls.  • 

Always  of  an  adventurous  spirit,  when  he  was  twenty 
years  of  age  Mr.  Burkman  left  his  eastern  home  for  the 
new  west,  and  for  a number  of  years  was  engaged  in 
freighting  in  Colorado,  Kansas,  Nebraska  and  Utah. 
At  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  he  enlisted  in  the  one 
hundred-day  service  as  a private  of  Company  K,  F’ifth 
Regiment,  Missouri  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  when  his 
time  had  expired  became  a teamster  in  the  government 
service,  seeing  duty  in  Missouri,  Arkansas  and  Ten- 
nessee. On  the  cessation  of  hostilities  he  engaged  in 
railroad  work,  and  was  so  employed  until  September 
16,  1870,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  Seventh  Cavalry,  U. 

S.  A.,  a regiment  that  had  been  organized  in  1866  with 
Samuel  Sturgis  as  colonel  and  George  Armstrong  Cus- 
ter, who  had  won  his  spurs  in  the  Civil  war,  as  lieu- 
tenant-colonel.  Mr.  Burkman  was  Custer’s  orderly 
from  1870  to  1876,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  fateful 
day  saddled  the  general’s  horse.  The  regiment  was  in 
three  divisions.  Captain  Benteen  being  in  charge  of 
Companies  H,  D and  K,  Major  Reno  having  Companies 
A,  M and  G,  and  General  Custer,  Companies  I,  L,  C, 
F and  E,  while  Captain  McDougal,  with  Company  B,  es- 
corted the  pack  train.  Leaving  the  Yellowstone  river, 
the  troop  marched  up  the  Rosebud  river  seventy-two 
miles,  making  their  last  camp  on  the  present  site  of 
the  Indian  school,  and  there  Mr.  Burkman  was  left  with 
the  pack  train.  It  was  thus  he  escaped  being  killed  in 
the  engagement  that  followed,  when  the  non-arrival  of 
expected  reinforcements  resulted  in  the  massacre  of  the 
entire  body  of  U.  S.  troops.  The  story  of  that  battle 
has  been  told  in  song  and  story,  has  been  perpetuated  in 
words  more  enduring  than  monuments  of  stone  or  tab- 
lets of  brass,  and  is  too  well  known  to  be  recounted 
here,  but  those  who  escaped  the  a./ful  death  of  their 
companions  should  be  honored  and  revered  as  links 
connecting  the  present  with  the  days  when  western 
history  was  in  the  making. 

Mr.  Burkman  continued  with  the  remnant  of  his  troop 
until  securing  his  honorable  discharge.  May  17,  1879,  at 
Fort  Laramie.  From  that  time  on  he  was  identified 
with  the  government  service  until  1895,  when  he  retired, 
and  he  now  lives  quietly  in  his  comfortable  home,  sur- 
rounded by  numerous  friends  who  are  always  delighted 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1195 


when  they  can  persuade  him  to  recount  experiences  and 
adventures  of  the  days  when  Montana  was  still  claimed 
by  savages  and  the  development  of  the  Treasure  state 
was  yet  in  its  infancy. 

John  D.  Matheson.  One  of  the  pioneer  citizens  of 
Billings,  and  a man  who  has  been  identified  with  the 
progress  and  development  of  the  city  for  thirty  years, 
is  John  D.  5Iatheson,  who  was  the  last  territorial 
probate  judge  of  Montana,  was  subsequently  engaged 
for  a number  of  years  in  newspaper  work,  and  now 
carries  on  an  extensive  real  estate  and  insurance  busi- 
ness. Mr.  Matheson  came  from  Milton,  Ontario, 
where  he  had  been  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  lead- 
ing newspaper  and  mayor  of  the  town,  and  located  in 
Billings,  Montana,  when  the  city  was  yet  in  its  in- 
fancy, being  one  of  that  group  of  men  whose  activities 
have  made  it  one  of  the  most  prosperous  municipalities 
of  the  state.  As  a member  of  the  bench  he  upheld  the 
dignity  of  his  high  office,  and  in  his  editorial  capacity 
he  did  much  to  influence  public  opinion  along  proper 
channels,  wdiile  in  business  circles  he  is  known  as  a 
man  of  ability  and  sagacity  and  bears  a wide-spread 
reputation  for  integrity. 

John  D.  Matheson  is  a product  of  Canada,  born  at 
Simcoe,  county  Norfolk,  Ontario,  Alarch  7,  1846.  His 
early  education  was  secured  in  the  schools  of  his  na- 
tive place,  and  after  extensive  preparation  and  study 
he  was  admitted  to  practice  before  the  bar  of  Toronto 
in  i8/i.  He  continued  in  the  active  practice  of  his 
profession  until  1882,  in  which  year  he  came  to  Bil- 
lings, Montana,  and  in  that  year  purchased  the  Billings 
Post,  which  he  published  until  1^7,  and  then  became 
editor  of  the  Billings  Gazette.  In  1897  Mr.  Matheson 
was  instrumental  in  organizing  the  Billings  Times, 
and  continued  as  editor  thereof  for  a number  of  years. 
He  became  one  of  Montana’s  best  known  newspaper 
men,  and  his  opinions,  as  expressed  in  his  editorials, 
were  widely  discussed  and  had  much  to  do  with  the 
influencing  of  the  actions  of  the  citizens  in  all  mat- 
ters of  civic  importance.  In  1901  he  was  appointed 
city  clerk  and  continued  to  succeed  himself  in  office 
until  1911,  since  which  time  he  has  been  engaged  in 
the  real  estate  and  insurance  business,  with  offices  at 
No.  205  Stapleton  building.  Public  spirited  to  a high 
degree,  Mr.  Matheson  has  always  had  the  best  inter- 
ests of  his  adopted  city  at  heart,  and  has  been  active 
in  assisting  movements  for  its  welfare,  while  his  abil- 
ity and  good  citizenship  have  earned  recognition 
among  his  fellow  townsmen,  who  have  expressed 
their  confidence  in  him  by  choosing  him  to  fill  posi- 
tions of  honor  and  trust.  At  the  present  time  (1912) 
he  is  a valued  member  of  the  library  board.  He  has 
interested  himself  in  fraternal  work  and  is  connected 
with  Ashlar  Lodge,  No.  26,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  in  which 
he  has  many  warm  friends. 

In  1872  Mr.  Matheson  was  married  to  Rebecca 
Panton,  who  was  born  near  Milton,  Ontario,  and  five 
children  have  been  born  to  them : Edith,  the  wife  of 
Dr.  James  Chappie,  of  Billings ; Beatrix,  who  mar- 
ried James  H.  Johnston,  a well-known  attorney  of 
Billings ; William  Panton,  who  is  engaged  in  the  real 
estate  and  insurance  business  with  his  father;  John 
Roy  Douglas,  a first  lieutenant  in  the  United  States 
-\rmy,  now  stationed  at  Fort  Russy,  near  Honolulu, 
and  who  married  Ethel,  daughter  of  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Mason,  U.  S.  A.  surgeon  on  the  Panama  Canal  Zone ; 
and  Katherine  C.,  who  married  James  Vredenburgh 
on  June  20,  1912,  and  lives  on  their  extensive  beet 
sugar  ranch,  near  Park  City,  Montana. 

Andrew  S.  Shannon.  Few  citizens  of  Montana  can 
boast  of  a more  active  or  adventurous  career  than  that 
of  Andrew  S.  Shannon,  of  Billings,  who,  although  now 
living  practically  retired,  is  still  largely  interested  in 
various  projects  of  wide  scope  and  extensive  nature. 


He  has  identified  himself  with  many  enterprises  that 
have  proved  of  incalculable  value  to  the  best  interests 
of  the  Yellowstone  valley,  and  his  activities  in  behalf 
of  good  roads  have  earned  for  him  the  title  of  “The 
Pathfinder.”  Born  in  Jacksonville,  Morgan  county, 
Illinois,  November  14,  1851,  Mr.  Shannon  is  a son  of 
Robert  and  Sarah  (-Gray)  Shannon,  the  former  a na- 
tive of  Baltimore,  Maryland,  and  the  latter  of  Indiana. 

Robert  Shannon  was  a young  man  when  he  moved  to 
Indiana,  and  not  long  after  his  marriage  he  located  in 
Morgan  county,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  until  1854. 
At  that  time  he  settled  in  Blue  Earth  county,  Min- 
nesota, where  he  became  a pioneer,  took  up  government 
land,  and  at  the  time  of  the  Indian  outbreak  of  1861 
served  as  a member  of  the  militia.  His  first  property 
was  located  near  what  is  now  known  as  Amboy,  but  in 
1865  he  moved  to  a farm  six  miles  out  of  Mankato  and 
in  1882  or  1883  he  went  to  Hamlin  Park,  a suburb  of 
the  city  of  St.  Paul,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  life  in  retirement,  his  death  occurring  when  he  was 
eighty  years  of  age.  He  and  his  wife  were  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  in  politics  he 
was  a Whig  until  1856,  when  he  transferred  his  allegi- 
ance to  the  Republican  party,  and  worked  hard  for  that 
organization  during  the  candidacy  of  Abraham  Lincoln, 
of  whom  he  was  a great  admirer.  He  and  his  wife, 
who  survives  him  and  makes  her  home  with  her  son, 
the  Rev.  William  A.  Shannon,  of  ^Minneapolis,  being 
in  her  eighty-fourth  year,  had  eight  children,  of  whom 
seven  are  now  living,  as  follows : Elizabeth,  who  mar- 
ried Rudolph  Crandall,  of  Hillsboro,  Oregon;  Charles 
E.,  residing  at  Guthrie,  Oklahoma;  Andrew  S.;  Rev. 
William  A.;  John  W.,  of  Stevensville,  Montana;  David 
M.,  a resident  of  the  state  of  Idaho ; and  Cyrus  N.,  a 
passenger  conductor  in  the  employ  of  the  Great  North- 
ern Railroad  Company. 

Andrew  S.  Shannon  was  given  excellent  educational 
advantages,  attending  first  the  common  schools  of  Blue 
Earth  county,  5Iinnesota,  and  subsequently  going  to  the 
State  Normal  School  and  a business  college  in  St.  Paul, 
after  which  he  secured  employment  in  a drug  store  in 
Mankato.  After  clerking  for  two  years  he  purchased 
the  interest  of  the  proprietor  and  until  the  spring  of 
1880  conducted  this  establishment  with  a partner,  un- 
der the  firm  name  of  Shannon  & Webster.  He  then 
sold  out  and  started  for  Fort  Benton,  via  Bismarck, 
Dakota,  but  subsequently  changed  his  mind  and  went  to 
the  Black  Hills  and  then  on  to  old  Fort  Pierre,  where 
he  was  interested  in  a drug  business  under  the  firm  style 
of  Shannon  & Hull.  He  was  at  this  point  in  1881  when 
the  Chicago  & Northwestern  Railroad  built  into  Pierre, 
that  city  being  the  capital  of  South  Dakota,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1882  disposed  of  his  interests  there  and  started 
overland,  via  Deadwood  and  Miles  City,  for  Coulson. 
At  that  time  there  was  but  one  small  shack  in  the  pres- 
ent city  of  Billings,  that  being  the  headquarters  for 
the  civil  engineering  department  of  the  Northern  Pacific 
Railroad.  On  April  15,  1882,  Mr.  Shannon  and  his  part- 
ner, W.  E.  Hull,  opened  the  first  drug  store  in  Coulson, 
and  until  the  last  of  August  their  place  of  business  was 
a small  tent.  At  that  time  they  removed  their  stock 
to  the  building  of  Judge  J.  R.  Goss,  on  Montana  avenue, 
and  almost  immediately  thereafter  sold  the  stock  to  H. 
H.  Bole  & Company,  5Ir.  Shannon  at  that  time  pur- 
chasing a herd  of  cows.  With  William  Talcott  he  lo- 
cated the  herd  on  Golden  creek,  one  mile  south  of  A. 
B.  Lamont’s  ranch,  and  he  was  there  engaged  in  the 
dairy  business  until  the  spring  of  1884,  when  he  moved 
across  the  divide  to  Raisor  creek,  to  what  was  known 
as  the  Shannon  Road  ranch,  but  of  this  he  disposed  in 
1893  to  purchase  the  Henry  Frith  ranch  near  Huntley. 
On  this  property  Mr.  Shannon  made  a number  of  im- 
provements, including  irrigation,  and  met  with  more 
than  ordinary  success  in  his  undertakings,  but  in  Jan- 
uary, 1898,  he  decided  to  try  his  fortunes  in  the  Alaskan 
gold  fields,  and  accordingly  made  his  way  to  Skagway. 


1 1<)() 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


Mr.  Shannon's  brother,  Charles  E.  Shannon,  had  pre- 
ceded him  to  that  point  during  the  fall  of  1897,  but  had 
arrived  too  late  to  make  the  trip  down  the  Yukon,  but 
after  Andrew  S.  had  joined  him  they  made  a trip  to 
Lake  Bennett,  accompanied  b}'  Mark  Newman.  After 
returning  to  Skagway,  Mr.  Shannon  went  to  Juneau  by 
steamboat  to  purchase  goods,  and  on  the  way  down 
received  the  first  sad  news  of  the  fate  of  the  sixty 
passengers  lost  on  the  Linn  Canal  between  Sitka  and 
Juneau.  Mr.  Shannon  purchased  a large  stock  of  gen- 
eral merchandise,  consisting  principally  of  provisions, 
;ind  on  his  return  to  Skagway  bought  three  horses  and 
moved  the  goods  by  relay  to  Lake  Bennett,  the  journey 
taking  about  three  months  to  accomplish.  After  the 
opening  of  navigation  the  brothers  found  that  Lake 
Bennett  had  been  side-tracked,  but  Andrew  S.  made 
another  trip  to  Skagway  and  purchased  a large  supply  1 
of  potatoes,  oranges,  lemons  and  fancy  canned  goods,  ( 
and  had  them  taken  to  Lake  Bennett  by  pack  horses.  In 
the  meantime  Charles  E.  had  purchased  a scow,  ten  by 
thirty-four  feet,  and  on  this  they  loaded  all  their  goods 
and  followed  the  stampede  through  Lake  Bennett, 
Tagish,  Marsh  Lake  and  Lake  La  Barge  to  Thirty  Mile 
river,  down  through  the  Lewis  river  to  the  Yukon,  and 
then  on  to  Dawson  City,  the  current  of  the  river  carry- 
ing the  scow  through.  They  arrived  at  Dawson  City 
July  8,  1898,  and  at  once  retailed  their  stock  of  goods 
at  handsome  prices,  the  potatoes  bringing  as  high  as 
$100  per  sack,  while  oranges  and  lemons  were  sold  for 
$35  per  case.  When  they  had  disposed  of  all  their 
goods  with  the  exception  of  what  they  wished  to  keep 
for  themselves,  the  Shannon  brothers,  with  C.  M.  Bair, 
purchased  a gold  claim  which  they  worked  with  small 
profit  during  the  summer.  Mr.  Shannon’s  brother  then 
went  down  the  Yukon  river  and  up  Forty  Mile  river 
to  Wade  creek,  where  he  staked  a claim  for  himself 
and  Andrew  S.,  subsequently  returning  to  Dawson  City 
and  then  going  to  Fort  Cudoha  located  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Forty  Mile  river,  where  they  remained  until  the 
ice  had  formed  on  Forty  Mile  river.  During  the  winter 
they  worked  the  new  claim  and  also  did  some  prospect- 
ing during  the  summer  of  1899,  but  in  1899  Charles  E. 
Shannon  returned  to  his  home  in  Duluth,  Minnesota, 
Andrew  S.  remaining  to  work  the  claims.  During  the 
late  fall  the  news  came  of  the  discovery  of  gold  at 
Nome,  and  this  started  a stampede  for  that  place.  Mr. 
Shannon,  not  having  found  gold  in  any  paying  quantity, 
came  back  to  Lake  Bennett  over  the  same  route  he  had 
previously  traveled,  but  on  reaching  this  point  found 
the  White  Pass  Railroad  finished  from  Lake  Bennett 
to  Skagway,  and  was  able  to  make  the  trip  by  rail  in 
about  two  and  one-half  hours  that  had  taken  him  three 
months  to  negotiate  with  his  horses  and  sled.  About 
April  I,  1900,  he  arived  home,  and  soon  thereafter  sold 
his  cattle  and  horses  on  the  range,  which  had  been 
looked  after  by  his  sons,  Avery  and  Andrew,  and 
located  in  Billings,  intending  to  retire  from  business. 
The  active  spirit  which  had  characterized  his  whole 
life,  however,  would  not  allow  him  to  long  remain  idle, 
and  he  soon  purchased  school  lands  in  Pease  Bottoms, 
Rosebud  county.  In  1903  he  incorporated  the  Ranchers 
Ditch  Company  and  contracted  for  and  put  in  the  ditch 
of  fourteen  miles,  covering  6,000  acres  of  land,  and  in 
1911  he  organized  the  Rosebud  Lake  Association.  This 
association  purchased  what  was  known  as  Armstrong 
lake,  located  eighty  miles  from  Billings  in  the  Bear 
Tooth  mountain  district  in  Carbon  county.  The  region 
was  cleared  and  improved,  and  has  since  become  one  of 
the  favorite  spots  for  summer  outings  in  the  state. 
Mr.  Shannon  spent  the  summer  of  1911  in  building  an 
automobile  road  through  the  canon,  with  a descent  of 
eight  miles,  this  being  one  of  the  most  beautiful  rides 
from_  Billings  or  any  part  of  the  state  by  automobile. 
The  interest  manifested  by  Mr.  Shannon  in  good  roads 
has  made  him  come  to  be  known  as  “The  Pathfinder,” 
and  he  has  also  served  his  community  as  county  sur- 


veyor and  as  school  director  for  four  years.  Frater- 
nally he  is  connected  with  Star  Lodge,  No.  40,  I.  O.  O. 
F.,  and  was  active  in  the  building  of  the  horne  of  this 
order  m Billings,  and  in  political  matters  he  gives  his 
influence  to  the  Socialist  party. 

_ On  October  29,  1874,  Mr.  Shannon  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Christina  E.  Spencer,  who  was  born  in 
Indiana,  daughter  of  Joshua  and  Henrietta  (Vanuester- 
hoLise)  Spencer,  the  former  a native  of  Kentucky,  who 
died  in  Billings  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years,  and 
the  latter  born  in  Holland  and  died  in  Minnesota  in 
1881.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spencer  had  three  children:  Mrs. 
Shannon;  May,  the  wife  of  Frank  A.  Brown,  of  Yel- 
lowstone county,  Montana;  and  William,  who  resides 
at  America,  Oklahoma.  _ Mr.  Spencer  was  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  where  for  many  years 
he  was  engaged  in  working  at_  the  trade  of  cabinet 
maker.  In  18S4  he  came  to  Billings  and  engaged  in  a 
merchandise  business,  but  later  retired.  In  political 
matters  he  was  a Republican.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shannon 
have  had  four  children,  namely:  William  A.,  who  is 
married  and  makes  his  home  in  Florida;  Lillian,  the 
wife  of  A.  A.  Newman;  Andrew,  who  is  carrying  on 
operations  on  a ranch  in  the  Bull  Mountains,  Yellow- 
stone county ; and  Edwin,  in  the  manager’s  office  of 
the  Union  Pacific  Railroad  at  Cheyenne,  Wyoming,  is 
married  and  has  a son,  Howard  E. 

Mr.  Shannon  and  his  wife  reside  in  their  handsome 
residence  at  No.  310  South  Twenty-ninth  street,  and 
are  widely  and  favorably  known  in  Billings.  He  has 
always  been  a public-spirited  citizen  and  one  who  could 
be  relied  upon  to  serve  the  best  interests  of  his  com- 
munity. An  able  organizer,  with  the  capacity  and  abil- 
ity to  carry  out  whatever  project  he  promotes,  he  has 
been  interested  in  some  large  and  extensive  enterprises 
which  have  served  to  place  him  among  the  prominent 
business  men  of  his  city  and  to  establish  a position  for 
himself  among  those  whose  activities  have  served  to 
make  the  Yellowstone  valley  one  of  the  prosperous 
commercial  and  industrial  centers  of  the  west. 

Yegen  Brothers.  Should  a search  be  made 
throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  Yellowstone 
Valley,  no  fairer  or  finer  example  of  self-made  men 
could  be  found  than  the  Yegen  Brothers,  merchants 
and  financiers  of  Billings.  Brought  by  chance,  in  early 
manhood,  in  touch  with  the  mercantile  business,  they 
seized  upon  this  circumstance  as  upon  an  opportunity, 
mastered  the  rudiments  with  a thoroughness  that  has 
characterized  their  every  action  in  life,  and  upon  this 
practical  knowledge  budded  their  exceptional  business 
career.  One  by  one  they  saw  the  possibilities  as  they 
opened  before  them,  and  each  possibility  became  to 
them  a probability  and  was  made  a certainty.  They 
mastered  in  turn  the  details  of  the  restaurant,  bakery, 
grocery,  dry  goods  and  hardware  business,  and  inci- 
dentally became  financiers  and  have  been  chosen  for 
their  judgment  to  advise  and  direct  great  institutions 
in  the  financial  world  of  Montana.  Their  careers  are 
so  interwoven  with  the  history  of  Billings  that  it  would 
be  almost  impossible  to  make  reference  to  any  chapter 
in  the  growth  of  this  section  without  mentioning  their 
names.  Their  wonderful  success,  however,  has  not 
been  a matter  of  chance,  nor  has  their  present  high 
position  been  attained  without  the  overcoming  of  nu- 
merous obstacles  and  discouragements,  and  that  to- 
day they  stand  among  Billings’  most  successful  men  is 
due  only  to  the  persistent  effort  and  industry  that 
have  characterized  their  entire  activities. 

Hon.  Christian  Yegen  and  Peter  Yegen  are  natives 
of  Klosters,  Switzerland,  where  the  former  was  bom 
November  19,  1857,  and  the  latter  August  7,  i860, 
their  parents  being  Conrad  and  Emerita  (Prader) 
Yegen,  natives  of  the  Swiss  republic,  who  after  hon- 
orable and  industrious  lives  passed  away  in  that  coun- 
try in  1885.  Their  family  consisted  of  four  sons  and 


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HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1197 


three  daughters,  of  whom  the  following  are  living; 
Christian  and  Peter,  of  Billings;  Margaret  Alleman 
and  Dorothea  Plattner,  living  in  Switzerland ; Eliza- 
beth Copman,  of  Wyoming;  and  John  Plattner,  who 
resides  in  Bismarck,  North  Dakota. 

Christian  Yegen  was  educated  to  follow  the  pro- 
fession of  his  father,  that  of  teaching,  but  chose  a 
business  life  instead,  and  in  1879  came  to  the  United 
States  and  located  at  Bismarck,  North  Dakota,  whence 
his  brother  John  and  sister  Dorothea  had  preceded 
him.  He  learned  the  trade  of  bread  making  with  his 
brother  and  in  the  next  year  took  a small  farm,  which 
he  conducted  alone  until  1881,  when  he  sent  for  Peter, 
who  had  been  farming  in  a small  way  in  the  old  coun- 
try. With  the  help  of  their  sister  they  then  fol- 
lowed farming  for  another  year,  when  they  invested 
their  small  capital  in  a little  restaurant  at  Glendive, 
Montana,  and  subsequently  removed  to  Terry  Station, 
where  they  conducted  the  section  house.  Buffalo  meat 
was  still  to  be  had  in  plenty,  and  the  brothers  and  sis- 
ter made  a specialty  of  a meal  consisting  of  buffalo 
meat,  sauer  kraut,  cranberries  and  bread,  at  seventy- 
five  cents.  This  proved  very  popular  with  the  rush 
of  people  who  were  coming  to  this  section,  and  - so 
successful  did  they  become  that  in  1882  they  landed 
in  Billings  with  $3,000,  which  they  invested  in  a small 
bakery.  This  also  proved  a success  until  the  railroad 
moved  on,  when  business  took  a sudden  slump,  and  as 
a climax  the  partners  all  fell  sick  at  the  same  time,  and 
when,  they  had  recovered  found  that  they  had  not  only 
lost  their  business  and  their  capital,  but  that  they  were 
S400  in  debt.  This  probably  would  have  been  enough 
to  discourage  many  peoole,  but  these  sturdy  Swiss 
were  made  of  stern  stuff  and  demonstrated  their  con- 
fidence in  the  future  of  Billings  by  again  establishing 
themselves  in  a bakery  business  here,  their  baking 
being  done  in  the  mornings  and  the  product  peddled  in 
the  afternoons.  At  first  five  dollars  constituted  a .good 
day’s  receipts,  but  soon  they  were  averaging  thirty 
dollars  daily,  and  inside  of  a year  they  were  able  to 
purchase  their  first  building,  for  $2,700,  and  began  to 
itranch  out  into  a new  field,  adding  a small  stock  of 
groceries.  Their  location  at  that  time  was  on  the 
south  side,  not  far  from  their  present  establishment, 
but  they  soon  found  the  need  of  more  space,  and  sub- 
sequently removed  to  a two-story  structure,  twenty- 
eight  by  eighty  feet,  on  the  site  of  the  present  magnifi- 
cent establishment  of  Yegen  Brothers.  In  1893  an  ad- 
dition was  built,  about  the  same  size  as  their  former 
building,  to  be  used  for  hardware,  and  in  the  next 
year  a fifty-five  foot  addition  was  added  to  the  grocery. 
So  rapidly  did  the  business  grow  that  in  the  following 
year  they  were  compelled  to  build  another  structure 
as  large  as  all  the  other  buildings,  and  this  they 
stocked  with  dry  goods,  choosing  a well-assorted  stock 
of  the  finest  kind.  Still  they  found  that  their  grocery- 
needed  more  room,  and  they  extended  the  hardware 
building  back  fifty  feet  and  added  another  story,  this 
being  in  1898.  After  this  they  erected  a cold  storage 
plant,  thirty  by  thirty-four  feet,  in  1900.  It  was  in 
1900  that  the  Yegen  Brothers  entered  the  banking 
business,  opening  a savings  institution  in  Billings,  which 
was  the  first  of  its  kind  in  the  city  and  immediately  at- 
tracted a host  of  depositors.  During  that  year  they 
erected  a building  seventy-five  by  one  hundred  and 
thirty  feet  to  accommodate  their  increased  trade  in 
hardware  and  implements,  and  in  1903  they  opened 
savings  banks  at  Anaconda  and  Gardiner.  Subse- 
quently, during  the  following  year,  they  purchased  the 
wholesale  grocery  business  of  Millis  & Company,  to- 
gether with  the  spacious  warehouses  of  that  concern, 
adding  this  new  interest  to  their  already  immense  en- 
terprise. In  1895  the  brothers  had  purchased  their 
sister’s  interest,  and  in  1902  the  firm  of  Yegen  Broth- 
ers was  incorporated,  they  being  the  sole  owners  of 
the  business  outside  of  a few  shares  of  stock  sold 
to  several  trusted  employes.  They  have  platted  two 


additions  to  the  city  of  Billings,  and  take  a lively 
interest  in  anything  that  will  develop  the  resources 
of  the  community.  Although  their  business  activities 
have  kept  them  extremely  busy,  they  have  found  time 
to  manifest  their  public  spirit  in  many  ways. 

Christian  Yegen  was  married  August  27,  1893,  to 
Miss  Laura  B.  Clark,  daughter  of  W.  R.  Clark,  for- 
rnerly  of  Bozeman,  Montana,  and  now  a resident  of 
Vancouver,  Washington.  Five  children  have  been  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yegen:  Laura,  Dora,  Mildred,  Vir- 
ginia and  Christian.  In  September,  1890,  Peter  Yegen 
was  married  to  Miss  Marguerite  Trepp,  a native  of 
Switzerland,  whose  parents  reside  in  Lewiston,  Mon- 
tana, and  they  have  had  three  children : David,  Peter 
and  Elizabeth. 

In  political  matters  the  brothers  are  Republicans.  In 
1892  Christian  Yegen  was  elected  alderman,  a position 
in  which  he  sensed  for  two  years,  and  later  he  was 
sent  to  the  lower  house  of  the  state  assembly.  In  1896 
he  was  elected  mayor  of  Billings,  and  in  1904  was  his 
fellow-townsmen’s  choice  for  the  office  of  state  sena- 
tor. In  all  his  official  capacities  he  has  displayed  fine 
ability  and  has  discharged  his  duties  with  the  same 
conscientious  thoroughness  that  was  such  an  important 
factor  in  building  up  his  private  interests.  At  present 
Mr.  Peter  Yegen  is  a member  of  the  library  board. 

As  business  men  the  Yegen  brothers  are  recognized 
as  possessing  the  utmost  ability,  push  and  energy,  and 
as  citizens  none  stand  any  better.  In  the  accomplish- 
ment of  building  up  their  present  vast  industry  they 
have  had  very  little  leisure  time,  and  today,  even,  they 
are  harder  workers  than  any  of  their  numerous  em- 
ployes, and  theic  success  in  life  is  largely  attributed  to 
the  close  personal  attention  they  have  always  given 
every  detail  in  their  business. 

Howarp  W.  Pierce.  An  authority  as  regards  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  mechanical,  manufacturing  and  com- 
mercial industries  of  our  country  has  recently  said  that 
the  future  history  of  the  automobile  industry  will  not 
differ  from  the  history  of  the  sale  and  manufacture  of 
other  commercial  articles  which  have  become  necessities 
in  the  every-day  life  of  the  nation;  that  farm  imple- 
ments, locomotives,  electric  motors,  typewriters  and 
sewing  machines  have  become  established  articles  of 
commerce,  and  that  the  automobile  has  in  the  same 
manner  become  a fixed  industry.  No  person  has  a 
greater  realization  of  the  wonderful  growth  of  this 
comparatively  new  industry  than  Howard  W.  Pierce, 
of  Butte,  who,  as  president  and  general  manager  of  the 
Silver  Bow  Automobile  Company,  is  now  carrying  on 
an  extensive  and  renumerative  business,  handling  the 
productions  of  three  of  the  leading  motor  companies 
of  the  United  States. 

Mr.  Pierce  is  a Montana  boy,  his  birth  having  oc- 
curred, January  6,  1882,  in  Wickes,  Jefferson  county. 
His  father,  William  H.  Pierce,  was  born  in  Iowa,  of 
English  ancestry.  Coming  to  Montana  in  1879,  he  was 
engaged  in  business  as  a lumber  manufacturer  and 
dealer,  in  Jefferson  county  until  1911,  when  he  settled 
on  a farm  in  Dowagiac,  Michigan.  He  married  Lil- 
lian Hubbell,  who  was  born  in  New  York  state,  of 
New  England  stock,  one  of  her  ancestors  having  crossed 
the  Atlantic  in  the  Mayflower,  landing  in  Plymouth, 
Massachusetts,  in  1620.  She  died  November  14,  1904, 
at  a comparatively  early  age.  Four  children  were  born 
of  their  union,  as  follows : Mrs.  E.  P.  Dawson,  of  Butte; 
Gertrude,  deceased;  Mrs.  George  Patterson,  of  Kala- 
mazoo, Michigan,  and  Howard  W.,  twins. 

Acquiring -his  early  knowledge  in  the  public  schools 
of  Boulder  and  Butte,  Mr.  Pierce  attended  the  Butte 
Business  College  and  School  of  Mines,  and  was  sub- 
sequently employed  in  mechanical  work  of  different 
kinds.  A man  of  decided  business  ability  and  acumen, 
he  organized,  in  1908,  the  Silver  Bow  Automobile  Com- 
pany, which  was  incorporated  in  March  of  that  year. 


1198 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


aiul  was  made  general  manager  of  its  establishment, 
which  was  located  at  the  corner  of  Montana  and  Mer- 
cury streets.  In  this  position,  j\lr.  Pierce  proved  him- 
self so  efficient  that  in  February,  1911,  he  was  elected 
president  and  general  manager  of  the  company.  On 
October  12,  19U,  the  company  moved  to  its  present 
advantageous  location  at  the  corner  of  Park  and  Idaho 
streets,  where  it  has  one  of  the  finest  automobile  estab- 
lishments  in  the  state.  Mr.  Pierce  has  here  built  up  an 
extensive  business,  occupying  hfteen  thousand  scpiare 
feet  of  floor  space,  and  as  a dealer  in  the  Pierce-Arrovy, 
Sievens-Duryea  and  Chalmers  machines,  controls  a busi- 
ness that  amounts  annually  to  nearly  a quarter  of  a 
million  dollars. 

In  politics  Air.  Pierce  is  Independent,  voting  for  the 
best  men  and  measures  regardless  of  party  affiliations. 
He  belongs  to  the  Alachinists’'  Union,  and  is  a member 
of  the  Silver  Bow  and  of  the  Country  clubs. 

On  June  14,  1905,  Air.  Pierce  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Louise  Gieser,  who  was  born  in  St.  Louis,  Aiis- 
souri,  a daughter  of  George  Gieser,  and  they  have  one 
child,  Afargaret  Pierce,  born  in  Butte,  February  28, 
1908. 

Kenneth  AIcLean.  Custer  county’s  citizenship 
compares  well  with  that  of  any  other  section  of  Aion- 
tana,  and  it  is  not  out  of  place  to  suggest  that  among 
the  leading  men  of  affairs  and  puDiic  consequence, 
there  are  not  a few  who  can  claim  Scotland  as  a birth- 
place. Kenneth  AIcLean,  who  twice  has  served  m the 
senate  of  this  state  and  is  one  of  the  leading  business 
men  of  Miles  City  and  interested  intelligently  in  a hun- 
dred ways  in  movements  for  public  betterment  here, 
was  twenty-three  years  of  age  w'hen  he  established  his 
home  at  Aiiles  City,  with  everything  to  learn  of  the 
American  people  and  American  ways.  He  was  born 
in  Rosshire,  Scotland,  December  25,  1859,  and  is  a son 
of  Alexander  and  Afargaret  (.Meixay)  McLean.  1 he 
mother  died  in  Scotland,  in  t8/3)  btit  the  father,  now 
in  Ins  seventy-sixth  year,  still  survives  and  continues 
his  interest  in  his  stock  farm.  Of  the  four  children  of 
the  family  two  yet  live,  Kenneth  and  James,  the  lat- 
ter being  still  a resident  of  Scotland. 

Kenneth  McLean  was  well  instructed  m the  schools 
near  Ins  father's  farm  and  afterward  gained  a thor- 
ough knowledge  of  the  stock  business  on  the  old  home- 
stead. He  remained  there  until  1881,  when  the  oppor- 
tunity was  offered  him  of  taking  charge  of  a stock 
farm  for  a company  in  Nebraska,  which  he  accepted 
and  ever  since  has  been  interested  to  some  degree  in 
stock  and  cattle  raising.  In  1882  he  came  to  Alontana, 
and  now  owns  a ranch  of  23,000  acres,  situated  on 
O’Fallon  creek,  in  Glister  county,  together  with  a rarich 
of  680  acres  lying  in  the  Yellowstone  valley,  nine 
miles  east  of  Aiiles  City.  This  property  has  been  im- 
proved and  irrigated  and  is  very  valuable.  For  a 
number  of  years  Air.  AIcLean  gave  attention  to  sheep 
growing  in  particular  and  later  was  interested  still 
more  extensively  in  Hambletonian  horses  and  fine  cat- 
tle, but  in  later  years  has  restricted  his  stock  activi- 
ties to  some  extent.  His  attention  is  largely  de- 
manded by  other  important  business  interests.  In 
1908,  in  association  with  others,  he  bought  the  W.  B. 
Jordan  & Sons,  general  merchants,  stock  and  good 
will.  It  is  one  of  the  old  business  concerns  of  Miles 
City,  having  been  established  in  1879.  The  new  com- 
pany incorporated  it  in  igo8,  the  old  firm  name  being 
retained  and  Air.  AIcLean  became  vice-president  of  the 
reorganized  company.  He  is  president  also  of  the 
Aiiles  City  Independent  Publishing  Company,  which 
issues  two  newspapers,  the  Miles  City  Independent 
Weekly  and  the  Miles  City  Star,  a daily  journal.  He 
is  on  the  directing  board  of  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Miles  City. 

Mr.  AIcLean  is  one  of  the  active  Republicans  of 
Custer  county  and  in  1901  he  was  elected  a member  of 


the  state  senate  with  a gratifying  majority,  and  ap- 
proval of  his  course  as  a statesman  was  shown  in  his 
re-election  in  1905.  During  these  two  terms  at  Helena 
he  proved  useful  to  his  constituents  and  section  and 
with  honesty  and  efficiency  served  on  many  important 
committees. 

On  April  28,  1886,  Air.  AIcLean  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Anna  McKenzie,  who  was  born  in 
Minnesota,  a daughter  of  John  G.  and  Rose  (McFar- 
land) AIcKenzie.  The  mother  of  Mrs.  AIcLean  died 
in  the  latter’s  childhood,  and  the  father  spent  his  last 
years  with  Air.  and  Airs.  AIcLean,  his  death  occurring 
in  his  eighty-seventh  year.  For  more  than  forty  years 
he  had  been  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  in  Minne- 
sota. Air.  and  Airs.  AIcLean  have  had  four  children : 
Alargaret  Rose,  who  is  the  wife  of  Charles  E.  Brown; 
Ina  Alabel ; Wallace  Bruce,  who  is  manager  of  the 
Aiiles  City  Independent  Publishing  Companv;  and 
Kenneth  Miles,  who  died  at  the  age  of  three  years. 
The  family  residence  is  a handsome  structure  which 
Air.  AIcLean  purchased  in  1900.  The  family  belongs 
to  the  Presbyterian  church.  Airs.  AIcLean  is  a woman 
of  culture  and  is  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  Carnegie 
Public  Library  at  Aiiles  City.  In  his  fraternal  fela- 
tions  Air.  AIcLean  is  identified  with  the  Free-masons 
of  Aiiles  City  and  with  Miles  City  lodge  of  Elks,  and 
belongs  also  to  the  Red  Cross  Society. 


William  E.  Albright,  the  popular  county  assessor 
of  Granite  county,  Alontana,  has  won  an  unusual  dis- 
tinction to  himself  by  reason  of  his  second  election 
to  the  office  he  now  holds,  he  being  the  only  man 
ever  selected  to  the  office  more  than  once.  The  fact 
speaks  most  eloquently  of  his  popularity,  his  ability, 
and  the  even  justice  with  which  he  has  discharged 
the  duties  of  his  office. 

A resident  of  Alontana  since  1882,  Mr.  Albright  was 
born  in  Clay  county,  Missouri,  on  September  2,  1859. 
He  is  the  son  of  Rev.  William  H.  Albright  and  his  wife. 
Alary  J.  (Luke)  Albright.  The  father  was  born  in 
North  Carolina,  later  making  his  home  in  Alissouri. 
He  was  a Methodist  minister  for  more  than  forty  years, 
but  in  his  later  life  affiliated  with  the  Presbyterian 
church.  He  died  in  1904  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years. 
His  wife  died  in  1865  when  she  was  but  thirty-two  years 
old.  Four  children  were  born  to  them,  William  E. 
of  this  review  being  the  second. 

As  a boy,  William  E.  Albright  attended  the  common 
schools  of  his  home  town  in  Missouri,  later  taking  a 
special  high  school  course,  after  which  he  entered  Wil- 
liam Jewell  College  at  Liberty,  Alissouri,  and  com- 
pleted a course  of  study  there.  In  1882,  when  he  was 
twenty-three  years  old  Mr.  Albright  came  to  Montana, 
and  he  has  been  true  to  the  great  Treasure  state  of  the 
union  since  his  first  sight  of  it.  He  first  settled  in  the 
Flint  valley,  where  he  followed  ranching  for  nearly 
twenty  years.  During  that  time,  as  now,  he  was  in- 
terested in  a financial  way  in  mining  ventures  and  has 
done  some  extensive  operating,  acquiring  some  valu- 
able properties  in  various  parts  of  the  state.  In  1900 
Mr.  Albright  sold  out  his  ranch  interests  and  has  since 
that  time  conducted  his  mining  operations  in  connec- 
tion with  his  public  duties. 

Mr.  Albright  is  a stanch  Democrat  and  most  active 
in  the  political  interests  of  the  city  and  county.  He 
is.  now  serving  his  second  term  as  county  assessor  of 
Granite  county,  as  mentioned  in  a previous  paragraph, 
and  his  services  in  the  office  have  been  of  a most  grati- 
fying nature  to  all  concerned.  He  has  been  a mernber 
of  the  county  school  board,  in  which  office  he  acquitted 
himself  most  creditably.  . , 00  .. 

Air.  Albright  was  married  November  25,  1885.  to 
Mies  Sallie  Walker,  the  daughter  of  Rev.  and  Mrs. 
David  Walker,  one-time  residents  of  Missouri.  Rev. 
Walker  was  the  first  Protestant  clergyman  to  preach 
a sermon  in  Anaconda.  He  was  a prominent  Mason. 


HISTORY  OF  .AIOXTAXA 


1199 


His  death  occurred  in  California,  when  he  was  eighty- 
four  years  of  age.  His  wife,  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Al- 
bright, was  Ellen  Morrow.  They  were  married  in 
Missouri,  and  there  she  passed  away  in  her  young 
womanhood,  her  death  occurring  when  she  was  but 
twenty-nine  years  old.  Mrs.  Albright  is  a devoted 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  is  leader  of 
the  choir  in  that  church.  She  is  especially  fond  of 
music,  and  is  something  of  a student.  The  Albrights 
have  a fine  library,  which  is  the  source  of  much  pleas- 
ure to  the  family.  One  daughter,  Alta  Morrow,  shares 
their  home  with  them.  She  is  organist  in  the  church 
which  th"-'  family  attend,  having  pursued  a partial 
course  i.i  the  musical  department  of  the  Lindenwood 
(Mo.)  College. 

Ir.\  I..  Whitney.  Yellowstone  county  has  been  sin- 
gularly fortunate  in  securing  for  its  administrative 
■officers  men  who  have  made  their  private  interests  sub- 
servient to  those  of  the  peoole,  who  have  regarded 
their  public  office  as  a sacred  trust,  and  whose  best 
energies  at  all  times  have  been  devoted  to  the  county's 
welfare.  That  this  has  been  the  high  aim  of  the  present 
able  and  conscientious  county  treasurer,  Ira  L.  Whit- 
ney, of  Billings,  is  testified  to  by  the  fact  that  he  has 
been  regularly  returned  to  his  important  office  since 
1908,  and  the  universal  respect  and  esteem  in  which  he 
is  held  by  his  fellow-citizens  demonstrate  that  he  has 
been  successful  in  his  endeavor.  Mr.  Whitney  was 
born  in  Cheyenne,  Wyoming,  May  20,  1871,  and  is  a 
son  of  Frank  S.  and  Margaret  Orilla  (Karns)  Whit- 
ney. 

Frank  S.  Whitney  was  born  in  Pittsfield,  Lorain 
county,  Ohio,  January  17,  1845,  and  when  he  was 
twelve  years  of  age  was  taken  by  his  parents  to  Mount 
Pleasant,  Iowa.  There  he  received  a public  school  and 
collegiate  education,  and  wf.“n  he  was  but  eighteen 
years  of  age  enlisted,  in  May,  1863,  in  Company  A, 
Forty-fifth  Regiment,  Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry,  with 
which  he  served  until  securing  his  honorable  discharge. 
During  a part  of  his  service  Mr.  Whitney’s  company 
was  detailed  for  guard  duty,  and  it  was  during  this 
time  that  he  achieved  special  distinction.  A number  of 
men  had  been  shot  at  a certain  point  and  the  sharp- 
shooter still  remained  uncaught,  the  consequence  being 
that  the  men  were  unwilling  to  stand  guard  at  that 
particular  point.  Finally  lots  were  drawn,  and  it  fell 
to  Mr.  Whitney  to  take  up  his  post  at  the  spot  where 
a number  of  his  comrades  had  been  killed.  First 
■carefully  looking  over  the  ground,  he  decided  that  the 
Confederate  soldier  was  probably  doing  his  shooting 
from  a near-by  tree,  and  accordingly  hid  in  the  bushes, 
from  whence  he  saw  the  sharpshooter  climb  the  tree 
and  secrete  himself  in  the  branches.  Waiting  until 
morning,  Mr.  Whitney  covered  him  with  his  gun  and 
took  him  prisoner.  For  this  skilled  bit  of  work,  to 
Mr.  Whitney  was  later  sent  a letter  of  commendation 
by  President  Lincoln.  When  he  had  secured  his  hon- 
orable discharge  he  returned  to  his  Iowa  home,  but  in 
1866  removed  to  Leavenworth,  Kansas,  and  was  en- 
gaged by  a freighting  company  which  was  shipping 
goods  overland  by  ox-teams  to  Virginia  City,  Mon- 
tana. On  arriving  at  this  place  he  was  for  a short  time 
engaged  in  mining  in  Alder  Gulch,  and  in  the  fall 
of  1867  removed  to  Cheyenne,  Wyoming,  where  for 
about  one  and  one-half  years  he  was  employed  as  a 
clerk.  Subsequentlv  he  entered  the  draying  business 
on  his  own  account,  to  which  he  later  added  the  coal 
business,  and  on  May  29,  1870,  was  married  in  that 
city.  During  the  fall  of  1871  he  added  to  his  business 
a sales  and  feed  stable,  and  in  the  summer  of  1874 
engaged  in  freighting  between  Cheyenne  and  Dead- 
wood,  South  Dakota,  and  continued  that  business  for 
twenty  years.  In  the  meantime,  in  August,  1882,  he 
came  to  Miles  City,  Montana,  and  later  removed  to 
Coul5on,  near  the  present  site  of  Billings,  continuing 


the  freighting  business  ahead  of  the  Northern  Pacific 
until  he  reached  Bozeman.  Then  he  retraced  his  steps, 
stopping  at  Junction,  just  across  the  river  from  the 
present  town  of  Custer,  where  he  continued  the 
freighting  business  between  that  point  and  Forts  Mc- 
Ginnis and  Custer  and  various  points  in  Wyoming. 
In  1891  he  sold  his  oxen  and  wagons  and  retired  from 
the  freighting  business,  at  that  time  having  his  resi- 
dence at  what  was  known  as  Junction,  During  i'884 
and  1885  he  had  the  Sfovernment  contract  to  furnish 
beef  to  Fort  Custer,  his  forwarding  house  being  at 
Custer.  Air.  Whitney  came  to  Billings  in  1895,  after 
spending  about  one  year  in  California,  in  an  effort  to 
recuperate  his  health.  He  was  always  an  active  Re- 
publican and  as  early  as  1874  served  as  city  marshal 
of  Cheyenne.  In  1873  and  1S74  he  was  a member  of 
the  Wyoming  territorial  legislature,  acted  as  a mem- 
ber of  the  last  territorial  legislature  of  Montana, 
served  as  county  commissioner  of  Yellowstone  countv 
for  four  years,  and  during  1895-6  was  county  as-sessor, 
and  after  his  death,  on  March  i8th  of  the  latter  year, 
his  son,  Ira  L.,  completed  his  unexpired  term.  While 
in  Cheyenne,  Mr.  Whitney  was  made  a Mason,  belong- 
ing to  the  blue  lodge.  Chapter  and  Commandery,  be- 
ing secretary  of  all  these  bodies,  and  on  coming  to  Bil- 
lings transferred  his  membership  to  these  organiza- 
tions here.  He  was  a popular  comrade  of  McKinley 
Post,  No.  29,  G.  A.  R.,  and  had  numerous  friends 
throughout  the  city.  Mr.  Whitney  was  married  May 
29,  1870,  in  Cheyenne,  to  Miss  Alargaret  Orilla  Karns, 
who  was  born  in  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  Januari'  3,  1850, 
and  she  still  survives  him  and  is  a well-known  member 
of  the  Congregational  church.  Four  children  were 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whitney,  namely : Ira  L. ; 

Alartha  E.,  who  died  in  infancy : Charles  A.,  who  died 
August  12,  1905.  when  twenty-eight  years  of  age ; and 
Orilla  Karns,  who  married  Winford  Grilling  and  lives 
in  Billings. 

Ira  L.  Whitney  was  educated  at  Fort  Pierre,  North 
Dakota,  in  Yellowstone  county,  Montana,  and  at  Po- 
mona College,  Claremont,  San  Bernardino  county, 
California.  From  1884  to  1900  he  was  engaged  in  the 
cattle  business  with  his  brother  Charles,  having  come 
to  Billings  in  1895.  In  the  year  following  his  advent 
here  he  was  called  upon  to  fill  the  office  made  vacant  by 
his  father’s  death,  and  he  subsequently  became  deputy 
comity  clerk  under  J.  W.  Fish.  In  1906  he  received  the 
election  to  the  office  of  county  clerk,  and  as  such 
served  one  term.  He  was  first  elected  county  treas- 
urer in  the  fall  of  1908  and  again  was  his  party’s 
choice  in  1910.  He  has  also  served  as  a member  of 
the  Billings  school  board  for  eleven  years,  and  is  con- 
sidered one  of  the  most  influential  Republicans  in  the 
city.  Air.  Whitney  has  also  interested  himself  in  fra- 
ternal work,  and  belongs  to  Ashlar  Lodge,  No.  29,  A. 
F.  & A.  AI. ; Billings  Chapter  No.  6,  R.  A.  M. ; Aide- 
mar  Commandery  No.  5,  K.  T.,  and  Algeria ' Temple, 
A.  A.  O.  N.  AI.  S..  Helena,  and  at  the  present  time  is 
exalted  ruler  of  Billings  Lodge,  No.  394,  B.  P.  O.  E. 

On  February  10,  1902,  Air  Whitney  was  married  to 
Aliss  Harriet  C Stebbins,  who  was  born  in  Peter- 
sham, Alassachusetts,  daughter  of  Roland  and  Flor- 
ence (Barney)  Stebbins,  both  of  whom  died  in  1902 
in  Billings.  Air.  Stebbins  was  born  at  Deerfield,  Mas- 
sachusetts, where  he  followed  farming,  and  can  e to 
Billings  in  1890.  He  attended  the  Congregational  church, 
was  a Republican  in  political  matters,  and  was  affiliated 
fraternally  with  the  Woodmen  of  the  World.  He  and 
his  wife,  also  a native  of  Deerfield,  had  three  daughters, 
namely:  Harriet  C.,  who  married  Air.  Whitney;  Ellen, 
the  wife  of  Lloyd  Lipp,  of  Billings ; and  Alabel,  who 
married  Charles  Avery  and  lives  in  Seattle,  Washing- 
ton. Mr.  and  Airs.  Whitney  have  one  daughter,  Flor- 
ence Orilla.  The  family  home  is  at  No.  919  North 
Thirtieth  street,  where  the  numerous  friends  of  Mr. 
and  Airs.  Whitney  meet  with  true  western  hospitrlity. 


1-200 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


Mr.  Whitney  is  a man  eminently  fitted  for  the  high 
office  he  holds.  Thoroughly  conscientious  in  all  that 
he  undertakes,  he  is  conducting  the  county  treasury 
in  a manner  that  meets  with  the  full  approval  of  the 
people  of  Yellowstone  county  and  assures  them  of  an 
economical  administration.  .His  record  is  above  re- 
proach, and  he  holds  a prominent  place  among  the  men 
who  are  making  this  section  of  the  country  set  an  ex- 
ample for  others  to  follow. 

Joseph  C.  Auu).  Tracing  his  ancestry  back  through 
Revolutionary  soldiers  and  early  settlers  of  the  Ameri- 
can colonies  to  residents  of  Ecclefechan,  county  Dum- 
fries, Scotland,  the  historic  home  of  Robert  Burns, 
Joseph  C.  Auld,  receiver  of  the  United  States  land 
office  at  Miles  City,  Montana,  presents  in  his  character 
the  sturdy,  thrifty  traits  of  the  sons  of  Scotia,  and  the 
enterprise,  reliability  and  fidelity  to  duty  that  have 
made  members  of  his  family  desirable  officials  of  the 
United  States  both  in  times  of  war  and  peace.  Dur- 
ing a long  and  active  career  he  has  held  positions 
of  prominence  in  public  and  civil  life,  and  has  so  con- 
ducted his  affairs  as  to  win  and  maintain  the  entire  con- 
fidence of  the  people  of  whatever  community  in  which 
his  activities  have  been  prosecuted.  Mr.  Auld  is  a 
native  of  Boothby  Harbor,  Maine,  whence  his  ances- 
tors on  Ixtth  sides  came  as  early  as  the  seventeenth 
century,  his  father’s  people  from  Scotland,  and  his 
mother’s  family  being  of  Scotch-Irish  extraction.  He 
was  born  September  i6,  1856,  and  is  a son  of  John  and 
Mary  A.  (Holton)  Auld,  both  natives  of  Boothby 
Harbor. 

John  Auld  was  born  in  1806,  and  in  early  life  be- 
came a seafaring  man,  for  a number  of  years  being 
captain  of  vessels  sailing  the  Atlantic  coast.  Later 
he  was  lighthouse  keeper  of  Burnt  Island  Light  No. 
8,  but  in  his  declining  years  retired  from  active  pur- 
suits and  spent  his  last  days  among  his  neighbors  at 
Boothby  Harbor,  death  occurring  in  1872.  He  was  a 
deacon  in  the  Congregational  church,  and  was  first  a 
Whig  and  later  a Republican  in  politics.  Mrs.  Auld 
was  born  in  1816  and  survived  her  husband  until  1909, 
having  been  the  mother  of  eleven  children,  of  whom 
three  died  in  infancy,  while  five  still  survive;  Delia, 
the  wife  of  Charles  P.  Gilbert,  living  at  Greenfield, 
Iowa;  Sarah,  the  widow  of  Freeman  Hodgdon,  of 
Boothby  Harbor,  Maine;  Mary  E.,  the  wife  of  Arthur 
L.  Hayden,  of  Melrose,  Massachusetts ; Harriet  W., 
wife  of  James  B.  Austin,  of  Fitchburg,  Massachusetts; 
and  Joseph  C. 

Even  in  his  early  years  Joseph  C.  Auld  displayed 
those  characteristics  of  ambition  and  energy  which 
were  to  feature  his  whole  life,  and  as  soon  as  he  had 
completed  his  educational  training  in  the  public  schools 
of  Boothby  Harbor,  went  to  Boston  and  secured  a 
position  as  clerk  with  a wholesale  boot  and  shoe  ffrm 
and  was  subsequently  employed  in  a wholesale  dry 
goods  establishment.  In  1878  he  removed  to  Green- 
field, Iowa,  near  which  city  he  spent  the  next  three 
years  on  a farm,  and  in  the  spring  of  1882  came  to 
Glendive,'  Montana,  to  engage  in  work  on  a cattle 
ranch.  At  the  end  of  that  period  he  homesteaded  a 
ranch  of  160  acres  in  Dawson  county,  but  after  con- 
tinuing thereon  for  three  years  returned  to  Glendive 
and  engaged  in  a general  merchandise  business  with 
Douglas  & Mead.  In  1886  he  was  elected  county  treas- 
urer of  Dawson  county,  and  was  twice  re-elected, 
serving  six  years  in  this  responisble  office,  and  in  1887 
purchased  a drug  business,  which  he  operated  while 
continuing  in  public  office.  He  then  engaged  in  ranch- 
ing up  to  1897,  in  the  meantime,  in  1894,  being  elected 
to  represent  his  county  in  the  Fourth  general  assembly 
of  the  state  legislature  and  in  1896  receiving  the  elec- 
tion to  the  office  of  state  senator.  He  resigned  from 
the  latter  office_  in  1897  when  he  was  appointed  a mem- 
ber of  the  United  States  mineral  land  commission,  to 


examine  lands  within  the  bounds  of  the  Northern 
Pacific  Railroad  land  grant,  and  after  continuing  in 
that  capacity  four  years  embarked  in  the  coal  business 
in  Helena.  After  two  years  spent  in  this  enterprise, 
Mr.  Auld  removed  to  Forsyth  and  became  cashier  of 
the  Forsyth  State  Bank,  and  in  December,  1903,  was 
appointed  to  his  present  official  position  in  Miles  Cit}', 
which  he  has  held  continuously.  His  support  has  al- 
ways been  given  to  the  Republican  party,  and  he  is 
known  as  an  active  and  influential  worker  for  its  can- 
didates. Pie  is  entitled  to  and  maintains  membership 
in  the  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution,  and  with  his 
family  attends  the  Presbyterian  church. 

On  August  20,  1886,  Mr.  Auld  was  married  to  Miss 
Lillian  A.  Chapin,  who  was  born  in  Louisville,  Ken- 
tuckiq  daughter  of  Joshua  L.  and  Fannie  (Low)  Chap- 
in, natives  of  Massachusetts,  both  of  whom  are  de- 
ceased. Mr.  Chapin  served  his  country  as  a soldier 
in  a Massachusetts  regiment  during  the  Civil  war, 
after  which  he  spent  some  years  in  Illinois  and  Ken- 
tucky, but  later  returned  to  Massachusetts,  and  there, 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  active  years  in  a gen- 
eral merchandise  business.  He  was  a stanch  Republi- 
can and  a well-known  comrade  of  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Auld  have  one  child,  their 
son,  John  Phillip. 

JuSTiSE  L.  Wilson.  One  of  those  who  has  seen  the 
gradual  disappearance  of  the  range  before  the  en- 
croaching agriculturists,  and  who  from  his  boyhood 
days  and  through  four  states  has  been  compelled  to 
seek  new  fields  for  the  -grazing  of  his  cattle  and  sheep, 
constantly  traveling  westward  until  he  has  come  to 
the  realization  that  the  days  of  the  range  have  passed, 
is  Justise  L.  Wilson,  the  owner  of  an  excellent  ranch 
situated  about  ninety  miles  from  Miles  City,  in  Custer 
county.  Mr.  Wilson  is  a product  of  the  farm,  having 
been  born  on  the  old  homestead  situated  near  Fort 
Wayne,  Allen  county,  Indiana,  November  22,  i860,  a 
son  of  John  T.  and  Hannah  D.  (Jones)  Wilson. 

John  T.  Wilson  was  born  at  Findlay,  Hancock  count}', 
Ohio,  and  as  a young  man  becafne  a pioneer  farmer 
and  stock  raiser  of  Allen  county,  Indiana.  During 
the  early  ’sixties  he  drove  his  stock  overland  to 
Marshall  county,  Iowa,  and  settled  on  a farm  near 
Legrand,  where  his  death  occurred  in  1865.  He  and 
his  wife,  who  survived  him -some  years  and  lived  to 
reach  the  age  of  sixty-five,  had  a family  of  twelve 
children,  of  whom  ten  lived  to  maturity,  wffile  eight 
still  survive,  and  three  of  their  sons,  Charles,  John  and 
Jacob,  served  as  soldiers  in  an  Indiana  regiment  during 
the  Civil  war.  In  political  matters  Mr.  Wilson  was 
originally  a Whig,  but  subsequently  transferred  his 
allegiance  to  the  Republican  party. 

After  the  death  of  her  husband,  Mrs.  Wilson  con- 
tinued t(»i  work  the  homestead  with  her  children,  bravely 
endeavoring  to  keep  the  family  together.  The  early 
education  of  Justise  L.  Wilson  was  secured  in  the 
public  schools  of  Legrand,  Iowa,  and  when  the  family 
moved  to  near  Hastings,  Nebraska,  in  1879,  he  con- 
tinued his  studies  there.  After  his  marriage,  in  Janu- 
ary, 1882,  when  just  past  his  twenty-first  year,  he  trav- 
eled overland  to  the  Powder  river,  in  Custer  county. 
Montana,  with  his  wife,  his  sole  possessions  at  that 
time  being  a span  of  mules  and  two  young  colts.  En- 
gaging in  the  cattle,  sheep  and  horse  business,  so  well 
has  he  conducted  his  operations  that  he  is  the  owner 
of  5,000  acres  of  good  land,  and  running  40,000  head 
of  sheep,  in  addition  to  cattle  and  horses.  In  Illinois, 
Iowa,  Nebraska  and  Montana  Mr.  Wilson  has  gradu- 
ally been  forced  to  move  before  the  approach  of  the 
farmers,  whose  insistent  demand  for  land  has  put 
an  end  to  the  halcyon  days  of  the  open  range.  He  has 
been  more  than  ordinarily  successful  in  his  operations, 
and  for  honorable  and  upright  dealing  has  always 
been  noted,  while  as  a good  citizen  no  man  has  sus- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1201 


tained  a higher  character.  With  no  means  at  the  out- 
set, nothing  save  industry,  sound  judgment,  perse- 
verance, sobriety  and  economy,  he  has  made  a happy 
success  of  life,  and  may  with  all  truth  be  named  as 
the  architect  of  his  own  fortune.  He  has  headquarters 
in  the  First  National  Bank  building,  Miles  City,  where 
he  has  many  friends,  drawn  about  him  by  the  same  kind 
and  genial  spirit,  the  same  accessibility  to  all  classes, 
which  marked  his  former  years.  In  political  matters  he 
has  always  been  independent.  But  at  the  convention 
held  at  Miles  City  by  the  national  Progressive  party 
August  24,  1912,  they  nominated  him  as  their  candi- 
date for  state  senator.  Fraternally  he  is  con- 
nected with  Custer  Lodge,  No.  13,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  Miles 
City,  and  Miles  City  Lodge,  No.  537,  B.  P.  O.  E. 

On  January  29,  1882,  Mr.  Wilson  was  married  at  the 
farm  of  his  bride’s  father  near  Hastings,  Nebraska,  to 
Miss  Margaret  Duncan,  a native  of  Savannah,  Illinois, 
and  the  eighteen-year-old  daughter  of  Patrick  Duncan. 
The  latter,  a native  of  Ireland,  came  to  the  United 
States  as  a young  man,  and  first  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  Illinois,  but  in  1879  settled  near  Hastings, 
Nebraska,  where  he  was  identified  with  agricultural 
matters  until  his  death,  at  the  age  of  ninety  years.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Wilson  have  four  children : Ernest  Lee, 
William  R.,  Julinalta  and  Helen.  The  sons  are  engaged 
in  business  with  their  father  and  reside  on  the  ranch, 
while  Mrs.  Wilson  and  her  daughters  spend  the  school 
seasons  in  Denver,  Colorado,  in  which  city  the  young 
l'.,dies  are  being  given  exceptional  educational  advan- 
tages. 

William  E.  Savage.'  Since  the  days  of  the  Vigil- 
antes, when  Montana  was  so  overrun  with  the  lawless 
element  among  the  miners  and  adventurers  that  the 
administration  of  justice  in  the  hands  of  the  consti- 
tuted authorities  became  but  a travesty,  William  E. 
Savage,  a member  of  that  famous  organization  which 
cleared  the  country  of  thieves  and  murderers,  has  always 
so  ordered  his  life  as  to  be  a credit  to  his  community 
and  a friend  of  law  and  order.  As  a business  man  he 
has  carried  on  extensive  operations  in  Miles  City  for 
more  than  thirty  years,  and  in  public  affairs  has  served 
efficiently  in  various  official  capacities,  gaining  and  re- 
taining the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  community  in 
a marked  degree.  Mr.  Savage  was  born  September  8, 
1858,  in  Hennepin  county,  Minnesota,  and  is  a son  of 
Charles  W.  and  Fannie  (Blowers)  Savage. 

Charles  W.  Savage  was  born  near  the  city  of  Syra- 
cuse, New  York,  in  1833,  and  was  a son  of  Aaron 
and  Caroline  (Whitford)  Savage,  the  former  born  in 
Rochester,  New  York,  and  the  latter  in  Vermont,  of 
English  ancestry.  Aaron  Savage  was  a shoemaker, 
and  serv'ed  with  distinction  in  the  American  army  dur- 
ing the  Mexican  war.  Charles  W.  Savage  received 
his.  education  in  the  common  schools,  and  was  a lad, 
in  1839,  when  the  family  moved  to  Michigan,  in  which 
state  he  grew  to  manhood  as  a farmer.  In  1855  he 
went  to  Minnesota,  locating  land  and  engaging  in  farm- 
ing in  Hennepin  county,  twelve  miles  from  Minne- 
■apolis.  In  April,  1861,  at  the  first  call  for  troops,  he 
enlisted  in  the  First  Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry, 
under  Capt.  William  Harmon,  and  with  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac  served  in  twenty-eight  battles.  Just 
after  hS  promotion  to  corporal,  at  the  battle  of  Fred- 
ericksburg, he  was  wounded,  a shot  carrying  away  part 
of  his  foot,  and  this  incapacitated  him  for  further  duty 
and  he  received  his  honorable  discharge.  Returning 
to  Minneapolis,  he  engaged  in  a mercantile  business 
until  1872,  when  he  was  employed  in  a clerical  capacity 
by  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad,  Moorhead  depart- 
ment, remaining  therewith  until  the  road  was  com- 
pleted to  Bismarck.  Later  he  had  full  charge  of  their 
business.  _ In  1874  he  was  thus  employed  during  the 
construction  of  the  Minnesota  and  Dakota  division. 
In  1876  he  came  to  Montana,  during  the  construction 
of  Fort  Keogh,  where  he  was  employed  in  clerical 


work  for  Capt.  A.  R.  Ninnenger,  and  later  the  two 
were  engaged  in  business  together  in  Miles  City  until 
1883.  Mr.  Savage  was  elected  the  first  treasurer  of 
Custer  county  in  1878,  and  was  re-elected  in  1880.  He 
was  the  first  post-master  of  Miles  City,  the  first  town 
of  that  name,  before  the  present  IMiles  City  was  moved 
to  its  present  site,  being  appointed  to  that  office  by 
President  Hayes,  and  in  1884  was  elected  sheriff  and 
served  two  years.  He  then  moved  to  Livingston  and 
engaged  in  the  drug  business,  subsequently  conducted 
the  Hotel  Albemarle  four  years,  and  then,  returning 
to  Miles  City,  took  charge  of  the  Hotel  McQueen.  For 
four  years  he  had  charge  of  the  Hunter  Springs  Hotel, 
but  subsequently  took  over  the  management  of  the 
Leighton  Hotel,  and  his  death  occurred  soon  after 
giving  up  this  last  hostelry,  September  8,  1905.  A 
stanch  Republican,  he  was  sent  to  represent  his  • dis- 
trict in  the  territorial  legislature.  Fraternally  he  was 
connected  with  the  blue  lodge,  chapter  and  com- 
mandery  of  Masonry  at  Glendive,  being  a charter 
member  thereof,  and  also  was  associated  with  the 
Algeria  Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.,  at  Helena,  serving 
as  junior  and  senior  warden.  He  was  a charter  mem- 
ber also  of  the  Miles  City  lodges  of  the  Odd  Fellows, 
the  Elks  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  In  1853  Mr. 
Savage  was  married  to  Miss  Fannie  Blowers,  a native 
of  Michigan,  daughter  of  Hiram  and  Polly  (Cooley) 
Blowers,  natives  of  Vermont,  and  she  died  in  1863, 
having  been  the  mother  of  three  sons  and  a daughter, 
of  whom  two  sons  survive : William  E.  and  Geor’ge 
W.,  the  latter  living  at  Sheridan,  Wyoming.  For  his 
second  wife  Mr.  Savage  married  Miss  Ida  Brown, 
who  died  without  issue,  and  his  third  wife,  Mary  E. 
Cafey,  is  now  living  in  Colorado. 

William  E.  Savage  secured  his  education  in  Hennepin 
county,  and  Moorhead,  ^Minnesota,  and  in  April,  1882, 
located  in  Miles  City,  iMontana  and  engaged  in  busi- 
ness with  Dr.  R.  G.  Redd.  This  association  continued 
until  the  fall  of  1889,  at  which  time  Mr.  Savage  pur- 
chased his  partner's  interest,  and  he  has  since  con- 
ducted the  establishment  alone.  He  carries  a large 
and  complete  stock  of  all  kinds  of  drugs,  and  his  busi- 
ness is  conducted  in  an  able  and  successful  manner. 
Mr.  Savage  was  elected  in  1889  the  first  county  treas- 
urer of  Custer  county  after  ?^Iontana  became  a state, 
taking  the  office  in  1890,  and  he  served  in  that  capacity 
for  five  years,  giving  complete  satisfaction  to  his  fel- 
low citizens.  In  1901  he  was  elected  sheriff  of  the 
county,  a position  for  which  he  was  peculiarly  fitted 
on  account  of  his  e.xperience  as  a member  of  the 
famous  A'igilantes,  was  re-elected  in  1903,  1905  and 
1907,  and  during  his  four  terms  of  office  thoroughly 
maintained  order  in  his  community  and  proved  one 
-of  the  most  popular  officers  the  county  has  known. 
Fraternally  Mr.  Savage  is  connected  with  Lodge  No. 
26,  A.  F.  & A.  jM.,  of  which  he  acted  as  treasurer  for 
twelve  yeaVs,  and  is  the  oldest  member  of  this  lodge 
living  in  IMiles  City;  Crusader  Lodge,  No.  7,  Knights 
of  Pythias;  and  IMiles  City  Lodge  No.  537,  B.  P.  O.  E., 
of  which  he  has  acted  as  treasurer.  As  did  also  his, 
father,  he  gives  his  allegiance  to  the  candidates  and 
principles  of  the  Republican  party,  and  is  known  as 
one  of  that  organization's  most  influential  workers  in 
this  part  of  the  state. 

On  September  8,  1881,  in  Bismarck,  North  Dakota. 
Mr.  Savage  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Lizzie  0. 
Sweet,  who  was  born  in  Becker  county,  Minnesota, 
and  died  November  5,  1909.  She  was  the  daughter  'of 
George  W.  Sweet,  a prominent  attorney  of  Hennepin 
county,  Minnesota,  who  acted  as  counsel  for  the  North- 
ern Pacific  Railroad.  He  died  in  Havre,  Montana. 
Four  children  were  born  to  Air.  and  Mrs.  Savage, 
namely:  Fannie  Estelle,  who  is  a graduate  of  the 

Minnesota  State  Normal  school,  and  now  the  wife  of 
Frank  Williams,  of  Deer  Lodge,  Alontana;  Lucille,  a 
graduate  of  the  St.  Cloud  Business  College,  Minne- 
sota ; Percy  W.,  a graduate  in  pharmacy  from  North- 


1202 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA' 


.west'  rn  University,  Chicago,  and  now  in  business  with 
liis  father;  and  Eugene  W.,  who  is  a student  in  the 
.Miles  City  high  school. 

William  Wilson  Hakper,  postmaster  and  leading 
business  man  of  .A.naconda,  presents  in  his  frank  and 
jovial  personality  an  example  of  triumphing  over  dif¥i- 
cultj',  not  once  l.uit  many  times.  When  he  arrived  in 
.Anaconda  to  become  a citizen  of  the  community  he 
was  without  means,  and  in  the  face  of  this  situation 
he  met  reverses  time  and  again.  His  pluck  and  perse- 
verance, however,  kept  him  battling  for  the  upper  hand, 
and  he  is  today  in  a secure  place,  enjoying  prosperity 
and  what  is  more  by  far  to  him,  the  friendship,  respect 
and  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens. 

Vinton,  Iowa,  was  the  original  home  of  Mr.  Harper, 
he  being  born  at  that  place  on  March  26,  1861,  Until 
sixteen  years  of  age  he  attended  the  country  schools 
of  the  neighborhood,  absorbing  such  lessons  in  “r^adin’, 
’ritin’,  and  ’rithmetic,”  as  the  meager  opportunities  of 
the  vicinity  afforded.  Then  he  remained  with  his  par- 
ents on  the  farm  until  he  attained  his  majority. 

When  his  twenty-first  birthday  anniversary  arrived  lie 
determined  to  seek  points  further  west,  and  therefore, 
came  to  Montana,  the  Deer  Lodge  Valley  being  his 
objective  point.  He  secured  a position  as  manager  for 
the  Spencer-Johnson  Ranch  Company,  and  remained 
with  them  for  si.x  years,  then  went  to  the  Big  Hole 
country  as  manager  for  N.  J.  Bielenberg’s  ranch.  This 
was  in  the  spring  of  1888,  and  he  remained  at  this  place 
until  the  fall  of  1890,  when  he  came  to  Anaconda,  to 
liecome  manager  for  the  Crystal  Ice  Company. 

He  next  worked  for  Walker  & Gills,  butchers,  for 
three  years,  then  leased  and  operated  the  Crystal  Ice 
Company’s  plants  for  two  years.  In  the  fall  of  1898 
he  purchased  the  entire  plant  and  other  equipment,  and 
he  conducted  this  personally  until  1905,  when  he  took 
as  his  partner  Mr.  A.  J.  Touchreherer  the  firm  being 
now  known  as  the  Anaconda  Ice  Company. 

Mr.  Harper  is  the  owner  of  a fine  ranch  of  160 
acres  near  Anaconda,  on  which  is  a splendid  body 
of  mountain  water,  from  which  most  of  the  ice  con- 
sumed in  Anaconda  is  taken.  He  has  a pleasant  home 
and  owns  considerable  city  realty. 

Although  Mr.  Harper  is  postmaster,  he  is  by  no 
means  a non-combatant  in  politics,  to  sit  secure  in  his 
position  while  the  other  fellow  endures  the  heat  and 
burden  of  the  fray.  He  loves  the  game  of  politics 
and  plays  it  with  a zest  that  is  inspiring.  He  works 
hard  and  openly  for  the  good  of  the  Republican  party, 
to  which  he  is  proud  to  own  allegiance.  That  means 
more  in  Anaconda  than  it  does  in  some  other  portions 
of  the  United  States.  An  incident  worthy  of  mention 
in  this  connection  was  in  the  fall  of  1896.  The  city  of 
Anaconda  could  boast  of  only  seventeen  men  who 
openly  favored  the  election  of  William  McKinley,  Mr. 
Harper  being  one  of  that  number.  He  wag  chairman 
of  the  city  central  committee,  and  they  worked  hard 
for  the  Republican  candidate,  with  the  result  that  out 
of  a population  of  10,000,  Mr.  McKinley  received  fifty- 
two  votes.  Mr.  Harper  was  always  a staunch  friend 
and  admirer  of  Colonel  Wilbur  F.  Sanders. 

His  first  political  office  was  that  of  city  treasurer.  He 
served  two  years,  and  in  the  fall  of  1904  was  elected 
state  senator,  and  served  one  term  (four  years).  On 
the  first  of  May,  1910,  he  was  appointed  postmaster. 
At  the  expiration  of  his  present  term  as  member  of  the 
school  board  he  will  have  served  ten  years  on  that  body. 
Mr.  Harper  had  the  distinction  of  opening  the  first 
postal  savings  bank  in  the  state  of  Montana,  which  was 
on  January  3,  1911,  and  is  proud  of  the  fact  that  it 
caught  the  fancy  of  the  people  of  his  home  city  and  has 
proven  very  successful. 

Althou.gh  prosperous  now,  he  has  mastered  difficulties 
that  would  have  broken  the  spirit  of  many  a man.  He 
is  genial  at  all  times,  a good  mixer,  happy  and  cheer- 


ful by  nature  and  the  soul  of  integrity.  His  friends 
trust  him  implicitly  and  he  has  never  abused  a confi- 
dence. When  personal  popularity  is  considered  Mr. 
Flarper  is  an  assured  leader.  He  is  a Mason  a member 
of  the  Royal  Arch,  belongs  to  the  Odd  Fellows,  Elks, 
Scottish  Clans,  Eagles,  and  is  a social  member  of  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 

He  married  Miss  Etta  S.  Crawford  on  April  21, 
1886.  His  wife  was  a daughter  of  John  Crawford,  of 
Ohio,  who  was  one  of  the  Iowa  pioneers.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Harper  have  been  blessed  with  five  children,  of 
whom  four  are  living.  They  are;  Minnie  Fern  Harper, 
now  Mrs.  R.  E.  McCormick,  of  The  Dalles,  Oregon; 
Bessie  V.  Harper,  who  is  a graduate  of  the  high  school 
and  of  business  college;  William  Edward  Harper,  who 
is  a rancher  in  the  Big  Hole  country ; Howard  and 
Harry,  who  were  twins.  Harry  died  in  Anaconda  in 

1895- 

Alexander  Harper,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  went  to 
Indiana  as  a boy  of  eight.  He  followed  farming  and 
moved  to  Iowa  in  1854.  Mr.  Harper  was  one  of  the 
patriots  in  the  Civil  war  days,  and  enlisted  as  a private 
in  the  Eighth  Iowa  on  August  15,  1861.  He  returned 
home  in  1865  as  captain  of  his  company.  He  fought 
in  the  battles  of  his  regiment  and  was  with  Sherman 
in  his  march  to  the  sea.  He  was  mustered  out  of  ser- 
vice at  Mobile,  Alabama,  after  serving  four  years  and  six 
months.  He  died  in  February,  1901.  His  wife  was 
Anna  Spiers.  Their  family  consisted  of  five  sons; 
Alexander  P.,  Robert  Spiers  and  Charles  Stewart,  all 
of  whom  live  at  Vinton,  Iowa,  the  first  named  having 
a transfer  business  and  the  others  being  engaged  in 
farming.  William  Wilson,  the  subject  of  this  review, 
is  the  fourth  child  and  James  Edward,  who  is  als6  farm- 
ing at  Vinton,  Iowa,  is  the  youngest  child. 

Edgar  Campbell.  For  thirty  years  identified  with 
the  business  interests  of  Miles  City,  Edgar  Campbell 
is  well  known  to  the  residents  of  this  city,  where  he 
has  established  a well-merited  reputation  for  integ- 
rity and  honorable  dealing.  He  is  now  at  the  head  of 
the  furniture  and  undertaking  establishment  of  A.  T. 
Campbell  & Company,  with  a large  and  up-to-date  es- 
tablishment at  No.  717  Main  street,  and  during  his  long 
and  useful  career  has  assisted  materially  in  advancing 
and  developing  the  city’s  manifold  interests.  Mr.  Camp- 
bell was  born  at  Friendsville,  Susquehanna  county, 
Pennsylvania,  February  25,  1851,  and  is  a son  of  Charles 
and  Betsy  (Dodge)  Campbell. 

Charles  Campbell,  who  was  a native  of  Susquehanna 
county,  was  engaged  in  a general  merchandise  busi- 
ness at  Friendsville  until  1856,  in  which  year  he  re- 
moved to  Albany,  Green  county,  Wisconsin.  There 
he  followed  the  same  line  for  a time  and  subsequently 
continued  the  business  at  Monroe,  Green  county,  but 
in  1867  returned  east  and  located  in  Elmira,  Chemung 
county.  New  York.  He  conducted  a tannery  at  that 
place  until  1882,  when  he  went  to  Chicago,  Illinois, 
and  was  there  engaged  in  the  wool  business  until  fail- 
ing health  caused  his  retirement,  at  which  time  he 
again  went  to  Albany,  Wisconsin,  where  his  death 
occurred  in  his  seventieth  year.  In  early  life  he  was 
a Whig  and  later  became  a Republican,  but  never  cared 
to  enter  the  field  of  politics.  His  wife,  who  was  a na- 
tive of  Green  county.  New  York,  passed  away  in  her 
sixty-eighth  year,  having  been  the  mother  of  two  sons : 
Alfred  T.,  of  New  York  City,  for  the  past  fourteen 
years  a state  bank  examiner,  and  at  this  time  chief  bank- 
pin  county  and  Moorhead,  Minnesota,  and  in  April, 
examiner  for  the  state  of  New  York;  and  Edgar. 

Edgar  Campbell  was  five  years  old  when  he  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  Green  county,  Wisconsin,  and  he 
received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Monroe, 
Wisconsin,  and  Elmira,  New  York.  His  advent  in  the 
world  of  business  was  as  a partner  of  his  father-in- 


frxULA^ 


■ I.  • 


• •>- 


~ -i. .. 


■S- 


PIISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1203 


law,  William  A.  Atkinson,  in  the  coal  business  in  El- 
mira, New  York,  where  he  continued  until  1882,  in 
that  year  coming  to  Miles  City.  Arriving  in  this  city 
September  g,  he  joined  his  brother,  Alfred  T.,  in  form- 
ing the  firm  of  Alfred  T.  Campbell  & Company,  al- 
though his  brother  had  been  engaged  in  business  some 
time  prior  to  this.  When  Alfred  T.  Campbell  returned 
to  the  east,  Edgar  took  over  his  interest,  and  has  con- 
tinued to  conduct  the  establishment  under  the  old  firm 
style.  The  large  stock  of  furniture  carried  by  this 
house  is  modern  in  every  respect,  Mr.  Campbell’s  long 
experience  in  the  business  having  made  him  familiar 
with  the  demands  of  his  customers,  and  the  under- 
taking establishment  is  equipped  with  every  ^ modern 
appliance  for  embalming  and  funeral  directing.  In 
political  matters  iMr.  Campbell  is  a Republican,  and 
has  served  as  alderman  of  the  First  ward,  but  is  not  a 
politician  nor  an  office  seeker. 

On  December  18,  1879,  kir.  Campbell  was  married 
to  Miss  Alice  Atkinson,  who  was  born  in  Syracuse, 
New  York,  daughter  of  William  A.  and'  Caroline 
(Webster)  Atkinson,  natives  of  iNIaine,  both  of  whom 
are  deceased.  Mr.  Atkinson  was  a farmer  and  mer- 
chant of  Belfast,  Maine,  and  served  as  provost  mar- 
shal during  the  war  of  the  Rebellion.  Subsequently 
he  removed  to  Elmira,  New  York,  where  he  engaged 
in  the  coal  business  for  fourteen  or  fifteen  years,  and 
then  went  to  Albany,  New  York,  and  later  to  Oakland, 
California.  He  finally  settled  in  St.  Paul  Minnesota, 
where  his  death  occurred,  and  shortly  thereafter  his 
widow  came  to  Miles  Citv,  where  she  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  her  days  at  the  home  of  Mr.  and  iMrs. 
Campbell.  Two  children  were  born  to  Edgar  and 
Alice  Campbell,  William  Donald  and  Charles,  but  the 
latter  died  in  infanc}'.  Donald  Campbell  is  a graduate 
of  the  law  department  of  the  University  of  Alichigan, 
class  of  1905,  and  is  now  associated  with  Judge  C.  H. 
Loud  and  Sterling  M.  Wood  at  jMiles  City,  the  firm 
style  being  Loud,  Campbell  & Wood.  He  married  Miss 
Winifred  Wilson,  the  daughter  of  John  Aracher  and 
Uila  Plat  Wilson  of  Fredonia,  New  York,  and  resides 
in  Miles  City. 

B.  Fr.'^nk  Yerkes  has  been  a resident  of  the  state 
of  Montana  since  1882,  and  since  that  time  he  has  been 
identified  with  the  newspaper  business  in  various  ca- 
pacities, but  for  the  most  part  as  editor  and  publisher. 
Up  to  the  year  1904,  Mr.  Yerkes  was  connected  with 
numerous  newspaper  enterprises  in  the  eastern  section 
of  the  state,  but  in  that  year  he  returned  to  Twin 
Bridges  and  bought  out  The  Monitor,  which  in  pre- 
vious years  he  had  owned  and  disposed  of,  and  since 
1904  he  has  confined  his  energies  and  attention  to  the 
publication  of  The  Monitor  in  this  city. 

Mr.  Yerkes  was  born  in  Bordentown,  New  Jersey, 
on  May  19,  1862.  He  is  the  son  of  Andrew  J.  and 
Susan  P.  (Kelse}-)  Yerkes,  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  there  were  reared  and  married, 
soon  after  which  they  removed  to  Pennsylvania,  where 
Mr.  Yerkes  was  employed  at  his  trade,  that  of  a 
carriage  maker  and  blacksmith.  He  was  a very  de- 
vout Christian  gentleman  and  was  a member  of  the 
Baptist  church.  He  was  prominent  as  an  Odd  Fellow, 
of  which  order  he  was  a lifelong  member.  He  died  in 
1864,  while  he  was  still  a very  young  man.  The  wife 
and  mother  survived  her  husband  many  years,  and 
passed  away  in  Red  Lodge,  Montana,  in  1897,  when  she 
had  reached  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years.  They  were 
the  parents  of  four  children,  B.  Frank  being  the  third 
born  and  the  youngest  son.  Two  others  of  the  four 
are  yet  living ; Abel  K.  and  Lillian,  both  of  whom 
reside  in  Seattle. 

The  early  education  of  iMr.  Yerkes  was  obtained  in 
the  public  schools  of  New  Jersey,  in  Bordentown, 
which  place  represented  the  family  home  until  he  had 
reached  the  age  of  about  seventeen.  When  he  reached 

Toi,  n— js 


that  age  he  went  to  Hatboro,  Pennsylvania,  and  it  was 
in  that  place  that  he  learned  the  printer^  trade.  He 
was,  by  his  own  wish,  apprenticed  to  a tmee  year  term 
of  service  in  a print  shop  of  that  place,  and  he  learned 
the  trade  in  all  its  details,  a training  which  has  proved 
most  valuable  to  him  in  these  later  years.  In  1882 
Mr.  Yerkes  came  to  Montana,  and  he  has  been  a con- 
tinuous resident  of  the  state  since  that  year.  He  first 
located  at  Coulson,  in  which  place  he  remained  but  a 
short  time,  removing  to  Billings,  where  his  brother, 
who  then  had  a paper  at  Coulson,  and  himself  estab- 
lished the  first  newspaper  in  Billings,  which  was  then 
in  a most  primitive  state  of  organization  and  develop- 
ment. They  remained  there  but  a short  time,  selling 
out  and  locating  in  Bozeman,  in  which  place  Mr. 
Yerkes  of  this  review  continued  to  be  engaged  in  news- 
paper work  for  a period  of  about  ten  j-ears.  He  was 
connected  solely  with  newspaper  work  during  the  first 
years  of  his  stay  in  Bozeman,  but  later  he  engaged  in 
the  ranch  business.  His  next  venture  took  him  to 
Pony,  where  he  established  a paper  called  the  Madison 
County  Monitor,  and  he  ran  the  paper  until  Jub^  1893, 
then  moving  the  plant  to  Twin  Bridges.  For  two  years 
he  remained  in  this  place,  then  sold  out  and  returned 
to  Bozeman  and  worked  on  one  of  the  local  papers  for 
several  months,  which  experience  was  followed  by  his 
removal  to  Carbon  county,  where  he  secured  control 
of  another  paper,  which  he  operated  for  a few  months 
and  disposed  of  it,  going  to  Red  Lodge,  where  he  took 
charge  of  the  Carbon  County  Chronicle.  He  managed 
the  paper  for  a year,  after  which  he  returned  to  Twin 
Bridges  and  purchased  the  plant  of  The  Monitor,  which 
he  had  been  the  owner  of  some  two  years  previous. 
His  purchase  of  The  Monitor  plant  took  place  in  De- 
cember, 1904,  and  he  has  retained  the  active  control 
and  management  of  the  paper  since  that  time. 

Mr.  Yerkes  is  a member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity, 
affiliating  with  the  blue  lodge  and  chapter,  in  both  of 
which  lodges  he  has  held  offices.  He  is  also  a member 
of  the  Benevolent  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  He  is  a 
stanch  Republican,  and  has  always  taken  an  active  and 
effective  interest  in  politics,  and  is  an  acknowledged 
power  in  local  party  affairs.  He  is  president  of  the 
council,  and  is  secretary  of  the  iMadison  County  Pub- 
licity Club  and  secretary  of  the  Commercial  Club  of 
Twin  Bridges.  He  has  held  a similar  position  on  the 
local  school  board  since  1907.  iMr.  Yerkes  is  enthu- 
siastic in  his  predictions  for  the  future  of  the  town 
and  the  state,  and  is  one  of  the  most  aggressive 
"boosters”  of  Twin  Bridges  to  be  found  in  the  com- 
munity, possessing  qualities  of  progressiveness  and 
initiative  that  cannot  fail  to  be  of  inestimable  value  to 
the  town,  or  to  any  town  in  which  he  finds  himself. 

_ On  June  27,  1^5,  iMr.  Yerkes  was  united  in  mar- 
riage at  Twin  Bridges  with  Miss  Grace  M.  Baker,  the 
daughter  of  Palmer  W.  and  Elizabeth  Baker,  of  Page- 
ville,  iMontana. 

Amos  C.  Hall.  A prominent  banker  and  the  pop- 
ular and  efficient  incumbent  of  the  office  of  mayor  of 
Virginia  City,  Amos  C.  Hall  is  a citizen  of  influence 
in  both  business  _ and  political  circles  in  this  place, 
where  he  has  resided  during  practically  his  entire  life 
time  thus  far.  He  is  descended  from  a fine  old  New 
England  family  and  his  father,  the  late  Amos  C.  Hall, 
Sr.,  was  born  in  Lamoille  county,  Vermont,  December 
10,  1836.  The  latter  was  a son  of  Jesse  and  Rebecca 
Hall,  prominent  farmers  in  the  Green  ^Mountain  state, 
where  he  was  reared  and  educated.  iMr.  Hall,  Sr., 
went  west  in  1856  and  settled  in  Janesville.  Wisconsin, 
where  he  took  up  a tract  of  government  land  and  en- 
gaged in  farming.  He  was  a vigorous  opponent  of 
slavery  during  the  Civil  war  period  and  in  1858.  while 
a resident  of  Kansas,  he  and  his  brother  Austin  W., 
with  nine  other  men,  were  fired  upon  by  border  ruffians 
and  left  for  dead.  Five  out  of  the  eleven  anti-slavery 


1204 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


men,  who  were  fired  upon,  recovered  from  their 
wounds  and  among  that  number  were  Mr.  Hall  and 
his  brother.  This  affair  is  known  in  history  as  the 
Marias  des  Cygnes  Massacre.  Shortly  after  that  oc- 
currence Mr.  i-lall  returned  to  Vermont,  where  he  re- 
mained until  the  following  spring,  when  he  was  again 
in  Kansas,  whence  he  started  for  Pike’s  Peak  by  the 
old  Santa  Fe  trail.  The  party  of  which  he  was  a mem- 
ber met  with  so  many  discouraging  reports  from  re- 
turning prospectors  in  regard  to  the  Pike’s  Peak 
country  that  they  returned  to  Junction  City,  Kansas. 
In  i860  Mr.  Hall  made  the  overland  trip  to  Denver, 
where  he  remained  until  May,  1863,  when  he  came  to 
the  mining  regions  of  Montana,  here  winning  a fair 
amount  of  success  as  a miner.  In  1866  he  installed 
the  first  bed-rock  flume  ever  built  in  this  state.  In 
October,  1879,  he  engaged  with  Mr.  A.  J.  Bennett  in 
the  banking  business  and  established  a private  bank 
in  Virginia  City,  this  being  one  of  the  substantial 
financial  institutions  of  this  place  at  the  present  time, 
in  1912,  and  known  as  the  Madison  State  Bank.  He 
was  a very  charitable  man  and  always  took  an  active 
part  in  the  maintenance  of  law  and  order.  He  was 
very  popular  amongst  his  fellow  citizens,  stood  high 
socially,  and  was  never  known  to  have  an  enemy.  He 
was  summoned  to  the  life  eternal  on  February  27,  1893, 
at  the  age  of  fifty-seven  years,  and  is  buried  in  Virginia 
City.  Here  was  solemnized  his  marriage  to  Miss  Anna 
P.  Griffith,  who  was  born  in  Athens,  Ohio,  and  who  is 
now  a resident  of  New  York  City.  Of  the  six  chil- 
dren born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hall  three  are  living,  in 
1912,  namely : Amos  C.,  whose  name  forms  the  caption 
for  this  review ; Frank  C.,  a graduate  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Columbia,  is  engaged  in  the  importing  busi- 
ness in  New  York  City;  and  Harry  E.,  likewise  a 
graduate  of  the  University  of  Columbia,  is  a mining 
engineer  in  Virginia  City. 

Amos  C.  Hall  was  born  in  Virginia  City,  Montana, 
February  21,  1882,  and  his  early  educational  training 
consisted  of  such  advantages  as  were  offered  in  the 
public  schools  of  this  place.  Later  he  attended  public 
and  private  schools  in  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  for  five 
years,  at  the  end  of  which  he  went  to  Philadelphia, 
where  he  took  a four  year  preparatory  course  j>rior 
to  entering  college.  His  collegiate  course  was  inter- 
fered with,  however,  by  the  illness  of  his  older  brother 
and  he  was  obliged  to  return  home,  in  1900,  and  enter 
the  banking  business  which  was  begun  by  his  father 
and  a Mr.  Bennett  some  thirty  years  earlier.  He  has 
been  incumbent  of  the  office  of  cashier  in  the  Madison 
State  Bank  in  Virginia  City  since  1900  and  is  likewise 
vice-president  of  the  bank  of  Twin  Bridges.  In  addi- 
tion to  his  other  interests  he  is  manager  of  the  vast 
A.  C.  Hall,  Sr.,  estate.  In  politics  he  is  a stalwart 
supporter  of  the  principles  and  policies  promulgated 
by  the  Republican  party,  in  the  local  councils  of  which 
he  has  long  been  an  active  factor.  In  1909  he  was  hon- 
ored by  his  fellow  citizens  with  election  to  the  office 
of  mayor  of  Virginia  City  and  he  is  now  filling  his 
third  term  as  mayor.  He  has  also  served  with  honor 
and  distinction  on  the  school  board  and  is  a generous 
contributor  to  all  matters  projected  for  the  good  of  the 
general  welfare. 

_ While  he  is  not  formally  connected  with  any  reli- 
gious organization,  Mr.  Hall  has  implicit  faith  in  the 
good  accomplished  by  all  churches  and  contributes 
liberally  to  their  maintenance  and  support.  Fie  is  a 
member  of  the^  Elks,  in  which  he  is  past  e.xalted  ruler, 
and  he  is  affiliated  with  a number  of  other  fraternal 
orders  of  a local  character.  In  lauding  Montana  he 
says:  “Montana  is  the  coming  state  of  the  Union, 

with  double  the  onnortunities  of  any  other  undeveloped 
state.  Her  future,  in  my  opinion,  is  excellent.’’ 

In  Greenleaf,  Kansas,  June  25,  1907,  was  solemnized 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Hall  to  Miss  Myrtle  Lauffer  a 
daughter  of  Albert  C.  and  Caroline  FI.  Lauffer,  promi- 


nent residents  of  Greenleaf.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hall  have 
two  children,  Amos  C.  (HI)  and  Morgan  L. 

Andrew  John  Gilsdoef.  The  late  Andrew  John 
Gilsdorf,  a prominent  business  man  of  Billings,  Mon- 
tana, where  he  had  made  his  home  continuously  since 
1882,  was  all  his  active  life  identified  with  the  meat 
business,  in  which  he  was  more  than  ordinarily  suc- 
cessful, being  one  of  the  financially  substantial  men 
in  the  city  at  the  time  of  his  passing  away,  on  the 
22nd  of  September,  1911. 

Mr.  Gilsdorf  was  born  in  Wabasha  county,  Minne- 
sota, on  March  2,  1859,  and  was  the  son  of  Andrew 
and  Mary  Gilsdorf,  people  of  German  descent.  Until 
he  was  seventeen  years  of  age  the  subject  lived  in  the 
village  of  Wabasha,  attending  school  there,  and  after 
that  period  in  his  life  he  was  employed  in  various 
parts  of  the  states  of  Wisconsin  and  Minnesota,  always 
in  the  meat  market  and  butchering  business.  For  thir- 
teen years  he  attended  conscientiously  to  the  work, 
learning  the  business  in  its  every  detail,  and  when  he 
came  to  Billings,  Montana,  in  1882,  he  was  in  every 
way  qualified  to  establish  a business  of  his  own. 
Though  his  capital  was  small,  his  working  knowledge 
was  great,  and  he  conducted  his  affairs  in  a manner 
conducive  to  the  best  success  in  the  business.  So 
steadily  did  he  progress  with  his  work  that  at  the  time 
of  death  he  was  the  owner  and  proprietor  of  one  of 
the  finest  meat  markets  in  the  entire  state,  and  the 
owner  of  a splendid  brick  block  on  Minnesota  avenue, 
Billings,  as  well.  This  building  he  erected  in  1893, 
and  it  is  a two  story  double  pressed  brick  affair,  thor- 
oughly complete  in  every  detail  of  workmanship  and 
construction,  and  as  fine  a building  as  may  be  found 
in  the  state.  In  this  building  he  conducted  his  meat 
market  up  to  the  time  of  his  death. 

In  later  years,  when  Mr.  Gilsdorf  began  to  prosper, 
he  gave  some  attention  to  the  buying  and  selling  of 
ranches,  but  he  never  gave  his  time  to  the  operating 
of  any  of  them,  nor  did  he  permit  his  dealing  in  them 
to  interfere  in  any  way  with  his  manifest  loyalty  to 
the  meat  business.  He  was  a man  whose  inherent 
honesty  and  splendid  character  won  him  staunch 
friends  wherever  he  was  known,  and  in  Billings  his 
circle  of  friends  was  comprehensive  and  far-reaching. 
He  was  a Democrat,  but  not  an  office  holder  at  any 
time  in  his  life.  His  fraternal  relations  were  repre- 
sented by  his  membership  in  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows,  and  he  was  a loyal  member  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  church,  his  family  were  Episcopalians. 
In  1885  Mr.  Gilsdorf  married  Miss  Olavea  Olson,  a 
daughter  of  Evan  and  Racheal  (Halverson)  Olson, 
both  native  born  citizens  of  Norway,  whence  they 
came  to  America  in  their  early  life.  They  settled  in 
Minnesota,  there  passing  the  remainder  of  their  days, 
and  in  1883  their  daughter  came  to  Billings,  two  years- 
later  marrying  Mr.  Gilsdorf.  Four  children  were  born 
to  these  worthy  parents';  Charles  E.,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; Della  May,  now  a resident  of  Billings;  Jossie 
L.,  who  also  died  in  infancy;  and  Edna  F.,  living  in 
Billings. 

Mrs.  Gilsdorf  is  a woman  of  most  admirable  char- 
acter, who  is  loved  and  esteemed  by  all  who  come  with- 
in the  circle  of  her  acquaintance.  She  moves  in  the 
best  social  circles  of  the  city  and  takes  a prominent 
part  in  the  activities  therein  in  a social  way. 

William  Louis  Allard.  Having  been  identified  with 
the  ranching  interests  of  Montana  for  a period  covering 
thirty  years,  William  Louis  Allard,  the  owner  of  960 
acres  of  finely  cultivated  property  situated  three  miles, 
from  Laurel,  may  lay  claim  to  the  title  of  “old-timer,” 
and  holds  a prominent  place  among  the  men  who  have 
been  active  in  the  development  of  the  Yellowstone  val- 
ley. Mr.  Allard  was  born  March  31,  1852,  in  Colchester 
township,  Chittenden  county,  Vermont,  and  is  a son  of 
Peter  and  Sophia  (LaPierre)  Allard, 


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HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1205 


Peter  Allard  was  born  on  the  banks  of  the  St.  Law- 
rence river  in  Canada,  in  1813,  and  was  still  a youth 
when  his  family  removed  to  Vermont.  In  young  man- 
hood he  learned  the  trade  of  miller,  an  occupation  which 
he  followed  for  forty-five  years  with  one  firm  in  Ver- 
mont, and  in  1869  he  removed  to  Wisconsin  and  settled 
in  Fond  du  Lac  county,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farm- 
ing up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1877.  Politically  a 
Whig,  in  1855  he  transferred  his  allegiance  to  the  Re- 
publican party,  but  never  sought  public  office,  although 
he  served  several  years  as  a member  of  the  school 
board.  He  was  a faithful  member  of  the  Roman  Cath- 
olic church.  He  married  Sophia  LaPierre,  who  was  also 
born  in  Canada  in  1813,  and  who  was  a baby  when  taken 
to  Burlington,  Vermont,  by  her  parents.  She  died  in 
1895,  having  been  the  mother  of  eight  children,  of 
whom  six  are  living,  as  follows : Sophia,  the  wife  of 
Hamilton  Detro,  living  in  Omaha,  Nebraska;  Louis; 
Joseph,  living  in  Fond  du  Lac  Wisconsin;  William 
Louis ; Edward  Napoleon,  a well-known  physician  of 
Fond  du  Lac;  and  Virginia,  the  wife  of  John  Wilbert, 
of  that  city. 

William  Louis  Allard  attended  school  until  he  was 
fourteen  years  of  age,  at  which  time  he  left  the  narental 
roof  and  with  his  brother  Joseph  removed  to  Fond  du 
Lac  county,  Wisconsin,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farm- 
ing until  the  spring  of  1882.  At  that  time  he  took  the 
train  as  far  as  Rosebud,  Montana,  and  then  went  over- 
land by  wagon  to  old  Coulson  where  he  found  em- 
ployment with  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad,  at  grad- 
ing. A short  time  later,  however,  he  engaged  with  the 
McAdow  ranch,  with  which  he  remained  during  the 
summer  of  1882.  During  the  frightfully  cold  and  stormy 
winter  of  1882,  Mr.  Allard  was  connected  with  a saw- 
mill outfit  in  Valley  creek,  and  he  has  not  yet  been 
remunerated  for  his  services,  although  the  hardships 
suffered  during  that  long  winter  of  deep  snows  were 
the  worst  he  had  experienced  since  coming  to  the  state. 
In  the  summer  of  1883  he  was  employed  on  the  ranch 
of  Orson  Newman,  near  the  citv  of  Billings,  and  in  the 
following  winter  worked  at  lumbering  in  the  Bull 
Mountains  for  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad,  and  sub- 
sequently returned  to  Wisconsin  to  pay  his  parents  a 
visit.  In  March,  1884,  he  returned  to  Montana  and 
located  at  Park  City  where  he  engaged  in  herding  sheep 
for  R.  J.  Martin,  but  in  1884  decided  to  embark  in 
business  on  his  own  account  and  located  on  a homestead 
three  miles  from  the  present  site  of  Laurel,  in  the  Yel- 
lowstone valley.  He  began  at  once  to  cultivate  his 
tract  of  160  acres,  and  in  the  fall  of  1886  went  back  to 
Fond  du  Lac,  Wisconsin,  and  was  there  married  Novem- 
ber 25th  of  that  year.  Returning  to  his  homestead,  he 
was  for  about  twelve  years  engaged  in  the  sheep  busi- 
ness, and  the  original  tract  was  added  to  from  time  to 
time  until  there  were  960  acres  in  the  property.  Of 
these  500  acres  are  now  in  an  irrigated  condition,  and 
are  devoted  to  wheat,  oats,  alfalfa  and  sugar  beets. 
He  has  made  a specialty  of  raising  high-grade  horses, 
and  now  owns  twenty-nine  head  of  superior  breed,  in- 
cluding a full-blooded  Norman  stallion.  One  of  the 
organizers  of  the  Laurel  State  Bank  and  of  the  Laurel 
Realty  Company,  Mr.  Allard  has  served  as  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  former  and  treasurer  of  the  latter  from  the 
time  of  their  inception.  Politically  he  is  a Democrat, 
and  has  served  as  school  trustee  for  two  terms.  As 
one  of  the  leading  promoters  of  the  cove  ditch,  he  served 
as  a trustee  for  five  years,  an  office  which  he  resigned, 
and  he  has  for  fifteen  years  been  a trustee  of  the  Big 
Ditch,  of  which  he  is  at  present  treasurer.  He  and  his 
family  attend  the  Roman  Catholic  church.  Mr.  Allard 
has  at  all  times  retained  the  confidence  and  esteem  of 
his  fellowmen,  and  in  whatever  capacity  he  has  been 
before  the  public  he  has  shown  himself  a man  of  much 
ability.  In  all  departments  of  his  ranching  enterprise 
are  given  unmistakable  evidence  of  his  careful  atten- 
tion to  the  details  which  make  for  success,  and  as  a 


natural  consequence  he  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  repre- 
sentative operators  in  his  line  in  the  valley. 

Mr.  Allard  was  united  in  marriage,  November  25, 
1886,  at  Fond  du  Lac,  Wisconsin,  with  Miss  Augusta 
Simonin,  who  was  born  near  Belfort,  Hautrhin,  France, 
daughter  of  Lawrence  and  Theresa  (Stinleur)  Simonin, 
natives  of  that  place,  the  former  of  whom  died  when 
forty-nine  years  old,  and  the  latter  at  the  age  of 
seventy-five.  They  had  five  children,  of  whom  four 
are  living:  Joseph,  of  Fond  du  Lac,  Wisconsin;  Charles, 
also  a resident  of  that  city;  Julia,  the  wife  of  L, 
Prefoutain,  of  Fond  du  Lac;  and  Augusta.  Mr, 
Simonin  came  to  the  United  States  in  i860,  Mrs, 
Allard  at  that  time  being  one  year  old,  and  from  New 
York  City  made  his  way  west  to  Chilton,  Wisconsin, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  for  some  years.  Sub- 
sequently he  moved  to  Muscatine,  Iowa,  where  he  spent 
his  last  years,  and  after  his  death  his  widow  returned 
to  Fond  du  Lac  county,  Wisconsin,  and  there  lived 
during  her  declining  years  with  her  children. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Allard  have  had  six  children,  of  whom 
three  are  living:  Louis,  a graduate  of  the  University 
of  Wisconsin,  class  of  1908,  B.  A.,  and  of  Rush  Medical 
College,  Chicago,  class  of  1911,  M.  D.,  and  was  engaged 
with  St.  Mary’s  Hospital,  Milwaukee;  Peter  G.,  now 
attending  the  Montana  Agricultural  College,  Bozeman; 
and  Marie,  attending  St.  Vincent’s  College,  Helena. 
Peter  G.  Allard  is  possessed  of  literary  attainments 
beyond  the  ordinary,  possessing  a breezy  western  style 
that  makes  his  poems  and  prose  favorites  with  those 
who  have  had  the  opportunity  of  examining  them.  One 
of  his  efforts,  “The  Passing  of  the  Range,’’  is  herewith 
given : 

“Farewell  old  range,  you  are  no  more; 

You’re  quickly  going  to  the  binder's  roar ; 

Your  virgin  soil  pierced  by  the  share 
Will  be  returned  each  following  year; 

Your  sunny  slopes  with  grass  once  dented 
Will  be  fields  of  grain  early  planted ; 

Where  the  Indian  and  buffalo  used  to  roam 
Will  be  some  dry-land  farmer’s  home. 

“Where  the  prairie  dog  and  badger 
Used  to  sit  and  eat  with  leisure. 

Where  the  eagle  in  his  aerie  soar 
Swooped  down  upon  his  morning  gore. 

The  wolf,  coyote,  antelope  and  hen. 

All  hid  away  from  the  haunts  of  men. 

Talked  to  only  by  thunder  and  rain 
Will  be  some  dry-land  farmer’s  claim. 

“The  spring,  the  creek  and  water-hole, 

Where  the  steers  would  drink  and  roll. 

And  the  green  grass  in  low  ravines 
Leading  down  to  the  mountain  streams. 

Shaded  by  the  cottonwood  and  pine  tree, 

The  home  of  porcupine  and  honey  bee; 

Where  the  rattlesnake  dreamed  in  coil. 

Will  be  some  dry-land  farmer’s  spoil. 

“Where  great  herds  of  sheep  and  cattle 
O’er  the  range  once  used  to  battle. 

And  the  sun-tanned  puncher  with  his  brand 
Following  the  herds  to  increase  his  band ; 

The  mess-wagon  with  grub  not  up  in  courses. 
Following  the  string  of  round-up  horses. 

The  old  stage-coach  and  the  rocky  road. 

Will  be  some  dry-land  farmer’s  abode. 

“Where  nature  once  was  wild  and  free. 

An  old  forty-five  was  a western  key ; 

Where  the  old  prospector  picked  his  gold 
And  dreamed  of  luck  when  he  was  old ; 


1206 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


Where  the  old  freighter  in  his  rough  way 
Skinned  along  some  fifty  miles  a day, 

Where  patches  of  sage  covered  the  ground 
Will  be  some  dry-land  farmer’s  town. 

“All  these  good  oUl  western  scenes 
Will  be  shown  on  leather  screens; 

All  the  bad  men  of  the  early  day 
Will  be  told  in  a fable  way. 

All  these  things  are  flying  fast, 

A few  more  years  will  be  the  last ; 

Then  there'll  be  no  more  range  laws, 

’Twill  be  the  dry-land  farmer’s  cause.” 

Henry  W.  Strincfellow.  One  of  the  largest  mer- 
cantile enterprises  of  Montana  is  the  Havre  Com- 
mercial Company,  a department  store  with  a reputation 
and  trade  solidly  built  up  throughout  most  of  the 
northern  part  of  the  state.  The  business  is  conducted 
in  a modern  two-story  building  containing  25,000  square 
feet  of  floor  space. 

The  energy  and  ability  of  H.  W.  Stringfellow  have 
been  largely  responsible  for  the  success  of  this  enter- 
prise. This  progressive  merchant  has  been  identified 
with  Montana  for  about  thirty  years,  having  begun  his 
career  in  that  state,  and  by  the  force  of  his  own  char- 
acter and  accomplishment  has  risen  to  a foremost  place 
among  its  business  men. 

A Virginian  by  birth,  he  was  born  at  Culpeper,  May 
29,  1864,  a son  of  M.  S.  and  Nellie  (Madison)  String- 
fellow.  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  the  Old  Domin- 
ion. The  father,  who  was  a prosperous  farmer  and 
planter,  took  up  arms  in  the  southern  cause,  was  dis- 
tinguished with  the  rank  of  captain,  as  such  served 
under  General  Jackson,  and  was  through  the  entire 
war,  participating  in  many  of  its  well  known  battles 
and  campaigns.  He  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life 
in  his  home  state,  where  he  died  in  1909  at  the  age 
of  seventy-four.  The  mother,  who  is  still  living  at 
the  age  of  seventy-two  with  her  daughter  in  Weiser, 
Idaho,  was  a member  of  the  old  southern  family  of 
Willis. 

H.  W.  Stringfellow  was  reared  and  educated  in  his 
native  state,  where  he  attended  the  public  schools  and 
then  a private  academy.  When  he  was  eighteen  years 
old  he  determined  that  his  career  should  be  worked 
out  in  the  far  northwest,  and  he  then  came  to  Mon- 
tana and  engaged  in  ranching  for  several  years.  Sell- 
ing out  he  then  entered  the  employ  of  John  J.  Athey, 
of  Sun  River,  where  he  remained  for  the  next  six 
years.  After  a not  unprofitable  experience  on  the  ranch 
and  in  the  store,  Mr.  Stringfellow  located  at  Havre 
in  1892  and  established  a drug  business  in  what  was 
then  almost  a frontier  village  of  northern  Montana. 
His  business  was  very  prosperous  for  ten  years  until 
the  destructive  fire  which  swept  away  a large  portion 
of  the  Havre  business  district,  including  his  own  es- 
tablishment. With  the  readjustment  of  affairs  and  the 
gradual  reconstruction,  Mr.  Stringfellow  replaced  his 
former  business  with  a general  merchandise  store,  which 
has  since  been  developed  into  the  very  extensive  and 
prosperous  mercantile  concern  which  in  1897  was  in- 
corporated as  the  Havre  Commercial  Company.^  Of  this, 
Mr.  Stringfellow  is  president,  W.  C.  Lange,  vice  presi- 
dent, and  William  Kendig,  secretary. 

A successful  business  man,  Mr.  Stringfellow  has  also 
taken  an  active  part  in  civic  affairs  for  many  years. 
On  the  incorporation  of  the  city  of  Havre  he  served 
two  terms  as  alderman.  He  is  Democratic  in  poli- 
tics, is  affiliated  with  the  Masons  and  Elks  fraternities 
at  Havre,  and  is  a member  of  the  Episcopal  church. 
For  outdoor  diversions  he  takes  a keen  interest  in 
hunting  and  fishing.  He  owns  a beautiful  home  in 
Havre,  and  in  every  way  is  considered  a citizen  who 
has  won  and  properly  deserved  prosperity  and  esteem. 

Mr.  Stringfellow  was  married  at  Sun  River,  Mon- 


tana, in  October,  1894,  to  Miss  Lou  Peeke.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  George  and  Almira  Peeke,  well-known 
citizens  of  Three  Rivers,  Michigan.  Mr.  and  Airs. 
Stringfellow  have  one  child,  Virginia,  who  was  born 
July  13,  1896,  and  is  now  attending  school  at  Chatham, 
Virginia,  thus  acquiring  her  education  in  her  father's 
native  state. 

Hon.  Alpheus  Decker,  for  the  past  thirty  years  iden- 
tified with  the  ranch  life  of  Beaverhead  county  and 
one  of  the  founders  of  the  town  of  Armstead,  Alontana, 
is  a native  son  of  Alichigan,  born  in  Coldwater  on  the 
3d  of  March,  1846.  He  is  the  son  of  David  and  Lucy 
(Rossman)  Decker,  both  native  New  Yorkers,  who 
came  to  Michigan  as  early  as  1836,  being  Alichigan 
pioneers  in  the  best  sense  of  the  term.  They  died  at  a 
ripe  age,  the  father  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years  and 
the  mother  at  eighty-seven.  They  were  the  parents  of 
a family  of  seven,  of  which  the  subject  was  the  third 
born  and  the  eldest  son. 

Colonel  Decker,  as  he  is  familiarly  called  in  Mon- 
tana, was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  his  native 
state,  so  far  as  his  actual  schooling  went.  It  is  a fact, 
however,  that  the  best  knowledge  he  possesses  is  that 
which  came  to  him  in  the  school  of  experience,  which 
has  trained  so  many  of  our  western  men  in  the  way  of 
life.  As  a young  man  he  gave  his  attention  to  farm- 
ing in  the  vicinity  of  his  home  in  Alichigan  until  1874, 
when  he  went  to  Illinois,  later  moving  to  Kansas,  and 
in  both  of  those  states  he  was  devoted  to  agricultural 
life.  Following  the  death  of  his  wife  in  1880,  Colonel 
Decker  went  to  Iowa,  where  he  spent  a year,  and  in 
the  spring  of  1882  came  to  Alontana.  For  two  years 
he  lived  in  Dillon,  then  came  to  what  is  now  Arm- 
stead, and  here  he  and  his  partner,  J.  W.  Scott,  who 
was  a brother  of  his  deceased  wife,  purchased  a ranch, 
on  a part  of  which  the  town  of  Armstead  was  later 
built.  The  ranch  proper  comprises  something  like 
one  thousand  acres,  and  is  devoted  to  general  farming 
and  stock  raising.  For  thirty  years  these  men  have 
centered  their  interest  in  this  place,  continuing  through 
all  the  years  as  partners. 

Air.  Decker  is  a staunch  Republican  and  has  done 
his  full  share  towards  promoting  the  interests  of  the 
party  in  this  section  of  the  country.  He  was  the  repre- 
sentative of  Beaverhead  county  in  the  state  legislature 
from  1904  to  1908,  and  has  done  good  work  for  his 
district  in  that  connection.  He  has  implicit  faith  in  the 
future  of  Alontana,  that  faith  being  based  upon  thirty 
years  of  actual  contact  with  the  great  Treasure  state. 

In  1872  Air.  Decker  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Scott,  a daughter  of  Air.  and  Mrs.  James  Scott.  She 
was  Ijorn  in  1852,  in  Wisconsin,  and  died  in  Stafford, 
Kansas,  in  the  year  1880.  She  left  one  daughter,  Edith, 
who  was  born  in  Indiana  and  educated  in  Michigan. 
She  came  to  Montana  in  her  early  girlhood,  and  later 
married  Roy  Herndon,  and  they  make  their  home  at 
Salmon  city,  Idaho.  They  have  one  daughter,  Jane 
Herndon.  Mr.  Herndon  is  prominent  in  the  political 
life  of  his  state,  and  on  November  5,  1912,  was  elected 
to  the  house  of  representatives  in  the  Idaho  legisla- 
ture. 

Charles  S.  Hefferlin.  Connected  as  he  is  with 
some  of  the  largest  business  enterprises  of  the  city, 
Charles  S.  Hefferlin  holds  prestige  among  the  lead- 
ing men  of  Livingston,  Montana,  which  city  he  has 
assisted  greatly  in  developing  by  his  public  spirit  and 
industrious  activity.  Born  February  5,  1856,  in  Leaven- 
worth county,  Kansas,  he  is  the  third  of  the  six  sons 
of  Martin  and  Louise  Ann  (Humphrey)  Hefferlin, 
who  also  were  the  parents  of  one  daughter.  Alartin 
Hefferlin  was  born  in  Loraine,  France,  now  Germany, 
and  on  his  immigration  to  the  United  States  settled  in 
St.  Louis,  Alissouri,  but  subsequently  removed  to  Wes- 
ton, Alissouri,  and  thence  to  Wyandotte,  Kansas,  prac- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1207 


tically  a suburb  of  Kansas  City,  where  he  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  days  in  merchandising.  His  wife 
passed  away  in  Livingston,  Montana,  in  March,  1901, 
having  followed  her  son  to  this  city  with  the  rest  of 
her  children. 

Charles  S.  Hefferlin  received  a public  school  educa- 
tion, and  graduated  from  the  Wyandotte  high  school 
in  1872.  For  the  next  three  years  he  was  the  incum- 
bent of  a responsible  position  in  the  local  postofihce. 
then  becoming  chief  clerk  in  the  Wyandotte  office  of 
the  Kansas  Pacific  Railroad.  He  was  subsequently 
promoted  to  a position  at  Ellis,  Kansas,  where  _ he 
continued  three  years,  and  then  acted  in  a similar 
capacity  in  Denver,  Colorado,  for  about  that  length 
of  time,  the  faithful  and  efficient  discharge  of  his  duties 
having  warranted  these  advancements.  Transferring 
his  services  to  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad,  he  be- 
came cashier  of  the  road  at  Billings,  Montana,  in  1882, 
and  was  later  agent  at  Custer.  His  advent  in  Livings- 
ton occurred  in  1883,  when  he  came  to  this  city  as 
agent,  and  during  the  five  years  thus  employed,  he 
familiarized  himself  with  realty  values  and  railroad 
facilities  and  became  confident  that  the  city  had  a great 
future  before  it.  It  was  about  this  time  that  he  began 
the  extensive  building  operations  that  have  made  him 
one  of  the  most  successful  business  men  in  Livingston. 
In  1884  he  erected  the  Hefferlin  block,  and  in  1888 
opened  the  Merchants'  Bank,  this  being  followed,  in 
1892,  by  the  erection  of  the  Hefferlin  Opera  House  and 
bank  building,  in  which  modern  structure  the  Mer- 
chants' Bank  has  operated  since  that  time.  In  1898  he 
built  and  equipped  the  Livingston  flour  mills,  fitted 
with  the  most  modern  appliances  and  contributing . in 
marked  degree  to  the  industrial  activities  of  Livingston, 
and  he  has  also  erected  no  fewer  than  twenty  store 
buildings  on  Main  street.  In  1908  he  was  one  of  the 
organizers,  and  was  elected  president,  of  the  Electric 
Hot  Springs  Company,  which  during  that  year  erected 
Corwin  Hot  Springs  Hotel.  Corwin  Hot  Springs, 
being  located  on  the  Northern  Pacific  Railway,  makes 
it  easy  of  access  and  as  it  is  on  the  border  of  Yellow- 
stone Park  it  is  surrounded  with  magnificent  scenery. 
It  is  one  of  the  finest  and  most  popular  health  resorts 
in  the  Northwest,  the  beautiful  surroundings,  the  nat- 
ural hot  springs,  the  grounds  and  the  buildings,  with 
large  swimming  pool,  private  plunges,  and  spray, 
needle  and  shower  baths,  all  supplied  by  a constant 
flow  from  the  medicinal  hot  springs,  combining  to  fur- 
nish . every  inducement  to  the  weary  health  seeker. 
IMr.  Hefferlin  has  rendered  the  city  of  his  adoption 
incalculable  service,  not  only  as  the  promoter  of  enter- 
prises which  have  strengthened  its  industrial  and  com- 
mercial prestige,  but  in  positions  of  public  trust  and 
responsibility,  in  which  he  has  proven  himself  an  able 
and  conscientious  official.  A Republican  in  politics,  he 
served  for  four  years  as  a member  of  the  city  council, 
was  a member  of  the  board  of  education  for  eight 
years,  and  was  sent  to  represent  his  district  in  the 
eighth  general  assembly. 

On  October  13,  1887,  Mr.  Hefferlin  was  united  in 
marriage  with  IMiss  Florence  M.  Holliday,  who  was 
born  in  Winterset,  Iowa,  daughter  of  Samuel  L.  Holli- 
day. Two  children  have  been  born  to  this  union: 
Charles  Holliday,  a student  of  the  University  of  Chi- 
cago, in  his  senior  year ; and  iMarie,  who  lives  at  home 
with  her  parents. 

John  Gibb.  Every  civilized  nation  in  the  world 
has  contributed  to  "the  citizenship  of  Montana,  and 
the  Treasure  state  may  not  inaptly  be  cornpared  to 
the  melting  pot,  the  crucible  wherein  the  various  char- 
acteristics of  the  many  races  are  blended  and  solidified, 
causing  the  stronger  and  more  durable  traits  to  pre- 
dominate over  those  of  a weaker  nature.  From  the 
land  of  Robert  Burns  has  come  much  that  is  desir- 
able in  the  make-up  of  a new  state,  for  the  proverbial 


thrift,  honesty  and  industry  of  the  sons  of  Scotia  make 
them  good  citizens,  willing  and  capable  to  handle  the 
many  perplexing  questions  and  conditions  that  arise 
in  the  making  of  a commonwealth,  and  IMontana  has 
been  fortunate  in  that  it  has  numbered  among  some 
of  its  most  representative  men  those  that  claim  Scot- 
land as  their  birthplace.  Among  this  class  may  be 
mentioned  John  Gibb,  of  Miles  City,  who  for  more 
than  a quarter  of  a century  has  been  prominently  identi- 
fied with  the  business  and  public  interests  of  Custer 
county,  and  has  so  conducted  his  life  as  to  gain  the  full 
esteem  and  confidence  of  the  people  of  his  community. 
Mr.  Gibb  was  born  at  Lanarkshire,  Scotland,  Octo- 
ber 29,  1843.  and  is  a son  of  John  and  Janet  (Steven- 
son) Gibb,  the  former  born  at  Boness,  Fifeshire,  Scot- 
land, November  7,  1812,  and  died  in  1901,  while  the 
latter,  also  a native  of  Scotland,  died  when  seventy- 
eight  years  of  age.  They  had  a family  of  eight  chil- 
dren, of  whom  four  are  living:  Rachel,  the  widow  of 
John  Kirkwood;  John;  Thomas,  who  resides  at  Miles 
City ; and  Margaret,  the  widow  of  Robert  Knight, 
living  in  Pittsburg,  Kansas.  The  father  of  these  chil- 
dren, who  was  a miner  all  of  his  life,  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1848,  and  located  at  Lonaconing,  Allegany 
county,  ^Maryland,  where  he  resided  until  1861.  In 
that  year  he  moved  to  Kewanee,  Illinois,  but  after 
residing  there  for  about  a year  went  to  Fairbury,  Illi- 
nois, and  in  1882  went  to  Pittsburg,  Kansas,  where 
he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  For  many  years 
he  was  a member  of  the  I.  O.  0.  F.,  and  had  numerous 
friends  in  that  fraternal  organization. 

John  Gibb  was  about  six  years  of  age  when  he  ac- 
companied his  parents  to  the  United  States,  and  his 
education  was  secured  in  the  public  schools  of  iMary- 
land.  As  a youth  he  secured  employment  in  the  mines 
as  a mule  driver  and  later  he  had  an  interest  in  sell- 
ing coal  in  Kansas.  He  came  to  Miles  City  in  1882 
and  shortly  thereafter  settled  on  a nearby  ranch,  but 
subsequenth'  engaged  in  coal  mining  on  his  own  ac- 
count, a business  in  which  he  was  engaged  up  to 
1^6.  He  then  embarked  in  the  mercantile  business  in 
Miles  City,  and  in  1887  was  elected  police  magistrate, 
and  later  justice  of  the  peace,  and  subsequently  served 
one  term  as  sheriff  of  Custer  county.  On  completing 
his  term  in  that  office  Mr.  Gibb  turned  his  attention 
to  the  real  estate,  insurance  and  live  stock  business, 
which  he  followed  until  1901,  being  successful  in  his 
ventures  and  accumulating  a handsome  property.  He 
still  acts  as  magistrate  and  justice  of  the  peace,  and 
as  chairman  of  the  city  Republican  committee,  and  for 
four  years  was  chairman  of  the  Republican  central 
committee  of  Custer  county.  He  is  justly  regarded  as 
one  of  the  stalwart  and  influential  Republicans  of  his 
county,  and  is  thoroughly  relied  upon  by  the  leaders 
of  the  party  to  assist  the  organization  during  doubt- 
ful elections.  Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  the  IMa- 
sons,  having  been  made  a member  of  Tarbolton  lodge, 
F.  & A.  M.,  at  Fairbury,  Illinois,  in  1875,  and  at 
this  time  holds  membership  in  Yellowstone  lodge. 
No.  26,  A.  F.  & A.  M..  IMiles  City.  In  1872  he  was 
made  a member  of  Livingston  lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F..  in 
Fairbury,  and  at  this  time  is  a member  of  Custer 
lodge.  No.  13. 

On  September  12,  1867,  Mr.  Gibb  was  married  to 
Miss  Anna  R.  Ireland,  who  was  born  at  jMount  Sav- 
age,_  Maryland,  daughter  of  William  and  Catherine 
( Pride)  Ireland,  natives  of  Baintown,  Fifeshire.  Scot- 
land, both  of  tyhom  are  deceased.  They  had  a fam- 
ily of  four  children,  of  whom  three  are  living,  and 
INIrs.  Gibb  was  the  third  in  order  of  birth.  Air.  Ire- 
land came  to  the  United  States  with  his  wife  and 
children  during  the  early  forties,  and  after  living  in 
Alaryland  for  some  length  of  time  removed  to  La- 
Salle, LaSalle  county,  Illinois,  where  he  engaged  in 
coal  mining,  a business  in  which  he  continued  up  to 
the  time  of  his  death.  Four  children  have  been  born 


1208 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gibb,  namely:  John  F.,  a printer; 

William  A.,  a well-known  dental  practitioner  of  Miles 
City;  Daisy  B.,  wife  of  James  Campbell,  of  Great  Falls, 
Montana;  and  Robert  B.,  a successful  practicing  phy- 
sician and  surgeon  of  Pittsburg,  Kansas. 

John  Gibb  has  had  a long  and  useful  career  in  Mon- 
tana, and  has  done  much  to  bring  about  the  many 
changes  that  have  benefited  this  section  so  greatly. 
His  industry,  enterprise  and  progressive  methods  have 
served  as  an  excellent  example  for  his  fellow  citizens 
to  emulate,  while  his  official  record  is  one  that  stands 
without  stain  or  blemish.  During  the  many  years  that 
he  has  interested  himself  in  fraternal  work  he  has 
made  numerous  friends,  who  have  recognized  and 
appreciated  his  numerous  excellent  traits  of  charac- 
ter, and  in  every  way  he  has  earned  the  respect  and 
esteem  of  his  fellow  townsmen  and  the  right  to  be 
numbered  among  Miles  City’s  representative  citizens. 

Hiram  N.  Gilmore.  One  of  the  reasons  why  so 
many  men  who  have  had  educational  and  other  ad- 
vantages meet  with  failure  in  establishing  themselves 
in  business  is  a lack  of  courage  and  a want  of  per- 
sonal enterprise.  These  qualities  are  absolutely  neces- 
sary to  those  who  would  become  men  of  consequence 
in  any  section  and  particularly  so  in  Montana.  This 
is  a state  of  vast  opportunities,  but  big  men  are  re- 
quired, those  whose  courage  is  equal  to  undertaking 
great  enterprises  and  whose  energy  can  carry  them  to 
the  successful  conclusion  which  their  foresight  enabled 
them  to  see  from  afar.  These  men  evidently  place 
no  limit  to  the  horizon  of  their  endeavor.  Arkansas 
has  sent  such  men  to  Montana,  and  an  example  is 
found  in  Hiram  N.  Gilmore,  who  came  to  Miles  City 
in  1882. 

Hiram  N.  Gilmore  was  born  May  16,  1857,  near  Little 
Rock,  Arkansas,  and  is  a son  of  Daniel  and  Mary 
Gilmore.  The  former  was  born  in  1807,  at  Derry, 
New  Hampshire,  and  died  in  Illinois,  in  1883.  The 
latter  was  born  at  Shelby ville,  Tennessee,  and  died 
during  the  childhood  of  her  son,  Hiram  N.  Of  the 
five  children  of  the  family  he  and  his  sister  Alice  are 
the  only  survivors.  In  1834  Daniel  Gilmore  moved  to 
Arkansas  and  was  the  first  man  to  engage  in  manu- 
facturing the  cotton  he  raised  by  slave  labor  on  his 
plantations  into  cloth  in  that  section.  Subsequently 
he  freed  his  slaves  and  in  1864  removed  to  McLean 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits during  the  rest  of  his  active  life. 

Hiram  N.  Gilmore  was  seven  years  of  age  when 
his  father  moved  to  Illinois  and  he  attended  school  in 
McLean  county  and  also  was  a student  in  the  North- 
western University,  Chicago.  He  began  his  own  busi- 
ness life  when  twenty  years  of  age,  going  then  into 
the  stock  business,  not  only  as  a dealer  but  as  a feeder 
and  breeder  and  at  the  same  time  carried  on  extensive 
farming.  In  1882  he  closed  out  his  interests  in  Illinois 
and  came  to  Miles  City.  Montana,  his  former  success 
making  him  feel  confident  of  still  greater  returns  with 
wider  opportunities.  Here  he  went  into  the  business 
on  a large  scale,  acquiring  4,000  acres  of  land  and 
stocking  it  with  sheep,  cattle  and  horses.  Mr.  Gilmore 
built  his  first  irrigation  ditch  in  1893  and  now  has  1,000 
acres  well  irrigated,  and  has  since  completed  what  is 
considered  a notable  piece  of  engineering.  This  is 
known  as  the  Little  Dry  Canal  Reservoir  and  Ditch, 
which  was  completed  in  1907.  It  extends  a distance 
of  twelve  miles  and  it  is  by  far  the  largest  undertaking 
of  its  kind  in  this  part  of  Montana  that  has  been 
financed  and  projected  by  one  man.\. 

Mr.  Gilmore  was  married  in  1881  to  Miss  Mary 
Marifield,  who  was  born  in  McLean  county,  Illinois, 
and  they  have  five  children,  namely;  Ralph,  Eleanor, 
Olive,  Alice  and  Hiram  R.  Mr.  Gilmore  is  a member 
of  Miles  City  Lodge  No.  537,  Protective  Order  of 
Elks.  He  is  independent  in  his  political  views,  but 


rnay  be  counted  on  to  be  ranged  with  the  best  class  of 
citizens  when  measures  of  moment  are  to  be  decided 
which  are  intended  to  work  for  the  betterment  of 
Montana  and  her  people. 

Howard  B.  Wiley.  Holding  prestige  as  cashier  of 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Miles  City,  Howard  B. 
Wiley  has  attained  a prominent  place  among  the  men 
in  whose  care  the  financial  interests  of  the  state  have 
been  placed,  and  has  so  ' conducted  his  own  affairs 
and  those  of  the  institution  that  he  has  won  the  uni- 
versal confidence  and  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens.  Mr. 
Wiley  is  a member  of  an  old  New  England  family 
which  numbers  among  its  members  those  whose  an- 
cestors fought  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  was  born 
May  24,  1859,  in  Cambridge,  Massachusetts,  a son  of 
Abraham  S.  and  Susan  E.  (Brewer)  Wiley.  His  pa- 
ternal grandfather  was  the  first  treasurer  of  the  old 
Fitchburg  Railroad,  while  on  the  maternal  side  his 
grandfather  was  a wholesale  druggist  in  Boston. 

Abraham  S.  Wiley  was  born  in  Boston,  in  1833,  and 
was  educated  in  the  schools  of  that  city.  He  was 
for  many  years  engaged  in  a wholesale  and  retail  drug 
business  in  Boston,  but  in  1874  removed  to  Detroit, 
Michigan,  and  interested  himself  in  the  manufacture 
of  safes,  as  vice-president  of  the  Detroit  Safe  Com- 
pany. In  1892  he  came  to  Montana,  and  during  the 
following  year  engaged  in  sheep  raising  with  his  son. 
Howard  B.,  near  Ekalaka,  in  Custer  county,  and  con- 
tinued to  follow  that  same  line  until  his  death,  Decem- 
ber 13,  1908.  Fie  was  a prominent  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  and  in  political  matters  was  a 
Republican.  He  and  his  wife,  who  survives  him  and 
makes  her  home  in  Los  Angeles,  California,  had  a 
family  of  seven  children,  of  whom  three  are  now  living; 
Howard  B.,  Bertha  and  Agnes. 

Howard  B.  Wiley  commenced  his  education  in 
Chauncy  Hall,  Boston,  this  being  supplemented  by 
attendance  at  high  school  in  Detroit.  When  he  was 
only  sixteen  years  of  age  he  commenced  work  as  a 
bookkeeper  with  a wholesale  dry  goods  firm  in  Detroit, 
continuing  with  this  firm  from  1876  to  1880,  and  rising 
to  the  position  of  cashier.  In  the  latter  year  he  removed 
to  Fargo,  North  Dakota,  where  he  resided  until  April, 
1882,  at  which  time  he  came  to  Miles  City.  He  con- 
tinued overland  by  stage  to  Billings,  where  he  worked 
as  a bookkeeper  two  years  and  two  months,  subsequent- 
ly going  to  Greenhorn  Gulch  as  bookkeeper  for  a rail- 
road contracting  firm  on  the  line  of  the  Northern  Pacific 
Railroad  Company.  He  returned  to  Billings  in  the 
summer  of  1883,  in  the  fall  of  which  year  he  became 
identified  with  the  First  National  Bank  of  Billings 
in  the  capacity  of  bookkeeper.  In  January,  1884,  Mr. 
Wiley  returned  to  Miles  City,  to  become  assistant 
cashier  of  the  Stock  Growers  National  Bank,  but  in 
July.  1886,  left  the  employ  of  that  institution  to  accept 
a like  position  with  the  First  National  Bank.  Since 
1890  he  has  been  cashier  of  this  bank,  one  of  the 
strongest  financial  institutions  of  Custer  county,  a 
statement  of  which,  as  given  December  5,  1911,  show- 
ing the  affairs  to  be  in  excellent  condition.  Loans 
and  discounts  are  given  as  $1,707,556.79 ; United  States 
bonds,  $156,000.00;  banking  house,  $93,886.33 ; and 
cash  and  exchange,  $580,416.80.  The  capital_  is  $150,- 
000.00;  surplus  and  profits,  $271,641.12;  circulation, 
$146,900.00;  and  deposits,  $1,969,318.80.  As  early  as 
1887  Mr.  Wiley  was  elected  to  the  office  of  city  treas- 
urer, and  so  well  did  he  manage  the  affairs  of  that 
position  that  in  1888  he  was  chosen  mayor,  in  which 
capacity  he  acted  ably  for  one  term,  giving  his  city 
an  excellent  administration.  He  was  one  of  the  seven 
founders  of  the  Miles  City  Club,  in  1884,  and  its  pres- 
ent president;  has  been  president  of  the  Chamber  of 
Commerce  which  office  he  still  holds;  also  president  of 
the  Custer  County  Building  Association,  a flourish- 
ing organization;  and  he  belongs  to  Yellowstone  Lodge, 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1209 


No.  26,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  of  which  he  is  a past  master; 
and  Miles  City  Lodge,  No.  537,  B.  P.  O.  E.  In  politi- 
cal matters  he  is  a Republican.  Mr.  Wiley  is  an 
enthusiastic  huntsman,  and  various  trophies  of  the 
chase  adorn  the  walls  of  his  comfortable  residence  in 
Miles  City 

On  May  15,  1889,  iMr.  Wiley  was  married  to  Miss 
Jennie  L.  Hodges,  who  was  born  at  Richmond,  Ver- 
mont. daughter  of  Julius  Hodges.  Two  children  have 
been  born  to  them : Russell  B.,  born  in  1^2,  who  se- 
cured a high  school  education  in  Detroit,  Michigan;  and 
Arthur  W.,  born  in  1899,  and  now  attending  school  in 
Miles  City.  An  excellent  business  man,  with  a deep 
and  comprehensive  knowledge  of  financial  conditions, 
a citizen  who  considers  it  his  duty  to  advance  the 
best  interests  of  his  community,  and  a man  whose 
popularity  has  been  proved  on  numerous  occasions, 
Mr.  Wiley  maintains  the  respect  of  his  fellow  men 
to  a marked  degree,  and  may  be  well  numbered  among 
the  representative  and  influential  citizens  of  Custer 
county. 

William  Gr.\eow.  Those  travelers  whose  duties  call 
them  to  Livingston,  Montana,  will  usually  find  them- 
selves directed  to  the  Grabow  Hotel,  one  of  the  finest 
hostelries  in  the  state,  the  proprietor  of  which,  William 
Grabow,  has  been  prominent!}'  identified  with  business, 
social  and  political  activities  of  this  section  for  more 
than  thirty  years.  Born  in  Mecklenburg,  Germany, 
August  16,  1850,  the  youngest  of  a family  of  twelve 
children,  of  whom  three  are  now  living,  he  lost  his  par- 
ents when  a mere  child.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm  of 
his  father,  who  also  held  the  office  of  public  administra- 
tor, and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  by  a 
private  tutor.  In  1877  Mr.  Grabow  came  to  the  United 
States  on  a sailing  vessel,  and  after  spending  a short 
time  in  New  York  City,  made  his  way  to  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  where  he  was  employed  for  two  years  by  the 
Standard  Oil  Compan}'.  He  next  removed  with  a 
colony  of  Germans  to  Glenullin,  Morton  county.  North 
Dakota,  where  he  took  up  a homestead  and  engaged  in 
farming  until.  1882,  then  selling  his  interests  and  com- 
ing to  Livingston. 

Mr.  Grabow  accepted  whatever  opportunities  lay 
open  before  him  in  the  way  of  employment  during  the 
first  few  years  of  his  residence  here,  being  connected 
with  a bottling  company,  later  seeing  service  as  an 
employe  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad,  subsequently 
being  engaged  in  putting  up  hay  in  the  Gallatin  valley 
and  farming  in  Park  county  on  the  Shields  river,  and 
finally  engaging  in  the  retail  liquor  business,  which 
occupied  his  attention  until  1911.  In  that  year  he 
moved  into  his  modern  hotel  building,  which  is  fitted 
with  the  finest  equipment,  with  hot  and  cold  water 
in  every  room,  European  cafe  in  connection,  and  every 
known  convenience  for  the  comfort  of  his  guests.  This 
has  become  one  of  the  most  popular  and  largely  patron- 
ized houses  in  this  part  of  the  state,  and  owes  its 
success  directly  to  Mr.  Grabow’s  able  management. 
Always  of  a progressive  and  enterprising  nature,  he 
has  shown  himself  a master  hand  in  organization, 
being  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Livingston  Flour 
Milling  Company,  of  which  he  is  secretary,  one  of  the 
first  stockholders  in  the  First  State  Bank  of  Livingston, 
and  one  of  those  who  introduced  the  manufacture  of 
brick  as  an  industry  in  Livingston.  Fraternal  matters 
have  occupied  a large  part  of  his  time  and  attention, 
and  he  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Sons  of  Her- 
mann, of  which  he  was  the  first  secretary,  and  a mem- 
ber of  the  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles.  Politically  a 
Democrat,  his  popularity  was  shown  when  he  was 
elected  alderman  from  the  First  ward. 

On  September  2,  1892,  Mr.  Grabow  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Burmeister,  who  was 
born  in  Germany,  and  to  this  union  there  have  been 
born  five  children : Edward,  William,  Emma,  Adolph 


and  Harry.  Mr.  Grabow  has  been  successful  in  his 
business  enterprises  because  he  possesses  the  qualities 
which  bring  success, — good  judgment,  business  faculty, 
a high  sense  of  honor  and  a just  appreciation  of  the 
rights  of  others.  During  his  long  residence  in  Liv- 
ingston he  has  gained  a wide  acquaintance,  among 
which  he  numbers  numerous  warm  friends. 

John  W.  Newton.  Years  ago  when  such  a thing  as 
fences  were  unheard  of  in  the  virgin  western  states, 
the  ranchmen,  the  big  cattle  kings,  ruled  the  country. 
All  the  life  of  the  plains  radiated  around  them  and 
their  homes.  Wealthy  and  powerful,  they  held  undis- 
puted right  over  the  thousands  of  miles  of  ranges.  Since 
that  time,  with  the  slow  approach  of  settlers,  of  fences, 
of  railroads,  of  towns,  their  domain  has  been  forced 
into  smaller  and  smaller  limits  until,  though  still  retain- 
ing the  wealth  of  the  earlier  days,  they  have  had  to  ac- 
commodate themselves  to  other  conditions,  and  if  they 
were  to  hold  their  prestige,  to  attain  prominence  in  the 
ways  which  the  modern  community  offers.  Such  a 
man  is  John  W.  Newton  of  Roundup,  hlontana.  Once 
a great  cattle  king,  he  was  able,  when  the  advance  agents 
of  civilization  appropriated  his  ranges,  to  turn  his 
talents  to  other  directions  and  to  become  as  prominent 
a man  among  a people  of  tamer  pursuits  as  he  used 
to  be  among  their  forerunners. 

iMr.  Newton's  father,  Sylvester  S.  Newton,  was  born 
in  New  York,  but  moved  to  Illinois  as  a young  man. 
After  several  years’  residence  there  he  moved  on  to 
Wyoming  where  he  engaged  in  business  as  a farmer  and 
stockraiser.  He  served  in  the  Union  army  at  the 
time  of  the  Civil  war  as  the  captain  of  a company,  and 
took  part  in  many  engagements,  distinguishing  him- 
self to  such  an  extent  that  at  the  end  of  the  war  he 
was  promoted  to  provost  marshal.  Although  an  active 
politician,  he  also  took  an  intense  interest  in  the  church. 
He  died  in  1909  at  the  age  of  eighty-six,  and  was  buried 
in  Cody,  Wyoming.  His  wife,  Eliza  Stratton,  whom  he 
married  in  Illinois  and  who  is  now  living  in  Cody,  was 
the  first  white  child  born  in  Bureau  county,  Illinois. 
They  had  nine  children  who  are  scattered  over  several 
states,  of  whom  John  W.  was  the  second  child  and  the 
oldest  son. 

John  W.  Newton  was  born  in  Princeton,  Bureau 
county,  Illinois,  August  24,  1853,  and  lived  there  until 
he  was  about  twenty-seven  years  old.  He  then  started 
west  intending  to  go  to  Montana.  He  stopped  in  Iowa 
for  three  years,  however,  and  it  was  two  years  more  be- 
fore he  finally  reached  hlontana.  During  his  residence 
in  Iowa  he  engaged  in  the  stock  business,  an  occupation 
that  had  come  to  him  partly  by  chance.  When  his  father 
entered  the  army  it  was  necessary  that  he,  as  the  eldest 
boy,  should  take  charge  of  the  family.  This  necessitated 
his  leaving  the  public  school,  which  he  had  been  attend- 
ing, and  going  to  work.  He  took  the  first  position  that 
was  offered  him,  which  happened  to  be  that  of  cattle  buy- 
er for  a butchering  firm.  Thus  on  his  arrival  in  Iowa  he 
took  up  the  work  that  he  knew  best.  While  in  the  latter 
state  he  broke  a record  that  has  never  been  equaled 
since.  He  shipped  one  hundred  and  eight  cars  of  stock 
in  one  year  and  received  one  thousand  dollars  in  rebate 
from  the  Burlington  railroad. 

From  Iowa  he  came  on  to  Montana  with  a herd  of  cat- 
tle, reaching  the  latter  state  in  October,  1885.  The  win- 
ters of  1886  and  1887  were  severe,  and  every  one  of  his 
cattle  froze  to  death.  To  make  matters  worse  the 
Indians  stole  all  his  horses.  He  was  soon  able  to  re- 
trieve his  fortunes,  however,  so  that  he  lost  no  faith  in 
the  promises  which  jMontana  has  always  held  out  to  the 
younger  generation.  He  settled  in  the  Musselshell  val- 
ley at  the  time,  and  has  never  moved  since.  Besides 
his  stock  and  ranching  interests,  he  conducts  many 
other  enterprises,  and  is  one  of  the  most  influential 
business  men  in  Roundup.  He  is  president  of  the 
Newton  Hardware  company  and  of  the  Newton  Lum- 


1210 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


ber  Company ; was  one  of  the  original  organizers  and 
the  first  president  of  the  Citizens  State  Bank,  and  is 
still  interested  in  it. 

Mr.  Newton  was  the  first  mayor  of  Roundup  and 
served  two  terms  in  that  office.  He  has  been  city  treas- 
urer, and  has  also  been  connected  with  the  school  board. 
Although  he  has  taken  little  active  part  in  his  party, 
he  is  so  influential  as  a Republican,  that  he  has  already 
been  mentioned  for  various  political  offices,  and  will 
probably  be  asked  to  accept  one  of  them  in  the  near  fu- 
ture. He  is  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Commercial 
club,  and  is  also  a member  of  the  Pioneer  club  and  the 
Masonic  fraternity. 

Mr.  Newton  was  married  in  1877  in  Bureau  county, 
Illinois,  to  Marian  A.  Dungan,  the  daughter  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Joseph  Dungan  of  Bureau  county,  and  they  be- 
came the  parents  of  six  children,  four  boys  and  two 
girls.  Ray  and  Wesley  are  still  at  home.  'Ethel  is  the 
wife  of  George  Smith  and  lives  near  Roundup,  and 
Marie  is  married  to  Herman  Wyman,  of  Billings. 
Parker  L.  and  Hawley  H.  are  both  married,  and  live  at 
or  near  Roundup.  Mr.  and  j\Irs.  Newton  attend  the 
Methodist  church,  the  latter  being  an  active  worker  of 
the  Ladies’  Aid  Society.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Newton  have 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  homes  in  the  Musselshell 
valley. 

John  Killom.  The  duties  and  responsibilities  rest- 
ing on  the  shoulders  of  those  who  occupy  the  office  of 
sheriff  are  of  such  a nature  as  to  make  it  necessary 
that  only  men  of  the  utmost  courage,  self-reliance  and 
integrity  be  chosen  to  hold  such  a position.  The  old 
days  of  the  open  range,  the  wide-open  mining  camps 
and  the  lawlessness  of  the  frontier  have  passed,  but 
there  is  still  plenty  of  arduous,  dangerous  work  to  be 
found  by  the  alert  and  conscientious  representative  of 
law  and  order,  and  for  this  reason  Park  county  may  be 
congratulated  that  it  has  for  its  sheriff  such  an  efficient 
official  as  John  Killom.  Mr.  Killom  was  born  at  Met- 
tlebridge,  England,  April  3,  1868,  -and  is  a son  of  Peter 
and  Sarah  (Storrer)  Killom. 

Peter  Killom  was  born  in  Ireland,  but  as  a young  man 
went  to  England,  there  followed  mining  and  farming 
until  i86'9,  when  he  came  to  the  United  States.  First 
settling  in  Ohio,  he  followed  the  same  occupations 
until  1882,  and  then  removed  to  Butte,  Montana,  where 
he  was  for . one  year  a contractor  in  copper  mining 
properties,  and  finally  settled  in  Chestnut,  Gallatin 
county,  where  after  two  years  of  coal  contracting  and 
farming,  he  died  at  the  age  of  forty-five  years.  His 
wife,  to  whom  he  was  married  in  England,  passed 
away  in  1899,  at  the  age  of  fifty-two  years,  having 
been  the  mother  of  eight  children,  as  follows : George 

S.,  born  in  England,  and  now  living  in  Carbon  county, 
Montana ; John ; Martha,  born  in  Ohio,  now  the  wife 
of  F.  C.  Sumner,  of  Park  county,  Montana;  James, 
living  in  Park  county;  Joseph,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years;  Peter  and  William,  who  are  resi-, 
dents  of  Park  county;  and  Katherine,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  seventeen  years. 

John  Killom  was  one  year  old  when  he  was  brought 
to  the  United  States,  and  his  education  was  secured 
in  the  public  schools  of  Ohio  and  Missouri,  and  a night 
school  in  Bozeman.  Montana.  When  he  had  completed 
liis  educational  training,  he  became  a cowboy,  at  which 
he  worked  two  years,  then  engaging  in  the  stock  busi- 
ness. in  which  he  has  continued  since  1895.  He  has 
a fine  property  located  near  Clyde  Park,  Montana, 
where  his  home  is  situated,  and  there  raises  blooded 
cattle  and  horses  for  the  eastern  markets,  and  each 
year  has  seen  his  operations  extending  in  scope.  In 
1905  he  served  as  deputy  sheriff  of  Park  county,  and  in 
November,  1910,  became  the  candidate  on  the  Demo- 
cratic ticket  for  the  position  of  sheriff,  being  elected 

by  a handsome  majoritv  and  was  re-elected  November 

S,  1912.  He  has  proven  that  the  voters  of  the  county 


made  no  mistake  in  choosing  him  for  this  responsible 
office,  and  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties  has  made  a 
record  that  has  won  the  unqualified  approval  of  Park 
county’s  citizens.  Fraternally,  he  is  connected  with 
the  Order  of  the  Moose,  and  Livingston  lodge,  B P. 
O.  E. 

On  October  17,  1891,  Mr.  Killom  was  married  to 
Miss  Ellen  Lewis,  oldest  of  the  seven  children  of  Robert 
and  Harriet  (Cassel)  Lewis,  the  former  a native  of 
Wales  and  the  latter  of  England.  Mr.  Lewis  came 
to  the  United  States  in  1882,  bringing  his  family 
to  Colorado,  and  subsequently  moved  to  Montana, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  mining  until  1912,  agricul- 
tural pursuits  having  engrossed  his  attention  since 
that  time.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Killom  have  been  the  par- 
ents of  four  children;  George  L.,  Ella,  John  and 
Jennie. 

Henry  Frank.  In  perpetuating,  in  words  more  en- 
during than  monuments  of  brass  or  stone,  the  memory 
of  men  of  prominence  whose  active  and  valuable  lives 
have  been  passed  in  Helena,  the  pages  of  this  volume 
would  be  incomplete  were  mention  not  made  of  Henry 
Frank,  who  during  a long  and  useful  career  has  done 
much  to  build  up  the  industrial  importance  of  Living- 
ston. Coming  to  this  country  as  a young  German 
immigrant,  wtih  little  capital  save  an  active,  energetic 
mind  and  a willingness  to  do  well  whatever  occupation 
lay  before  him,  he  has  so  conducted  his  life  as  to 
build  up  a flourishing  business  and  to  gain  and  retain 
the  high  regard  of  his  fellow  men.  Mr.  Frank  was 
born  in  Posen,  Germany,  May  28,  1843,  and  is  a son 
of  Moses  and  Pauline  (Rosenbaum)  Frank,  also  natives 
of  Posen. 

Moses  Frank  was  born  in  1806  and  for  many  years 
was  engaged  in  a tailoring  business  at  Murowana 
Goslin,  Province  of  Posen,  Germany,  where  his  death 
occurred  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years,  while  his  wife 
passed  away  in  1876,  at  the  age  of  seventy  years.  Of 
their  six  children,  three  are  living;  Llenry;  Mena,  the 
wife  of  Jacob  Lachinski ; and  Jennie,  the  widow  of  Mr. 
Silverman.  After  securing  an  education  in  the  schools 
of  his  native  locality,  Henry  Frank  learned  the  trade 
of  tailor  in  the  shop  of  his  father,  and  on  attaining 
his  majority  joined  the  German  army,  as  is  customary 
with  the  youth  of  that  country.  He  served  as  a soldier 
for  two  years  and  eleven  months,  and  in  1864  decided 
to  try  his  fortunes  in  the  United  States,  subsequently 
landing  in  New  York  City  in  November  of  that  year. 
He  spent  but  a short  time  in  the  metropolis,  however, 
but  removed  to  Yonkers,  New  York,  and  was  there 
about  six  months.  He  next  located  in  Natchez,  Mis- 
sissippi, and  in  the  fall  of  1866  went  up  the  river  to 
St.  Louis,  Missouri,  where  he  remained  until  the  spring 
of  1867,  then  coming  up  the  Missouri  river  on  the 
steamer  Silver  Lake  No.  4 to  Fort  Benton.  At  that 
point  he  worked  at  his  trade  from  July  8,  1867,  until 
March  12,  1868,  and  on  the  latter  date  joined  a bull 
train  that  traveled  overland  twenty-eight  miles  through 
Spring  Wolf  Creek  and  Silver  City  to  Helena,  Montana. 
At  that  time  anything  like  a decent  meal  could  not  be 
obtained  under  three  dollars,  and  potatoes  were  sell- 
ing for  sixty-five  dollars  per  sack,  while  a bag  of  flour 
cost  one  hundred  and  ten  dollars.  At  first  prospects 
did  not  look  bright  to  the  young  tailor,  but  he  man- 
aged to  get  a start,  and  continued  in  the  tailoring  busi- 
ness until  the  fall  of  1879,  when  he  traveled  overland 
and  by  boat  back  to  St.  Louis.  In  St.  Louis,  December 
12,  1879,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Barbara  H.  Hartman, 
a native  of  Bohemia,  and  to  this  union  there  were 
born  seven  children : Moses ; Solomon ; Theodore 

LI. ; Julius  LL,  who  died  March  21,  1912;  Percy  H. ; 
Adolph  H.  and  Hilda. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frank  remained  in  St.  Louis  until  1882, 
then  returning  to  Montana  by  way  of  rail  as  far 
as  Huntley  and  overland  to  Clark  City,  which  today 


r., 

■ 


ii'j 


: ■ . 


I 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1211 


bears  the  name  of  Livingston.  Engaging  in  the  mer- 
chant tailoring  and  clothing  business  in  a small  way, 
Mr.  Frank  has  continued  therein  to  the  present  time, 
and  with  his  sons  has  built  up  one  of  the  leading  ven- 
tures of  its  kind  in  this  section.  In  1884  he  erected 
his  first  store  building  on  Park  street,  and  later  added 
to  this  building,  which  is  now  known  as  the  Living- 
ston Hotel,  and  is  being  ably  and  profitably  conducted 
by  Mrs.  Frank.  In  1890  Mr.  Frank  erected  a modern 
brick  store,  two  stories  in  height,  at  No.  114  North 
Main  street,  where  the  business  is  now  located.  iMr. 
Frank  is  primarily  a business  man  and  has  found  no 
time  to  enter  the  political  arena,  but  takes  pleasure  in 
fraternal  work.  He  has  attained  to  the  thirty-third 
degree  in  Masonry,  belonging  to  Livingston  Lodge  No. 
42.  A.  .F.  & A.  M.,  Particular  Consistory  of  Eastern 
Montana  No.  i,  and  Algeria  Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  IM.  S., 
of  Helena.  His  long  residence  in  the  city  has  gained 
him  a wide  acquaintance,  among  which  he  can  number 
numerous  warm  friends.  I\Ir.  Frank's  career  proves 
what  has  been  said  of  another,  that  ‘‘the  country  is 
indeed  fortunate  which  not  only  possesses  citizens 
of  this  type  but  is  capable  of  developing  them  from  poor 
young  immigrants.”  He  has  shown  how  greatly  this 
country  is  blessed  by  the  presence  on  its  soil  of  men 
of  the  highest  worth  who  were  born  in  other  lands. 

Arthur  W.  IMiles.  In  the  front  rank  of  ^Montana's 
successful  business  men,  stands  Arthur  W.  IMiles,  who, 
for  almost  thirty  years  has  been  a resident  of  Livings- 
ton, and  it  would  be  difficult  to  name  any  important 
business  enterprise  of  this  place  which,  at  some  time 
or  another,  has  not  felt  his  influence  or  fostering  care, 
while  no  public  movement  has  ever  been  inaugurated 
here  for  the  general  welfare,  that  has  not  been  assisted 
and  furthered  by  him.  He  is  a man  of  energy  and  ac- 
complishment, earnest,  practical,  broad-minded  and  suc- 
cessful. He  was  born  June  20,  1859,  at  Westminster, 
Massachusetts,  and  is  a son  of  Daniel  C.  and  IMary 
Jane  (Puffer)  Miles,  and  a nephew  of  General  Nelson 
A.  Miles,  commander-in-chief  of  the  Llnited  States 
army.  In  the  lately  issued  book  of  recollections. 
General  Miles  traces  clearly  the  family  ancestry  back 
to  its  earlv  colonial  settlement  in  America. 

Arthur  W.  iMiles  was  educated  very  thoroughly  and 
in  the  class  of  1878  was  graduated  from  Wesleyan  ,A.cad- 
emy,  a noted  institution  of  the  jMethodist  faith,  at 
Wilbraham,  Massachusetts.  After  teaching  one  term 
of  school  at  Westminster,  he  was  tendered  and  ac- 
cepted a position  of  paymaster's  clerk,  in  the  regular 
army,  and  served  one  year  under  Major  G.  W.  Baird, 
at  Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico,  being  then  promoted  and 
transferred  to  Fort  Keogh,  Montana,  where  he  entered 
upon  his  duties  in  October,  1880,  and  has  been  a resi- 
dent of  this  state  ever  since.  He  remained  in  his 
government  position  for  two  and  one-half  years  longer 
and  then  determined  to  embark  in  business  for  him- 
self and  sent  in  his  resignation  to  the  authorities.  For 
a few  months  he  engaged  in  the  hardware  business  at 
Coulson  and  then  removed  to  Billings  and  has  the  rec- 
ord of  having  erected  the  first  store  building  in  that 
city,  and  in  1882  he  formed  the  firm  of  Babcock  & 
iMiles,  in  oartnership  with  A.  L.  Babcock,  which  existed 
for  a period  of  ten  years. 

In  the  winter  of  1882-1883  i\Ir.  Miles  opened  a store 
at  Livingston,  and  the  firm  opened  first  a branch  store 
at  Gardiner,  Montana,  and  in  1886  branch  stores  at  Big 
Timber  and  Red  Lodge  and  subsequently  a branch  store 
at  Castle,  Montana.  In  1892  the  Babcock  & Miles  part- 
nership was  dissolved.  Mr.  Miles  taking  over  a part  of 
the  company  interests,  particularly  those  at  Livingston, 
but  they  have  continued  their  business  relations  in  other 
enterprises.  Having  decided  to  make  Livingston  his 
permanent  home,  iMr.  Miles,  in  1889,  erected  the  hand- 
some modern  structure  on  Main  street,  known'  as  the 
Miles  block  and  equipped  it  with  steam  and  electricity. 


making  it  one  of  the  finest  business  buildings  yet  erected 
in  Montana.  He  owns  many  blocks  of  valuable  real 
estate  here,  improved  and  otherwise,  and  has  property 
in  adjacent  cities  and  country  lands.  As  mentioned 
above  he  has  been  interested  in  numerous  successful 
business  agencies  that  have  developed  this  section. 
He  is  president  of  the  Livingston  Milling  Company, 
and  since  1900  has  made  investments  in  lumber  and 
brick  manufacturing  and  has  been  agent  for  the  Rocky 
Fork  Coal  Company.  It  was  Mr.  Allies  who  erected 
the  postoffice  block  at  Livingston,  a structure  that 
would  be  creditable  in  any  eastern  city.  His  fine  ranch 
of  840  acres  is  situated  on  Shields  river  and  there  he 
raises  some  of  the  best  stock  that  Montana  produces. 
He  has  extensive  general  mercantile  interests  covering 
a wide  territory  and  in  1908  he  established  a general 
merchandise  store  at  Clyde  Park,  Montana,  and  in 
1912  another  at  Wilsall,  Montana.  He  is  president  of 
the  A.  W.  Allies  Company;  president  of  the  Thompson 
Company ; and  president  and  manager  of  the  Wylie 
Permanent  Camping  Company,  National  Park,  a large 
tourist  business  being  done  by  this  company. 

Notwithstanding  his  numerous  and  important  busi- 
ness interests.  Air.  Allies  has  somehow  found  time  for 
public  activities.  A zealous  Republican  he  has  fre- 
quently been  honored  by  his  party  and  his  public  services 
have  been  of  such  a character  as  to  reflect  credit  upon 
his  constituents  and  state.  He  served  the  first  two  terms 
as  mayor  of  Livingston,  givin.g  the  city  an  admirable 
business  administration.  In  November,  1905,  he  was 
elected  to  the  state  senate  and  served  for  four  years, 
being  permanent  chairman  of  that  body,  later  also 
president  of  the  senate  and  durin.g  the  absence  of 
Governor  Norris,  served  as  acting  governor,  his  eminent 
qualifications  causing  his  selection  from  the  body  of  able 
men  for  this  high  position.  He  has  been  identified 
also  with  the  city’s  banking  interests  as  vice  president 
of  the  Livingston  National  Bank  and  a director  of  the 
Park  National  Bank. 

Air.  Allies  was  married  December  19.  1885.  to  Aliss 
Idella  AI.  Draper,  who  was  born  at  Holliston,  Alassa- 
chusetts,  and  is  a daughter  of  W.  H.  and  Sarah  L. 
(Perry)  Draper,  of  old  New  England  stock.  Air.  and 
Airs.  Allies  have  had  four  children:  Louise  Gertrude, 
who  was  educated  at  Carlton  College,  Northfield,  Minne- 
sota, was  married  November  3,  1910,  to  Thomas  E. 
Mitchell,  mana.ger  of  Leonard  Aline  of  Butte,  and  they 
have  one  son.  Robert  Arthur,  and  reside  at  Butte,  Alon- 
tana : Daniel  Nelson,  who  is  a graduate  of  Amherst 
College,  in  the  class  of  1912;  Adena  Josephine,  who  is 
a student  at  Alt.  'Vernon  Seminary,  Washington,  D.  C., 
and  Perry,  who  is  now  deceased.  Air.  Allies  has  served 
on  many  administrative  boards,  public  spirited  and 
benevolent,  and  is  a man  noted  for  his  generosity  in  the 
cause  of  charity.  Fraternally,  he  is  connected  with  and 
actively  interested  in  the  A.  F.  & A.  AL,  Shrine  Algeria 
Temple  of  Helena,  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Elks. 

Adelbert  Whitney.  Left  fatherless  at  the  age  of 
four  years,  the  boyhood  of  Adelbert  Whitnerv  of  Big 
Timber,  was  filled  with  hard  and  unceasing  labor,  and 
since  his  earliest  3’outh  he  has  been  largely  dependent 
on  his  own  efforts  for  a livelihood,  but  so  industriously 
and  perseveringly  has  he  labored  that  he  has  become 
one  of  the  most  successful  ranchmen  of  Sweet  Grass 
county,  is  widely  known  in  financial  circles  and  in 
social  activities,  and  has  a firm  footing  in  the  confidence 
and  regard  of  the  people  who  have  the  pleasure  of 
knowing  him.  Air.  Whitney  is  a product  of  the  New 
England  states,  having  been  born  in  Waldo  township, 
Waldo  county,  Alaine,  Alay  29,  1864,  and  is  a son  of 
Henry  and  Alartha  Ellen  (Alerriam)  Whitney. 

Henry  Whitney  was  born  in  Alorrill,  Waldo  county, 
Alaine,  in  1823,  and  as  a youth  was  engaged  in  farming, 
but  in  1857  went  to  California  via  sailing  vessel  around 
the  Horn,  and  spent  some  years  in  mining.  On  his 


1212 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


return  to  his  native  vicinity  he  was  married  and  settled 
down  to  farming  in  Waldo  township,  where  he  died  in 
I1S68.  In  political  matters  he  was  originally  a Whig 
and  later  a Republican,  but  never  took  an  active  part 
in  public  affairs.  He  and  his  wife,  who  survived  him 
until  1908  and  died  in  North  Yakima,  Washington,  had 
but  one  child,  Adelbert. 

After  securing  a somewhat  limited  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Waldo  township,  Adelbert  Whitney 
worked  on  the  home  farm  until  1^2,  in  which  year  he 
came  west  to  Fort  Keogh  by  rail,  then  going  to  Old 
Coulson  by  stage  and  up  the  Musselshell  river  to 
Merino,  now  known  as  Flarlowton.  He  located  at  the 
mouth  of  the  American  Fork,  on  the  Musselshell,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  sheep  business  until  1884,  in  which 
j'ear  he  located  in  what  is  known  as  the  Lake  Basin 
country,  wliere  he  continued  to  be  engaged  in  sheep 
raising  for  a long  period  of  years.  Subsequently  he 
turned  his  attention  to  the  cattle  business,  and  he  still 
superintends  the  operations  on  his  ranch  located  nine 
miles  from  Big  Timber,  in  addition  to  which  he  owns 
another  fine  property  in  Sweet  Grass  county.  Since 
1900,  however,  he  has  made  his  home  in  Big  Timber, 
and  here  he  has  been  associated  with  some  of  the  lead- 
ing business  man  of  the  section  in  large  ventures.  Fie 
is  vice-president  of  the  Citizens  State  Bank  of  Big 
Timber,  and  a heavy  stockholder  in  the  Big  Timber 
National  Bank.  In  1906  he  was  the  Republican  ap- 
pointee for  the  office  of  under  sheriff  of  Sweet  Grass 
county,  and  served  in  that  office  until  March,  1908.  Fra- 
ternally he  is  connected  with  Livingston  Lodge  No. 
246,  B.  P.  O.  E.,  and  Doric  Lodge  No.  53,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.,  Livingston  Chapter  No.  7,  R.  A.  M.,  and  St. 
Bernard  Commandery  No.  6,  K.  T.,  also  charter  member 
of  K.  of  P.  lodge  25  of  Big  Timber.  Mr.  Whitney  is 
a wide-awake  and  public-spirited  man.  Fie  is  always 
at  the  front  of  every  movement  which  tends  to  the 
improvement  or  elevation  of  the  community,  or  in  which 
its  safety  or  welfare  is  involved.  In  civil  affairs  he 
has  ungrudgingly  borne  his  part  in  every  way,  and  in  his 
fraternal  associations  he  has  contributed  essentially  to 
the  advancement  and  success  of  the  orders  with  which 
he  is  connected.  During  his  long  residence  in  the 
Sweet  Grass  country  he  has  made  many  acquaintances, 
among  whom  he  numbers  a host  of  warm  friends. 

On  March  23,  1891,  Mr.  Whitney  was  married  to 
Miss  Lena  M.  Flaney,  who  was  born  in  Belfast,  Maine, 
daughter  of  Charles  W.  and  Ridora  (Cunningham) 
Haney.  Mr.  Flaney  was  born  in  Waldo  county,  Maine, 
in  1842,  and  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  enlisted 
in  Company  I,  Twenty-sixth  Regiment,  Maine  Vol- 
unteer Infantry.  On  his  return  to  Belfast  he  became 
a prominent  merchant,  one  of  his  community’s  best 
known  citizens,  an  active  Republican,  and  a man  promi- 
nent in  IMasonry  and  Oddfellowship.  He  and  his  wife 
had  three  daughters’:  Nellie,  the  wife  of  F.  C.  Winters, 
living  in  Winthrop  Beach,  Massachusetts;  Mrs.  Whit- 
ney : and  Inez,  the  wife  of  W.  C.  Gorton,  of  San  Diego, 
California. 

Alfred  Croonquist.  president  of  the  Croonquist  Mer- 
cantile Company  and  one  of  the  leading  business  citi- 
zens of  Red  Lodge,  came  to  Montana  about  thirty  years 
ago,  and  has  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  time  since 
1882  in  mercantile  pursuits  here.  His  career  is  a 
striking  example  of  the  results  to  be  secured  by  hard 
and  persistent  labor,  directed  along  the  proper  chan- 
nels, and  demonstrates  that  industry,  honesty  and  per- 
severance will  overcome  all  obstacles  and  that  it  is  not 
necessary  for  a man  possessed  of  these  attributes  to  be 
given  any  financial  aid  at  the  start  of  his  business  life. 
He  was  born  in  Sweden,  September  19,  1862,  and  came 
to  this  country  as  a poor  emigrant  lad  of  nine  years 
with  his  brother,_  Frank.  Landing  in  New  York  City, 
the  youthful  emigrants  made  their  way  to  St.  Paul, 
Minnesota.  It  was  necessary  that  Alfred  should  sup- 


port himself,  so  he  learned  the  tinsmith’s  trade,  in  the 
meantime  attending  school  whenever  he  could  get  the 
chance,  in  order  to  familiarize  himself  with  the  Eng- 
lish tongue.  Finally  his  apprenticeship  was  completed 
and  he  secured  his  first  employment  from  George  L. 
Farwell,  one  of  the  leading  hardware  merchants  of  St. 
Paul,  in  whose  employ  he  continued  for  three  years, 
but  in  1881  moved  to  Moscow,  Idaho,  and  for  about 
one  year  worked  as  a farm  hand.  In  the  summer  of 
1882  he  became  connected  with  the  Northern  Pacific 
Railroad,  as  a member  of  a construction  gang  doing 
work  in  Idaho.  Not  long  afterward  he  left  Thompson 
Falls,  Idaho,  for  Billings,  Montana,  overland  on  foot 
and  then  by  rail  to  St.  Paul,  where  he  spent  the  winter 
of  1882-3.  In  the  spring  of  1883  he  came  to  Livingston, 
Montana,  and  engaged  in  the  confectionery  business  on 
his  own  account,  a venture  in  which  he  successfully 
continued  until  1892.  At  that  time  he  went  to  the 
Yakima  valley,  in  Washington,  and  until  1897  fol- 
lowed fruit  raising,  but  in  that  year  returned  to  Mon- 
tana and  settled  in  a general  merchandise  business  at 
Carbonado.  The  year  1900  saw  his  advent  in  Red 
Lodge,  where  he  has  since  carried  on  a general  mer- 
chandise business,  being  president  of  the  Croonquist  , 
Mercantile  Company,  his  son,  Alfred  FL,  acting  in  the 
capacity  of  vice-president  of  the  concern,  while  another 
son,  Harold  S.,  is  secretary.  This  establishment  has 
a steady  growth,  and  now  controls  a large  share  of 
business  throughout  Carbon  county.  Mr.  Croonquist  is 
known  as  a man  of  sound  business  judgment  and  un- 
questioned integrity.  He  is  an  excellent  manager  and 
a friend  of  progress,  championing  and  adopting  any 
changes  he  believes  will  work  for  the  ultimate  benefit 
of  all  concerned,  and  being  foremost  among  the  public- 
spirited  citizens  of  Red  Lodge  who  are  behind  measures 
for  the  betterment  of  the  community.  His  political  con- 
victions are  those  of  the  Republican  party,  and  he  has 
served  very  acceptably  as  alderman  from  the  Third 
ward.  His  place  of  business  is  situated  at  No.  301 
South  Billings  street,  where  he  has  a well-equipped 
establishment,  carrying  a full  line  of  the  most  up-to- 
date  goods  to  be  found  in  his  business. 

On  December  26,  1890,  Mr.  Croonquist  was  married 
to  Miss  Mabel  Harrison,  who  was  born  in  Waterbury, 
Connecticut,  daughter  of  Stephen  and  Ella  (Shepard) 
Harrison,  of  New  England,  both  of  whom  are  de- 
ceased. Mrs.  Croonquist  is  the  eldest  of  five  children. 
Seven  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Croon- 
quist : Alfred  H.,  Harold  S.,  Hugh  A.,  Mabel  M., 

Stanley  M.,  Ella  S.,  and  Alice. 

George  E.  Simon.  A review  of  the  successful  men 
of  Park  county  shows  no  more  striking  example  of 
self-made  manhood  or  youthful  courage  and  perse- 
verance than  the  career  of  George  E.  Simon,  one  of 
the  leading  merchants  of  Livingston,  who,  as  a youth 
of  sixteen  years,  was  a member  of  a party  under  the 
famous  scout,  William  Frederick  Cody  (“Buffalo  Bill”), 
on  an  expedition  in  the  Black  Hills.  His  early  life  was 
filled  with  misfortunes  and  hardships  that  would  have 
broken  the  spirit  of  a less  courageous  lad,  but  he  even- 
tually triumphed  over  all  obstacles,  fighting  his  \vay 
steadfastly  forward,  and  now  enjoys  business  prestige 
and  the  esteem  of  those  of  the  community  in  which  his 
activities  have  been  pursued.  Mr.  Simon  was_  born 
December  12,  i860,  in  Aurora,  Kane  county,  Illinois,  and 
is  a son  of  John  and  Mary  (Bourke)  Simon,  natives 
respectively  of  Germany  and  France.  John  Simon 
came  to  the  United  States  as  a younng  man,  locating 
in  Aurora,  Illinois,  where  he  worked  at  various  occu- 
pations and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  in  the  employ 
of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  & Quincy  Railroad.  He  and 
his  wife  had  four  children;  George  E. ; Joseph,  who 
also  lives  in  Livingston:  Fred  M. ; and  Marie. 

The  early  education  of  George  E.  Simon  was  some- 
what limited,  as  his  father  died  when  he  was  a mere 


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HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


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child,  and  his  mother  passed  away  when  he  was  but 
nine  years  of  age.  After  the  latter  event  he  went  to 
live  with  a family  in  Aurora,  but  the  youth  was  mis- 
treated, and  when  he  was  sixteen  years  of'  age  decided 
to  run  away  and  make  his  own  way  in  the  world. 
From  various  sources  he  had  heard  of  the  prowess  of 
the  great  "Buffalo  Bill,”  the  American  scout,  frontiers- 
man and  Indian  fighter,  and  longed  to  participate  in  the 
exploits  of  the  hero  of  his  youthful  dreams.  Eventual- 
ly, learning  that  Col.  Cody  was  at  Cheyenne,  Wyo- 
ming, he  made  his  way  to  that  point  as  best  he  could, 
stealing  rides  on  the  trains  and  accomplishing  much  of 
the  journey  on  foot.  He  left  Aurora  early  in  the 
spring  of  1876  and  it  was  June  before  he  reached  Chey- 
enne, but  there  he  found  the  object  of  his  search  who 
was  about  ready  to  start  with  an  outfit  of  forty-seven 
men  for  the  Black  Hills,  with  a bull  and  cow  train,  mules 
and  saddlehorses.  Young  Simon  approached  the  great 
scout  and  informed  him  he  was  desirous  of  becoming 
one  of  the  party,  but  Cody  at  first  utterly  refused,  with 
the  curt  statement  that  he  “wanted  men  and  not  boys 
in  his  party,”  but  the  evident  earnestness  and  sincerity 
of  the  lad  finally  impressed  him,  and  perhaps,  too,  he 
realized  that  here  w'as  a youth  possessed  of  more  than 
ordinary  qualifications,  wdio  could  be  relied  upon  to  bear 
his  share  of  the  burdens  without  complaint,  for  he 
finally  gave  his  consent,  and  George  E.  Simon  became 
a regular  member  of  the  party.  To  the  youth  whose 
life  had  up  to  that  time  been  spent  in  the  peaceful 
country  of  Illinois,  the  trip  that  followed  was  a hard 
and  wearisome  one,  but  the  thrilling  adventures,  the 
continuous  experiences  wdth  the  Indians,  in  which  sev- 
eral of  the  party  w'ere  wounded  by  the  Sioux  and  a 
number  of  the  stock  stolen,  and  the  great  .and  beautiful 
country  through  which  the  journey  was  made,  proved 
ample  remuneration  for  the  hardships  encountered,  and 
he  earned  the  admiration  of  the  older  men  of  the  party 
by  the  plucky  spirit  he  displayed  at  all  times.  Arriving 
at  the  Black  Hills,  the  party  at  once  engaged  in  placer 
mining,  and  the  venture  proved  to  be  only  another  of 
the  fortunate  enterprises  with  wdiich  Colonel  Cody  was 
constantly  being  identified.  Having  acquired  what  he 
considered  a competence,  in  1882  Mr.  Simon  went  to 
Miles  City  by  stage,  arid  a short  time  thereafter  was  a 
passenger  on  the  first  train  sent  over  the  Northern 
Pacific  Railroad  to  the  old  town  of  Coulson,  located 
near  the  present  site  of  Billings.  Later  he  settled  in 
that  city,  where  he  w'as  engaged  in  clerking  until  the 
spring  of  1888,  and  since  that  year  has  been  a resi- 
dent of  Livingston.  He  was  connected  with  the  A.  Krie- 
ger  Companj^  engaged  in  the  furniture  and  undertaking 
business,  until  1900,  and  in  that  year  established  himself 
in  the  dry  goods  business,  now  having  a large  establish- 
ment and  well-selected  stock  of  goods  at  No.  108  South 
Main  street.  He  is  a director  in  the  First  State  Bank, 
and  also  has  extensive  holdings  in  other  enterprises, 
among  them  the  Carr  Mercantile  Company,  of  Spokane, 
Washington.  He  is  a Republican  in  his  political  views, 
but  his  business  interests  have  been  such  as  to  keep  his 
time  and  mind  occupied,  and  he  has  never  had  a desire 
to  enter  the  public  arena. 

Mr.  Simon  was  married  to  Mrs.  Sadie  (Merrittl 
Bristor,  a native  of  Ohio,  who  had  two  children  by  a 
former  marriage,  Charles  and  Helen,  the  latter  being 
known  as  Helen  Simon.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Simon  are  weil 
known  in  social  circles,  and  he  is  a popular  member  of 
Livingston  Lodge  No.  246,  B.  P.  O.  E..  the  Woodmen 
of  the  World,  and  the  Sons  of  Hermann.  He  bears  an 
enviable  reputation  in  business  affairs,  and  is  respected 
and  esteemed  as  a man  who  has  been  the  architect  of 
his  own  fortunes  in  a remarkable  degree. 

Harvey  D.  Hall  is  one  of  the  pioneer  residents  of 
Cascade  who  have  witnessed  the  growth  of  the  place 
from  almost  nothing  to  the  prosperous  city  which  it 
now  is,  and  his  fortunes  have  kept  pace  with  the  ad- 


vance of  the  city.  In  1891  he  established  the  H.  D. 
Hall  livery  stables,  when  the  town  boasted  a store 
or  two  and  half  a hundred  residents,  and  for  the  first 
three  years  of  his  stay  there  he  barely  made  expenses. 
With  the  growth  of  the  town,  however,  the  business 
advanced  in  proportion,  and  today  he  is  recognized  as 
one  of  the  more  prosperous  men  of  his  section.  He 
has  won  a high  degree  of  popularity,  as  well  as  un- 
usual business  success,  and  in  1911  was  elected  to  the 
office  of  mayor  of  Cascade,  winning  the  election  on 
the  citizens’  ticket  by  a large  and  flattering  majority. 
He  has  also  served  as  deputy  sheriff  of  Cascade  county. 

Mr.  Hall  was  born  in  Jay  county,  Indiana,  on  August 
17.  1853.  He  was  reared  in  Kansas,  his  parents  remov- 
ing there  while  he  was  still  a young  child.  He  is  the 
son  of  John  M.  and  IMartha  J.  (Clover)  Hall,  both 
natives  of  Columbus,  Ohio.  The  father  was  a farmer, 
and  died  in  1896  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years,  the 
death  of  the  mother  having  occurred  in  1896,  when  she 
was  seventy  years  old.  They  were  the  parents  of  ten 
children,  of  which  number  Harvey  D.  was  the  fifth 
born.  As  a boy  he  worked  on  his  father’s  farm 
and  attended  school  in  the  winter  seasons,  until  he  was 
about  twenty-one  years  of  age,  after  which  he  worked 
in  various  places  until  he  was  about  twent3'-eight  years 
old.  He  came  to  Montana  in  April,  1882,  making  the 
trip  by  rail  to  Silver  Bow  Junction  and  from  that  point 
on  by  stage  to  Eagle  Rock,  Montana.  From  there  he 
went  to  the  N.  S.  ranch  to  work.  He  remained 
on  the  ranch  until  1885,  and  from  then  until  October, 
1891,  he  traveled  about  through  that  part  of  the  west, 
stopping  here  and  there  and  working  in  various  places 
and  at  different  kinds  of  work.  It  was  then  that  he 
located  in  Cascade  and  established  the  livery  business 
which  has  thriven  so  splendidly  with  the  passing  years, 
and  which  has  brought  him  a position  of  independence 
in  his  section  of  the  countiw. 

Mr.  Hall  is  a member  of  the  Benevolent  Protective 
Order  of  Elks,  and  is  a Republican  in  his  political  alle- 
giance. He  is  connected  with  the  Cascade  Lumber 
Company  and  other  industrial  concerns  of  Cascade.  He 
is  a man  fond  of  country'  life  and  out  door  sports,  and 
is  an  enthusiastic  huntsman  and  fisherman. 

On  February  28,  1900,  Mr.  Hall  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Minnie  Porter  of  St.  Paul,  Minnesota. 
Two  children  have  been  born  to  them, — Winnifred 
Montana,  born  March  19.  1901.  and  now  attending  the 
public  schools  of  Cascade,  and  Harold  D.  Hall,  born 
April  8,  1908. 

Henry  J.  Rathelmiller.  One  of  the  largest  and 
most  important  business  enterprises  of  Butte,  IMon- 
tana,  at  the  present  time  is  the  Home  Baking  Company, 
operating  one  of  the  largest  bakery  plants  in  the  state, 
and  of  which  Mr.  Henry  J.  Rathelmiller  is  vice-presi- 
dent. The  Home  bakery  is  equipped  with  the  _ most 
modern  and  up-to-date  machinery  obtainable  to  facilitate 
baking  operations  and  enjoys  the  distinction  of  being  the 
only  one  that  does  machine  baking  in  Montana.  In  the 
operation  of  this  business,  which  is  not  only  local  but  of 
statewide  proportions,  Mr.  Rathelmiller  is  an  active  par- 
ticipant. He  is  an  expert  baker  and  confectioner,  having 
learned  the  trade  in  New  York  City,  where  he  was 
born,  and  was  engaged  as  a journeyman  in  various  parts 
of  the  country  for  a long  period  before  attaining  his 
present  influential  position. 

After  completing  his  apprenticeship  in  New  York  he 
worked  at  his  trade  there  for  several  years,  then,  in 
1880,  decided  to  come  west,  believing  that  opportunities 
in  some  of  the  newer  cities  of  this  part  of  the  country 
would  afford  more  advantageous  openings  in  his  line 
of  trade.  He  first  went  to  Walla  \Valla,  Washington, 
and  filled  a position  there  for  two  years,  when  he  decided 
to  become  a resident  of  Butte,  ft  was  in  1882  that  he 
arrived  here  and  during  the  following  seven  years  was 
a valued  employe  in  the  bakeries  of  this  city.  In  1889 


1214 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


he  became  connected  with  the  Vienna  Bakery,  located 
at  320  hiast  Park  street,  as  proprietor.  This  was  the 
first  business  of  his  own  and  there  he  continued  until 
about  1910.  Previous!}-,  in  1905,  he  with  Jacob  Osenbrug 
and  John  Haller  combined  their  interests  in  the  baking 
luisiness  and  organized  the  Home  Baking  Company. 
The  organization  was  accordingly  incorporated  with  Mr. 
Rathelmiller  as  vice-president  and  secretary,  which  posi- 
tion he  has  ever  since  continued  to  hold. 

Mr.  Rathelmiller  was  born  July  4,  1859,  the  son  of 
Michael  Rathelmiller,  a native  of  Bavaria,  who  came  to 
.'\merica  in  1849,  locating  in  New  York  City  and  there 
following  his  trade  of  miller.  He  died  in  that  city  at 
the  age  of  forty-four  years.  His  wife,  the  mother  of 
Ilcnry  J.,  was  born  in  Germany,  came  to  New  York  as  a 
child  with  her  parents,  and  was  married  there. 

Henry  J.  Rathelmiller  was  married  at  Butte,  Septem- 
ber 15,  1889,  to  Aliss  Elizabeth  Kaak,  who  is  of  native 
German  birth.  Two  children  were  born  of  this  union, 
Helen  Ross,  whose  birth  occurred  April  22,  1895,  and 
ICsther  Henrietta,  born  April  19,  1899. 

In  politics  Mr.  Rathelmiller  is  a Republican,  although 
he  takes  no  active  part  in  partisan  affairs,  performing 
his  duties  as  a citizen  and  a voter  conscientiously  but 
unobtrusively.  He  is  .fraternally  affiliated  with  the 
Woodmen  of  the  World  lodge.  Having  commenced  life 
as  a poor  boy,  Mr.  Rathelmiller  is  entitled  to  great  credit 
for  the  pronounced  success  he  has  achieved  in  business 
and  other  affairs,  and  he  stands  as  a worthy  example  of 
what  an  individual  possessed  of  talents  for  industry 
and  perseverance  may  accomplish  through  persistent 
application. 

THo^I.^s  Jefferson  Mulany,  one  of  the  representa- 
tive citizens  of  Beaverhead  county,  iMontana,  with  which 
he  has  been  identified  since  1882.  and  a resident  of  the 
town  of  Dillon,  was  born  in  Wisconsin,  in  Waterford, 
Racine  county,  on  June  14,  1852,  and  is  the  son  of 
John  E.  and  Ruth  A.  (Griffith)  Mulany.  The  father 
was  born  in  Ireland  in  1801,  and  died  in  Wisconsin  in 
1865.  He  came  to  America  as  a boy  of  about  seven 
years,  and  his  entire  life  was  spent  in  farming.  The 
mother  rvas  born  in  Michigan,  and  she  died  on  the  old 
Wisconsin  farm  in  1899,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
five  years. 

Mr.  Alulany  was  one  of  the  si.x  children  of  his  parents, 
and  he  remained  on  the  farm  home  in  Wisconsin  until 
he  came  to  Beaverhead  county  in  1882.  His  first  work 
in  this  state  was  that  of  sheep  shearing,  and  for  three 
years  he  was  tiius  employed.  He  served  for  a similar 
period  as  marshal  of  the  town  of  Dillon,  and  for  two 
years  thereafter  was  undersheriff  of  Beaverhead  county. 
He  was  then  elected  marshal  of  Dillon  again,  then 
served  two  years  more  as  undersheriff,  and  in  1896 
he  became  a candidate  for  the  office  of  sheriff  of  the 
county  on  the  Republican  ticket,  but  suffered  defeat 
in  the  unprecedented  Democratic  landslide  of  that  year. 
For  a year  he  was  engaged  in  the  hotel  business,  after 
which  he  engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock  rais- 
ing and  has  since  been  occupied  in  that  industry.  He 
has  acquired  a splendid  ranch  property  of  about  nine 
hundred  and  si.xty  acres  in  the  Big  Hole  Basin,  prac- 
tically all  of  which  is  devoted  to  his  operations  in  stock- 
raising.  While  ]\Ir.  iMulany  has  already  acquired  a 
large  degree  of  success  and  prosperity,  he  has  no  in- 
clination to  retire  from  active  business.  In  fact,  he 
declares  that  he  would  not  be  happy  if  he  were  not 
occupied  with  his  ranching  interests. 

Mr.  iMulany  is  a man  who  en.ioys  the  highest  es- 
teem and  confidence  of  all  who  know  him.  and  he  is 
regarded  as  a man  whose  word  is  as  good  as  his 
bond.  His  every  relation  has  been  of ' that  nature 
which  would  tend  to  establish  him  surely  and  firmly  in 
the  regard  of  his  fellow-men,  and  none  enjoys  a higher 
standing  in  Beaverhead  county  that  he. 

In  1895  Air.  Mulany  was  married  to  Aliss  Rose  Lane, 


who  was  born  and  educated  in  the  city  of  Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin. 

Elizabeth  Barker.  A woman  of  strong  personality, 
clear  in  her  views,  and  with  a sure  grasp  upon  the 
large  and  important  affairs  connected  with  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  educational  status  of  the  state,  and 
the  mental  and  moral  training  of  the  young,  Elizabeth 
Barker  is  serving  most  efficiently  and  satisfactorily 
as  superintendent  of  the  Broadwater  county  schools. 
Coming  from  pioneer  stock,  she  was  born,  November 
16,  1882,  at  Confederate  Creek,  Mission  valley,  Mon- 
tana. 

Her  father,  the  late  Charles  Barker,  a native  of  New 
York  state,  came  to  Montana  in  1866,  crossing  the 
plains  with  a wagon  train,  in  true  pioneer  style.  Pros- 
pecting in  the  gulches  in  and  near  Townsend,  he  met 
with  far  more  than  average  success  in  his  operations. 
Possessing  good  judgment  and  keen  foresight,  he  de- 
cided to  invest  his  profits  in  land.  Buying  a tract  in 
Broadwater  county,  he  cleared  and  improved  a fine 
ranch,  and  was  there  actively  and  successfully  engaged 
in  general  ranching  and  stock  raising  until  his  death, 
in  1898.  He  also  acquired  other  property  of  value,  at  1 
the  time  of  his  death  owning  ranch  lands  and  mines 
in  the  vicinity  of  Diamond  City,  Montana. 

Charles  Barker  married,  in  Montana,  Alary  Link, 
who  was  born  in  Chicago,  Illinois,  and  as  a girl  came 
across  the  plains  with  her  parents  in  a wagon.  The 
trip  was  long  and  dangerous,  hostile  Indians  frequently 
liesetting  their  path,  (jn  one  occasion,  while  the  wagon 
train  was  halting,  Aliss  Alary  took  it  upon  herself 
to  visit  a nearby  Indian  camp  for  the  purpose  of 
trading  supplies,  such  as  soap  and  other  sundries,  for 
furs.  On  leaving  the  camp  she  was  followed  by  an 
Indian  buck,  who,  as  she  hastened  her  steps,  started 
for  her  on  a run.  Fear  aided  her  in  her  flight,  and 
she  reached  the  train  completely  exhausted,  but  safe  I 
from  her  pursuer,  her  experience  on  that  day  never  I 
being  forgotten.  Ten  children  were  born  of  the  union  1 
of  Air.  and  Airs.  Charles  Barker,  namely:  Alinnie, 
wife  of  Finley  AIcClintock,  the  oldest  rancher  in  | 
Rockville,  Montana;  Sophia,  wife  of  David  Watson, 
of  Cabot,  Pennsylvania ; John,  of  Canyon  Ferry,  Mon- 
tana : Frank,  engaged  in  blacksmithing  in  Joliet,  Alon-  J 
tana;  Clara,  wife  of  Charles  Shaw,  of  Townsend,  ] 
Alontana ; Charles,  a mine  operator  in  Stark,  Alissoula  1 
county;  Edward,  a rancher  in  Roberts,  Alontana;  Ada, 
a stenographer  in  Townsend;  Ralph,  living  with  his 
mother  on  the  home  ranch ; and  Elizabeth,  the  special  ■ 
subject  of  this  brief  personal  review.  After  the  death 
of  her  husband.  Airs.  Barker  became  the  wife  of  E. 

L.  Earl,  a successful  rancher. 

Scholarly  in  her  tastes  and  ambitions,  Elizabeth 
Barker  received  excellent  educational  advantages,  after 
leaving  the  common  schools  attending  the  Townsend 
high  school,  and  the  State  Normal  School.  Entering- 
then  upon  a professional  career,  she  taught  school  most 
successfully  for  eight  years,  five  years  being  associated 
with  the  nublic  schools  of  Townsend,  and  for  three 
years  teaching  in  surrounding  towns. 

In  the  fall  of  1910,  Aliss  Barker,  whose  reputation 
as  an  educator  was  well  known,  had  the  distinction  of 
being  nominated  as  superintendent  of  the  schools  of 
Broadwater  county,  and  was  elected  as  a nominee  of. 
the  Republican  party,  notwithstanding  that  the  county 
is  strongly  Democratic,  her  splendid  record  as  a 
Ischolar  and  teacher,  and  her  courteous,  pleasant  man- 
ner, being  without  doubt  responsible  for  her  victory 
at  the  polls.  Her  service  since  accepting  her  present 
position  has  been  equally  meritorious,  reflecting  credit 
upon  her  ability,  discretion  and  judgment.  Under  Miss 
Barker's  supervision  the  schools  of  the  county  have 
made  progress  in  many  directions,  ranking  high 
among  similar  institutions  in  the  state,  and  she  is 


HISTORY  OF  ^lONTANA 


1215 


deservedly  popular  with  teachers,  pupils,  parents,  and 
with  all  interested  in  educational  matters. 

Hon.  Albert  L.  Babcock.  It  is  given  to  few  men 
to  witness  during  their  mature  life  such  a transforma- 
tion and  to  participate  along  so  many  practical  lines 
in  the  erection  of  such  a city  as  Billings  as  has  been 
granted  to  the  Hon.  Albert  L.  Babcock,  one  of  the 
most  versatile  and  enterprising  business  men  and  bank- 
ers of  the  city,  who,  aside  from  the  engrossing  cares  of 
extensive  private  interests,  has  found  time  to  serve  his 
fellow  citizens  with  distinction  in  various  public  trusts. 
Born  at  Albany,  New  York,  December  22,  1851,  Mr. 
Babcock  is  a son  of  William  C.  and  Julia  ( Lawrence )_ 
Babcock,  natives  of  New  York  and  descendants  of 
families,  members  of  which  had  for  many  years  been 
prominent  in  civil  and  military  history.  The  family 
removed  to  the  then  far  west  in  1856,  taking  up  their 
abode  on  a farm  near  Pontiac,  Illinois,  where  the  father, 
William  C.  Babcock,  was  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits for  a number  of  years  and  later  moving  to  Pontiac, 
engaging  in  the  mercantile  and  grain  business  until  his 
death,  February  14,  1876. 

Albert  L.  Babcock  was  reared  in  his  native  vicinity 
and  his  education  was  secured  in  the  district  school 
near  his  father’s  little  farm.  Like  most  farmers’  sons, 
he  was  engaged  in  the  work  of  the  farm  during  the 
summer  months,  but  when  he  was  fourteen  years  of 
age  he  was  apprenticed  to  the  printer's  trade,  working 
for  several  years  in  the  office  of  a country  newspaper. 
This  vocation,  however,  did  not  suit  the  ambitious 
youth  who  chose  instead  a mercantile  career,  and  was- 
soon  a salesman  behind  the  counter  of  a country 
store.  Thrifty  and  industrious  by  the  time  he  had 
reached  his  majority  he  was  possessed  of  several  hun- 
dred dollars  saved  from  his  wages,  and  with  this  capi- 
tal added  to  the  savings  of  a young  man  friend,  he 
entered  the  field  of  business  on  his  own  account  in 
1873,  engaging  in  the  grocery  business  at  Pontiac  under 
the  firm  name  of  Babcock  & Lobdell.  Although  he 
had  only  the  experience  he  had  gained  as  a clerk,  he 
made  a success  of  his  initial  venture,  and  continued  to 
carry  on  that  business  until  1882,  which  year  saw  his 
advent  into  Billings,  his  keen  foresight,  which  has 
characterized  his  life  ever  since,  having  told  him  that 
great  opportunities  awaited  those  who  had  the  ability 
and  the  courage  to  establish  themselves  in  the  new 
city.  In  partnership  with  A.  W.  Miles,  now  of  Living- 
ston, this  state,  the  two  young  men  opened  a small 
hardware  store  and  tinshop,  and  as  finances  permitted 
and  the  trade  demanded,  additions  were  made  to  the 
stock  and  facilities,  and  in  1892  the  venture  had  grown 
to  such  proportions  that  a stock  company  was  formed, 
the  A.  L.  Babcock  Hardware  Company  thus  having  its 
inception.  This  eventually  developed  into  one  of  the 
largest  wholesale  hardware  houses  in  the  middle  west, 
and  Mr.  Babcock  remained  its  active  head  until  1903, 
in  which  year  he  disposed  of  his  interests  to  outside 
parties  and  later  organized  the  Babcock-Fraser  Com- 
pany, of  which  he  has  since  been  president.  In  1895 
Mr.  Babcock  erected  the  Yellowstone  Valley  flouring 
mill,  with  a capacity  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  barrels 
per  day,  which  was  increased  to  two  hundred  barrels 
per  day  when  the  mill  was  incorporated  under  the 
style  of  the  Billings  Milling  Company,  of  which  he 
was  the  president.  The  greater  part  of  the  product  of 
this  mill  was  sold  in  Montana,  but  the  business  also 
had  a large  business  outside  of  the  state.  In  1910  this 
company  was  succeeded  by  the  Russell  Miller  Milling 
Company  of  Minneapolis.  In  1895  Mr.  Babcock  erected 
the  Billings  Opera  House,  in  company  with  other  pro- 
gressive men,  and  he  was  manager  thereof  until  1906. 
During  1907  the  Babcock  office  and  theatre  building 
was  erected  by  him,  one  of  the  finest  business  blocks 
in  the  state.  In  this  is  located,  one  of  the  handsomest 
theatres  to  be  found  in  the  west,  its  appointments  being 
luxurious  and  its  facilities  modern  in  every  respect. 


In  1895  Mr.  Babcock  was  the  organizer  of  the  Billings 
Telephone  Company,  of  which  he  was  the  president 
until  it  was  sold  to  the  Bell  Telephone  Company.  He 
was  also  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Yellowstone  Na- 
tional Bank,  served  two  years  as  its  vice-president, 
and  in  1893  was  elected  to  the  office  of  chief  executive, 
and  has  acted  as  such  to  the  present  time.  For  some 
time  he  conducted  a branch  of  his  hardware  store  at 
the  Crow  Agency,  Montana,  and  was  president  of  the 
Babcock  and  Miles  Company,  at  Two  Dot,  Meagher 
county.  His  interests  have  been  of  a varied  and  ex- 
tensive nature,  but  he  now  gives  the  greater  part  of 
his  attention  to  enterprises  of  a financial  nature. 

Politically,  Air.  Babcock  has  always  been  a stanch 
adherent  of  Republicanism,  and  his  activity  in  public 
life  has  been  only  equalled  by  his  prominence  as  a 
business  man.  He  has  been  chairman  of  the  county 
central  committee  during  a number  of  campaigns,  served 
as  chairman  of  the  board  of  commissioners  of  Yellow- 
stone county  from  1885  to  1889,  and  was  elected  as 
the  first  senator  from  Yellowstone  county  in  the  first 
legislative  assembly  upon  the  admission  of  Alontana 
to  statehood  in  1^9.  He  served  in  the  lower  house 
from  1892  to  1894  and  again  in  the  senate  from  1894 
to  1898,  acting  as  an  influential  member  of  the  com- 
mittee on  arid  lands  and  other  important  bodies.  In 
addition  he  served  on  the  military  staffs  of  Governors 
White,  Toole  and  Richards,  with  the  rank  of  colonel. 
Air.  Babcock  has  found  time  to  take  a decided  interest 
in  fraternal  work,  and  holds  membership  in  the  lodge, 
chapter,  commandery  and  Alystic  Shrine  of  Alasonry, 
filling  various  chairs  in  a number  of  these,  and  being 
elected  grand  commander  of  the  Grand  Commandery 
of  Knights  Templars  of  Alontana  in  1894.  He  also 
holds  membership  in  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the 
Benevolent  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and  served  for 
some  time  as  exalted  ruler  of  Billings  lodge  when  it 
was  first  organized  in  1897. 

On  September  12,  1877,  Air.  Babcock  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Aliss  Antoinette  Packer,  of  Pontiac, 
Illinois,  and  one  son  has  been  born  to  them.  It  is 
seldom  that  the  son  inherits  the  father’s  sterling  quali- 
ties, but  it  looks  as  though  his  father’s  mantle  has 
fallen  upon  the  younger  man’s  shoulders.  He  is  a 
graduate  of  Shallock  Alilitary  school,  of  Alinnesota, 
and  of  the  University  of  Chicago.  On  January  i,  1907, 
after  having  a number  of  years  of  experience  in  the 
A.  L.  Babcock  Hardware  Company’s  offices,  he  was 
elected  vice-president  of  the  Yellowstone  National 
Bank,  which  position  he  now  holds  and  he  also  served 
in  a like  capacity  for  the  Babcock-Fraser  Company. 
On  January  3,  1901,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Josephine 
Twyman,  of  Chicago,  and  they  have  had  two  children : 
Lawrence  Twyman  and  a little  daughter,  Caroline 
Antoinette. 

J.  Harris  Russell,  AI.  D,  One  of  the  leading 
votaries  of  the  healing  art  in  Montana,  with  a thor- 
oughly established  reputation  in  his  profession,  is  Dr.  J. 
Harris  Russell,  of  Cascade,  proprietor  of  the  Cascade 
Hospital  and  of  the  only  retail  drug  establishment  in 
the  city,  who  has  also  given  the  city  the  benefit  of  his 
abilities  in  the  line  of  public  service.  Dr.  Russell,  like 
Imany  others  of  Alontana’s  successful  professional  men, 
^came  from  the  state  of  Alaine,  having  been  born  in 
Aroostook  county,  June  29,  1862,  a son  of  Henry  and 
Easter  (Crouse)  Russell.  His  father,  a native  of 
New  Brunswick,  spent  his  life  in  farming,  and  died  at 
Norway,  Alaine,  in  1906,  when  eighty-two  years  of  age, 
while  his  mother,  born  in  June,  1837,  in  New  Bruns- 
wick, still  resides  at  Norway.  Twelve  children  were 
born  to  them,  the  doctor  being  the  fifth  in  order  of 
birth,  while  three  children  died  prior  to  his  birth. 

J.  Harris  Russell  was  educated  in  the  public  and 
high  schools  of  Washburn,  Alaine,  graduating  from 
the  latter  in  1879.  In  1880  he  made  six  voyages  across 


121G 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


the  Atlantic,  spending  considerable  time  in  England  and 
on  the  continent.  The  doctor  was  in  England  when 
the  sad  news  of  the  assassination  of  President  Garfield 
was  announced  to  the  world,  and  never  will  forget  the 
impression  made  upon  him  at  that  time  by  the  profound 
sympathy  and  deep  regret  expressed  by  the  English 
people  in  general.  Another  incident  of  national  inter- 
est which  occurred  during  one  of  his  visits  to  England 
in  the  same  year  was  the  winning  of  the  derby  by 
Iroquois,  tlie  first  American  horse  to  win  that  event. 
While  in  France  he  became  acquainted  with  a Mr.  John- 
son, a Minnesota  importer  and  breeder  of  Percheron 
horses,  who  was  purchasing  agent  for  M.  W.  Dunham 
of  Illinois.  Of  him  he  learned  of  the  great  opportuni- 
ties in  the  west  for  young  men,  and  accompanied  him 
to  Illinois  where  he  staid  one  year  and  then  in  1882 
came  to  Beaverhead  county,  and  located  near  Dillon 
where  he  secured  employment  as  a cowboy  on  the 
range  for  Poindexter  & Orr,  which  occupation  he  fol- 
lowed for  eight  years.  At  the  end  of  that  period  he 
came  to  Great  Falls  and  erected  the  first  greenhouse  in 
that  city  which  he  conducted  until  1893,  and  then  spent 
four  more  years  near  the  same  city  at  market  garden- 
ing. In  i8q7  he  returned  to  the  east,  and  in  1900 
entered  the  Maryland  Medical  College,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  in  June,  1904.  He  remained  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession  for  one  year  in  Baltimore, 
i)eing  assistant  demonstrator  of  obstetrics  in  his  alma 
mater  and  chief  of  clinic  to  the  chair  of  diseases  of 
ear,  nose  and  throat.  On  his  return  to  Montana,  he  lo- 
cated first  at  Fort  Benton,  where  he  was  engaged  in  prac- 
tice for  two  and  one-half  years  and  was  surgeon  to  St. 
Clare  hospital  and  county  physician  of  Chouteau  county, 
and  since  that  time  has  resided  in  Cascade.  His  skill 
in  his  chosen  profession  was  soon  recognized,  and  his 
Imsiness  has  grown  from  the  start,  each  year  showing 
a healthy  increase.  The  Cascade  hospital  is  a well 
organized  institution,  and  under  the  doctor’s  able  man- 
agement has  become  a leader  in  its  field.  In  the  line 
of  public  service  Dr.  Russell’s  activities  have  been  such 
as  to  give  him  a foremost  position  among  those  who  are 
aiding  in  developing  the  city’s  interests.  He  is  acting 
in  the  capacity  of  alderman  of  the  first  ward,  pure  food 
inspector  and  health  officer,  and  has  given  to  each  his 
best  energies.  He  is  a member  of  the  Cascade  County 
Medical  Society,  the  Montana  State  Medical  Society 
and  the  American  Medical  Association,  and  is  fra- 
ternally connected  with  Euclid  Lodge  No.  194,  Madison, 
■Maine,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  Somerset  Chapter  No.  15,  Skow- 
hegan,  Maine,  and  De  Molay  Commandery,  K.  T. 

Dr.  Russell  was  married  (first)  at  Great  Falls,  Mon- 
tana, August  3,  1891,  to  Miss  Rose  Bradley,  of  North 
Dakota,  daughter  of  H.  M.  Bradley,  of  Rutland,  North 
Dakota,  and  she  died  in  1901,  having  had  two  chil- 
dren; Harold,  born  May  16,  1893;  and  Vernon  M., 
July  I,  1897,  both  at  Great  Falls.  On  September  5, 
1906,  Dr  Russell  married  (second)  Fort  Benton,  Mon- 
tana, Miss  Bertha  Morrow,  daughter  of  Malcolm  Mor- 
row, a native  of  Montana,  an  old  pioneer  stockman  of 
Rock  Creek,  Montana. 

Hon.  William  F.  Meyer.  The  untimely  passing  of 
Hon.  Wm.  F.  Meyer  on  the  25th  day  of  October,  1912, 
at  Butte,  Montana,  cut  short  a career  of  large  public  use- 
fulness on  the  part  of  one  of  Montana’s  most  loyal  and 
best  loved  citizens.  For  almost  twenty  years  past  his 
energies  have  been  devoted  to  public  life  as  the  serv- 
ant of  the  people  and  he  was  serving  in  the  senate  at 
the  time  of  his  death,  as  well  as  being  the  Republican 
candidate  for  Congressman  from  his  district.  During 
his  active  service,  many  far-reaching  improvements  came 
to  the  state  as  the  result  of  his  untiring  work  in  the 
senate,  and  no  session  passed  unmarked  by  effort  of 
his  to  improve  conditions  in  his  district. 

^ Born  in  Ripon,  Wisconsin,  on  March  3,  1857,  Wil- 
liam F.  Meyer  was  the  son  of  George  W.  and  Bertha 
W.  (Higginbotham)  Meyer,  natives  of  Hanover  and 


Westphalia,  Germany,  respectively.  George  W.  Meyer 
was  the  son  of  William  E.  Meyer,  who  was  a captain 
in  the  Germany  army  and  served  under  Blucher  and 
participated  in  the  Battle  of  Waterloo.  In  1848  George 
Meyer  came  to  the  United  States,  taking  up  his  resi- 
dence in  the  state  of  Wisconsin,  which  has  been  so 
heavily  settled  by  sturdy  German  stock  of  a high  order. 

William  F.  Meyer  was  one  of  a large  family  of  eleven 
children.  He  received  a good  education,  however,  his 
common  school  course  being  followed  by  attendance  at 
Ripon  College,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1882. 
He  came  direct  to  Montana  after  finishing  his  studies, 
settling  in  Billings,  soon  after  which  he  removed  to 
Park  City  and  there  opened  a lumber  yard.  He  also 
filed  on  a government  homestead,  which  he  proceeded 
to  improve,  and  in  the  leisure  hours  devoted  himself 
assiduously  to  the  study  of  law.  Two  years  later,  so 
well  had  he  applied  himself  to  his  task,  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar,  and  almost  immediately  he  removed 
to  Red  Lodge,  there  engaging  in  general  practice,  and 
continumg  to  make  this  city  his  home  until  death  called 
him.  For  a time  he  was  associated  in  a partnership 
with  J.  W.  Chapman  and  Paul  Breteche  in  the  banking 
business,  that  association  having  been  formed  in  1895, 
but  upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Breteche  in  1898  the  institu- 
tion was  continued  under  the  name  of  the  Banking 
House  of  Meyer  & Chapman,  these  two  gentlemen  being 
the  sole  owners.  In  1898  Mr.  Meyer  erected  a mag- 
nificent brick  building  in  which  the  bank  found  its 
home,  and  there  also  Mr.  Meyer  maintained  his  law 
offices.  In  later  years  they  established  two  branch 
banks, — one  being  a private  bank  at  Belfrey,  and  the 
other  a state  bank  at  Park  City. 

Mr.  Meyer’s  public  career  began  in  1895  when  he 
was  elected  on  the  Republican  ticket  to  the  state  senate 
from  his  district.  In  1900  his  re-election  followed,  and 
it  was  during  his  term  of  office  that  he  introduced  the 
bill  creating  Carbon  county, — a fact  which  caused  him 
to  be  known  thereafter  as  “The  Father  of  Carbon 
County.”  Not  this  bill  alone  may  be  laid  at  his  door, 
but  he  fathered  many  of  the  most  important  bills  that 
were  presented  and  passed  in  the  state  senate  in  th^ 
last  decade.  He  introduced,  among  many  others  ol 
equal  importance,  the  bill  to  prohibit  the  slag  of  coat 
mines  being  dumped  into  the  streams,  and  he  also  ir 
troduced  a bill  imposing  a tax  on  cattle  brought  in  froni 
other  states.  He  was  serving  his  district  as  senator 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  and  was  the  candidate  of  his 
party  for  congressman  from  his  district. 

On  July  I,  1884,  Mr.  Meyer  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Alice  C.  Adams,  the  daughter  of  Thomas 
Adams,  who  was  born  in  the  north  of  Ireland,  and  who 
was  a resident  of  Fond  du  Lac  county  at  the  time  of 
his  death.  Mrs.  Meyer  was  born  in  Ripon,  Wisconsin, 
as  was  also  her  husband.  One  child  was  born  to 
them:  William  F.  Meyer,  Jr.,  born  March  26,  1899. 

Mr.  Meyer  was  a member  of  the  Benevolent  Protec- 
tive Order  of  Elks,  with  affiliation  in  Bear  Tooth  Lodge 
No.  534,  and  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  Royal  Arch 
degree. 

The  Daily  Gazette  of  Butte,  said  in  part  concerning 
the  funeral  of  the  late  senator ; “Braving  in  solemn 
silence  the  blizzard  of  yesterday,  an  immense  con- 
course of  citizens  with  saddened  hearts  wended  their 
way  through  the  storm  to  the  open  grave  on  the  hill  and 
there  witnessed  the  last  ministrations  of  human  hands 
and  hearts  as  the  casket  containing  the  mortal  remains 
of  the  late  Senator  William  F.  Meyer  was  tenderly 
consigned  to  Mother  Earth.  The  funeral  took  place 
from  the  family  residence  on  Hauser  avenue  and  despite 
the  inclemency  of  the  weather  hundreds  turned  out  to 
pay  their  last  respects,  and  people  came  in  from  all  over 
the  country  silently  to  honor  the  memory  of  the  dead  ' 
legislator.  The  Masons  of  Billings  and  the  Bar  of  • 
Yellowstone  county  were  represented  two-score  strong. 
Following  out  the  wishes  of  the  bereaved  widow,  the 
services  were  extremely  simple.  The  obsequies  were 


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HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1217 


•,  conducted  at  the  house  and  at  the  open  grave  by  the 
i Masonic  bodies  of  Red  Lodge  and  Billings,  and  the  local 
I lodge  of  Elks  also  turned  out  in  a body.  The  four 
I Protestant  clergymen  of  the  city  officiated  jointly, 
i Hon.  John  M.  Evans  of  Missoula,  Democratic  candi- 

Idate  for  congress,  attended  the  funeral,  accompanied 
by  Hon.  T.  J.  Walsh  of  Helena,  candidate  for  the 
United  States  senate.  Other  prominent  people  in  at- 
tendance were  Mayor  W.  J.  Deegan,  of  Cody,  Wyom- 
ing; Col.  O.  E.  Goddard,  Judge  J.  R.  Goss,  Judge 
George  W.  Pierson  and  A.  C.  Logan  of  Billings,  and 
Judge  C.  L.  Crum,  of  Eorsyth.  Standing  beside  the 
casket  of  his  dead  friend  and  late  political  opponent, 
Mr.  Evans  pronounced  a splendid  eulogy.  It  \yas  an 
oration  feelingly  delivered  and  high  in  the  praises  of 
the  sterling  virtues  of  the  dead  statesman.  Mrs.  Meyer 
has  been  deluged  with  messages  of  sympathy  and  con- 
dolence from  prominent  Montana  people  and  from  cit- 
izens of  note  abroad,  and  all  Carbon  county  mourns  the 
demise  of  its  most  distinguished  lawyer  and  illustrious 
public  man.” 

Joseph  H.^gan.  One  of  the  thriving  and  well  man- 
aged concerns  which  add  in  material  fashion  to  the 
general  prosperity  and  commercial  prestige  of  the  city 
is  that  of  Joseph  Hagan,  proprietor  of  the  Model 
Laundry.  Although  still  a young  man  in  years  he  has 
given  unmistakable  evidence  c ' no  small  amount  of 
executive  ability  and  the  business  has  experienced  a 
sound  and  wholesome  growth.  In  the  legitimate  chan- 
nels of  industry  he  has  won  the  success  which  always 
crowns  well  directed  labor,  sound  judgment  and  untir- 
ing perseverance  and  at  the  same  time  he  has  con- 
.cerned  himself  with  the  affairs  of  the  community  in  an 
admirably  public-spirited  fashion. 

Mr.  Hagan  comes  of  the  stock  which  is  generally 
acknowledged  to  be  among  the  most  intelligent,  patri- 
otic, industrious  and  upright  of  our  great  and  won- 
derful cosmopolitan  population — the  Swiss.  His  birth 
occurred  in  the  small,  but  interesting  republic  of  Swit- 
zerland on  June  30,  1880.  When  an  infant  of  two  years 
he  crossed  the  Atlantic  with  his  parents,  who  came 
almost  immediately  westward  and  settled  in  Bozeman, 
Montana.  In  the  public  schools  of  that  place  he 
received  his  early  education,  and  subsequently  entered 
the  Montana  State  University,  where  he  specialized  in 
commercial  lines,  becoming  an  expert  in  bookkeeping 
and  accounting.  At  _ the  age  of  eighteen  years  he 
secured  employment  in  the  building  of  the  Bozeman 
steam  laundry  and  at  its  completion  he  secured  work  in 
the  establishment  and  learned  the  many  details  of  the 
laundry  business.  In  1009,  he  concluded  to  make  an 
independent  venture  in  this  business  and  organized  and 
built  the  Model  Laundry  Company,  of  Missoula,  of 
which  concern  he  is  president  and  general  manager. 
This  laundry  lives  up  to  the  full  significance  of  its 
name  and  is  modern  and  well  equipped  in  every  way, 
the  quality  of  work  done  being  of  the  highest  char- 
acter. The  subject  owns  the  major  portion  of  stock, 
and  also  has  a half  interest  in  association  with  his 
brother  John  Hagan,  in  a laundry  located  in  Seattle, 
Wi'shington.  He  has  made  his  way  unaided  and 
belongs  to  that  typically  American  product,  the  self- 
made  man.  He  is  popular  in  this  city,  being  recom- 
mended by  his  honorable  business  methods  and  pleas- 
lant,  courteous  manners. 

1 Mr.  Hagan’s  father,  John  Hagan,  late  of  Bozeman, 
jis  deceased.  The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  was 
liMary  Koop,  and  her  father,  Joseph  Koop,  was  among 
liMontana’s  earliest  pioneers,  having  preceded  the  Hagans 
(to  Ajnerica.  The  immediate  subject  of  this  review  is 
i.unmarried. 

’ William  W.  Watson.  A man  of  unflagging  energy 
land  enterprise,  with  a remarkable  aptitude  for  business 
affairs,  William  W,  Watson,  of  Lewistown,  is  keen  and 


alert  to  take  advantage  of  opportunities,  and  as  head 
of  the  Crescent  Electric  Company  is  identified  with  one 
of  the  large  and  solid  concerns  of  the  city,  A native  of 
Wisconsin,  he  was  born  in  Madison  county,  April  30, 
1863. 

His  father,  the  late  William  H.  Watson,  was  a native 
of  Geneva,  New  York,  where  his  earlier  life  was  passed. 
He  subsequently  moved  to  Wisconsin,  from  there  going 
with  his  family  to  New  Jersey,  which  was  his  home  a 
few  years.  Returning  to  Wisconsin,  he  lived  in  Mil- 
waukee until  the  spring  of  1882,  when  he  settled  in  Mon- 
tana, becoming  a pioneer  resident  of  Lewistown,  where 
he  was  actively  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  until  his 
death,  August  17,  1894.  A man  of  intelligence  and  abil- 
ity, he  became  prominent  in  the  public  affairs  of  Mon- 
tana, and  served  as  a member  of  the  constitutional 
convention.  He  married  Maria  Woodbridge,  who  was 
born  in  Connecticut,  and  now  resides  in  Lewistown. 
Eive  children  were  born  of  their  union,  William  W.,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  being  the  third  child  in  succes- 
sion of  birth.  The  two  daughters  are  living  in  Mon- 
tana, Louise  being  the  wife  of  L.  W.  Reeder,  of  Lewis- 
town; and  Alice  being  the  wife  of  G.  hi.  Stafford,  of 
Helena. 

But  five  years  old  when  his  parents  removed  to  New 
Jersey,  William  W.  Watson  there  gleaned  the  rudiments 
of  his  education,  attending  the  public  schools  until  ten 
years  old.  He  subsequently  completed  his  early  studies 
in  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin,  attending  the  grammar  and 
•high  schools,  and  the  Spencerian  Business  College.  Be- 
ginning_  his  career  then  as  a wage-earner,  he  worked 
nights  in  the  office  of  the  Western  Union  Telegraph 
Company  at  Milwaukee,  receiving  twelve  dollars  a week 
salary,  and  later  was  connected  with  the  Northwestern 
Telegraph  Exchange.  Leaving  Milwaukee  in  May,  1883, 
Mr.  Watson  came  to  Montana,  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided, being  firmly  convinced  that  the  business  oppor- 
tunities and  resources  of  this  state  exceed  those  of 
any  other  state  in  the  Union.  Eor  a while  he  was  asso- 
ciated with  his  father  in  the  lumber  business,  owning 
and  operating  a saw  mill  at  Reedsfort.  Coming  from 
there  to  Lewistown,  he  was  for  a while  engaged  in 
cattle  dealing  and  ranching,  but  when  the  opportunity 
occurred  he  embarked  in  the  electrical  business,  becom- 
ing connected  with  the  first  company  organized  in 
Fergus  county.  In  this  capacity  Mr.  Watson  constructed 
the  first  telephone  lines  that  were  introduced  intoTewis- 
town,  connecting  this  city  with  Big  Timber  and  Great 
Falls,  making  a good  record  for  himself  and  revolu- 
tionizing business  affairs.  During  this  period  he  was 
also  associated  with  the  first  lighting  company  organ- 
ized in  this  section  of  the  county,  and  installed  the  city’s 
first  electrical  light  plant.  In  1909  Mr.  Watson  estab- 
lished the  Crescent  Electric  Company,  of  which  he  has 
since  been  at  the  head  and  in  its  management  has  been 
eminently  successful. 

Politically  Mr.  Watson  is  a steadfast  Republican  and 
takes  a warm  interest  in  local  matters.  Socially  he  be- 
longs to  the  Judith  Club,  and  religiously  both  he  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  He  is 
fond  of  good  reading,  music  and  theatricals,  and  is  es- 
pecially interested  in  baseball,  a game  which  he  formerly 
played  well,  being  now  a fan  and  a rooter. 

At  Bozeman,  Montana,  June  20,  1908,  Mr.  Watson 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Louise  Dawes,  a daugh- 
ter of  William  G.  and  Maria  Dawes. 

Albert  S.  Hovey,  one  of  the  prominent  civil  engi- 
neers of  the  northwest  was  instrumental  in  founding 
the  Montana  Society  of  Civil  Engineers,  being  a char- 
ter member  of  the  organization  and  having  served  it 
in  the  capacity  of  secretary,  treasurer  and  vice  presi- 
dent. Not  only  is  he  a leader  in  his  profession,  he  is 
in  every  respect  a student  and  a gentleman,  having 
behind  him  generations  of  refinement  and  culture. 

His  learned  old  father  was  born  in  Lima,  Livingston 


121b 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


coiintv  New  York,  on  the  twelfth  of  August  1814,  but 
moved’ with  his  parents  to  Le  Roy,  Ohio,  while  yet  a 
child  In  1840  and  ’41.  began  the  study  of  law  in 
Cincinnati,  of  that  state.  Simeon  Hov^  was,  however, 
a man  of  the  Abou  Ben  Adam  type.  He  was  wfo 
loved  his  fellow  men  and  the  paltry  quibbles  of  the 
law  did  not  impress  him  as  a means  to  the  end  he  so 
hoped  to  accomplish.  In  order  that  he  might  be 
some  real  use  to  mankind  he  then  took  up  the  s udy  of 
theology  and  received  his  degree  m Cincinnati.  H s 
was  the  doctrine  of  the  fatherhood  of  God  and  the 
brotherhood  of  man.  He  taught  in  an  ap  made  nar- 
row by  the  iron  bands  of  creeds,  that  I myself,  am 
Heaven  and  Hell"  and  “As  a man  liveth,  so  is  he 
He  was  known  as  a Universahst  clergyman  and  called 
l,v  those  of  smaller  faiths  a disbeliever  of  the  gospel— 
the  good  tidings,  that  he  lived  and  preached.  Un  il 
1861  he  devoted  all  his  energies,  both  physical  and  men 
tal,  to  the  work  which  he  seemed  uispired  to  do,  filling 
char«-es  in  several  parts  of  Ohio  and  Michigan.  Tl  e 
strain  of  his  efforts  finally  told  on  his  strength  and  he 
was  obliged  to  seek  a life  in  the  open.  Hence  he  rnoyd 
to  Bay  City,  Michigan,  where  he  engaged  in  farming, 
doing  a little  real  estate  business  on  the  side. 

Before  leaving  Le  Roy,  Ohio,  however,  he  succeeded 
in  winning  for  his  wife  Mary  Whipple,  a young  lady 
who  was  born  and  raised  in  that  Ohio  town.  She  was 
the  descendant  of  William  Whipple,  one  of  the  signers 
of  the  Declaration  of  Independence  and  a colonel  in 
the  Revolutionary  war.  Bishop  Whipple  who  at  a time 
shortly  previous  to  the  Civil^  war,  was  devoting  his  life 
to  the  Indians  of  Wisconsin  and  Minnesota,  was  a 
descendant  of  the  same  stock.  Miss  Whipple,  whose 
people,  even  in  that  day,  believed  m education  for 
women,  was  a graduate  of  the  Le  Roy  high  school. 
She  was  married  to  Simeon  Hovey  on  the  sixteenth  of 
April,  in  1840.  Four  children  were  born  to  the  union. 
The  'oldest  daughter,  Anna  Eliza,  is  now  living^  at 
Akron,  Ohio,  the  widow  of  the  late  Henry  Clarke. 
Permelia,  the  wife  of  Oscar  Hart,  resides  in  St.  Clair, 
Michigan.  The  third  son  died  in  infancy.  The  son, 
.Mbert  S.  LTovey,  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Simeon  Hovey  moved  their  little  fam- 
ily from  Bay  City  to  St.  Clair,  Michigan,  then  to  Men- 
tor, Ohio,  the  home  of  our  beloved  president,  Garfield, 
and  finally  to  the  city  of  Cleveland.  Here  the  father 
passed  away  on  the  seventeenth  of  January,  1895,  being 
laid  to  rest  in  the  quiet  little  cemetery  of  Mentor. 
Mrs.  Hovey  survived  him  but  one  month,  going  to 
join  him  on  the  i/th  of  February,  1895. 

Albert  S.  Hovey,  their  son,  was  born  on  September 
8,  1850,  in  Perry,  Lake  county,  Ohio.  After  receiving 
his  early  and  secondary  education  in  the  schools  of 
Ohio  and  Michigan,  he  entered  Willoughby  College_  at 
Willoughby,  Ohio,  being  graduated  from  the  classical 
course  of  this  institution  in  the  class  of  1872.  The 
next  three  years  Mr.  Hovey  devoted  to  the  study  of 
engineering  at  Ann  Arbor,  the  state  university  of 
Michigan.  In  1876  he  obtained  employiment  in  the 
office  of  the  count}'  surveyor  in  Cuyahoga  county, 
Ohio.  This  work  was  at  Cleveland  under  the  super- 
vision of  Clarence  H.  Burgess,  county  surveyor. 
Shortly  after  he  was  engaged  to  survey  the  former 
old  canal  bed  in  Cleveland,  then  occupied  by  and  taken 
over  as  the  property  and  right  of  way  of  the  Valley 
Railway,  being  engaged  in  surveying  property  lines 
then  in  dispute.  Following  this  piece  of  work,  he  was 
offered  the  position  of  assistant  engineer  and  inspector 
of  harbor  work  on  the  Erie  division,  under  Col. 
John  l\r.  Wh'lson,  major  of  engineers  from  1879  till 
1882.^  Col.  John  _M.  Wilson  later  held  the  highest 
position  in  the  gift  of  the  government  as  chief  of 
U.  S.  engineers. 

In  1S82,  Mr.  Hovey  came  to  IHontana  to  become  chief 
mineral  clerk  in  the  LTnited  States  survey  at  Helena. 


He  was  in  the  office  of  John  Harris,  the  United  States 
surveyor  general.  For  four  years  he  occupied  this 
position  but  in  1886  received  a commission  as  United 
States  deputy  mineral  surveyor  for  Montana  with 
headquarters  at  Helena.  In  1907,  he  moved  to  Port- 
land, Oregon,  and  later  to  Tacoma,  Washington.  In 
1908  he  was  appointed  resident  engineer.  Twin  Falls 
North  Side  Land  & Water  Company  at  Jerome,  Idaho. 
On  December  30,  1910,  he  returned  to  Helena,  the 
town  of  his  choice,  and  here  opened  an  office  of  civil 
engineering.  Mr.  Hovey  took  this  step  that  he  might 
be  more  settled  in  his  private  life.  He  is  so  well  known 
a civil  engineer  throughout  the  entire  northwest  that 
his  success  was  assured  at  the  beginning  of  the  new 
venture  and  has  full'--  fulfilled  expectations. 

Albert  S.  Hovey  was  married  on  the  2nd  of  April, 
1895,  to  Miss  Martha  Tregonning,  a young  English 
woman  who  was  making  her  home  in  Montana.  The 
union  took  place  in  Butte,  Montana. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hovey  are  attendants  of  the  Unitarian 
church.  Mr.  Hovey  is  a very  active  Mason  in  the  York 
Rite  and  has  held  most  of  the  offices  in  that  order. 
His  business  office  is  room  9,  Union  Bank  & Trust 
Company,  Helena,  Montana. 

Ervin  A.  Richardson.  A prominent  merchant, 
banker  and  club  man  of  Forsyth,  Montana,  was  born 
in  Steuben  county.  New  York;  the  only  son  of  Dr. 
John  W.  and  Elizabeth  (Boyer)  Richardson.  His 
father  was  a prominent  physician,  and  a successful 
business  man,  who  died  when  his  son  was  but  six 
years  old.  Five  years  later  his  mother  passed  away, 
leaving  him  in  the  care  of  his  grandmother,  who  did 
not  long  survive  the  death  of  her  daughter ; after 
which,  a married  half-sister  took  him  in  charge  at  the 
age  of  twelve  years. 

After  being  graduated  from  the  high  school,  May, 
1882,  he  accepted  a position  with  the  post  trader  at 
Fort  Custer,  IMontana.  Here  he  became  acquainted 
with  the  various  tribes  of  Indians,  and  a few  years 
later  became  an  Indian  trader  at  Crow  Agency,  where, 
by  diligence  and  frugality  during  a period  of  fourteen 
years,  he  was  enabled  to  launch  the  Richardson  Mer- 
cantile Company  at  Forsyth.  This  was  conducted  on 
the  co-operative  plan,  and  has  proven  a success,  hav- 
ing become  one  of  the  largest  and  most  completely 
stocked  department  stores  in  the  state.  Mr.  Richard- 
son has  personally  conducted  the  training  of  a dozen 
or  more  men  who  are  now  wide  awake  stock  holders 
in  the  various  Richardson  mercantile  co-operative  stores 
in  Montana. 

At  the  present  time,  he  is  not  only  president  of  the 
Richardson  Mercantile  Company  at  Forsyth,  but  also 
of  the  E A Richardson  & Company  store  at  Crow 
Agency,  and  of  the  W.  B.  Jordan  & Sons  Company 
of  Miles  City.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  and  the 
first  cashier  of  the  Bank  of  Commerce  of  Forsyth, 
and  is  now  the  vice-president.  He  is  also  president 
of  the  Rosebud  County  Fair  Association ; and  likewise 
a member  of  the  board  of  education,  being  a firm 
believer  that  the  future  of  Montana  depends  upon 
the  education  of  the  coming  generations. 

Mr.  Richardson  has  proven  his  ability  to  superintend 
various  enterprises,  and  safely  conduct  them  to  suc- 
pess.  He  is  a wide  awake  man  of  the  world,  and  in 
justice  to  him,  it  should  be  said,  that  in  all  his  dealings 
with  his  fellow  men,  he  is  honest  and  upright;  a man 
of  few  words,  but  a deep  and  careful  thinker.  He  is  a 
loyal  member  of  the  Republican  party,  but  displays 
great  wisdom  and  tact  in  taking  no  active  part  in 
local  politics.  He  is  a member  of  the  Elks  order;  of 
the  Billings,  Forsyth,  and  Miles  City  clubs ; and  of 
the  Pioneers  of  Eastern  Montana.  While  he  is  not  a 
member  of  any  religious  denomination,  his  preference 
is  for  the  Presbyterian  church  of  which  his  wife  is  an 
active  member ; but  he  is  a loyal  supporter  of  all 


V 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1219 


branches  of  religious  work,  and  an  ardent  admirer  of 
all  who  endeavor  to  do  good  in  the  community  in 
which  he  dwells. 

He  married  iMiss  Lillian  L.  Woolston,  daughter  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Isaac  Morgan  Woolston,  of  Beverl}-,  New 
Jersey,  a lady  well  known  as  an  active  worker  in  both 
religious  and  educational  circles  in  Montana,  and  is 
also  rated  as  a speaker  of  ability.  She  is  one  of  the 
vice-presidents  of  the  Montana  State  Sunday  School 
Association. 

Mr.  Richardson  has  watched  the  growth  of  the  west, 
and  has  played  an  active  part  in  its  development,  being 
one  of  the  first  men  in  the  state  to  organize  the  co- 
operative mercantile  plan,  which  has  not  only  proven 
conducive  to  his  own  prosperity,  but  has  also  given 
opportunity  for  greater  usefulness  to  his  employes. 
Thereby  he  is  modestly  instituting  a scheme  which 
will  ultimately  solve  the  industrial  problems  that  are 
now  disturbing  the  whole  nation. 

Albert  A.  Blethen.  There  are  certain  staple  articles 
which  have  been  an  absolute  necessity  to  the  forward 
march  of  progress  and  the  advance  of  civilization. 
Travel  always  has  been  the  means  of  broadening  man- 
kind’s scope,  the  medium  that  has  brought  about  our 
present  civilization  and,  naturally,  travel  has  always 
necessitated  the  use  of  means  of  conveyance.  The 
manufacture  of  carriages  and  wagons  is  one  of  the 
time-honored  occupations  and  for  years  has  had  in  its 
ranks  men  of  the  highest  character.  Albert  A.  Blethen, 
proprietor  of  a blacksmith  shop  and  livety  at  Harlow'- 
ton,  who  for  the  past  twelve  years  has  been  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  carriages  and  wagons,  has  taken 
an  active  part  in  shaping  public  sentiment  when  the 
welfare  of  the  city  has  been  at  stake  and  is_  a repre- 
sentative of  his  community's  best  type  of  citizenship. 
He  was  born  in  Waldo  county,  Maine,  March  lo,  1865, 
and  is  a son  of  Augustus  and  Mary  Jane  (Boothby) 
Blethen.  Augustus  Blethen  was  a native  of  the  Pine 
Tree  state,  where  he  spent  his  life  in  farming,  becom- 
ing a prominent  agriculturist  and  an  active  worker 
in  his  church.  He  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-three 
years,  while  his  wdfe,  also  born  in  Maine,  passed  away 
in  her  sixty-fourth  year,  and  the}^  were  buried  side 
by  side.  They  had  six  children,  of  wdiom  Albert  A. 
is  the  youngest. 

Albert  A.  Blethen  received  his  early  education  in 
the  district  schools  of  his  native  vicinity,  and  as  a 
youth  worked  on  his  father’s  farm.  Subsequently,  he 
became  a hand  on  'neighboring  farms,  receiving  a 
salary  of  ten  dollars  per  month,  and  out  of  eleven 
months’  salary  saved  ninety  dollars.  From  that  time 
until  attaining  his  twenty-eighth  year  he  was  engaged 
in  working  at  various  occupations,  and  then  went  to 
Lowell,  Massachusetts,  where  he  spent  about  three 
years,  removal  then  being  made  to  Portland,  Maine, 
in  which  city  he  was  engaged  in  farming  and  garden- 
ing for  one  year.  Returning  home,  he  worked  in  the 
lumber  woods  for  one  winter,  and  in  1882  started  for 
Montana,  where  he  arrived  during  the  summer,  since 
which  time,  with  the  exception  of  a few  years,  he  has 
made  this  state  his  home.  The  greater  part  of  his 
time  was  spent  in  ranching  and  farm  work,  but  in  1900 
he  decided  to  embark  in  business  on  his  own  account, 
and  accordingly  established  himself  in  the  blacksmith 
business  at  Harlowton,  although  he  had  never  learned 
the  trade  and  had  no  previous  experience  outside  of 
what  was  picked  up  by  him  on*  the  various  farms  and 
ranches  on  which  he  had  worked.  This  venture  proved 
very  successful,  and  he  subsequently  added  a livery 
business  and  also  engaged  in  manufacturing  wagons, 
in  which  he  has  likewise  proved  his  skill  as  a mechanic. 
He  has  also  made  a number  of  valuable  tools,  the  first 
being  a traverse-drill,  which  is  still  in  his  possession. 
He  is  doing  business  in  the  oldest  building  in  Harlow- 
ton, which  has  become  one  of  the  best  equipped  and 

Vol.  11—24 


most  complete  establishments  of  its  kind  in  Montana, 
and  the  excellence  of  his  work  and  the  absolute  reli- 
ability which  may  be  placed  therein  have  gained  him  a 
wide  and  profitable  trade. 

Mr.  Blethen  may  be  termed  one  of  IMontana’s  most 
enthusiastic  “boosters.”  During  the  past  quarter  of 
a century  he  has  seen  the  vast  grazing  country  and 
undeveloped  territory  gradually  develop  into  a flourish- 
ing agricultural  and  commercial  community,  with  large 
industries  and  churches  and  schools  that  cannot  be 
excelled  by  any  section  in  the  country,  and  to  prove 
that  he  is  sincere  in  his  belief  as  to  the  future  of  the 
state,  he  has  invested  largely  in  real  estate  holdings. 
He  is  fond  of  all  out-door  sports,  and  also  appreciates 
good  music,  being  himself  a skilled  performer  on  the 
violin.  Although  his  business  has  naturally  made 
him  partial  to  the  horse,  he  has  kept  up  with  the 
progress  of  the  times,  and  owns  his  own  automobile. 
Politically  a Republican,  he  has  never  cared  to  enter 
public  life,  but  takes  a good  citizen’s  interest  in  mat- 
ters of  the  day.  He  is  a member  of  the  Episcopal 
church,  where  his  wife  belongs  to  the  Ladies’  Aid 
Society  and  for  years  has  been  an  active  member  of 
the  Altar  Guild.  Elected  the  first  fire  chief  of  Harlow- 
ton, Mr.  Blethen  served  in  that  capacity  for  four  years, 
during  which  time  he  did  much  to  build  up  the  de- 
partment. 

IMr.  Blethen  was  married  at  Castle,  Montana,  Novem- 
ber 29,  1899,  to  Miss  Frances  L.  Smith,  formerly  of 
Hull,  Yorkshire,  England. 

Hon.  George  J.  Wiedeman.  Among  the  prominent 
business  men  of  Montana  who  have  made  a decided 
impression  by  their  personality,  not  only  upon  the  com- 
munit}'-  wherein  they  have  lived,  but  upon  all  other 
sections  of  the  state  where  they  have  become  known, 
none  is  entitled  to  more  praiseworthy  notice  than  that 
genial,  whole-souled  gentleman,  the  Hon.  Geo.  J. 
Wiedeman,  of  Lewistown,  Montana.  Leaving  home  at 
an  early  age,  and  with  limited  advantages,  except  those 
wrung  by  his  own  ability  and  force  of  character  from 
his  environments,  he  has  at  all  times  exhibited  an 
unusual  spirit  of  determination  in  overcoming  obstacles. 

A business  man  of  rare  judgment  and  far-sighted- 
ness, he  has  been  conspicuous  as  a molder  of  opinion 
and  a director  of  thought  in  all  important  matters  con- 
nected with  the  city  and  county  in  which  he  resides. 
A man  possessing  a most  generous  and  kindly  disposi- 
tion, one  whose  word  is  absolutely  as  good  as  his  bond, 
his  place  among  his  fellow  men,  in  whatever  relations, 
business,  political,  or  social,  is  one  of  the  highest  esteem 
and  confidence. 

He  was  born  at  New  Bremen,  Auglaize  county,  Ohio, 
on  February  22,  i860,  both  of  his  parents  being  Ger- 
man. 

His  father,  Frederick  A.  Wiedeman,  came  to  America 
in  1834,  settling  in  New  Brernen,  where  he  lived  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  His  wife  was  IMary  Stroh,  who 
survived  him  a number  of  years,  remaining  at  the  old 
home  to  the  end.  Their  family  of  four  daughters  and 
five  sons  are  all  living.  Of  these  George  J.  was  the 
fifth.  His  childhood  and  youth  were  spent  at  home 
where  he  attended  school  and  performed  as  much  of 
the  labor  about  the  small  farm  as  his  age  would  war- 
rant. 

When  he  reached  the  age  of  fourteen,  he  decided  to 
go  out  and  make  his  own  way  in  the  world,  consider- 
ing that  the  horizon  of  the  home  nest  was  too  small 
for  him.  During  the  succeeding  seven  r-ears  he  w'orked 
at  various  occupations  and  in  several  different  places 
until  the  fall  of  1881,  when  he,  with  his  brother  John 
L.,  who  was  his  senior  by  six  years,  determined  to 
follow  the  famous  advice  of  Horace  Greeley  and  “Go 
West.”  They  had  selected  Fargo,  North  Dakota,  as 
their  objective  point,  but  not  finding  conditions  to  their 


1220 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


liking  tlicy  pressed  on  to  Fort  Benton,  making  the 
journey  from  Bismarck  by  steamboat. 

l-'roin  here  -Mr.  Wiedeman  continued  on  to  Utica, 
where  he  secured  employment  herding  sheep  for  a year. 
At  the  end  of  that  time,  he  embarked  in  the  sheep 
business  on  his  own  account.  He  secured  a ranch  on 
the  East  b'ork  of  Big  Spring  creek,  about  twelve  miles 
from  wl'.at  is  now  the  city  of  Lewistown.  Here  he 
carried  on  the  business  of  sheep  raising  and  wool, 
with  marked  success,  and  sold  out  in  1886  to  enter  the 
mercantile  business  which  was  really  the  work  he 
had  always  desired  most  to  do.  Fie  now  entered  the 
employ  of  T.  C.  Power  & Bro.,  who  operated  a num- 
ber of  similar  establishments  in  other  parts  of  Mon- 
tana. 

'I'o  this  occupation  he  brought  the  energy,  ambition, 
and  ability  which  have  uniformly  marked  his  career  and 
it  was  but  a short  time,  until  Mr.  Wiedeman  was 
recognized  as  an  invalualde  member  of  the  business 
force.  Continuing  there  until  1892,  he  decided  to  start 
in  business  for  himself,  and  organized  in  November  of 
that  year  the  ^Montana  Hardware  Company,  which  is 
today  one  of  the  best  known  concerns  of  its  kind  in 
Montana,  as  well  as  one  of  the  most  successful.  Pro- 
gressive ideas  and  sane  and  wholesome  business  methods 
have  marked  the  operations  of  this  house,  and  the 
growth  and  present  prosperity  of  the  business  are  a 
sufficient  commentary  on  the  commercial  ability  and 
extraordinary  powers  of  application,  which  have 
characterized  Mr.  Wiedeman's  life. 

He  is  a member  of  the  Alasonic  Order,  in  the  depart- 
ments of  Idue  lodge,  Knights  Templar  and  Mystic 
Shrine,  and  has  filled  all  offices  with  credit,  in  the  blue 
lodge  and  the  chapter.  He  is  also  a member  of  the 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks  and  has  served 
his  lodge  as  exalted  ruler.  The  Judith  Club  finds  in 
him  an  enthusiastic  and  valuable  member  and  he  has 
always  been  a moving  spirit  in  any  cause  having  for 
its  object  the  advancement  of  the  best  interests  of  his 
Own  home  city,  county,  or  state. 

As  a politician.  Mr.  Wiedeman  has  been  ever  zealous 
and  effective  in  his  efforts  in  behalf  of  the  Republican 
party.  He  is  known  for  a party  fighter  and  it  is 
significant  that  he  has  been  present  at  every  conven- 
tion since  188S.  He  has  served  his  district  in  the  state 
legislature  and  was  a memlDer  of  the  session  that  created 
Sanders  county.  Besides  being  the  manager  of  the 
Montana  Hardware  Company,  he  is  prominently  con- 
nected with  a good  many  other  business  organizations 
in  Fergus  county. 

On  ,\pril  8,  tSgo,  jMr.  Wiedeman  married  Miss  Anna 
M.  M'eydcrt,  the  second  daughter  of  Paul  and  Mary 
Weydert,  of  Helena. 

Mrs.  Wiedeman  was  born  at  Helena,  IMontana,  in 
1868.  attending  the  public  schools  until  her  father  re- 
moved with  his  family  to  the  Judith  Basin  in  1882. 
.\t  the  age  of  sixteen  she  taught  school  and  later  at- 
tended Carlton  College  at  Northfield,  Minnesota,  and 
the  State  Normal  School  at  Ypsilanti,  Michigan.  Mrs. 
Wiedeman  i.s  widely  known  as  a most  energetic  and 
tireless  worker  in  any  movement  designed  to  promote 
the  uplift  and  betterment  of  the  community,  and  holds 
a high  position  in  the  society  of  Lewistown.  She  is 
equally  as  sedtdous  in  the  labor  of  the  church  and 
charity  as  her  husband  is  in  business. 

Three  sons  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  IMrs.  Wiede- 
inan,  and  the  rearing  and  education  of  these  boys  have 
been  the  supreme  interest  of  their  lives.  William,  the 
eldest,  is  associated  witli  his  father  in  business,  and 
George.  Jr.,  contemplates  joining  his  brother  larer  in 
perpetuating  the  success  of  their  father,  while  Arthur 
aged  ei.ght  and  a half  years,  is  still  attending  the  schools 
of  Lewistown. 

Ali„\n  a.  C.-^meron.  With  a genius  for  public  af- 
fairs and  agricultural  pursuits,  which  has  enabled  him 


to  give  attention  to  both  with  very  gratifying  success, 
Allan  A.  Cameron,  the  popular  and  efficient  postmaster 
of  Bozeman,  has  found  in  the  northwest  opportunity  for  1 
full  play  of  his  productive  faculties.  Fie  is  a native  of  , 
Carson  City,  Nevada,  and  was  born  May  2,  1874,  a ’ 
son  of  Don  and  Christiana  (Blackburn)  (lameron.  ' 

Don  Cameron  was  born  in  the  Province  of  Quebec, 
Canada,  of  Scotch  parentage,  March  8,  1842,  and  when  , 
a young  man,  in  1866,  removed  to  California  and  en-  I 
gaged  in  the  contracting  business.  Not  long  there-  : 
after  he  went  to  Nevada,  following  the  same  line  there 
until  the  spring  of  1882,  at  which  time  he  came  to 
Montana,  locating  twelve  miles  from  Bozeman  in  Gal-  ! 
latin  county.  He  there  carried  on  stock  raising  and 
farming  until  1906,  which  year  saw  his  retirement  from  1 

active  business  matters.  In  politics  a stanch  Republi-  1 

can,  he  served  four  years  as  tounty  commissioner  of 
Gallatin  county,  being  elected  first  in  1896  and  again  in 
1898.  His  wife,  who  was  born  in  Ontario,  Canada,  Jan- 
uary 23,  1852,  passed  away  in  1895,  having  been  the 
mother  of  four  sons  and  two  daughters,  and  five  cliil- 
dren  survive  at  this  time,  Allan  A,  being  the  oldest.  . 

-Allan  A.  Cameron  was  educated  in  the  schools  of 
Bozeman  and  the  State  Agricultural  College,  and  his  ' 
first  experience  in  farming  was  on  his  father’s  property. 

In  the  fall  of  1902  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  county 
clerk,  was  re-elected  in  1904,  and  after  serving  two 
terms,  in  the  fall  of  1906  was  elected  to  serve  in  the 
state  legislature.  He  was  a member  of  that  body  In  ' 
its  tenth  session,  and  in  July,  1911,  returned  to  the  1 

farm  and  engaged  in  stock  raising  and  tilling  the  soil  . 
until  his  appointment,  July  23,  1911,  to  the  responsible 
office  of  postmaster  at  Bozeman,  in  which  capacity  he 
has  served  ever  since  with  universal  satisfaction.  Mr. 
Cameron  is  esteemed  and  respected  by  a wide  circle  of 
friends,  exhibiting  tow’ards  all  a courteous  and  genial  [ 
manner,  and  having  the  true  westerner’s  considerateness  | 
and  hospitality  for  all  his  fellow  men.  As  an  official 
of  the  people  he  is  proving,  and  has  proved  in  the  past,  ,| 
a conscientious,  public-spirited  citizen,  faithful  and  |[ 

capable  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties.  Fraternally,  h'e 
is  connected  with  Gallatin  Lodge  No.  6,  A.  F.  & A.  M.  j 
Bozeman  Lodge  No.  463,  B.  P.  O.  E.  , 

On  November  19,  1902,  Mr.  Cameron  was  married  to 
Miss  Gertrude  Morgan,  who  was  born  in  Leavenworth 
county,  Kansas,  daughter  of  W'eckford  and  Elizabeth 
(Morgan)  Morgan,  natives  of  Virginia.  They  had  j 

five  children,  Mrs.  Cameron  being  the  youngest.  Mr.  | 
Morgan  was  a pioneer  of  the  Treasure  state,  having 
located  in  Virginia  City,  Montana,  in  1864,  and  is  novv 
retired  from  business  activities  and  makes  his  home  j 

in  Bozeman,  where  he  is  widely  and  favorably  known. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cameron  have  had  two  daughters : Kath- 
leen and  Mildred. 

Hon.  Charles  S.  Hartman.  Few  men  in  the  public 
life  of  Montana  have  attained  a more  eminent  place  in 
the  regard  and  esteem  of  their  fellow  citizens  than  has 
been  the  portion  of  Hon.  Charles  S.  Hartman,  of  Boze- 
man. Throughout  a public  career  that  began  in  1884, 
when  as  a young  man  he  was  elected  probate  judge 
of  Gallatin  county,  he  has  remained  a type  of  American 
statesmanship  at  its  best,  an  exemplar  of  intellectual 
honesty  and  high-mindedness  in  political  life.  As  a 
member  of  the  committee  which  framed  the  laws  of  the 
state  of  Montana,  and  as  congressman,  his  one  donn- 
nant  purpose  was  to  seek  out  and  follow  the  policies 
that  would  best  serve  -the  people,  and  at  all  times  his 
independence  asserted  itself  and  his  devotion  to  con- 
viction caused  him  to  follow  only  the  dictates  of  his  own 
conscience.  Mr,  Hartman  was  born  at  Monticello, 
White  county,  Indiana,  March  i,  1861,  a son  of  Sampson 
and  Mary  C.  (Heckendorn)  Hartman.  His  father, 
born  in  1830,  was  a carpenter  by  trade,  became  a con- 
tractor in  Monticello,  and  died  January  26,  1861,  before 
the  birth  of  Charles  3.  Mrs.  Hartman,  who  was  born 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1221 


> 


in  Pennsylvania,  in  1835,  survived  her  husband  many 
years,  and  passed  away  December  15,  1911.  Three 
children  were  born  to  them,  namely:  Walter  S.,  who 

is  a member  of  the  legal  firm  of  Hartman  & Hartman, 
at  Bozeman;  A.  D.,  who  resides  in  Ohio;  and  Charles  S. 

The  early  education  of  Charles  S.  Hartman  was  se- 
cured in  the  public  and  high  schools  of  Monticello,  and 
at  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he  began  to  teach  school. 
During  the  three  years  that  he  followed  the  profession 
of  educator  he  devoted  himself  assiduously  to  his  law 
studies,  and  after  a preparatory  course  in  Wabash 
College  entered  the  law  offices  of  Owens  & Uhl,  at  Mon- 
ticello. In  January,  1882,  Mr.  Hartman  came  to  Boze- 
man, Montana,  and  for  one  year  acted  as  bookkeeper 
for  Nelson  Story  in  his  banking  business,  and  then 
entered  the  real  estate  business  until  he  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  August,  1884.  In  October  of  that  year 
he  was  elected  probate  judge  of  Gallatin  county,  and 
after  serving  one  term  of  two  years  refused  a re- 
nomination to  engage  in  the  practice  of  his  profession 
with  Judge  Francis  K.  Armstrong,  this  partnership 
continuing  for  some  years.  In  May,  1889,  Mr.  Hart- 
man was  elected  a member  of  the  state  constitutional 
convention,  and  his  services  in  that  distinguished  body 
resulted  in  his  nomination  for  congress  in  1892.  In  that 
year  he  was  elected,  and  again  in  1894  and  1896,  but 
in  1898  declined  the  nomination.  In  1910  he  was  again 
prevailed  upon  to  accept  the  nomination.  During  his 
former  terms  in  congress  the  people  had  learned  to 
admire  his  independence  and  sound  judgment,  and  he 
was  a conspicuous  figure  in  the  group  of  progressive 
legislators  who  represented  the  aspirations  of  the  mass 
of  the  people.  His  utter  fearlessness  in  denouncing 
what  he  considered  the  unfair  methods  of  various  large 
interests,  however,  had  antagonized  certain  powerful 
i cliques,  and  largely  through  the  efforts  of  the  Amalga- 
! mated  Copper  Company,  he  met  with  defeat.  I\Ir.  Hart- 
; man  has  since  devoted  himself  to  the  general  practice 
of  law,  in  partnership  with  his  brother,  his  offices 
being  maintained  in  the  Gallatin  block.  He  is  a man 
of  sterling  honesty,  positive  convictions  and  an  ag- 
gressive temperament.  These  qualities,  reinforced  by 
marked  ability,  have  made  him  an  active  and  useful 
member  of  his  community.  His  political  tendencies 
are  those  of  Bryan  Democracy. 

On  December  2,  1884,  Mr.  Hartman  was  married  to 
Miss  Flora  B.  Imes,  who  was  born  in  White  county, 
Indiana,  the  sixth  in  order  of  birth  of  the  eight  chil- 
dren of  William  and'Malinda  (Faris)  Imes,  both  of 
whom  are  deceased.  Mr.  Imes  was  for  a number  of 
years  engaged  in  the  insurance  business,  hlr.  and  IMrs. 
Hartman  have  had  two  daughters : Lois,  teacher  of 

domestic  science  in  the  State  University  at  Salt  Lake 
City,  Utah;  and  Flora,  a music  teacher,  who  was  mar- 
ried August  21,  1912,  to  Roy  D.  Pinkerton  and  resides 
at  Glendale,  California.  The  family  is  connected  with 
the  Presbyterian  church. 

Loren  W.  Orvis.  The  pioneer  merchant  of  Sales- 
ville,  Montana,  where  he  has  been  engaged  in  business 
for  nearly  twenty  years,  Loren  W.  Orvis  has  the  dis- 
tinction of  being  a self-made  man,  and  one  who  has  so 
conducted  his  activities  as  to  redound  to  the  best  in- 
terests of  his  community.  Miner,  farmer  and  merchah- 
dizer,  Mr.  Orvis  has  been  a busy  and  industrious  work- 
man, but  has  found  time  to  give  to  his  city  as  a public 
official,  and  through  his  ability  and  conscientious  regard 
for  duty  has  won  the  unqualified  esteem  of  his  fellow 
citizens.  Mr.  Orvis  was  born  in  Oakfield,  Fond  du  Lac 
county,  Wisconsin,  March  16,  1853,  and  is  a son  of 
James  and  Julia  (Lawrence)  Orvis. 

The  Orvis  family  originated  in  this  country  in  the 
New  England  states,  whence  three  brothers  came  prior 
to  1600,  in  which  year  there  was  a George  Orvis  liv- 
ing in  Massachusetts.  James  Orvis  was  born  August 
15,  1818,  in  Vermont,  and  in  1845  removed  to  Wiscon- 


sin, locating  at  Fond  du  Lac,  where  he  was  engaged 
in  mercantile  pursuits.  Subsequently  he  became  the 
proprietor  of  a sawmill,  owning  the  water  power  and 
building  the  mill  at  Avoca,  Wisconsin,  and  being  a 
pioneer  in  that  line  of  industry.  For  a number  of  years 
he  was  also  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in  Fond  du 
Lac’  county,  but  retired  from  activities  some  time  prior 
to  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1885.  His  wife,  born 
in  New  York  state,  in  1831,  died  in  1885,  having  been 
the  mother  of  nine  children,  six  of  whom  survive,  of 
whom  Loren  W.  is  the  oldest.  James  Orvis  was  orig- 
inally a Whig  and  later  a Republican,  served  as  a mem- 
ber of  the  school  board  and  in  other  township  offices 
for  many  years,  and  was'  eventually  sent  to  represent 
his  district  in  the  state  legislature. 

Loren  W.  Orvis  secured  his  education  in  the  schools 
of  Oakfield,  Wisconsin,  and  in  1875  removed  to  Canton, 
Iowa,  from  whence  he  went  to  Calliope,  in  the  same 
state.  For  some  time  he  was  an  employe  of  the  Sioux 
City  & Pacific  Railroad,  but  resigned  his  position  to  en- 
gage in  farm  work  at  Eldora,  and  from  there  returned 
to  his  home  in  Wisconsin,  where  he  spent  about  two 
years.  In  January,  1879,  Hr.  Orvis  went  to  the  Black 
Hills  and  moved  on  to  Bismarck,  North  Dakota,  by 
stage,  spending  about  two  years.  On  June  i,  1882,  he 
arrived  in  Miles  City,  Montana,  having  traveled  over- 
land with  his  own  team,  and  subsequently  went  to  old 
Coulson,  Bozeman  and  Cook  City.  He  was  engaged  in 
mining  and  prospecting  in  the  latter  place,  and  later 
at  old  Three  Eorks  and  Toston  on  the  Missouri  river, 
and  in  1885  located  near  Salesville,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  farming.  On  January  i,  1893,  Mr.  Orvis 
became  the  pioneer  merchant  of  Salesville,  establish- 
ing himself  in  a general  merchandise  business  that  has 
become  the  leading  store  of  its  kind  in  this  section.  He 
carries  a full  line  of  up-to-date  goods,  and  has  every 
convenience  for  his  customers.  A man  of  the  strict- 
est integrity,  the  confidence  in  which  he  is  held  by 
the  community  has  been  shown  by  his  election  to  the 
office  of  clerk  and  trustee  of  the  school  board  for  sorne 
eight  or  ten  years,  where  his  duties  were  discharged  in 
an  able  and  faithful  manner.  In  political  matters  he 
is  an  ardent  Republican.  He  is  a member  of  Salesville 
Lodge  No.  69,  I.  O.  O.  E.,  and  was  elected  noble  grand 
in  January,  1912.  He  has  many  friends  in  the  order, 
as  he  has,  indeed,  in  business  and  social  circles. 

On  August  17,  1891.  Mr.  Orvis  was  married  to  Mrs. 
IMary  E.  Schmidt,  widow  of  Paul  Schmidt,  and  daugh- 
ter of  Robert  C.  and  Lana  (Spry)  Thomas,  and  born 
in  Canton,  Fulton  county,  Illinois.  Her  father,  a na- 
tive of  Covington,  Kentucky,  born  in  1830,  was  three 
years  of  age  when  taken  to  Illinois  by  his  parents,  and 
on  reaching  manhood  engaged  in  a general  merchandise 
business  at  Canton.  In  i86g  he  removed  to  Carter 
county,  Missouri,  where  he  carried  on  a general  mer- 
chandise business  and  grist  mill  until  1874,  in  which 
year  he  removed  to  Jasper  county.  For  thirty-four  years 
he  was  a resident  of  Nashville,  Missouri, _ and  was  one 
of  the  leading  local  preachers  of  the  United  Brethren 
church.  He  was  deputy  sheriff  in  Fulton  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  while  a resident  of  Jasper  county,  Missouri, 
acted  as  assessor  for  many  years.  In  the  latter  part 
of  his  life  he  came  to  Montana,  where  his  death  oc- 
curred in  1903,  when  he  was  seventy-three  years  of 
age.  He  was  married  October  6,  i853>  to  Miss  Lana 
Spry,  who  was  born  in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  in  1831,  and 
she  died  January  4,  1902,  having  been  the  mother  of 
ten  children,  of  whom  five  are  still  living,  Mrs.  Orvis 
being  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth.  J^Irs.  Orvis  was 
appointed  postmistress  in  January,  1893,  and  acted  in 
that  capacity  for  a period  of  eight  years.  She  had  two 
children  by  her  first  marriage,  Otto  and  Zulu,  and  she 
and  Mr.  Orvis  have  had  four  children:  Lora  May, 

who  died  in  infancy;  and  L.  Worth,  R.  Keith  and 
Lyle  B. 


1 ^'2'2 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


Frank  Foster  has  been  a resident  of  the  state  of 
Montana  since  1882.  He  came  here  in  his  young  man- 
hood, being  about  eighteen  years  of  age  at  the  time 
of  his  advent  in  these  parts,  and  he  has  been  more 
or  less  prominent  in  the  county  since  that  time.  _ He 
has  acquired  a nice  ranching  property  in  the  vicinity 
of  Paradise,  and  adds  surveying  and  prospecting  to 
his  other  activities,  so  that  he  is  easily  one  of  the 
busiest  men  in  the  county. 

P)Orn  in  Santa  Cruz,  California,  on  June  18,  1864, 
h'rank  Foster  is  the  son  of  Franklin  B.  and  Annie 
(Miller)  l-'oster.  The  father  was  a native  New  Yorker 
who  came  to  California  with,  the  pioneers  of  that  state 
in  the  days  of  “forty-nine"  and  he  followed  mining 
there  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1864,  when 
he  was  in  his  young  manhood,  being  but  thirty-five 
years  of  age  at  the  time.  His  widow  survived  him 
until  1906,  and  was  sixty-six  years  of  age  when  she 
died.  She  is  buried  at  Plains,  Montana.  Two  chil- 
dren were  born  to  these  worthy  parents,— Frank  of 
this  review  and  an  elder  sister,  Marj',  who  is  married 
to  Carlton  R.  Perrine  and  resides  in  Buffalo,  New 
York.  , 

Frank  Foster  was  an  infant  less  than  a month  old 
when  his  father  died,  and  when  he  was  about  four 
years  old  his  widowed  mother  went  to  Buffalo,  New 
York,  and  there  they  lived  until  the  subject  was  about 
eighteen  years  old.  They  came  to  Montana  in  1882, 
and  settled  first  in  Chouteau  county,  there  remaining 
for  a year,  during  which  time  Mr.  Foster  gained  some 
ranching  experience  as  a “hand’  on  a cattle  lanch. 
He  then  went  to  Philipsburg  and  the  Deer  Lodp 
valley,  where  he  gave  his  energies  and  time  to  the 
business  of  mining  for  something  like  ten  years.  He 
was  reasonably  successful  in  the  work,  but  at  the 
end  of  that  time  gave  it  up  and  came  to  Plains  val- 
ley where  he  engaged  in  farming  for  another  decade. 
Although  he  no  longer  is  actively  engaged  in  ranch- 
ing, he  still  owns  his  place  in  the  valley  near  Par- 
adise, which  is  admitted  to  be  one  of  the  finest  in  that 
vicinity.  He  has  in  later  years  devoted  himself  to 
surveying  and  prospecting,  and  has  been  deputy  county 
assessor,  an  office  which  he  has  filled  with  all  satis- 
faction to  the  people.  In  the  recent  election  he  was 
elected  to  the  office  of  county  clerk,  and  it  is  safe  to 
predict  that  he  will  discharge  the  duties  of  that  office 
in  a manner  consistent  with  his  usual  methods,  thus 
furtlier  proving  his  fitness  for  public  service.  He 
was  elected  on  the  Democratic  ticket  and  has  long 
been  a faithful  adherent  of  the  party,  in  whose  inter- 
ests he  has  taken  an  active  part.  Other  public  offices 
have  claimed  his  services,  and  he  was  at  one  time  a 
member  of  the  school  board,  as  well  as  having  served 
as  justice  of  the  peace,  while  he  has  served  as  county 
surveyor  in  recent  years. 

No  more  enthusiastic  Montanian  may  be  found  in 
these  parts  than  Mr.  Foster,  and  he  is  well  qualified 
to  speak  of  the  possibilities  of  the  state  for  the 
future,  in  consideration  of  his  work  in  its  various 
sections  in  his  capacity  of  surveyor  and  prospector. 
He  believes  the  development  of  the  state,  great  as 
it  has  been,  to  be  still  in  its  infancy,  and  points  out 
the  magnificent  resources  of  the  state^  in  her  water 
power  alone,  which  he  avers  will  continue  to  attract 
capital  and  industries  for  many  years  to  come,  while 
the  town  of  Thompson  Falls  he  believes  will  one  day 
be  a beautiful  city.  Mr.  Foster  is  unmarried. 

Hon.  George  IMcCone.  The  day  of  the  open  range  in 
Montana  is  now  a thing  of  the  dim  and  distant  past,  and 
the  great  herds  of  cattle  that  once  roamed  the  plains, 
unmolested  save  for  an  occasional  attack  by  the  hostile 
red-skins,  have  been  replaced  by  bunches  confined  to 
their  owners’  properties  by  the  barb-wire  of  civiliza- 
tion. Along  with  the  customs  and  usages  of  the  early 
days  of  the  battle  industry  of  the  state  are  passing  the 


pioneers  who  came  to  this  section  to  overcome  the 
hardships  of  frontier  existence,  to  give  battle  to  the  wild 
animals  and  wilder  men,  and  to  blaze  the  trail  that 
those  who  came  afterward  might  lay  the  foundations 
for  the  upbuilding  of  a mighty  center  of  commercial, 
industrial  and  educational  activity.  Among  those  who 
still  remain  to  relate  as  an  eye-witness  the  thrilling  ex- 
periences of  early  Montana  life,  and  whose  connection 
with  the  cattle  industry  for  many  years  has  made  him 
one  of  the  best  known  business  men  of  his  part  of  the 
state,  is  the  Hon.  George  McCone,  of  Burns,  now  serv- 
ing his  second  term  as  a member  of  the  state  senate. 
Mr.  McCone  was  born  April  4,  1854,  in  Livingston 
county.  New  York,  and  is  a son  of  Isaac  and  Polly 
(Griswold)  McCone.  His  father,  a native  of  the  Em- 
pire state,  moved  in  1855  to  the  vicinity  of  Herricks- 
ville,  Michigan,  there  dying  in  1863.  His  wife  was 
born  near  Edinburgh,  Scotland,  in  1823,  and  still  makes 
her  home  at  Herricksville,  having  reached  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty-nine  years. 

After  receiving  a common  school  education,  George 
McCone  began  working  for  himself  at  the  age  of  seven- 
teen years,  devoting  his  time  to  farming  in  the  sum- 
mer months  and  to  working  in  the  pineries  during  the 
winters.  He  first  came  to  the  west  in  1877,  locating  in 
Indian  Territory,  where  he  carried  mail  from  Fort 
Reno  to  Fort  Sill  for  one  year.  During  the  following 
spring  he  came  to  Bismarck,  and  began  carrying  mail 
from  that  city  to  Fort  Keogh,  continuing  therein  until 
the  fall  of  1881  and  having  at  the  same  time  charge  of 
the  United  States  government  hay,  wood  and  grain 
teams  between  those  two  points.  In  1882  he  embarked 
in  the  cattle  business  on  Burns  creek,  forty  miles  north 
of  Glendive,  and  was  the  first  man  to  bring  cattle  into 
that  locality,  which  at  that  time  was  not  organized.  In 
July,  1882,  he  secured  the  contract  to  carry  the  mail 
from  Glendive  to  Fort  Buford,  and  from  there  to 
Wolf  Point,  and  so  continued  six  years,  or  until  the 
advent  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad.  During  this 
time  he  had  continued  to  carry  on  his  cattle  business, 
to  which  he  added  sheep  and  horse  raising,  and  for  this 
long  stretch  of  years  has  been  one  of  the  leading  stock- 
men  of  eastern  Montana.  Mr.  McCone  recalls  numer- 
ous reminiscences  of  the  early  days  of  the  state ; days 
fraught  with  peril  to  the  hardy  pioneers  who  faced  the 
dangers  of  the  wild  country  with  that  indifference  to 
hardship  and  privation  that  only  the  true  American 
pioneer  can  show ; the  days  of  deeds  of  violence  and 
deeds  of  valor ; the  days  the  like  of  which  have  hardly 
a parallel  in  history.  Through  those  days  men’s  souls 
were  tried,  and  those  who  have  lived  through  them 
are  not  wanting  in  courage ; neither  can  they  be  said 
to  be  lacking  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  their  fellow 
citizens.  Mr.  McCone  is  the  owner  of  4500  acres  of 
land,  about  one-half  of  which  is  tillable,  and  in  1912 
he  had  three  hundred  acres  in  wheat,  flax  and  oats. 
Although  his  cattle  no  longer  roam  the  open  range,  he 
still  keeps  large  herds,  and  finds  a ready  sale  for  his 
animals  in  the  large  markets. 

In  1884  Mr.  McCone  was  married  at  Sidney,  Montana, 
to  Miss  Mattie  Newlon,  a native  of  Peoria,  Illinois, 
and  daughter  of  W.  W.  Newlon,  who  came  to  the  Yel- 
lowstone valley  in  1879.  Three  children  were  born  to 
this  union,  namely;  LeRoy,  born  in  1886,  was  married  in 
1906  to  Mida  Finlev,  a native  of  Michigan;  Lydia,  born 
in  i8qo,  married  Charles  Lorenzo  Hood,  and  has  one 
son,  Milton  Lorenzo ; and  Alice,  born  in  1896,  residing 
at  home.  On  October  i,  1908,  Mr.  McCone  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Viola  Bowers,  a native  of  Michigan,  and 
daughter  of  Henry  H.  and  Orrissa  (Rosencrants) 
Bowers,  natives  of  Michigan.  Mr.  Bowers,  who  has 
been  engaged  in  farming  throughout  a long  and  hon- 
orable career,  now  resides  at  Grand  Rapids.  Two  chil- 
dren were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bowers : Mrs.  Mc- 
Cone and  Mrs.  Colin  P.  Campbell,  the  latter  the  wife  of 
a prominent  Grand  Rapids  attorney  and  politician,  who 


--  ’"i-ll 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1223 


at  one  time  was  speaker  of  the  Michigan  house  of  rep- 
resentatives. Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCone  have  had  one 
child,  George  Henry,  born  November  15,  igio. 

In  his  political  belief  a stalwart  Republican,  Mr. 
McCone  was  appointed  a member  of  the  first  board  of 
county  commissioners,  and  in  the  first  general  election, 
in  1882,  was  elected  to  that  office,  being  re-elected-  each 
succeeding  year  until  1900.  In  that  fall  he  was  selected 
to  represent  his  district  in  the  general  assembly,  and 
after  serving  that  term  was  sent  to'  the  senate,  being 
subsequently  re-elected.  A prominent  Mason,  he  is  a 
member  of  Glendive  Lodge,  Yellowstone  Chapter  and 
Damascus  Commandery,  all  of  Glendive,  and  in  each 
of  these  he  has  numerous  warm  friends.  Mrs.  Mc- 
Cone is  a member  of  the  Episcopal  church.  A lady  of 
culture  and  refinement,  she  presides  over  the  Glendive 
home  with  gracious  hospitality,  and  is  a general  favorite 
in  social  circles  of  the  city.  Her  husband  spends  his 
time  between  the  city  home  and  the  ranch,  in  the 
vicinity  of  both  of  which  he  is  widely  known  and  most 
thoroughly  esteemed. 

George  W.  B.vker.  Now  living  in  comfortable  retire- 
ment after  many  years  spent  in  successful  agricultural 
operations,  George  W.  Baker,  of  McLeod,  Sweet  Grass 
county,  enjoys  the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  community, 
and  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  men  to  whose  progressive 
spirit  this  section  owes  much  of  its  prosperity.  More 
than  a quarter  of  a century  ago  he  introduced  the  grow- 
ing of  alfalfa  into  this  locality,  braved  the  ridicule  of- 
those  who  claimed  this  product  not  be  produced  with 
success  here,  and  vindicated  his  judgment  by  building  up 
a large  and  prosperous  enterprise.  Mr.  Baker,  like  many 
of  the  successful  residents  of  Montana,  is  a product  of 
? the  New  England  States,  having  been  born  in  Essex, 
Chittenden  county,  Vermont,  December  28,  1840.  His 
father,  Nahum  Baker,  was  born  in  the  same  county  in 
1812,  and  in  1852  removed  to  the  state  of  New  York, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  until  1856,  then 
going  to  Fillmore  county,  Minnesota.  He  there  took  up 
a government  tract,  the  deed  for  which  was  signed  by 
Abraham  Lincoln,  and  continued  operations  until  1885, 

I then  removing  to  Gallatin  (now  Sweet  Grass)  county, 
Montana,  where  his  death  occurred  in  1889.  Originally  a 
Whig,  he  later  joined  the  ranks  of  the_  Republican 
party  and  was  steadfast  in  his  support  of  its  principles 
I and  candidates.  Mr.  Baker  married  Clarissa  Cutting, 

I who  was  born  in  1813  and  died  in  1890.  and  they  had 
' three  sons : George  W. ; Leslie,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
thirty-seven  years ; and  Holloway,  who  was  thirty  years 
old  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

George  W.  Baker  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
{ of  Vermont,  New  York  and  Minnesota,  and  was  nine- 
i teen  years  of  age  when  he  left  the  parental  roof.  On 
i March  24,  1859,  he  started  overland  from  Spring  Valley, 
1 Minnesota,  with  an  ox-team,  bound  for  California,  and 
j arrived  at  Wyreka,  September  21st.  There  he  secured 
employment  working  on  a ranch,  where  during  the 
next  three  years  he  received  thirty-five  dollars  a month, 
and  then  went  to  Red  Bluff.  California,  and  engaged 
in  farming  for  himself.  Subsequently  he  followed 
teaming  to  different  points  for  two  years,_and  in  1867 
removed  to  Silver  City,  Idaho,  with  a freight  team  of 
his  own,  carrying  goods  purchased  in  California,  and 
arriving  in  Idaho  disposed  of  his  goods  and  rnule  teams 
and  for  about  five  years  was  engaged  in  mining  with 
varied  success.  Going  thence  to  Minnesota,  he  was 
married  in  1875,  after  which  he  went  to  Nevada  and 
resumed  the  teaming  business,  working  between  Car- 
son  City  and  Bodie  and  from  Wordsworth  south  to 
the  mining  camps,  and  to  Silver  City,  Idaho.  In  1882 
! Mr.  Baker  came  overland  to  Gallatin  county.  ^Montana, 
i and,  locating  at  Boulder,  engaged  in  railroad  contract- 
ing, getting  out  ties  for  the  Northern  Pacific.  In  con- 
junction with  this  he  engaged  in  hauling  supplies  from 
Columbus  to  his  camp  on  the  Boulder  river,  a trip  of 


sixty-five  miles  by  wagon,  after  which  the  goods  were 
packed  twenty-five  miles  to  the  camp.  Later  he  was  en- 
gaged in  getting  out  logs,  having  entered  land  on  the 
government  reservation,  and  in  1885  brought  his  family 
out  from  Minnesota  to  the  new  home,  Mrs.  Baker 
being  the  first  white  woman  to  locate  on  the  Boulder 
river.  Mr.  Baker  then  engaged  in  the  cattle  and  horse 
business,  and  later  added  sheep,  and  each  year  added: 
to  his  landed  holdings  until  he  now  owns  one  thousand 
acres  in  Sweet  Grass  county,  and  has  control  of  five 
thousand  acres  for  his  range.  In  1886  he  was  the  first 
to  introduce  alfalfa  into  this  section  of  the  country, 
and  the  success  which  has  met  his  efforts  is  ample  proof 
of  the  good  judgment  that  prompted  this  innovation. 
The  Natural  Bridge  of  Montana,  which  is  known  all 
over  the  civilized  world,  is  located  on  Mr.  Baker’s 
ranch.  Several  years  ago,  feeling  that  he  had  earned 
a rest  from  strenuous  activities,  Mr.  Baker  retired, 
and  is  now  living  in  McLeod,  where  he  is  often  visited 
by  his  children,  who  all  live  in  Sweet  Grass  county, 
within  a radius  of  fourteen  miles.  Since  1874  he  has 
been  a member  of  the  Odd  Fellows,  and  his  political 
views  are  Independent,  he  exercising  his  right  to  vote 
rather  for  the  man  than  the  party.  In  1870,  Mr.  Baker 
visited  Minnesota.  On  the  return  trip,  he  left  Omaha 
in  time  to  be  at  Promotory,  Utah,  at  the  laying  of  the 
last  tie  and  rail  of  the  Union  Pacific  and  Central  Pacific 
railroads,  thus  being  a passenger  on  the  first  through 
train  from  Omaha  to  Sacramento  in  1871.  In  1883,  he 
was  present  at  the  driving  of  the  Golden  Spike  of  the 
Northern  Pacific  near  Garrison,  a station  in  Montana, 
half  way  between  St.  Paul  and  Seattle. 

On  April  24,  1875,  Mr.  Baker  was  married  at  Cres- 
ton,  Iowa,  to  Miss  Emma  B.  Cowles,  who  was  born  in 
Wisconsin,  and  they  have  had  four  children:  Pearl 
born  in  Nevada,  wife  of  Primus  Bruffery,  partner  of 
Mr.  Baker  in  the  stock  business ; Mabel,  born  in  Minne- 
sota, wife  of  Elmer  McConnell,  a ranchman  in  Sweet 
Grass  county;  Ralph,  born  in  Nevada,  also  engaged  in 
ranching  in  Sweet  Grass  county,  married  Mamie  Knight, 
and  Edna,  born  in  Nevada,  widow  of  Thomas  Brather. 
Christmas  is  always  celebrated  at  the  parent’s  home  in 
McLeod,  and  on  these  occasions  the  children  and  eleven 
grandchildren  are  present.  The  family  is  one  of  the 
best  known  and  most  highly  esteemed  in  this  part  of 
the  county,  its  members  all  being  honest,  industrious 
people  who  are  making  their  influence  for  morality  and 
good  citizenship  felt  by  their  community.  Although 
advanced  in  years  the  father  is  still  in  excellent  health 
and  spirits  and,  surrounded  by  his  children,  may  look 
forward  to  many  years  of  contented  enjoyment  of  the 
fruits  of  his  early  years  of  labor. 

James  R.  Goss.  One  of  the  best-known  attorneys 
practicing  at  the  Montana  bar  is  James  R.  Goss,  a man 
whose  ability  and  profound  learning  as  an  attorney  has 
been  demonstrated  in  the  trial  of  many  important 
suits,  as  well  as  in  sound  counsel  and  legal  advice,  and 
who  has  been  called  upon  to  fill  various  important 
positions  of  honor  and  trust.  Mr.  Goss  is  a native  of 
the  Empire  state,  and  was  born  near  New  York  City, 
April  17,  1848.  His  . early  education  was  secured  in 
Lorain  county.  Ohio,  and  he  later  attended  Oberlin 
College.  In  1873,  Mr.  Goss  turned  his  attention  to  the 
study  of  law,  and  after  prosecuting  his  studies  for 
some  time,  entered  the  law  department  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Michigan,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
1876. 

After  being  admitted  to  the  bar,  Mr.  Goss  engaged  in 
practice  in  Jackson  county,  Michigan,  but  in  1881,  re- 
moved to  Bismarck.  Dakota,  (now  North  Dakota) 
where  he  remained  for  one  year.  The  year  1882  saw 
j\Ir.  Goss’s  advent  in  Billings,  Montana,  and  this  has 
since  been  his  home  and  field  of  practice.  In  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  ]\Ir.  Goss  has  met  with  a large 
measure  of  success  and  has  become  one  of  the  most 


1224 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


prominent  members  of  the  profession  in  this  section 
of  the  state.  He  has  served  his  fellow  citizens  as  county 
attorney  and  probate  judge  of  Yellowstone  county, 
with  unquestioned  success,  and  has  been  president  of 
the  Yellowstone  Bar  Association  since  its  organization. 
As  president  of  the  school  board  and  as  a member  of 
the  building  committee  and  one  of  the  first  trustees  of 
the  Parmly  Billings  Memorial  Library,  which  was 
erected  in  1900-1901,  Mr.  Goss  has  done  much  toward 
the  betterment  of  the  schools  and  the  general  improve- 
ment of  this  side  of  the  eity’s  civic  life. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Goss  has  always  been  a staunch 
Republican,  and  he  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  leaders 
of  his  party  in  Yellowstone  county.  He  has  been  a 
well-known  stump  speaker  and  has  acted  as  a member 
of  the  county  central  committee  on  various  occasions. 
He  has  been  a member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  for 
many  years.  During  the  year  of  1911,  Mr.  Goss  was 
the  president  of  the  Eastern  Montana  Pioneer  Associa- 
tion, an  organization  which  included  all  of  the  eastern 
counties  of  Montana,  and  whose  requirements  for  mem- 
bership were  that  the  applicant  must  have  been  a resi- 
dent of  Montana  before  1884.  He  has  been  one  of  the 
leading  citizens  in  Billings  in  the  establishment  and 
growth  of  the  Billings  Polytechnic  Institute  at  Billings, 
a young  but  growing  institution  of  the  state  of  Mon- 
tana, with  a most  brilliant  future.  He  has  been  a 
member  of  the  board  of  directors  of  this  institution 
since  its  organization,  and  takes  a great  and  active  in- 
terest in  all  its  affairs  and  great  pride  in  its  develop- 
ment. 

Mr.  Goss  was  married  in  Michigan  to  Miss  Florence 
E.  Lord,  a native  of  that  state  and  they  have  one  child, 
Marion,  now  residing  in  Billings,  a graduate  of  Oberlin 
College. 

Mr.  Goss  has  always  aimed  to  advance  the  best  inter^ 
ests  of  the  city  of  his  residence,  believing  that  the  com- 
munity in  which  he  has  lived,  and  which  has  liberally 
contributed  to  whatever  success  he  has  attained,  de- 
serves on  his  part  a reciprocal  obligation.  His  career 
as  a lawyer  has  been  a long  and  honorable  one.  He  has 
achieved  and  maintained  an  e.xalted  position  in  his  pro- 
fession, and  is  held  in  confidence  and  high  esteem  by 
all  who  know  him. 

Frank  W.  Kinnev.  In  the  beautiful  and  picturesque 
hills  overlooking  the  Yellowstone  river  in  Dawson 
county,  Montana^,  is  situated  the  cattle  and  horse  ranch 
of  Frank  W.  Kinney,  an  enterprise  that  stands  as  a 
monument  to  the  courage,  perseverance  and  ability  of 
the  youth  who,  some  thirty  years  ago,  arrived  in  the 
city  of  Glendive  with  a capital  of  ten  dollars  borrowed 
money,  and  who  today  is  one  of  the  leading  stockmen 
of  eastern  Montana.  Frank  W.  Kinney  was  born  in 
Blue  Earth  county.  Minnesota,  November  23,  1857,  and 
is  a son  of  Horace  and  Elizabeth  (Darling)  Kinney, 
the  former  a native  of  New  York  and  the  latter  of 
Wisconsin.  His  father  migrated  to  Minnesota  in  1855, 
and  the  remainder  of  his  life  was  spent  in  agricultural 
pursuits  in  that  section,  where  he  died  in  1879,  his 
widow  surviving  him  until  1894.  They  had  a family 
of  five  sons  and  four  daughters,  all  of  whom  grew  to 
maturity,  and  of  these  Frank  W.  Kinney  was  the 
second  in  order  of  birth. 

P'rank  W.  Kinney  received  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Blue  Earth  county,  and  grew  up  on  his 
father’s  farm,  remaining  under  the  parental  roof  until 
the  older  man’s  death.  He  then  began  operations  on 
his  own  account  in  Minnesota,  but  a desire  to  see 
more  of  the  country,  and.  a belief  that  he  could  find  a 
wider  field  for  his  abilities  in  the  west,  brought  him 
to  Glendive  in  1882,  at  which  time  he  had  ten  dollars, 
this  having  been  borrowed.  He  began  his  career  on  a 
cattle  ranch  in  Dawson  county,  entering  the  employ 
of  Charles  Krug,  and  later  worked  for  Griffin  Brothers 
for  five  years.  Having  been  reared  to  habits  of  in- 


dustry and  economy,  Mr.  Kinney  carefully  conserved 
his  earnings  and  gradually  invested  them  in  cattle, 
finally  being  able  to  buy  a carload  of  animals,  but  this 
auspicious  start  was  nipped  in  the  bud  by  the  disastrous 
storms  of  the  severe  wintej  of  1886-7,  when  almost 
every  ranchman  in  this  section  lost  the  greater  part  of 
his  stock.  Mr.  Kinney  did  not  allow  himself  to  become 
discouraged,  however,  but  sold  what  little  stock  he 
had  been  able  to . save  and  invested  the  result  of  his 
sale  in  horses.  In  1887  he  secured  employment  with 
the  ferry  company  at  Glendive,  and  after  three  years 
bought  the  interest  of  the  owners,  continuing  to  con- 
duct the  ferry  until  the  bridge  was  built  across  the 
Yellowstone  river.  In  the  meantime  he  had  continued 
to  carry  on  horse  raising,  and  eventually  became  one 
of  the  leading  horsebreeders  of  eastern  Montana,  usu- 
ally owning  from  300  to  400  animals  at  a time  and 
shipping  to  all  parts  of  the  country.  At  this  time  he  is 
starting  to  breed  pure  Percheron  animals,  and  is  de- 
termined to  accumulate  one  of  the  best  droves  in  the 
northwest.  His  fine  ranch  is  five  miles  west  of  Glen- 
dive, where  he  has  2080  acres,  some  of  which  is  under 
the  plow,  although  Mr.  Kinney  is  not  a farmer,  but 
devotes  all  of  his  time  to  raising  horses.  On  this  land 
is  situated  a fine  cement  block  house,  with  ten  rooms, 
modern  in  construction  and  appointments,  which  he 
erected  in  igii,  and  a modern,  well-equipped  cement 
barn.  40x100  feet,  which  would  do  credit  to  any  com- 
munity. Mr.  Kinney  also  owns  a winter  home  at 
Glendive,  where  he  has  a brick  block  rented  for  a 
meat  market  business. 

On  February  14,  1895,  Mr.  Kinney  was  married  to 
Miss  Ella  Kennedy,  at  Mankato,  Minnesota,  she  being 
a daughter  of  E.  R.  and  Lydia  Kennedy,  and  a native 
of  Massachusetts,  born  near  Boston.  Three  children 
have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kinney,  aged  as  fol- 
lows : Agnes,  sixteen ; Harold,  fourteen  and  Horace, 

ten  years,  and  all  are  attending  school  in  Glendiye, 
where  the  family  makes  its  home  during  the  winter 
months.  Mr.  Kinney  is  a great  - admirer  of  ex-Presi- 
dent  Roosevelt,  but,  outside  of  having  cast  his  vote 
and  taken  a good  citizen’s  interest  in  matters  that  affect 
the  welfare  of  his  community,  has  not  been  active  in 
public  life.  He  is  a member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  at 
Glendive,  and  Mrs.  Kinney  is  a member  of  the  Bap- 
tist church.  At  all  times  temperate  himself,  Mr.  Kinney 
has  believed  in  temperate  living,  and  his  long  and  hon- 
orable career  is  absolutely  without  stain  or  blemish. 
In  all  of  his  dealings  with  his  fellow-men  he  has  shown 
the  strictest  integrity  and  uprightness  of  character,  and 
as  a result  has  the  unqualified  esteem  of  all  who  know 
him. 

Eli  V.  Rubottom.  The  largest  business  of  its  kind 
in  the  northern  part  of  Montana,  and  the  oldest  in  the 
state,  the  Como  Company  of  Great  Falls  was  founded 
as  a small  retail  paint  store  something  more  than 
twenty  years  ago  and  has  been  developed  to  its  present 
large  proportions  through  the  ability  of  its  president, 
Eli  V.  Rubottom,  a business  man  of  the  foremost  rank, 
whose  prominence  in  the  commercial  life  of  his  adopted 
community  has  come  as  a result  of  long  years  of  stead- 
fast endeavor.  Mr.  Rubottom  was  born  in  Parke 
county,  Indiana,  February  5,  i8s6>  and  is  a son  of  Laban 
and  Anna  (Hill)  Rubottom. 

Mr.  Rubottom’s  paternal  ancestors  were  natives  of 
Germany  and  early  settlers  of  North  Carolina,  while 
his  maternal  progenitor,  who  also  settled  in  the  Tar 
Heel  state  at  an  early  day,  came  from  England.  The 
great-uncle  of  Mrs.  Anna  (Hill)  Rubottom,  General 
Mercer,  was  a noted  Revolutionary  general,  and  others 
of  the  family  have  distinguished  themselves  in  various 
fields  of  endeavor.  Laban  Rubottom  was  born  in 
North  Carolina,  and  in  early  days  traveled  over  the 
old  Daniel  Boone  trail  to  the  forests  of  Parke  county, 
Indiana,  where  he  spent  the  winters  in  cutting  poplar. 


O' 


7. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1225 


which  in  the  spring  and  summer  he  fashioned  into 
pumps,  gaining  a wide  reputation  in  his  vicinity  for  the 
excellence  of  his  work.  Although  he  was  a Quaker  and 
as  such  did  not  believe  in  war,  during  the  struggle 
between,  the  states  he  was  so  firmly  convinced  of  the 
justice  of  the  North’s  position  that  he  enlisted  in  the 
home  guards.  His  death  occurred  when  he  was  only 
forty-seven  years  of  age,  in  1871.  He  was  married  in 
Bloomingdale  township,  Burke  county,  to  Anna  Hill,  a 
native  of  North  Carolina  and  daughter  of  farming 
people  of  that  state,  and  she  survived  her  husband  only 
two  years,  passing  away  in  1873  when  forty-seven 
years  of  age.  Of  their  eight  children,  Eli  was  the  fifth 
in  order  of  birth. 

Eli  V.  Rubottom  received  a public  school  education, 
and  then  entered  Bloomingdale  Academy,  but  at  the 
age  of  fifteen  years,  when  his  father  died,  he  left  school 
to  become  apprenticed  to  a house  painter,  it  being 
necessary  that  he  should  begin  to  do  something  toward 
his  own  support.  When  he  had  spent  three  years  as  an 
apprentice,  'he  began  to  work  at  his  trade  as  a journey- 
man, and  as  such,  in  1877,  removed  to  Kansas  City, 
Missouri,  where  he  continued  to  reside  for  some  time. 
Subsequently  he  went  to  Colorado,  where  he  spent 
the  greater  part  of  the  next  five  years  working  for  the 
Union  Pacific  Railroad,  on  the  Kansas  Division,  but 
on  August  6,  1882,  arrived  at  Glendive,  Montana,  to 
take  charge  of  the  painting  department  of  the  Northern 
Pacific,  under  S.  R.  Ainslie.  He  continued  in  that  com- 
pany’s service  until  December  15,  1883,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Helena,  and  on  May  8,  1885,  made  removal  to 
Butte,  which  city  was  his  field  of  endeavor  until  Janu- 
ary 24,  1886.  At  that  time,  with  Fred  Avery,  Mr. 
Rubettom  started  on  one  of  the  most  interesting  trips 
he  has  ever  made,  a journey  of  seven  days  in  a four- 
horse  team,  to  a sheep  ranch  situated  thirty-five  miles 
northwest  of  Choteau,  owned  by  Mr.  Rubottom.  He 
continued  to  stay  in  that  locality  until  disposing  of  the 
property,  in  the  middle  of  August,  1886,  at  which  time 
he  came  to  Great  Falls  to  establish  himself  as  a con- 
tractor, a business  to  which  he  devoted  his  interests 
and  energies  until  1890.  On  February  20,  1890,  Mr. 
Rubottom  went  to  Ottumwa,  Iowa,  and  was  there  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Julietta  Carter,  daughter  of  W.  S.  Carter, 
a pioneer  of  that  city,  and  on  his  return  from  his  wed- 
ding journey  established  himself  in  business  in  a rented 
store  at  No.  123  Central  avenue,  as  proprietor  of  an 
establishment  for  the  sale  of  paints,  wall  paper,  window 
glass,  brushes  and  all  kindred  articles,  the  first  store 
of  its  kind  established  in  the  state.  Building  operations 
were  proceeding  with  great  activity  at  that  time  and 
the  establishment  filled  a long-felt  want,  the  business 
proving  a success  from  its  inception.  From  a small 
though  enterprising  venture,  it  grew  rapidly  year  by 
year,  and  in  1893  the  Como  Company  was  organized, 
the  firm  being  incorporated  during  July  of  that  year 
with  Mr.  Rubottom  as  president.  This  is  the  largest 
wholesale  and  retail  business  of  its  kind  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  state,  and  the  success  which  has  marked 
its  growth  is  but  a just  reward  to  the  poor  orphan  lad 
who  reached  Montana  with  a capital  of  a little  over 
four  dollars  thirty  years  ago.  Mr.  Rubottom  is  a 
stalwart  Republican  in  politics  and  takes  a great  deal 
of  interest  in  public  matters.  His  activities,  however, 
have  been  more  in  the  line  of  directing  than  in  active 
participation  as  an  office  holder,  as  on  several  occasions 
he  has  refused  the  nomination  for  the  mayoralty.  He 
is  a member  of  the  Electric  Club  and  of  the  Merchants 
Association,  and  has  passed  through  the  chairs  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Odd  Fellows,  and  the  A.  O. 
U.  W.,  in  all  of  which  organizations  he  is  deservedly 
popular.  His  religious  connection  is  with  the  Congre- 
gational church,  of  which  he  has  acted  as  treasurer 
and  trustee  for  a number  of  years.  He  has  evidenced 
his  faith  in  the  future  of  Great  Falls  by  investing  heavily 
in  real  estate,  and  in  addition  to  the  company’s  store. 


at  319  Central  avenue,  owns  a handsome  residence  at 
No.  924  Third  avenue.  North. 

Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Rubottom  have  had  two  children : Car- 
ter V.,  born  November  24,  1^0,  and  now  in  his  third 
year  as  a student  in  the  Agricultural  College,  at  Boze- 
man ; and  Anna  L.,  born  September  3,  1892,  who  is 
attending  a young  ladies’  school  at  Washington,  D.  C. 

Bernard  L.  Powers.  For  thirty-one  years  Bernard 
L.  Powers  has  practiced  his  profession  in  Havre  and 
Fort  Benton,  Montana,  and  no  lawyer  in  the  district 
has  found  more  secure  place  in  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  the  public  than  has  he  in  the  passing  years. 
Coming  to  Fort  Benton  in  1882,  almost  immediately 
after  being  admitted  to  the  bar,  he  soon  found  favor 
in  the  community,  and  Chouteau  county  has  since  that 
time  given  him  a sufficient  field  for  the  practice  of  his 
profession.  He  has  occupied  a number  of  offices  of 
prominence  in  the  county,  and  was  elected  to  the  office 
of  county  attorney  at  the  general  election  in  November, 
1893,  and  was  reelected  for  two  successive  terms.  At 
the  general  November  election,  1903,  was  elected  to 
the  office  of  county  auditor  and  served  as  the  first 
county  auditor  of  Chouteau  county,  in  November,  1910, 
was  again  elected  to  the  office  of  county  attorney  and 
served  in  that  capacity  during  the  period  in  which  the 
counties  of  Hill  and  Blaine  were  carved  out  of  the 
territory  comprising  Chouteau  county.  His  reputation  is 
built  upon  solid  accomplishment,  backed  b}"  the  splendid 
attributes  of  character  which  have  ever  been  his,  and 
no  citizen  of  Fort  Benton  has  been  more  active  in  com- 
munal life  of  the  city  than  he  has. 

Born  in  Pittsfield,  Maine,  on  July  26,  1857,  Bernard 
L.  Powers  is  the  son  of  Philip  and  Sophronie  (Math- 
ews) Powers,  both  borne  and  reared  in  Maine,  and 
both  now  deceased.  These  worthy  parents  reared  a 
goodly  family  of  eleven  children,  of  which  number  the 
subject  was  the  ninth  in  order  of  birth,  and  of  which 
eleven,  nine  are  yet  living.  The  names  of  the  family 
in  the  respective  order  of  birth,  are  given  as  follows, 
with  slight  mention  of  present  residence  and  circum- 
stances : Hannibal  resided  in  Pittsfield,  Maine,  and 

now  deceased;  Jacob  M.,  of  Great  Falls,  Montana; 
Frank,  of  Canton,  Montana;  Winnifred,  now  deceased; 
A.  T.,  of  Seattle,  Washington ; Inez,  the  wife  of  Har- 
vey Kene,  of  Townsend,  Montana;  Vesta  E.,  the  widow 
of  John  Walker,  of  Townsend,  Montana;  Etta,  the  wife 
of  C.  F.  Kennedy,  living  in  Ohio ; B.  L.,  of  this  review ; 
Araminta  S.,  unmarried,  and  living  in  Seattle,  Wash- 
ington ; and  Philip  K.,  of  Dillon,  Montana. 

When  he  was  five  years  old  Bernard  L.  Powers 
began  attending  the  public  schools  in  Pittsfield,  and 
there  he  lived  until  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age,  when 
he  went  to  Valparaiso,  Indiana,  and  entered  the  law 
department  of  the  Northern  Indiana  Nermal  College, 
and  in  1881  was  duly  graduated  from  that  well  known 
institution.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  soon  there- 
after. and  his  first  move  was  in  a westerly  direction, 
bringing  him  to  Fort  Benton,  Montana,  where  he 
promptly  settled  down  and  opened  an  office.  That  was 
in  1882,  and  it  is  significant  of  the  foresightedness  of 
the  man  that  he  saw  in  the  primitive  towns  of  that 
early  day  sufficient  of  promise  to  justify  him  in  contin- 
uing there  in  practice.  It  is  a fact  however,  that  for 
thirty  years  he  has  confined  his  professional  activities 
to  Chouteau  county,  in  the  towns  of  Havre  and  Fort 
Benton. 

As  mentioned  previously,  a number  of  offices  have 
been  admirably  filled  by  Mr.  Powers  in  the  years  of  his 
residence  here,  among  them  the  office  of  justice  of  the 
peace  which  he  held,  being  first  elected  in  1882 ; the 
office  of  county  attorney  in  which  he  has  served  four 
terms  in  all,  and  that  of  county  auditor. 

On  December  18,  1887,  Mr.  Powers  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Eliza  J.  Johnstone,  the  daughter 
of  Samuel  J.  Johnstone,  of  Fort  Benton.  The  children 


1226 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


born  to  them  are  three  in  number : Anna  M.,  attend- 

ing school  in  Bozeman ; Philip  A.,  of  Fort  Benton,  and 
Bernard  L.,  Jr.,  who  died  in  infancy.  The  wife  and 
mother  died  in  1892,  and  is  resting  in  Riverside  cemetery, 
in  Fort  Benton.  She  was  a ihember  of  the  Methodist 
church  of  Fort  Benton,  and  was  active  and  prominent 
in  all  the  various  departments  of  its  work. 

i\lr  Powers  is  a member  of  the  Benton  Lodge  No. 
25,  A.  F.  & A.  i\I.,  and  of  Chouteau  Chapter  No.  19,  and 
The  Royal  Arch  Masons  at  Flavre,  Montana.  Fie  is  also 
a member  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
F.lks,  Havre  Lodge  No.  1201,  and  of  the  Sons  of  the 
.\merican  Revolution. 

He  is  a Republican  in  his  politics  and  active  and 
prominent  in  the  party  ranks  of  Chouteau  county. 

Fuederick  Louis  Cole,  the  proprietor  of  the  Cole 
Plumbing  Company,  is  the  son  of  James  Edgar  Cole  of 
Coeur  d'Alene  City,  Washington.  This  gentleman  is 
now  eighty-three  years  of  age,  and  is  in  charge  of  the 
water  ami  electric  light  works  of  the  city  where  he 
resides.  This  town  has  been  his  home  since  1891,  when 
it  had  just  begun  its  existence  as  a municipality,  so  he 
is  numbered  among  its  early  settlers.  Previous  to 
going  to  Coeur  d’Alene,  Mr.  Cole  had  lived  in  New 
S'ork,  Wisconsin,  Dakota,  Iowa  and  Helena,  besides 
serving  three  years  in  the  Civil  war.  New  York  was 
the  state  of  his  birth,  and  from  there  he  moved  to  Wis- 
consin. It  was  from  this  state  that  Mr.  Cole  entered 
the  army,  in  which  he  served  as  a teamster.  About 
1870,  he  and  his  family,  which  then  consisted  of  his  wife, 
Jane  Elizabeth  Stanley  Cole,  and  two  children,  Fred- 
erick Louis  and  an  older  sister,  left  Wisconsin  for  Iowa. 
This  journey  was  made  overland  in  a covered  wagon, 
and  none  of  the  vicissitudes  of  pioneer  travel  and  life 
were  lacking.  Frederick  Louis  Cole  was  an  infant  at 
the  time  of  this  journey,  as  he  was  born  in  Racine 
county,  Wisconsin,  on  January  30,  1869.  When  the 
family  reached  their  destination  in  the  far  country, 
Iowa,  which  was  then  quite  “west,”  they  settled  on  a 
farm  between  Marshalltown  and  Trayer. 

Iowa  was  the  home  of  the  Coles  until  Frederick,  the 
only  son  in  the  household  of  five  children,  was  seven- 
teen year.s  of  age.  During  this  period,  he  attended  the 
district  school,  and  the  high  school  in  Marshalltown, 
from  which  he  graduated.  After  this,  Mr.  Cole 
worked  with  his  father  in  the  livery  business  until  they 
left  Iowa  and  moved  still  further  westward,  settling 
in  Dakota  upon  government  land  near  White  Lake. 
Here  the  father  spent  five  years,  from  1877  to  1882,  on 
the  farm  and  his  son  remained  with  him.  Together  they 
came  to  Helena,  and  here  Mr.  Cole  went  to  work  on 
the  city  water  works.  He  was  a part  of  the  force  that 
installed  the  system  in  Helena  and  he  worked  until  it  was 
completed.  Subsequently,  he  went  to  work  for  Mr. 
-Arthur  O'Brien,  with  whom  he  remained  for  two  and 
a half  years. 

In  18S6,  Air.  Cole  set  up  for  himself.  His  shop  was 
small  and  his  start  very  modest  indeed.  However,  his 
business  .grew  steadily,  and  his  equipment  kept  pace 
with  its  enlargement.  Hard  work  and  good  workman- 
ship enal)led  him  to  gain  a foothold,  and  at  present  his 
concern  is  one  of  the  city’s  solid  establishments. 

Fraternally,  Mr.  Cole  is  affiliated  with  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  with  the  Rebekahs  and 
with  the  Modern  Brotherhood  of  America.  In  the 
second-named  lodge,  he  is  vice-president.  Mrs.  Cole, 
too,  is  a member  of  the  Modern  Brotherhood  organiza- 
tion. The  Alethodist  church  is  the  denomination  of 
their  choice,  and  Air.  Cole  is  a Republican  but  not 
active  in  the  affairs  of  the  party. 

Mrs.  Cole  is  a native  of  Helena,  and  began  her  life 
there  as  Aliss  Helen  Keefe.  She  became  Airs.  Cole  in 
December,  1891,  and  her  six  children  were  all  born  in 
this  city.  These  are;  Pearl  Alay,  born  in  1892,  a grad- 
uate of  the  high  school  and  also  of  the  business  college ; 


Ruby  Estelle,  born  in  1894  and  now  attending  high 
school,  as  is  also  Garnett  R.  Cole,  two  years  her  junior. 
Emerald  Glen,  born  in  1898;  Rolla  Bertrand,  1901,  and 
Fred  Juell,  1903,  are  all  pupils  in  the  Jefferson  school. 

Air.  Cole,  having  spent  three  decades  in  Helena,  feels 
that  he  has  grown  up  with  the  city,  even  if  he  did  not 
arrive  until  after  it  had  advanced  from  a mining  camp 
to  a settled  community.  He  knows  the  city  and  the  most 
of  its  citizens,  among  whom  he  counts  a pleasingly 
large  company  of  friends.  There  his  mother  passed 
away  in  1908  at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  She  was  born 
in  South  Carolina,  and  was  very  well  known  and  much 
beloved  in  Helena,  the  city  of  her  adoption.  Mr.  Cole 
combines  the  inheritance  of  southern  sociability  with 
that  of  “Yankee”  enterprise  and  both  in  business  and  in 
a social  way,  he  is  one  of  the  men  who  give  Montana 
her  reputation  for  enterprise  and  open-heartedness. 

Berkley  J.  Parsons.  A well  known  resident  of 
Wibaux  who  is  deserving  of  being  classed  among  the 
enterprising_  men  of  Dawson  county,  and  one  who  has 
identified  himself  with  the  stock  business  here  for  a 
number  of  years,  is  Berkley  J.  Parsons,  recognized  as 
an  authority  on  horse  breeding.  Mr.  Parsons  is  a na- 
tive of  Somersetshire,  England,  and  was  born  October 
17,  1871,  a son  of  James  William  and  Agnes  (Game) 
Parsons,  both  of  whom  were  born  in  the  mother  coun- 
try. Air.  Parsons’  father,  who  died  in  1893  at  the  age 
of  fifty-four  years,  was  a farmer  in  England,  and  pre- 
ceded his  family  to  the  United  States  in  1874,  locating 
at  Hawley,_  Clay  county,  Minnesota,  where  his  wife  and 
children  joined  him  during  the  following  year.  He  was 
there  engaged  in  farming  up  to  1883,  when  he  removed 
to  Glendive,  Dawson  county,  Alontana,  and  embarked 
in  the  horse  and  cattle  business.  For  three  years  he 
successfully  carried  on  this  business  on  the  range,  but 
sold  his  cattle  and  horses  to  raise  sheep.  He  had 
about  1000  head  when  the  terrific  winter  of  18^-7 
came  on,  and  like  many  others  in  the  same  business  he 
suffered  heavily  from  the  storms,'  losing  about  400  head. 
Resuming  the  horse  and  cattle  business,  he  took  his  two 
sons,  Berkley  J.  and  Arthur  G.,  into  partnership  with 
him,  and  this  association  continued  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death.  The  sons  continued  the  business  until  1897,  when 
the  partnership  was  dissolved,  Berkley  J.  taking  the 
horses,  while  Arthur  G.  continued  in  the  cattle  busi- 
ness. He  and  his  wife,  who  survives  him  and  makes 
her  home  in  Oakland,  California,  had  four  children, 
three  of  whom  are  living.  Besides  the  sons  mentioned, 
there  is  a daughter,  Mabel  Agnes,  the  wife  of  J.  H. 
Ferrall,  of  Oakland. 

Berkley  J.  Parsons  has  gained  and  maintained  a posi- 
tion of  prominence  among  the  horse  breeders  of  Mon- 
tana. Having  about  1500  head  on  the  range  in  Dawson 
county,  he  does  a large  business  with  eastern  concerns, 
buyers  coming  from  Boston,  New  York  City  and  points 
in  Pennsylvania.  He  also  has  had  numerous  profitable 
transactions  with  Canadian  parties.  In  business  circles 
his  name  stands  for  absolute  integrity,  and  as  a man 
who  has  identified  himself  with  only  legitimate  lines  of 
industry  he  is  known  and  esteemed  by  his  associates. 
In  political  matters  Air.  Parsons  is  a Republican,  but 
the  exacting  demands  of  his  business  have  made  it 
inadvisable  for  him  to  enter  the  public  arena. 

On  March  12,  1901,  at  Oakland,  California,  Mr.  Par- 
sons was  united  in  marriage  with  Aliss  Ethel  Robert- 
son, who  was  born  in  New  York  City,  daughter  of 
Alexander  and  Martha  (Seyffert)  Robinson,  the  former 
born  in  Glasgow,  Scotland,  in  1845,  and  the  latter  in 
Berlin,  Germany,  in  1855.  Mr.  Robertson,  a painter  and 
decorator  by  trade,  now  lives  in  Oakland,  California ; 
his  wife  died  in  February,  1912.  Of  their  seven  chil- 
dren, four  are  living.  Airs.  Parsons  being  the  second  in 
order  of  birth.  Air.  and  Airs.  Parsons  have  had  three 
children,  namely:  Ruth,  Austin  and  Florence. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1227 


Hon.  O.  F.  Goddard.  Biographical  sketches  of  those 
who  have  attained  merited  distinction  in  American  law 
have  a charm  and  force  in  them  that  commend  them  to 
every  sound  thinker.  Interest  is  naturally  felt  in  trac- 
ing tlie  footsteps  of  those  who  have  reached  elevated 
positions  in  public  confidence  and  have  wielded  their 
influence  for  public  good.  Records  of  this  kind  are 
calculated  to  raise  the  ministrations  of  law  in  public  es- 
timation, and  are  guides  for  the  junior  members  of  the 
profession  in  their  pursuit  of  reputation,  distinction  and 
position.  In  this  connection  it  is  eminently  fit  that  a 
sketch  of  the  li-fe  of  the  Hon.  O.  F.  Goddard,  one  of 
the  leading  members  of  the  Montana  bar  and  an  attor- 
ney of  thirty  years’  standing  in  Billings,  be  given. 

The  Goddard  family,  the  progenitor  of  which  emi- 
grated early  from  England  and  settled  in  the  American 
Colony  of  Virginia,  has  had  many  worthy  representa- 
tives of  the  various  professions  and  have  been  promi- 
nent in  both  military  and  civil  life,  and_  among  theni 
O.  F.  Goddard  holds  a place  of  distinction.  Born  in 
Davis  county,  Iowa,  in  1853,  he  is  a son  of  Richard  T. 
and  Elizabeth  (Tannehill)  Goddard,  natives  of  Ohio 
who  removed  to  Iowa  in  1842,  where  the  father  was  a 
successful  farmer  and  where  he  died  in  1892,  the  father 
of  four  sons  and  three  daughters.  The  early  education 
of  O.  F.  Goddard  was  secured  in  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  vicinity,  and  at  an  early  age  he  chose  the 
profession  of  an  educator.  While  teaching  school  at 
Centerville,  Iowa,  however,  he  turned  his  attention  to 
the  study  of  law,  and  under  the  direction  of  his_  uncle. 
Judge  Tannehill,  fitted  himself  to  take  the  examination 
that  admitted  him  to  the  bar  in  1880.  After  three  years 
spent  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Corydon,  Iowa, 
he  came  to  Billings  in  March,  1883,  and  since  has  won 
for  himself  a distinguished  place  among  the  leading 
legal  luminaries  of  the  state.  Mr.  Goddard  is  known 
as  one  of  the  leading  corporation  lawyers  of  the  middle 
west,  but  is  absolutely  independent  in  his  actions  and 
unhampered  by  restricting  ties.  His  genial,  wholesome 
personality  has  made  him  numerous  friends,  even  among 
his  opponents,  while  the  unbounded  vigor  and  action  of 
his  movements  denotes  the  highest  type  of  healthy 
American  manhood.  In  addition  to  his  extensive  cor- 
poration work,  he  has  a large  general  practice,  but  has 
found  time  to  devote  to  the  general  public  welfare.  A 
stanch  and  influential  Republican,  he  is  recognized  as  a 
leader  of  his  party  in  the  state,  and  since  the  territorial 
days,  when  he  served  as  prosecuting  attorney  and  assist- 
ant district  attorney  under  Judge  Blake,  he  has  been 
prominent  as  a public  official.  In  1889  he  was  a member 
of  the  constitutional  convention  which  gave  the  state  its 
present  constitution,  and  in  that  body  displayed  great 
parliamentary  and  legal  ability.  During  1890  he  was  sent 
to  the  state  senate,  where  he  was  wisely  chosen  a mem- 
ber and  chairman  of  several  important  committees,  one 
of  which  was  the  judiciary  committee,  upon  which  he 
served  during  both  sessions  of  his  term.  In  the  session 
of  1893,  by  his  ability  as  a parliamentarian,  he  prevented 
the  election  of  a Democratic  United  States  senator,  and 
thus  earned  the  applause  of  his  party  in  all  sections  of 
the  state.  He  was  also  chairman  of  the  joint  caucus 
of  his  party,  and  as  such  rendered  it  important  service 
in  both  houses  of  the  legislature. 

Mr.  Goddard  was  the  gold  standard  candidate  of  the 
Republican  party  for  congress  in  1896,  when  three- 
fourths  of  his  party  deserted  its  candidate  for  president, 
Mr.  McKinley,  and  went  over  to  Bryan  and  free  silver. 
Mr.  Goddard  made  a campaign  of  the  state  alone  and  at 
his  own  expense  leading  a forlorn  hope  in  order  to 
maintain  and  uphold  his  party,  and  the  wisdom  and 
courage  of  his  stand  in  this  time  of  political  turmoil 
and  free  silver  craze,  have  long  since  been  demon- 
strated. This  campaign  in  Montana,  and  the  heroic 
part  played  by  Mr.  Goddard  is  a part  of  his  history. 

Mr.  Goddard  in  the  year  (1912)  of  kaleidoscopic 
aspects  of  politics  stood  like  a rock  for  President 


Taft  and  the  policies  of  the  old  Republican  party  with- 
out shadow  of  wavering  or  turning. 

Fraternally,  Mr.  Goddard  belongs  to  the  blue  lodge, 
chapter,  commandery  and  Mystic  Shrine  of  Masonry. 

On  January  20,  1881,  Mr.  Goddard  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Alwilda  Stephenson,  who  was  born  in 
Ohio,  although  the  marriage  took  place  at  Centerville, 
Iowa.  Three  children  have  been  born  to  this  union: 
Lora,  a graduate  of  Drake  University  of  Des  Moines, 
Iowa,  and  Michigan  University  of  Ann  Arbor,  who 
later  took  a special  course  in  voice  culture  in  Chicago, 
is  now  the  wife  of  William  P.  Rixon,  a prominent  real 
estate  dealer  of  Billings ; Helen,  a graduate  of  Montana 
University,  class  of  1909,  now  living  at  home ; and 
Wilbur  F.,  named  for  Mr.  Goddard’s  old  friend.  Col. 
Wilbur  F.  Sanders,  now  attending  the  Billings  high 
school.  No  words  of  fulsome  praise  are  necessary  to 
embellish  the  life  and  character  of  O.  F.  Goddard.  He 
is  a patriotic  citizen,  a scholarly  and  able  lawyer  and  a 
dignified  gentleman.  No  higher  enconium  can  be  be- 
stowed upon  any  man. 

Oliver  T.  Crane.  A man  of  high  mental  attain- 
ments, cultured  and  accomplished,  Oliver  T.  Crane,  of 
Helena,  is  prominently  identified  with  the  administra- 
tion of  the  legal  affairs  of  the  state,  being  standing 
master  in  chancery  of  the  circuit  court  of  the  United 
States,  district  of  Montana.  He  was  born,  November 
14,  1855,  in  Wayne  county.  New  York,  of  early  colo- 
nial^  descent,  the  immigrant  ancestor  of  the  Crane  family 
having  settled  in  New  Jersey  in  1636.  His  father.  Rev. 
Oliver  Crane,  was  born,  April  12,  1822,  in  New  Jersey, 
in  what  is  now  known  as  Montclair.  A Presbyterian 
clergyman,  he  held  pastorates  in  different  places  in 
New  Jersey,  New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  continuing 
in  the  ministry  until  toward  the  close  of  his  life,  when 
he  became  engaged  in  literary  pursuits.  He  was  the 
author  of  several  well-known  works,  among  which  may 
be  mentioned  a translation  of  the  “Avneid”  of  Vergil, 
and  a History  of  the  Class  of  1845,  Yale  University,  of 
which  he  was  a member,  a work  that  became  v^ery  popu- 
lar, being  considered  a masterpiece.  He  lived  to  a 
good  old  age,  passing  away  in  1893. 

Rev.  Oliver  Crane  married  Mary  D.  Turnbull,  who 
belonged  to  a family  prominent  in  the  early  history  of 
the  country.  She  was  born  in  New  York  City,  and  died 
in  i8go.  Of  the  four  children  that  blessed  their  union, 
one  died  in  infancy,  the  others  growing  to  years  of 
maturity. 

Receiving  his  preparatory  education  in  the  schools 
of  the  east,  Oliver  T.  Crane,  following  in  the  foot- 
steps of  his  father,  entered  Yale  University,  where  he 
was  graduated  in  1879.  Three  years  later  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  New  Jersey  bar,  and  in  1884  to  the  bar 
of  Montana.  In  1882  Mr.  Crane,  foreseeing  the  de- 
velopment of  the  northwest,  visited  Dakota.  Coming 
thence  to  Montana  in  1883,  with  a partner  he  was  for 
four  years  engaged  in  sheep  raising  at  Miles  City. 
Disposing  then  of  his  ranch  and  stock,  Mr.  Crane  re- 
turned east,  and  for  sometime  thereafter  traveled  in  the 
far  east,  visiting  places  of  importance  and  interest  in 
Europe,  Asia  and  Africa.  Returning  to  Montana  in 
1890,  he  located  in  Helena,  and  during  the  same  year 
accepted  the  position  of  reporter  for  the  supreme  court 
of  Montana,  at  the  same  time  filling  the  office  of  mar- 
shal of  the  supreme  court.  In  1902  Mr.  Crane  was  ap- 
pointed librarian  of  the  State  Law  Library,  and  served 
in  that  capacity,  also  being  reporter  for  the  supreme 
court,  until  the  autumn  of  1905.  Since  that  time  Mr. 
Crane  has  held  his  present  position  as  standing  master 
in  chancery  of  the  circuit  court  of  the  United  States 
for  the  district  of  Montana.  Mr.  Crane  is  financially 
interested  in  the  mining  resources  of  the  state.  He 
is  a Republican  in  politics,  and,  with  his  family,  is  af- 
filiated with  the  Presbyterian  church. 

On  January  6,  1892,  Mr.  Crane  was  united  in  mar- 


1228 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


riage  with  Gertrude  N.  Boyd,  of  Philadelphia,  Penn- 
.-ylvania,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  two  children, 
namely:  Gertrude,  born  October  30,  1893;  and  David 

Boyd,  born  September  26,  1895.  Miss  Gertrude  is  now 
attending  Wilson  College  in  Chambersburg,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  the  son  is  at  a preparatory  school  in  Hud- 
son, Minnesota. 

Charles  P.  Nevin..  A former  mayor  and  influential 
and  popular  citizen  of  Montana’s  metropolis,  Mr.  Nevin 
is  one  of  the  most  enterprising  and  substantial  business 
men  and  here  he  has  won  large  and  definite  success 
through  his  own  well  directed  efforts.  He  is  a young- 
man  of  sterling  character  and  is  a native  son  of  the 
west,  so  that  he  is  naturally  inspired  with  its  progress- 
ive spirit  and  is  loyal  to  its  interest.  He  is  a scion 
of  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  Nevada  and  was  born 
at  Virginia  City,  that  state,  on  the  seventh  of  February, 
1881.  Fie  is  a son  of  Dennis  and  Winifred  (Donohue) 
Nevin,  both  of  whom  were  born  and  reared  in  Ireland. 
Dennis  Nevin  came  to  America  when  a young  man  and 
he  established  his  home  in  Nevada  in  an  early  day, 
having  been  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Vir- 
ginia City  for  a number  of  years.  In  1883  he  removed 
with  his  family  to  Montana  and  established  his  home  in 
the  city  of  Butte,  and  here  his  death  occurred  on  the 
15th  of  September,  1885,  as  the  result  of  a tragic  acci- 
dent in  the  mine  of  which  he  was  superintendent,  two 
other  men  meeting  death  at  the  same  time.  Fie  was  a 
man  of  admirable  character  and  much  ability,  and  he 
ever  retained  the  inviolable  confidence  and  esteem  of  his 
fellow  men.  His  wife  came  from  the  Emerald  Isle  to 
America  in  company  with  her  sisters,  and  all  settled 
in  Nevada,  where  was  solemnized  her  marriage  to  Mr. 
Nevin.  It  is  worthy  of  special  note  that  her  three  sis- 
ters married  three  brothers  of  her  husband,  so  that  the 
kinship  of  the  respective  families  in  America  became 
one  of  the  closest  possible  order.  Mrs.  Winifred  (Don- 
ohue) Nevin  continued  to  reside  in  Butte  until  her 
death,  and  was  summoned  to  the  life  eternal  on  the  23d 
of  December,  1900,  secure  in  the  affectionate  regard  of 
all  who  knew  her.  She  was  a devout  communicant  of 
the  Catholic  church,  as  was  also  her  husband.  They 
became  the  parents  of  eight  children,  concerning  whom 
the  following  brief  record  is  given : Dennis  died  in 

childhood,  before  the  removal  of  the  family  from 
Nevada;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Patrick  S.  Sullivan  and 
they  reside  in  Butte ; George  F.  is  likewise  a resident 
of  this  city,  where  he  holds  the  position  of  assistant 
master  mechanic  of  the  Anaconda  Mining  Company; 
Martha  became  the  wife  of  Thomas  F.  Sheehan  and 
both  are  deceased ; Margaret  is  the  wife  of  Oscar  B. 
Comstock,  of  Butte;  William  H.  is  identified  with  min- 
ing operations  in  Butte  and  formerly  served  as  street 
commissioner  of  the  city;  Charles  P.,  of  this  review, 
was  the  seventh  in  order  of  birth ; and  Winifred  is  the 
wife  of  John  Donnelly  of  Butte. 

Charles  B.  Nevin  was  about  two  years  of  age  at  the 
time  of  the  family  removal  from  Nevada  to  Butte,  and 
to  the  parochial  and  public  schools  of  this  city  he  is 
indebted  for  his  early  educational  advantages,  which 
included  those  of  the  high  school.  In  pursuance  of 
higher  academic  studies  he  completed  the  classical 
course  in  All  Hallows  College,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah, 
and  in  this  institution  he  was  graduated,  with  the  degree 
of  Bachelor  of  Arts,  as  a member  of  the  class  of  1899. 
After  being  variously  employed  for  some  time  Mr. 
Nevin  became  associated  with  his  brother-in-law,  Pat- 
rick S.  Sullivan,  in  the  purchase  of  an  interest  in  the 
Southern  Hotel,  in  Butte,  and  this  they  conducted  about 
eighteen  months,  at  the  expiration  of  which  they  dis- 
posed of  their  interests  in  the  enterprise.  Mr.  Nevin 
next  turned  his  attention  to  the  produce-commission 
business,  with  which  he  has  since  continued  to  be  iden- 
tified and  through  which  he  has  gained  prestige  as  one 
of  the  substantial  young  business  men  of  the  Montana 


metropolis.  At  the  initiation  of  his  operations  in  this 
line  he  became  one  of  the  interested  principals  in  the 
firm  of  Rabbit,  Nevin  & Company,  which  continued 
under  this  title  until  the  ist  of  January,  1910,  when  a 
change  was  made  and  the  business  was  incorporated 
under  the  title  of  the  O’Meara  Fruit  and  Produce  Com- 
pany. Later  Messrs.  Nevin  and  O’Meara  effected  the 
organization  and  incorporation  of  the  Montana  Produce 
Company,  of  which  Mr.  Nevin  is  president  and  general 
manager  and  Mr.  John  O’Meara  is  secretary  and  treas- 
urer. The  office  and  general  business  headquarters  of 
the  company  are  at  749  South  Wyoming  street,  in  the 
Olson  building,  and  the  enterprise  is  one  of  broad  scope 
and  importance,  with  operations  based  upon  ample  capi- 
tal and  honorable  business  policies.  This  is  one  of  the 
largest  wholesale  produce  establishments  in  the  state 
and  the  business  is  handled  with  utmost  discrimination 
and  ability.  Mr.  Nevin  is  also  president  of  the  Cooney 
Brokerage  Company,  which  controls  a substantial  busi- 
iness  in  the  handling  of  merchandise  products,  and  is 
president  of  the  Silver  Lake  Gold  Mining  & Milling 
Company,  representing  another  of  the  important  indus- 
trial enterprises  of  the  city  of  Butte. 

Mr.  Nevin  has  been  an  active  and  effective  worker 
in  behalf  of  the  cause  of  the  Democratic  party  and  has 
been  a zealous  and  an  influential  factor  in  public  affairs 
in  his  home  city.  The  strong  hold  which  he  has  upon 
popular  confidence  and  esteem  was  significantly  shown 
in  1909,  when  he  was  elected  mayor  of  Butte  when  but 
twenty-eight  years  old.  He  gave  a most  admirable 
administration,  marked  by  progressive  policies  and  care- 
ful regulation  of  all  departments  of  the  municipal  gov- 
ernment, and  he  retired  from  office  with  an  excellent 
record  in  May,  1911.  Fie  has  also  been  the  candidate 
of  his  party  for  other  offices  of  public  trust,  notably  that 
of  state  railroad  commissioner,  but  has  met  defeat  with 
the  rest  of  the  ticket,  owing  to  normal  political  exi- 
gencies. Mr.  Nevin  enjoys  unqualified  popularity  in 
both  the  business  and  social  circles  of  his  home  city, 
and  here  he  is  affiliated  with  the  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks,  the  Woodmen  of  the  World,  the 
Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles,  the  Knights  of  Columbus, 
and  the  United  Commercial  Travelers’  Association,, 
besides  which  he  holds  membership  in  the  Silver  Bow 
Club.  He  and  his  wife  have  one  baby  boy,  John  Charles. 
They  reside  at  the  Napton  Apartments. 

On  the  24th  of  April,  1902,  Mr.  Nevin  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Matilda  O’Malley,  of  Butte.  She 
was  born  in  the  state  of  Nebraska  and  is  a daughter  of 
Mrs.  William  P.  O’Malley,  who  is  now  a resident  of 
Spokane,  Washington.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nevin  are 
devout  Catholics. 

John  Rothwell  Reed,  one  of  Butte’s  representative 
business  men  and  the  real  head  of  Sherman  & Reed, 
Incorporated,  one  of  the  leading  undertaking  and  livery 
firms  in  Montana,  was  born  in  Audrain  county,  Mis- 
souri, on  December  7,  1866,  and  lived  there  until  he 
reached  the  age  of  seventeen.  His  parents  were  John 
Wesley  and  Elizabeth  (Rothwell)  _ Reed,  the  former  a 
native  of  Boone  county,  Missouri,  and  the  latter  of 
Audrain  county  in  the  same  state.  The  father  was  a 
dentist  and  came  to  Butte  in  1881.  T-yvo  years  later 
he  moved  his  family  here,  and  he  remained  and  prac- 
ticed his  profession  in  the  city  until  1906.  Then,  on 
account  of  the  state  of  his  wife’s  health,  he  took  her 
to  Texas,  and  later  they  located  again  at  their  old 
home,  Mexico,  Audrain  county,  Missouri,  where  the 
mother  died.  She  came  of  an  old  and  prominent  Ken- 
tucky family. 

Their  son,  John  R.  Reed,  was  educated  in  the  schools 
of  his  native  state.  He  began  his  academic  training 
in  the  public  schools  and  completed  it  at  William 
Jewell  College,  which  is  located  at  Liberty,  Clay  county, 
Missouri.  When  he  came  to  Butte  he  was  a slender 
youth  of  seventeen  and  not  in  very  robust  health.  He 


f- 


■V*  't-' 

: = 

“•  ..  -s  *-. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1229 


determined,  therefore,  to  rough  it  for  a while  and 
gather  strength  from  an  outdoor  life. 

Accordingly  he  turned  his  attention  to  herding  cattle 
on  Montana  ranges  and  the  wild  life  that  occupation 
involved.  His  choice  was  a wise  one  and  he  profited 
by  it,  gaining  health  and  strength.  The  work  in  which 
he  was  engaged  was  fraught  with  difficulties,  but  his 
constitution  was  hardened  to  meet  them. 

Imbued  with  the  spirit  of  the  occupation  and  trained 
in  its  requirements,  he  determined  to  engage  in  it  on 
his  own  account.  He  went,  for  this  purpose,  to  the 
Big  Hole  country  and  took  up  a ranch  comprising  about 
3,000  acres,  which  he  still  retains  and  now,  at  any  time 
that  he  can  leave  the  Butte  business  for  a few  days,  he 
can  be  found  at  the  ranch.  In  1888,  having  accumu- 
lated some  capital,  he  returned  to  Butte  and  bought 
the  livery  business  of  Charles  Shinn  at  224  South  Main 
street.  This  business  he  conducted,  making  steady 
improvements  in  it,  until  1900,  when  his  property  \vas 
destroyed  by  fire.  He  then  formed  a partnership  with 
E.  H.  Sherman,  and  afterward  the  business  was  incor- 
porated under  the  name  of  Sherman  & Reed.  Plans 
were  at  once  formed  for  extending  the  operations  of 
the  company  and  securing  a complete  equipment  for  the 
purpose. 

In  1901  the  company  erected  the  commodious  and 
convenient  building  it  now  occupies,  and  since  then 
it  has  been  carrying  on  the  most  extensive  business  in 
undertaking  and  livery  service  in  the  city,  and  enjoys, 
as  has  been  noted,  the  patronage  of  the  most  prom- 
inent citizens,  as  well  as  that  of  all  other  classes.  ^ Mr. 
Reed  owns  the  greater  part  of  the  stock  of  the  insti- 
tution, and  he  gives  the  business  his  whole  attention. 
He  is  well  qualified  to  conduct  it  on  an  elevated  plane 
of  completeness  and  excellence,  and  nothing  below  the 
highest  standard  in  every  particular  is  tolerated  by 
him  in  its  management  and  operations. 

Mr.  Reed  has  never  taken  more  than  a good  citizen’s 
practical  interest  in  politics.  His  business  occupies  all 
his  time  and  employs  all  his  faculties,  and  he  has  no 
political  ambition.  But  he  is  interested  in  the  welfare 
of  his  community,  and  he  aids  all  he  can  in  promoting 
that.  Pie  was  first  married  in  March,  1896,  to  Miss 
Martha  Shields,  who  was  a well  known  school  teacher 
in  Butte.  She  died  on  March  17,  1902,  leaving  one  son, 
Wesley  R.,  born  July  ii,  1899.  Mr.  Reed  married  in 
June,  1906,  Mrs.  Laura  McGarry,  a native  of  Illinois. 

Mr.  Reed  was  the  third  in  order  of  birth  of  a family 
of  three  sons  and  one  daughter.  His  sister  Rosie  mar- 
ried with  F.  T.  McBride,  for  many  years  a well  known 
member  of  the  bar  of  Butte,  and  highly  esteemed  as 
such.  Mr.  McBride  is  now  a retired  capitalist  living 
in  Portland,  Oregon. 

Robert  A.  Carnochan.  Born  in  Canada,  reared 
and  educated  in  Illinois,  and  having  passed  the  whole 
of  his  mature  life  to  this  time  (1912)  in  Montana,  in 
the  service  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Express  Company 
and  in  connection  with  the  mining  industry,  Robert  A. 
Carnochan,  of  Butte,  has  had  an  experience  in  life  that 
has  been  instructive  and  developing  in  the  way  of 
physical  and  mental  training,  interesting  and  spectacular 
in  incident  and  adventure,  trying  and  exacting  in  dan- 
ger and  privation,  and  sternly  and  thoroughly  useful 
in  preparing  him  for  large  affairs  and  success  in  busi- 
ness. 

Mr.  Carnochan’s  life  began  on  April  2,  1862,  in  the 
province  of  Ontario,  Dominion  of  Canada,  but  be- 
fore he  was  two  years  old  his  parents  moved  into  the 
United  States  and  located  in  Springfield,  Illinois.  He 
is  a son  of  Peter  and  Maria  Jane  (Petit)  Carnochan, 
the  former  a native  of  Scotland  and  the  latter  of 
Canada.  The  father  came  to  this  continent  from  his 
native  land  in  1858.  Plis  British  birth  and  sympathies 
took  him  to  Canada,  and  he  lived  there  until  1863. 
Then,  as  has  been  stated,  he  moved  his  family  to 


Springfield,  Illinois,  and  there  engaged  in  the  dry 
goods  trade  until  1897.  In  that  year  he  retired  from 
business  and  all  active  pursuits  and  came  to  Butte, 
where  he  has  since  been  living  with  his  son,  Robert  A. 
The  mother  died  in  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  in  1893.  The 
father  is  now  seventy-eight  years  of  age. 

Robert  A.  Carnochan  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Springfield,  Illinois,  remaining  there  until 
he  reached  the  age  of  twenty-one.  He  then,  in  1883, 
came  to  Helena,  Montana,  in  the  service  of  the  North- 
ern Pacific  Express  Company.  While  he  remained  in 
the  employ  of  this  company  he  filled  a number  of  dif- 
ferent positions  on  its  force,  but  most  of  the  time  held 
that  of  route  agent.  His  connection  with  the  company 
lasted  five  years  and  gave  him  an  extensive  and  ac- 
curate knowledge  of  this  state,  so  that  when  he  came 
to  desire  other  business  connections  it  was  easy  for 
him  to  make  a choice  advantageous  to  himself. 

In  1888  he  became  associated  in  the  mining  busi- 
ness with  Messrs.  Downs  & Allen,  of  Helena,  and 
moved  to  Spotted  Horse  Mine  in  Fergus  county  to 
take  charge  of  the  mine  as  manager.  His  residence 
at  the  mine  was  filled  with  all  the  wildness  of  an  un- 
settled expanse  into  which  the  march  of  civilization 
had  not  yet  sufficiently  advanced  to  make  a very  deep 
impression.  It  embodies  also  all  the  raciness,  excite- 
ment and  personal  peril  appertaining  to  the  mining 
camp  remote  from  other  human  habitations,  and  gave 
him  a real  feast  of  the  wilderness,  which,  rough,  harsh 
and  inexorable  as  it  is,  has  charms  more  potent  in 
their  seductive  influence  than  all  the  lures  of  luxury 
and  sloth.  In  it  Nature  opens  a theati'e  of  boundless 
life,  and  holds  forth  a cup  brimming  with  redundant 
pleasure,  from  which  one  may  fearlessly  drink,  gain- 
ing new  vigor  and  a heightened  zest  with  every 
draught,  and  finding  no  dregs  of  bitterness  at  the 
bottom. 

Mr.  Carnochan  was  too  much  in  touch  with  the 
spirit  of  the  place  in  his  own  adventurous  nature  to 
fail  to  enjoy  its  spice  for  a period  in  full  measure. 
But  he  was  also  too  much  of  a man  of  duty  to  be 
willing  to  pass  the  remainder  of  his  days  in  it.  So  he 
sought  again  the  haunts  of  men  in  another  sphere, 
coming  to  Butte  in  1897  to  take  a leading  position 
in  the  employ  of  F.  A.  Heinze.  Mr.  Heinze  knew  his 
ability,  his  integrity  and  his  fitness  for  large  business 
enterprises.  He  therefore  gave  him  free  opportunity 
for  the  exercise  of  his  faculties,  and  he  has  ever  since 
his  arrival  in  Butte  been  prominently  identified  with 
the  Heinze  interests. 

From  his  advent  in  the  city  he  has  also  taken  a warm 
and  helpful  interest  in  pulalic  affairs,  and  his  risen 
to  a position  of  prominence  and  influence  among  the 
people.  Although  he  has  never  held  or  sought,  and 
has  never  even  desired  a political  office  of  any  kind, 
he  is  a staunch  believer  in  the  principles  of  the  Re- 
publican party  and  a diligent  and  effective  worker  far 
its  success  in  all  campaigns.  The  welfare  of  the  city 
and  county  of  his  home  have  at  all  times  commanded 
his  close  attention  and  his  active  efforts  for  its  pro- 
motion. No  undertaking  of  value  for  their  advance- 
ment or  improvement  has  ever  gone  without  his  ear- 
nest support,  and  intelligence  and  breadth  of  view  have 
guided  and  governed  all  his  endeavors  in  this  behalf. 

In  the  social  life  of  his  community  he  has  mingled 
freely  as  a member  of  the  Silver  Bow  and  Butte 
Country  clubs,  greatly  to  their  advantage  and  the  en- 
joyment of  their  other  members.  He  has  also  taken 
part  in  the  general  social  life  of  the  city  and  been 
accorded  high  rank  in  it  as  a sunbeam  in  disposition, 
a genial  and  companionable  element  in  all  its  activi- 
ties, and  an  ornament  to  it  in  grace,  culture  and  re- 
sources for  entertainment.  A genuine  gentleman  at 
heart,  he  has  been  a courtly  one  in  manner  at  all 
times.  He  is  well  known  throughout  the  state  as  one 
of  its  best  citizens,  and  is  highly  esteemed  in  every 


1230 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


part  of  it  as  such.  On  February  24,  1904,  in  Waterloo, 
Iowa,  lie  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Grace  Mc- 
Stay,  a native  of  that  citj'.  i\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Carnochan 
arc  well  known  in  the  best  social  circles  of  the  city. 

< 

Andrew  Jackson  Wilkinson.  In  naming  the  prom- 
inent men  of  the  Yellowstone  valley  preference  should 
be  given  to  those  whose  activities  have  tended  to  ad- 
vance their  communities,  for  it  is  to  the  efforts  of 
this  class  that  the  credit  for  the  present  prosperous 
condition  of  this  section  is  due.  A resident  of  the 
vicinity  of  Billings  for  nearly  thirty  years,  during  which 
time  he  has  achieved  success  as  a breeder  of  stock 
and  assisted  materially  in  promoting  the  interests  of 
his  district,  Andrew  Jackson  Wilkinson  is  also  hon- 
ored among  his  fellow  citizens  as  a veteran  of  the 
great  Civil  war.  Mr.  Wilkinson  was  born  September 
2.  1837  in  Lincoln  county,  Missouri,  and  is  a son  of 
James  and  Temperance  (Knight)  Wilkinson,  the  for- 
mer a native  of  Virginia,  who  died  when  he  was  fifty 
years  of  age.  James  Wilkinson  came  to  Missouri  when 
a young  man  with  his  father,  William  Wilkinson,  and 
was  a pioneer  farmer  and  stock  raiser  in  Lincoln  county. 
He  developed  a farm  of  160  acres,  became  an  influen- 
tial citizen  of  his  locality,  took  a keen  interest  in  Dem- 
ocratic politics  and  was  active  in  the  work  of  the  Bap- 
tist church.  He  was  married  in  Kentucky  to  Miss 
Temperance  Knight,  a native  of  the  Blue  drass  state, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years.  They  had 
eight  children,  of  whom  two  are  living:  Lucy,  who 
is  the  wife  of  Isaac  Cannon,  living  in  Lincoln  county, 
Missouri,  within  two  miles  of  the  place  where  she  was 
born;  and  Andrew  Jackson. 

.A.ndrew  J.  Wilkinson  spent  his  boyhood  much  the 
same  as  other  farmers’  sons  of  his  day,  the  summer 
months  being  devoted  to  work  on  the  home  farm,  while 
his  education  was  secured  in  the  district  schools  dur- 
ing winters.  On  September  2,  1862,  he  went  to  Lou- 
isiana, Pike  county,  Missouri,  and  enlisted  in  Company 
A.  Third  Missouri  Cavalry,  receiving  his  commission 
as  second  lieutenant,  and  almost  immediately  there- 
after the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Mexico,  Missouri. 
Subsequently  it  was  sent  to  Jefferson  City,  Rolla, 
Pilot  Knob  and  Patterson,  where  engagements  took 
place,  and  after  a fight  at  Morse  Mill,  located  near  the 
.\rkansas  state  line,  the  organization  returned  to  Pat- 
terson, where  Mr.  Wilkinson  fell  ill  with  the  measles. 
He  was  taken  to  Pilot  Knob  and  then  to  St.  Louis, 
in  which  city  he  received  his  honorable  discharge  on 
account  of  disability.  He  then  went  to  the  home  of  his 
mother,  at  Clarksville,  Missouri,  where_  he  remained 
until  he  had  regained  his  health.  Farming  and  stock- 
raising  demanded  his  attention  until  1883,  on  May  3rd 
of  which  year  he  located  on  the  open  range  in  Montana 
to  engage  in  the  cattle  business,  this  occupation,  in 
conjunction  with  butchering  in  Billings  for  nine  years, 
occupying  his  attention  up  to  1901.  At  that  time  he 
settled  on  his  present  ranch,  a finely  cultivated  tract  of 
160  acres,  located  two  and  one-half  miles  south  of 
Billings,  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Yellowstone  river. 
Mr.  Wilkinson  has  always  approved  of  the  most  mod- 
ern methods  and  his  property  compares  favorably  with 
any  in  the  valley.  His  cattle  bring  the  highest  prices 
that  the  market  affords,  and  his  standing  among  busi- 
ness men  is  accordingly  high.  He  is  a Progressive 
Republican,  but  has  never  cared  for  public  office.  His 
army  service  entitles  him  to  membership  in  McKinley 
Post.  No.  28,  G.  A.  R.,  in  which  he  is  deservedly 
popular. 

On  October  22.  i86g.  Mr.  AVilkinson  was  united  in 
marriage  with  ivliss  _Mary  Henry,  who  was  born  in 
Pike  county,  Missouri,^  daughter  of  John  D.  and  Nancy 
(Walkerl  Henry,  natives  of  Kentucky,  both  of  whom 
are  deceased.  Air.  Henry  was  a pioneer  farmer  and 
stock  raiser  of  Alissouri.  in  which  state  the  last  years 
of  his  life  were  spent.  He  and  his  wife  were  faithful 


members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church,  and 
were  the  parents  of  three  sons  and  two  daughters, 
Alary  being  the  fourth  child  in  order  of  birth.  Seven 
children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilkinson, 
as  follows:  Fleda,  the  wife  of  G.  G.  Corthran;  Leathr’ 
deceased,  who  was  the  wife  of  J.  W.  Vaughn;  Viola’ 
who  married  George  Cannon;  Bessie,  wife  of  William 
Polley;  Roy,  Roscoe,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 

Edward  P.  B.vldwin.  The  career  of  Edward  P. 
Baldwin,  of  Glendive,  is  one  which  should  hold  out  en- 
couragement to  the  aspiring  youths  of  the  country,  who 
are  endeavoring  to  get  a foothold  on  the  ladder  of  suc- 
cess and  feel  themselves  handicapped  by  lack  of  capital 
or  influential  connection.  Mr.  Baldwin  engaged  in  the 
cattle  business  in  Alontana  some  thirty  years  ago,  and 
had  just  succeeded  in  getting  well  established  when  he 
lost  his  stock  in  the  heavy  snows  that  caused  the  fail- 
ure of  so  many  ranchmen  during  the  severe  winter  of 
1886-7,  and  was  compelled  to  make  a new  start.  At 
once  accepting  the  first  opportunity  that  offered  it- 
self, he  started  to  rebuild  his  fortune,  and  his  coura- 
geous and  persistent  industry  has  eventually  won  him  a 
place  among  the  front  rank  of  stockmen  of  Dawson 
county.  Mr.  Baldwin  is  a product  of  New  England, 
having  been  born  at  Antrim,  Hillsboro  county.  New 
Hampshire,  December  ii,  1850,  and  is  a son  of  Isaac 
and  Nancy  (White)  Baldwin. 

Isaac  Baldwin  was  born  in  1818,  in  Hillsboro  county, 
and  was  a farmer  and  manufacturer  of  hoes  at  An- 
trim, finding  a market  for  his  product  in  Boston,  and 
during  the  early  days  hauling  his  goods  by  teams  a dis- 
tance of  seventy-five  miles.  A typical  Yankee  farmer, 
he  worked  industriously  and  thriftily  all  of  his  life, 
and  at  the_  time  of  his  death,  in  1876,  was  one  of  his 
section’s  highly  esteemed  citizens.  In  politics  he  was 
first  a Whig  and  later  a Republican,  and  adhered 
faithfully  to  the  belief  of  the  Congregational  church. 
For  his  first  wife  he  married  a Aliss  Osgood,  by  whom 
he  had  three  children,  all  of  Whom  are  deceased,  and 
his  second  wife,  Nancy  White,  a native  of  Hillsboro 
county,  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years,  having  been 
the  mother  of  seven  children,  five  of  whom  lived  to 
maturity.  Two  are  still  living:  Benjamin  P.  and  Ed- 
ward P. 

Edward  P.  Baldwin  received  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  his  native  vicinity,  and  until  twenty-one 
years  of  age  was  engaged  in  assisting  his  father  in  the 
work  of  the  home  farm.  In  1876  he  went  to  New  York 
City,  where  he  secured  employment  as  a clerk  in  a dry 
goods  store  for  about  two  years,  and  in  1878  removed 
to  Clinton  county,  Iowa,  and  began  work  for  his  brother, 
Benjamin  P.,  who  was  a contracting  mason.  After 
about  one  year  Air.  Baldwin  went  to  Cedar  Rapids, 
Iowa,  and  in  June,  1883,  left  that  city  and  located  in 
Glendive,  bringing  a bunch  of  cattle  by  rail.  Establish- 
ing himself  in  business  on  the  range.  Air.  Baldwin  was 
successfully  following  his  chosen  vocation  at  the  time 
of  the  great  snows  of  1886-7,  at  which  time 
his  cattle  were  wiped  out  and  with  them  his  modest 
capital.  Although  this  sudden  destroying  of  the  work 
of  years  was  a bitter  discouragement,  Mr.  Baldwin  did 
not  allow  himself  to  become  disheartened,  and  soon 
started  to  recuperate  his  lost  capital  by  clerking  for 
A.  AI.  Coleman.  From  ^time  to  time,  as  his  finances 
would  allow,  he  added  to  his  little  band _ of  cattle  until 
it  began  to  assume  respectable  proportions,  and  also 
purchased  sheep  and  horses,  finally  giving  all  his  at- 
tention to  this  business.  He  not  only  regained  the 
position  which  he  had  lost,  but  became  one  of  the  ex- 
tensive dealers  in  live  stock  in  Dawson  county.  In  191L 
he  sold  his  interest  in  the  sheep  industry,  and  is  at  this 
time  devoting  all  his  time  to  cattle  and  horses.  He  is 
a stockholder  in  the  Glendive  Heat.  Light  and  Power 
Company,  and  has  served  as  the  first  alderman  from 
the  First  ward  of  this  city,  where  he  owns  a handsome 


\ 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1231 


residence  at  No.  614  i\Iead  avenue.  Politically  he  is  a 
Republican,  and  is  prominent  fraternally  as  a member 
of  Glendive  Lodge  No.  31,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  of  which 
he  is  past  master;  Yellowstone  Chapter,  No.  5,  R.  A. 
M.,  of  which  he  is  past  high  priest;  and  Damascus 
Commandery,  No.  4,  K.  T.,  and  he  and  his  wife  are 
valued  members  of  Yellowstone  Chapter,  No.  S,  O.  E. 
S.,  in  which  he  is  past  worthy  patron.  He  has  numer- 
ous friends  throughout  this  section,  drawn  to  him  by 
his  genial  manner  and  strict  integrity  of  character. 

On  December  28.  1888,  Mr.  Baldwin  was  married  to 
Miss  Theoda  A.  Boylan,  who  was  born  at  Wolcott, 
Wayne  county.  New  York,  daughter  of  John  and  Har- 
riet Boylan,  both  of  whom  are  deceased.  Mrs.  Bald- 
win, who  was  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth  of  her  par- 
ents’ six  children,  lost  her  mother  when  she  was  seven 
years  of  age.  Three  children  have  been  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Baldwin,  namely ; Anna  W.,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; Curtis  W.,  a student  at  Purdue  University, 
Indiana;  and  H.  Jiladge,  who  attends  the  schools  of 
Glendive. 

Arthur  G.  Parsons.  The  career  of  Arthur  G.  Par- 
sons, an  enterprising  and  progressive  cattleman  of 
Wibaux,  is  typical  of  the  pluck,  energy  and  superior 
business  ability  which  have  made  the  Treasure  state 
noted  for  its  successful  men  of  the  younger  generation. 
Commencing  business  in  a humble  way  fifteen  years 
ago,  he  has  so  conducted  his  affairs  that  he  has  be- 
come recognized  throughout  Dawson  couiity  as  a man 
thoroughly  representative  of  his  community’s  best  in- 
terests. Mr.  Parsons  was  born  at  Hawley,  Clay  county, 
Minnesota,  February  7,  1877,  and  is  a son  of  James 
William  and  Agnes  (Game)  Parsons. 

James  William  Parsons  was  born  in  England  in  1839, 
and  was  there  engaged  in  farming.  In  1874  he  came  to 
the  United  States  and  located  at  Hawley,  Minnesota, 
and  during  the  following  year  he  was  joined  by  his 
wife  and  children.  Farming  occupied  his  attention  until 
1883,  in  which  year  he  came  to  Dawson  county,  making 
his  home  at  Glendive  and  engaging  in  the  horse  and 
cattle  business.  His  sons, ‘Arthur  G.  and  Burkley  J., 
were  associated  with  him  until  his  death  in  1893.  Dur- 
ing 'he  memorable  winter  of  1886-7,  Mr.  Parsons  was 
one  of  those  to  lose  heavily,  his  capital  at  that  time  be- 
ing invested  in  sheep,  and  out  of  a flock  of  1,000  head 
he  lost  about  400.  However,  he  recuperated  his  losses, 
and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  in  comfortable  financial 
circumstances.  He  was  well  known  in  Dawson  county, 
and  his  death  was  mourned  by  a wide  circle  of  friends. 
He  and  his  wife  had  four  children,  of  whom  three  are^ 
living — Burkle}^  J.,  one  of  the  leading  horse  breeders 
of  Dawson  county ; Arthur  G. ; and  Mabel  Agnes,  who 
married  J.  H.  Ferrall,  of  Oakley,  California.  Mrs.  Par- 
sons, also  a native  of  England,  survives  her  husband 
and  lives  with  her  daughter  at  Oakley. 

Arthur  G.  Parsons  received  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Belle  Prairie  and  Dawson  county,  Mon- 
tana, and  as  a youth  became  associated  with  his  father 
and  brother  in  the  horse  and  cattle  business.  He  re- 
ceived a thorough  business  training,  and  when  only 
twenty  years  of  age  embarked  in  an  enterprise  of  his 
own,  having  at  that  time  about  150  head  of  cattle  and 
forty  horses.  Each  year  since  that  time  he  has  added 
to  his  stock,  and  has  had  at  times  as  high  as  2,500  head 
of  cattle  and  t,ooo  horses  running  on  the  range  in  Daw- 
son countv,  Montana,  and  McKenzie  and  Billings  coun- 
ties, North  Dakota.  IMr.  Parsons  states  that  the  winter 
of  1911-12  was  the  worst  that  he  has  experienced,  he 
being  compelled  to  break  up  the  crust  on  the  ground 
in  order  that  his  stock  could  feed.  He  owns  about  125 
saddle  horses  and  has  his  own  round-up  outfit,  emploc'- 
ing  from  seven  to  fifteen  men.  During  the  months  of 
May,  June  and  July,  he  gives  his  full  attention  to  his 
horses  on  the  range,  and  then  starts  his  round-up  on 
the  cattle,  branding  his  calves  and  shipping  his  beef 


cattle  to  the  Chicago  market  during  August,  September 
and  October.  During  the  summer  of  1911  he  put  up 
about  500  tons  of  wild  hay,  and  at  this  time  is  feed- 
ing 600  head  of  cattle.  Alert,  progressive  and  ener- 
getic, iMr.  Parsons  has  taken  a foremost  place  in  the 
front  ranks  of  stockmen  in  Dawson  county,  and  is 
deserving  of  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  by 
his  business  associates. 

On  February  21,  1901,  Mr.  Parsons  was  married  to 
Miss  Lila  Foster,  who  was  born  in  Saginaw,  Michigan, 
daughter  of  John  and  Eliza  (McCraight)  Foster.  Mr. 
Foster  was  born  at  Charlotte,  Prince  Edward  Island, 
and  died  January  4,  1900,  when  sixty  years  of  age.  His 
wife,  a native  of  Nova  Scotia,  survived  him  until  1908, 
and  was  seventy-three  years  f age  at  the  time  of  her 
demise.  They  had  three  children:  John,  who  lives  at 
Oakland,  California;  Isaac,  also  a resident  of  that  city; 
and  Lila.  Jilr.  Foster  came  to  the  United  States  as  a 
young  man,  was  married  in  Boston,  Massachusetts,  and 
drifted  to  ilichigan.  Later  he  went  to  Oakland,  Cali- 
fornia, where  he  was  successfully  engaged  in  the  real 
estate  business  for  a number  of  years. 

Mr.  Parsons  was  made  a iMason  in  1909,  when  he 
joined  Glendive  Lodge  No.  31,  and  in  1911  transferred 
his  membership  to  Wibaux  Lodge  No.  81,  A.  F.  & 
A.  j\I.  He  is  also  connected  with  Yellowstone  Chap- 
ter No.  5,  R.  A.  M.,  Glendive;  Dickinson  Lodge  No. 
255,  B.  P.  O.  E.,  Dickinson,  North  Dakota,  and  Yel- 
lowstone Chapter  No.  5>  O-  E.  S.  iMrs.  Parsons  is 
also  a member  of  the  last  named  order,  and  belongs 
likewise  to  Absit  'Vidier  Lodge  of  the  Rebekahs,  Oak- 
land, California. 

James  S.  Almy.  A residence  of  thirty  years  in  hlon- 
tana,  during  which  time  he  has  been  identified  with  the 
agricultural  interests  of  this  section  with  such  suc- 
cess that  he  is  now  known  as  one  of  his  community’s 
prosperous  citizens,  entitles  James  S.  Almj-  to  a place 
among  the  representative  men  of  the  Treasure  state 
and  to  the  respect  and  esteem  which  are  undoubtedly 
his.  When  Mr.  Almy  arrived,  in  Montana  he  was  in 
very  moderate  circumstances,  but  in  the  new  west  he 
found  the  opportunity  he  had  long  been  seeking,  and, 
through  to  a successful  conclusion.  It  is  this  type  of 
quick  to  grasp  it.  demonstrated  his  ability  to  cope 
with  the  new  conditions  and  to  carry  his  undertakings 
men  who  have  cultivated  the  undeveloped  resources 
of  Montana  and  brought  the  industrial  interests  of  the 
commonwealth  to  their  present  state  of  importance. 

James  S.  Almy  was  born  at  IMiddletown.  Rhode 
Island,  July  9,  1844,  and  is  a son  of  William  and 
Mary  Ann  (IMacomber)  Almy.  His  father  was  a na- 
tive of  Rhode  Island  and  his  mother  of  Massachusetts, 
and  with  their  two  sons  and  three  daughters  they 
migrated  to  the  state  of  Illinois  in  1856,  residing  there 
until  1875,  when  they  removed  to  the  vicinity  of 
Moorhead,  Minnesota.  There  the  mother  died  in  1897, 
and  the  father  subsequently  removed  to  Oregon,  where 
his  death  occurred  in  1903.  James  S.  Almy  was  the 
oldest  of  his  parents’  children,  and  in  1873  preceded 
the  famil}'  to  hlinnesota,  where  he  proved  up  a home- 
stead of  160  acres,  living  thereon  for  ten  years.  The 
year  1883  saw  his  advent  in  Montana,  and  in  the  fol- 
lowing year  he  brought  his  family  here,  settling  on 
Redwater,  where  he  embarked  in  the  cattle  business. 
The  disastrous  storms  of  the  winter  of  1886-7,  how- 
ever, wiped  out  his  little  capital,  and  he  secured  em- 
ployment with  a railroad,  and  continued  in  its  service 
for  seven  years,  at  which  time  he  moved  back  to  a ranch 
on  Sand  Creek.  In  addition  to  ranching  on  three  sec- 
tions of  land,  in  partnership  with  his  son-in-law,  H. 
L.  Johnson,  Mr.  Almy  has  bought  of  the  railway  com- 
pany 320  acres,  where  he  has  a comfortable  modern 
home,  substantial  barns  and  well-appointed  outbuild- 
ings, and  sixty  acres  of  his  property  are  under  cultiva- 
tion, being  devoted  to  the  raising  of  wheat,  hay  and 


1232 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


oats,  lie  is  known  as  an  excellent  judge  of  stock 
and  an  able  agriculturist,  and  each  year  has  found 
his  land  and  personal  property  increasing  in  value. 

Mr.  Ahny  was  married  at  Dwight,  Illinois,  March 
i6,  1870,  to  Miss  Helen  M.  Winsoer,  youngest  of  the 
three  children  born  to  Horace  W.  and  Sabra  (Gallup) 
Winsoer,  natives  of  Connecticut.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Almy 
have  had  four  daughters:  Alice,  wife  of  H.  L.  Johnson, 
who  is  associated  in  cattle  raising  with  his  father- 
in-law  ; Helen,  the  wife  of  E.  C.  Cain,  of  Hotchkiss, 
Delta  county,  Colorado ; Olive,  wife  of  H.  V.  Robinson, 
of  Bloomfield,  Montana;  and  Grace,  who  married  A. 
C.  Zolman,  of  Glendive.  Mrs.  Almy  and  her  daughters 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Mr. 
Almy  is  a Republican  in  his  political  views,  but  has 
not  cared  for  public  life,  preferring  to  give  his  time 
and  attention  to  the  furthering  of  his  business  in- 
terests. A hard  worker,  thrifty  in  his  habits,  he 
has  been  able  to  accumulate  a good  property  and  to 
bring  up  his  family  comfortably.  He  and  his  wife 
are  now  enjoying  some  of  the  comforts  their  industry 
has  brought  them,  and  they  are  happy  in  the  pos- 
session of  the  esteem  and  friendship  of  al  who  know 
them. 

George  Albert  Griggs.  It  is  unusual  to  find  a man 
of  a quiet,  reserved  personality  who  has  made  a suc- 
cess of  his  life  and  who  has  become  a leader  in  the 
community  of  which  he  is  a member.  When  such  is 
the  case  no  one  doubts  but  that  he  is  a man  of  un- 
common strength  of  character  and  ability  above  the 
average,  for  not  being  of  the  pushing,  aggressive  type 
other  hands  than  his  own  must  have  shoved  him  into 
the  front  ranks.  Such  a man  is  George  Albert  Griggs, 
of  Butte,  Montana.  His  success  in  the  business  world 
is  due  to  his  ability,  his  painstaking  care,  his  thorough 
knowledge  of  banking,  and  the  wholehearted  interest 
which  he  has  always  manifested  in  any  concern  with 
which  he  happened  to  be  connected.  He  has  never 
been  a man  to  thrust  himself  before  the  notice  of  his 
superiors  or  of  the  general  public,  therefore  the  posi- 
tions of  responsibility  which  he  has  held  both  in  public 
life  and  in  the  business  world  have  been  given  him,  not 
because  he  sought  them  but  because  his  qualifications 
made  him  the  only  man  for  the  place.  He  stands  for 
the  best  in  the  civic,  social  and  business  life  of  Butte. 
His  ideas  are  progressive,  and  he  believes  that  al- 
though much  has  been  accomplished  tovvard  making 
Butte  an  attractive  and  healthful  city,  much  more  re- 
mains to  be  done.  He  himself  is  very  public  spirited, 
ready  to  give  of  his  services  or  of  his  time  to  any 
movement  which  would  aid  in  the  development  of  his 
home  city.  Knowing  his  disinterested  attitude  the  peo- 
ple of  his  city  accord  to  him  the  highest  respect,  and 
there  is  no  one  in  the  city  more  popular  than  is  Mr. 
Griggs. 

George  A.  Griggs  was  born  in  Charlestown,  New 
Hampshire,  on  the  9th  of  August,  1859.  He  is  the  son 
of  George  Henry  Griggs  and  of  Abigail  (Smart)  Griggs. 
Both  his  father  and  grandfather  were  famous  engine 
builders  of  Boston.  His  grandfather,  George  Smith 
Griggs,  was  one  of  the  first  to  take  up  this  form  of 
manufacturing,  and  he  was  regarded  with  great  re- 
spect as  being  one  of  the  men  who  were  willing  to 
venture  into  a comparatively  new  and  untried  field. 
His  name  was  well  known  throughout  the  east,  not 
only  as  a pioneer  builder  but  for  the  strength  and  fine 
quality  of  the  engines  he  constructed.  Most  of  the 
engines  of  the  Boston  and  Providence  Railroad  were 
built  by  him.  His  son,  George  Henry  Griggs,  fol- 
lowed in  his  footsteps  and  likewise  became  an  engine 
builder.  During  the  Civil  war  good  engineers  were 
very  hard  to  find,  and  the  government  was  at  a loss 
for  competent  men  to  fill  that  very  important  post 
on  board  men  of  war.  In  this  capacity  in  warships 
it  was  very  important  that  only  the  best  men  in  the 


country  should  be  given  an  opportunity  to  serve,  there- 
fore it  was  a great  honor  when  George  Griggs  was 
called  to  Washington,  and  there  commissioned  as  en- 
gineer, serving  at  different  times  on  the  “Rhode  Island,” 
“Lenapee,”  and  “Genesee.”  He  was  not,  in  respect  to 
years,  qualified  to  serve,  but  the  President  waived  this 
fact  and  he  continued  in  the  service  and  took  part  in 
many  affrays  with  the  Confederate  forces. 

The  naval  experiences  of  the  father  inspired  the  son 
with  the  burning  desire  to  enter  the  navy,  consequently 
as  soon  as  he  was  graduated  from  the  Plighland  Mili- 
tary Academy  at  Worcester,  Massachusetts,  he  re- 
ceived an  appointment  to  the  Naval  Academy  at  An- 
napolis, and  departed  thence  to  prepare  for  his  naval 
career.  He  was  doomed  to  disappointment,  for  upon 
examination  it  was  found  that  his  eyesight  did  not 
measure  up  to  the  standard,  and  he  was  thus  debarred. 
It  was  a bitter  disappointment,  but  the  lad  was  not 
made  of  the  stuff  that  succumbs  to  the  first  blow,  so 
he  then  determined  on  a new  career,  to  become  a 
banker  was  now  his  purpose,  and  to  that  end  he 
went  to  Hornellsville,  New  York,  and  entered  the 
Bank  of  Hornellsville.  He  later  went  from  this  in- 
stitution to  Cranes  Bank  in  the  same  town. 

In  1S83  the  instincts  of  his  pioneer  ancestors  led 
him  westward  and  he  came  to  Montana,  locating  in 
Billings.  Here  he  entered  the  banking  house  of  Steb- 
bins.  Post  & Mund,  and  became  a valuable  man  to 
the  firm,  for  he  had  had  splendid  experience  in  the 
eastern  banks,  and  his  employers  could  easily  see  that 
he  was  by  nature  adapted  to  the  business  he  had  chosen. 
When  this  firm  became  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Billings,  Mr.  Griggs  opened  up  the  books  for  the  new 
concern.  In  1887  he  went  into  Mexico  with  the  Amer- 
ican Development  Company.  He  spent  one  year  in 
their  employ,  his  headquarters  being  at  Piedras  Negras. 
In  these  tropical  wilds  he  came  into  contact  with 
many  different  types  of  men  and  added  to  his 
powers  of  judgment  human  nature  to  a large  extent. 
He  only  remaijied  here  one  year,  but  the  experience 
was  a valuable  one  to  him.  When  he  returned  to 
Billings  he  entered  the  banking  house  of  Bailey  & 
Billings,  and  when  in  1891  this  institution  was  re- 
organized as  the  Yellowstone  National  Bank,  he  was 
made  cashier  and  became  a stockholder.  He  remained 
in  this  position  during  the  remainder  of  his  staj''  in 
Billings,  which  lasted  until  1904. 

In  this  year  the  old  banking  house  of  Yegen  Brothers 
established  a branch  house  in  Butte,  and  Mr.  Griggs 
was  invited  to  accept  the  post  of  manager.  He  con- 
sequently removed  to  Butte,  and  since  that  time  has 
had  charge  of  this  very  prosperous  financial  institu- 
tion. He  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  financiers 
in  the  state  of  Montana,  and  his  advice  is  highly  valued 
in  all  financial  matters.  No  bank  in  the  city  is  on  a 
firmer  foundation  than  that  with  which  he  is  con- 
nected, and  his  reputation  for  trustworthiness  and 
for  sound  business  principles  has  been  an  important 
factor  in  the  upbuilding  of  the  splendid  business  now 
enjoyed  by  that  institution.  He  has  had  nearly  thirty 
years’  identification  with  the  banking  interests  of 
Montana. 

Mr.  Griggs  is  not  a politician  in  any  sense  of  the 
word.  He  is  too  straightforward  and  clean  a man 
to  take  a share  in  that  kind  of  politics  that_  requires 
questionable  practices,  and  eyes  that_  sometimes  see 
not  and  ears  that  hear  not.  In  the  higher  and  better 
kind  of  politics  he  has  always  taken  a keen  interest, 
but  has  never  considered  that  he  was  himself  fitted 
either  by  nature  or  by  education  for  a position  in  the 
governmental  forces  of  his  home  city.  In  spite  of  this 
fact  he  was  three  times  elected  mayor  of  Billings, 
Montana,  and  perhaps  at  no  period  of  the  city’s  life 
has  she  had  a more  able  administration.  The  people 
who,  judging  from  his  quiet  manner,  thought  that  they 
could  wind  him  around  their  fingers  found  themselves 


■M 


HISTORY  OF  A^ONTANA 


1233 


sadly  mistaken,  for  he  had  “the  iron  hand  in  the  vel- 
vet glove,”  and  while  he  was  in  power  the  city  was 
going  to  have  a clean  government  free  from  taint  of 
any  sort. 

Mr.  Griggs  has  always  been  a great  athlete,  and  is 
devoted  to  sports  of  all  kinds.  He  has  won  many 
honors  on  the  athletic  field,  perhaps  the  most  unique  of 
these  dating  back  to  his  years  in  New  York  state. 
He  was  here  a member  of  the  Maple  City  Hose  Team 
of  Hornellsville,  and  in  competition  for  the  amateur 
hose  running  team  championship  of  America,  the  team 
came  out  victor,  establishing  a world's  record.  He 
is  a good  runner,  delights  in  long,  rough  tramps,  is 
a skillful  and  tireless  bicyclist,  and  is  a fine  oarsman. 
He  rowed  for  the  amateur  championship  of  the  United 
States,  and  has  never  lost  his  fondness  for  this  sport. 
His  devotion  to  the  out  door  life  and  the  unusual 
amount  of  exercise  that  he  takes  has  probably  had 
a large  share  in  keeping  him  in  the  fine  health  and 
splendid  physical  condition  which  he  enjoys.  Other 
men,  who  like  himself  have  their  working  hours  spent 
in  sedentary  occupations,  should  profit  by  his  example. 
When  he  lived  in  Billings  he  was  captain  of  the  Bil- 
lings Company  of  the  First  Montana  Regiment,  and  was 
greatly  interested  in  the  affairs  of  this  company. 

Mr.  Griggs  was  married  on  the  6th  of  September, 
1892,  to  Lucy  Lee  Boyd,  who  was  born  in  Bader,  Illi- 
nois. Mrs.  Griggs,  like  her  husband,  is  interested 
in  the  affairs  of  the  day  and  is  thoroughly  progressive. 
She  is  a member  of  the  Butte  Woman’s  Club.  Mr. 
Griggs  is  a member  of  the  Knights  of  Columbus  and 
of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  He 
is  also  a member  of  the  Country  Club  of  Butte  and  of 
the  Montana  Society  of  Engineers.  In  all  of  these 
organizations  he  is  a leading  spirit,  trusted  and  admired 
by  his  fellow  members. 

Fred  Bowen.  Among  the  wide-awake  young  business 
men  of  Philipsburg,  Mr.  Fred  Bowen,  of  the  Bowen 
Hardware  Company,  is  one  of  the  most  successful.  He 
has  spent  all  his  life  since  infancy  in  this  state,  and 
by  many  strong  ties  is  identified  with  its  business  and 
social  welfare. 

Mr.  Bowen  was  born  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  May  27, 
1881,  a son  of  William  and  Charlotte  (Parfitt)  Bowen. 
His  father  has  long  been  a prominent  citizen  of  Philips- 
burg, where  he  conducts  the  electric  light  plant  and  the 
foundry.  He  was  born  in  Wales,  coming  to  America 
in  boyhood,  and  after  a residence  of  some  years  in  Ohio 
came  west  to  Montana,  where  he  has  spent  about  thirty 
years.  His  wife,  whom  he  married  in  Ohio,  was  born 
in  England,  and  died  in.  Philipsburg  in  1898,  aged  forty- 
two  years.  The  seven  children  of  the  family,  of  whom 
Fred  is  third  in  order  of  birth,  all  reside  in  Philipsburg 
or  Granite  county,  namely;  Thomas,  who  is  married; 
Lizzie,  wife  of  C.  T.  Huffman ; Lottie,  at  home ; Annie, 
wife  of  William  Metcalf;  William  C.,  member  of  the 
firm  of  Bowen  Hardware  Company;  and  Charles,  in 
school. 

Mr.  Fred  Bowen  was  about  two  years  old  when  the 
family  moved  to  Montana,  and  after  a residence  of  four 
years  at  Butte  they  all  settled  at  Philipsburg,  which 
has  since  been  his  home  and  scene  of  his  career.  In 
Butte  he  attended  a kindergm‘ten,  and  later  the  public 
schools  of  Philipsburg,  finishing  the  high  school  course. 
Having  arrived  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  he  first  began 
earning  money  regularly  by  working  in  the  local  foundry 
under  his  father's  supervision.  From  this  he  went  to 
the  mills,  and  then  to  the  electric  light  plant.  In  1910 
Mr.  Bowen  established  the  well  known  hardware  busi- 
ness conducted  by  himself  and  brother,  William  C.,  and 
they  have  built  up  a large  trade  in  a very  short  time. 

Mr.  Bowen  was  married  at  Grant's  Pass,  Oregon, 
August  4,  1909,  to  Mliss  Eunice  Plumley,  daughter  of 
Albert  ML  and  Sadie  M.  Plumley,  of  that  place.  One 
son  has  been  born  of  their  marriage,  named  Harold. 


An  active  worker  in  the  Democratic  party,  Mr.  Bowen 
has  always  refused  the  pleas  that  he  run  for  office.  He 
is  a church  attendant  but  not  identified  by  membership 
with  any  one  denomination.  He  is  also  a member  of 
the  Philipsburg  Chamber  of  Commerce.  His  interests  in 
life  are  varied.  Hunting  and  fishing  make  strong  ap- 
peals to  him,  and  he  is  an  enthusiastic  baseball  “fan,” 
supporting  the  national  game  wherever  played  locally 
and  being  a player  himself  on  occasion.  He  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  Philipsburg  Mlandolin  Club,  and  handles  that 
instrument  and  the  guitar  and  violin  with  skill.  He 
finds  much  pleasure  in  music  and  the  theater,  and  in 
general  literature,  possessing  a nice  library  to  gratify 
his  tastes  in  the  latter  direction. 

In  one  who  has  identified  himself  so  thoroughly  with 
the  life  and  affairs  of  his  community  and  state,  it  is 
not  strange  that  he  should  be  an  admirer  of  Montana. 
He  says:  “If  you  are  looking  for  a home,  if  you  have 

anything  definite  in  view  and  if  you  can  back  it  up  with 
sincere  energy,  come  to  the  Treasure  state  and  you  will 
not  be  disappointed.  Don’t  be  afraid  of  changing  lo- 
cations, as  Montana  is  the  best  place  in  the  world.” 

Charles  A.  Thurston,  proprietor  of  the  Thurston 
Horse  Ranch,  and  president  of  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Glendive,  the  Glendive  Land  and  Irrigation  Company 
and  the  Timber  Investment  Company  of  Seattle,  Wash- 
ington, may  be  justly  termed  a representative  self-made 
man,  one  who  in  his  early  life  received  little  if  any 
financial  aid.  Mr.  Thurston  was  born  at  Natick,  Middle- 
sex county,  Massachusetts,  June  25,  1851,  and  is  a son 
of  James  and  Elizabeth  (Austin)  Thurston,  natives  of 
New  England.  His  father  was  a clergyman  of  the  Uni- 
tarian faith  and  died  in  1873,  while  his  mother  survived 
him  many  years  and  was  ninety-three  years  of  age  at 
the  time  of  her  demise. 

Charles  A.  Thurston  was  reared  at  West  Newton, 
just  outside  of  the  city  of  Boston,  and  his  education 
was  completed  in  an  English  and  classical  school.  Dur- 
ing his  early  manhood  he  was  engaged  in  a warehouse 
business  in  Boston,  but  in  March,  1883,  he  came  to 
Dawson  county,  where  the  Indians  still  made  their 
homes,  and  buffalo  were  yet  to  be  found  roaming  the 
prairies.  Embarking  in  the  cattle  and  horse  business, 
he  had  just  begun  to  feel  that  he  was  making  a success 
of  his'  undertaking  when  the  terrible  storms  of  the 
winter  of  1886-7  broke  across  the  country,  playing  havoc 
will  all  manner  of  livestock,  and  Mir.  Thurston,  like 
many  others,  found  himself  once  more  without  capital. 
Nothing  daunted,  he  secured  a small  band  of  sheep  and 
started  to  recuperate  his  fallen  fortunes,  soon  adding 
cattle  and  horses,  and  taking  up  a tract  of  land  thirty- 
two  miles  west  of  Glendive,  where  he  leased  five  sec- 
tions. this  being  known  throughout  the  west  as  the 
Thurston  Horse  Ranch.  During  some  of  his  largest 
years  he  had  as  many  as  500  horses  on  this  property, 
including  Percheron,  Clydesdale  and  Kentucky  saddlers. 
For  his  sheep,  in  which  he  still  deals  extensively,  he 
has  a ranch  covering  four  sections  in  the  Red  Water 
country.  Mr.  Thurston  is  president  of  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank,  a position  which  he  has  held  since  the 
organization  of  that  institution,  which  was  promoted 
in  1904.  In  all  of  his  dealings  he  is  recognized  as  one 
of  the  most  fair  and  honorable  of  business  men,  and  as 
a citizen  he  is  held  in  such  a high  degree  of  regard  that 
he  has  been  urged  to  accept  public  office  at  the  hands  of 
liis  fellow-townsmen.  He  is  pre-eminently  a business 
man,  although  he  has  been  the  Democratic  nominee  for 
state  representative  and  senator,  but  has  always  been 
defeated.  He  is  unmarried. 

John  G.  FIoll,\nd  is  a decidedly  prominent  citizen 
of  Butte,  I^Iontana,  where  he  has  resided  for  many  years 
and  where  he  is  well  known  as  president  of  the  thriving 
business  concern  known  as  the  Holland  Commercial 
Company,  with  offices  at  Nos.  301-5  North  Mlain  street. 


1234 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


At  Virginia  City,  March  19,  1871,  occurred  the  birth 
of  John  G.  Holland,  who  is  a son  of  Patrick  J.  and 
.Mary  (Sullivan)  Holland,  both  of  whom  were  born 
in  County  Cork,  Ireland,  the  former  on  the  17th  of 
September,  1842,  and  the  latter  on  the  17th  of  March, 
1S42.  The  father  came  to  America  in  i860  and  located 
at  Hancock,  Michigan,  where  he  continued  to  reside 
for  the  ensuing  five  years  and  whence  he  eventually 
removed  to  Virginia  City,  Nevada.  While  a resident 
of  the  latter  place  he  was  associated  with  the  late  Marcus 
Dal\’,  in  the  contracting  business  and  after  his  arrival 
at  Butte,  in  1883,  he  continued  to  be  allied  with  Mr. 
Daly  in  various  business  projects  until  the  latter’s 
demise,  in  1900.  He  was  specially  interested  in  mining 
affairs  at  Butte  and  was  financially  connected  with  the 
Anaconda  and  the  Orphan  Boy  mines  until  his  retire- 
ment from  business  in  1902,  and  his  subsequent  removal 
to  Oakland,  California,  where  he  is  now  passing  the 
declining  years  of  his  life  in  comfort  and  happiness. 
Patrick  J.  Holland  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mary 
Sullivan,  at  Virginia  City,  May  27,  1870.  To  this  union 
were  born  seven  children,  as  follows:  John  G.,  the  im- 
mediate subject  of  this  review;  Mollie,  who  died  Decem- 
ber I,  1910,  and  was  a teacher  in  the  Butte  schools  prior 
to  her  death ; Daniel,  who  died  at  the  age  of  one  year, 
in  1876;  Patrick  Henry,  born  in  1877,  who  is  a resident 
of  Butte  and  is  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Holland 
Commercial  Company;  Margaret,  who  was  born  in  1879, 
and  is  a popular  and  successful  teacher  in  the  public 
schools  of  Butte;  Katherine  V.,  born  in  1881,  and  a 
teacher  in  the  Oakland,  (Cal.)  schools;  and  Edward 
M.,  born  in  1884,  who  is  vice-president  of  the  Holland 
Commercial  Company,  at  Butte.  Six  of  the  above 
children  were  graduated  in  the  Butte  high  schools. 

In  politics  Mr.  Holland  is  a stanch  supporter  of  the 
principles  and  policies  for  which  the  Democratic  party 
stands  sponsor  and  has  long  been  an  active  factor  in  the 
local  councils  of  that  organization.  In  1897  he  was  hon- 
ored by  his  fellow  citizens  with  election  to  the  office  of 
city  clerk  of  Butte,  retaining  that  incumbency  for  a 
period  of  two  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which  he  was 
elected  county  treasurer  of  Silver  Bow  county.  In  1908 
he  was  elected  county  commissioner,  serving  one  term. 
Since  1909  he  has  been  a valiant  member  of  the  Butte 
school  board  and  in  every  way  has  done  his  utmost  to 
forward  the  good  and  improvement  of  the  city.'  He  is 
affiliated  with  the  Woodmen  of  the  World,  the  Fraternal 
Order  of  Eagles,  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians, 
and  the  Robert  Emmett  Literary  Society.  In  his  re- 
ligious belief  he  is  a devout  communicant  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  church,  in  whose  faith  he  was  reared. 

On  June  17,  1896,  at  Butte,  was  solemnized  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Plolland  to  Miss  Mamie  Medin,  a daughter 
of  Marco  and  Sarah  Medin  and  a native  of  Hamilton, 
Nevada,  where  she  was  born  August  28,  1874.  The 
Medin  family  resided  in  Virginia  City,  Nevada,  prior 
to  coming  to  Butte,  in  1889.  Marco  Medin  was  called 
to  eternal  rest  June  20,  1901,  and  Mrs.  Medin  now 
resides  in  the  home  of  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Holland.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Holland  are  popular  and  active  factors  in  con- 
nection with  the  best  social  affairs  of  their  home  com- 
munity and  are  everywhere  honored  and  esteemed  for 
the  exemplary  lives  and  genial  personalities.  They  have 
had  four  children,  as  follows:  Marie  S.,  born  June  20, 
1897,  who  died  January  17,  1904;  John  M.,  born  Decem- 
ber 12,  1899:  Edward  T.,  born  February  12,  1903;  Sarah 
M.,  who  was  born  May  24,  1905,  and  died  January  23, 
1912. 

Hox.  Ch-irles  Amos  W’hipple.  When  General  Wil- 
liam W’hipple,  one  of  three  representatives  from  New 
Hampshire,  subscribed  himself  as  one  of  the  signers  of 
the  Declaration  of  Independence,  he  performed  an  act 
that  fixed  his  name  indelibly  in  the  minds  and  hearts 
American  people,  and  well  may  Charles  Amos 
U hippie  be  proud  of  the  distinction  of  this  lineage. 
This  inheritance,  rich  as  it  is,  is  not  the  only  one  Gen- 


eral Whipple  gave  to  those  of  his  name,  for,  by  a long 
life  of  activity  in  behalf  of  his  state  and  the  new  nation, 
he  left  to  them  the  example  of  full  and  true  citizenship! 
It  was  General  Whipple  and  his  brigade  who  supported 
General  Stark  in  his  memorable  victory  over  Burgoyne 
at  Bennington,  and  after  independence  was  estabhshed 
there  followed  long  years  of  devotion  to  the  public 
good  in  different  state  and  national  official  capacities. 
Though  the  character  of  the  conflicts  and  the  great 
problems  of  our  nation  has  changed  from  that  of  the 
Revolution  and  the  construction  period  following,  yet 
to-day  there  is  equal  opportunity  for  intrepid  endeavor, 
of^  victories  in  other  than  military  fields,  and  in  patri- 
otic and  useful  citizenship. 

Hon.  Charles  Amos  Whipple,  state  land  agent  of 
Montana,  who  has  inherited  the  energetic  spirit  of  his 
New  England  ancestry,  was  born  at  Lebanon,  New 
Hampshire,  November  25,  1859.  In  his  youth  he  at- 
tended the  public  schools  of  his  community  and  began 
life  for  himself  as  a telegraph  operator.  It  was  not 
long  until  he  had  advanced  to  the  position  of  train  dis- 
patcher, in  which  capacity  he  came  to  Montana  in 
1883,  for  the  Northern  Pacific  Railway  Company  which 
was^  then  constructing  its  road  through  this  state.  Mr. 
Whipple  was  first  stationed  at  Livingston,  but  later 
was  transferred  successively  to  Helena,  Wicks,  Towns- 
end and  Billings,  his  service  with  the  railway  company 
having  covered  a period  of  twelve  years.  Meanwhile 
Mr.  Whipple  had  from  time  to  time  invested  his  surplus 
■ capital  in  real  estate  and  ranches,  much  of  his  holdings 
being  near  Townsend,  and  these  he  still  retains. 

In  1896,  Mr.  Whipple  was  elected  a member  of  the 
house  of  representatives,  and  in  1901  he  was  appointed 
secretary  of  the  senate.  From  1903  to  1905,  he  served 
as  state  senator  from  Broadwater  county.  During 
these  ten  years  of  political  life  he  spent  a large  part 
of  his  time  actively  engaged  in  mining  operations  in 
Jefferson  and  Broadwater  counties.  In  1907  he  took 
up  business  life  again,  engaging  in  contract  woMc  for 
the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  & Puget  Sound  Railway  Com- 
pany and  continuing  in  that  line  of  business  until  his 
appointment  as  state  land  agent  by  Governor  Edwin 
Norris  in  the  latter  part  of  1909,  which  office  he  now 
holds. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Whipple  were  Amos  P.  Whipple 
and  Amanda  Emeline  (Heath)  Whipple,  the  former  of 
whom  was  born  in  New  Hampshire  and  became  a prom- 
inent contractor  and  builder  in  that  state,  where  he 
died  in  1863  at  an  early  age.  The  mother  was  born 
in  1837,  and  was  married  in  New  Hampshire.  In  the 
later  years  of  her  life  she  had  taken  great  delight  in 
visiting  her  children  in  the  far  west,  but  passed  away 
at  the  old  New  Hampshire  homestead  at  the  age  of 
seventy-two,  her  death  having  occurred  in  1905.  The 
Whipple  family  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  United  States, 
having  been  established  here  by  Joseph  Whipple  who  was 
one  of  the  earliest  of  English  emigrants  to  Massachu- 
setts. He  settled  on  land  where  the  city  of  Bangor, 
Maine,  now  stands — Maine  at  that  time  forming  a part 
of  the  Massachusetts  colony  and  remaining  under  its 
jurisdiction  until  its  admission  to  the  LInion  in  1820. 
He  turned  his  attention  to  shipbuilding,  one  of  the  two 
principal  occupations  of  that  section  and  time,  and  at- 
tained success  and  prominence.  General  William  Whip- 
ple, the  patriot,  was  born  in  Kittery,  Maine,  in.  1730. 
The  family  is  marked  for  the  number  of  noted  men  it 
has  given  to  America,  especially  during  the  colonial 
and  Revolutionary  periods  of  its  history.  The  ma- 
ternal grandfather  of  our  subject  was  Solomon  Heath, 
a native  of  England  who  settled  in  New  Hampshire  and 
there  spent  his  life  as  an  agriculturist. 

On  November  6,  1884,  at  Wicks,  Montana,  Mr.  Whip- 
ple was  married  to  Miss  Nan  L.  Sheriff,  a daughter  of 
William  and  Anna  Sheriff,  of  Mercer  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whipple  have  two  children,  both 
born  at  Townsend : — Miss  Gertrude  Aletta  Whipple, 


\ 


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HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1235 


born  July  12,  1891,  who  was  graduated  from  the  Uni- 
versity of  Montana  at  Missoula,  with  the  class  of  1912 ; 
and  Charles  Amos  Whipple,  Jr.,  born  February  24,  1894, 
a high  school  graduate  and  now  a sophomore  in  the 
State  College  at  Bozeman,  Montana.  While  Mr.  Whip- 
ple’s official  duties  require  his  presence  in  Helena  much 
of  the  time,  he  and  his  family  maintain  their  home  at 
Townsend.  His  religious  creed  is  that  of  the  Methodist 
denomination,  and  in  politics  he  is  a Democrat.  He  affili- 
ates fraternally  with  Helena  Lodge  No.  193,  Benevolent 
Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  at  Townsend.  During  the  nearly  thirty  years 
that  Mr.  Whipple  has  been  a resident  of  Montana  he 
has  ever  been  known  as  a progressive  and  public-spirited 
citizen  whose  energies  have  been  directed  toward  the 
development  of  the  commonwealth,  and  whose  service 
in  official  capacities  has  been  one  of  efficiency  and  of 
credit  and  honor  both  to  himself  and  to  those  he  repre- 
sented. 

Astiburn  Kennett  B-\rbour  is  a Kentuckian  by  birth, 
his  native  town  being  Falmouth  in  Pendleton  county, 
where  he  opened  his  eyes  upon  this  mortal  scene  on 
January  7.  1856.  His  father,  James  H.  Barbour,  was 
born  in  Clermont  county,  Ohio,  on  February  29,  1824, 
thus  having  only  a fourth  of  the  number  of  birthdays 
which  come  to  ordinary  individuals.  He  died  on  Sep- 
tember 8,  1912,  at  the  age  of  eighty-eight  years  and  six 
months,  but  not  of  senility,  for  the  sturdy  old  gentle- 
man practiced  his  profession  up  to  the  date  of  his  last 
illness.  He  was  a man  of  literary  attainments,  and 
wrote  and  published  a book  of  poems.  He  was  a dele- 
gate to  the  convention  which  nominated  Abraham  Lin- 
coln. James  Barbour  went  from  Ohio  to  Falmouth  in 
1846  and  there  began  his  medical  studies,  which  he 
completed  in  the  Ohio  Medical  College  at  Cincinnati. 
His  father,  the  grandfather  of  Ashburn  Kennett  Bar- 
bour of  this  review,  was  a veteran  of  the  Mexican  war, 
and  a descendant  of  those  Barbours  who  settled  in 
America  in  1630,  being  among  the  oldest  families  in 
America.  Every  male  Barbour  in  New  Jersey  who  was 
able  to  carry  a musket,  participated  in  the  War  of  the 
Revolution,  and  Colonel  Barbour,  a member  of  the 
family,  was  on  the-  staff  of  General  Washington  during 
that  struggle. 

On  his  mother’s  side  Mr.  Barbour  traces  his  ancestry 
to  the  Moravians,  of  Holland,  who  came  to  America 
with  Oglethorpe’s  colony.  IMrs.  James  H.  Barbour  was 
in  her  maiden  days  Emelyne  Hauser,  of  Falmouth, 
Kentucky,  and  an  account  of  the  Hauser  famil}'  may 
be  found  in  the  history  of  Oglethorpe’s  colony.  From 
Georgia  this  branch  of  the  Hauser's  removed  to  Wins- 
ton, North  Carolina,  where  they  became  the  owners  of 
extensive  plantations. 

Ashburn  Kennett  Barbour  attended  a private  academy 
in  Falmouth  and  later  attended  Centre  College  of  Dan- 
ville, Kentucky,  now  known  as  Centre  U^niversity.  He 
finished  his  studies  in  this  instutution  when  he  was 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  then  began  the  study  of 
law.  His  studies  in  this  line  he  pursued  in  the  office 
of  Hon.  A.  E.  Clark,  state  senator  of  Kentucky, 
and  one  of  the  distinguished  members  of  the  bar  of 
that  state.  ^Ir.  Barbour  finished  his  preparation  in  the 
office  of  Mr.  Clark,  and  after  passing  his  examinations, 
was  associated  with  him  in  the  practice  of  the  profes- 
sion for  one  year.  In  1879  Mr.  Barbour  removed  to 
Kansas  City,  Missouri,  where  he  formed  a partnership 
with  Wesley  J.  Edwards,  and  with  whom  he  stayed 
until  August,  1882.  Ill  health  caused  him  to  seek  a 
change  of  climate,  and  after  some  months  spent  in 
travel,  he  came  to  Helena  on  April  i,  1883.  This  city 
appealed  to  him,  as  possessing  both  a desirable  climate 
and  an  advantageous  location  for  one  of  his  profession. 
He  formed  a partnership  with  Messena  Bullard,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Bullard  & Barbour,  and  the  associa- 
tion lasted  until  1889.  They  had  an  extensive  clientage 
Vol.  n— 25 


and  were  known  among  the  most  able  members  of  the 
Helena  bar.  After  the  firm  dissolved  partnership,  Mr. 
Barbour  practiced  alone  for  a number  of  years,  giving 
up  his  practice  in  1905,  when  he  was  appointed  state 
law  librarian.  He  is  still  filling  this  office,  and  the  wis- 
dom of  selecting  him  for  this  post  becomes  more  ap- 
parent with  each  year  he  spends  in  the  service.  Since 
he  has  been  librarian  the  number  of  volumes  has  been 
doubled  and  the  appropriations  for  the  library  have  been 
substantially  increased.  This  has  come  about  largely 
through  Mr.  Barbour's  own  efforts,  and  the  advantage 
to  the  public  can  not  be  readily  estimated.  A great  deal 
more  than  money  is  required  to  get  together  a fine 
law  library,  and  it  is  in  the  selection  of  the  books  and 
the  systematizing  of  the  reference  works  that  Mr.  Bar- 
bour has  performed  his  greatest  service  to  the  legal 
profession  in  Montana ; greater,  even,  than  in  securing 
the  increased  appropriations.  His  years  of  experience 
as  a lawyer  enable  him  to  choose  unerringly  such  pub- 
lications as  are  the  most  essential  to  a good  working 
library,  and  consequently  the  best  of  the  latest  works 
in  legal  literature  are  being  constantly  added,  together 
with  an  ever  growing  collection  of  classical  law  and 
collateral  history. 

Like  most  successful  lawyers,  Mr.  Barbour  has  always 
taken  an  interest  in  politics,  and  he  has  worked  not  a 
little  for  the  success  of  the  Republican  party.  His  in- 
terest in  his  profession,  however,  always  prevented  him 
from  being  willing  to  hold  puTlic  office.  The  position 
which  he  now  holds  by  appointment  by  the  justices  of 
the  supreme  court  is  one  which  exactly  suits  his  tastes 
and  temperament,  giving  him  opportunity  for  study  and 
investigation,  and  he  is  using  his  long  experience  at  the 
bar  in  assembling  a law  library  which  he  hopes  and  ex- 
pects will,  within  a very  brief  period,  be  the  best  se- 
lected and  most  complete  collection  of  law  books  and 
legal  literature  within  the  northwest.  He  feels  that 
no  member  of  the  bar  can  do  a better  work  for  the 
state  of  Montana.  He  belongs  to  no  lodge,  club  or 
secret  society,  but  spends  all  his  leisure  in  study  and  in 
his  own  home  circle,  which  he  finds  more  attractive 
than  any  other  gathering. 

Mrs.  Barbour,  too,  is  a Kentuckian.  Previous  to 
her  marriage  to  Mr.  Barbour  on  June  24,  1884,  she  was 
Miss  Lily  Menzies,  of  Pendleton  county,  Kentucky. 
She  is  the  daughter  of  Judge  John  W.  Menzies,  born 
in  Fayette  county,  Kentucky,  and  a lawyer  of  note  in 
northern  Kentucky.  He  was  chancellor  of  his  judicial 
district  for  twenty-three  years.  During  the  Civil  war 
he  was  a member  of  Congress,  being  one  of-  the 
southern  Democrats  and  a Union  man,  upon  whom 
President  Lincoln  depended  to  help  keep  Kentucky 
within  the  Llnion  during  that  struggle. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barbour  have  three  children,  all  born 
within  the  state  of  Montana.  Katharin  married  Dudley 
N.  Hartt,  of  Boston,  Massachusetts;  Ashburn  Kennett, 
Jr.,  is  a journalist,  employed  upon  various  publications 
within  the  state;  John  Menzies,  the  youngest  of  the 
three,  is  now  a student  at  the  University  of  Wisconsin. 

While  Mr.  Barbour  has  devoted  the  best  years  of  his 
life  to  the  study  and  practice  of  law,  he  has  been  ex- 
tensively interested  in  mines,  ranch  lands  and  city  prop- 
erty. He  remembers  very  keenly  the  disastrous  effects 
of  the  panic  of  1893,  and  its  cause,  as  he  suffered 
severe  financial  reverses,  together  with  many  of  his 
friends.  He  did  not,  however,  yield  to  gloom  and  des- 
pondency on  that  account,  but  by  virtue  of  his  courage 
and  unyielding  will  he  has  been  able  to  recover  to  a 
considerable  extent  from  those  losses. 

Mr.  Barbour  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  of  Helena,  which  they  generously 
support  in  all  its  projects  for  the  general  uplifting  of 
the  community  and  humanity. 

Joseph  E.  Farnum.  The  numerous  movements  for 
the  improvement  and  development  of  Custer  county, 


1236 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


and  more  especially  of  Miles  Citj%  during  the  past 
decade  owe  much  of  their  success  to  the  energetic  ef- 
forts and  support  of  Joseph  E.  Farnum,  who  has  been 
a resident  of  this  county  for  nearly  thirty  years,  and 
during  this  time  has  been  one  of  the  most  important 
factors  in  the  community’s  growth  and  development, 
as  well  as  taking  an  active  interest  in  public  matters. 
Mr.  Farnum  is  a native  of  Concord,  New  Hampshire, 
and  was  born  June  14,  1853,  a son  of  Hiram  and  Lu- 
cretia  (Ramsdell)  Farnum. 

Hiram  Farnum,  who  was  also  a native  of  Concord, 
was  born  April  16,  1810,  and  spent  his  whole  life  in  his 
native  state,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  and 
contracting.  He  was  also  prominent  in  Whig  and  Re- 
publican politics,  serving  as  superi^-itendent  of  the 
county  poor  farm  for  six  years  and  as  a member  of 
the  state  legislature  for  two  terms,  and  for  many  years 
was  known  as  a member  of  the  state  militia.  He  be- 
longed to  the  Congregational  church  all  of  his  life, 
and  died  in  that  faith  in  1882.  His  wife,  a native  of 
St.  Johnsbury,  Caledonia  county,  Vermont,  was  born 
in  September,  1810,  and  died  in  Aday,  1882.  Of  their 
six  children,  two  are  now  living : Abner,  a stockman 
living  in  Shirley,  Custer  county,  and  Joseph  E. 

Joseph  E.  Farnum  secured  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Concord.  As  a youth  he  learned  the 
trade  of  carpenter,  and  remained  in  that  business 
until  the  spring  of  1883,  in  which  year  he  came  to 
Montana  as  bookkeeper  'for  the  Concord  Cattle  Com- 
pany. He  was  an  interested  principal  in  this  concern, 
which  had  ranches  on  Cottonwood  creek  and  Povyder 
river,  and  conducted  an  extensive  business  in  high- 
grade  cattle,  but  in  1908  he  disposed  of  his  interests  in 
this  company.  In  1886  Mr.  Farnum  removed  from  the 
ranch  on  the  Tongue  river,  where  he  had  first  located, 
to  one  on  the  Powder  river,  and  there  resided  until 
1893,  when  he  located  in  Miles  City,  and  has  since 
made  this  place  his  home.  For  a time  he  was  engaged 
in  attending  to  the  office  work  of  several  large  cat- 
tle outfits,  but  in  April,  1901,  purchased  the  real  estate 
and  insurance  business  of  C.  A.  Wiley,  to  which  he 
has  given  his  entire  attention  since  severing  his  con- 
nection with  the  Concord  Cattle  Company  in  1908.  In 
Republican  politics  Air.  Farnum  occupies  a high  posi- 
tion, and  in  the  fall  of  1895  his  clear-cut  methods  of 
business  and  accuracy  gained  him  the  norriination  and 
subsequent  election  to  the  office  of  county  commis- 
sioner, in  which  he  served  for  four  years,  during  a part 
of  which  time  he  acted  as  chairman.  During  this  time 
numerous  improvements  were  made,  including  the  con- 
struction of  the  new  wagon  road  across  Tongue  river, 
a new  superstructure  on  the  bridge  across  Powder 
river,  a steel  bridge  across  Alizpah  river  and  the  con- 
tract for  a fine  new  bridge  across  the  Yellowstone 
river.  The  three  commissioners  of  Custer  county  were 
appointed  by  the  legislature  to  adjust  the  boundaries 
of  Custer  and  Rosebud  counties,  the  latter  having  been 
established  in  1901.  Mr.  Farnum  has  held  the  office 
of  city  clerk  since  1905,  and  since  1908  has  been  col- 
lector of  city  water  and  light  bills.  He  also  served 
four  years  as  a member  of  the  high-school  board  of 
Custer  county,  and  was  connected  therewith  at  the 
time  the  high-school  building  was  erected.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  trustee 
and  treasurer  thereof  in  Miles  City,  and  superintendent 
of  its  Sunday-school.  His  fraternal  connection  is  with 
Crusader  Lodge,  No.  7,  Knights  of  Pythias,  of  which 
he  is  acting  as  trustee,  and  in  which  he  is  very  popular. 

On  November  19,  1885,  Air.  Farnum  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Aliss  Minnie  E.  Parmenter,  who  was 
born  in  Pittsfield,  Vermont,  daughter  of  Truman  and 
Theodosia  (Holt)  Parmenter,  natives  of  Vermont,  the 
former  of  whom  died  at  the  remarkable  age  of  ninety- 
seven  years,  while  the  latter  passed  away  when  forty- 
nine.  They  had  a family  of  ten  children,  of  whom 
four  are  living;  Lorenzo,  Minnie  E.,  Angeline  and 


May.  Mr.  Parmenter,  who  was  a farmer  in  Vermont 
all  of  his  life,  was  a faithful  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  and  first  a Whig  and  later  a Repub- 
lican ill  politics.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Farnum  have  had 
three  children,  namely : Lucretia,  born  December  16, 
1887,  married  J.  Christian  Evens,  June  14,  1911,  and 
they  have  one  son,  John  Farnum  Evens,  born  on  the 
22nd  of  June,  1912;  Guy  E.,  born  July  26,  1893;  and 
Scott  H.,  born  September  10,  1898. 

Montgomery  M.  Duncan.  The  activity  and  enter- 
prise of  any  growing  center  of  population  is  perhaps 
as  clearly  indicated  in  the  class  of  professional  men 
who  look  after  its  legal  interests  as  in  any  other 
respect,  and  it  is  with  pleasure  that  we  here  refer  to 
Alontgomery  M.  Duncan,  a prominent  lawyer  in  Vir- 
ginia City,  Montana,  and  present  incumbent  of  the  of- 
fice of  state  senator  from  the  second  district.  He  con- 
ducts a general  law  practice  and  in  all  his  cases  has 
demonstrated  ability  beyond  the  ordinary.  His  ac- 
curacy and  familiarity  with  the  law  is  well  known  and 
his  library  consists  of  the  hiehest  legal  authorities, 
territorial,  state  and  federal  court  reports.  His  prac- 
tice is  a large  and  lucrative  one  and  his  cases  are 
prosecuted  with  persistency  and  tenacity  of  purpose 
which  defies  all  just  cause  for  defeat. 

A native  of  New  Bloomfield,  Callaway  county,  Alis- 
souri,  Montgomery  M.  Duncan  was  born  November 
II,  1869,  and  he  is  a son  of  William  S.  ,and  Helen 
(Cave)  Duncan,  both  of  whom  were  born  in  Alis- 
souri,  the  former  in  1843  and  the  latter  in  1846.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Duncan  were  married  in  their  native  state 
in  1867  and  in  1883  came  to  Montana,  where  he  fol- 
lowed mining  during  most  of  his  active  career.  Prior 
to  coming  to  Montana,  William  S.  Duncan  was  a sol- 
dier in  the  Confederate  ranks  of  the  Civil  war,  having 
served  with  all  of  valor  and  distinction  in  a number 
of  important  engagements  under  General  Price.  He 
was  prominent  in  Democratic  political  circles  but  never 
sought  office  for  himself.  He  was  summoned  to  the 
life  eternal  in  1909,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six  ■■'ears,  and 
his  cherished  and  devoted  wife  passed  away  in  1904, 
aged  fifty-eight  years.  They  are  buried  side  by  side 
in  the  cemetery  at  Pony,  Montana.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Duncan  became  the  parents  of  ten  children,  of  whom 
the  subject  of  this  review  was  the  second  in  order 
of  birth.  There  are  five  Duncan  brothers  in  Montana, 
namely ; _ Harry  C.,  of  Camas ; Montgomery  M.,  of 
this  notice;  Argyle  P.,  of  Norris;  Paul  S.,  of  Vir- 
ginia City ; and  Orrick  O.,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business  at  Harrison,  Montana.  There  are 
two  other  brothers  in  the  family,  Stuart  L.,  who  lives 
at  Prescott,  Arizona ; and  Cave,  a resident  of  Aled- 
ford,  Oregon. 

Montgomery  M.  Duncan  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  New  Bloomfield,  Missouri,  to  the  age  of 
fourteen  years,  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to 
Montana,  where  he  has  since  maintained  his  home. 
After  completing  the  curriculum  of  the  public  schools 
of  Madison  county,  this  state,  he  was  matriculated  as 
a student  in  Woodland  College,  at  Independence,  Mis- 
souri, where  he  studied  for  three  years.  He  thereafter 
studied  law  in  the  law  office  of  Sheley  & Ott  at  In- 
dependence, Missouri,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of 
that  state  in  1895.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of 
Montana  in  the  year  1896  and  immediately  initiated 
the  active  practice  of  his  profession  at  Pony,  this  state. 
He  came  to  Virginia  City  in  1899,  and  here  has  gained 
recognition  as  one  of  the  ablest  attorneys  in  Madison 
county.  He  controls  an  extensive  practice  and  has 
figured  in  many  of  the  most  prominent  litigations  tried 
in  the  courts  of  this  section.  In  politics  he  is  a stal- 
wart Democrat  and  he  has  been  honored  by  his  fellow 
citizens  with  election  to  a number  of  important  public 
offices,  among  them  being  that  of  county  attorney, 
in  which  capacity  he  served  for  three  terms.  He  was 


\\ 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1237 


a member  of  the  state  legislature  during  the  Ninth  and 
Tenth  sessions  and  he  is  now  state  senator.  For  one 
term  he  was  a member  of  the  city  council  of  Virginia 
City.  In  1904  and  1905  he  served  his  party  as  chair- 
man of  the  Madison  county  central  committee  and  he 
is  a potent  factor  in  all  matters  projected  for  the  good 
of  the  Democracy.  He  is  likewise  interested  in  educa- 
tional matters  and  served  for  nine  years  as  a member 
of  the  Virginia  City  school  board. 

Mr.  Duncan  is  a prominent  fraternity  man,  being 
a Mason  of  good  standing  and  being  likewise  affiliated 
with  the  Odd  Fellows,  the  Elks  and  the  Woodmen 
of  the  World.  In  line  with  his  professional  work  he 
is  connected  with  the  Montana  State  Bar  Association. 
In  lauding  Montana  he  says : “I  wouldn’t  live  here 
for  thirty  years  if  Montana  was  not  all  right.  In  my 
opinion  you  cannot  praise  it  too  highly.  The  oppor- 
tunities here  are  greater  today  than  in  any  other  place 
that  I know  of,  at  least  it  looks  so  to  me.” 

At  Twin  Bridges,  Montana,  June  21,  1904,  occurred 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Duncan  to  Miss  Hortense  E. 
Miller,  a native  of  Ohio  and  a popular  and  success- 
ful teacher  in  Madison  county,  Montana,  prior  to  her 
marriage.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Duncan  have  two  children, 
as  follows : Philip  C.,  born  in  igo6,  is  attending  school 
in  Virginia  City,  as  is  also  Hortense  C.,  whose  birth 
occurred  in  1908.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Duncan,  though  not 
formally  connected  with  any  religious  organization,  at- 
tend and  give  their  support  to  the  Presbyterian  church. 
They  are  prominent  in  the  social  life  of  Virginia  City, 
where  they  are  held  in  high  regard  by  all  who  know 
them. 

Hon.  William  Lindsay.  One  of  Montana's  fore- 
most citizens,  and  a man  whose  identification  with  the 
upbuilding  and  development  of  the  state  extends 
through  a period  of  thirty  years  and  includes  various 
channels  of  progress,  the  influence,  progressiveness  and 
public  spirit  of  Hon.  William  Lindsay  have  been  keenly 
felt  and  have  been  important  factors  in  the  wonderful 
advancement  achieved.  Few  men  in  the  state,  and  none 
in  eastern  Montana,  are  better  or  more  favorably  known, 
not  only  from  his  high  standing  as  a business  man  and 
citizen,  but  from  the  conspicuous  character  of  his  identi- 
fication with  the  lines  of  industry  affected  by  his  in- 
terests. 

Mr.  Lindsay  came  to  Montana  in  1883,  from  Beaver 
Falls,  Pennsylvania,  and  located  in  what  is  now  Dawson 
county,  where  his  residence  has  since  been  maintained 
and  in  which  section  of  the  state  he  is  extensively  in- 
terested in  agricultural  projects,  owning  irrigated  farms 
near  Bridger  and  being  largely  engaged  in  sheep  ranch- 
ing. He  is  interested  in  a large  and  valuable  fruit 
ranch  near  San  Diego,  California,  as  well  as  other  in- 
terests of  a diversified  character  in  different  sections  of 
the  country. 

Mr.  Lindsay  has  long  been  one  of  the  stanch  members 
of  the  Republican  party  and  a hard  worker  for  its  suc- 
cess in  the  Treasure  state.  Always  active  in  the  fur- 
therance of  that  party’s  principles  and  one  of  its  leaders 
in  this  section  of  the  state,  he  has  been  called  upon  to 
serve  in  positions  of  honor  and  trust,  which  have  all 
been  filled  with  the  same  ability  and  zeal  that  have 
characterized  the  management  of  his  own  personal  af- 
fairs. He  has  been  the  party’s,  candidate  for  governor 
of  the  state,  and  enjoys  a wide  acquaintance  among 
Montana’s  leading  citizens  and  public  men. 

Mr.  Lindsay  is  an  excellent  type  of  the  high  class 
citizens  which  the  Buckeye  state  has  given  to_  the  com- 
monwealth of  Montana.  His  birth  took  place  in  Poland, 
Ohio,  on  April  20,  1852,  and  is  the  son  of  James  M. 
and  Elizabeth  J.  (Bebout)  Lindsay.  The  father  was 
a native  of  New  Jersey,  born  in  1828,  and  the  mother 
was  born  in  1834  at  New  Brighton,  Pennsylvania.  Both 
of  these  worthy  people  are  now  deceased.  The  father, 
who  was  a manufacturer  of  barrels  and  similar  pro- 


ducts, died  in  Fostoria,  Ohio,  in  August,  1898,  and 
the  mother  in  Poland,  Ohio,  in  1867,  where  both  are 
interred.  Of  the  nine  children  born  to  this  union,  Wil- 
liam is  the  second  born. 

The  schools  of  Poland  gave  to  Mr.  Lindsay  his  early 
education  up  to  the  age  of  thirteen  years.  That  was  a 
crucial  time  in  the  life  of  the  boy,  for  the  mother  died 
and  the  household  was  to  some  extent  disorganized. 
The  family  was  in  humble  circumstances,  and  William 
was  thrown  upon  his  own  resources.  He  was  appren- 
ticed to  learn  the  tinsmith’s  trade  and,  after  serving 
an  apprenticeship  of  a year  and  a half,  was  appointed 
manager  of  the  hardware  business  of  A.  F.  Wolf  & 
Company,  at  Beaver  Falls,  continuing  in  that  capacity 
for  three  years.  He  then  resigned  and  engaged  in 
business  on  his  own  responsibility  in  Beaver  Falls. 
Until  1883  he  remained  thus  occupied,  and  in  that  year 
was  seized  with  a violent  attack  of  “western  fever,” 
and  in  April  closed  out  what  had  been  a very  success- 
ful business  and  answered  the  beckoning  finger  of 
opportunity  from  Montana.  He  settled  about  seventy 
miles  north  of  Glendive  and  engaged  in  sheep  ranch- 
ing, in  which  business  he  is  interested  to  the  present 
day.  His  Dawson  county  property  is  a valuable  one 
and  his  other  holdings  have  already  been  mentioned. 

Mr.  Lindsay  is  of  that  fine,  public-spirited  type  of 
citizenship  which  is  soon  recognized.  He  served  four 
years  as  county  commissioner  of  Dawson  county,  being 
elected  in  1892,  and  before  the  expiration  of  his  term  of 
office  was  elected  to  the  legislature,  resigning  the  former 
office  to  take  his  seat  in  the  lower  house  of  the  assembly, 
being  a member  of  the  Fifth  and  Sixth  state  legislatures. 
In  May,  1911,  he  was  appointed  United  States  marshal 
and  is  now  serving  a four  year's  term.  In  1900  he  was 
a candidate  for  the  state  senate  but  was  defeated,  and 
in  1904  was  the  Republican  nominee  for  governor,  but 
was  defeated  by  a narrow  margin.  His  appointment 
as  United  States  marshal  was  unasked  and  unsought, 
and  was  thus  the  greater  compliment.  He  is  an  able 
exponent  of  the  progressive  spirit  and  strong  initiative 
which  have  caused  Dawson  county  to  forge  so  rapidly 
to  the  fore.  His  services  to  the  people  have  been  of  the 
highest  character  and  with  him  patriotism  is  more  than 
a mere  rhetorical  expression. 

In  addition  to  his  services  in  official  capacities  and 
his  interests,  previously  mentioned,  he  is  identified  with 
other  enterprises  of  considerable  importance.  He  is 
president  of  the  Montana  Eastern  Telephone  Company, 
a long  distance  line,  and  was  one  of  the  organizers  of 
the  corporation.  He  has  been  president  of  the  Dawson 
county  high  school  board  ever  since  its  organization 
and  none  here  demonstrated  more  vividly  their  realiza- 
tion of  the  importance  of  securing  the  best  possible 
educational  advantages. 

Mr.  Lindsay  stands  high  in  Masonry  and  exemplifies 
in  his  own  living  the  ideals  of  moral  and  social  justice 
and  brotherly  love  for  which  the  order  stands.  Fie 
belongs  to  Glendive  Lodge,  No.  31,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  the 
Chapter,  Commandery,  and  Shrine,  and  has  passed  all 
chairs  in  the  Knights  Templar.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Dawson  County  Club.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  church  of  Helena  and  for  two  terms 
served  as  lay  delegate  to  the  general  conference. 

In  August,  1886,  Mr.  Lindsay  was  married  in  Glen- 
dive to  Miss  Alice  M.  Reehl,  a native  of  Pennsylvania 
and  a daughter  of  Cornelius  and  Ellen  Reehl.  Mrs. 
Lindsay  died  on  May  5,  1907,  at  Battle  Creek,  Michigan. 
She  was  the  mother  of  two  children,  William  LeRoy 
Lindsay,  born  August  12,  1887,  at  Glendive;  and  Grace 
M.,  born  May  12,  1893.  Mr.  Lindsay  was  married  a 
second  time  on  January  i,  1912,  Mrs.  Audrey  Hughes 
becoming  his  wife.  She  was  a resident  of  Indiana. 
They  maintain  a hospitable  and  elegant  home  at  Glen- 
dive, where  they  are  prominent  in  social  and  philan- 
thropical  work.  Mr.  Lindsay’s  offices  are  in  the  Federal 
building,  at  Helena. 


12H8 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


The  paternal  ancestors  of  Air.  Lindsay  came  from 
Scotland  and  were  among-  the  first  settlers  of  New 
Jersey,  while  his  maternal  grandparents  came  from 
Scotland  and  Germany,  and  were  early  Pennsylvania 
settlers. 

Geokge  A'Iiller  H.ws.  A man  who  has  for  more  than 
a (luarter  of  a century  been  prominently  identified  with 
official  life  in  Montana,  having  started  in  1883  as  a 
deputy  county  clerk  and  county  treasurer  and  steadily 
climbed  up  until  in  1900  he  was  elected  secretary  of  the 
state,  is  Mr.  George  Miller  Hays,  at  present  assistant 
cashier  in  the  Merchants  National  Bank  of  Billings. 
.Mr.  Hays  first  came  to  Montana  in  1883,  arriving  here 
on  the  30th  of  A'lay  and  was  then  a young  man  who 
had  just  attained  his  majority.  He  had  a short  time 
previously  completed  his  education  in  the  high  schools  of 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  worked  for  a short  time  there  as 
bookkeeper  for  the  Dieterich  Oil  Company.  Upon  his 
arrival  in  Billings  ho  was  immediately  given  a position 
as  deputy  in  the  office  of  Dr.  H.  H.  Bole,  county  clerk, 
and  at  the  same  time  was  appointed  to  a similar  posi- 
tion in  the  office  of  the  county  treasurer  of  Yellowstone 
county.  The  work  proved  to  be  very  congenial  to  his 
tastes  and  adapted  to  his  talents,  and  he  continued  to 
discharge  the  duties  devolving  upon  the  offices  he  occu- 
pied for  three  years.  In  1886,  at  the  regular  election 
held  that  year,  his  efficiency  was  fittingly  recognized  by 
the  voters  of  the  county  by  their  election  of  him  to 
the  office  of  county  clerk  in  his  own  right  and  authority. 
.After  the  e.xpiration  of  his  term  in  that  office  he  was 
next,  in  1889,  given  the  nomination  by  the  Democratic 
party,  of  which  he  was  a member,  to  the  office  of  clerk 
of  the  district  court  of  Yellowstone  county,  and  his 
election  was  easily  achieved.  Mr.  Hays  was  the  first 
incumbent  of  that  office  in  the  countv.  _ He  made  a 
splendid  record  as  an  official  in  that  position,  as  he  had 
in  all  others  that  he  had  held,  but  at  the  expiration  of 
his  term  decided  to  retire  from  official  life  and  engage 
in  private  business.  He  accordingly  accepted  a position 
as  assistant  cashier  in  the  First  National  Bank  of  Bill- 
ings and  retained  that  connection  during  the  four  years 
between  1892  and  1896. 

In  the  last  named  year  those  in  official  authority 
again  sought  his  services  for  the  public  and  this  time 
it  was  state  business  which  invited  him  and  he  accepted 
an  appointment  as  deputy  in  the  office  of  the  state 
treasurer  of  Montana.  This  necessitated  his  removal  to 
Helena,  the  state  capital.  Mr.  Hays  made  friends 
wherever  he  went  and  was  quick  to  demonstrate  his 
fitness  for  large  responsibilities.  It  was  natural  that  his 
party  should  recognize  his  strength,  and  in  1900  he  was 
further  honored  by  election  to  the  office  of  secretary  of 
the  state  of  Montana.  This  important  office  he  held  for 
four  years  and  then  he  made  his  second  retirement 
from  officiahlom  to  private  life  and  returned  to  his  old 
home  in  Billings.  Many  important  items  of  govern- 
ment business  were  consummated  during  his  incumbency 
in  office,  one  of  these  being  the  purchase  of  necessary 
furniture  and  office  equipment  for  the  new  state  capitol, 
and  he  was  a member  of  the  committee  that  had  this 
particular  matter  directly  in  charge.  He  again  allied 
himself  with  financial  interests,  becoming  secretary  of 
the  First  Trust  and  Savings  Bank  of  Billings,  and  until 
1910  retained  that  connection.  He  then  severed  his  re- 
lations with  that  institution  to  accept  a position  in  the 
Merchants  National  Bank.  He  possesses  the  knowledge, 
experience  and  natural  endowments  which  make  him 
an  especially  valuable  acquisition  to  the  personnel  of  any 
financial  institution  and  his  reputation  and  standing  for 
high  mor.al  integrity,  honesty  and  conservativeness  make 
for  added  confidence  by  the  public  in  any  such  organiza- 
tion with  which  he  is  connected  in  any  capacity. 

Mr.  Hays  is  a native  of  Pensylvania,  having  been  born 
at  Punxsutawney,  Jefferson  county,  March  12,  1862,  the 
oldest  of  a family  of  four  children.  His  sister  Maude, 


wife  of  Florace  S.  Williston,  a prominent  real  estate 
dealer  here,  lives  in  ijillings;  another  sister,  Jennie, 
married  B.  K._  Beecher,  and  died  in  1904:  the  third 
sister,  Alabel,  is  the  wife  of  C.  C.  Bever  and  lives  at 
Hardin,  Yellowstone  county,  Montana.  Mr.  Hays’ 
inother,  who  was  before  her  marriage  Sarah  E.  Miller, 
is  also  a native  of  Jefferson  county,  Pennsylvania,  and 
is  now  in  her  sixty-seventh  year  and  is  still  living, 
making  her  home  in  Billings.  His  father,  John  L. 
Hays,  was  born  in  Mercer  county,  Pensylvania,  in  1837, 
and  was  educated  for  the  ministry  in  a Baptist  theo- 
logical seminary  of  that  state.  He  followed  this  calling 
for  some  years,  but  finally  resigned  and  engaged  in  sec- 
ular pursuits  for  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  went  to 
Cleveland,  Uhio,  and  entered  the  fire  insurance  business, 
in  which  he  remained  continuously  for  over  thirtv-five 
years.  After  retiring  from  active  participation  in  busi- 
ness life  he  removed  his  home  to  Billings  in  1908,  and 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  days  here,  his  demise  occur- 
ring August  5,  1910,  in  his  seventy-third  year.  He  was 
a member  of  the  Mansonic  fraternity  and  was  politicall}' 
a Republican. 

The  marriage  of  George  Miller  Flays  to  Miss  Jennie 
Jones,  a native  of  Llangefni,  Wales,  occurred  November 
12,  1886,  and  they  have  four  children,  namely:  Donald 
L.,  John  L.,  Ethel  Maude  and  George  Miller,  Jr. 

Mr._  Hays  is  a prominent  lodge  man  and  holds  mem- 
bership in  a number  of  the  leading  fraternities  of  the 
country.  Fie  belongs  to  Ashland  Lodge,  No.  29,  A.  F. 
& A.  M.,  of  which  he  is  a past  master;  to  Billings 
Chapter,  No.  6,  R.  A.  M. ; to  Aldemar  Commandery, 
No.  5,  Knights  Templars,  and  is  past  eminent  com- 
mander of  the  commandery  and  past  grand  commander 
^ of  Montana,  also  past  potentate  of  Algeria  Temple  at 
Helena,  and  belongs  to  Billings  Lodge,  No.  394,  Benevo- 
lent and  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 

In  whatever  capacity  Mr.  Hays  exerts  himself  he 
wins  success  and  his  past  record  is  one  of  which  any 
man  might  well  feel  proud.  Flis  public  spirit  is  con- 
spicuous and  he  takes  a keen  interest  in  all  matters  that 
tend  to  promote  the  best  development  of  the  city  and 
state  in  which  he  has  so  long  resided. 

Frederick  H.  Eberschweiler,  S.  J.  Other  men's 
services  to  the  people  and  the  state  can  be  measured 
by  definite  deeds,  by  dangers  averted,  by  legislation 
secured,  by  institutions  built,  by  commerce  promoted. 
The  work  of  a priest  is  along  entirely  different  lines. 
His  efforts  are  all  devoted  to  man’s  spiritual  welfare — 
to  the  salvation  of  souls.  He  whose  name  forms  the 
caption  for  this  review  is  member  of  the  Society  of 
Jesus  and  is  pastor  of  St.  Jude  Thaddeus  Catholic 
church,  at  Havre,  Montana,  where  he  has  resided 
since  1903. 

The  Rt.  Rev.  Frederick  H.  Eberschweiler  was  born 
at  Wachsweiler,  Rhine  province,  Prussia,  June  19, 
1839.  He  is  a son  of  Franz  and  Margaret  (Noeren) 
Eberschweiler,  both  of  whom  were  born  and  reared 
in  Germany  and  both  of  whom  are  now  deceased. 
The  father  was  an  educator  in  his  native  land  and 
received  a gold  medal  from  the  Kaiser  for  his  long 
and  faithful  service  as  such.  He  was  summoned  to' 
the  life  eternal  in  1884,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years, 
and  his  cherished  and  devoted  wife  passed  away  in 
1891,  aged  eighty-four  years.  Professor  and  Mrs. 
Franz  Eberschweiler  became  the  parents  of  seven 
children — five  sons  and  two  daughters,  the  third  son, 
John  Baptist,  died  at  the  age  of  seven.  All  the  other 
sons  became  Jesuit  priests  and  two  of  them  are  still 
living  (in  1912),  namely:  William,  who  resides  in  Hol- 
land, and  Frederick  H.,  whose  name  initiates  this 
article. 

To  the  Catholic  College  of  Treves,  Germany,  Father 
Eberschweiler  is  indebted  for  his  preliminary  educa- 
tional training.  On  September  30,  1858,  at  the  age  of 
nineteen  years,  he  entered  the  Society  of  Jesus  and 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1239 


July  15,  1870,  was  ordained  a priest.  About  the  time 
he  completed  his  studies  and  entered  the  priesthood  a 
law  went  into  effect  in  Germany  expelling  all  Jesuits 
from  the  country.  Father  Eberschweiler  immediately 
left  his  native  land  and  sailed  for  America,  arriving  in 
New  York  City,  August  29,  1872.  He  proceeded  to 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  he  became  a professor  in  St. 
Alary’s  Priest  Seminary,  teaching  there  for  a period  of 
two  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which  he  went  to 
Toledo,  Ohio,  where  he  became  assistant  pastor  of  St. 
Alary’s  church.  He  resided  in  Toledo  for  eight  years 
and  in  1882  went  to  Burlington,  Iowa,  where  he  be- 
came assistant  pastor  in  St.  John  the  Baptist  church. 
In  August,  1883,  he  came  to  Alontana,  making  the 
trip  hither  on  one  of  the  first  trains  run  over  the 
Great  Northern  tracks,  which  had  just  been  completed 
to  Helena.  The  day  after  his  arrival  in  Helena  Father 
Eberschweiler  was  met  by  Bishop  Brondel,  who  had 
just  come  from  the  war  west  and  who  established  him 
as  the  first  resident  priest  at  Fort  Benton.  As  a Jesuit 
Father  Eberschweiler  belonged  then  to  St.  Peter’s  mis- 
sion. He  remained  at  Fort  Benton,  the  headquarters  of 
the  district,  from  1883  to  1886.  His  district  covered 
a large  area  in  fact  all  the  country  east  to  Fort  Belk- 
nap, the  same  including  parts  of  Cascade  county  and 
Teton  counties,  and  all  of  Aleagher,  Fergus  and  Chou- 
teau counties.  During  the  early  days  he  was  obliged 
to  travel  over  the  territory  assigned  to  him  by  stage 
and  the  trips  from  fort  to  fort  were  filled  with  hardship 
and  danger  of  every  description.  On  one  occasion 
he  traveled  from  midnight  to  midnight  when  the 
weather  was  forty-eight  degrees  below  zero.  From 
Fort  Benton  he  established  a mission  at  Fort  Belknap 
and  he  also  did  the  first  Catholic  missionary  work  in 
the  Fort  Peck  reservation. 

Father  Eberschweiler  lived  in  St.  Paul’s  mission  in  the 
Little  Rockies  from  1886  to  1890,  and  in  the  latter 
year  took  charge  of  all  the  new  stations  on  the  Great 
Northern  railroad  along  the  line  of  Alilk  river  from 
Big  Sandy  to  People’s  creek.  Father  Feusi  succeeded 
him  at  St.  Paul’s.  For  a number  of  years  he  lived 
near  the  mouth  of  People’s  creek,  at  a place  then 
known  as  Dodson  station,  and  there  he  had  charge 
of  the  Indians  on  Alilk  river  and  in  the  Fort  Peck 
reservation.  In  1895  he  moved  to  a point  opposite 
Fort  Belknap,  remaining  there  until  1900,  when  he 
made  his  headquarters  at  Chinook,  Alontana,  whence 
he  came  to  Havre  in  1903.  Since  the  latter  year  he 
has  been  resident  pastor  of  St.  Jude  Thaddeus  Cath- 
olic church  at  Havre  and  there  he  has  accomplished 
a remarkable  amount  of  good  in  the  way  of  construct- 
ing churches  and  helping  the  poor  and  needy.  He 
has'  been  instrumental  in  the  erection  of  church  edi- 
fices at  Glasgow,  Culbertson,  Alalta,  Chinook,  Harlem, 
Havre,  Great  Falls,  Lewiston,  Oswego  and  Hindsdale. 
He  also  selected  the  site,  secured  the  grounds  and 
established  the  Sacred  Heart  Hospital  at  Havre,  where 
he  managed  to  have  the  sisters  of  St.  Francis  assume 
charge.  Recently  his  efforts  have  been  expended  along 
the  line  of  securing  parochial  schools  at  Havre  and  in 
that  connection  he  has  procured  the  grounds  and  build- 
ing plans  are  under  way. 

During  his  leisure  time  Father  Eberschweiler  is  en- 
gaged in  literary  work.  He  wrote  a drama  entitled 
“Three  Holy  Kings,”  originallv  in  German,  and  another 
drama  entitled,  “St.  Vitus.”  He  has  written  a number 
of  theological  articles  and  has  had  published  articles  on 
music  and  a number  of  poems,  and  is  altogether  an 
author  of  note. 

Father  Eberschweiler  exercises  a commanding  in- 
fluence over  men,  not  as  the  result  of  a conscious 
ambition  or  a studied  purpose,  but  rather  from  an 
instinctive  homage  the  world  awards  men  of  exalted 
character  and  incorruptible  principles.  He  is  wholly 
wrapped  up  in  his  work  and  it  would  be  impossible 
to  make  a reckoning  of  the  good  he  has  accomplished 


for  mankind.  His  convictions  are  solid  as  adamant 
and  he  tries  to  estimate  human  character  in  the  light 
of  that  charity  which  “hopeth  all  things,  which  bear- 
eth  all  things,  which  ^is  not  easily  provoked,  which 
thinketh  no  evil.” 

Thomas  J.  Booher.  Rising  to  his  present  station 
through  a variety  of  duties  in  other  lines  of  activity, 
in  all  of  which  he  demonstrated  his  efficiency,  ability 
and  high  sense  of  personal  responsibility,  Thomas  J. 
Booher,  the  present  capable  and  esteemed  police  judge 
of  Butte,  has  advanced  by  reason  of  his  genuine  merit, 
and  it -is  to  the  credit  of  the  people  of  the  city  of  his 
present  home  that  the}'  recognize  his  worth  and  de- 
mand his  services  in  behalf  of  the  general  welfare  of 
the  community. 

Judge  Booher  was  born  in  Livingston  county.  New 
York,  on  April  19,  1857,  and  is  a son  of  Henry  and 
Alartha  ( Updegraff)  Booher,  the  former  a native  of 
Geneva,  Switzerland,  and  the  latter  of  Canada.  The 
father  came  to  the  United  States  with  his  parents 
when  he  was  but  four  years  old.  The  family  located  in 
the  state  of  New  York,  and  when  he  grew  to  manhood 
he  engaged  in  fanning,  in  which  he  has  been  occupied 
ever  since,  or  was  as  long  as  he  was  able  to  attend  to 
active  business.  The  mother  died  when  her  son  Thomas 
was  an  infant. 

He  obtained  a good  common  school  education  in 
his  native  county,  on  which  he  has  since  enlarged  by 
diligent  studv  and  extensive  reading.  Designing  to 
follow  teaching  for  a livelihood,  he  pursued  a course 
of  special  training  for  the  purpose  at  the  Geneseo 
State  Normal  School,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
1879.  He  then  taught  three  terms  of  school  in  his  na- 
tive state  and  three  in  Alissouri.  At  the  end  of  this 
service  he  went  to  Virginia  City,  Nevada,  making  his 
change  of  residence  to  the  farther  west  in  1880.  But 
he  did  not  immediately  change  his  occupation.  Dur- 
ing 1880,  1881  and  1882  he  was  principal  of  the  First 
ward  school  in  Virginia  City,  and  found  his  work  so 
well  appreciated  by  the  people  that  he  intended  to  re- 
main there  longer.  But  circumstances  changed  his 
purposes. 

On  January  19,  1883,  he  came  to  Butte,  and  for 
about  one  year  after  his  arrival  in  this  city  worked  at 
whatever  he  could  find  to  do,  employing  himself  at 
teaming  and  other  laborious  occupations,  but  all  the 
while  cherishing  his  aspirations  toward  a more  ele- 
vated standard  of  living  and  working  in  the  direction 
of  it.  His  diligence  and  fidelity  attracted  attention,  his 
superior  mental  training  became  widely  known,  and  in 
1884  he  was  elected  countv  superintendent  of  schools 
for  Silver  Bow  county.  His  term  in  this  office  began 
on  January  i,  1885,  and  lasted  two  years. 

When  he  retired  from  the  county  school  superintend- 
ency he  turned  his  attention  to  mining,  not  only  as  a 
man  desirous  of  making  a strike  and  so  rendering 
himself  comfortable  for  life,  but  as  a delver  in  the 
mines  themselves.  He  wrought  in  them  for  a num- 
ber of  years,  with  his  eyes  ever  open  for  opportuni- 
ties that  might  come  his  way.  but  with  no  abatement 
of  his  industry  \yhile  waiting  for  them.  In  April,  1911, 
he  was  elected  to  his  present  position,  the  people  hav- 
ing long  known  him  as  a man  of  superior  education, 
broad  intelligence  and  high  character,  and  having 
reached  the  conclusion  that  he  w'as  well  fitted  to  dis- 
pense justice  in  their  city  police  court,  an  opinion  in 
which  he  has  proven  they  were  not  mistaken.  Lie  has 
performed  the  duties  of  his  responsible  and  trying- 
position  in  a manner  that  has  won  universal  commen- 
dation from  the  law-abidin,g  class  of  the  population, 
and  compelled  the  respect  even  of  the  unlawful.  Be- 
ing of  a kindly  disposition,  he  tempers  justice  with 
mercy,  and  where  there  are  miti, gating  circumstances, 
is  lenient  with  wrongdoers.  But  for  incorrigibles  and 
the  chronically  criminal  he  has  no  softness  of  heart, 


J240 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


<lc(.-iuintf  it  his  duty  to  the  community  to  keep  them  from 
following  their  natural  tendencies  as  much  as  he  pos- 
sibly can. 

On  December  21,  1884,  the  judge  was  married  to 
Miss  Martha  C.  Sheppard,  a native  of  Missouri.  They 
have  three  children,  their  son  Cecil  H.  and  their  daugh- 
ters, Georgia  A.  and  Catherine  L.  The  father  is  a 
warm  friend  of  the  laboring  classes,  and  has  shown 
it  by  a long  and  consistent  membership  in  the  Miners’ 
Union.  He  is  interested,  in  fact,  in  every  phase  of  the 
life  of  the  plain  people  who  make  up  the  bone  and 
sinew  of  the  country,  and  are  its  productive  force  in 
times  of  peace  and  its  most  reliable  defenders  in 
periods  of  war.  Being  thus  devoted  to  the  vrelfare  of 
the  great  mass  of  the  people,  it  follows  as  an  inevitable 
result  that  he  is  cordially  and  serviceably  loyal  to  the 
best  interests  of  the  country.  Wherever  he  is  known 
he  is  esteemed  to  a marked  degree  as  a high-toned  and 
intensely  patriotic  American  citizen,  and  a representative 
of  the  best  manhood  of  our  country,  which  has  had  so 
tremendous  an  influence  for  betterment  on  the  public 
opinion  and  trend  of  action  in  all  parts  of  the  world. 

Harry  Mortimer  Allen.  Among  the  leading  busi- 
ness men  of  Billings,  Montana,  none  are  more  worthy 
of  being  commemorated  than  the  one  whose  name  here 
appears.  For  nearly  thirty  years  he  has  been  a resi- 
dent of  that  city,  during  which  time  he  has  been  a 
prominent  factor  in  its  fraternal,  business  and  pub- 
lic life,  fairly  earning  a reputation  for  honorable  deal- 
ing with  his  fellow  citizens  to  such  a degree  as  to 
make  his  name  a synonym  for  all  that  is  honorable  in 
business  and  correct  in  morals.  He  was  born  April 
26,  1856.  in  Roxbury,  now  Boston,  Massachusetts,  a 
son  of  Henry  Clay  and  Hattie  L.  (Gray)  Allen. 

Mr.  Allen  traces  his  ancestry  back  to  Charles  Allen, 
who  was  born  in  England  in  1625,  the  year  Charles 
I ascended  the  throne.  In  1640  he  was  married  to 
Susanna  Huggins  of  Hampton,  New  Hampshire,  but 
there  is  no  record  of  the  year  he  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica, although  the  town  records  of  Portsmouth,  New 
Hampshire,  show  that  he  lived  in  Strawberry  Point, 
and  he  is  mentioned  as  a participant  in  the  distribu- 
tion of  lands  to  the  inhabitants.  For  a number  of 
years  the  family  resided  in  Maine,  and  Henry  Clay 
Allen  was  born  at  Ellsworth,  Hancock  county,  that 
state,  November  g,  1829.  There  he  received  a pub- 
lic school  education,  and  when  a young  man  removed 
to  Roxbury,  Massachusetts,  where  he  first  followed 
carpentry  and  subsequently  became  a contractor  and 
builder,  following  these  vocations  for  more  than  forty 
years.  He  was  also  prominent  in  Masonry.  In  politi- 
and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  October  i,  1905,  was 
serving  as  treasurer  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Massa- 
chusetts, an  office  which  he  had  filled  for  over  thirty 
years.  He  was  also  prominent  in  Masonry.  In  politi- 
cal matters  he  reserved  the  right  to  vote  independ- 
ently, regardless  of  party.  His  religious  faith  was 
that  of  the  Universalist  church. 

Henry  Clay  Allen  married  Miss  Hattie  L.  Gray, 
who  was  born  in  1833  in  Portland,  Maine,  and  died 
in  1868,  leaving  two  children : Harry  Mortimer  and 
Frank  Walter,  the  latter  a resident  of  Greenville, 
Maine.  For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Allen  married  Ad- 
die  M.  Blodgett.  She  survives  and  has  a daughter, 
Hattie  M.,  who  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Gardiner  and 
lives  in  New  York  state. 

After  receiving  his  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  Boston,  Harry  M.  Allen  engaged  in  various  enter- 
prises until  he  was  twenty-five  years  of  age,  and  in 
April,  1881,  went  to  Topeka,  Kansas,  where  he  was 
identified  with  the  lumber  business.  In  June  of  the 
same  year  he  went  to  Iowa  City,  Iowa,  to  be  married. 
After  his  marriage,  which  took  place  on  the  22nd  of 
June,  he  returned  to  Topeka,  and  continued  in  busi- 
ness there  until  April  26,  1883.  iMay  the  6,  1883,  saw 


his  advent  in  Billings,  and  there  he  has  since  con- 
tinued to  carry  on  operations  in  the  lumber  line.  The 
firm  of  H.  M.  Allen  & Company,  of  which  he  is  the 
head,  has  its  headquarters  in  Billings,  with  branch  of- 
fices and  yards  located  at  Columbus,  Forsyth,  Rose- 
bud, Hardin,  Bear  Creek,  Big  Timber,  Bridger,  Bark 
City,  Livingston,  Reedpoint,  Absarokee,  Clyde  Park 
and  Wilsall,  Montana.  Long  years  of  experience  in 
his  chosen  vocation  have  given  him  a comprehensive 
knowledge  of  the  vast  and  intricate  problems  which 
the  conduct  of  such  a gigantic  business  involves.  Of 
liberal  views  and  public  spirit  he  has  served  for  a 
number  of  years  as  a school  trustee,  but  it  has  been 
to  his  business  and  fraternal  connections  that  he  has 
given  the  greater  part  of  his  attention.  He  has 
served  as  president  of  the  Montana  Retail  Lumber- 
man’s Association  for  a year.  He  is  a member  of 
Ashlar  Lodge,  No.  29,  Ancient,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons ; of  Billings  chapter  No.  6,  Royal  Arch  Ma- 
sons, of  which  he  is  past  high  priest;  of  Glendive 
Council  No.  5,  Royal  and  Select  Masters;  of  Aldemar 
commandery.  No.  5,  Knights  Templar,  of  which  he 
is  past  eminent  commander;  of  St.  Peter’s  Conclave 
No.,  8,  Knights  of  the  Red  Cross  of  Constantine;  of 
Algeria  Temple,  Ancient  Arabic  Order  of  Nobles  of 
the  Mystic  Shrine,  at  Helena ; and  grand  standard 
bearer  of  the  Grand  Commandery  of  Montana.  He 
was  elected,  on  September  19,  1911,  grand  high  priest 
of  the  Grand  Chapter  Royal  Arch  Masons  of  Mon- 
tana and  represented  this  grand  body  at  the  thirty- 
fifth  triennial  convocation  of  the  General  Grand  Chap- 
ter of  the  United  States,  held  at  Indianapolis,  Indi- 
ana, on  September  ii  to  13,  1912.  He  was  a member 
of  the  building  committee  which  erected  the  handsome 
Masonic  Temple.  Mr.  Allen  is  past  chancellor  of 
Rathbone  lodge.  No.  28,  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  has 
served  as  delegate  to  the  grand  lodge.  He  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  Elks,  being  a charter  member  of  Billings 
lodge  No.  394.  Since  its  foundation  he  has  been  presi- 
dent of  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association,  and 
was  a member  of  the  committee  that  erected  the  as- 
sociation’s building  at  Billings — the  first  one  to  be 
erected  in  the  state. 

It  is  not  because  of  special  prominence  in  matters 
before  the  public  that  Mr.  Allen  has  justly  earned 
the  respect  and  confidence  of  his  fellow  men,  nor  is 
it  solely  because  he  has  acquired  wealth,  for  some 
do  that  who  have  neither  the  respect  nor  confidence 
of  others ; but  it  is  because,  in  a comparative,  pre- 
eminent degree,  he  is  a representative  man  of  a class, 
to  whom,  more  than  any  other,  is  due  the  continued 
growth  and  prosperity  of  the  many  thriving  cities  of 
the  west. 

On  June  22,  1881,  Mr.  Allen  was  married  at  Iowa 
City,  Iowa,  to  Miss  Abbie  L.  Adams,  who  was  born 
at  Ellsworth,  Maine,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Abigail 
(Lord)  Adams,  natives  of  that  state,  both  of  whom  are 
deceased.  Mr.  Adams  was  a millwright  and  farmer 
in  Maine,  where  he  spent  his  whole  life.  Abbie  was 
the  eighth  of  his  ten  children,  of  whom  six  now  sur- 
vive. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Allen  have  had  five  children, 
namely : Lillian,  the  wife  of  Carlin  M.  Talcott,  of 

North  Yakima,  Washington,  who  had  one  son,  Allen 
Gray;  Harry  M..  Jr.,  who  met  his  death  in  an  acci- 
dent, July  25,  1893,  when  eight  years  of  age;  Frank 
Herbert,  who  is  associated  with  his  father  in  the  lum- 
ber business  at  Billings;  Edwin  Gray  and  John  Henry, 
who  reside  at  home.  The  family  is  connected  with 
the  Congregational  church,  and  its  members  are  well 
known  in  church  and  charitable  work. 

Lorenzo  Winchester  Stacy.  Among  the  bankers 
of  Montana,  a large  proportion  have  been  recruited 
from  the  ranks  of  the  cattlemen  who  did  such  an  ex- 
tensive business  on  the  open  range  before  the  farm- 
ers came  to  force  the  stock  raisers  from  the  field 


\ 


L. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1241 


that  they  had  so  long  occupied.  The  very  nature  of 
their  business  demanded  that  they  become  borrowers 
of  large  amounts  of  money,  and  in  this  way  they 
secured  a comprehensive  knowledge  of  financial  meth- 
ods and  a training  that  no  amount  of  study  could 
have  equalled.  Thus,  instances  of  cattlemen,  enter- 
ing the  field  of  finance  are  by  no  means  rare,  and  an 
example  of  this  class  may  be  found  in  Lorenzo  Win- 
chester Stacy,  president  of  the  Commercial  National 
Bank,  and  a business  man  whose  career  stands  today 
without  a stain  or  blemish.  He  was  born  in  Athens 
county,  Ohio,  August  24,  1850,  the  fourth  in  a family 
of  five  children  born  to  Joel  and  Sally  A.  (Elston) 
Stacy,  natives,  respectively,  of  Massachusetts  and  Penn- 
sylvania. The  father  was  a pioneer  agriculturist  of 
Ohio,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  the 
date  of  his  death,  as  well  as  that  of  his  wife’s,  occur- 
ring in  the  early  sixties.  Of  their  five  children,  three 
are  now  living,  namely ; Mary  Frances,  the  wife  of 
W.  H.  Vorhes,  of  Nelsonville,  Ohio;  Orinda,  the  wife 
of  N.  I.  Dixon,  of  Longstreth,  Ohio;  and  Lorenzo  Win- 
chester. 

Lorenzo  W.  Stacy  descended  from  early  residents 
of  the  American  colonies  who  came  from  England  and 
settled  in  Massachusetts,  and  the  family  furnished  a 
number  of  soldiers  for  the  Revolutionary  war.  He 
was  but  twelve  years  when  he  completed  his_  educa- 
tional training,  and  at  that  time  accompanied  his 
brother,  Webster,  to  the  state  of  Kansas,  where  on 
the  great  plains  the  brothers  did  an  excellent  business 
in  hunting  buffaloes,  being  the  owners  of  their  own 
outfit.  Living  the  free  and  open  life  of  the  prairies, 
young  Stacy  grew  up  a strong  and  self-reliant  man, 
and  when  still  a youth  in  years  was  engaged  in  trading 
with  the  Indians,  establishing  himself  at  a post  in 
the  Panhandle  of  Texas.  It  may  be  of  interest  to 
here  note  that  Mr.  Stacy  secured  a buffalo  calf  which 
he  raised,  making  it  a pet  After  it  was  a year  old 
the  animal  traveled  with  the  party,  and_  when  camp 
was  made  it  would  often  find  its  way  during  the  night 
to  Mr.  Stacy’s  head  and  waken  him  by  its  grunting,  not 
being  satisfied  until  it  had  accomplished  this  result. 
It  would  follow  him  any  distance  and  if  strangers 
approached  would  put  its  head  under  his  arm  and 
resent  emphatically  any  attempt  to  touch_  him.  He 
kept  this  buffalo  until  he  reached  Dodge  City,  Kansas, 
when  it  caused  trouble  by  uprooting  and  despoiling  the 
gardens  of  the  settlers,  and  it  was  necessary  to  picket 
it  with  a rope,  with  which  it  finally  became  entangled 
and  was  thrown  so  as  to  break  its  neck.  Mr.  Stacy  suc- 
cessfully traded  with  the  Indians  in  the  southwest,  and 
effected  a personal  treaty  with  the  Arapahoes  and  Chey- 
ennes, which  was  known  as  the  Stacy  Treaty,  the  cir- 
cumstances being:  His  trading  party  was  surrounded 

by  about  2,000  Indians  at  Paladora  Canon,  in  1873,  and 
the  United  States  marshal  warned  Mr.  Stacy  to  fly, 
but  with  six  employes  he  had  come  especially  to  trade 
with  the  Indians,  and  his  tenacity  and  intrepid  daring 
led  him  to  carry  out  his  object.  After  he  had  been 
thus  warned,  Mr.  Stacy  determined  to  immediately 
have  a talk  with  the  chief.  Powder  Face,  made  his  way 
to  the  Indian  camp  and  passed  through  the  entire 
band  of  howling  savages  to  the  chiefs  tepee.  Here 
he  dismounted  and  was  immediately  attacked  by  the 
chiefs  dog,  which  bit  his  left  leg  nearly  to  the  bone. 
Mr.  Stacy,  however,  explained  his  situation  apd  in- 
tention to  the  chief,  who  called  a council.  At  this  time 
the  Indians  sat  in  a circle,  and  finally  the  chief  handed 
Mr.  Stacy  the  pipe  of  peace,  which  he  puffed  with  due 
solemnity,  being  much  encouraged  by  this  action.  He 
invited  Powder  Face  and  his  squaw  to  dinner  the 
next  day  and  gave  them  a good  meal,  and  the  doughty 
chieftain  then  made  a treaty  to  this  effect : That  his 

people  would  thereafter  trade  with  the  brave  white 
man  without  molesting  him.  Powder  Face  further 
manifested  his  good  will  by  tanning  robes  for  him. 


W hen  the  Indians  left  that  section  in  the  following 
spring,  Powder  Face  and  his  wife  presented  Mr.  Stacy 
with  a fine  suit  of  Indian  clothes,  a big  shawl,  a pair 
of  shoes,  and  a silver  finger  ring.  The  chief  always 
continued  a strong  friend  of  Mr.  Stacy,  and  lived  to  a 
venerable  age,  dying  about  1892. 

After  trading  with  the  Indians  for  three  years,  Mr. 
Stacy  engaged  in  the  cattle  business  in  the  Indian 
territory,  and  had  an  extensive  range  under  fence.  He 
disposed  of  his  interests  in  that  section  in  1882,  and 
during  the  next  year  came  to  Montana.  In  the  fall  of 
1883  he  went  south  and  purchased  cattle,  which  he 
trailed  through  to  Montana,  arriving  in  August,  1884. 
Locating  on  the  range  between  the  Powder  and  Tongue 
rivers,  he  often  ran  5,000  head  of  cattle,  handled  thou- 
sands each  year  until  selling  out  in  1889,  and  often 
paid  as  much  as  $30,000  in  a lump  sum  to  the  railroad 
companies  for  freight  charges.  Subsequently  he  utilized 
the  range  between  the  Missouri  and  Yellowstone 
rivers,  in  Custer  county,  being  connected  with  the 
Swifts  of  Chicago,  South  Omaha  and  Kansas  City,  the 
Custer  county  brand  bearing  the  brand  of  “L.  U.” 
He  was  one  of  the  organizers,  a stock  holder  and 
director  of  the  State  National  Bank  of  Miles  City 
until  1904,  was  interested  in  the  mercantile  business 
of  Lakin  & Westfall  until  1909,  and  is  the  owner  of 
improved  business  and  residence  properties  in  Miles 
City,  where  he  makes  his  home  in  a commodious  and 
attractive  residence  of  modern  architectural  design  and 
conveniences,  one  of  the  best  in  the  city.  In  1906, 
at  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  Commercial  State 
Bank,  Mr.  Stacy  became  president  thereof,  a position 
which  he  has  held  to  the  present  time,  the  greater 
part  of  his  attention  now  being  given  to  banking  enter- 
prises. East  Main  street  runs  through  his  eighty-acre 
property  at  the  city  limits.  Personally  of  a genial  and 
courteous  nature,  Mr.  Stacy  is  never  too  busy  to  make 
a visitor  comfortable  or  to  provide  him  with  a pleasant 
visit.  His  politics  are  those  of  the  Republican  party, 
but  he  has  always  preferred  to  give  his  attention  to 
his  business  interests  rather  than  to  affairs  of  a poli- 
tical nature,  and  has  steadfastly  refused  to  allow  his 
name  to  be  used  for  public  office. 

On  December  6,  1888,  Mr.  Stacy  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Mary  L.  Hotchkiss,  who  was  born 
in  Connecticut,  the  daughter  of  Steven  G.  and  Augusta 
(Stevens)  Hotchkiss,  of  old  New  England  stock.  To 
this  union  have  been  born  five  children : Edward  W., 
Florence,  Lorenzo  Winchester,  Jr.,  Frances  May  and 
Alvin  Webster. 

George  H.  Ulmer.  For  nearly  thirty  years  a resi- 
dent of  Miles  City,  and  during  that  time  contributing 
to  the  advancement  of  its  commercial  interests  as  a 
member  of  one  of  its  leading  business  concerns,  George 
H.  Ulmer  may  not  inappropriately  be  considered  one 
of  the  forceful  and  productive  men  who  have  made 
the  history  of  the  northwest  and  redeemed  an  immense 
section  of  the  country  from  savage  wilderness.  Air. 
Ulmer  was  born  at  Carbondale,  Lackawanna  county, 
Pennsylvania,  March  31,  1858,  and  is  a son  -of  David 
and  Alary  (Fielding)  Ulmer. 

David  Ulmer  was  born  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany, 
in  1829,  and  immigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1857, 
locating  at  Carbondale,  Pennsylvania.  In  1862,  when 
the  emergencv  call  came  for  volunteers,  he  enlisted  in 
Company  C,  Thirteenth  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volun- 
teer Militia,  and  subsequently,  Alarch  28,  1864,  he  en- 
listed in  Company  AI,  Fourth  Regiment.  Pennsylvania 
Volunteer  Cavalry.  In  one  of  his  engagements  the 
color-bearer  of  his  regiment  was  killed  and  Air.  Ulmer 
seized  the  flag  and  carried  it  throughout  the  action. 
For  this  act  he  was  promoted  on  the  field  by  one  of 
his  superior  officers.  At  the  battle  of  Dinwiddle  Court 
House.  Alarch  30,  1863,  Air.  Ulmer  lost  an  arm,  and 
was  thereupon  honorably  discharged  on  account  of  dis- 


1242 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


ability.  Returning  to  his  farm,  he  resided  there  until 
1867.  at  whicli  time  he  moved  to  South  Canaan,  where, 
as  a good  and  true  soldier,  he  was  buried  in  the  colors 
of  his  adopted  country,  March  4,  igo6,  by  W.  H.  Davies 
Post,  No.  187,  Grand"  Army  of  the  Republic,  his  death 
having  occurred  two  days  before.  Mrs.  Ulmer,  who  was 
a n.'itive  of  England,  died  when  fifty-five  years  of  age, 
George  H.  Ulmer  being  their  only  child. 

George  H.  Ulmer  secured  his  education  in  the  schools 
of  Carbondale,  and  when  only  thirteen  years  of  age 
began  to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world,  accepting  a 
position  in  a market  at  Scranton,  Pennsylvania.  Later 
lie  took  a course  in  the  Gardiner  Business  College, 
Scranton,  and  in  1876  he  became  bookkeeper  for  the 
Scranton  Stove  Works.  In  1880  he  removed  to  Dead- 
wood,  South  Dakota,  where  he  was  a bookkeeper  for 
the  Star  & Bullock  Hardware  Company  until  the  spring 
of  1883.  At  this  time  he  first  came  to  Miles  City,  look- 
ing for  an  opening  to  locate  in  business,  but  after 
traveling  all  over  the  northwest  returned  to  Miles  City 
and  became  bookkeeper  for  Miles  & Strevell,  hard- 
ware merchants.  In  1888  he  purchased  an  interest  in 
the  business,  the  firm  name  becoming  Miles,  Strevell 
& Ulmer,  with  branch  .stores  at  Buffalo,  Wyoming  and 
Ogden,  Utah.  Mr.  Ulmer  purchased  Mr.  Strevell’s 
interest  in  1892,  the  firm  being  subsequently  incorporated 
under  the  style  of  Miles  & Ulmer  Company,  Mr. 
Ulmer  being  vice-president  and  manager  of  the  busi- 
ness, while  the  other  members  of  the  firm  are  George 
M.  and  J.  D.  Miles  and  F.  W.  Woolsey.  The  firm 
deals  in  hardware,  farm  implements,  wagons  and  bug- 
gies, and  has  an  enormous  trade  throughout  the  north- 
west. Mr.  Ulmer  is  also  a stockholder  in  the  Smokey 
Butte  Sheep  Company,  of  which  he  is  secretary.  He 
is  recognized  as  a reliable  and  straightforward  busi- 
ness man,  and  thus  objective  esteem  and  confidence  are 
his  portion.  F'raternally  he  is  connected  with  Crusader 
Lodge,  No.  7,  Knights  of  Pythias;  and  Miles  City 
Lodge,  No.  537,  B.  P.  O.  E.  In  political  matters  he  is 
a Republican. 

In  September,  1890,  Mr.  Ulmer  was  married  to  Miss 
Flora  Brown,  who  was  born  in  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  daugh- 
ter of  Charles  and  Fredericka  Brown,  both  of  whom 
are  deceased,  and  si.ster  of  Adolph  Brown.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Ulmer  have  one  son  and  one  daughter:  Wallace 
and  Marian. 

S.^MUEr,  O.  N.  C.  P)R,\nY.  The  “North  of  Ireland!” 
What  a wonderul  race  of  men  has  been  sent  to  all  parts 
of  the  civilized  world  from  the  region  to  the.  northward 
of  a line  drawn  through  the  bays  of  Dublin  and  Halway, 
and  more  especially  from  the  district  embraced  in  the 
Province  of  Ulster.  How  familiar  are  the  names! — 
Donegal,  Londonderry,  Antrim  Down,  Tyrone,  Armagh, 
Fermanagh,  Monaghan  and  Cavan,  counties  comprising 
the  province  named.  The  sturdy  Scotch-Irish  element, 
which  has  peopled  numerous  localities  in  the  LTnited 
States,  has  proved  the  loyalty  of  its  blood  through  many 
a conflict  where  the  right  was  assailed,  and  almost 
without  exception  has  arrayed  itself  on  the  side  which 
readers  of  its  history  might  be  led  to  expect.  The 
Scotch-Irish  are  a proud  race,  and  they  have  earned  the 
privilege.  Tlie  state  of  Montana  has  had  its  full  share 
of  settlers  from  the  Emerald  Isle,  and  today  many  of 
its  leaders  in  Inisiness,  political  and  social  activities  claim 
Erin  as  tlieir  birth  place.  The  present  representative 
from  Park  county  in  the  state  assembly,  the  Hon.  Samuel 
O.  N.  C.  Brady,  of  Livingston,  was  born  in  Dunleavey 
House,  County  Donegal,  Ireland.  June  i,  1861,  and  is 
a son  of  George  F.  and  Fannie  (Russell)  Brady. 

Dr.  George  P'.  Bradv  was  born  at  Lifford,  County 
Donegal,  in  i8tq.  and  was  educated  in  the  LTniversity  of 
Edinburgh,  and  the  Royal  College  of  Physicians  and 
Surgeons,  London,  England.  For  a number  of  years 
he  was  physician  to  the  coast  guard  of  the  English  navy, 
served  ably  for  a long  period  as  justice  of  the  peace, 


and  in  his  later  years  became  an  agent  for  the  great 
marine  insurance  firm  of  Lloyd's,  a position  which  he 
held  at  the  time  of  his  death  in  1877.  He  was  a well- 
known  Mason  and  active  in  its  work.  In  the  city  of 
Dublin,  Ireland,  he  was  married  to  Fannie  Russell,  a 
native  of  London,  England,  who  was  born  in  1829,  and 
her  death  occurred  in  1903.  Of  their  thirteen  children, 
seven  are  living:  James  R.,  a sea  captain,  whose  home 
is  in  London,  England ; Thomas  C.,  who  lives  at  Rah- 
way, Union  county,  New  Jersey;  Francis  F.,  a well- 
known  physician  of  Carnew,  County  Wicklow,  Ireland ; 
Samuel  O.  N.  C. : Lydia;  Josephine,  the  wife  of  E.  N. 
Sellers,  living  at  Fort  Worth,  Texas;  and  Eveline,  the 
wife  of  Thomas  Crage,  of  Bray,  County  Dublin,  Ire- 
land. 

The  education  of  Samuel  O.  N.  C.  Brady  was  secured 
under  private  tutorship  in  Donegal  and  at  Halpin's 
school,  Dublin,  Ireland.  On  reaching  his  majority  he 
turned  his  face  toward  the  United  States,  and  in  July, 
1882,  landed  at  New  York  City,  whence  he  went  to 
Lemars,  Plymouth  county,  Iowa,  there  working  on  a 
farm  for  nine  months.  In  May,  1883,  he  came  to  Liv- 
ingston, where  he  found  employment  with  the  firm  of 
Myers  Brothers,  and  dui'ing  the  next  five  years  worked 
on  their  ranch  in  Gallatin  county,  then  engaging  in  farm- 
ing on  his  own  account  on  the  Shield’s  river,  now  in  Park 
county.  In  1894  he  took  up  sheep  raising,  in  which  he  has 
been  extensively  engaged  to  the  present  time,  and  each 
year  has  seen  the  business  expand.  Mr.  Brady  built  a 
handsome  residence  at  No.  330  Yellowstone  street,  Liv- 
ingston; in  1909,  and  now  makes  his  home  in  that  city, 
although  he  still  personally  superintends  the  work  on 
his  ranch,  and  acts  as  president  of  the  Brady  Collins 
Sheep  Company.  A Democrat  in  his  political  views, 
he  first  held  office  as  road  supervisor  in  1888,  in  which 
capacity  he  acted  for  four  years,  and  in  November,  1910, 
was  the  successful  candidate  for  the  office  of  represen- 
tative from  Park  county  in  the  general  assembly.  In 
spite  of  the  heavy  demands  made  upon  his  time  and 
attention  by  his  numerous  business  interests  and  politi- 
cal duties,  Mr.  Brady  has  not  denied  himself  the  com- 
panionship of  his  fellow  men,  and  has  taken  an  active 
interest  in  fraternal  work,  being  a valued  and  popular 
member  of  Livingston  Lodge  No.  32,  A.  F.  & A.  M., 
Livingston  Chapter  No.  7,  R.  A.  M.,  St.  Bernard’s 
Commandery  No.  6,  K.  T.,  Particular  Consistory  of 
Eastern  Montana  No.  i,  and  Algeria  Temple,  A.  A. 
O.  N.  M.  S.,  Helena ; and  Livingston  Lodge  No.  246, 
B.  P.  O.  E. 

On  January  19,  1904,  Mr.  Brady  was  married  to  Mrs. 
Sarah  C (Cooper)  Gassett,  who  was  born  in  Wilkes- 
barre,  Pennsylvania,  and  they  have  four  children : Violet, 
Fannie  E.,  Samuel  O.  N.  C.,  Jr.,  and  Elizabeth  R.  Mr. 
Brady’s  activities  in  the  world  of  business  have  been 
such  as  to  advance  the  industrial  importance  of  Park 
county,  and  as  representative  his  services  have  been  of 
undoubted  value  to  this  section.  With  an  earnest  desire 
for  the  advancement  of  Livingston,  Park  county,  and 
Montana  in  every  way,  exerting  his  influence  in 
behalf  of  every  movement  which  he  feels  will  bring 
about  this  advancement,  he  is  recognized  as  one  of  his 
community’s  progressive  and  useful  citizens  and  as 
such  is  worthy  the  unqualified  esteem  and  enthusiastic 
support  that  is  undoubtedly  his. 

D.^niel  Davis.  In  the  election  of  Daniel  Davis  to 
the  mayoralty  chair  of  Red  Lodge,  the  citizens  of  that 
community  secured  an  executive  who.  although  in 
office  for  only  a short  time,  has  proved  himself  fully 
capable  of  handling  the  municipal  affairs  of  this  pro- 
gressive community,  and  is  giving  his  fellow-towns- 
men an  effective,  clean  and  sane  administration.  An 
experienced  and  successful  business  man,  with  con- 
scientious regard  for  the  responsibility  placed  in  his 
hands,  he  has  devoted  himself  to  his  new  duties  with 
the  same  enthusiasm  and  energy  that  characterized  his 


r 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1243 


business  career,  and  the  result  has  been  the  introduc- 
tion of  much-needed  reforms  and  the  assurance  that 
Red  Lodge  will  benefit  materially  by  his  activities. 
Mayor  Davis  was  born  in  Staffordshire,  England,  April 
28,  1861,  and  is  a son  of  William  and  Eliza  (Daniels) 
Davis,  natives  of  that  shire,  where  the  father  is  still 
living,  being  seventy-one  years  of  age,  while  the  mother 
passed  away  in  1883.  There  were  four  children  in  their 
family — Daniel,  John,  Sarah  Ann  and  George — all  but 
the  first  named  living  in  England.  William  Davis  fol- 
lowed mining  throughout  his  active  career,  but  at  this 
time  is  living  a retired  life. 

Daniel  Davis  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  country,  and  as  a youth  engaged  in  work- 
ing in  the  mines  near  his  home.  He  was  there  mar- 
ried in  February,  1881,  to  Miss  Mary  Ann  Richards, 
also  a native  of  England,  and  soon  after  their  mar- 
riage left  the  land  of  their  nativity  on  their  wedding 
journey  to  the  United  States,  landing  in  New  York 
City.  From  that  metropolis  they  went  to  Limestone. 
Pennsylvania,  on  the  Monongahela  river,  where  for 
about  two  years  Mr.  Davis  was  engaged  in  mining,  and 
then  removed  to  Carbon.  Montana,  where  he  continued 
to  be  employed  as  a miner  until  the  fall  of  1889.  That 
year  saw  his  advent  to  Red  Lodge,  w'here  he  first 
worked  in  the  mines,  but  subsequently  engaged  in  the 
wholesale  and  retail  liquor  business.  To  this  he  added 
the  operation  of  an  ice  plant,  and  after  a few  years  he 
sold  his  interest  in  the  liquor  business  and  gave  all  his 
attention  to  the  new'  venture,  with  which  he  is  still 
connected.  In  1910  he  was  one  of  the  organizers  of 
the  Red  Lodge  Brewing  Company,  of  which  he  is  a 
stockholder  and  traveling  sales  manager,  and  he  also 
is  a member  of  the  directing  board  of  the  United  States 
National  Bank  of  Red  Lodge. 

■ A stanch  and  active  Democrat,  Mr.  Davis  has  taken 
a prominent  part  in  the  public  affairs  of  his  adopted 
community,  and  after  serving  one  term  as  alderman 
from  the  Second  ward,  was,  in  April,  1912.  elected  to 
the  office  of  mayor.  Red  Lodge  is  now  considered  an 
exceedingly  prosperous  and  well-governed  city.  Its 
municipal  prosperity  must  be  attributed  in  a great  de- 
gree to  the  business-like  and  economical  administra- 
tion of  the  city’s  affairs,  and  its  good  government  to  the 
enforcement  of  law  and  the  preservation  of  order,  so 
essential  in  every  well-regulated  community.  Mr.  Davis 
has  proven  that  the  same  principles  that  have  been  at 
the  bottom  of  a successful  business  career  are  equally 
valuable  wdien  applied  to  the  affairs  of  a large  munici- 
pality, and  by  so  doing  has  vindicated  the  belief  of  his 
fellow  men  in  his  ability.  He  has  interested  himself  in 
fraternal  matters,  being  a member  of  Red  Lodge  Aerie 
No.  742,  F.  O.  E.  Believing  in  the  broadening  influ- 
ence of  travel,  he  has  spent  much  of  his  time  in  visit- 
ing various  points  of  interest,  and  in  1904,  with  his 
family,  made  a journey  to  his  old  home  in  England.  He 
and  his  wife  have  two  children.  William  and  Em- 
rich. 

Ch.vrles  F.  Be.\n.  Prominent  among  those  who  are 
rendering  efficient  service  in  positions  of  trust  and 
responsibility  in  Dawson  county  is  Charles  F.  Bean, 
county  assessor,  who  has  brought  to  his  important 
office  excellent  business  and  executive  ability,  while 
his  sturdy  integrity  of  character  has  gained  for  him 
the  confidence  and  respect  of  the  general  public.  Mr. 
Bean  belongs  to  an  old  and  honored  New  England 
family,  members  of  which  have  held  high  stations  in 
every  walk  of  life,  and  especially  in  military  circles, 
w'here  they  have  assisted  in  making  history.  Mr.  Bean 
was  born  in  Brownfield.  Oxford  county.  Maine.  Decem- 
ber 17,  1849,  and  is  a son  of  Sylvanus  B.  and  Sally 
(Hadley)  Bean. 

Mr.  Bean’s  grandparents  were  General  Daniel  and 
Ruhanna  (Bangs)  Bean,  the  former  born  in  Limerick, 
York  county,  Maine,  February  17,  1793,  and  the  latter 


in  Gorham,  Cumberland  county,  Maine,  February  16, 
1795-  General  Bean  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Brownfield,  a soldier  in  the  defense  of  Portland  during 
the  War  of  1812-14,  and  subsequently  brigadier-general 
of  militia  in  Oxford  county.  He  was  a member  of  the 
state  legislature  in  1829,  when  Portland  was  the  capital 
of  the  state,  and  was  one  of  the  foremost  men  of  his 
day  and  locality.  He  and  his  wife  had  a family  of 
eleven  children. 

Sylvanus  B.  Bean  was  born  in  Brownfield,  Maine, 
June  12,  1814,  and  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war 
enlisted  as  first  lieutenant  of  Company  A,  Eleventh 
Regiment,  Maine  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  was  later 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  captain,  was  brevetted  major, 
and  served  as  acting  quartermaster  of  volunteers.  He 
was  on  detached  service  under  General  Rufus  Ingalls 
at  Denver,  Colorado,  and  was  subsequent!}'  ordered 
to  Fort  Halleck,  then  in  Dakota  territory,  but  now  in 
Wyoming,  and  was  mustered  out  in  1866,  after  a serv- 
ice of  nearly  five  years.  He  then  engaged  in  farming 
in  Oxford  county,  Maine.  Before  the  war  he  was 
engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Brownfield,  Ox- 
ford county,  under  the  firm  name  of  S.  B.  and  E.  B. 
Bean,  and  after  returning  from  the  conflict  acted  as 
postmaster  of  Brownfield  for  eighteen  years.  He  spent 
his  last  days  on  the  old  homestead.  He  was  a stanch 
and  active  Republican,  and  a prominent  member  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  He  was  married  (first) 
to  Sally  Hadley,  also  a native  of  Brownfield,  who  died 
in  i860,  having  been  the_^^sther  of  eight  children,  six 
of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  while  three  are  now  living; 
Charles  F. ; Eliza,  the  wife  of  Fred  W.  Spring,  resid- 
ing in  Westbrook,  Maine;  and  Jennie  Hadley,  the 
wife  of  Alpheus  S.  Leighton,  living  in  Portland,  Maine, 
Mr.  Bean  was  married  (second)  to  Mrs.  Sabrina  Cram, 
who  died  in  1863,  and  his  third  marriage  was  to  Mrs. 
Julia  Wentworth  in  1881. 

Daniel  A.  Bean,  brother  of  Charles  F.  Bean,  was 
born  May  20,  1846,  and  in  the  battle  of  Fort  Darling, 
in  June,  1864,  gave  up  his  young  life  as  a sacrifice  on 
the  altar  of  his  country.  This  young  hero,  one  of  the 
147  men  who  enlisted  from  Brownfield  during  the  Civil 
war,  and  the  first  to  be  killed  from  that  city,  was 
buried  in  Virginia  soil.  On  September  26,  1911,  the 
citizens  of  Brownfield,  led  by  Elias  P.  Morton,  of 
Augusta,  dedicated  the  Daniel  A.  Bean  Memorial  Mon- 
ument, a magnificent  bronze  statue  representing  the 
young  recruit  being  sworn  into  the  service.  It  stands 
seven  feet,  six  inches  high,  and  rests  on  two  huge 
boulders  taken  from  the  hills  of  Brownfield.  The 
memory  of  the  young  soldier  has  also  been  perpetuated 
through  the  naming  of  Daniel  A.  Bean  Post,  No.  160, 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

The  education  of  Charles  F.  Bean  was  secured  in  the 
schools  of  Brownfield,  North  Bridgeton  Academy  and 
Limerick  Academy,  and  when  he  was  eighteen  years 
of  age  he  left  home  and  traveled  west  to  New  Sharon, 
Alahaska  county,  Iowa.  There  he  clerked  for  a time 
in  a general  store,  but  subsequently  removed  to  Mich- 
igan and  accepted  a position  with  the  Michigan  Air 
Line  Railroad,  acting  as  conductor  during  the  years 
1875  and  1876.  In  1877  he  removed  to  Carbon  county, 
Wyoming  and  secured  employment  as  a clerk  in  a gen- 
eral store,  but  in  1879  engaged  in  the  cattle  business, 
and  during  the  summer  of  that  year  went  overland  with 
his  cattle,  following  the  trail  from  southern  Utah  to 
the  Laramie  Plains.  During  this  trip  he  was  constantly 
harassed  by  the  Indians,  but  managed  to  complete  his 
journey  in  safety.  In  the  spring  of  1883  Mr.  Bean 
came  to  Glendive,  iMontana,  and  here  was  engaged  in 
the  cattle  business  until  1890,  when  he  disposed  of 
his  interests.  He  was  elected  clerk  of  the  district 
court  in  1892  and  re-elected  in  1896,  and  also  served 
as  postmaster  of  Glendive,  having  been  appointed  by 
President  McKinley  to  that  position,  which  he  was 
compelled  to  resign  on  account  of  ill  health.  He  again 


1244 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


engaged  in  the  cattle  business  until  1907,  when  he  dis- 
posed of  his  stock,  and  took  up  sheep  raising,  but  in 
igop  re-entered  public  life  when  he  was  appointed 
county  assessor  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  death 
of  A.  II.  Johnson.  In  the  fall  of  1910  Mr.  Bean  was 
his  party’s  choice  for  this  office,  and  he  was  returned 
to  the  office  by  a handsome  majority.  In  his  official 
capacity  he  has  done  most  excellent  service,  combining 
rare  executive  powers  with  a truthful  and  tactful 
administration.  Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  Glen- 
dive Lodge,  No.  31,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  of  which  he  is  past 
master  and  secretary,  having  held  the  latter  office  for 
the  past  ten  years.  He  is  a Republican  in  politics,  and 
during  1911  acted  as  journal  clerk  of  the  senate  for 
the  Eleventh  session  of  the  state  senate. 

On  April  30,  1879,  Mr.  Bean  was  married  to  Miss 
Henrietta  Bangs,  who  was  born  in  Bureau  county,  Illi- 
nois, daughter  of  William  C.  and  Catherine  (Bartho- 
lomew) Bangs.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bean  have  had  four 
children:  Sylvanus  B.,  Fredericka,  Jennie  and  Grace. 

William  C.  Bangs  was  born  in  Brownfield,  Oxford 
county,  Maine,  and  as  a young  man  moved  to  Bureau 
county,  Illinois,  but  later  removed  to  Bourbon  county, 
Kansas,  locating  on  government  land  three  miles  north 
of  Little  Osage  and  eight  miles  north  of  Fort  Scott. 
This  was  during  the  troublous  times  just  preceding 
the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war,  and  Mr.  Bangs  soon  dis- 
covered that  free  state  men  were  an  undesired  quantity 
in  that  section.  He  was  under  constant  surveillance 
by  the  southern  sympathizers,  his  life  was  threatened 
on  a number  of  occasions,  and  matters  came  to  a cli- 
max when  twelve  pro-slavery  men  called  at  his  home 
to  attack  him.  He  had  been  warned  in  tirne,  however, 
and  during  the  time  that  they  searched  his  house  he 
was  safely  hidden  in  the  wild  sunflowers.  After  they 
had  given  up  the  search  and  ridden  away,  he  mounted 
his  horse  and  went  ten  miles  up  the  Osage  river  to  a 
free  state  settlement,  there  joining  a party  of  six  men 
who  were  starting  for  Fort  Scott  with  the  intention 
of  liberating  one  of  their  companions,  one  Ben  Rice, 
who  had  been  captured  by  slavery  men  and  chained  to 
the  floor  of  the  jail.  Of  this  party,  John  Brown,  and 
two  others,  Montgomery  and  Jameson,  were  the  leaders. 
They  secured  a twelve-pound  mounted  mortar  rifle, 
and,  the  river  being  high  at  the  fort,  went  up  to  Winsitt 
Ford,  crossed  the  river  and  attacked  the  fort,  and  in 
the  fight  which  followed  one  of  their  number  was 
wounded,  while  their  antagonists  had  several  men 
wounded  and  one  man  killed,  a deputy  United  States 
marshal  whom  it  was  supposed  had  been  implicated  in 
the  murder  of  Captain  R.  P.  Brown.  After  bringing 
their  errand  to  a successful  conclusion  the  little  party 
gathered  in  a number  of  negroes,  whom  they  took  to 
Topeka,  and  then  managed  to  transfer  them,  through 
the  famous  Underground  Railroad,  to  Canada.  Later 
Mr.  Bangs  returned  to  the  east,  and  when  the  war 
broke  out,  in  the  spring  of  1861,  enlisted  in  the  First 
Indiana  Cavalry,  and  was  later  a member  of  the  Twelfth 
and  Thirteenth  Missouri  Cavalry.  On  completing  his 
war  service  he  drove  a band  of  cattle  across  the  plains 
800  miles  to  Fort  Garland,  Colorado,  where  he  remained 
several  years  in  the  stock  business,  and  then  moved 
his  cattle  to  Wyoming  on  the  Northern  Pacific  Rail- 
road. He  subsequently  visited  the  states  of  Utah  and 
Oregon,  spent  five  years  on  his  old  ranch  in  Wyoming, 
was  also  engaged  in  the  cattle  business  in  Montana 
and  Dakota,  and  eventually  went  to  Louisiana  and 
located  near  the  mouth  of  the  Sabine  river.  From  that 
point  he  went  to  Monterey,  Mexico,  where  his  death 
occurred  in  March,  1907.  Mr.  Bangs  married  Cath- 
erine Bartholomew,  a native  of  New  York  state,  and 
they  had  a family  of  three  children,  of  whom  two  are 
living;  William,  who  resides  in  Monterey,  Mexico;  and 
Henrietta,  who  married  Mr.  Bean. 


Granville  Gibson  Colthron  is  a native  Missourian 
who  early  in  life  became  so  attracted  by  the  charm  of 
western  life  that  he  has  made  his  home  in  the  state  of 
Montana  for  the  past  thirty  years  or  thereabouts,  and 
is  now  successfully  engaged  in  the  stock  breeding  busi- 
ness, which  industry  he  carries  on  at  his  ranch  in  the 
vicinity  of  Billings.  He  was  born  in  Pike  county,  Mis- 
souri, May  II,  i860,  being  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Sarah 
Jane  (Todd)  Colthron,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of 
the  state  of  Virginia.  Thomas  Colthron  was  born 
January  25,  1836,  and  he  still  lives.  Of  his  union  with 
Sarah  Jane  Todd  eight  children  were  born,  six  of 
whom  are  living,  and  Granville  Gibson  Colthron,  our 
subject,  was  the  second  child. 

Thomas  Colthron  was  a pioneer  of  Calumet  township. 
Pike  county,  Missouri,  and  literally  hewed  for  himself  a 
farm  out  of  the  wilderness  of  that  section,  and  his  early 
pioneer  days  were  marked  by  unceasing  toil  and  many 
hardships.  Fie  built  himself  a two-story  log  house  on 
his  farm  in  the  early  days  of  his  residence  there,  and 
so  well  did  he  build  and  so  firmly  that  the  old  house 
stands  there  today  in  a splendid  state  of  preservation, 
and  is  occupied  by  one  of  his  children. 

With  the  opening  of  the  Civil  war  Thomas  Colthron 
enlisted  in  a Missouri  regiment  and  served  his  full 
term  in  the  service  of  his  country.  At  the  conclusion 
of  his  term  of  enlistment  he  was  honorably  discharged 
and  returned  to  his  home  in  Pike  county,  where  he 
once  more  took  up  the  old  familiar  rounds  of  daily 
life  on  his  farm  in  Calumet  township.  As  a citizen  for 
many  years  of  Pike  county,  he  has  occupied  a place 
of  prominence  and  has  always  ranked  high  in  the  es- 
teem and  trust  of  his  fellow  men.  He  is  of  Democratic 
persuasion,  and  has  always  been  more  or  less  inter- 
ested in  the  political  activities  of  his  district.  In  1900 
he  retired  from  active  business,  and  since  that  time 
has  spent  his  time  variously  with  his  children. 

Granville  Gibson  Colthron  spent  his  boyhood  in  the 
family  home  in  Calumet  township,  and  attended  the 
village  school.  When  he  reached  the  age  of  nineteen 
years  he  became  engaged  in  farming  on  his  own  re- 
sponsibility, which  occupation  he  followed  for  a few 
years.  He  became  dissatisfied  with  the  conditions  there, 
and  in  1883  when  he  was  twenty-three  years  old  he  went 
to  Billings,  Montana,  arriving  there  on  May  3rd.  For 
six  months  he  was  driver  of  the  stage  coach  carrying 
the  mail  between  Billings  and  Bull  Mountain,  in  the 
employ  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad.  Following 
this,  he  went  to  Bozeman,  Montana,  where  he  followed 
the  care-free  life  of  the  “cowpuncher”  for  a period  of 
ten  years.  It  was  then  that  he  learned  the  ranch  busi- 
ness in  its  smallest  detail,  while  employed  by  the  well- 
known  Ranch  79  and  the  3-V-Ranch.  During  these 
years  he  lived  carefully,  saving  his  wages  and  buying 
cattle  of  his  own,  and  in  1894  he  engaged  in  the  butcher 
business  with  his  father-in-law,  Andrew  J.  Wilkinson, 
at  Billings,  Montana.  This  occupation  held  him  for 
about  two  years  after  which  he  bought  a ranch  in  Still- 
water and  took  up  farming.  The  move  was  unsatisfac- 
tory, however,  and  he  shortly  returned  to  Billings  after 
selling  his  ranch,  and  became  actively  engaged  in  the 
ice  business.  In  the  space  of  a year  he  changed  his 
interests  from  the  ice  business  to  the  livery  trade,  and 
he  remained  in  that  occupation  for  five  years.  Later  he 
sold  out  the  entire  business  and  put  the  proceeds  into 
a ranch  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  acres  of  farm- 
ing land  seven  miles  from  the  city  of  Billings.  He 
went  into  the  business  of  breeding  fancy  horses  and 
cattle,  and  thus  far  his  efforts  in  that  line  have  been 
rewarded  with  a very  pleasurable  degree  of  success. 
He  has  on  his  place  about  a hundred  head  of  thor- 
oughbred horses  of  different  strains,  and  a handsome 
herd  of  standard  Hereford  cattle  in  goodly  numbers. 

In  addition,  Mr.  Colthron  has  built  himself  a fine 
home  in  Billings  where  he  lives  with  his  family,  the 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1245 


close  proximity  of  his  ranch  making-  it  possible  for 
him  to  make  his  home  in  the  city. 

On  February  i6,  1892,  Mr.  Colthron  was  married  to 
Miss  Flora  Wilkinson,  who,  like  her  husband,  was 
born  in  Pike  county,  and  who  is  a daughter  of  Andrew 
J.  Wilkinson,  with  whom  Mr.  Colthron  later  engaged 
in  the  meat  business  in  Montana. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Colthron  are  the  oarents  of  two  chil- 
dren— a daughter,  Flelen,  and  a son,  Thurston. 

Albert  Bourbonniere.  Among  the  successful  busi- 
ness careers  in  the  commercial  records  of  Montana, 
one  that  receives  unequivocal  recognition  and  admira- 
tion is  that  of  the  well-known  wholesale  and  retail 
merchant  of  Anaconda,  Albert  Bourbonniere.  One  of 
the  most  prosperous  men  of  the  state  and  head  of  the 
Bourbonniere  Wholesale  and  Retail  Meat  Company,  he 
has  made  his  success  as  the  result  of  his  own  well- 
directed  efforts.  He  has  been  a business  builder,  has 
worked  on  substantial  lines,  and  has  attained  a position 
of  influence  and  esteem  wherever  known. 

Born  on  a farm  at  St.  Tysant,  Canada,  on  the  29th 
of  July,  1858,  he  had  the  advantages  of  the  public 
schools  up  to  the  age  of  thirteen,  and  then  went  to 
work,  following  various  occupations  in  Canada  until 
he  was  twenty-five  years  of  age.  He  then  came  west 
and  for  two  years  was  a grocer’s  clerk  in  Butte,  Mon- 
tana, during  the  following  year  was  in  the  livery  business 
for  himself  at  Walkerville,  and  then  returned  to  Butte 
and  established  a grocery  business,  which  he  con- 
ducted successfully  until  1888.  In  February  of  that 
year,  having  sold  his  business  in  Butte,  he  established 
in  Anaconda  a wholesale  meat  concern,  which  was  the 
beginning  of  the  business  which  has  been  developed 
under  his  management  to  the  present  large  and 
important  establishment  among  Anaconda’s  largest 
mercantile  houses.  This  is  not  the  only  enterprise  to 
which  he  has  given  his  time  and  energies  since  taking 
up  his  residence  in  Montana.  He  has  been  interested 
in  mining,  owning  some  valuable  properties  in  the  min- 
ing districts,  and  also  has  ranch  lands  and  city  real 
estate.  Along  with  material  prosperity  he  has  won 
many  friends,  and  both  in  private  life  and  business 
affairs  enjoys  a wholehearted  esteem. 

In  politics  a Republican,  in  the  fall  of  1910  he  was 
called  upon  by  his  fellow  citizens  to  serve  a six  years’ 
term  as  county  commissioner,  an  office  in  which  he  is 
giving  efficient  service  to  the  people.  In  Masonry  he 
has  taken  twelve  degrees,  and  is  also  affiliated  with 
the  Elks.  In  earlier  years  he  was  much  given  to  the 
sports  afield. 

Mr.  Bourbonniere  was  the  son  of  Demas  and  Vita- 
line  (Morin)  Bourbonniere,  both  natives  of  Canada. 
His  father,  now  deceased,  was  a substantial  farmer,  and 
his  mother  still  resides  on  the  old  home  farm.  Their 
children,  besides  Albert,  were  as  follows : Louis,  of 

North  Adams,  Massachusetts;  Alexander,  who  is  a 
farmer  in  Canada;  Joseph,  deceased,  who  was  a prom- 
inent publisher  at  Fall  River,  Massachusetts ; Charles, 
also  a resident  of  that  city ; Eulalia,  now  Mrs,  Daud- 
lin,  of  Connecticut ; Rose,  the  wife  of  Louis  Elbert,  of 
North  Adams,  Massachusetts ; and  Marian,  married 
and  a resident  of  Rockston  Falls,  Canada. 

George  W.  Husted.  By  reason  of  more  than  15 
Husted  is  entitled  to  be  named  as  the  oldest  druggist 
in  Livingston,  where  he  is  also  known  as  a man  of 
the  highest  integrity  and  business  probity,  and  a citi- 
zen who  has  ever  had  the  welfare  of  his  municipality 
at  heart.  Practically  the  whole  of  Mr.  Husted’s  career 
has  been  spent  in  the  line  of  endeavor  in  which  he  is 
now  engaged,  and  his  years  of  experience  have  made 
him  thoroughly  conversant  with  every  branch  of  phar- 
maceutical work,  thus  assuring  his  patrons  of  expert 
attention.  Mr.  Husted  is  a native  of  Sauk  Center. 
Stearns  county,  Minnesota,  and  was  born  April  21, 
1865,  a son  of  Wilson  and  Abigail  (Pease)  Husted. 


Wilson  Husted  was  born  in  Steuben  county.  New 
York,  in  1821,  and  there  assisted  his  father  in  his 
farming  and  woolen  mill  operations.  In  1852  he  made 
his  way  to  Blue  Earth  county,  Minnesota,  locating  near 
the  present  site  of  Garden  City,  where  he  was  a 
pioneer.  Subsequently  he  removed  to  Douglas  county, 
Minnesota,  and  while  there  enlisted  in  the  First  Minne- 
sota Volunteers  to  repulse  the  attacks  of  the  hostile 
Indians.  He  was  later  at  Fort  Ripley,  Kansas,  under 
the  command  of  General  Sibley,  and  for  a time  was  de- 
tailed to  take  horses  north  to  recuperate  after  the  close 
of  the  war.  When  his  service  was  completed  he  re- 
turned to  his  Douglas  county -home,  but  in  i86g  went 
to  Pennsylvania,  where  he  spent  two  years,  then  again 
locating  in  Douglas  county,  and  there  he  died  in  the 
faith  of  the  Baptist  church,  in  1874.  He  was  a stal- 
wart Republican  in  politics,  but  never  held  office.  His 
wife,  born  in  Porter  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1825, 
died  in  1909,  having  been  the  mother  of  seven  children, 
of  whom  George  W.  is  the  only  survivor. 

The  early  education  of  George  W.  Husted  was  se- 
cured in  a log  schoolhouse  near  his  father’s  farm  in 
Douglas  county.  He  was  but  nine  years  of  age  when 
his  father  died,  and  as  a youth  started  to  learn  the  drug 
business  in  Alexandria.  Minnesota.  He  was  only  eigh- 
teen years  old  when  he  first  came  to  Livingston,  and 
after  he  had  worked  for  a time  in  a brickyard  was 
able  to  send  for  his  mother.  In  1884  thev  located  on 
a tract  of  land  three  miles  up  the  canyon  from  Living- 
ston, where  they  engaged  in  dairying  and  gardening, 
although  a part  of  the  youth’s  time  was  spent  in  work- 
ing in  a drug  store  in  Livingston.  After  about  seven 
years  Mr.  Husted  and  his  mother  removed  to  the 
Crow  Indian  reservation,  where  they  had  a drove  of 
cattle,  but  he  still  gave  the  greater  part  of  his  atten- 
tion to_  the  drug  business,  having  formed  a partner- 
ship with  Judge  Bender  in  the  spring  of  1875,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Bender  & Husted.  This  association 
continued  until  July,  1895,  when  Mr.  Husted  purchased 
the  interests  of  his  partner,  and  since  that  time  has 
carried  on  the  business  alone,  thus  being  the  oldest 
pharmacist  in  Livingston.  He  has  a well-equipped, 
fully  stocked  establishment  at  No.  119  W.  Park  street, 
where  may  be  found  all  articles  usual  to  a first-class 
pharmacy.  In  the  filling  of  prescriptions  he  has  built 
up  a large  trade,  his  absolute  accuracy  having  won 
the  confidence  of  the  people.  Although  the  drug  busi- 
ness demands  the  greater  part  of  his  time,  he  still 
engages  to  some  extent  in  stock  raising  and  has  been 
successful  in  exhibitions  of  an  agricultural  nature.  In 
his  political  views,  Mr.  Husted  is  Republican.  He 
takes  an  active  interest  in  fraternal  work,  and  belongs 
to  Livingston  Lodge  No.  246,  B.  P.  O.  E.,  and  Yellow- 
stone Lodge  No.  10,  K.  P. 

Mr.  Husted  was  married  March  24,  1894,  to  Miss 
Gertrude  Lewellin,  who  was  born  at  Wilkes  Barre, 
Pennsylvania,  daughter  of  Charles  E.  and  Elizabeth 
(Henry)  Lewellin.  Her  father,  who  is  now  deceased, 
came  to  Montana  in  1889,  and  was  associated  with 
Marcus  Daly  in  surveying  the  Aldredge  mines.  His 
widow  survives  him  and  resides  in  Livingston,  being  a 
well-known  member  of  the  Episcopal  church,  as  are 
also  her  three  daughters.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Husted  have 
two  daughters ; Wiletta  G.  and  Mildred  W. 

Robert  Davis  Alton,  M.  D.,  is  a native  of  Carbon- 
dale,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  born  February  9,  i860,  a 
son  of  Davis  and  Helen  Caroline  (Williams)  Alton. 
His  father,  a native  of  New  York,  and  a graduate  of 
Williams  College,  removed  to  Pennsylvania  as  a 
young  man,  and  prior  to  the  outbreak  of  the 
Civil  war  was  engaged  in  railroad  building  in 
Kentucky.  When  hostilities  began  he  joined  the  Union 
service,  in  the  paymaster’s  department,  and  at  the  close 
of  the  struggle  removed  to  Sanduski',  Ohio,  where  he 


124G 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


was  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  until 
his  death  in  1867.  His  wife,  a native  of  Connecticut, 
survived  him  until  1884  and  died  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
four  years.  1'hey  had  two  children;  Jesse  W.,  who 
at  the  lime  of  his  death,  wdien  forty-four  years  old, 
was  engaged  in  business  in  Cleveland,  Ohio ; and  Robert 
Davis. 

The  early  education  of  Robert  D.  Alton  was  secured 
in  the  schools  of  Burlington,  New  Jersey,  and  in  1882 
he  w'as  graduated  from  the  medical  department  of 
Wooster  College,  Cleveland,  Ohio.  Subsequently  he 
took  post-graduate  work  in  Chicago  and  New  York 
City,  and  in  1883  came  to  Livingston,  Montana,  where 
he  has  since  been  engaged  in  a general  practice.  He 
has  a large  and  representative  practice,  and  as  a close 
;md  careful  student  has  advanced  in  his  profession  along 
with  the  progress  made  in  the  science  of  medicine. 
He  takes  an  active  interest  in  the  work  of  the  Park 
County  Medical  Society,  the  Montana  State  Medical 
Society  and  the  American  Medical  Association,  of  all 
of  which  he  is  a valued  member,  and  has  also  shown 
himself  an  advocate  of  education  by  serving  as  a 
member  of  the  school  board.  Fraternally,  the  doctor 
is  connected  with  Livingston  Lodge  No.  32,  A.  F.  & 
A.  A'L,  Livingston  Chapter  No,  7.  R.  A.  M.,  and  St. 
Bernard  Commandery  No.  6,  K.  T.  His  politics  are 
those  of  the  Republican  party,  hut  he  has  not  cared 
to  enter  the  public  arena  as  an  office  seeker. 

On  February  15,  1888,  Dr.  Alton  was  married  to 
Miss  Anna  IMintie,  who  was  born  in  Wisconsin,  daugh- 
ter of  Fergus  L.  and  Elinor  (Russell)  Mintie,  natives 
of  that  state,  the  former  of  whom  died  at  the  age  of 
sixty  years,  while  the  latter  still  survives  and  makes 
lier  home  in  Livingston.  Mrs.  Alton  has  one  brother, 
Arthur.  Mr.  Mintie  served  as  a lieutenant  in  a Con- 
necticut volunteer  regiment  durin.g  the  Civil  war,  after 
the  close  of  wdiich  he  removed  to  Wisconsin  and  en- 
gaged in  the  lumber  business.  He  sulisequently  fol- 
lowed the  same  line  in  Kansas,  and  his  career  was 
finished  at  Oswego,  Oregon.  A prominent  Republican, 
he  represented  his  district  in  the  Oregon  legislature, 
and  was  also  well  known  in  Masonry,  havin.g  reached 
the  Shriller  de.gree.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Alton  have  had  one 
son;  Robert  M.,  who  is  now  a law  student  in  the 
University  of  Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor. 

CoLONKL  Francis  M.  Malone.  With  an  unblemished 
record  for  integrity  in  his  business  dealings,  and  hold- 
ing prestige  as  a veteran  of  the  Civil  war.  Colonel 
Francis  M.  Malone,  of  Miles  City,  is  one  of  those 
whose  names  are  indelibly  associated  with  the  progress 
of  Montana  since  the  commencement  of  its  phenome- 
nal development  in  recent  years.  Colonel  Malone  was 
horn  at  Toronto.  Vermilion  county,  Indiana,  July  31, 
1838.  and  is  a son  of  William  L.  and  Nancy  (Winn) 
Malone.  His  father  was  a native  of  Center  county, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  horn  in  1803,  and  when 
a young  man  removed  to  Health  township.  Vermil- 
ion county,  Indiana,  where  he  took  up  government 
land  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  in 
May,  1878.  Mrs.  Malone,  mother  of  the  Colonel,  was 
horn  at  Zanesville,  Stark  county,  Ohio,  and  died  at 
the  age  of  tliirty-five  years,  having  been  the  mother 
of  a large  family,  Francis  iU.  being  the  second  in  or- 
der of  birth. 

Colonel  Malone  spent  his  boyhood  days  under  the 
parental  roof,  attending  the  district  schools  in  winter 
and  working  on  the  home  farm  in  summer  until  he 
was  eighteen  years  of  age,  at  which  time  he  went  to 
Aloweaqua,  Shelby  county,  Illinois,  and  secured  em- 
ployment as  a farm  hand.  There,  on  August  12,  1861, 
he  enlisted  in  a company  which  tendered  its  services 
to  Governor  _ Yates,  but  the  quota  then  being  full,  it 
was  sent  with  three  companies  f’'om  Chicago  and 
one  from  Bureau  county.  Illinois,  to  Quincy,  where 
it  was  enrolled  and  mustered  into  the  service  of  what 


was  then  the  First  Kansas  Cavalry,  afterwards  changed 
into  the  Seventh  Kansas,  known  as  the  John  Brown, 
Jr.,  Regiment,  Captain  Brown,  of  Ashtabula,  Ohio, 
commanding  a company  in  the  regiment.  Subse- 
quently the  company  was  ordered  to  Fort  Leaven- 
worth, Kansas,  • and  there  the  regiment  was  organized 
as  the  First  Kansas  Cavalry,  Colonel  Malone  being 
mustered  in  as  captain  of  Company  F,  September  14, 
1861.  The  regiment  took  part  in  the  campaign  along 
the  borders  of  Missouri,  and  in  the  early  part  of  1862 
was  ordered  to  Shiloh,  but  its  destination  was  subse- 
quently changed  to  Columbus,  Kentucky.  It  partici- 
pated in  the  opening  of  the  railroad  to  Corinth,  Mis- 
sissippi, reporting  to  General  Rosecrans,  and  being 
assigned  to  a brigade  commanded  by  Colonel  Philip 
Sheridan,  The  organization  was  in  many  hard-fought 
battles  with  the  Sixteenth  Army  Corps,  commanded 
by  General  A.  J.  Smith.  They  re-enlisted  as  veterans 
iMovember  19,  1864,  being  the  first  regiment  in  the 
brigade  in  Mississippi  granted  a furlough  to  return 
home,  and  from  Fort  Leavenworth  the  regiment  was 
ordered  to  St.  Louis.  From  there  it  was  sent  to  re- 
port to  General  Canby  at  New  Orleans,  but  was  taken 
off  the  boats  at  Memphis,  Tennessee,  and  ordered  to 
report  to  General  A.  J.  Smith,  being  subsequently 
sent  out  against  General  Forest  after  participating  with 
General  Smith  in  many  of  the  engagements  he  was 
in.  Captain  Malone  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
major,  August  12,  1863,  and  was  made  lieutenant- 
colonel  November  17,  1864.  He  was  commissioned 
colonel  of  the  regiment  by  Governor  Crawford,  Init 
not  having  the  required  number  of  men  could  not 
muster  in.  After  the  close  of  the  Civil  war  he  par- 
ticipated in  Indian  engagements  and  was  permanent 
post  commander  at  Fort  Carney,  Nebraska,  but  was 
ordered  to  Fort  Leavenworth,  and  was  there  mus- 
tered out  September  29,  1865,  with  his  regiment.  Dur- 
ing the  battle  of  Shiloh.  Colonel  Malone  fought  with 
the  Thirty-second  Illinois,  being  on  detached  duty  at 
that  time,  and  he  was  also  with  his  own  regiment  in 
all  of  its  battles,  which  included ; Litttle  Blue,  Santa 
Fe,  Independence,  Columbus,  Kossuth,  Rienzi,  Bald- 
win, luka,  Corinth,  Ruckersville,  Jumpertown,  Cold- 
water,  Holly  Springs,  Oxford,  Germantown,  Coldwater 
Station,  Salisbury,  Leighton,  Tupelo,  Florence,  Swal- 
low’s Bluff,  Harrisburg,  Byhalia,  Wyatt,  Memphis, 
Ripley,  King’s  Creek,  Lafayette,  New  Albany,  Ellis- 
town,  Tallahatchee  River,  and  Hurricane  Creek.  The 
regiment,  which  belonged  to  Washburn’s  Division 
of  the  Sixteenth  Army  Corps,  lost  fifty-eight  killed 
and  1 15  from  disease.  During  the  engagement  at  Wy- 
att, Mississippi,  the  Union  forces  were  fighting  des- 
perately against  odds,  but  were  handicapped  by  be- 
ing subjected  to  a withering  fire  from  a block  house 
occupied  on  the  left  by  the  Confederates.  Colonel 
Malone,  at  that  time  major,  informed  General  Phil- 
lips that  with  five  hundred  men  he  believed  he  could 
take  the  Confederate  position,  and  after  a brave  and 
gallant  charge  at  ten  o’clock  at  night  this  was  ac- 
complished. While  riding  near  the  fort,  however. 
Major  Malone’s  horse  fell  backwards  into  a deep 
well,  pulling  him  with  it,  and  it  was  not  until  after 
the  battle  had  finished  that  he  was  discovered,  badly 
injured.  His  men  succeeded  in  drawing  him  out 
of  the  well  with  ropes,  a matter  of  some  forty  feet. 
The  horse,  however,  was  left  to  its  fate.  Colonel 
Malone’s  army  record  entitles  him  to  the  respect  and 
esteem  of  all  who  appreciate  the  great  service  ren- 
dered by  the  heroes  of  the  war  between  the  states. 
A brave  and  gallant  soldier,  ever  ready  to  lead  his 
men  into  the  thickest  of  the  fight  and  never  asking 
them  to  go  where  he  would  not  himself  venture,  he 
won  the  admiration  of  the  ranks  and  the  esteem  of 
his  fellow  officers. 

.“\fter  being  mustered  out  of  the  service.  Colonel 
Alalone  engaged  for  a time  in  railroad  contracting  in 


%/ ^ ^,771 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1247 


Illinois,  and  subsequently  identified  himself  with  lead 
mining  in  Kansas  and  near  Joplin,  Missouri.  During 
1878  and  1879  he  was  in  the  gold  and  silver  fields  of 
Leadville,  Colorado,  then  returning  to  Indianapolis, 
Indiana,  and  engaging  in  the  live  stock  commission 
business.  Subsequently  he  was  employed  by  the  Chi- 
cago, Milwaukee  & St.  Paul  Railroad  as  traveling 
freight  agent,  with  headquarters  at  Indianapolis,  and 
in  1883  came  to  Miles  City,  Montana,  as  representative 
of  the  company's  live  stock  department.  He  was  later 
made  general  agent  for  this  road  to  cover  all  the 
territory  to  Puget  Sound  and  Seattle,  Washington, 
with  headquarters  in  Helena,  M9ntana,  a capacity  in 
which  he  served  until  being  retired  on  half  pay,  in 
iMarch,  1907.  The  following  year  he  was  retired  with- 
out pay.  Colonel  Malone  has  been  extensively  en- 
gaged in  the  sheep  business  for  a number  of  years, 
and  at  the  present  time  is  a member  of  the  firm  of 
Malone  & Thomas.  At  the  time  the  battleship  Maine 
was  sunk  in  Havana  Harbor,  he  offered  his  services 
to  the  United  States  by  wiring  to  the  Hon.  Thomas 
H.  Carter,  United  States  senator  from  Montana  at 
that  time,  and  on  April  i,  1898,  received  a compli- 
mentary reply  in  which  the  senator  stated  he  would 
take  pleasure  in  transmitting  the  message  to  the 
Secretary  of  War.  A stanch  Republican  in  his  politi- 
cal proclivities.  Colonel  Malone  was  a state  commis- 
sioner to  erect  the  State  Insane  Asylum  at  Anna,  Il- 
linois, and  the  State  Normal  School  at  Carbondale, 
Illinois;  was  presidential  elector  from  Montana  in 
1892,  and  a delegate  from  the  state  to  the  Republi- 
can convention  at  Chicago  in  1908.  He  is  a member 
of  Pana  Lodge,  No.  226,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  Pana,  Illi- 
nois; Pana  Chapter,  No.  115,  R.  A.  iM. ; Miles  Com- 
mandery.  No.  11,  K.  T.,  Miles  City;  and  Algeria  Tem- 
ple, A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.,  Helena.  He  also  belongs  to 
the  Military  Order  of  Loyal  Legions  of  the  United 
States,  Commandery  of  the  State  of  Minnesota,  St. 
Paul ; and  is  a member  of  iMiles  City  Lodge,  No. 
537,  B.  P.  O.  E. 

On  March  8,  i860.  Colonel  Malone  was  united  m 
marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Casey,  who  was  born 
at  Moweaqua,  Shelby  county,  Illinois,  daughter  of 
Levi  and  Sarah  Casey.  ]Mr.  Casey,  whose  birth  oc- 
curred at  Vanburensburg,  near  Vandalia,  was  the  first 
white  child  born  in  Bond  county,  Illinois,  and  the 
greater  part  of  his  life  was  spent  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits in  the  Prairie  state,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy  years.  Elizabeth  was  the  oldest  of  five  chil- 
dren. On  March  8,  1910,  Colonel  and  Mrs.  Malone 
celebrated  their  golden  wedding  at  Wibaux  Hall, 
Miles  City,  when  they  were  the  recipients  of  many 
handsome  presents  from  their  numerous  friends  in 
the  city.  As  to  the  personal  worth  of  Colonel  Ma- 
lone, it  may  be  said  that  no  man’s  character,  in  this 
respect,  will  stand  a severer  scrutiny,  for  in  all  the 
transactions  of  life  his  conduct  is  marked  by  the  most 
scrupulous  integrity,  and  he  guards  his  honor  with 
that  sensitive  care  which  has  ever  kept  it  far  above 
suspicion. 

Thomas  Jefferson  Porter.  One  of  the  representa- 
tive members  of  the  Montana  legal  profession,  who  has 
been  a resident  of  Miles  City  for  more  than  a quarter 
of  a century,  is  Thomas  Jefferson  Porter,  whose  long 
and  useful  career  has  lieen  characterized  by  his  con- 
nection with  many  important  cases  in  litigation.  He  is 
a native  of  the  Buckeye  state,  having  been  born  No- 
vember 17,  1858,  near  Gallipolis,  Gallia  county,  Ohio, 
and  is  a son  of  James  V.  and  Mary  A.  (Leaper)  Por- 
ter. 

James  V.  Porter,  also  a native  of  Ohio,  passed  his 
life  in  farming  and  stock  growing.  Clinton  Porter, 
the  paternal  great-grandfather  of  Thomas  J.,  went  from 
the  north  of  Ireland  to  England,  and  from  thence,  dur- 
ing the  Revolutionary  war,  came  to  America  in  com- 


pany with  his  brothers.  They  left  the  English  port  as 
stowawar's  in  pork  barrels,  coming  to  this  country  be- 
cause they  sympathized  with  the  colonists  in  their  at- 
tempt to  throw  off  the  yoke  of  British  oppression,  but 
while  on  the  trip  across  the  ocean  they  were  discovered 
and  one  of  the  brothers  was  pressed  into  the  service  of 
the  English  navy.  He  was  able  to  de.sert,  however, 
and  joined  his  brothers  in  giving  aid  to  the  American 
patriots.  The  family  were  shipbuilders  by  vocation, 
and  after  immigrating  to  Marietta,  Ohio,  built  two 
small  vessels  for  Aaron  Burr  and  Harman  Blenner- 
hassett,  with  which  they  started  down  the  Ohio  river, 
the  great-grandfather  of  Mr.  Porter  losing  his  life  on 
this  trip,  while  attempting  to  pass  over  the  falls  of  the 
Ohio.  He  is  buried  in  Louisville,  Kentucky.  The  other 
boat  was  delivered  to  Colonel  Burr,  and  it  is  a matter 
of  record  that  this  traitor  to  his  country’s  cause  never 
made  payment  for  the  vessel.  The  great-grandfather 
of  Mr.  Porter  left  two  sons : Thomas  J.,  the  grand- 
father of  our  subject;  and  James  D.,  who  was  known 
as  the  “Kentucky  Giant,”  and  resided  at  Louisville. 
The  mother  of  Mr.  Porter  was  born  in  Steubenville, 
Ohio,  a daughter  of  John  L.  Leaper,  who  was  a steam- 
boat captain  up  to  the  time  of  the  Civil  war,  when  he 
entered  the  Union  army  as  captain  of  the  Seventh  Ohio 
Cavalry,  serving  under  Generals  Hayes,  Garfield  and 
McKinley,  and  being  mustered  out  as  colonel  of  his 
regiment.  James  V.  and  Mary  A.  (Leaper)  Porter  had 
eight  children,  of  whom  Thomas  Jefferson  was  the 
eldest. 

The  early  education  of  Thomas  J.  Porter  was  secured 
in  the  public  schools,  and  this  was  supplemented  by  a 
three  years’  attendance  at  the  State  Normal  School, 
Lebanon.  In  the  fall  of  1876  he  engaged  in  teaching, 
a profession  which  he  followed  for  three  years  in  Ohio, 
and  then  returned  to  the  normal  school  and  completed 
the  prescribed  course,  graduating  with  the  class  of 
1882.  His  success  as  an  educator  resulted  in  his  soon 
becoming  superintendent  of  the  public  schools  of  Jack- 
son,  Tennessee,  and  there  he  organized  and  perfected 
a methodical  and  properly  graded  school  system  and 
also  conducted  the  first  summer  normal  school  of 
Tennessee.  After  continuing  at  Jackson  for  two  years 
he  returned  to  Lebanon,  Ohio,  and  taught  two  years. 
For  some  time  he  had  desired  to  enter  the  field  of  law, 
and  with  this  end  in  view  had  spent  all  of  his  leisure 
hours  in  careful  studj%  being  well  prepared  to  enter 
the  offices  of  John  E.  Smith,  a prominent  attorney  of 
Lebanon,  with  whom  he  continued  until  the  fall  of  1886. 
He  was  then  admitted  to  the  bar  of  the  state,  and 
during  the  same  year  came  to  IMontana  as  principal 
of  the  Miles  City  schools,  bringing  with  him  a letter 
of  introduction  from  President  McKinley  to  ex-Gov- 
ernor  Potts,  who  had  for  twelve  years  been  the  incum- 
bent of  the  gubernatorial  office  in  the  territory  of  Mon- 
tana. At  the  end  of  his  second  year  at  Miles  City,  Mr. 
Porter  resigned  the  superintendency  of  the  schools  and 
entered  into  a professional  partnership  with  Judge  J. 
W.  Strevell,  this  alliance  continuing  for  many  years, 
during  which  the  associates  built  up  a large  and  profit- 
able clientele. 

In  his  political  belief  Mr.  Porter  is  an  earnest  Repub- 
lican, and  has  always  been  active  in  his  support  of  that 
organization’s  candidates  and  policies.  In  1896  he  was 
elected  county  attorney,  and  the  excellent  service  he 
rendered  during  his  first  term  resulted  in  his  election  to 
succeed  himself.  He  was  the  Republican  nominee  for 
attorney  general  in  1900.  but  owing  to  the  political 
conditions  then  existing  met  with  defeat  at  the  polls. 
He  made  a thorough  and  vigorous  canvass,  speaking 
in  every  city  and  town  of  appreciable  population  in 
the  state.  Mr.  Porter  has  been  intimately  connected 
with  much  important  litigation,  both  civil  and  criminal. 
He  was  prosecutor  in  the  Indian  cases  growing  out  of 
the  murder  of  John  Hoover,  and  also  in  the  Geddes’ 
case,  while  he  was  assistant  prosecuting  attorney  at 


]iM8 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


Glendive  in  the  Hurst  murder  case.  Through  his  ef- 
forts. to  a considerable  degree,  was  secured  from  the 
millionaire  steel  magnate  and  philanthropist,  Andrew 
Carnegie,  the  contribution  of  $10,000  for  the  establish- 
ment ”of’  the  Carnegie  Public  Library  at  Miles  City, 
and  in  many  other  causes  and  ways  he  has  shown  his 
deep  interest  in  the  progress  and  prosperity  of  his  city, 
countv  and  state.  Fraternally  Mr.  Porter  is  affiliated 
with  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  the  B.  P.  O.  E.  and  the  K.  of 
P.,  in  all  of  which  he  is  immensely  popular,  and  in  the 
latter  organization  served  as  grand  chancellor  of  the 
Grand  Lodge  of  the  state  in  1897. 

Mr  Porter  was  married  January  23,  1901,  to  Miss 
Iflizabeth  Hawley,  who  was  born  in  Northumberland 
county,  Pennsylvania,  daughter  of  John  B.  Hawley,  for 
a number  of  years  an  influential  citizen  of  the  Key- 
stone state.  He  died  March  the  29,  1912,  at  his  home  m 
Miles  City. 

E.  Palmer  Searles.  The  present  generation  has 
little  conception  of  what  was  endured  by  the  early  pio- 
neers of  Montana,  or  appreciation  of  the  changes  that 
have  taken  place  in  agricultural  methods,,  and  which 
have  transformed  ranch  life  to  such  an  extent  that 
today  it  offers  more  inducements  than  at  any  previous 
time  in  the  country’s  history.  These  conditions  may  be 
the  result  of  the  endurance  and  bravery  of  those  who 
blazed  the  trail  for  civilization.  Yellowstone  county 
has  a most  interesting  history,  made  so  by  the  activities 
of  its  pioneers,  and  a record  of  their  lives  is  appropriate 
■ ind  necessary  in  preparing  a work  that  has  to  do  with 
the  locality.  Prominent  among  the  highly  esteemed 
citizens  of  Park  City,  one  who  came  to  the  Yellow- 
stone valley  as  a pioneer,  and  whose  life  has  been  active 
and  full  of  thrilling  experiences,  is  E.  Palmer  Searles, 
who  now  is  living  retired.  He  was  born  in  Norwich, 
Ontario,  June  9>  1848,  and  is  a son  of  Samuel  and 
Hannah  (Palmer)  Searles. 

Samuel  Searles,  who  was  a farmer  by  occupation, 
was  also  a native  of  Ontario,  and  until  1856  carried  on 
operations  on  a farm  in  Canada.  In  that  year  he  re- 
moved to  the  Territory  of  Wisconsin,  settling  in  the 
wilderness  where  he  cleared  and  cultivated  a farm, 
and  there  died  in  1906',  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years. 
Politically  a Republican,  he  held  various  township  of- 
fices, and  for  twenty-eight  years  acted  as  postmaster 
at  Oasis,  Waussaro  county,  Wisconsin.  His  wife  passed 
away  in  1905,  when  seventy-two  years  of  age,  having 
been  the  mother  of  seven  sons  and  two  daughters,  only 
one  of  the  children  being^  deceased. 

E.  Palmer  Searles  received  his  education^  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Waussaro  county,  Wisconsin,  and  was 
reared  to  agricultural  pursuits  on  the  wild  Wisconsin 
property.  When  he  was  twenty-two  years  of  age  he 
left  home  and  went  to  the  city  of  Fond  du  Lac,  Wiscon- 
sin, where  he  entered  the  employ  of  C.  J.  Myers,  in  a 
sash,  door  and  blind  factory.  Subsequently,  he  re- 
moved to  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  where  he  secured  em- 
ployment as  a carpenter  until  the  spring  of  1882,  when 
he  joined  a colony  known  as  the  Ripon  Colony,  from 
Ripon,  Wisconsin.  This  little  band  of  emigrants  took 
the  train  as  far  as  Miles  City,  Montana,  the  western 
terminus  of  the  railroad,  and  from  that  point  traveled 
overland,  the  men  walking  and  the  women  and  children 
riding  in  wagons.  They  arrived  at  old  Coulson,  vvhere 
the  city  of  Billings  now  stands,  and  after  remaining 
here  for  about  a week,  Mr.  Searles  moved  on  up  the 
Yellowstone  to  the  present  site  of  Park  City,  where  he 
took  up  a homestead. 

During  the  winter  of  1883-4  the  Indians  made  a raid 
on  the  settlers,  stealing  a number  of  horses  from  Mr. 
Searles  and  his  neighbors,  a Mr.  McCool  and  Mr. 
Sweet,  the  latter  of  whom  had  notified  Mr.  Searles  of 
the  raid.  As  soon  as  possible,  Mr.  Sweet  and  Mr. 
Searles  started  out  on  the  trail  of  the  Indians,  it  being 
arranged  that  Mr.  McCool  was  to  stay  and  organize  a 


party  to  follow  them,  to  give  them  assistance  if  neces- 
sary, and  to  bring  along  food  and  blankets.  The  pur- 
suers followed  the  hostiles  into  the  Lake  basin  and  up 
to  the  ranch  of  W.  J.  Sackett,  where  they  arrived  at 
nine  o’clock  at  night.  While  warming  themselves  at 
the  latter’s  home,  the  night  being  bitterly  cold,  a party 
of  neighbors  passed  by  Sackett’s  house,  unaware  of 
their  presence,  and  thus  oroper  connections,  as  before 
planned,  were  not  made.  Again  Mr.  Searles  and  Mr. 
Sackett  and  Mr.  McCool  took  up  the  trail  and  during 
the  trip  met  up  with  three  friendly  Indians,  one  of 
whom  was  a chief.  Plenty  Cows.  Accompanied  by  the 
three  Indians,  at  daybreak  they  overtook  the  raiding 
party,  finding  them  asleep  behind  some  rocks,  and  an 
attack  was  immediately  made,  two  of  the  hostiles  being 
killed.  After  recovering  their  horses,  the  little  party 
stood  guard  over  the  animals  all  day  Sunday,  awaiting 
the  arrival  of  the  relief  party.  Subsequently  they  re- 
moved to  the  Rimrocks,  out  of  rifle  range  of  the 
Indians,  but  soon  became  intensely  hungry  and  were 
compelled  to  kill  a calf  and  eat  the  meat  raw.  No  shel- 
ter could  be  found,  but  they  continued  to  wait  for  the 
relief  party,  whom  it  was  afterwards  found  had  become 
lost  during  the  heavy  blizzard.  During  this  long  and 
tedious  wait,  the  chief  Plenty  Cows  formed  a diversion 
by  asking  permission  to  go  and  get  the  scalps  of  the  two 
Indians  who  had  been  killed,  and  this  being  granted,  he 
and  two  others  went  and  brought  the  bodies  into  the 
camp.  At  this  time  Charles  Ames  and  Reuben  Tate 
found  their  camp,  and  the  party  started  to  find  its  way 
back  at  nine  o’clock  Sunday  night.  After  traveling 
about  five  miles,  however,  the  storm  had  increased  to 
such  an  extent  that  it  was  decided  inadvisable  to  con- 
tinue, and  the  camp  was  accordingly  pitched  in  the  sage 
brush,  where  the  little  band  was  compelled  to  remain 
until  the  light  of  morning  should  give  them  their  direc- 
tion. At  about  ten  o’clock  the  following  morning  the 
storm  cleared  somewhat,  but  they  were  still  unable  to 
tell  where  they  were,  and  as  they  knew  they  could  not 
remain  longer  in  their  position  agreed  upon  a plan  that 
has  often  been  used  by  plainsmen  when  lost.  The  idea 
was  for  all  to  group  themselves  around  a pole,  and 
when  the  pole  dropped  it  was  to  decide  their  direction. 
Without  more  ado  they  took  up  the  direction  indicated 
and  after  traveling  about  an  hour  came  to  a point  which 
they  recognized  and  soon  headed  for  Sackett’s  home  be- 
fore reaching  which  they  met  a party  coming  with  pro- 
visions and  blankets.  Mr.  Searles  arrived  home  dur- 
ing that  afternoon,  little  the  worse  for  his  thrilling  ex- 
periences. The  foregoing  is  only  an  instance  of  the 
various  hardships  and  trials  the  early  settlers  were  con- 
stantly forced  to  face,  and  it  is  due  to  the  bravery  and 
persistence  of  these  men  that  the  wilderness  has  been 
conquered  and  the  State  developed  into  g great  com- 
mercial center.  For  many  years  Mr.  Searles  was  en- 
gaged in  cattle  raising  and  farming,  and  in  1906  when 
the  Montana  Land  and  Improvement  Company  sold  its 
interests  in  its  irrigation  ditch  to  the  farmers,  he  bought 
thirty  shares  of  stock  and  became  superintendent  of 
the  ditch.  During  his  administration  of  affairs  he  in- 
creased the  capacity  from  9,500  inches  of  water  to 
20,000  inches,  but  in  1908  he  retired  from  active  life 
and  his  only  business  interests  now  consist  of  looking 
after  his  rented  property.  He  is  a Republican  in  poli- 
tics, but  takes  only  a good  citizen’s  interest  in  public 
affairs,  and  his  only  fraternal  connection  is  with  Bil- 
lings Lodge  No.  349,  B.  P.  O.  E.  _ 

In  1872  Mr.  Searles  was  married  to  Miss  Florence 
Stevens,  who  was  born  in  Fond  du  Lac,  Wisconsin, 
daughter  of  Reuben  Stevens,  who  died  at  Fond  du 
Lac  soon  after  the  Civil  war  of  disease  contracted 
while  serving  in  a Wisconsin  regiment.  He  was  a 
cooper  by  trade,  but  also  followed  farming,  and  was 
the  father  of  four  children,  Mrs.  Searles  being  the 
second  in  order  of  birth.  Mr.  Searles  well  merits  the 
high  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  as  one  of  the  Yellow- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1249 


stone  valley’s  pioneers.  He  has  done  much  to  ad- 
vance the  welfare  of  his  community,  and  during  the 
long  period  in  which  he  has  resided  here  has  gained 
and  retained  many  warm  friendships. 

Evans  A.  Carleton,  now  one  of  the  leading  attorneys 
of  Helena,  has  probably  had  more  influence  than  any 
other  one  man  on  the  school  system  of  Montana  and 
the  formation  of  her  institutions  of  higher  learning.  He 
was  born  in  Franklin  county,  Maine,  in  1858.  His 
father,  Thomas  Carleton,  was  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry, 
his  paternal  grandfather  having  come  to  America  dur- 
ing the  colonial  days  took  an  active  part  in  the  struggle 
for  independence.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  Carle- 
ton were  born  and  raised  in  the  same  county  where 
later,  their  own  family  grew  to  manhood  and  woman- 
hood. Mr.  Carleton  was  a carpenter  by  trade  but  spent 
much  of  his  time  on  the  farm.  His  wife,  Hannah  Parker, 
belonged  to  one  of  the  best  families  of  old  New  England. 
After  bringing  into  the  world  a family  of  twelve  chil- 
dren, she  passed  away  in  1886.  Her  husband  survived 
her  by  scarcely  a year. 

Of  the  family  remaining,  two  are  living  in  Maine, 
one  in  Massachusetts  and  the  son,  Evans  A.,  in  Mon- 
tana. He  is  the  only  one  of  the  Carletons  who  has 
had  the  temerity  to  try  life  outside  the  boundaries  of 
good  old  New  England.  Even  he  passed  his  boyhood 
days  in  Maine  receiving  his  early  education  in  the  rural 
schools  of  Franklin  county.  Later,  he  entered  the  Maine 
Wesleyan  University  from  which  institution  he  was 
graduated  with  high  honors  in  the  class  of  1881.  For 
much  of  the  time  during  his  years  of  study,  he  con- 
tributed toward  his  own  support  by  teaching  during  his 
vacations  and  working  on  the  farm  through  the  harvest 
season.  After  his  graduation  he  taught  in  the  public 
school  of  Maine.  He  came  to  Helena,  Montana,  where 
in  the  fall  of  1883  and  ’84  he  acted  as  principal  of  one 
of  the  ward  schools  being  elected  the  following  year  to 
the  principalship  of  the  Helena  high  school.  In  1889, 
the  red  letter  year  in  the  history  of  Montana  when  she 
doffed  her  swaddling  clothes  and  stood  forth  as  a full 
grown  sister  state,  Mr.  Carleton  was  made  city  super- 
intendent of  the  Helena  schools.  It  was  under  his  deft 
hand  that  the  school  system  of  the  city  took  on  its 
present  systematic  form  and  became  recognized  as  one 
of  the  best  in  the  state.  After  thoroughly  organizing 
these  schools  he  returned  to  his  old  home  in  Maine  that 
he  might  read  law  in  the  office  of  his  brother,  L.  T. 
Carleton.  From  this  office,  in  1891,  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  of  Maine.  Returning  to  Helena,  the  chosen  city 
of  his  adoption,  during  the  ensuing  spring,  he  was 
admitted,  on  motion  to  the  practice  of  that  state.  On 
beginning  his  professional  career  he  obtained  office 
room  with  Mr.  A.  K.  Barber,  one  of  the  well-known 
attorneys.  Later  he  officed  for  some  months  alone  be- 
fore forming  a partnership  with  Mr.  A.  P.  Heywood. 
Thi^  association  lasted  for  two  years,  until  Mr.  Carle- 
ton was  elected  superintendent  of  public  instruction  for 
the  state  of  Montana.  Although  a Republican  of  in- 
fluence, he  was  elected,  in  this  case,  on  a fusion  ticket. 
A ready  and  enthusiastic  speaker,  Mr.  Carleton  is  much 
in  demand  during  the  political  campaigns.  His  New 
England  conservatism  and  accurate  knowledge  of  party 
issues  make  his  advice  in  party  councils  valuable  in- 
deed. At  the  time  of  fight  for  the  location  of  the  state 
capital  his  work  for  Helena  was  of  much  importance 
in  the  final  settlement.  Mr.  Carleton  is  one  of  the  lead- 
ing members  of  the  Progressive  party  in  Montana. 

Mr.  Carleton  after  devoting  so  many  years  to  the 
service  of  the  city  and  the  state  is  now  enjoying  a de- 
servedly lucrative  practice  in  his  profession.  Few  posi- 
tions were  as  important  as  that  of  superntendent  of  pub- 
lic instruction  at  the  time  that  iTe  was  acting  in  that 
capacity.  It  meant  that  he  shaped  the  school  system  of 
Montana  as  he  had  previously  done  in  Helena  and  that 
he  was  a powerful  factor  in  the  formation  of  her  in- 


stitutions of  higher  learning.  He  now  has  offices  in  the 
Bailey  building,  rooms  one  and  two. 

In  fraternal  circles  he  has  taken  no  very  prominent 
part  devoting  most  of  his  time  to  things  of  a more 
serious  nature.  He  belongs  however  to  the  Woodmen 
of  the  World  and  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows.  He  is,  of  course,  a member  of  the  bar  Associa- 
tions of  both  Lewis  and  Clark  county  and  the  state 
of  Montana. 

Evans  A.  Carleton  was  married  in  1882,  to  Miss 
Emma  E.  Gage  of  Dover,  New  Hampshire,  who  is  a 
direct  descendant  of  John  Adams.  The  following  year 
they  made  for  themselves  a home  in  Helena  where  they 
have  since  lived.  Two  children,  one  son  and  one  daugh- 
ter have  been  born  to  the  union.  The  son,  Frank  E. 
Carleton  resides  in  Lewistown,  Montana.  He  was  mar- 
ried, a few  years  since,  to  Miss  Lena  Connelly  of 
Lewiston,  Montana.  The  daughter.  Marguerite  E. 
Carleton  is  now  the  wife  of  Marion  W.  Hulse.  They 
were  joined  in  marriage  during  February  of  1911  in 
Los  Angeles,  California,  where  they  still  make  their 
home. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Evans  Carleton  have  their  residence 
at  No.  7,  North  Harrison  avenue,  Helena. 

Francis  Adkinson.  Indiana  has  contributed  many 
men  of  eminence  in  various  lines  to  the  upbuilding  of 
Helena,  and  among  them  are  a number  she  has  bred 
and  educated  in  the  profession  and  then  passed  on  to 
Helena.  Of  these  fine  citizens  none  was  better  known 
than  Francis  Adkinson,  who  from  1883  to  1912  was 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  in  this  city.  His  reputa- 
tion as  one  of  the  prominent  lawyers  of  the  state  had 
been  reinforced  during  the  passing  years,  in  which 
he  had  appeared  in  connection  with  many  important 
cases  and  he  had  many  noteworthy  forensic  victories  to 
his  credit.  He  was  a strong  advocate  before  court  or 
jury  and  not  only  marshalled  his  causes  with  great 
ability,  but  also  brought  to  bear  the  strength  of  a firm 
and  upright  character,  so  that  he  gained  and  held  the 
inviolable  confidence  and  regard  of  his  fellow  prac- 
titioners, and  also  of  the  general  public.  During  his 
career  he  held  several  public  trusts  with  entire  satis- 
faction to  all  concerned  and  with  honor  to  himself. 

Mr.  Adkinson  was  born  in  Switzerland  county,  In- 
diana, March  14,  1831.  His  father,  Samuel  Adkinson, 
was  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  his  life  record  having 
been  begun  in  the  Keystone  state,  September  26,  1804. 
He  came  a pioneer  to  Switzerland  county,  Indiana,  be- 
ing a mere  boy  at  the  time  and  being  in  company  with 
his  _ parents.  He  followed  agriculture  and  died  in 
Switzerland  county  on  August  31,  1873.  His  father 
was  born  in  1780  in  Pennsylvania,  and  his  father,  the 
great-grandfather  of  the  subject,  an  Englishman  by 
birth,  was  the  founder  of  this  branch  of  the  Adkinson 
farnily  in  America.  The  subject’s  father  was  a quiet, 
retiring  man,  but  one  who  enjoyed  the  respect  of  all  who 
knew  him.  He  was  never  active  in  politics.  The 
mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Jane  McHenry,  was 
also  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  the  daughter  of 
Joseph  McHenry,  an  early  settler  in  Switzerland  coun- 
ty, where  she  and  her  husband  were  united  in  mar- 
riage in  April,  1830.  There  she  lived  out  her  useful 
life  and  passed  to  the  Great  Beyond  on  January  6, 
1872,  the  remains  of  these  two  good  pioneer  citizens 
being  there  interred.  Of  the  children  born  to  them 
seven  lived  to  reach  years  of  maturity,  Francis  being 
the  first  born  of  the  number. 

Francis  Adkinson  received  his  preliminary  education 
in  the  district  schools  of  his  native  county  and  received 
his  higher  education  in  Morefield  Academy,  attending 
school  to  the  age  of  nineteen  years.  His  early  life 
was  passed  amid  the  rural  surroundings  of  his  father’s 
farm,  and  his  first  occupation  was  in  a pedagogical  ca- 
pacity in  Switzerland  county,  and  one  year  in  Grant 
county,  Kentucky.  Upon  returning  from  the  Blue- 


1250 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


{^rass  state  he  began  the  study  of  law  in^the  office  of 
James  F.  Jelley,  in  Ohio  county,  Indiana,  and  later  in 
that  of  Daniel  S.  Major.  Upon  his  admission  to  the 
bar,  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Vevay,  the  judicial 
center  of  Switzerland  county,  and  there  inaugurated 
his  practice  of  the  law.  In  1856  he  was  elected  prose- 
cuting attorney  for  the  second  judicial  district  com- 
prising seven  counties.  In  i860  he  was  elected  judge 
and  near  the  close  of  his  term  of  four  years  located  in 
Lawrenceburg,  remaining  there  until  1864.  He  then  re- 
moved to  Lawrenceburg,  Indiana,  and  practiced  there 
until  his  migration  to  the  west  in  1883.  During  his 
residence  in  Lawrenceburg  he  served  as  circuit  prosecut- 
ing attorney  for  the  first  judicial  district  of  the  state  of 
Indiana,  the  same  comprising  seven  counties,  and  for 
two  years  held  this  post,  the  appointment  to  which  had 
been'so  high  a compliment  to  his  standing  and  powers. 
Before  leaving  Vevay  he  served  as  common  pleas  judge 
for  five  counties,  and  for  four  years  served  on  the 
bench. 

Mr.  Adkinson’s  identification  with  Llelena  dated  from 
January  29,  1883,  and  for  the  ensuing  thirty  years  he 
continued  to  be  a resident,  his  loyalty  to  the  city  and 
its  institutions  ever  being  of  the  staunchest  sort. 
Shortly  after  arriving  here  he  was  appointed  register 
of  the  LTnited  States  land  office  at  Llelena,  this  appoint- 
ment lieing  made  by  President  Arthur.  The  balance 
of  his  time  was  devoted  to  professional  practice,  which 
was  of  a general  character  and  in  which  he  was  wonder- 
fully sucessful.  Mr.  Adkinson  subscribed  to  the  articles 
of  faith  of  the  Republican  i^art'-,  but  in  late  years  he 
had  taken  no  active  part  in  politics.  He  was  one  of 
the  prominent  and  influential  members  of  the  Lewis 
& Clark  Bar  Association. 

On  December  5,  i860,  he  laid  one  of  the  important 
stones  in  the  foundation  of  his  success  by  his  marriage 
to  Miss  Frances  A.  Roberts,  their  union  being  cele- 
brated at  Quincy,  Illinois.  Mrs.  Adkinson  was  born 
January  29,  1840,  and  is  a daughter  of  George  Anthony 
Roberts,  a native  of  Rhode  Island  and  a pioneer  settler 
in  Ripley  county,  Indiana,  and  of  Mary  Watts  Rice, 
,gr;mddaughtcr  of  Judge  Walts,  a well-known  pioneer 
of  soutliern  Indiana.  The  name  of  Roberts  is  one 
highly  esteemed  in  that  section  of  the  Hoosier  state. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Adkinson  had  no  children. 

The  beautiful  country  home  of  the  .\dkinson  family 
is  situated  at  Kenwood,  one  of  the  loveliest  suburbs 
of  Helena,  and  the  offices  of  Mr.  Adkinson  were  at 
510  Powers  building. 

.Mr.  .'\dkinson  was  a poor  boy.  and  he  made  his 
way  to  honor  and  usefulness  unaided.  Lie  always  took 
a firm  stand  for  whatever  he  considered  to  be  for  the 
best  interests  of  the  community  and  society  in  general 
and  always  endeavored  to  follow  after  the  things 
that  made  for  harmony  in  all  the  relations  of  life.  In 
politics  he  was  a life  long  Republican.  Judge  Adkin- 
son died  on  July  2,  1912. 

John  Blatchford  Collins.  In  the  motto  which 
greets  the  eye  in  his  offices  and  adorns  his  stationery, 
reading — "Don’t  Be  a Parlor  Car, — Be  the  Engine,” 
may  be  found  an  index  to  the  character  of  John  Blatch- 
ford Collins,  a prominent  citizen  of  Miles  City.  Montana, 
and  a man  \yell  known  over  the  state,  both  in  busi- 
ness and  politics.  Energy  and  activity  have  marked 
every  stage  of  his  career,  as  his  motto  indicates,  he 
has  striven  to  be  the  leading  force  in  his  enterprises,  and, 
often  in  pushing  to  the  head,  he  has  ignored  the 
delaying  personal  comforts  offered  on  the  way.  Mr. 
Collins  is  in  the  real  estate  and  insurance  business  and 
is  a member  of  the  Miles  City  Real  Estate  Exchange, 
of  the  National  Association  of  Real  Estate  Exchanges, 
and  of  the  Central  Real  Estate  Dealers  Association.  He 
was  horn  September  7.  1853,  at  Quincy,  Illinois,  and  is 
a son  of  Morris  and  Martha  (Blatchford)  Collins. 

■Morris  Collins  was  born  in  1812,  in  Connecticut,  and 
died  in  Jacksonville,  Illinois,  in  1873.  In  1849  he  came 


from  New  England  as  far  west  as  Illinois,  and  after 
some  years  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Quincy,  re- 
moved to  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  where  he  engaged  first 
in  the  drygoods  business  and  later  in  the  manufacture 
of  sheet  lead  and  lead  pipe.  In  politics  he  was  a Re- 
publican and  during  the  Civil  war  was  a member  of  the 
Sanitary  Commission  in  the  Mississippi  river  district. 
He  was  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  church.  His  first 
wife,  Martha  Blatchford,  died  in  1861,  the  mother  of 
seven  children,  two  of  whom  survive,  John  B.,  of  this 
review,  and  Alice.  To  his  second  wife,  Hannah  Adams, 
one  son  was  born  who  died  in  infancy. 

John  Blatchford  Collins  enjoyed  educational  a.dvan- 
tages  and  academic  training  in  different  cities,  among 
them  Jacksonville,  Illinois:  St.  Louis,  Missouri;  Pough- 
keepsie, New  York;  and  Hartford,  Connecticut.  After- 
ward he  was  engaged  in  the  pig  iron  and  iron  ore 
brokerage  business  at  St.  Louis,  and  in  April,  1883, 
came  to  Montana,  where  for  a time  he  was  clerk  in  the 
postoffice  at  Miles  City.  He  was  later  with  Capt. 
"VVilliam  Harmon  in  the  same  capacity  and  subsequently 
was  interested  with  William  Courtney  in  the  real  es- 
tate and  insurance  business.  In  1890  Mr.  Collins  became 
confidential  secretary  to  Lion.  Thomas  H.  Carter,  United 
States  land  commissioner,  with  general  offices  at  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.  After  his  duties  at  Washington  no 
longer  detained  him  there,  he  returned  to  Miles  City 
and  entered  into  the  real  estate  and  insurance  business 
with  C.  B.  Towers,  and  they  continued  together  until 
1898,  when  Mr.  Collins  was  appointed  superintendent 
of  the  United  States  Forest  Reserves  in  Montana,  with 
headquarters  at'  Missoula,  Montana,  where  he  resided 
until  1901,  then  moving  to  Helena.  There,  until  April, 
1903.  he  was  identified  with  the  live  stock  brokerage 
business  and  then  moved  to  Forsythe  and  conducted 
an  insurance  and  real  estate  business  there  until  the 
fall  of  1905,  when  he  returned  to  Miles  City,  and  has 
since  continued  here  in  that  line  of  enterprise.  Mr. 
Collins  is  one  of  the  wide-awake  men  of  this  state,  who 
has  the  foresight  to  note  business  opportunities  and 
the  courage  to  secure  them.  He  has  long  been  a lead- 
ing- factor  in  Republican  politics,  and  from  1886  to 
1890  was  chairman  of  the  Republican  county  central 
committee  of  Custer  county,  and  in  1902  was  made  sec- 
retary of  the  Montana  state  Republican  committee. 
Since  1903  he  has  been  a United  States  commissioner. 

In  1874  Collins  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Nellie  Davis,  who  bore  him  two  sons, — Morris  and 
Charles  B.  and  on  December  15,  1897,  Mr.  Collins  mar- 
ried for  his  second  wife  Miss  Nellie  Thompson,  who 
was  born  at  Dwight,  Illinois,  and  is  a daughter  of 
Thomas  J.  and  Sarah  Thompson.  Mrs.  Collins  died  on 
June  18.  1903.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thompson  are  natives  of 
Ohio,  who  moved  to  Illinois  in  early  life,  there  engaging 
in  farming  until  1880,  in  which  year  they  removed  to 
Montana  and  settled  in  Custer  county.  Here  Mr. 
Thompson  operated  a stock  ranch  until  he  was  elected 
county  assessor,  when  he  moved  to  Miles  City.  He 
continued  in  public  office  there  until  1898,  when  he 
removed  to  Forsythe.  For  some  years  he  has  held  the 
office  of  deputy  game  warden.  He  is  a Democrat,  and 
a member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  Mrs.  Collins  was 
the  second  born  of  the  three  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Thompson. 

Mr.  Collins  is  a member  of  Crusader  Lodge  No.  7, 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  is  also  a member  of  the  Sons 
of  the  American  Revolution. 

PiERRF.  Wibaux.  The  early  settlers  of  our  new  states 
and  territories  are  not,  as  is  often  erroneously  sup- 
posed, all  rough  men  in  whom  physicial  nature  pre- 
dominates over  intellectual  activity,  and  who  have  little 
or  no  education.  On  t+ie  contrary,  many  of  the  pioneers, 
though  no  doubt  men  of  brawn  and  muscle,  are  yet 
possessed  of  no  little  talent  and  mental  culture:  men 
thoroughly  versed  in  all  the  intellectual  and  political 
questions  which  agitate  the  communities  further  east; 


I 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1251 


men  of  great  executive  ability  and  capable  of  filling 
with  honor  and  dignity  any  station  in  the  republic. 
Among  the  honorable  and  honored  citizens  of  Custer 
county,  Montana,  none  is  more  worthy  of  being  corn- 
memorated in  its  annals  than  Pierre  Wibaux,  presi- 
dent of  the  State  National  Bank  of  Miles  City,  and  a 
man  whose  stock  operations  have  been  of  such  an 
extensive  nature  as  to  win  for  him  the  sobriquet  of  the 
“Cattle  King  of  Eastern  Montana.”  For  thirty  years- 
he  has  lived  within  the  borders  of  the  state,  during 
which  time  he  has  become  a factor  in  its  social,  business 
and  financial  affairs,  fairly  earning  a reputation  for 
honorable  dealing  with  his  fellow  men,  to  such  a degree 
as  to  make  his  name  a synonym  for  all  that  is  upright 
in  business  and  correct  in  morals.  He  comes  of  a race 
that  has  given  to  America  some  of  her  most  success- 
ful men  in  every  avenue  of  life,  having  been  born  in 
1858,  at  Roubaix,  France,  a city  in  which  his  family  had 
for  a century  been  orominent  in  the  manufacture  of 
textiles. 

It  was  intended  that  Pierre  should  follow  in  the 
footsteps  of  his  forefathers  and  carry  on  the  business 
with  which  they  had  been  identified,  and  after  he  had 
been  given  excellent  educational  advantages  of  a lit- 
erary nature,  he  was  the  recipient  of  a technical  train- 
ing calculated  to  fit  him  for  a useful  and  successful 
career  in  the  field  of  manufacture.  As  is  the  custom 
with  young  men  in  France.^  he  spent  one  year  in  the 
army  of  his  country,  thus  gaining  an  appreciation  of  the 
value  of  discipline,  and  he  was  then  sent  to  England 
on  a tour  of  inspection,  with  the  idea  that  he  should 
thus  gain  a knowledge  of  the  methods  and  machinery 
used  in  the  business  with  which  it  was  supposed  he 
would  be  identified  in  after  life.  While  there,  how- 
ever, he  learned  of  the  great  opportunities  awaiting 
men  of  ability  and  courage  in  the  range  stock  business 
of  the  great  northwest  of  the  United  States,  and  after 
exhausting  almost  every  argument  that  he  might  ad- 
vance, finally  gained  his  father's  consent  to  make  the 
venture.  The  early  part  of  the  year  1883  saw  his 
advent  into  the  “bad  lands”  of  Montana,  and  after  he 
had  completed  the  formalities  necessary  to  secure  him 
the  right  to  become  a settler,  started  for  Iowa  and 
jMinnesota  to  buy  his  cattle.  A biographer,  in  speaking 
of  Mr.  Wibaux’s  early  experiences  in  the  new  country, 
wrote  as  follows : “The  highest  product  of  the  old 
world  civilization  having  turned  his  back  upon  _ the 
pleasures  of  a gay  and  promising  life  in  the  capitals 
of  Europe,  surrounded  with  all_  that  wealth  could 
supply  or  artistic  skill  could  fashion  for  his  comfort, 
delibAately  chose  to  live  on  the  wild  llanos  of  Amer- 
ica; to  burrow  in  a ‘dug-out,’  to  rear  and  traffic  in 
cattle,  to  consort  with  range  riders  and  cow  boys. 
What  recks  he ! The  great  soul  does  not  sell  its  great- 
ness— does  not  ask  to  dine  nicely  or  sleep  warm._  He 
exults  in  his  choice  for  the  freedom  it  gives,  the  inde- 
pendence it  assures,  the  spice  of  adventure  it  supplies 
and  the  hope  of  fortune  it  holds  out.  As  a pre- 
liminary to  success  in  buying,  Mr.  Wibaux  spent  the 
few  weeks  at  his  disposal  in  the  muck  and  filth  of  the 
Chicago  Stock  Yards,  watching  and  studying  the  daily 
transactions  of  the  great  market;  learning  what  he 
could  of  estimating  class  or  Quality,  weight  and  age — 
everything,  in  fact,  that  helps  to  make  ‘a  good  judge 
of  cattle.’  Then  he  gathered  his  first  herd  and  got  them 
to  his  ranch  around  his  dug-out  on  Beaver  creek,  in 
Dawson  county,  and,  with  characteristic  enterprise  and 
self-denial,  concluded  to  be  his  own  foreman  until  he 
could  learn,  in  the  hard  school  of  experience,  all  the 
details  of  his  business.  During  the  next  five  years  he 
faithfully  adhered  to  this  resolution  and  rode  the 
range  with  the  hardiest,  winter  and  summer,  doing 
more  of  the  work  than  any  man  he  hired  to  help 
him.  The  rest  of  the  story  is  a mere  matter  of  detail, 
except  where  the  golden  thread  of  sentiment  gleams 
in  its  woof,” 

Vol.  II— 2« 


His  first  thousand  dollars  of  profit  came  slowly, 
but  surely ; the  next  more  easily  and  readily  by  help  of 
the  former ; the  next  of  course,  more  readily  still ; until 
now  he  adds  thousands  to  his  store  with  little  appar- 
ent effort  or  care.  In  1884  Mr.  Wibaux  returned  to 
Europe,  married,  and  procured  the  necessary  capital 
for  the  further  enlargement  of  his  business.  It  had 
been  his  intention  to  prepare  a more  suitable  residence 
for  his  bride  than  that  which  he  had  been  occupying, 
but  the  plan  which  he  had  cherished  had  to  give  way 
to  the  sterner  demands  of  business,  and  so  the  young 
bride  exchanged  a palatial  home  in  England  for  a 
“shack”  in  Montana.  But  she  accepted  her  portion  in 
their  common  lot  courageously,  even  cheerfully,  and 
set  about  to  make  a home  of  the  humble  dwelling. 

Early  in  his  business  career  Mr.  Wibaux  recognized 
that  one  of  the  most  crying  needs  of  the  country  was 
its  lack  of  easy  connection  with  good  railroad  facili- 
ties, and  after  much  persuasion  he  succeeded  in  getting 
the  Northern  Pacific  to  erect  stock  yards  and  install 
shipping  conveniences  at  his  most  convenient  station, 
then  a straggling  collection  of  ramshackle  buildings 
known  as  Mingusville.  His  enterprise,  energy  and  pub- 
lic spirit  awakened  interest,  served  as  an  example  to 
other  men  of  ability  and  in  time  the  little  hamlet  was 
transformed  into  a thriving  and  prosperous  center  of 
industry,  the  name  being  changed  to  Wibaux,  in  honor 
of  its  founder. 

Mr.  Wibaux  was  the  first  big  cattle  man  in  eastern 
Montana.  He  was  in  the  business  as  a neighbor  of 
Theodore  Roosevelt  when  they  shipped  large  herds  to 
eastern  markets,  coming  to  the  country  within  six 
months  of  each  other.  He  has  owned  as  high  as  200,- 
000  acres  of  land  in  Texas,  in  addition  to  his  other 
vast  land  holdings  in  Montana,  and  has  run  as  high 
as  65,000  head  of  cattle  in  Montana  at  one  time.  He 
has  also  had  interests  in  North  Dakota,  He  is  the 
owner  of  immense  tracts  of  land  adjacent  to  the  town 
of  Wibaux,  and  also  holds  a large  amount  of  the 
town  property,  as  well. 

As  a financier,  Mr.  Wibaux  is  known  favorably  not 
only  in  Montana  but  also  in  France.  He  is  the  owner 
of  the  Clover  Leaf  gold  mine  in  the  Black  Hills.  The 
town  near  the  mine,  which  is  its  outgrowth,  is  named 
Roubai.x,  after  his  native  city,  Mr.  Wibaux  is  a stock 
holder  and  principal  owner  of  the  State  National  Bank 
of  Miles  City,  and  has  been  its  president  for  the  past 
seventeen  years.  He  is  the  heaviest  stockholder  in  the 
American  Bankers'  Life  Insurance  Company,  of  Chi- 
cago, Illinois,  and  is  a director  in  the  company  and  a 
member  of  the  advisory  board  for  the  state  of  Mon- 
tana, In  addition  to  all  these  wide  spread  interests  in 
the  western  states  of  the  LTnion,  Mr.  Wibaux  with  his 
brothers  own  the  immense  textile  manufacturing  busi- 
ness established  in  Roubai.x.  France,  by  their  grand- 
father in  1910.  He  is  also  connected  with  important 
charitable  work.  He  is  the  promoter  of  the  free  dis- 
tribution of  pure  milk  through  model  farms,  the  free 
inspection  of  children.  Through  his  initiative  the  good 
work  has  spread  all  over  his  native  land,  saving  thou- 
sands of  babies. 

Ten  years  ago  the  French  government  in  apprecia- 
tion of  his  good  work  at  home  and  of  his  influence 
abroad  made  Mr.  Wibaux  a member  of  its  Legion  of 
Honor. 

While  his  success  has  been  a matter  of  steady  and 
rapid  growth,  Mr.  Wibaux's  career  has  not  been  with- 
out its  trials  and  vicissitudes.  Like  all  really  successful 
men,  he  has  met  with  hardships  and  disappointments, 
hut  each  set-back  has  only  had  the  effect  of  making  him 
fight  back  the  more  determinedly ; each  discouragement 
has  but  made  him  persevere  the  more  doggedly,  and  the 
overcoming  of  obstacles  has  served  to  .give  him  a 
broader,  clearer  view  of  life,  and  to  appreciate  the 
more  what  his  industry  has  attained.  Although  he 
depends  entirely  upon  his  own  judgment,  he  is  at  all 


1252 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


times  ready  to  recognize  another’s  right  to  an  opin- 
ion. He  has  been  identified  with  Montana’s  growth 
and  development,  not  alone  as  the  promoter  and  de- 
veloper of  large  industries,  but  as  a public-spirited  cit- 
izen with  civic  pride  as  one  of  ms  chief  characteristics. 
His  past  record,  on  which  there  is  no  stain  nor  blemish, 
speaks  for  itself. 

.Mr.  Wibau.x  spends  his  winters  in  Paris,  where  his 
wife  and  their  son,  Cyril,  born  in  1885,  make  their 
home  in  a handsome  residence  in  the  fashionable 
quarter  of  that  city. 

lloN.  Ch.'Vrles  R.  Leonard.  With  prominence  at 
the  bar  in  two  of  the  great  states  of  the  American 
Union,  prominence  in  the  councils  of  his  political  party, 
local,  state  and  national,  and  high  social  and  intellectual 
rank  wherever  he  is  known,  Hon.  Charles  R.  Leonard 
of  Butte  is  a fine  representative  of  the  best  and  most 
useful  American  manhood  and  citizenship.  Moreover, 
he  is  a product  of  the  great  West,  proud  of  the  fact 
and  devoted  to  the  interests  of  that  section  of  our 
country  which  lies  in  the  embraces  of  the  Ohio  and  the 
Missouri,  the  section  that  does  much  to  feed  the  world, 
and  if  necessary  could  conquer  it,  too,  in  arms  as  it 
has  in  industries  and  commerce. 

Mr.  Leonard  was  born  in  Iowa  City,  Johnson  county, 
Iowa,  on  December  3,  i860.  His  parents,  Nathan  R. 
and  Elizabeth  (Heizer)  Leonard,  are  living  in  Butte, 
where  the  father  was  president  of  the  School  of  Mines 
for  a number  of  years,  and  where  both  are  held  in 
high  esteem  for  their  genuine  worth  and  the  upright- 
ness of  their  lives,  their  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the 
community  and  their  willingness  at  all  times  to  do 
whatever  they  can  to  promote  the  progress  and  develop- 
ment of  their  city  and  county. 

Their  son  Charles  R.,  after  due  preparation  in  the 
lower  schools,  entered  the  Iowa  State  University  to 
complete  his  academic  and  professional  education.  He 
was  graduated  from  the  literary  department  of  that 
institution  in  1881  with  the  degree  of  A.  B.,  and  has 
since  received  the  honorary  degree  of  A.  M.  from  it. 
Two  years  later  he  was  graduated  from  the  law  depart- 
ment with  the  degree  of  LL.  B.,  and  was  at  once  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar.  He  began  his  professional  career  at 
Creston.  Iowa,  where  he  won  substantial  recognition  of 
his  ability  in  a lucrative  practice  and  of  his  personal 
worth  and  companionable  nature  in  high  and  wide- 
spread popularity. 

He  came  here  in  the  fall  of  that  year  and  has  ever 
since  made  his  home  here.  Fortune  has  smiled  upon 
his  professional  and  other  labors  in  his  new  home, 
and  she  could  scarcely  help  doing  so.  He  has  wooed 
her  with  such  industry  and  persuasiveness,  and  shown 
himself  so  entirely  deserving  of  her  favors,  that  it 
would  have  been  difficult  for  her  to  remain  obdurate 
to  his  pleadings. 

He  has  won  a large  practice  in  Butte  and  other  parts 
of  Montana,  and  has  a high  reputation  for  his  legal 
ability  and  skill  in  all  of  the  adjoining  states.  He 
has  also  risen  to  distinction  and  influence  in  con- 
nection with  public  affairs,  for  which  he  has  shown  un- 
usual aptitude.  .A.nd,  while  his  legal  business  is  stead- 
ily increasing,  other  interests  of  a material  character 
have  been  yielding  him  augmenting  revenues. 

Mr.  Leonard  is  heartily  desirous  of  the  elevation  and 
advancement  of  his  profession  and  enthusiastically  en- 
ergetic, in  all  ways  open  to  him,  in  his  efforts  for  its 
improvement.  One  of  the  means  to  the  end  he  seeks 
in  this  regard  is  the  Alontana  Bar  Association,  of  which 
he  is  a prominent  member  and  was  president  for  two 
years.  During  his  membership  in  the  association  he  has 
served  on  many  of  its  most  important  committees,  and 
in  many  other  ways  has  been  of  great  service  in  giv- 
ing it  high  tone  and  usefulness. 

In  politics  Mr.  Leonard  is  a Republican,  and  his  devo- 
tion to  the  principles  of  his  party  is  intense  and  con- 


stant. In  1892  he  was  defeated  as  a candidate  for  the 
lower  house  of  the  state  legislature,  but  two  years  later 
was  triumphantly  elected  to  the  state  senate  for  a 
term  of  four  years.  In  1896  he  was  Montana’s  mem- 
ber of  the  national  Republican  committee,  and  in  the 
memorable  compaign  of  that  year  his  services  to  his 
party  were  signal,  extensive  and  highly  appreciated. 

Mr.  Leonard  has  been  married  twice  and  has  three 
•children,  Frank,  Margaret  and  Alice,  all  of  whom  are 
still  members  of  the  paternal  family  circle.  The  present 
Mrs.  Leonard,  whose  maiden  name  was  Fannie  Sutphen, 
is  a native  of  Lancaster,  Ohio,  and  the  daughter  of 
Capt.  J.  M.  Sutphen  of  that  city.  She  is  a lady  of 
fine  intellectual  and  social  culture,  aifd  a decided  force 
for  good  in  the  community  in  all  the  graceful  refine- 
ments of  life  and  widely  and  deservedly  popular. 

In  the  fraternal  life  of  the  city  and  state  of  his 
adoption  Mr.  Leonard  is  a member  of  the  Masonic 
order,  and  the  Woodmen  of  the  World.  In  each  of 
these  fraternities  he  is  prominent  and  serviceable,  and 
his  membership  is  highly  valued  in  all  by  the  other 
members.  His  reputation  as  a lawyer  and  a man  of 
affairs  is  not  confined  to  Montana,  but  extends  over 
all  the  adjoining  states,  and  in  political  matters  he  is 
well  and  favorably  known  all  over  the  country.  The 
citizens  of  Butte  esteem  him  as  one  of  their  most  sub- 
stantial, sterling,  far-seeing  and  enterprising  men,  one 
of  their  most  agreeable  social  factors,  and  one  of  the 
best  representatives  of  all  that  is  brightest  and  most 
worthy  of  admiration  among  them.  But  he  bears  his 
honors  and  his  high  place  in  public  estimation  modestly, 
without  self-assertion  or  display,  except  where  duty 
requires  self-assertion,  in  the  manner,  in  fact,  charac- 
teristic of  genuine  merit. 

David  J.  Ch.-vrles.  In  naming  the  representative 
citizens  of  any  community  the  biographer  invariably 
finds  among  the  most  prominent,  men  who  have  started 
out  in  life  with  but  few  advantages,  and  whose  present 
prestige  has  been  gained  through  the  medium  of  their 
own  efforts.  Montana  has  its  full  quota  of  self-made 
men,  and  it  has  been  a source  of  pride  to  the  citizens 
of  this  comparatively  young  state  that  many  of  its 
largest  industries  are  in  charge  of  men  who  have  been 
the  architects  of  their  own  fortunes,  and  in  Butte,  one 
who  belongs  to  this  class,  and  who  has  shown  his 
versatility  in  the  world  of  business  by  engaging  in 
varied  lines  of  endeavor,  is  David  J.  Charles,  president 
of  the  Miners  Savings  Bank  & Trust  Company  and 
of  the  Imperial  Paste  Manufacturing  Company.  Mr. 
Charles  was  born  in  the  city  of  Baltimore,  Maryland, 
April  28,  t86i,  and  is  a son  of  David  J.  and  Mary 
(Jenkins)  Charles,  natives  of  Wales. 

The  father  of  Mr.  Charles,  born  in  the  mining 
district  of  his  native  country,  was  connected  with  min- 
ing from  his  youth.  When  a young  man  he  came  to 
the  United  States  and  settled  first  in  Baltimore,  where 
he  was  married,  and  in  1868  removed  to  California,  his 
family  following  him  the  next  year.  After  spending 
some  time  in  that  state  he  went  to  Utah,  where  he  fol- 
lowed mining  and  smelting  until  1883,  which  year  saw 
his  advent  into  Montana.  He  became  connected  with 
the  Anaconda  Copper  Smelting  & Mining  Company 
during  the  regime  of  Marcus  Daly,  but  after  a few 
years  came  to  Butte,  and  here  was  connected  with  the 
Butte  & Boston  Mining  Company  until  his  death  in 
1898,  at  the  age  of  sixty-one  years.  He  came  of  a 
long-lived  family,  and  his  death  at  such  a comparatively 
early  age  was  caused  by  an  attack  of  pneumonia,  con- 
tracted while  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties.  He  was  'a 
pioneer  smelter,  always  held  responsible  positions,  and 
was  respected  alike  by  his  employers  and  fellow  work- 
ers. His  wife  died  in  Utah  in  1884,  at  the  age  of  forty- 
six  years,  and  they  reared  to  maturity  a family  of  nine 
children,  of  whom  four  sons  and  two  daughters  are  now 
living,  and  of  these  David  J.  is  the  oldest. 


C;-. 
4 - " 


■i  ■ 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1253 


David  J.  Charles  was  given  only  limited  educational 
advantages,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years  left  school 
to  work  in  a grocery  store.  He  came  to  Butte  prior 
to  attaining  his  majority,  and  for  a time  followed  smelt- 
ing at  the  old  Parrott  Copper  Smelting  & Mining 
Company,  but  his  bent  seemed  to  be  toward  mercantile 
pursuits,  and  in  his  twenty-first  year  he  established 
himself  as  a merchant.  This  initial  venture  proved  a 
success  from  the  start,  and  he  still  carries  on  busi- 
ness at  the  original  stand,  where  he  has  an  extensive 
patronage.  Mr.  Charles  is  possessed  of  all  the  qualities 
which  go  to  make  up  the  successful  man  of  business. 
Pre-eminently  an  organizer,  in  1890  he  was  the  leading 
spirit  in  the  organization  of  the  Imperial  Paste  Manu- 
facturing Company,  manufacturing  all  kinds  of  paste 
which  can  be  made  from  flour,  in  addition  to  other 
products,  such  as  macaroni,  spaghetti,  etc.  This  busi- 
ness, the  only  one  of  its  kind  in  the  state,  has  grown 
from  a moderate  beginning  to  become  one  of  Butte’s 
leading  enterprises.  Mr.  Charles  has  demonstrated  his 
faith  and  confidence  in  the  future  of  his  section  of  the 
country  by  large  investments  in  real  estate,  and  he  also 
has  identified  himself  with  various  ventures  of  a busi- 
ness and  financial  nature.  In  1907  he  was  one  of  the 
organizers  of  the  Miners  Savings  Bank  & Trust  Corn- 
pany,  and  was  elected  president  at  that  time,  a position 
which  he  still  holds.  The  rapid  growth  of  this  well- 
known  bank  has  not  only  given  it  a prominent  posi- 
tion among  the  leading  financial  institutions  of  Butte, 
but  reflects  an  able  management  of  its  affairs.  Mr. 
Charles  was  made  first  president  of  the  Butte 
Chamber  of  Commerce  at  its  organization  in  March, 
1912.  In  politics  he  has  always  been  a stalwart  Repub- 
lican, and  has  at  various  times  been  honored  by  his 
party.  He  has  served  one  term  as  county  commissioner, 
ran  for  sheriff  in  1903,  and  was  the  Republican  candidate 
for  the  office  of  state  senator  in  1910.  Although  his 
various  large  business  interests  have  demanded  a great 
deal  of  his  attention,  he  has  not  allowed  his  time  to 
be  too  occupied  to  bar  him  from  enjoying  the  compan- 
ionship of  his  fellow  rnen,  and  he  is  a popular  mem- 
ber of  the  Silver  Bow  and  Country  clubs,  the  Knights 
of  Pythias,  the  Elks,  the  Odd  Fellows,  in  which  he  is 
past  grand  master  of  the  state,  and  the  Masons,  in  which 
he  is  a Shriner  and  has  attained  the  thirty-second 
degree. 

In  1885  Mr.  Charles  was  married  in  Butte  to  Miss 
Lallie  E.  Bowen,  a native  of  California  of  Welsh  de- 
scent, and  to  this  union  there  has  been  born  two  chil- 
dren, a son,  Egbert,  who  died  in  infancy,  and  one 
daughter,  Erma,  born  May  8,  1886,  who  died  March  27, 
1911.  Mr.  Charles’  life  has  been  a busy  and  useful  one, 
and  his  activities  have  served  to  greatly  benefit  his 
adopted  city.  In  business,  financial  and  social  circles  he 
has  won  and  maintained  an  enviable  position,  and  his 
high  personal  character  has  been  evidenced  by  the  un- 
qualified esteem  in  which  he  is  universally  held.  Pro- 
gressive in  his  business  methods,  his  example  has  served 
to  stimulate  others  to  progressive  effort,  thus  materially 
advancing  the  best  interests  of  Butte,  while  his  hi.gh 
regard  for  honorable  dealing  has  caused  public 
confidence  to  be  placed  in  those  enterprises  with  which 
his  name  is  connected. 

Henry  Clay  Provinse.  whose  long  and  honorable 
career  we  are  about  to  sketch  briefly,  has  for  years  been 
conspicuous  among  the  leading  men  of  Carbon  county, 
and  few  citizens  have  been  more  prominently  connected 
with  its  agricultural  and  business  interests,  or  with  its 
fraternal,  educational  and  political  welfare.  Mr. 
Provinse  was  born  at  Port  Clinton,  Schuylkill  county, 
Pennsylvania,  December  2,  1854,  and  is  a son  of  Will- 
iam and  Jane  (Bpnd)  Provinse. 

William  Provinse  was  born  in  County  Tyrone,  Ire- 
land, and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years  came  to  the 
United  States,  landing  in  New  York  City  after  a trip 
across  the  ocean  in  a sailing  vessel.  Drifting  into 


Pennsylvania,  he  entered  the  service  of  the  old  Cata- 
wissa  Railroad,  now  a part  of  the  Philadelphia  & Read- 
ing Railroad  System,  and  continued  to  be  engaged  in 
work  of  this  nature  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  in  his 
fifty-fifth  year.  He  adhered  to  the  principles  of  the 
old  Whig  party.  His  wife,  a native  of  Warwickshire, 
England,  passed  away  in  1891,.  having  been  the  mothef 
of  six  children,  of  whom  three  are  living ; Mary,  the 
wife  of  O.  C.  Hatch,  living  on  the  old  homestead  in 
Port  Clinton,  Pennsylvania;  Annie,  the  wife  of  Jacob 
L.  Crater,  of  Pottstown,  Pennsylvania;  and  Henry 
Clay. 

The  youngest  of  his  parents’  children,  Henry  C. 
Provinse  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  Port  Clinton  and  the  Moravian  school  at  Bethlehem, 
Pennsylvania,  and  this  was  supplemented  after  his 
marriage  by  attendance  at  the  Cox  School  of  Tech- 
nology, at  Drifton,  Pennsylvania.  When  twelve  years 
of  age  he  earned  his  first  money  driving  mules  on  the 
Schuylkill  Canal,  between  Port  Clinton  and  Philadel- 
phia. but  after  one  year  gave  up  this  position  to  become 
an  employe  of  the  Colraine  Iron  Company,  with  which 
he  was  connected  until  1875.  At  that  time  he  removed 
to  Bethlehem,  where  for  two  years  he  held  the  position 
of  iron  moulder  with  the  Bethlehem  Iron  Company, 
and  then  went  to  Mauch  Chunk,  where  he  purchased  an 
interest  in  a grain  commissio-n  house.  During  the 
spring  of  1877  he  located  in  Freeland,  where  he  be- 
came a foreman  for  the  firm  of  Cox  Brothers,  of  Drif- 
ton, and  continued  to  be  connected  with  coal  mining 
until  the  spring  of  1883,  that  year  seeing  his  advent  in 
Montana,  as  a Butte  miner.  In  1885  he  went  to  George- 
town, Deer  Lodge  county,  where  he  continued  until 
1889,  then  coming  to  Red  Lodge,  Park  county,  at  this 
time  in  Carbon  county.  He  was  engaged  in  raising 
cattle,  sheep  and  horses  until  1906,  and  then  located  in 
Red  Lodge  and  became  identified  with  a general  mer- 
chandise business.  At  this  time  he  has  one  of  the  lead- 
ing furniture  establishments  of  this  section  and  is 
known  as  a shrewd  business  man  of  the  highest  integ- 
rity. He  is  secretary  of  the  Carbon  County  Fair  As- 
sociation, a member  of  the  advisory  board  for  Carbon 
county  of  the  Montana  State  Farmers  Association,  and 
in  1909  was  one  of  the  executive  committee  on  dry- 
land farming,  held  in  Billings. 

In  his  political  views,  Mr.  Provinse  has  been  a 
stanch  and  unwavering  Republican,  and  has  held  numer- 
ous offices  of  public  trust  within  the  gift  of  his  party 
and  the  people.  At  this  time  he  is  chairman  of  the 
Republican  County  Central  Committee.  He  was  one  of 
the  leaders  in  the  movement  for  the  organization  of 
Carbon  county,  was  first  assessor  of  the  county,  acted 
as  deputy  assessor  for  one  term,  and  in  1906  was  aider- 
man  from  the  second  ward  of  Red  Lodge,  serving  one 
term.  He  was  sergeant  at  anms  during  the  twelve  ses- 
sions of  the  senate  in  1911.  Mr.  Provinse  maintains 
business  offices  at  No.  7,  North  Billings  avenue.  Fra- 
ternal matters  have  engrossed  a large  part  of  his  atten- 
tion. In  1887  he  was  made  a Mason  in  Acadia  Lodge 
No.  32,  Anaconda,  Montana,  from  which  he  demitted  to 
become  a member  of  Star  of  the  West  Lodge  No.  4, 
A.  F.  & A.  M.,  of  Red  Lodge,  being  at  this  time  master 
of  this  lodge.  He  was  made  a Royal  Arch  Mason  in 
Billings  Chapter  No.  5,  from  which  he  demitted  and 
became  a charter  member  of  Carbon  Chapter  No.  20. 
R.  A.  M.,  at  Red  Lodge,  of  which  he  is  high  priest,  and 
he  also  belongs  to  Aldemar  Commandery  No.  6,  at 
Billings,  and  Algeria  Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.,  at 
Helena.  He  and  his  wife  and  daughter  are  all  valued 
and  popular  members  of  the  order  of  the  Eastern  Star. 

On  May  20,  1874,  Mr.  Provinse  was  married  to  Miss 
Martha  Dodson,  who  was  born  at  Mauch  Chunk, 
Pennsylvania,  daughter  of  Abel  and  Marguerite  (Wil- 
son) Dodson,  the  former  of  whom  was  a native  of 
Huntington  county.  Pennsylvania,  the  latter  of  the 
Highlands  of  Scotland.  Air.  Dodson  died  July  13, 
1886,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  j’ears,  and  his  wife 


1254 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


September  24,'  1876.  when  fifty-nine  years  of  age.  Of 
their  si.x;  children,  three  are  living;  William,  of  Eliza- 
bethport,  New  Jersey;  Margaret,  who  is  married  and 
resides  in  New  York  City;  and  Mrs.  Provinse.  Abel 
Dodson  was  a foreman  of  the  old  Switch-back  Railroad 
at  Mauch  Chunk  for  many  years,  this  being  one  of  the 
pioneer  railroad  companies  of  the  United  States,  but 
spent  his  last  years  in  retirement  with  his  children, 
and  died  at  Freeland,  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Provinse  have  had  eight  children  : William,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  twenty-nine  years,  was  married  to  Bertha 
Maynard  and  had  two  children;  Edgar,  who  married 
Daisy  Aloore,  is  living  in  Bridger,  Montana;  Eugene, 
who  married  Lillian  Anderson,  is  living  in  Red  Lodge; 
and  Stella,  Clarence.  Arthur,  John  and  Shirley,  liying  at 
home.  The  residence  of  the  Provinse  family  is  situated 
at  No.  1 17  West  Seventh  street,  a center  of  gracious 
relinement,  where  the  many  friends  of  the  family  meet 
with  true  western  hospitality. 

Frank  K.  Wilson,  the  proprietor  of  the  Butte 
Hotel,  was  Ijorn  at  Palmyra,  Portage  county,  Ohio, 
June  15,  1862,  His  father,  John  Wilson,  was  born  in 
1827  and  when  a young  man  came  to  Ohio  and  set- 
tled on  a farm  there.  He  made  a specialty  of  live 
stock  raising,  and  until  his  death  in  1891  was  actively 
engaged  in  that  work.  His  wife,  Sarah  E.  Wilson, 
still  resides  in  Ohio,  the  state  of  her  birth.  She  is 
now  seventy-eight  years  of  age. 

Both  Frank  Wilson  and  his  brother  Hugh  attended 
school  at  Valparaiso,  Indiana,  and  the  former  gradu- 
ated in  1883.  He  came  directly  to  Butte  with  his 
brother  and  they  started  a men's  furnishings  and  gro- 
cery business  at  the  place  where  the  Llennessy’s  store 
now  stands  in  Centerville.  In  1895  Wilson  brothers 
sold  out  to  Patrick  Alullcns  and  that  same  year  they 
bought  the  ground  on  East  Broadway  and  began  the 
erection  of  the  up-to-date  hotel,  which  they  named  the 
Butte.  From  that  time,  this  has  been  one  of  the  lead- 
ing hostelries  of  the  state,  and  it  has  been  the  head- 
Cjuarters  of  many  notable  gatherings. 

A'lr.  Wilson  is  a Democrat  and  has  been  prominent 
in  the  activities  of  his  party.  During  the  years  of  1892 
and  ’93,  he  was  a member  of  the  legislature,  and  mat- 
ters of  civic  interest  and  import  never  fail  to  secure 
his  hearty  cooperation. 

Alessrs.  Wilson  are  e.xtcnsively  interested  in  mining 
operations  in  Arizona  and  California,  hut  they  are 
primarily  hotel  men,  and  as  such  are  counted  the  best 
in  the  state.  To  furnish  satisfactory  accommodations 
for  transients  is  important  in  any  locality,  but  in  the 
West  it  is  of  immeasurably  more  importance  than  in 
cities  of  similar  size  further  east.  The  constant  open- 
ing up  of  new  fields  of  investment  here  and  the  con- 
secpient  rapid  development  of  the  country,  attract  all 
sorts  and  conditions  of  visitors  and  investors.  Noth- 
ing is  so  attractive  to  the  latter  as  an  up-to-date  place 
at  which  to  stop,  and  those  who  furnish  that  are  doing 
a generous  share  toward  adding  to  the  prosperity  and 
to  the  addition  of  the  desirable  new  residents  of  the 
city.  Besides  being  such  c.xcellent  business  men.  Air. 
Wilson  and  his  brother  are  men  possessed  of  the 
qualities  wdiich  secure  and  preserve  popularity,  and  their 
sociability  is  one  of  their  notable  characteristics. 

Lewis  O.  Evans.  One  of  the  representative  bar- 
risters of  the  state  of  Alontana,  whose  precedence  at 
the  bar  has  been  gained  by  the  studious  application  of 
his  talents  and  his  discriminating  knowledge  of  the 
law,  has  been  a resident  of  the  Treasure  state  for  nearly 
thirty  years. 

Air.  Evans  is  a native  of  L^tica,  New  York,  and  was 
born  August  31,  1871.  Llis  parents,  Owen  and  Emily 
J.  (Church)  Evans,  are  also  natives  of  the  state  of 
New  York,  the  latter  being  a descendant  of  one  of  the 
prominent  old  families  of  the  Empire  state,  a daughter 


of  Airs.  Emily  (Alakepeace)  Church,  whose  father  was 
Charles  Plumb,  a Revolutionary  soldier. 

In  1883,  Owen  Evans  came  to  Montana  and  located 
at  Helena  where  he  entered  mercantile  pursuits  and  was 
prominently  identified  with  the  business  life  of  that 
place  for  a number  of  years.  He  subsequently  re- 
moved to  Anaconda,  when  that  city  began  to  build  H 
up,  and  there  he  and  his  wife  have  ever  since  resided, 
being  numbered  among  the  highly  respected  citizens  of 
the  community. 

Lewis  O.  Evans  attended  the  public  schools  of  Utica, 
New  York,  and  continued  his  studies  at  Helena,  Mon- 
tana, where  his  parents  located  when  he  was  twelve 
years  old,  graduating  from  the  high  school  of  the  lat- 
ter city,  in  the  class  of  1887,  when  not  yet  sixteen  years 
old.  Fie  further  pursued  his  literary  training  at  the 
celebrated  seminary,  in  Cazenovia,  New  York,  where 
he  studied  for  two  years,  then  returned  to  Helena, 
and  entered  the  law  office  of  Word  & Smith,  later 
Word,  Smith  & Word,  with  whom  he  continued  his 
technical  reading  until  1894,  when  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar.  He  at  once  took  up  the  active  practice  of  law 
and  remained  in  Helena,  until  December,  1895,  when 
he  came  to  Butte,  and  entered  the  law  office  of  John 
F.  Forbis.  One  year  later  he  was  admitted  as  a part- 
ner of  Mr.  Forbis  under  the  firm  name  of  F'orbis  & 
Evans.  This  firm  acquired  high  rank  at  the  bar,  handling- 
some  of  the  most  important  mining  cases  then  before 
the  courts  of  the  country,  notably  the  Larkin  case, 
which  was  a cause  celebre,  and  became  known  as  able 
exponents  of  mining  law,  strong  advocates  and  safe 
counsellors,  as  well  as  potential  factors  in  all  branches 
of  law.  In  the  litigation  between  the  Butte  and  Bos- 
ton and  the  Boston  and  Montana  Companies  vs.  the 
Alontana  Ore  Purchasing  Company,  Forbis  & Evans 
conducted  all  the  cases  for  the  two  companies  first  men- 
tioned, and  in  many  of  them  Air.  Evans  had  entire 
charge. 

His  ability  was  recognized  and  upon  its  organization 
in  1899,  he  became  one  of  the  associate  counsel  of  the 
Amalgamated  Copper  Company,  a position  which  he 
has  since  filled  with  credit  to  himself  and  the  advantage 
of  his  client,  being  advanced  from  time  to  time,  to  a 
position  next  to  the  company’s  chief  counsel. 

In  November,  1903,  Air.  Evans  was  married  at  Butte, 
to  Aliss  Alartha,  a daughter  of  Judge  Erastus  A. 
Nichols,  (and  Sarah  Elizabeth  Warren),  formerly  a 
prominent  business  man  of  Butte,  but  now  a resident 
of  Missoula,  Montana. 

Two  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Evans: 
Lewis  Nichols,  born  October  12,  1904,  and  Richard 
Orvis,  born  August  22,  1907. 

In  his  political  relations  Air.  Evans  is  a Republican, 
while  fraternally  he  is  a Alaster  Mason,  a member  of 
Silver  Bow  Lodge  No.  48,  A.  F.  & A.M.  He  is  also 
a member  of  the  Butte  Lodge  of  Elks,  and  socially  be- 
longs to  the  Silver  Bow  Club,  and  is  its  present  presi- 
dent. He  is  also  a member  of  the  Silver  Bow  Bar  As- 
sociation, of  which  he  has  served  as  president. 

The  prominence  in  his  profession,  attained  by  Air. 
Evans,  has  not  been  accidental  or  the  result  of  adventi- 
tious circumstances,  but  distinctly  the  result  of  hard 
work  combined  with  a marked  pragmatic  ability. 

Allen  J.  Stough.  In  the  beautiful  and  fertile  Ju- 
dith basin  country,  and  especially  about  the  town  of 
Stanford,  no  one  is  better  known  through  long  years 
of  residence  or  more  esteemed  by  reason  of  honorable 
success  in  business  than  Allen  J.  Stough,  the  banker, 
merchant,  rancher  and  old  settler.  He  was  in  this 
country  at  its  formative  epoch,  when  nature’s  wild- 
ness was  being  overcome  by  the  forces  of  progress 
and  settlement.  After  practically  thirty  years  of  resi- 
dence, he  has  won  a place  of  distinctive  influence  and 
individual  power  in  the  community. 

Air.  Stough  is  an  Ohioan  by  nativity,  and  was  born 


\ 


1; 


HISTORY  OF  .AIONTANA 


1255 


in  Crawford  county,  September  12,  1852.  The  name 
and  family  W'as  established  in  America  by  his  great- 
grandfather, who  came  from  Germany  and  was  the 
first  Lutheran  minister  to  cross  the  Allegheny  moun- 
tains into  the  middle  west.  Thus  westward  pioneer- 
ing has  been  a long  established  habit  of  the  family, 
and  about  the  time  Allen  J.  Stough  attained  his 
majority  he  left  his  old  home  in  Ohio  and  went  out  to 
the  coast,  remaining  in  California  until  1881.  For  two 
years  he  was  employed  in  a store,  and  the  rest  of  the 
time  was  spent  in  prospecting  and  mining.  He  lived 
in  the  mining  district  for  five  years  and  one  year  in 
the  Carson  valley  of  Nevada. 

In  the  spring  of  1882  he  set  out  for  Montana,  com- 
ing over  the  Oregon  Short  Line  as  far  as  Dillon,  at 
which  point  he  bought  a span  of  mules  and  drove 
through  to  Bozeman.  Most  of  his  time  there  was 
spent  at  the  late  Senator  Edwards’  ranch,  but  he  also 
tried  to  make  some  money  with  his  team  by  hauling 
ties  from  the  mountains  to  the  line  of  the  Northern 
Pacific,  construction  on  which  had  just  begun.  Find- 
ing that  he  could  not  make  enough  to  feed  himself 
and  his  mules,  he  gave  up  the  job,  and  concluded  to 
go  on  to  the  destination  which  he  had  already  directed 
his  course  toward — the  Judith  basin.  He  arrived  in 
the  vicinity  of  Utica  along  the  Judith  river  in  1883, 
and  for  thirty  years  has  never  been  long  absent  from 
this  great  basin. 

However,  after  two  and  a half  years  of  ranching 
and  stock  raising,  he  sold  out  and  started  for  the 
east  with  the  determination  to  settle  in  Florida.  But 
when  absent  the  great  northw'est  made  an  irresistible 
appeal,  and  he  soon  returned,  this  time  intending  to 
locate  in  the  state  of  Washington,  along  the  route  of 
the  Northern  Pacific,  which  was  then  building.  On 
the  way  he  stopped  in  his  former  Montana  home  for 
the  purpose  of  collecting  some  money  that  was  due 
him, — and  has  never  left  these  scenes  permanently  from 
that  day  to  this.  He  has  had  a varied  business  career. 
Mining  was  his  occupation  up  to  1890,  at  which  time 
he  located  in  the  old  town  of  Stanford,  where  he  was 
first  engaged  in  the  hotel  business.  To  this  he  added 
a general  store,  and  also  took  up  stock  ranching.  With 
the  founding  of  the  new  town  of  Stanford,  he  moved 
his  store  to  this  place,  and  at  the  same  time  organized 
the  First  State  Bank  of  Stanford,  of  which  he  has 
been  president  ever  since.  The  bank  and  the  Stanford 
Mercantile  Company  are  the  enterprises  with  which 
his  name  has  been  most  familiarly  associated,  but  his 
business  energies  have  extended  to  many  other  affairs 
in  this  vicinity.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  and  is 
a director  of  the  First  State  Bank  at  Geyser,  and  has 
similar  interests  in  the  Raynesford  Mercantile  Corn- 
pany.  He  also  owns  valuable  blocks  of  real  estate  in 
Great  Falls. 

Mr.  Stough's  fine  record  of  attainments  in  business 
becomes  more  conspicuous  in  view  of  the  handicaps 
under  which  he  labored  during  his  early  life.  Fie  had 
a few  brief  terms  of  schooling  in  his  native  vicinity, 
but  was  really  graduated  from  the_  university  of  hard 
knocks.  When  he  was  sixteen  his  father  died,  and 
being  the  oldest  of  the  family  he  had  to  take  on  him- 
self the  principal  responsibilities  of  the  home  farm, 
and  from  that  time  forward  was  engaged  in  earning 
his  own  way  and  helping  others.  He  had  charge  of 
the  home  farm  until  he  was  twenty-one,  at  which  time 
he  turned  it  over  to  his  next  younger  brother,  and 
then  set  out  for  the  west. 

Mr.  Stough’s  parents  were  John  T.  and  Maria 
(Thompson)  Stough,  the  latter  being  a daughter  of 
Judge  Nathan  Thompson,  of_  Kenton,  Hardin  county, 
Ohio.  They  were  married  in  Ohio,  where  both  of 
them  were  natives,  and  the  father  was  engaged  in 
farming  throughout  his  career,  dying  in  1867  at  the 
age  of  forty-one.  The  mother  lived  until  iSqS-  to  the 
age  of  seventy-five,  and  both  are  buried  side  by  side 
in  Ohio.  There  were  five  children  in  the  family. 


Air.  Stough  was  married  in  Lewistown,  this  state, 
on  July  4,  1887,  to  Aliss  Alma  L.  Culver,  the  daugh- 
ter of  Mr.  and  Airs.  Lyman  Culver,  formerly  of  Iowa. 
Air,  Stough  and  his  wife  formed  one  of  the  couples  in 
an  interesting  double  wedding,  Harry  T.  Kendall,  the 
discoverer  of  the  famous  Kendall  mines,  being  mar- 
ried at  the  same  time,  and  ex-Judge  Aleagher  per- 
formed the  ceremony.  Mr.  Stough  and  Air.  Kendall 
had  been  comrades  and  friends,  had  worked  together 
in  the  mines,  had  “batched”  together,  and  enjoyed  the 
intimate  friendship  which  association  in  a new  country 
fosters.  Air.  Stough  also  worked  for  a time  in  the 
mines  at  Maiden,  and  his  superintendent  at  the  time 
was  Granville  Stuart,  another  one  of  the  notable 
figures  of  this  state. 

He  is  one  of  the  active  members  of  the  Stanford 
Commercial  Club,  and  in  politics  is  Republican,  though 
he  has  consistently  refused  any  personal  political 
honors.  As  a citizen  he  has  been  foremost  in  pro- 
moting the  welfare  and  efficiency  of  the  public  schools, 
and  has  worked  as  a member  of  the  school  board  for 
the  improvements  which  he  has  most  at  heart.  Of 
the  interests  which  divert  and  are  for  recreation, 
practically  all  of  the  outdoor  sports  find  in  him  a 
devotee.  He  is  fond  of  hunting  and  fishing,  is  a real 
baseball  “fan,”  and  with  his  own  car  combines  busi- 
ness and  pleasure  in  automobiling.  Books  and  the 
theatre  attract  him,  and  toward  all  the  interests  of 
life,  both  the  practical  and  the  intellectual,  he  main- 
tains a progressive  attitude,  believing  that  a community 
should  keep  on  going  ahead  in  every  department  of 
its  activities.  With  regard  to  the  state  of  Montana 
he  has  a ready  loyalty  toward  it.  This  is  his  home 
state,  it  has  been  the  scene  of  his  prosperous  career, 
and  to  ambitious  young  men  at  the  outset  of  their 
careers  he  presents  this  as  a locality  where  opportun- 
ities of  all  kinds  are  waiting  to  be  improved. 

Judge  Fr.vnk  Henhy.  The  passing  of  Judge  Frank 
Henry  on  May  27,  1912.  robbed  the  state  of  Alontana  of 
one  of  her  most  rmlued  citizens,  and  terminated  the 
busy  career  of  one  of  the  ablest  legists  of  the  state,  who 
had,  in  addition  to  numerous  other  public  services, 
served  on  the  bench  for  twenty-three  consecutive 
years.  He  was  one  of  those  men  who  conferred  dignity 
and  honor  upon  the  high  office  called  upon  to  fill,  and 
his  influence  was  felt  no  less  as  an  attorney  in  the 
active  practice  of  law  than  in  the  exercise  of  high 
judicial  functions.  He  was  for  years  judge  of  the 
sixth  judicial  district  of  the  state,  which  now  comprises 
the  counties  of  Park,  Sweetgrass  and  Carbon. 

Born  on  the  15th  day  of  November,  1855,  in  Dayton, 
Ohio,  Judge  Frank  Henry  was  the  son  of  Rev.  James 
AI,  and  Elizabeth  ( Reid ) Henry,  the  former  a native  of 
Greene  county,  Ohio,  who  rendered  a long  and  faithful 
service  in  the  ministry  of  the  Christian  church.  For 
sixteen  years  he  retained  the  pastorate  of  the  church 
of  his  denomination  in  Dayton,  after  which  he  was 
in  charge  at  New  Albany,  Indiana,  for  a matter  of  four 
years,  then  removing  to  Chillicothe,  Missouri,  where  he 
died  in  1882,  one  year  after  the  passing  of  his  wife.  He 
was  the  son  of  John  Henry,  a native  Virginian,  and  was 
there  born  and  reared,  the  family  being  one  of  the 
honored  ones  of  the  state. 

Frank  Henry  secured  his  early  schooling  in  his  native 
city,  and  when  his  family  removed  to  Chillicothe.  Mis- 
souri, he  accompanied  them  to  that  place,  there  entering 
the  offices  of  Luthej  Collier,  an  able  lawyer  of  that 
place,  and  entered  upon  the  study  of  the  law  with  char- 
acteristic zeal  and  energy.  In  1877  he  had  so  far  pro- 
gressed with  his  studies  that  he  was  admitted  to  prac- 
tice in  all  courts  of  the  state.  He  promptly  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Chillicothe,  where  he 
was  already  well  and  favorably  known  as  an  enterpris- 
ing and  progressive  young  man,  and  in  the  following 
year  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  city  attorney,  an 
office  which  he  filled  for  an  entire  term  and  conducting 


1256 


HISTORY  OF  AIOR’TANA 


its  affairs  in  a manner  that  further  established  his  repu- 
tation in  the  community.  It  was  not  until  1883  that 
Judge  Henry  came  to  Montana.  He  located  at  Livings- 
ton at  once,  there  engaged  in  his  profession,  continued 
successfully  until  1886,  when  official  preferment  came  to 
him  a second  time  in  his  election  to  the  office  of  county 
attorney  The  election  came  at  a time  prior  to  the 
formation  of  Park  county  from  the  county  of  Galla- 
tin and  his  election  necessitated  his  removal  to  Boze- 
man In  1888,  however,  Mr.  Henry  resigned  his  office 
and  returned  to  Livingston,  there  resuming  practice. 
That  he  was  peculiarly  eligible  for  public  service  m a 
higher  capacity  was  early  recognized,  and  m 1889  he 
was  elected  judge  of  the  sixth  judicial  district,  then 
comprising  the  counties  of  Park,  Meagher,  and  Gallatin. 
His  highly  satisfactory  services  on  the  bench  resulted 
in  his  successive  re-election  to  the  office,  on  two  occa- 
sions without  an  opposition,  and  he  was  still  the  in- 
cumbent of  that  office  at  the  time  of  his  death,  haying 
completed  twenty“three  yeiirs  of  service  in  Ins  judicis.! 
capacity.  At  that  time  he  had  served  longer  on  the 
bench  than  any  other  incumbent.  , • r 

Tiidge  Henry  was  a staunch  Republican,  and  in  a fra- 
ternal way  he  was  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias, 
fie  was  a man  who  gained  and  held  the  confidence  and 
unqualified  respect  of  all  classes,  and  his  continued 
retention  in  his  high  office  is  sufficient  testimony  of  his 
zealous  conservation  of  the  best  interest  of  the  state, 
in  so  far  as  his  judicial  acts  might  be  expected  to  regu- 
late or  effect  those  interests.  He  was  well  grounded  in 
the  science  and  technicalities  of  the_  law,  with  a wide 
understanding  and  knowledge  of  jurisprudence  and 
precedents,  and  his  rulings  seldom  met  with  reversal. 

Judge  Henry  was  married  on  the  fifth  of  May,  1880, 
to  Miss  Julia  Ballenger,  a native  of  Illinois,  and  the 
daughter  of  Merrill  S.  Ballenger,  born  in  Garrett 
county,  Kentucky,  on  July  20,  1821.  He  was  the  son 
of  Llenry  Ballenger,  a native  son  of  Rockbridge  county, 
Virginia,  who  married  Lucy  Jeffries  of  Garrett  county, 
Kentucky,  and  was  himself  the  son  of  Eccles  and  Mil- 
dred (Hudson)  Ballenger,  the  former  a native  of 
Culpeper  county,  Virginia.  Mrs.  Henry’s  mother  was 
Jane  Hardcastle,  the  daughter  of  Edward  Hardcastle 
of  Baltimore,  Maryland,  who  married  Elizabeth  Reed, 
born  in  West  Virginia.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Isaac 
and  Jane  (Hill)  Reed,  both  Virginians  and  leaders  of 
society  in  colonial  days  in  that  state. 

Judge  and  Mrs.  Henry  became  the  parents  of  one  son, 
Merrill,  born  April  6,  1881. 

The  death  of  Judge  Henry  called  forth  many  expres- 
sions of  regret  and  appreciation  throughout  the  state, 
which  lack  of  space  will  not  permit  the  reproduction 
of,  in  this  connection,  but  an  editorial  appearing  in  the 
Butte  Miner  at  that  time  is  here  introduced,  and  will 
serve  as  a plain,  unvarnished  statement  of  the  regard 
in  which  the  late  Judge  Henry  was  held: 

“In  these  modern  days  there  are  persons  who  claim 
that  judges  should  not  hold  their  positions  upon  the 
bench  for  life,  but  down  in  eastern  Montana  there  were 
none  who  believed  that  Judge  Frank  Henry  was  not 
entitled  to  preside  over  the  court  of  his  district  just 
as  long  as  he  lived,  and  that  is  exactly  what  he  did. 

“No  man  in  Montana  ever  held  judicial  office  as  long 
as  did  Judge  Henry,  for  he  was  elected  at  the  first 
state  election,  re-elected  every  four  years_  since  that  time, 
and  without  an  interruption  in  his  service  he  was  fill- 
ing the  same  position  when  he  fell  into  his  long  last 
sleep  yesterday. 

“Since  he  became  a judge  on  the  first  day  of  statehood 
the  boundaries  of  his  district  were  frequently  changed, 
new  counties  being  added  to  it  and  old  ones  taken  from 
it,  but  this  made  no  difference,  for  the  people  under 
his  jurisdiction  always  insisted  that  he  should  serve 
them. 

“Although  not  a politician  he  did  not  always  run  on 
the  same  ticket,  for  at  one  time  he  joined  the  silver 
Republican  party  as  a matter  of  conscience  and  freely 


announced  his  change,  but  the  citizens  of  his  district 
did  not  care  what  political  views  he  held,  for  they 
knew  he  was  a good  judge  and  they  made  up  their 
minds  to  keep  him  on  the  bench,  no  matter  what  political 
doctrine  he  might  believe  in. 

“In  late  years  he  was  usually  elected  without  an 
opposing  candidate,  for  the  voters  made  up  their  minds 
they  could  not  improve  upon  Judge  Henry.  His  record 
of  judicial  service  is  only  exceeded  by  his  record  for 
honesty  and  integrity,  and  his  death  will  be  felt  as  a per- 
sonal bereavement  in  every  household  in  his  district.” 

Henry  L.  Keeton.  One  of  the  wealthy  and  well- 
known  ranchmen  of  Montana  is  Llenry  L.  Keeton,  of 
Great  Falls,  who  as  an  “old  timer”  is  thoroughly  fa- 
miliar with  the  old  and  exciting  order  of  ranch  life 
that  obtained  in  this  state  in  an  earlier  period,  has 
seen  its  passing,  together  with  much  of  the  lawlessness 
of  those  days,  and  has  marked  the  advent  of  Montana 
as  one  of  the  states  of  the  Union  and  its  rapid  progress 
as  a commonwealth.  Lie  has  rounded  up  cattle  on  the 
very  site  where  now  stands  the  thriving  city  of  Great 
Falls,  the  second  in  size  in  the  state. 

Mr.  Keeton  was  born  at  Cleveland,  Ohio  in  1859. 
His  school  days  were  limited  to  but  a few  years,  for 
at  a tender  age  he  was  forced  to  go  to  work  on  a 
ranch  in  Iowa  whither  his  parents  had  emigrated  at  an 
early  period,  and  there  he  did  the  duties  of  a ranch 
boy  until  thirteen  years  of  age.  About  that  time  the 
gold  excitement  was  at  its  height  in  the  Black  Hills 
of  South  Dakota  and  many  of  the  early  pioneers  in 
Iowa  were  making  up  parties  to  cross  the  plains  for 
the  new  El  Dorado.  With  the  spirit  of  an  adventurous 
youth  he  secured  a place  with  one  of  these  companies 
as  lookout  to  assist  in  guarding  the  safety  of  the 
travelers  from  bands  of  marauding  Indians  who  were 
constantly  harassing  and  murdering  the  early  gold 
seekers.  The  party  numbered  400  people  and  had  a 
train  of  60  wagons.  The  trip  was  attended  with  many 
dangers,  the  party  finally  reaching  the  new  gold  dig- 
gings after  two  months  of  hard  and  rugged  travel,  dur- 
ing which  time  they  had  several  skirmishes  with  In- 
dians but  without  the  loss  of  a single  life.  Mr.  Keeton 
remained  there  but  a short  time  and  then  took  the 
overland  journey  back  to  his  old  home.  Until  the 
following  spring  he  worked  as  a cowboy  on  his  father’s 
ranch  and  for  a short  time  afterward  was  similarly 
employed  on  a ranch  in  Western  Iowa.  Once  more  he 
crossed  the  plains,  this  time  making  his  way  alone  to 
Bismarck,  South  Dakota,  then  a wild  frontier  town, 
and  for  two  and  a half  years  he  worked  there  as  a 
cowboy  on  a ranch.  From  Bismarck  he  came  to  Mon- 
tana and  secured  similar  employment  on  a ranch  in 
the  Gallatin  valley,  remaining  there  but  a short  time, 
however.  His  next  employer  was  a noted  cattleman 
of  the  early  period  named  “Two  Dot”  Wilson,  whose 
ranch  lay  in  the  Musselshell  valley.  There  he  had  many 
thrilling  experiences  and  narrow  escapes  from  bands  of 
roving  Indians  and  at  one  time  was  Shot  through  the 
arm  in  a running  fight  with  the  Redskins  but  escaped 
with  his  life.  That  was  in  the  fall  of  1883.  From  1884 
to  1889  he  was  successively  in  the  employ  of  B.  LI.  Phil- 
lips, Alex  Tuttle  and  Ole  Tharseon,  all  noted  cattle- 
men of  the  early  days.  In  the  meantime  he  had  saved 
considerable  money.  He  bought  his  first  ranch  in  1885 
with  Peter  Vann  as  a partner.  Mr.  Vann  worked 
away  and  Mr.  Keeton  worked  the  home  ranch.  After 
a time  they  divided  their  interests,  and  finally  Mr. 
Keeton  sold  out  to  the  Baiur  Brothers  in  1901.  He  then 
purchased  of  Thomas  Thornton  another  ranch  of  880 
acres  in  Cascade  county  which  he  still  retains.  It  is 
stocked  with  quite  a number  of  horses  and  cattle  and 
has  on  it  a substantial  house  and  ample  ranch  buildings. 
Besides  this  property  he  owns  other  valuable  realty  in 
Great  Falls  including  a fine  modern  residence  erected 
in  1910  at  1204  Fifth  avenue  north,  elegant  in  its  ap- 
pointments and  furnishings.  This  beautiful  home  is 


gffiSgggg^ 


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ri  rtt.  • ‘Yi-no?r,,i-i-‘r:y 

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HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1257 


often  the  scene  of  a gracious  and  cordial  hospitality 
extended  to  the  many  friends  of  Mr.  Keeton  and  his 
family. 

His  parents,  John  and  Martha  Keeton,  were  both 
natives  of  Ohio,  but  became  pioneer  settlers  in  Iowa. 
The  latter  died  when  her  son  Henry  was  three  years 
old,  in  i86i,  and  he  was  then  placed  in  the  care  of 
his  grandmother.  John  Keeton  was  one  of  the  valiant 
defenders  of  the  Union  during  the  Civil  war  and  was 
wounded  while  in  action.  At  the  time  of  the  great 
Chicago  fire  he  filed  on  a homestead  in  that  city  but 
later  gave  it  up.  He  died  in  Iowa  in  1883. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Keeton  took  place  in  Lewis- 
town,  Montana,  on  November  7,  1888  when  he  was 
united  to  Miss  Grace  D.  Matkin,  Judge  Marr  officiat- 
ing. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Keeton  have  one  daughter,  Jessie 
Ellen  Keeton,  born  September  16,  1897  at  Stanford, 
Montana,  who  is  now  attending  school  in  Great  Falls. 
Mrs.  Keeton,  too,  is  thoroughly  familiar  with  the  hard- 
ships and  dangers  of  early  western  life.  After  her 
father’s  death  at  Maloth  City,  Idaho,  the  mother  with 
her  three  children  took  the  trail  alone  in  a prairie 
schooner  to  join  her  brother,  H.  F.  Dent  in  which  is 
now  Denton,  Montana.  From  Maloth  City,  Idaho,  they 
followed  the  trail  to  Fort  Benton,  thence  to  Wolf 
creek,  where  they  settled  on  the  ranch  which  remained 
the  home  of  Mrs.  Keeton  until  her  marriage.  While 
traveling  to  their  new  home  many  nights  were  spent 
in  the  open  surrounded  by  all  manner  of  dangers  from 
wild  beasts  and  marauding  Indians.  This  is  an  example 
of  the  true  western  spirit  of  the  early  days  of  Montana 
when  women  as  well  as  men  displayed  the  courage  and 
staying  qualities  so  marked  in  the  people  of  this  state. 

Mr.  Keeton  is  identified  fraternally  _ with  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  in  politics  is  a 
Democrat.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Bap- 
tist church.  While  there  are  still  great  opportunities 
in  Montana  for  able  and  energetic  men,  the  romance 
and  daring  of  former  days  has  largely  given  place  to  a 
more  settled  and  orosaic  life.  This  serves  but  to  in- 
crease interest  in  the  careers  of  those  men  who  won  their 
success  in  the  old  days  and  are  living  links  connecting 
the  old  order  with  the  new.  It  is  with  pleasure  that 
the  publishers  of  this  work  herein  preserve  the  life 
story  of  Mr.  Keeton,  one  of  Montana’s  pioneers. 

Franklin  U.  Keene.  Noteworthy  among  the  native- 
born  citizens  of  Broadwater  county  who  are  con- 
tributing in  every  possible  way  towards  its  _ growth 
and  development,  whether  relating  to  its  agricultural 
or  financial  interests,  is  Franklin  U.  Keene,  whose 
birth  occurred  October  22,  1883.  on  the  farm  of  his 
father,  Thomas  F.  Keene. _ 

Born  at  Sterling,  Virginia,  July  15,  _ i836,_  Thomas 
F.  Keene  spent  his  earlier  years  in  his  native  state, 
during  the  Civil  war  serving  through  one  enlistment 
in  the  Confederate  army.  Following  the  tide  of  emi- 
gration westward  in  1864,  he  became  a pioneer  settler 
of  Alder  Gulch,  Montana,  on  the  long  and  tedious 
journey  by  wagons  across  the  plains  being  accompanied 
by  two  brothers,  Harvey  L and  Flavius  J.,  whose 
death  occurred  in  July,  1906.  These  three  venturesome 
pioneers  suffered,  in  common  with  their  very  few 
neighbors,  all  of  the  hardships  and  privations  of  fron- 
tier life,  but  eventually  became  extensive  land  owners, 
and  prosperous  ranchmen,  of  Broadwater  county.  Mr. 
Thomas  F.  Keene  was  for  awhile  engaged  in  mining 
in  the  vicinitv  of  Alder  Gulch,  Helena  and  Diamond. 

Deciding,  however,  that  he  could  make  more  off  of 
the  land  as  an  agriculturist  than  he  could  dig  out  of 
it  as  a miner,  he  located  in  Broadwater  county,  and 
has  since  proved  up  a large  tract  of  land  that  is  now 
one  of  the  finest  improved  and  most  valuable  ranches 
in  central  Montana.  He  has  spared  neither  time  nor 
expense  in  the  improvement  of  his  property,  more 
especially  since  the  formation  of  the  firm  of  Thomas 
F.  Keene  & Sons,  of  which  he  is  at  the  head.  He  mar- 


ried Sarah  Virginia  Downtain,  of  Missouri,  who  has 
proved  herself  a helpmate  in  the  truest  sense  implied 
by  the  term,  sharing  with  him  the  early  labors  on  the 
home  ranch,  and  doing  her  full  share  in  the  rearing 
and  educating  of  one  of  the  finest  families  in  the 
county.  Seven  children  blessed  their  union,  five  of 
whom  are  living,  as  follows:  Newton,  Guy,  and 

Franklin  U.,  who  are  in  business  with  their  father; 
Jesse  Ray  and  Virginia  Viola,  attending  the  Town- 
send high  school.  Guy  Keene,  the  second  son  of  the 
parental  household,  married  Hattie  Porter,  of  Ohio, 
and  lives  on  the  home  ranch. 

After  leaving  the  public  schools  of  Broadwater 
county,  Franklin  U.  Keene  continued  his  studies  at 
Central  College  Academy,  in  Fayette,  Missouri,  and 
afterwards  spent  three  years  at  the  college  in  Boze- 
man, Montana,  taking  the  college  course,  and  special- 
izing in  civil  engineering.  Returning  home  when 
through  college,  Mr.  Keene  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  as  a member  of  the  enterprising  firm  of 
Thomas  F.  Keene  & Sons,  and  is  meeting  with  un- 
qualified success  in  his  labors. 

A man  of  broad  thought  and  decided  opinions,  Mr. 
Keene  takes  great  interest  in  everything  pertaining  to 
the  history  and  government  of  the  United  States,  and 
is  active  in  public  affairs,  since  May  22,  1911,  having 
served  as  deputy  clerk  and  recorder  of  Broadwater 
county.  Fraternally  he  is  a member  of  the  Indepen- 
dent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  served  during  1912  as 
vice  grand.  He  is  also  an  active  member  of  Sons  and 
Daughters  of  Montana,  an  organization  of  which  the 
state  is  proud. 

Mr.  Keene  was  married  July  24,  1912,  in  Butte,  Mon- 
tana, to  Ethel  Alberta  Oliver,  daughter  of  Rev.  S.  A. 
Oliver,  of  Billings,  Montana. 

John  Selby  Martin  Neill.  In  setting  forth  the 
statement  that  no  man  in  the  state  of  Montana  exerted 
a more  potent  influence  in  a political  way  than  did 
the  late  John  S.  M.  Neill,  it  is  not  anticipated  that  any 
will  be  found  who  will  feel  justified  in  gainsaying  that 
assertion.  It  is  a fact  that  as  proprietor  of  the  Helena 
Independent  he  was  a recognized  power  in  affairs 
of  a statewide  import,  and  his  passing  has  robbed 
Alontana  of  one  of  the  most  aggressive  forces  for 
public  good  that  the  state  has  ever  known.  His  con- 
ception of  the  political  and  economic  exigencies  was 
ever  clear  and  decisive,  and  he  was  a master  in  the  wise 
manipulation  of  those  forces  which  dominated  the  activ- 
ities of  his  party.  The  Democratic  contingent  in  Mon- 
tana ever  found  its  interests  materially  furthered  through 
his  timely  efforts,  which  were  inspired  through  his  innate 
love  of  his  adopted  state,  and  the  city  which  was  his 
greatest  pride  for  so  many  years. 

John  S.  M.  Neill  was  born  in  the  city  of  St.  Paul. 
Minnesota,  on  March  25,  i860,  and  was  the  son  of 
Rev.  Edward  D.  and  Nancy  (Hall)  Neill,  natives  of 
the  states  of  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland,  respectively. 
The  father  was  a clergyman  in  the  Presbyterian  church, 
and  a man  of  exceptional  ability.  When  John  S.  M. 
Neill  was  two  years  of  age  the  family  home  was  re- 
moved to  Philadelphia,  and  later  to  the  city  of  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.  In  1869  Reverend  Neill  was  appointed  to 
the  post  of  consul  to  Dublin,  Ireland,  by  President  Grant, 
and  it  was  in  the  city  of  Dublin  that  the  subject  re- 
ceived his  preliminary  educational  training.  The  fam- 
ily returned  to  America  in  1872,  locating  in  Minneapo- 
lis. and  there  the  boy  continued  his  studies  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  that  city,  graduating  from  the  high 
school  with  the  class  of  1877.  Soon  after  he  was 
matriculated  in  Delaware  College  at  Newark,  Dela- 
ware, and  in  1881  he  was  duly  graduated  with  the 
degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  For  two  years  there- 
after he  was  a student  in  the  law  department  of  the 
Columbian  University,  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  after 
which  he  came  to  Montana,  locating  in  Helena,  and 


1258 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


this  city  ever  since  has  represented  his  home  and  the 
center  of  his  activities  until  the  day  of  his  death. 

It  was  not  long  after  he  settled  in  Helena  that  Mr. 
Neill  began  to  take  an  active  hand  in  the  Democratic 
politics  of  the  city  and  state.  His  honest  work  in  the 
two  Cleveland  campaigns  resulted,  upon  Mr.  Cleve- 
land’s second  election,  in  the  appointment  of  Mr. 
Neill  to  the  office  of  surveyor-general  of  the  state,  and 
this  post  he  retained  until  there  was  a change  in  the 
administrative  politics  of  the  nation.  It  may  be  said 
at  tins  point,  that  this  was  the  only  political_  office  Mr. 
Neill  ever  was  prevailed  upon  to  accept,  his  energies 
being  given  rather  to  the  placing  of  capable  men  in 
public  office  than  to  filling  such  offices  himself,  or  seek- 
ing political  favor  for  his  own  furtherance.  As  a 
vigorous  and  aggressive  leader  of  the  Democratic  forces, 
the  state  early  recognized  the  qualities  of  the  man,  and 
in  that  capacity  he  soon  established  a reputation  that 
has  never  been  exceeded  in  Montana.  For  years  the 
Helena  Independent  had  been  the  Democratic  organ  at 
the  state  capital,  and  the  efforts  of  the  Republicans  to 
secure  control  of  the  paper  brought  Mr.  Neill  into  ac- 
tion in  an  attempt  to  enlist  Democratic  support  for  the 
Independent.  He  finally  succeeded  in  securing  suf- 
ficient Democratic  capital,  purely  from  a business  stand- 
point, to  secure  control  of  the  paper  and  the  Inde- 
pendent has  from  then  until  now  been  the  open  ally 
of  the  Democratic  party  in  Montana.  It  was  in  the 
early  nineties  that  Mr.  Neill  became  the  proprietor  of 
the  Helena  Independent,  his  private  business  interests 
prior  to  that  time  having  been  confined  to  the  real  es- 
tate business,  but  from  the  time  when  he  became  iden- 
tified with  newspaper  work  as  the  result  of  his  efforts  to 
save  the  Independent  from  Republican  control,  he  gave 
his  attention  to  the  management  of  his  paper,  with  a 
success  that  few  newspaper  men  of  the  state  have 
exceeded,  or  reached. 

Mr.  Neill  was  a close  personal  friend  of  former 
Senator  Clark  and  was  a prime  mover  in  the  manage- 
ment of  the  senator’s  campaign  in  the  days  of  the 
memorable  Clark-Daly  feud,  when  Mr.  Clark  was  the 
choice  of  the  Democratic  party  for  senator.  During 
his  later  years,  though  still  an  ardent  Democrat  and 
a sturdy  worker  in  its  ranks,  lending  through  the 
medium  of  his  paper  every  possible  aid  to  its  policies 
and  its  candidates,  he  withdrew  somewhat  from  active 
participation  in  party  affairs  and  gave  his  energies 
largely  to  problems  of  civic  advancement.  It  was  to  this 
work  that  the  later  years  of  his  life  were  principally 
devoted,  and  in  which  he  had  the  greatest  pride.  To 
Mr.  Neill  must  be  accorded  the  credit  for  the  planning 
of  some  of  Helena’s  most  notable  improvements,  and 
it  was  his  persistent  energy  and  unfailing  belief  in  the 
future  of  the  city  which  made  these  improvements  pos- 
sible. The  Mount  Helena  forest  park,  the  Le  Grande 
Cannon  Boulevard  and  the  west  side  improvement  dis- 
trict, all  owe  in  a large  measure,  their  existence  to  the 
aggressive  and  enterprising  spirit  of  this  man.  The 
plans  for  the  greater  state  fair,  now  being  successfully 
worked  out,  were  conceived  in  his  fertile  brain,  and  it 
was  he  who  brought  to  the  support  of  this  splendid 
plan  the  influential  men  who  are  now  identified  with 
the  movement.  He  was  an  active  member  of  the 
famous  committee  of  fifteen,  appointed  for  the  pur- 
pose of  negotiating  plans  for  a new  hotel  for  Helena, 
which  committee  established  a.  record  in  raising  more 
than  $300,000  in  nine  days  for  the  success  of  the 
project.  He,  too,  was  one  of  those  who  were  active 
in  the  movement  with  regard  to  the  Great  Wesleyan 
University.  Perhaps  his  most  ambitious  project  with 
regard  to  the  betterment  of  conditions  in  Helena  was 
that  of  the  Butte-Helena  interurban  railway,  which  was 
fast  nearing  its  consummation  through  his  efforts 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  and  all  his  labors  were  per- 
formed with  the  idea  in  mind  of  making  Helena  the 
largest  and  most  important  city  in  the  state,  or  in  this 
section  of  the  northwest. 


The  editorial  expression  which  appeared  in  the  In- 
dependent on  the  day  following  the  death  of  Mr. 
Neill  so  aptly  expresses  the  position  he  held  in  Helena 
and  so  well  denotes  the  character  of  the  man,  that 
full  space  is  here  given  to  the  article:  “Yesterday,  at 

Arkansas  Hot  Springs,  a great  and  courageous  man, 
after  a struggle  which  excited  the  admiration  of  those 
who  knew  the  hopelessness  of  the  battle  he  was  waging 
with  the  grim  reaper,  met  the  defeat  which  in  time 
comes  to  us  all.  John  S.  M.  Neill  is  dead. 

“For  years  Mr.  Neill  had  been  a sick  man.  His 
physicians  sought  in  vain  to  make  him  detach  himself 
from  the  ordinary  affairs  of  life  and  devote  himself  to 
the  task  of  restoring  his  failing  health.  But  there  was 
much  to  be  done,  and  beyond  a few  brief  weeks  of 
rest  and  recuperation,  his  restless  energy  and  indomi- 
table purpose  madejiim  keep  his  shoulder  to  the  wheel 
almost  to  the  very  hour  when  Nature  claimed  her  in- 
exorable toll. 

"The  place  which  Mr.  Neill  filled  in  Montana  and  in 
Montana’s  affairs  was  a big  one.  In  the  various  activi- 
ties to  which  men  devote  themselves,  his  influence  was 
widely  felt.  In  the  industrial  and  political  life  of  the 
state  he  was  a strong  man  of  affairs.  He  believed 
implicitly  in  Montana.  He  glorified  in  Montana’s  ad- 
vancement and  looked  forward  with  confidence  to  the 
brilliant  future  of  the  state. 

“But  big  as  he  was  in  Montana’s  affairs,  he  w'as 
even  bigger  in  the  affairs  of  this  city,  and  the  men 
with  whom  he  labored  in  a common  cause  agree  that 
he  was  Helena’s  ablest  and  foremost  champion.  With 
a degree  of  pride  seldom  approached,  he  loved  the  city 
he  had  made  his  home,  and  with  the  full  vigor  of  his 
splendid  intellect  he  worked  incessantly  for  the  welfare 
and  advancement  of  Helena.  No  project  for  civic  im- 
provement was  so  small  as  to  be  beneath  his  notice 
or  unworthy  his  help;  none  was  so  large  or  ambitious 
as  to  stagger  his  purpose  or  cause  an  instant’s  hesita- 
tion to  the  indomitable  will  that  was  his.  To  build  here 
a great  city — this  was  the  ambition  which  Mr.  Neill 
cherished  most,  and  this  was  the  ambition  which  piled 
up  the  prodigious  labors  of  his  last  years.  Many  of 
the  projects  which  he  inspired  he  lived  to  see  wholly 
or  partially  completed,  and  in  them  he  took  his  greatest 
pride;  others  were  but  in  their  initial  stages,  and  still 
others  had  scarcely  been  more  than  outlined  in  his  own 
.great  mind  and  approved  by  the  test  of  his  remarkable 
foresight. 

“As  is  true  in  the  case  of  all  strong  men,  it  was 
given  to  but  the  few  to  know  Mr.  Neill  intimately.  To 
many  he  was  but  the  strong  aggressive  business  man. 
To  others  he  was  the  political  leader,  the  unbending 
partisan.  Those  who  knew  him  best,  however,  knew 
that  his  life  was  full-orbed;  knew  that  in  his  makeup 
there  was  nothing  petty  or  mean.  His  bitterest  foe  never 
accused  him  of  vindictiveness. 

“Unlike  many  others,  he  took  no  pride  in  the  enemies 
he  made.  None  so  much  as  he  regretted  the  strife  which 
was  inseparable  from  his  great  activities.  A man  of 
strong  convictions,  he  expressed  them  with  all  the 
strength  at  his  command,  and  whether  the  struggle 
was  one  of  national  import  or  whether  it  was  merely  a 
minor  labor  for  the  advancement  of  Helena,  he  never 
faltered,  and  yet,  when  the  day  w'as  done  he  carried 
home  no  rancor  or  ill  will.  On  the  human  side,  he 
thought  well  of  his  fellow-men  and  aspired  to  their 
respect  and  friendship. 

“Next  to  the  city  of  his  home,  it  was  to  the  Independ- 
ent that  Mr.  Neill  gave  a large  measure  of  his  affections. 
To  make  the  newspaper  a positive  force  for  the  intel- 
lectual, moral  and  material  advancement  of  Helena  was 
his  constant  aim.  and  to  this  end  he  labored  with 
unceasing  purpose.  To  the  men  with  whom  he  worked 
on  the  Independent  he  was  more  than  an  employer;  he 
was  a guide  to  better  things  and  an  inspiration  to 
wholesome  endeavor.” 

Mr.  Neill  had  suffered  from  ill  health  for  a number 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1259 


of  years,  and  suffered  a number  of  attacks  from  which 
his  life  was  dispaired.  Last  December  he  showed  signs 
of  returning  weakness  and  it  was  in  the  hope  of  bet- 
tering his  condition,  as  much  as  for  any  other  reason, 
that  Mr.  Neill  made  a trip  to  Panama,  going  as  the  guest 
of  the  American  Institute  of  Electrical  Engineers.  On 
the  return  from  Panama,  i\Ir.  Neill  went  directly  to  the 
Hot  Springs  of  Arkansas,  and  while  there  he  kept  in 
daily  touch  with  his  affairs  in  Helena,  by  mail  and  wire. 
He  expected  to  return  to  Helena  about  April  first, 
but  death  claimed  him  on  the  22d  of  March. 

The  Helena  Commercial  Club,  of  which  Mr.  Neill 
was  a member  of  the  board  of  directors,  met  on  the 
afternoon  following  the  announcement  of  the  death  of 
Mr.  Neill  and  formally  adopted  resolutions  touching 
upon  the  sad  event,  and  messages  of  condolence  and 
sympathy  poured  in  upon  Mrs.  Neill  and  her  son,  George 
G.  E.  Neill.  Among  many  expressions  of  regret  and 
sorrow  was  one  from  Jeremiah  Collins,  of  Washington, 
D.  C.,  former  editor  of  the  Independent,  who  said . 
"In  the  death  of  John  Neill,  Helena  has  lost  its  stanchest 
friend.  At  all  times  and  under  all  circumstances  his 
first  consideration  was  Helena.  How  he  loved  the  city 
and  state  of  his  adoption ! My  intimate  relations  with 
him  for  many  years  give  me  warrant  to  say  that  no  one 
was  ever  more  loyal  to  his  community  or  his  friends. 
His  death  is  a distinct  loss  to  Helena  and  Montana. 
His  enthusiasm  and  optimism  in  public  affairs  will  be 
missed,  and  his  place  as  a communal  leader  hard  to 
fill.  Bi,g  of  brain  and  heart  and  filled  with  love  of 
family,  friends  and  neighbors,  his  loss  must  be  accepted 
as  a public  one.  Words  do  not  suffice  to  express  the 
deep  regret  I feel.” 

Perhaps  no  man  in  Helena  is  better  qualified  to  speak 
of  the  real  character  and  purpose  of  Mr,  Neill  than 
is  Edward  C.  Day.  a prominent  attorney  of  Helena, 
for  many  years  the  close  friend  and  legal  adviser  of  Mr. 
Neill,  and  his  written  tribute  to  his  old  friend  is  here 
incorporated  as  being  the  most  consistent  and  accurate 
commentary  upon  the  life  and  work  of  Mr.  Neill  that 
might  be  procured.  The  article  follows ; ‘Tt  is  im- 
possible for  me  to  speak  of  Mr.  Neill  except  in  terms, 
which,  to  those  who  did  not  know  him  intimately,  ap- 
pear exaggerated.  He  came  from  a strong  intellectual 
and  cultivated  line  of  ancestors,  and  he  inherited  a 
nature  attuned  to  the  finer  things  of  life.  He  had  re- 
ceived a thorough  early  training  and  the  foundations 
of  a liberal  education,  but  he  did  not  possess  the 
patience  of  the  student,  and  he  permitted  his  material 
activities  to  crowd  out  of  his  life  that  systematic  pur- 
suit of  learning  which  was  necessary  to  round  out  his 
training.  Yet  he  managed  to  keep  alive  to  the  love  of 
■literature  which  he  inherited,  and  while  he  was  in  no 
sense  a thorough  reader,  he  had  read  much  of  cer- 
tain forms.  He  was  especially  devoted  to  biography, 
history  and  oratory.  iMagazines,  unless  containing 
useful  information,  were  too  ephemeral  to  appeal  to 
him.  Finely  written  editorials  and  speeches  upon 
great  political  questions  interested  him  deeply,  and 
the  last  months  of  his  life  were  practically  taken  up 
with  the  study,  as  depicted  in  the  daily  and  weekly 
press,  of  the  beginnings  of  the  campaign  which  led  to 
the  nominations  of  Woodrow  Wilson  and  Theodore 
Roosevelt.  He  was  thoroughly  familiar  with  the  politi- 
cal history  of  his  country,  devotedly  attached  to  the 
principles  of  human  liberty  and  freedom,  and  had  he 
developed  in  less  turbulent  and  factional  times  than 
those  which  attended  the  early  years  of  his  adopted 
state.  Montana,  he  would,  no  doubt,  have  contributed 
by  practical  service  to  the  political  history  of  his 
age.  He  was  a Democrat  of  the  old-fashioned  kind  in 
politics,  yet  he  was  keenly  alive  to  the  changes  which 
had  come  into  our  complex  modern  civilization,  and  he 
welcomed  into  the  party  the  new  intellectual  and  lib- 
eral spirit,  which  found  its  expression  in  the  leader- 
ship of  Governor  Wilson,  whom  very  early  after  his 


election  as  Governor  of  New  Jersey,  Air.  Neill  hailed 
as  the  coming  leader  of  the  Democratic  forces. 

“Another  striking  intellectual  trait  which  amounted 
almost  to  genius,  was  his  ability  to  see  far  into  the 
future,  and  to  shape  his  action  so  as  to  lead  to  great 
future  results,  which  were  not  apparent  to  the  ordi- 
nary men.  This  faculty  often  led  him  into  conflict 
with  those  of  slower  perceptions,  who  thought  him  a 
dreamer  and  denounced  his  schemes  as  wild  and  vision- 
ary. Being  himself  quick  of  temper  and  with  but  little 
patience  for  what  he  thought  was  stupidity  and  narrow- 
mindedness, he  met  the  attack  with  equal  denunciation, 
and  his  wordy  encounters  over  matters  of  public  or  civic 
policy  were  often  inexplicable  to  those  easy  going 
natures,  who  never  do  anything  until  compelled  to  it  by 
some  external  force.  This  trait  enabled  him  to  render 
signal  service  to  his  city  and  his  state.  He  foresaw, 
as  but  few  men  did,  the  future  greatness  and  early 
development  of  Montana,  and  he  labored  to.  have  the 
foundations  of  government  laid  broadly  and  sketched 
plans  for  the  future,  worthy  of  an  empire.  Especially 
was  this  true  of  his  plans  for  the  state  capital  build- 
ing, the  state  fair  grounds,  and  his  ideas  upon  the  cen- 
tralization of  her  educational  institutions.  Small  natures 
could  see  nothing  present  in  these  plans,  and  taking  the 
cue  from  their  own  littleness,  often  attributed  to  him 
selfish  motives,  or  a desire  to  profit  personally,  and  they 
defeated  or  delayed  many  of  his  efforts  by  the  preju- 
dice which  they  were  enabled  to  thus  arouse  against 
him.  But  it  is  a satisfaction  to  his  friends  to  know 
that  already  the  actual  growth  of  the  state  has  con- 
firmed many  of  his  views,  and  there  are  those  who 
already  regret  their  own  short-sightedness  and  conse- 
quent failure  of  co-operation,  which  might  have  has- 
tened the  success  of  ventures  now  too  long  delayed.  So, 
too,  in  city  affairs,  he  loved  the  city  of  Helena  as  a 
child  of  his  own  blood.  He  saw  her,  in  his  splendid 
imagination,  sitting  enthroned  in  her  mountain  home, 
with  the  great  fertile  valley  at  her  feet  and  peopled  with 
a host  of  happy  prosperous  people,  worthy  to  be  the 
capital  city  of  the  great  empire  to  be.  And  he  wrought 
with  all  of  the  impassioned  force  of  his  life  to  ac- 
complish this  end.  He  labored,  as  did  but  few  others, 
to  make  her  the  capital  of  Alontana,  and  from  that  day 
until  the  day  of  his  death,  it  is  not  an  exaggeration 
to  say,  not  a_  day  passed  that  her  future  did  not  rise 
before  his  vision,  and  that  his  ceaseless  mental  energies 
were  not  actively  engaged  in  meditation  upon  her  wel- 
fare. Not  as  a great  manufacturing,  or  mining,  or 
banking,  or  business  or  political  center, — he  would  have 
her  all  these, — but  as  the  great  social,  intellectual  and 
spiritual  center  of  the  state  was  his  ambition.  No 
movement  was  too  great  to  have  its  center  here,  and 
no  building  could  be  designed  by  the  .greatest  architect 
which  would  be  too  magnificent  to  house  the  species 
of  her  activities. 

“Next  to  his  breadth  of  vision  was  the  clarity  of  hi.s 
vision,  and  directness  of  speech.  He  had  a peculiar 
timidity  about  public  appearance,  and  he  never  made  a 
set  public  speech  in  his  life;  yet  he  was  the  most  force- 
ful public  speaker  of  his  generation.  He  never  attempted 
a public  utterance  until  he  became  so  full  of  his  sub- 
ject that  he  could  not  restrain  himself,  and  then  when 
he  arose  to  his  feet,  it  was  to  pour  forth  a stream 
of  direct  and  forceful  words  that  overpowered  his 
adversaries.  His  speech  was  more  like  the  swift,  recur- 
rent forceful  blows  of  a great  hammer  weldin.g  quickly 
the  hot  iron  into  shape.  He  could  not  introduce  a 
subject  to  his  audience,  or  enter  into  detailed  explana- 
tions. but  he  could  sum  up  the  arguments  on  his  side 
at  the  close  of  a running  debate,  in  a manner  which 
would  have  made  him  famous  as  a parliamentary 
orator. 

“He  could  inspire  others  with  his  ideas  in  such 
a way  as  to  make  them  and  the  public  think  them 
original,  whereas  the  writer  was  but  wielding  the 
pen  of  Neill.  This  was  most  noticeable  in  the  work 


1260 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


of  his  newspaper.  He  was  fortunate  in  securing  the 
services  of  several  writers  peculiarly  gifted  as  to  style. 
Whenever  he  was  moved  to  advocate  a cause  he  would 
have  a talk  with  his  editor,  which  would  resemble  a 
public  lecture  or  a tirade  upon  the  editor’s  shortcom- 
ings, as  the  case  might  be.  The  result  would  be  an 
editorial  which  radiated  life  from  every  sentence,  and 
differed  as  much  from  the  daily  work  of  the  editor  as 
the  inspired  poem  differs  from  doggerel.  The  Neill 
editorial  was  well  known.  When  it  appeared  the  com- 
munity was  thrilled,  and  his  enemies  feared  the  shriek 
of  his  message  and  took  to  cover,  as  the  soldier  shrinks 
from  the  shrill  cry  of  the  bullet  or  shell. 

"His  courage,  physical  and  moral,  was  remark- 
able. He  knew  no  foe  of  whose  strength  he  was 
afraid.  Not  that  he  underestimated  it,  but  he  posses- 
sed so  much  of  self-confidence  that  when  he  assumed 
a position  he  accepted  all  of  its  responsibilities.  He 
was  generous  and  charitable  to  an  unusual  degree.  He 
gave  freely  of  time  and  money  to  every  cause  which 
was  presented  to  him,  and  to  those  in  which  he  was 
especially  interested  he  gave  his  whole  self.  If  he  was 
your  friend  there  was  no  sacrifice  he  would  not  make 
to  aid  you,  and  the  only  return  he  ever  asked  was  that 
of  loyalty.  The  only  fault  he  could  not  forgive  was 
that  of  double-dealing  on  the  part  of  one  whose 
friendship  he  had  accepted  and  returned  at  face  value. 

"His  devotion  to  his  family,  and  to  all  the  members 
of  it,  whether  to  his  brothers  or  sisters,  as  well  as  to 
his  wife  and  son,  was  most  touching  and  beautiful. 
Here  the  generosity  of  his  nature  knew  no  bounds,  and 
he  heaped  upon  them  a wealth  of  love  and  affection, 
exhibited  not  merely  in  words,  but  in  deeds  of  sac- 
rifice, sustenance  and  support,  which  was  only  lim- 
ited by  his  strength  and  means. 

"His  life  was  short,  measured  by  ordinary  rules,  but 
it  was  full  and  rich  from  the  beginning  to  the  end. 
When  told  a few  years  ago  by  his  physician  that  he 
could  only  live  a year,  unless  he  gave  up  all  and  went 
to  some  quiet  health  resort,  he  calmly  and  without  a 
moment’s  hesitation  announced  that  he  would  choose 
the  year  of  his  life.  He  lived  the  remaining  years 
fully  conscious  of  the  immediate  presence  of  death, 
laboring  strenuously  to  perform  as  much  as  possible 
of  his  assumed  life’s  work,  before  the  summons  came. 
When  it  came  it  found  him  earnestly  engaged  in  his 
beloved  task  of  devising  plans  for  the  improvement  of 
the  city  of  Helena.  He  turned  aside  and  laid  down  to 
rest  like  a tired  child,  to  awake  no  more  on  earth. 
This  is  written  of  him  that  something  of  his  indomitable 
spirit  and  inspired  vision  may  be  transmitted  to  those 
upon  whom  his  task  now  falls.’’ 

IMr.  Neill  left  a widow  and  one  son  who  mourn  his 
loss.  He  was  married  on  November  7,  1883,  to  Miss 
-Margaret  G.  Evans,  of  Newark,  Delaware,  and  one 
son,  George  G.  E.  Neill,  was  born  to  them,  who  has 
succeeded  his  father  as  proprietor  of  the  Independent. 
IMr.  Neill  was  educated  in  Princeton  University,  and  is 
recognized  in  Helena  as  the  proper  successor  of  the 
father  in  his  unfinished  life  work. 

C.^PTAiN  Thomas  Couch.  The  name  of  Captain 
Couch  is  known  from  California  to  Alaska.  For  nearly 
half  a century  it  was  one  with  which  to  conjure  in 
mining  circles  great  and  small.  His  decisions  made 
and  unmade  fabulous  fortunes  and  there  were  times 
when  the  shake  of  his  head  caused  stocks  on  the  Wall 
street  market  to  tremble.  Montana  owes  to  him  an 
imrneasurable  debt  of  gratitude.  No  other  single  in- 
dividual has  so  largely  contributed  to  the  development 
of  her  resources  and  to  the  establishment  of  her  finan- 
cial integrity  at  home  and  abroad. 

An  Englishman  by  birth,  the  captain  seemed  always 
most  typically  American  in  mind,  heart  and  manner. 
He  was  born  on  the  twenty-ninth  day  of  December, 
1843.  at  Praiz-Camborne,  Cornwall,  England.  After  a 
life  filled  with  adventure,  crowded  with  discovery  and 


invention  and  paved  with  good  deeds,  he  passed  away, 
into  a land  of  broader  opportunities.  His  death  oc- 
curred February  5,  1902.  He  died  in  Lane  Hospital  at 
ban  hrancisco,  having  gone  to  that  state  of  perpetual 
sunshine  in  search  of  the  one  asset  that  his  own  great 
efforts  could  not  bring  him — abounding  health  For 
SIX  weeks  he  had  been  the  prey  of  bodily  ills  that  in- 
creased  rather  than  lessened  during  his  sojourn  in 
California.  His  body  was  carried  back  to  Montana, 
the  state  nearest  his  heart,  where  every  citizen  knevv 
his  name  and  many  had  reaped  the  benefits  of  the  more 
intimate  knowledge  of  the  man  himself.  His  body 
rests  in  Highland  Cemetery,  Great  Falls,  the  town  that 
he  finally  chose  for  his  home. 

Even  in  his  boyhood  the  mysteries  of  the  earth  held 
Thomas  Couch  with  a great  fascination.  When  twenty 
years  of  age  he  left  England  for  America  attracted 
here  by  rumor  of  the  wonderful  treasure  beneath  our 
soil.  On  landing,,  he  went  at  once  to  the  Lake  Superior 
or  copper  district.  The  great  finds  in  California,  how- 
ever, soon  lured  him  to  the  coast.  His  first  trip  was  made 
by  way  of  the  Isthmus  of  Panama  to  San  Francisco. 
For  five  years  he  worked  in  the  gold  fields  of  Cali- 
fornia, spending  most  of  his  time  at  the  Grass  Valley 
mines  and  on  the  properties  near  New  Almaden.  In 
1868,  he  pushed  on  into  Nevada,  two  years  later  as- 
suming the  control  of  the  Hidden  Treasure  mine  at 
White  Pine,  the  most  important  find  of  that  vicinity, 
and  1871  found  him  temporarily  in  Camp  Floyd,  Utah. 
From  there  he  went  to  Tintic  to  become  the  manager 
of  the_  Mammoth  Copperopolis,  a gold  and  silver  mine 
of  national  reputation.  Bingham  next  claimed  his  at- 
tention. Here  he  operated  successfully  the  Neptune 
and  Jordan  silver  and  lead  mines,  leaving  Bingham  to 
become  superintendent  of  the  Hidden  Treasure  of  Dry 
Canyon,  an  exceedingly  rich  find  that  was  soon  ex- 
hausted. The  last  property  with  which  he  was  con- 
nected in  Utah  was  the  Horn  Silver  at  Frisco. 

Mr.  Couch  had  now  become,  through  his  study  and 
perseverance,  a man  of  science,  a student  of  mineralogy, 
geology  and  metallurgy  as  well  as  a practical  mine 
operator.  In  the  interest  of  eastern  capital,  he  traveled 
through  the  entire  western  portion  of  the  United  States 
and  Canada,  examining  a mine  here  and  opening  one 
there  as  the  case  might  be.  On  coming  to  Montana  in 
1883,  he  located  in  Butte  where  he  became  known  as  the 
greatest  mining  expert  of  his  day.  Within  a very 
short  time,  he  reported  on  properties  in  Deer  Lodge, 
Lewis  and  Clark  and  Meagher  counties.  He  was  instru- 
mental in  developing  and  managing  almost  all  of  the 
greatest  mines  of  the  state.  In  company  with  Capt. 
John  Daniels  of  Michigan  he  examined  and  reported 
upon  a group  of  mines  embracing  the  Mountain  View,  ' 
Colusa,  Liquidator  and  West  Colusa.  These  were 
owned  by  Mr.  C.  A.  Larabie  and  the  Montana  Copper 
Company.  His  favorable  report  resulted  in  the  pur- 
chase of  these  properties,  their  consolidation  and 
the  formation  of  the  Boston  & Montana  Copper  & 
Silver  Mining  Company.  The  magnitude  of  this  en- 
terprise and  the  enormous  dividends  paid  to  the  fortu- 
nate stockholders  under  the  skillful  management  of 
Captain  Couch  have  become  a part  of  the  history  of 
Montana.  The  smallest  detail  in  connection  with  the 
development  of  this  huge  property  failed  to  escape  his 
notice.  He  personally  supervised  the  opening  of  each 
new  mine,  the  working  of  the  smelters  and  concentra- 
tors and  the  control  of  the  men  employed  above  and.  be- 
low ground.  . . . , 1 

Immediately'  upon  arriving  in  Montana,  Mr.  Couch 
had  been  employed  as  a mining  expert  by  Col.  C.  A. 
Broadwater.  Almost  his  first  work  in  the  state  was  the 
examination  of  the  Broadwater  properties  _ at  Neihart. 
Almost  a year  was  devoted  to  the  examination  of  other 
mines  in  which  Colonel  Broadwater  was  interested.  It 
was  under  his  direction  that  the  important  mines  at 
Castle  were  developed.  His  family  joined  him  in  Butte 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


T261 


at  about  the  time  he  became  manager  for  the  Boston  & 
^Montana  Consolidated  Copper  & Silver  IMining  Com- 
pany when  they  organized  the  company.  Largely  upon 
his  advice,  the  company  decided  in  1889  to  erect  the 
huge  smelters  at  Great  Falls.  Mining  men  generally 
had  no  confidence  in  the  plan  but  the  work  was  rushed 
to  completion.  Within  two  years  after  the  smelters 
were  completed  the  company  began  to  pay  dividends. 
From  that  time  so  long  as  Captain  Couch  remained  in 
control  dividends,  output  and  employees  all  increased 
together.  In  1896,  a new  feature  in  the  company’s 
affairs  so  displeased  the  captain  that  he  handed  in  his 
resignation.  By  that  time,  however,  he  was  inde- 
pendently wealthy  in  his  own  right.  He  invested  a 
portion  of  his  capital  in  a gold  dredging  enterprise  on 
the  Feather  river  near  Oroville,  California.  This  was 
the  beginning  of  the  development  of  gold  dredging  by 
steam,  the  first  boat  for  dredging  in  placer  mining 
being  built  at  the  mandate  of  Captain  Couch.  This 
process,  a success  from  the  first  when  established  on 
the  Feather  river,  has  since  become  known  as  tiie 
best  system  of  its  kind  on  record  and  is  in  general 
use  in  all  parts  of  the  world  where  placer  mining  is 
available. 

i In  1889,  Captain  Couch  purchased  from  Robert 
'Vaughn,  the  Sunnyside  ranch  on  Sun  river  about  thir- 
/teen  miles  from  Great  Falls.  Sunnyside  was  the  first 
j homestead  filed  on  in  that  section  of  Montana.  Robert 
I Vaughn  having  pre-empted  on  it  in  1869.  The  ranch  as 
I purchased  by  Mr.  Couch  twenty  years  ^ later  included 
one  thousand  acres  of  land,  together  with  all  the  live 
stock.  The  land  is  cross  fenced  for  pastures,  meadows, 
orchards  and  grain  fields.  The  water  supply  is  all  that 
could  be  desired.  A large  irrigating  ditch  taps  the 
Sun  river  near  Fort  Shaw  twelve  miles  above  the 
ranch.  A system  of  cross  ditches  is  so  arranged  that 
every  foot  of  the  land  is  watered.  On  a commanding- 
site  near  the  center  of  this  estate  overlooking  the  wind- 
ing river,  the  captain  erected  a substantial  brick  house. 
This  house  of  twelve  commodious  rooms  is  so  skill- 
fully and  comfortably  arranged  as  to  be  in  every  sense 
a home.  Here,  some  members  of  the  captain’s  family 
still  reside. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Couch  took  a keen  delight  in 
the  breeding  and  raising  of  blooded  cattle  and  horses. 
Many  of  the  finest  animals  of  the  state  were  bred  upon 
his  ranch.  It  was  due  to  his  efforts  that  the  race  track 
on  the  west  side  was  established,  thirty  thousand  dol- 
lars of  his  fortune  being  invested  therein.  Among  his 
most  cherished  horses  were  Lustre,  4,385  national  regis- 
ter of  French  draft  horses,  a’-id  Forest  Chief,  then  at 
the  head  of  trotting  stock,  and  a descendant  of  a long 
line  of  thoroughbreds.  Most  of  six  hundred  head  of 
registered  cattle  were  kept  on  the  Smith  river  ranch 
at  the  junction  of  the  Smith  and  the  Missouri  rivers. 
This  ranch  consisted  of  about  one  thousand  one  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  and  was  worth  a fortune  in  itself. 
The  value  of  the  cattle  it  would  be  difficult  to  estimate. 
They  were  mostly  thoroughbreds  of  the  Shorthorn, 
Hereford  and  Hotskin  breeds.  Through  his  study  and 
experiments  in  the  breeding  of  stock,  Mr.  Couch  con- 
ferred an  ii-iestimable  favor  on  his  state,  being  directly 
responsible  for  the  raising  of  the  standard  of  cattle  in 
Montana. 

During  the  early  days  of  her  statehood,  the  captain 
was  recognized  as  the  leader  of  the  Republican  party 
in  Montana.  He  had  but  to  reach  out  his  hand  to 
.grasp  the  highest  office  it  was  in  her  power  to  bestow, 
in  1892  he  was  urged  to  accept  the  nomination  for 
governor  but  declined  the  honor  with  decisive  kindness. 
His  iron  will  and  great  personal  magnetism  combined 
with  his  love  of  the  human  race  made  him  always  a 
leader  of  men  whether  in  a political  campaign  or  a 
mining  community.  Although  his  political  satellites 
were  willing  to  obev  the  slightest  beck  of  his  hand,  he 
never  used  his  power  for  his  own  aggrandizement  nor 


for  that  of  his  personal  friends.  After  1S94  he  gave 
little  time  to  politics  although  in  1896  he  was  a strong 
advocate  of  the  free  and  unlimited  coinage  of  silver. 
It  was  a great  disappointment  to  him  that  the  party 
to  which  he  had  given  such  loyal  service  could  not 
embrace  this  principle  to  which  the  local  conditions  of 
Montana  lent  such  importance.  Even  so,  the  captain 
was  never  anything  but  a stalwart  Republican. 

Capt.  Thomas  Couch  was  married  on  the  twenty- 
eighth  day  of  December,  1873,  to  Miss  Rachael  Webber, 
the  daughter  of  John  Webber  of  Goshen,  Utah.  Mr. 
Webber  was  a native  of  South  Wales,  having  been 
born  at  Myrthr  Fydvil  in  October  of  1855.  He  came 
to  America  while  still  in  his  boyhood,  settling  with  his 
parents  at  Austin,  Nevada.  Here  he  was  known  as 
one  of  the  pioneer  miners  of  that  state. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Couch  became  the  parents  of  seven 
children.  The  oldest  son,  Thomas  Couch,  Jr.,  was 
born  at  Goshen,  Utah,  on  the  fourteenth  day  of  June, 
1878.  He  is  now  one  of  the  trustees  of  his  father’s  vast 
estate  residing  at  Great  Falls  and  active  manager  of 
the  entire  estate  which  now  is  divided  into  the  Couch 
Brothers’  Company,  and  the  Couch  Investment,  incor- 
porated companies  which  embrace  the  entire  estate  and 
Thomas  W.  is  president  of  both  companies.  Edwin  G. 
is  a ranchman  in  Cascade  county,  Frederick  M.,  the 
third  son  is  just  older  than  Racheal  Mary,  the  only 
daughter.  She  is  now  Mrs.  Lee  M.  Ford,  of  Great 
Falls.  Albert  C.  and  John  D.  Couch  are  students  of 
Leland  Stanford  University  at  Palo  Alto,  California. 
Here,  too,  the  mother,  Mrs.  Thomas  Couch,  makes 
her  home.  William,  the  youngest  member  of  the  fam- 
ily is  just  past  sixteen. 

Captain  Couch  was  the  idol  of  his  family.  To  his 
sons  he  was  always  a good  comrade,  a friend  and  ad- 
visor as  well  as  their  final  authority  on  all  questions  of 
import.  Big  of  nature,  broad  of  view  and  generous 
to  a fault,  he  found  in  his  great  wealth  a means  of 
satisfying  his  humanitarian  instincts  and  to  this  end  it 
gave  him  much  satisfaction.  His  charity  was  individual 
and  unostentatious.  He  neither  built  libraries  nor  en- 
dowed schools,  but  the  hearts  of  thousands  of  laboring 
men  ached  at  his  passing.  It  was  his  fondest  claim  that 
no  man  ever  came  to  him  for  assistance  or  advice  and 
went  away  unconsoled.  The  very  geniality  of  his 
presence  was  a comfort  in  time  of  stress.  He  never 
knew  failure  except  as  a stepping  stone  to  success.  His 
optimism  was  contagious  and  with  it  as  a slogan  it 
seemed  easy  to  always  push  on  to  victory. 

His  friendship  once  given  was  infallible  and  eternal. 
The  best  that  he  had  belonged  equally  to  his  friend. 
The  captain  was  a man  of  intellect  and  cultured  literary 
tastes  with  no  mean  education  to  assist  him.  As  a 
young  man  he  contributed  many  articles  on  literary  and 
scientific  subjects  to  such  journals  as  the  Inter-Mountain 
and  the  Salt  Lake  Tribune.  Had  he  found  the  leisure 
to  pursue  this  line  of  work  he  might  be  known  today 
as  a writer  as  well  as  a mine  expert  and  a ranch  king. 
His  writings  reflected  the  true  character  of  the  man. 
It  was  concise,  forceful  and  big  of  viewpoint. 

D.  T.  Curran.  A native  of  Ireland,  Timothy  Cur- 
ran came  to  America  when  a young  man.  For  a time 
he  lived  in  Rhode  Island,  and  there  he  met  and  married 
a young  woman  from  the  same  country  as  that  he  was 
born  in,  Mary  Wharton  of  same  county,  Ireland.  Shortly 
after  their  marriage  they  moved  to  northern  Michigan, 
and  here  in  Negaunee,  their  son  Daniel  was  born  on 
July  19,  1861.  During  his  residence  in  JMichigan,  i\Ir. 
Curran  worked  in  the  iron  mines.  Later  they  moved 
to  Sibley  county,  Minnesota  and  engaged  in  farming. 
iMr.  Timothy  Curran  still  lives  there,  a hale  and  hearty 
farmer  of  four  score  and  six.  His  wife  died  in  the 
fall  of  1901  at  the  age  of  74.  There  were  two  daugh- 
ters and  seven  sons  in  the  family  of  Timothy  and  Mary 
Curran,  and  all  are  living  at  the  present  time. 


12G2 


HISTORY  OF  ^lONTANA 


Our  subject  is  the  oldest  of  the  Curran  family.  He 
received  his  education  in  the  Michigan  public  schools, 
•md  later  in  those  of  St.  Paul.  Upon  going  into  busi- 
ness. he  first  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  in  St 
Paul,  and  then  went  to  Bismarck,  Borth  Dakota,  where 
he  was  in  the  same  line  of  work. 

In  i88^  Curran  came  to  ^lontana  ami  ^tlled  at 

I ivingstoi’i.  He  was  employed  in  Winston 
store  there  for  a time,  but  after  a while  he  went  into 
business  for  himself.  In  1889,  he  came  to JMissoula  and 
worked  for  the  H.  W.  AIcLaughhn  Lumber  Companv. 

1-e  most  of  the  people  of  his  ancestry.  ^Ir.  Cur- 

n^Jwn  aptitude  for  public  life,  ^nd^he  . an  aHive 

f 1 his  office  as  under-sheriff  and  ser\ed  in  th 

Ccjll  W t„-  ^ W,.c„  ... 

.Yl  JlFc.,rraA.ar.«l  h.  pr»e.,t  In.sh.tss  t.e 

.cLn,e.c.l 

his  active  participation  in  F'Sin 

S,.'lTo.,n'.y  coZIsL.KT'n.1  « of 

m'  boar"  The  count,  has  no  more  devote,  or  effi- 

SIT,.:™  ond"'f.cS.rr  ^1.™“.,..*.;.,.  ,he 

utc  of  Montont,.  as  he  was  one  of  t.s  "'«»  POP"'*' 
ami  dis.innnishe<l  eitieens.  The 

Marion  to  Mr.  Curran  took  place  at  Missoula, 
isoii  Mr  and  Mrs.  Curran  have  two  daughters, 
le  now  a student  at  Notre  Dame  University  and 
MnCoii  at  home  The  family  are  communicants  of 
t'he  Catholic  church  and  Mr.  Curran 
the  Knights  of  Columbus  and  with  the  Woodmen  of  the 
M'orld  ' Both  he  and  his  wife  arc  of  the  type  whic 
Missoula  is  fond  of  claiming  as  representative  of  her 
citizenship:  popular,  successful  and  piiblic-spinted. 

L.M1GHING  George  Burson.  Old-Timer.  Probably 
there  is  no  man  in  the  western  part  of  Montana  who  is 
more  generallv  and  popularly  known  and  who  has  a 
m-eater  host  of  friends  than  the  Honorable  George  Bur- 
son,  perhaps  more  commonly  known  through  the  Coeur 
Jr^Alene  mining  country,  and  the  state  of  Montana  as 
“Laughing  George.’ 

Itlr.'  Burson  was  born  at  Schoolcraft,  Michigan,  May 
i8,  1835,  and  there  he  spent  his  boyhood  days. 

He  came  to  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  when  about  seven- 
teen vears  of  age,  living  in  that  city  for  twenty  years 
coming  to  Thompson  Falls  in  1883,  in  the  early  days  of 
the  Coeur  d’Alene  mining  excitement. 

At  that  time  this  towm  was  the  easiest  point  from 
which  to  reach  the  Coeur  d’  Alenes,  and  George  con- 
ceived the  idea  of  establishing  a half-way  stopping  place 
between  here  and  the  mining  camps. 

Pic  erected  several  substantial  log  cabins  about  fif- 
teen miles  out  on  Prospect  creek,  where  he  provided 
accommodations  for  man  and  beast  for  eight  years. 

At  that  time  there  was  only  a trail  imo  the  Coeur  d’ 
Alene  country  and  everything  had  to  be  packed  in, 
either  by  man  or  horse.  George  was  one  of  the  most 


stalwart  men  in  the  district  and  would  take  something 
like  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  on  his  back  and  carry 
it  from  the  Thompson  Falls  railroad  station  to  his  half- 
way house  in  half  a day. 

When  the  weary  traveler  reached  the  Burson  half- 
way house  he  always  met  a hearty  welcome,  whether  he 
had  money  or  not,  and  if  George  had  received  pay  for 
all  the  people  and  teams  he  has  fed  he  would  today  be 
a wealthy  man.  Even  in  times  of  adversity  and  bad 
luck  he  continues  to  keep  his  Mark  Tapley  good  dis- 
position. 

One  day  when  he  was  on  the  hill  working  on  some 
of  his  antimony  properties,  P'rank  Griswold  came  up  to 
inform  him  that  all  his  cabins  and  barns  and  about 
everything  he  had  on  earth  was  burning  down. 

George  said  : “Ha  ! ha  ! ha  ! I w'onder  what  damn 
fool  set  those  cabins  on  fire.” 

Only  one  of  the  original  cabins  still  stands  but  this 
is  today  known  as  the  “Mountain  House.” 

Air.  Burson  is  the  owner  of  one  of  the  best  lead- 
silver  mining  properties  on  the  creek,  known  as  the  Jim 
P'isk,  and  also  a group  of  patented  antimony  claims. 

He  has  one  sister,  Mrs.  H.  M.  Milliner,  living  in 
California,  and  many  distant  relatives  scattered  through- 
out the  United  States,  but  never  leaves  Thompson 
Palls  longer  than  to  spend  a few  months  in  the  sum- 
mer at  the  halfway  house,  looking  after  the  work  on 
Ins  mining  property. 

Politically,  George  is  a “dyed  in  the  wool”  Democrat, 
casting  his  first  vote  for  Buchanan,  and  has  voted  the 
straight  ticket  ever  since. 

History  fails  to  show  any  record  that  George  ever 
possessed  a temper.  Always  pleasant  and  joyful,  hon- 
est and  generous,  always  the  gentleman,  and  if  merri- 
ment is  any  indication  of  longevity,  his  inspiring  laugh 
will  be  heard  for  many  years  to  come. 

Dr.  R.vlph  S.  Hedges,  a successful  physician  and  a 
prominent  and  influential  citizen  of  A'lusselshell  county 
whose  residence  is  in  Melstone,  is  a comparatively 
young  man  in  years  but  may  really  be  termed  a Alon- 
tana  pioneer,  for  he  became  a resident  of  this  com- 
monwealth in  1883  when  it  was  yet  a territory  and 
has  lived  here  ever  since,  with  the  exception  of  the 
time  spent  in  acejuiring  his  professional  training.  Born 
and  educated  in  the  East  and  reared  there  to  a respon- 
sible age,  he  has  had  the  opportunity  to  judge  and  to 
select  between  the  east  and  the  west  and  by  choice 
he  has  remained  a citizen  of  Montana,  one  who  says 
lie  would  not  care  to  live  anywhere  else. 

Dr.  Pledges  was  born  in  Carthage,  New  York,  No- 
vember 6,  1867,  and  was  two  years  old  when  his  parents 
removed  from  there  to  Newburg,  New  York,  where 
he  grew  to  the  age  of  eleven.  He  then  became  a 
student  in  Greylock  Institute  in  Massachusetts  and 
after  two  years  there  he  took  up  studies  at  Williston 
Seminary,  Easthampton,  Alassachusetts  as  a prepara- 
tory course  for  Yale  University.  His  studies  were  dis- 
continued in  1883,  however,  when  his  parents  removed 
to  Alontana,  and  instead  of  completing  his  education 
as  previously  planned  he  took  up  life  on  a ranch  in 
Custer  county,  Montana,  about  one  hundred  miles 
from  Miles  City,  where  he  assisted  his  father  in  ranch- 
ing and  in  the  stock  business  until  1886.  In  that 
year  he,  his  father  and  his  uncle  took  up  the  breeding 
of  fine  horses  and  continued  it  there  until  1889,  when 
they  moved  to  the  north  side  of  the  Yellowstone  river, 
about  twenty  miles  from  Glendive,  where  they  con- 
tinued in  their  previous  line  of  business  until  1894. 
Having  decided  on  the  profession  of  medicine  as  his 
life  work.  Dr.  Hedges  then  began  his  studies  in  Rush 
.Medical  College  at  Chicago  and  concluded  them  in  the 
Bellevue  Hospital  and  Medical  College  at  New  York, 
where  he  received  his  degree  and  was  graduated  in 
i8gg.  With  this  thorough  preparation  he  returned  to 
Alontana  and  started  out  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 


J /• 


,‘w' 


■-If 


■*  "V. 


/'  ■ 


./■ 


V ■•;  N»i  .A 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1263 


fession  at  Glendive,  remaining  there  nearly  two  years 
before  locating  at  Levvistovvn,  Montana,  where  he  prac- 
ticed until  1909.  After  a short  period  spent  in  Buffalo. 
South  Dakota,  he  returned  to  Montana  and  has  since 
been  located  at  Melstone,  where  he  has  already  gained 
a representative  clientele  and  is  recognized  as  a skilful, 
conscientious  and  in  every  respect  reliable  practitioner. 

Dr.  Hedges  is  a son  of  Dr.  Montreville  M.  Hedges, 
a soldier  of  the  Union  during  the  Civil  war  and  a 
native,  of  New  York  who  made  his  final  home  in  Mon- 
tana. He  was  a doctor  of  dentistry  and  a great  horse- 
man and  after  coming  to  this  state  was  e.xtcnsively 
interested  in  the  raising  of  thoroughbred  horses,  own- 
ing many  fine  herds  of  blooded  stock.  He  passed  to 
the  life  beyond  in  1911  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  and  was 
interred  at  Lewistown  by  the  side  of  his  wife,  who 
had  passed  away  in  1907  at  the  age  of  fifty-nine.  She 
was  Miss  Josephine  W.  Smith  prior  to  her  marriage, 
a native  of  Ireland  whom  Dr.  Hedges  married  in  New 
York  state  and  who  bore  him  two  children,  the  eldest 
of  whom  is  the  immediate  subject  of  this  review. 

While  a student  in  college  Dr.  Ralph  S.  Hedges  was 
married  at  New  York  City  on  December  31,  1896,  to 
Miss  Maud  LeBeau,  whose  parents  are  residents  of 
London,  Ohio.  To  this  union  have  been  born  three 
daughters ; Helen  L.,  now  a high  school  student,  and 
Ruth  L.  and  Grace  L.,  both  pupils  in  the  grades.  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  Hedges  are  communicants  of  the  Episcopal 
church  and  the  latter  is  a member  of  the  Ladies’  Guild 
and  takes  an  active  part  in  church  work.  Dr.  Hedges  is 
a member  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
Elks,  and  in  politics  has  always  been  identified  with 
the  Republican  party,  in  the  work  of  which  he  takes 
an  active  interest.  While  a resident  of  South  Dakota 
he  served  as  coroner  and  county  physician  and  his 
qualifications  and  adaptabilities  for  public  position  have 
caused  him  to  be  frequently  solicited  to  accept  higher 
political  honors,  but  he  has  always  refused.  While 
closely  devoted  to  this  profession,  Dr.  Hedges’  interests 
are  broad.  He  enjoys  athletics,  especially  an  interest- 
ing game  of  football  or  a good  boxing  match,  and  is 
appreciative  of  the  arts  and  of  literature,  in  the  latter 
of  which  his  preference  is  for  history.  In  manner  he 
is  courteous  and  genial,  an  agreeable  companion  in 
social  life  and  one  whose  personal  characteristics  ren- 
der him  popular  with  all  whom  he  meets  in  business  or 
social  relations.  He  has  spent  nearly  thirty  years  in 
this  state,  has  witnessed  its  accomplishments  and  is 
familiar  with  its  resources  and  possibilities,  and  has  an 
abiding  faith  in  its  future.  Here  he  has  given  of  the 
best  of  his  energies  and  ability  in  professional  service 
and  has  so  directed  his  life  that  in  each  of  his  locations 
he  has  come  to  be  recognized  as  a citizen  of  the  high- 
est worth  and  standing.  It  is  as  a citizen  of  such 
qualities  that  we  are  pleased  to  give  him  mention  among 
the  representative  men  of  Montana. 

John  S.  Marshall.  Illinois  was  the  birthplace  of 
the  present  mayor  of  Lewistown.  His  parents,  John 
S.  and  Hannah  L.  Marshall  were  both  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania, whose  families  moved  to  Rock  Island  county, 
Illinois,  and  settled  on  farms  in  that  picturesque  sec- 
tion of  the  state.  The  marriage  of  the  elder  John  Mar- 
shall took  place  in  Illinois  and  here  the  five  children 
were  born,  John  S.  Junior,  being  the  youngest.  The 
date  of  his  birth  was  October  2,  i860.  Four  years 
later,  his  father  came  out  to  Montana  intending  to 
bring  his  family  later,  if  the  locality  seemed  desirable, 
but  after  two  years  he  died  at  the  early  age  of  thirty- 
si.x,  and  is  buried  at  York,  IMontana. 

The  earliest  recollections  of  John  and  his  brother 
were  of  responsibility.  When  but  five  years  of  age, 
the  former  began  to  be  a wage  earner,  and  to  turn  over 
to  his  mother  the  slender  emoluments  of  his  services 
as  errand  boy  to  his  grandfather.  When  he  first  left 


the  public  school,  it  was  to  learn  the  business  of  a tele- 
graph operator,  and  he  followed  this  profession  for 
several  years,  but  when  about  twenty  decided  that  there 
was  not  enough  money  in  such  work.  He  decided  to 
come  west  and  made  his  plans  accordingly,  so  the 
year  of  1883  found  him  on  his  way  to  Montana.  After 
investigating  various  locations  in  the  state,  he  came  to 
Fergus  county,  and  took  up  land.  He  still  owns  this 
ranch  and  his  residence  of  the  county  has  been  con- 
tinuous since  his  first  entrance  into  it.  It  was  to  stock 
raising  that  Mr.  Marshall  turned  his  attention  when 
he  first  took  up  his  land  and  he  has  followed  it  ever 
since  with  signal  success. 

Five  years  after  settling  in  Montana  Mr.  Marshall  re- 
turned to  Illinois  on  a pleasant  errand.  On  November 
27',  1888,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Margaret  E. 
Shook,  of  Whiteside  county,  the  daughter  of  Mr.  ana 
Mrs.  James  Shook.  The  nine  children  of  this  marriage 
were  all  born  in  Montana,  and  all  still  reside  here.  Of 
the  five  boys,  Dana,  the  eldest,  has  finished  school,  and 
is  now  running  one  of  his  father’s  farms  in  the  county. 
In  this  he  is  assisted  by  John  S.,  junior,  the  third  in 
point  of  age.  Frank,  the  second  son,  resides  in  Lewis- 
town with  his  father  and  mother.  He  is  the  present 
city  clerk.  Mildred,  the  eldest  daughter,  is  attending 
high  school,  while  the  other  members  of  the  house- 
hold, Raymond,  Nina,  Grace  and  Blanche,  are  in  the 
grades.  Kenneth  died  January  26,  1911,  age  14. 

Mr.  Marshall’s  brother,  Frank  Marshall,  also  came 
to  Montana  and  now  resides  at  Great  Falls  where  he 
is  deputy  clerk  of  the  court.  Two  of  his  sisters,  Ella 
and  Emma,  also  live  in  the  state.  The  former  is  the 
wife  of  Z.  S.  Baker,  one  of  the  successful  ranchers  of 
Fergus  county.  Emma  Marshall  is  now  Mrs.  Milton 
Collins  of  Basin,  Montana.  Mr.  Collins  is  engaged  in 
mining  in  that  city.  Priscilla,  the  other  sister,  is  Mrs. 
George  Howell,  and  has  lived  in  California  ever  since 
her  marriage.  The  mother  of  this  family  lived  to  the 
age  of  sixty-six,  when  she  passed  away  at  the  home  of 
her  son  in  Fergus  county.  The  date  of  her  death  was 
August  10,  1897,  and  she  is  buried  in  this  county. 

Mr.  Marshall  has  several  avocations,  the  pursuit  of 
which  in  no  way  interferes  with  his  vocation,  which  is 
ranching.  For  one  thing,  he  is  devoted  to  music  and  is 
a violinist  of  no  mean  ability.  For  a score  of  years 
he  has  played  in  the  orchestra.  Musicians  are  not 
generally  considered  to  be  strong  in  the  more  practical 
matters,  nor  are  they  often  men  of  affairs,  but  all  gen- 
eralities are  likely  to  have  shining  exceptions  in  i\Ion- 
tana  and  Mr.  Marshall’s  case  is  one  in  point.  Another 
matter  to  which  he  gives  much  attention  is  politics.  He 
is  one  of  the  pillars  of  the  Democratic  party,  in  which 
organization  he  is  one  of  the  most  able  as  well  as  one  of 
the  most  popular  members.  He  was  the  choice  of  the 
county  for  the  post  of  assessor  in  igo6,  and  he  held 
that  office  for  four  years.  In  the  spring  of  1911  he  was 
elected  to  the  office  which  he  now  holds,  that  of  mayor 
of  Lewistown.  In  the  lodge  of  the  Woodmen  of  the 
World  he  has  filled  all  the  chairs  and  also  in  the  Odd 
Fellows.  He  is  an  active  member  of  the  Judith  club 
and  is  affiliated  with  the  Methodist  church,  in  which 
Mrs.  Marshall  is  one  of  the  most  zealous  workers. 

Though  a lively  conversationalist,  and  easy  of  man- 
ner, Mr.  Marshall  has  the  reputation  of  not  caring  for 
society.  This,  however,  only  indicates  that  he  is  fond 
of  the  society  of  his  own  family,  with  whom  he  spends 
the  most  of  his  evenings.  He  has  been  a baseball 
player  of  prowess  and  now  is  a habitue  of  the  bleachers 
when  the  national  game  is  in  progress.  Being  a stock 
man  he  naturally  likes  horse  races  too.  Mr.  Marshall 
is  a remarkable  example  of  a man  who  has,  though 
thrown  upon  his  own  resources  in  childhood,  not  only 
succeeded  in  acquiring  a competence,  but  has  also  found 
time  to  cultivate  those  tastes  which  enable  one  to  take 
the  real  satisfaction  out  of  the  manifold  opportunities 
for  higher  enjoyments  which  this  life  affords. 


1264 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


James  T.  Farris  has  been  identified  with  the  growth 
and  prosperity  of  certain  portions  of  the  state  of  Mon- 
tana since  1883,  when  as  a hoy  of  eighteen  he  came  to 
Helena  with  the  first  car  load  of  hogs  ever  brought 
into  the  state.  From  caring  for  the  interests  of  his 
father  in  Flelena,  Mr.  Farris  became  connected  with 
newspaper  work  and  in  that  field  of  endeavor  has  since 
then  been  devoting  his  energies  to  the  editing  and  pub- 
lishing of  a succession  of  newspapers  in  this  section  of 
the  state. 

Mr.  F'arris  was  born  in  iMcDonough  county,  Illinois, 
h'ebruary  22,  1865,  and  is  the  son  of  Buford  and  Mary 
(Williams)  F'arris,  the  former  a native  of  Kentucky 
and  the  latter  of  Missouri.  The  father  was  a Con- 
federate soldier,  and  passed  his  later  life  as  a farmer 
and  stockman,  gaining  no  little  prominence  in  Missouri 
in  that  capacity.  He  died  in  1907.  The  wife  and 
mother,  who  was  a graduate  of  the  Howard  Payne  Col- 
lege of  Fayette,  Missouri,  is  now  living  with  her  son, 
John  C.  Farris,  a prominent  merchant  of  Wallace, 
Idaho.  Of  the  three  children  born  to  these  parents, 
one  is  deceased,  leaving  John  and  James. 

In  the  year  of  his  birth,  the  parents  of  James  T. 
Farris  moved  from  Illinois  to  Washington  county, 
Kentucky,  where  they  lived  until  1874,  after  which  they 
removed  to  Marysville,  Nodoway  county,  Missouri. 
The  son,  James,  attended  the  country  schools  in  both 
places  and  also  the  high  school  of  Marysville,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years.  It 
was  in  1883,  soon  after  he  left  school,  that  he  made  his 
first  trip  to  Montana  in  the  interests  of  his  father, 
bringing  a car  load  of  live  hogs,  as  previously  men- 
tioned. Fie  sold  the  hogs  in  Butte  at  the  phenomenal 
price  of  18  cents  the  pound,  live  weight.  He  remained 
three  years  in  his  father's  employ,  then  went  to  the 
Bitter  Root  valley  and  settled  at  Stevensville,  where 
he  established  and  edited  the  JVestern  Nezvs.  After 
three  years  he  removed  to  Hamilton,  still  in  the  search 
for  improved  health,  a condition  which  had  caused  his 
first  removal  from  Helena.  For  three  years  he  con- 
tinued in  Flamilton  where  he  published  a paper  and 
then  he  sold  out  his  interests  and  moved  to  Darby, 
Montana,  in  which  place  he  established  the  Darby 
Sentinel,  a publication  which  he  controlled  for  four 
years.  He  then  went  to  East  Helena  and  founded  the 
East  Helena  Record,  of  which  he  continued  the  editor 
and  publisher  for  seven  years.  The  irrigation  possibili- 
ties of  the  Milk  River  valley  caused  him  to  move  to 
Hinsdale,  where  he  published  the  Montana  Homestead, 
and  he  later  came  to  Glasgow,  the  county  seat,  where 
he  has  since  engaged  in  the  publication  of  the  Valley 
County  Independent,  a paper  which  has  proved  most 
successful  in  the  past,  and  which  promises  much  for 
the  future.  The  Valley  County  Independent  has  ever 
been  a paper  of  the  most  fearess  attitude,  and  the 
position  of  the  editor  on  matters  of  signal  moment  to 
the  county  and  city  has  won  to  him  the  warm  praise 
and  support  of  a large  number  of  the  best  citizens 
of  the  county. 

Air.  Farris  is  a staunch  Republican  and  has  ever 
done  good  work  for  the  party  wherever  he  has  found 
himself  located.  In  1909  he  was  elected  commissioner 
of  Valley  county,  and  at  present  holds  the  office  of 
United  States  commissioner.  He  has  presided  over 
four  county  conventions,  and  in  other  ways  has  given 
evidence  of  his  enthusiam  and  energy  for  the  party. 
He  is  fraternally  associated  with  the  Odd  Fellows, 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America.  In  addition  to  his  property  in  Glasgow,  Mr. 
Farris  is  the  owner  of  a considerable  city  property  in 
Hinsdale  and  other  points  in  this  section  of  the  state. 

In  1891  Air.  Farris  married  Aliss  Alice  Goff,  a 
daughter  of  Jacob  Goff  one  of  the  oldest  pioneer 
settlers  of  the  Bitter  Root  valley.  Air.  Goff  fought 
in  the  Nez  Perce  Indian  war  and  was  at  the  Battle  of 


Big  Hole,  and  in  other  wa.ys  has  won  distinction  in 
the  many  years  of  his  residence  in  the  Bitter  Root 
valley. 

Eight  children  have  been  born  to  Air.  and  Airs. 
Farris, — Buford  J. ; Alildred ; William;  Dorothy; 
Marcus  J.,  a high  school  graduate ; Marie,  Robert 
and  Thomas.  All  are  bright  young  people,  worthy 
of  their  parents,  and  possessing  the  characteristic's 
which  must  inevitably  cause  them  to  be  heard  from 
in  the  later  history  of  their  native  state. 

Air.  Farris  is  a citizen  of  the  type  which  is  par- 
ticularly valuable  in  a new  country,  and  in  the  years 
of  his  association  with  Valley  county  he  has  been 
able  to  do  much  through  the  medium  of  his  news- 
paper for  the  growth  and  advancement  of  this  favored 
section  of  the  state. 

Frank  Nelson  was  born  in  the  kingdom  of  Den- 
mark on  April  7,  1862.  His  father,  Christian,  Nelson, 
was  a steamship  engineer,  who  “sailed  the  seas  over, 
froin  here  to  Peru.”  However,  his  son  Frank  did  not 
acquire  his  wanderlust  from  hearing  the  fascinating- 
tales  of  strange  men  and  customs,  for  the  father  died 
in  Valparaiso  of  the  yellow  fever  before  his  son  was 
born,  and  the  lad  grew  up  under  the  care  of  his  mother, 
Anna  Peterson  Nelson.  He  was  early  obliged  to  shift 
for  himself,  and  his  schooling  was  obtained  in  Den- 
mark, before  he  reached  the  age  of  fourteen.  At  that 
age,  he  came  to  America  to  seek  the  fortune  which  he 
has  found,  or  rather  created.  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa, 
was  his  first  abiding  place  in  America,  and  he  remained 
here  for  four  years.  In  1880,  he  came  to  Idaho  and 
for  three  years  was  a veritable  soldier  of  fortune.  He 
rode  the  range  and  worked  at  anything  he  could  find 
to  do. 

It  was  in  1883  that  Air.  Nelson  first  came  to  Alis- 
soula,  but  he  did  not  succeed  in  finding  employment 
and  so  he  went  to  Drummond.  Here  he  obtained  work 
on  the  John  Edwards  ranch,  and  he  helped  the  pro- 
prietor of  that  place  to  build  the  first  house  in  Drum- 
mond. F"or  a time  he  drove  the  stage  for  Bill  Ham- 
mond from  Drummond  to  Philipsburg.  In  1884,  Mr. 
Nelson  located  a claim  on  the  Big  Black  Foot  in  the 
Potoma  valley,  and  three  years  later  he  sold  this  and 
bought  another  ranch  in  the  same  region.  He  has 
added  to  this  until  now  it  contains  1,420  acres  and  his 
cultivation  of  it,  coupled  with  the  settling  up  of  the 
valley  has  converted  it  into  a most  valuable  piece  of 
property.  It  was  about  this  time  that  placer  min- 
ing was  being  carried  on  so  extensively  in  various  sec- 
tions of  Alontana,  and  in  1885,  Mr.  Nelson  engaged  in 
this  at  Elk  Creek  and  devoted  something  like  a 3'ear 
to  it. 

For  a number  of  years,  Mr.  Nelson  has  conducted 
an  extensive  implement  and  carriage  establishment. 
He  also  handled  wagons  and  automobiles,  and  his 
plant  is  the  largest  of  the  kind  in  this  section  of  the 
country.  Although  this  business  is  a notably  suc- 
cessful one.  Air.  Nelson  does  not  intend  to  continue 
in  it,  as  he  wishes  to  move  to  his  extensive  ranch  and 
to  devote  his  entire  energies  to  the  management  of 
that. 

Politically,  Mr.  Nelson  is  aligned  with  the  Democrats, 
and  he  is  a person  of  influence  and  wide  popularity 
in  his  party.  In  1904,  they  selected  him  as  their_  candi- 
date for  the  legislature,  and  he  is  now  serving  his  third 
year  as  county  commissioner,  to  which  office  he  was 
elected  in  1908  for  a term  of  six  years.  As  a public 
officer,  his  record  is  one  of  conscientious  and  public- 
spirited  devotion  to  the  interests  of  the  community. 

The  boy  of  fourteen  who  came  to  this  country  not 
even  knowing  the  language  has  become  a wealthy  and 
a respected  citizen;  a public  officer  in  the  country  of 
his  adoption.  His  success  is  of  his  own  making  and 
one  of  which  he  may  justly  be  proud.  However,  it  is 
not  his  own  achievements  which  inspire  Mr.  Nelson  to 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1265 


that  emotion  so  much  as  the  fine  family  which  he  and 
his  wife  have  brought  up.  Frank  and  Rachel  Lish  Nelson 
were  married  December  27,  1886,  and  they  have  a 
family  of  five  children.  These  are  Franklin  A.,  born 
February  4,  1888;  Jennie  Anna,  whose  birthday  was 
December  6,  1889:  Bert  M.,  August  7,  i8gi,  Theodore 
W.  and  Howard  E.,  both  born  in  February,  the  former 
in  1902,  and  the  latter  eight  years  later.  iMrs.  Nelson 
was  born  in  San  Bernardino,  California,  but  her  union 
with  Mr.  Nelson  occurred  in  Philipsburg,  Montana. 
Mr.  Nelson  is  of  the  opinion  that  his  wife  has  been  a 
partner  in  his  success  and  a^  most  valuable  one  from 
every  standpoint.  In  this  opinion,  all  who  know  Mrs. 
Nelson  concur  with  her  husband.  He  is  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial citizens  of  the  community,  an  active  factor  in 
its  prosperity,  and  in  every  way  representative  of  the 
things  for  which  the  county  is  proud  to  stand. 

Thomas  P.  Conlon.  It  is  highly  to  the  credit  of  a 
man  to  win  universal  popular  approval  and  regard  from 
the  people  around  him  in  early  life,  and  have  them 
express  their  faith  in  him  and  their  esteem  for  him  in 
a concrete  form  of  substantial  value,  which  not  only 
provides  for  his  present  needs,  but  opens  the  way  to 
higher  and  better  opportunities  for  advancement  in  the 
future.  This  has  been  the  experience  of  Thomas  P. 
Conlon  of  Missoula,  who  was  elected  clerk  of  the  cir- 
cuit court  of  Missoula  county  in  the  fall  of  1908,  when 
he  was  but  twenty-five  years  of  age,  or  scarcely  that. 

Mr.  Conlon  was  born  at  Lolo,  Missoula  county,  Mon- 
tana, on  November  18,  1883,  and  was  reared  on  his 
father’s  ranch  near  that  village.  He  is  the  second  of 
four  children,  two  sons  and  two  daughters,  born  to  his 
parents,  James  and  Tersa  (Garvey)  Conlon,  natives  of 
Ireland.  The  father  came  to  the  United  States  with 
several  of  his  brothers  when  he  was  sixteen.  He  crossed 
the  plains  in  1864,  and  after  passing  several  years  in 
various  parts  of  the  farther  west,  he  located  in  the 
Bitter  Root  valley  on  a large  ranch  near  Lolo  in  1870. 
He  lived  on  this  ranch  and  managed  its  business  until 
1911,  when  he  retired  from  active  pursuits,  and  he  now 
spends  his  winters  in  California,  and  all  his  time  in 
the  enjoyment  of  the  rest  and  recreation  he  has  so 
faithfully  won.  He  has  been  very  successful  in  his 
business,  and  is  one  of  the  most  highly  esteemed  pio- 
neers in  this  part  of  Montana.  The  mother  was  brought 
to  this  country  by  her  parents  in  infancy,  and  met  with 
and  was  married  to  Mr.  Conlon  in  Chicago  in  1880. 

All  of  their  four  children  are  living.  In  the  order  of 
birth  they  are  Anna,  Thomas  P.,  Mary  and  James. 
Thomas  P.  Conlon  obtained  his  academic  education  in 
the  public  school  near  his  home  and  pursued  a course  of 
special  training  for  business  at  a commercial  college  in 
Spokane,  Washington.  He  remained  at  home  and 
worked  on  the  ranch  with  his  father  and  brother  until 
he  reached  the  age  of  twenty-one,  then  became  book- 
keeper for  J.  R.  Daily,  whom  he  served  in  that  capacity 
for  four  years.  His  conduct  in  this  employment  was 
such  as  to  commend  him  to  the  favor  of  all  who  wit- 
nessed his  ability  and  fidelity,  and  his  demeanor  as  a 
citizen  won  him  the  approval  of  all  the  people  without 
regard  to  class  or  condition. 

In  the  fall  of  1908,  he  was  elected  clerk  of  the  district 
court  for  Missoula  county,  and  on  January  4,  1909, 
took  charge  of  the  office  for  a term  of  four  years.  His 
ability,  his  integrity,  his  uprightness  of  life  and  his  high 
sense  of  duty  in  alk  places  were  well  known,  and  the 
people  felt  that  they  could  trust  him  even  in  an  office 
of  such  importance  and  responsibility  as  the  one  to 
which  they  elected  him.  His  course  in  the  performance 
of  its  duties  has  shown  them  that  they  were  not  mis- 
taken in  their  estimate  of  him,  and  has  fully  justified 
their  confidence  in  him. 

Mr.  Conlon  is  a Democrat  in  politics  and  a hard 
worker  for  his  party  whenever  it  is  in  the  field  for  a 
contest.  He  was  elected  clerk  as  the  nominee  of  that 


party,  by  whose  leaders  and  whose  rank  and  file  in 
the  county  his  work  in  its  behalf  is  highly  appreciated. 
But  loyal  as  he  is  to  his  party,  and  zealous  as  he  is  in 
its  service,  he  does  not  allow  partisan  considerations  to 
influence  him  in  the  discharge  of  his  official  duties,  in 
which  he  is  governed  wholly  by  legal  requirements  and 
what  he  believes  will  be  best  for  the  interests  involved. 
In  fraternal  relations  he  is  connected  with  the  Order  of 
Elks  and  the  Knights  of  Columbus.  On  September  27, 
1911,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Genevieve 
Reid,  a native  of  Rice  Lake,  Barron  county,  Wisconsin. 

John  jMorton  Vrooman  was  born  in  Sylvania, 
Ohio,  on  October  15,  1850.  His  parents  were  Rehil 
Bingham  Vrooman  and  Laura  Chaplin  Vrooman.  The 
former  belonged  to  one  of  the  old  Burgher  families  of 
New  York,  though  he  lived  most  of  his  life  in  Ohio 
where  he  W'as  a farmer.  In  1861  the  family  moved 
from  Sylvania  to  Preston,  Minnesota,  and  two  years 
later  the  father  died  at  Waterloo  City,  Indiana,  at  the 
early  age  of  forty-three.  He  was  buried  at  Sylvania, 
so  long  his  home,  as  well  as  the  place  where  he  was 
married.  Thirty-four  years  later,  his  wife  was  laid 
beside  him  after  seventy-five  years  of  beneficent  en- 
deavor. There  were  four  children  in  the  Vrooman 
family  and  John  is  the  youngest. 

1 The  death  of  his  father  made  it  imperative  that  the 
1 thirteen-year  old  boy  should  not  only  make  his  own 
1 way,  but  contribute  to  the  support  of  the  family.  He 
lhad  attended  school  in  Ohio  and  also  in  Preston,  but 
at  his  father’s  death  he  was  obliged  to  become  a wage 
earner  and  so  to  change  the  fashion  of  his  training. 
He  found  congenial  employment  at  the  printing  trade 

(in  the  office  of  the  Preston  Republican.  Here  he 
worked  as  an  apprentice  and  received  eleven  dollars  a 
month,  all  of  which  he  gave  to  his  mother.  When  he 
was  seventeen,  he  went  to  Chicago  and  there  finished 
learning  his  trade.  The  six  years  he  spent  in  the  Illi- 
nois metropolis  were  rich  in  experience  and  when  he 
went  to  Minneapolis  he  had  no  difficulty  in  obtaining 
employment  with  the  leading  printing  offices  of  the 
city. 

In  1883  Mr.  Vrooman  and  IMr.  Charles  S.  Fell  of 
Alinneapolls  came  to  Montana  and  in  the  wilderness 
that  is  now  Fergus  county  they  found  the  mining  camp 
of  Maiden.  Here  they  established  a newspaper  which 
they  called  the  Mineral  Argus  which  flourished  for 
three  years  with  that  name  and  habitat  until  in  tne 
summer  of  1886  the  outfit  was  moved  to  Lewistown 
where  its  _ proprietors  established  it  in  new  quarters 
and  re-christened  it  the  Fergus  County  Argus.  Some- 
thing over  a quarter  of  a century  has  elapsed  since 
that  time  and  the  Argus  has  almost  passed  recognition 
as  far  as  equipment  is  concerned,  but  it  retains  the  spirit 
of  its  owner  -which  made  it  a live  sheet  from  its  very 
first,  five  column  quarto  issue,  printed  on  a Washing- 
ton hand  press,  from  a very  limited  assortment  of  type, 
and  with  a patent  inside.  The  evolution  of  the  Argus 
deserves  a chapter  of  its  own,  although  as  has  been 
intimated,  it  is  difficult  to  separate  the  history  of  the 
paper  from  an  account  of  the  career  of  its  editor  and 
publisher.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  now  the  five  columns 
have_  become  seven,  all  of  home  print.  The  office  is 
provided  with  presses,  binders  and  cutters  of  the  most 
approved  modern  pattern,  and  the  type  faces  are  being 
constantly  added  to,  so  that  the  job  department  can 
successfully  compete  with  the  larger  job  offices  of  the 
state.  The  plant  is  unequalled  by  any  similar  one*  in 
the  state,  outside  the  four  principal  cities.  The  ma- 
chinery is  driven  by  electricity,  the  Argus  being  the 
first  concern  in  the  county  to  use  this  power,  which 
it  installed  in  1899.  Some  idea  of  the  regard  in  which 
the  paper  is  held  in  the  county  may  be  gathered  from 
the  fact  that  the  subscription  list  is  more  than  one- 
seventh  of  the  entire  population  of  Fergus  county,  and 


126G 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


in  this  high  average  it  sliould  be  added,  less  than 
a score  of  “deadheads”  have  a place  in  the  list.  That 
the  people  believe  in  the  paper  is  also  testified  to  by  the 
number  and  character  of  the  advertisements  found  in 
its  pages.  The  management  is  contemplating  the  in- 
stallation of  linotype  machines  within  a few  years. 

The  editor  of  the  Argus  is  a Republican  and  not  a 
lukewarm  one  either,  but  a determined  fighter  as  well 
as  a most  adroit  one.  He  wields  an  immeasurable  in- 
fluence through  his  journal  and  this  is  the  manner  in 
which  he  prefers  to  take  part  in  politics.  He  has 
repeatedly  been  urged  to  become  a candidate  for  dif- 
ferent offices,  but  he  prefers  to  stick  to  the  business  he 
has  chosen  and  to  run  his  paper  instead  of  running  for 
office.  Possibly  be  would  rather  make  public  opinion 
than  to  be  its  representative,  but  certainly  public  office 
has  no  glamour  for  this  successful  editor.  Mr.  Vroo- 
man  belongs  both  to  the  Judith  Club  and  to  the  Com- 
mercial Club.  He  urges  tbe  ambitious  to  locate  in 
Montana,  and  he  is  himself  an  argument  for  the 
wisdom  of  such  a course. 

Mr.  Vrooman  celebrated  his  forty-second  birthday 
most  happily  by  his  marriage  to  Miss  Ella  M.  Smith 
of  Lewistown.  Her  parents,  Elias  H.  and  Elizabeth 
Jennings  Smith  are  from  Schenectady,  New  York. 
Mrs.  Smith  was  reared  in  the  Episcopal  church  and  is 
a devout  adherent  of  that  faith,  as  is  also  her  daughter, 
Mrs.  Vrooman.  Mr.  Vrooman  has  never  forsaken  the 
denomination  in  which  he  was  brought  up  and  is  still 
a member  of  the  Methodist  communion.  There  are 
two  sons  in  the  Vrooman  household,  Randall  and 
John  E..  both  residing  in  Lewistown,  where  they  were 
born.  Of  Mr.  Vrooman’s  own  family,  two  other  mem- 
liers  are  now  living.  One  is  a brother  who  makes  his 
home  in  Washington,  D.  C.,  and  the  other  a married 
sister,  who  lives  in  Preston,  ^Minnesota. 

William  Wellman.  The  gentleman  whose  name 
heads  this  paragraph  is  one  of  the  widely-known  citizens 
Neagher  counfy.  He  has  lived  in  Montana  since 
1883,  and  is  familiar  with  many  states  of  the  west,  hav- 
ing maintained  his  residence  in  a number  of  them. 
He  is  now  a highly  respected  factor  in  the  life  of  White 
Sulphur  Springs,  his  part  in  the  many-sided  life  of  the 
community  being  that  of  a harness  and  saddle  manu- 
tana.  One  day  he  was  surrounded  by  a band  of  In- 
fairs of  life,  bis  capable  management  of  his  business 
interests  and  his  sound  judgment,  have  brought  to  him 
prosperity  and  his  life  demonstrates  what  may  be  ac- 
complished by  any  man  of  energy  and  ambition  who  is 
not  afraid  to  work  and  has  the  perseverance  to  continue 
his  labors  in  the  face  of  any  discouragement  which  may 
seem  to  arise.  In  all  the  relations  of  life  he  has  com- 
mended the  respect  and  confidence  of  those  with  whom 
he  has  been  brought  in  contact  and  a biographical  his- 
tory of  this  part  of  Montana  would  not  be  complete 
without  a record  of  the  career  of  this  pioneer. 

William  Wellman  is  a native  of  Quinev,  Illinois,  his 
eyes  having  first  opened  to  the  light  of  (iav  on  March 
2S-  1845.  He  resided  in  the  locality  of  his  birth  until 
about  twenty-three  y'ears  of  age,  when  he  started  out 
to  make  his  fortunes,  and  went  to  Iowa,  where  he  re- 
mained for  three  years.  His  next  change  was  to  Fre- 
mont, Nebraska,  where,  as  in  the  previous  place,  he 
rnade  his  livelihood  in  the  harness  business.  This 
time  he  stayed  four  years,  but  again  decided  to  go  a 
step  farther  west  and  went  on  to  Denver,  Colorado, 
where  he  resided  for  two  years  ere  he  went  to  Albu- 
querque, New  Mexico.  After  remaining  in  the  latter 
place  about  six  months  he  returned  to  Fremont.  Ne- 
braska, this  time  remaining  about  a twelvemonth  and 
it  was  following  that  that  he  first  came  to  Montana. 
Piozeman  was  his  first  tarryim?  place  in  the  Treasure 
State  and  the  year  of  his  arrival  was  1883.  He  has 
never  left  its  boundaries  in  the  nearlv  thirty  years  which 
have  since  elapsed,  which  is  certainly  an  eloquent  com- 


pliment. In  course  of  time  Mr.  Wellman  went  to 
Helena,  where  he  stayed  a year,  and  thence  to  Miles 
City;  then  back  to  Helena  and  ensuing  upon  that  to 
White  Sulphur  Springs.  In  .1888  he  established  his  pres- 
ent business  in  harness  and  saddle  manufacture  in  this 
place  and  both  he  and  the  city  have  enjoyed  good  for- 
tune together.  He  has  constantly  widened  the  scope  of 
his  _ operation  and  his  products  are  widely  known  for 
their  excellence,  his  business  being  one  which  contrib- 
utes in  no  indefinite  fashion  to  the  general  prosperity. 

Mr.  Wellman  learned  his  trade  in  Quincy,  Illinois, 
and  started  when  a very  young  man.  He  served  a four 
years’  apprenticeship,  his  salary  for  the  first  two  years 
being  but  $25,00  per  annum,  board,  as  usual  in  such 
rases,  being  additional.  He  received  his  early  education 
in  the  district  schools  of  Adams  county,  Illinois,  the 
district  school  in  which  he  became  familiar  with  the 
three  R’s  being  located  near  Quincy. 

In  politics  the  subject  is  independent,  supporting 
whomever  and  whatever  he  believes  to  be  the  best  man 
and  tbe  best  measure,  irrespective  of  party  affiliation. 
His  favorite  diversions  are  hunting  and  fishing,  and 
he  takes  many  trips  in  pursuance  of  these  pleasures. 
As  usual  with  the  man  who  really  knows  Montana,  he 
could  not  be  induced  to  go  to  any  other  state. 

Mr.  Wellman  was  married  in  White  Sulphur  Springs, 
in  1897,  the  young  woman  to  become  his  wife  being 
Jessie  Edwards,  who  has  made  his  household  an  attrac- 
tive place  and  who,  like  him,  is  interested  in  all  that 
pertains  to  the  welfare  of  the  city  in  which  they  have 
so  long  resided. 

The  subject  is  of  German  descent,  his  father,  William 
Wellman,  having  been  born  in  Germany.  When  a young 
man  he  concluded  very  wisely  that  the  land  across  the 
Atlantic  held  out  greater  promise  and  opportunity  for 
the  ambitious  and  industrious  and  accordingly  came  to 
the  United  States  to  found  a home  for  himself  and  his 
children.  He  soon  located  in  New  Orleans  and  re- 
mained there  until  his  advent  to  Quincy,  Illinois,  where 
he  engaged  in  farming.  His  demise  occurred  at  the 
age  of  eighty-three  years.  His  wife  was  also  a Ger- 
man and  they  were  married  before  leaving  the  Father- 
land.  The  mother  likewise  lived  to  ripe  old  age,  being 
twelve  years  past  the  psalmist’s  allotment  at  the  time 
of  her  death.  These  good  people  reared  nine  sons  and 
daughters,  William  being  the  fourth  in  order  of 
nativity. 

Rudolf  von  Tobel.  For  more  than  a quarter  of  a 
century,  Mr.  Rudolf  von  Tobel  has  lived  in  Lewistown 
and  during  that  entire  time  there  has  been  no  project 
for  the  furtherance  of  the  communal  good  to  which  he 
has  not  given  his  support  and  cooperation.  A lawyer 
of  eloquence  and  shrewdness,  he  is  at  the  same  time  a 
man  who  has  built  up  his  own  success  by  his  own  might, 
from  the  beginning  to  the  present  moment.  Every- 
thing he  now  possesses  has  been  wrested  from  fortune 
as  the  result  of  his  own  sturdy  efforts,  beginning  with 
liis  education,  and  all  that  he  has  gained  from  life  has 
Iieen  .given  back  to  the  world  in  abundant  measure. 

Rudolf  von  Tobel  is  the  son  of  a father  of  the  same 
name,  who  was  born  in  Wetzikon,  in  the  canton  of 
Zurich,  Switzerland,  on  March  17,  1822.  Twenty-six 
vekrs  later  he  came  to  America  and  settled  in  New 
York,  where  he  later  married  Elizabeth  Nisbet,  who 
was  born  in  Homer,  New  York.  Three  children  were 
born  to  them,  of  whom  Rudolf  of  this  review  was  the 
eldest.  He  was  born  in  Auburn,  New  York,  on  Febru- 
ary 13,  1855.  When  their  eldest  son  was  two  years  of 
age  Mr.  and  Mrs.  von  Tobel  moved  to  Buffalo  and  this 
was  their  home  for  about  thirteen  years. 

Rudolf  Jr.,  went  to  school  in  Buffalo  and  in  his 
spare  time  worked  in  a bakery,  contributing  his  meagre 
wages  to  the  common  family  purse.  In  1870  the  von 
Tobels  went  to  Stacyville,  Iowa,  and  there  settled  on  a 
farm  where  he  remained  for  five  years.  Here  he 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1267 


attended  the  public  schools  at  intervals  which  he 
snatched  from  the  rather  exacting  duties  of  farm  life. 
From  Iowa  he  went  to  Northfield,  Minnesota,  where 
he  worked  his  way  through  Carleton  College,  and  upon 
hie  graduation  in  i88i  went  into  a law  office  in  North- 
field,  and  studied  for  two  years.  In  1883,  in  the  month 
of  March,  Mr.  von  Tobel  arrived  in  Helena  and  there 
went  into  the  office  of  the  late  Senator  Carter.  While 
there  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  at  the  close  of 
two  years  came  to  Lewistown,  where  his  residence  has 
since  been  maintained. 

Mr.  von  Tobel  has  found  time  in  his  very  busy  pro- 
fessional life  to  devote  a considerable  time  to  public 
affairs.  He  is  an  enthusiastic  supporter  of  the  policies 
of  the  Republican  party,  both  locally  and  in  national 
issues.  He  was  a member  of  the  fourth  legislature 
assembly,  memorable  in  the  annals  of  Montana  as  the 
legislature  which  adopted  the  code,  as  joint  member 
from  Fergus  and  Valley  counties.  Mr.  von  Tobel  was 
a member  of  the  code  committee.  Another  office  which 
he  has  filled  is  that  of  city  attorney  in  the  earlier  days 
of  Lewistown’s  existence.  He  was  one  of  the  men  who 
organized  the  Judith  Club  and  in  1909  he  acted  as 
president  of  that  body,  but  his  professional  work  has 
always  been  paramount  to  all  other  interests  of  what- 
ever nature.  Since  coming  to  Lewistown,  Mr.  von 
Tobel  has  practiced  alone,  and  he  has_  been  retained 
in  many  of  the  most  important  cases  tried  at  this  bar. 

In  September  of  1888,  Mr.  von  Tobel  was  married 
to  Miss  Anna  Theresa  Zilisch,  the  marriage  being- 
solemnized  at  Philbrook,  Montana.  Mrs.  von  Tobel, 
who  was  a school  teacher,  is  the  daughter  of  Carl  L. 
and  Henrietta  Zilisch,  of  Burlington,  Iowa,  both  of 
whom  are  now  deceased.  Five  children,  all  born  in 
Lewistown,  have  come  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  von  Tobel,  and 
concerning  them  the  following  brief  mention  is  here 
made.  Henrietta  is  now  a student  at  Barnard  College, 
in  New  York  City;  Carl,  the  only  son,  is  a student  at 
Harvard  and  will  take  his  degree  from  that  institution; 
Elizabeth  is  now  in  school  at  Providence,  Rhode  Island, 
in  preparation  for  college ; Anna  is  in  high  school  in 
Lewistown,  and  Catherine,  the  youngest  of  the  five,  is 
in  the  public  schools  of  the  city.  Both  parents  of  Mr. 
von  Tobel  are  deceased,  their  death  having  taken  place 
in  South  Dakota,  where  they  are  buried  side  by  side. 

Mr.  von  Tobel  is  an  enthusiast  on  outdoor  life  and 
is  the  owner  of  a delightful  summer  camp  in  the  moun- 
tains, where  he  and  his  family  spend  a large  part  of  the 
warm  summer  weather.  Mr.  von  Tobel  finds  much 
pleasure  in  his  fishing  excursions  in  the  mountains, 
that  being  one  of  his  chief  diversions.  He  is  the 
possessor  of  one  of  the  largest  and  choicest  private 
libraries  in  this  section  of  the  state,  and  he  finds  in  his 
books  the  most  intimate  and  satisfying  companionships. 
He  stands  for  all  those  qualities  which  make  his  pro- 
fession the  great  power  of  the  age. 

Dr.  Isaiah  M.  Beatty  is  a well-known  practitioner 
of  osteopathy,  and  together  with  his  son,  known  as  the 
young  doctor,  Albert,  has  done  much  in  the  way  of 
compelling  recognition  for  their  system,  as  the  very  ex- 
tensive practice  of  which  Dr.  Beatty  is  the  head  bears 
testimony.  The  senior  doctor  is  the  son  of  John  M. 
and  Anna  M.  (Marshall)  Beatty,  both  natives  of  the 
state  of  Pennsylvania,  born  of  Scotch-Irish  parents 
where  they  were  reared  and  married,  but  who  passed 
much  of  their  lives  in  Illinois ; both  are  now  resting  in 
a cemetery  near  Erie,  Whiteside  county,  Illinois. 

Dr.  Isaiah  M.  Beatty  was  born  in  Dawson,  Fayette 
county,  Pennsylvania,  in  March,  1854,  and  was  three 
years  of  age  when  his  parents  removed  from  the  old 
Keystone  state  to  Rock  Island  county,  Illinois,  where 
the  subject  lived  until  he  had  passed  his  twenty-eighth 
birthday.  He  was  educated  there  and  for  many  years 
aided  his  father  with  a will  in  the  cultivation  of  the  old 
homestead  upon  which  he  was  raised.  He  was  but 

Vol.  11—27 


twenty-two  years  of  age  when  he  married  Lucy  J. 
Schryver,  of  Erie,  Illinois,  and  the  birth  of  their  first 
son,  Dr.  Albert  H.  Beatty,  inspired  the  young  father 
with  a desire  for  broader  fields  of  activity  and  useful- 
ness. It  was  in  1883  that  Doctor  Beatty  and  his  young 
wife  and  child  set  out  for  Montana.  He  stopped  in 
Boulder  City  for  a few  months,  but  in  July  pushed  on 
to  the  Judith  Basin  in  Fergus  county,  arriving  there 
August  nth,  where  he  has  since  remained.  Here  he 
engaged  in  dairying,  but  owing  to  the  low  price  of 
dairy  products  decided  it  would  not  yield  him  an  income 
sufficient  to  the  needs  of  his  family,  so  in  March,  1885, 
moved  to  Maiden,  where  he  was  employed  in  the  mines 
and  mill.  In  April,  1887,  the  mines  closed  down.  He 
opened  a barber  shop,  and  later  moved  to  Gilt  Edge, 
there  operating  a similar  establishment  and  stock  rais- 
ing in  conjunction.  At  times  he  fell  ill,  from  1893  to 
1898,  and  after  a thorough  experience  with  well-known 
and  usually  successful  physicians  in  Montana,  Illinois, 
Iowa,  and  in  fact  every  prominent  center  in  the  United 
States  in  search  of  a relief  for  headache,  stomach  trou- 
ble, and  nervous  exhaustion,  etc.,  he  realized  that  the 
old  recognized  systems  of  materia  medica  were  all  guess 
work,  and  were  failing  to  reach  a large  class  of  the  ills 
of  the  flesh  to  which  man  is  heir.  As  the  result  of 
continued  study  of  the  question  in  combination  with 
his  practical  experience,  he  finally  decided,  in  March, 
1898,  upon  osteopathy  as  the  solution  to  his  problem, 
and  went  to  Helena,  where  he  took  treatment  from 
Drs.  A.  D.  and  C.  W.  Mahaffay,  osteopathic  physicians, 
where  he  received  great  benefit.  After  investigating 
osteopathy  very  carefully  for  two  years  he  decided  to 
move  his  family  to  Kirksville,  the  fountain  head  of 
osteopathy,  where  in  February,  1901,  he  and  his  son 
entered  the  school,  and  two  years  later  they  graduated 
from  that  institution,  whereupon  they  returned  to  Lew- 
istown, and  opened  up  the  practice  which  has  with  the 
passing  years  assumed  such  splendid  proportions.  The 
young  doctor  now  has  a wife  and  family  of  his  own, 
and  has  taken  up  his  permanent  residence  in  Lewistown. 

Doctor  and  Mrs.  Beatty  were  the  parents  of'  five 
children : Doctor  Albert,  the  eldest  son,  who  is  men- 
tioned above ; Mable,  born  on  Cottonwood  creek,  in 
Fergus  county,  died  at  the  age  of  six  years;  John  M. 
is  a wholesale  cigar  manufacturer  at  Stanford,  Mon- 
tana; Charles  H.  and  Juanita,  are  stilt  in  the  parental 
home  and  are  the  youngest  of  the  five.  On  August  24, 
1906,  the  wife  and  mother  died,  since  when  the  doctor 
married  Lena  W.  Tuttle,  the  wife  of  Alex  Tuttle, 
of  the  firm  of  Tuttle  Brothers  of  Stanford,  Montana, 
their  marriage  occurring  on  January  16,  1910,  at  Butte, 
Montana. 

The  Beatty  family  affiliate  with  the  Presbyterian 
church,  although  the  doctor  is  not  a communicant ; 
he  is  a member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  and  Sisters  of 
Rebekah  Lodge,  and  in  a political  way  is  a Democrat, 
although  he  gives  but  little  time  to  those  matters.  Work 
with  his  bees  and  fancy  poultry  constitutes  his  chief 
pastime. 

He  is  the  owner  of  a fine  ranch,  and  he  has  come  to 
be  local  authority  on  bee  culture,  devoting  much  time 
to  their  care. 

The  doctor  has  lived  in  a number  of  states,  and 
traveled  in  many,  but  none  of  them,  in  his  opinion, 
can  compare  with  Montana,  the  chosen  state  of  his 
adoption. 

John  B.  Herford.  The  citizens  of  any  wide-awake 
community  are  usually  not  slow  to  recognize  the 
worth  and  ability  of  a man,  especially  if  his  activities 
are  devoted  to  the  profession  of  law,  and  are  ordina- 
rily quick  to  demonstrate  their  appreciation  of  his 
capacity  by  electing  him  to  positions  of  trust  and 
honor.  Such  has  been  the  experience  of  John  B.  Her- 
ford, a well  known  attorney  of  Billings,  who  has  in 
various  public  positions  showed  a conscientious  re- 


1268 


HISTORY  OF  ^lONTANA 


gard  for  the  duties  of  his  incumbencies  that  won  the 
respect  and  esteem  of  his  fellow  men. 

John  B Blerford  was  born  in  England  and  came 
to  the  United  States  in  1875.  In  1876  he  went  to 
New  Mexico,  where  he  handled  stock  for  some  time, 
and  subsequently  worked  on  the  cattle  ranges  as  a 
cow  hand,  in  Nebraska,  South  Dakota,  Utah  and 
Wyoming.  In  1883  he  located  in  Montana  as  super- 
intendent  for  the  New  York  Cattle  Company,  on  the 
Musselshell,  and  while  thus  employed  began  to  read 
law  Mr.  Herford  was  admitted  to  the  bar  m 1091, 
and’  in  1892  was  elected  county  attorney  of  Yellow- 
stone county,  subsequently  serving  three  terms  as  city 
attorney  of  Billings.  In  1902  he  was  appointed  sheriff 
of  Yellowstone  county  to  complete  the  unexpired  term 
of  James  Webb,  who  was  murdered.  When  the  Span- 
ish-Americail  war  broke  out  Mr.  Herford  enlisted  ni 
Troop  M of  the  Third  United  States  Volunteer  Cp- 
alry,  with  which  he  was  connected  until  the  cessation 

of  hostilities.  . , , 

Nerford  is  a Democrat  in  politics,  but^he^  has 
numerous  friends  in  the  ranks  of  both  organizations. 
He  is  a man  of  broad  outlook  on  life  and  is  thoroughly 
versed  not  only  in  his  profession,  but  also  upon  mat- 
ters of  general  interest,  and  he  has  done  niuch  tor 
Billino-s  and  Yellowstone  county  as  an  official. 

In  1886  Mr.  Herford  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Susan  Whitney,  daughter  of  Col.  L.  Wffitney, 
and  three  children  have  been  born  to  them:  Helen, 
Whitney  and  Brooke. 


David  R Peeler,  the  president  of  the  Bank  of  Com- 
merce of  kalispell,  Montana,  has  proved  to  the  satis- 
faction of  the  patrons  of  the  bank  and  the  general  pub- 
lic as  well  that  he  is  a man  of  splendid  financial  ability. 
He  has  lived  in  Montana  for  a number  of_  years  and 
during  this  time  been  connected  with  various  enter- 
prises,  in  Ccich  of  which  he  held  a.  position  of  trust. 
He  is’  a man  who  never  sees  an  obstacle  to  any  move 
that  he  wishes  to  make,  because  before  the  obstacle 
has  had  time  to  worry  him,  he  has  planned  a way  out 
of  the  difficulty.  With  an  unusual  amount  of  executive 
ability,  he  has  carried  out  schemes  that  the  average 
man  would  not  even  attempt.  The  bank  of  which  he 
is  now  the  chief  executive  is  a new  institution,  and  the 
skill  with  which  Air.  Peeler  has  launched  this  new 
craft  on  the  treacherous  seas  of  finance,  has  won  for 
him  the  plaudits,  not  only  of  his  brother  financiers,  but 
also  from  the  critical  lips  of  business  men,  who  always 
watch  the  career  of  a new  bank  with  distrust. 

David  R.  Peeler  was  born  in  Howard  county,  Mis- 
souri, on  the  15th  of  June,  1853-  H's  father  was  Alfred 
Peeler,  who  was  likewise  born  in  the  state  of  Alissouri. 
The  grandparents  of  David  Peeler  were  early  settlers 
of  Howard  county,  Missouri,  having  located  there  in 
1817.  Alfred  Peeler  was  a prosperous  farmer,_  and  with 
the  exception  of  the  years  which  he  gave  to  his  country 
as  a soldier  during  the  Civil  war,  he  spent  all  of  his 
life  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  died  in  1867  at  the  age 
of  forty-five.  He  was  married  in  Howard  county, 
to  Sally  Williams,  who  was  born  in  Kentucky, 
on  the  24th  of  Alarch,  1827.  She  is  yet  living,  aged 
eighty-five,  and  to  her  union  with  Air.  Peeler  seven 
children  were  born,  David  being  the  next  to  the  eldest. 

David  Peeler  was  educated  in  the  county  schools  of 
Howard  county,  Missouri,  and  in  the  State  Norrnal 
School.  At  the  age  of  twenty,  he  left  school  and  during 
the  following  year,  1874,  removed  to  California,  and 
during  his  early  residence  in  this  state,  attended  the 
Heals  Business  College  of  San  Francisco,  from  which 
he  was  graduated.  He  settled  in  Bridgeport  in  south- 
eastern California  and  there  took  up  clerical  work  in 
the  mercantile  business.  He  was  thus  engaged  for  a 
period  of  nine  years,  and  finally  believing  that  he  could 
better  himself  by  a move,  came  to  Montana.  This  was 
in  1883  and  he  soon  obtained  a position  as  superin- 


tendent of  the  Drum  Lumon  mills  at  Marysville.  He 
proved  an  able  man  for  this  difficult  and  responsible 
position,  and  remained  in  this  connection  for  twelve 
years,  being  also  personally  interested  in  the  mines 
and  mills  of  this  section.  In  1896,  in  the  summer  he 
came  to  Kalispell,  and  became  identified  with  the  First 
National  Bank  of  this  city.  Fie  had  been  successful 
before  but  he  now  held  a position  in  which  his  particu- 
lar gift  was  brought  into  full  play.  He  was  the  or- 
ganizer of  this  bank,  which  was  established  in  1891,  and 
was  elected  president.  The  prosperity  of  the  bank  in- 
creased from  year  to  year  during  the  twelve  years  that 
Mr.  Peeler  was  its  chief  executive,  and  it  was  with 
much  trepidation  that  the  directors  accepted  his  resig- 
nation, for  he  was  apparenth-  an  indispensable  official. 
He  was  already  planning  his  next  endeavor,  which  came 
to  fruition  in  1910  with  the  opening  of  the  Bank  of 
Commerce  of  Kalispell.  This  institution  was  the  prod- 
uct of  his  brain,  and  he  was  the  first  president,  having 
held  the  office  from  the  30th  of  June,  1910,  the  formal 
date  of  opening,  up  till  the  present  day.  In  addition 
to  his  banking  business,  Mr.  Peeler  is  a director  and 
is  deeply  interested  in  the  Lincoln  Logging  and  Lum- 
ber Company,  a thriving  corporation  of  Fortune,  Mon- 
tana. 

The  other  officers  of  the  Bank  of  Commerce  beside 
Air.  Peeler  are  C.  B.  Roberts,  vice-president  and  R.  P. 
Austin,  cashier.  On  the  20th  of  February,  1912,  when 
the  bank  had  been  in  existence  only  a little  over  a year 
and  a half,  the  capital  stock  amounted  to  $100,000,  the 
deposits  to  nearly  $250,000,  and  the  total  resources  to 
over  $350,000. 

Mr.  Peeler  has  taken  considerable  interest  in  politics 
being  a devoted  adherent  of  the  Democratic  party.  As 
president  of  the  board  of  education  for  Flathead  county, 
he  has  accomplished  much  for  the  younger  generation 
of  this  county,  and  has  devoted  both  his  time  and  his 
brains  to  seeing  that  the  funds  of  the  county  be  handled 
in  the  most  economical  and  advantageous  way.  Recently 
in  the  election  of  April,  1912,  the  citizens  of  Kalispell 
have  set  their  seal  of  approval  upon  him  by  electing  him 
mayor  of  the  city,  for  a term  of  two  years.  The  honor 
of  being  appointed  state  commissioner  for  three  exposi- 
tions. the  Pan-American,  the  Louisiana  Purchase,  and 
the  Portland,  also  fell  to  Mr.  Peeler.  In  addition  to 
his  important  interests  in  Kalispell,  he  also  has  large 
lumber  interests  in  Lincoln  county,,  and  owns  consider- 
able real  estate. 

Air.  Peeler  was  married  at  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  on 
the  24th  of  October,  1888,  to  Miss  Alary  J.  Winston, 
the  daughter  of  P.  J.  and  Mary  Winston.  Airs  Peeler 
is  a native  of  Nebraska,  and  she  and  her  husband  are 
the  parents  of  four  children.  The  eldest  of  these, 
Sadie,  is  the  wife  of  R.  J.  Bland,  and  lives  in  Kalispell, 
having  been  born  in  Marysville,  Montana,  in  July,  1889. 
Lillian  J.  Peeler,  who  was  born  in  Alarysville,  in  1891 
is  now  in  the  bank,  assisting  her  father.  Alfred  W., 
who  is  now  a bookkeeper  in  the  Bank  of  Commerce, 
was  born  in  Marysville,  on  the  15th  of  June,  1894. 
The  youngest,  David  R.  Peeler,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Kalis- 
pell. on  the  iith  of  April.  1904. 

Air.  Peeler  has  earned  his  living  since  he  was  four- 
teen years  old,  and  his  life  has  been  a steady  advance 
from  the  beginning.  Perhaps  one  of  the  most  striking 
things  about  his  career  is  the  lack  of  envy  that  is  felt 
towards  him,  sure  proof  that  his  money  has  been  gained 
by  honest  methods  and  that  he  has  deliberately  trampled 
on  no  one  in  order  to  attain  success. 

James  O.  P.\tterson.  One  of  Fort  Benton’s  wealthy 
ranch  owmers  and  notable  public  men,  whose  landed 
property  consists  of  six  thousand  acres,  is  James  O. 
Patterson,  who  came  to  Montana  in  1883.  The  place 
of  his  nativity  and  youthful  development  was  Alary- 
land,  where  he  was  born  in  Harford  county  in  1865. 
His  father  was  of  a Scotch-Irish  family  who  settled 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1269 


in  Baltimore  m the  Revolutionary  period  and  his 
mother  of  a French  line,  bearing  the  name  of  De  La- 
Roche.  Mr.  Patterson’s  maternal  grandfather,  George 
Frank  Frederick  De  LaRoche,  was  an  aide  of 
Marquis  DeLafayette  when  that  French  noble  came  to 
this  country  to  give  his  military  assistance  to  the  cause 
of  American  independence.  Mr.  Patterson  has  in  his 
possession  a walking  stick  which  was  at  one  time  pre- 
sented to  De  LaRoche  by  General  Lafayette.  The 
mother  of  iMr.  Patterson,  Jane  Belt  (De  LaRoche) 
Patterson,  was  born  in  Washington,  in  the  District 
of  Columbia.  She  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Balti- 
more, Maryland,  and  South  Bethlehem,  Pennsylvania, 
and  was  graduated  from  the  schools  of  the  latter  named 
place,  after  which  she  went  abroad  and  studied  art  in 
Paris.  In  Mr.  Patterson's  home  today  are  to  be  seen 
many  of  her  paintings,  and  it  is  noteworthy  that  Mrs. 
Patterson  was  the  recipient  of  several  medals  in  rec- 
ognition of  her  ability  and  accomplishments.  She  was 
a member  of  the  Charcoal  Club  of  Philadelphia,  and 
was  always  an  active  and  earnest  church  worker  and 
member,  for  years  a member  of  the  Altar  Guild. 
James  O.  Patterson,  the  father  of  the  subject,  who 
bears  the  same  given  nam.es,  was  a native  of  Baltimore. 
Both  have  died  since  their  coming  to  Fort  Benton  in 
1883.  Eight  children  were  born  to  them,  one  of  whom 
died  in  infancy,  and  James  O.  Patterson  was  the  sixth 
of  that  number. 

The  general  education  of  Mr.  Patterson  which  he 
received  in  the  Baltimore  public  schools  was  supple- 
mented by  a course  in  Knapp’s  Institute.  At  the  age 
of  eighteen  he  began  life  by  coming  west  and  enter- 
ing upon  the  arduous  occupation  which  his  father’s 
ranch  afforded.  After  three  years  01  work,  in  which 
he  acquired  a generous  fund  of  experience  and  infor- 
mation on  the  subject  of  ranching,  he  establis’ned  him- 
self independently  by  going  into  the  sheep  raising 
business  for  himself.  The  ranch  where  this  enterprise 
was  carried  on  was  located  at  Lost  Lake  and  at  the 
time  he  formed  a partnership  with  T.  C.  Power  & 
Brother,  of  Fort  Benton.  They  continued  in  association 
for  eleven  years.  In  1897  Mr.  Patterson  purchased  the 
Powers  interests  and  has  ever  since  continued  as  chief 
executive.  In  1906  the  business  was  incorporated  as  the 
Lost  Lake  Live  Stock  Company.  With  James  O.  Pat- 
terson as  its  president  and  manager;  Fred  Thies,  a 
nephew,  as  secretary  and  treasurer;  and  J.  H.  Patter- 
son, another  nephew,  as  vice-president,  the  company  is 
flourishing  as  one  of  the  leading  cattle  companies  of 
Montana.  It  was  incorporated  for  $ioo,ooo_.  Mr.  Pat- 
terson is  also  interested  as  a stockholder  in  the^  Fort 
Benton  Opera  House,  and  is  interested  financially  in  the 
Montana  Life  Insurance  Company,  which  has  its  head- 
quarters at  Helena.  His  ranching  business  still  con- 
tinued to  claim  a goodly  portion  of  his  time  and  atten- 
tion and  his  herd  is  of  choice  Hereford  stock,  noted 
throughout  the  country.  His  cattle  command  the  high- 
est figure  at  all  times,  many  shipments  going  direct  to 
Chicago  for  export.  Mr.  Patterson  recently  sold  a 
right-of-way  through  one  of  his  ranches  to  the  Chicago, 
Milwaukee  & St.  Paul  Railroad,  who  will  soon  run  their 
line  through  and  it  is  expected  that  a town  will  be 
reared  on  his  property. 

On  February  16.  1898,  Mr.  Patterson  and  Carrie 
Hiirst,  a native  of  West  Virginia  and  a daughter  of 
John  W.  Hurst,  were  united  in  marriage.  Five  chil- 
dren were  born  to  them,  as  follows  1 Shirley  H.,  born 
January  28,  1899,  and  died  on  April  26,  1909 '■  Katherine 
D..  born  August  7,  1900,  and  died  June  21,  igio;  Eugene 
Carrie,  born  December  24,  1902,  now  attending  the 
grammar  school  of  Fort  Benton;  James  O.,  Jr.,  born 
January  20,  1905,  also  in  school;  and  Jane  C.,  who  was 
born  on  April  12,  1908,  and  died  on  April  ii,  1909.  The 
mother  passed  away  on  February  ii,  1910,  and  is  buried 
ill  Riverside  cemetery,  in  Fort  Benton,  where  also  are 


buried  her  children  and  Mr.  Patterson's  parents  and 
brother  John. 

James  Patterson  is  a valued  member  and  supporter 
of  the  Episcopal  church,  of  which  he  is  a member  of  the 
board  of  trustees.  Politically  he  is  independent,  but 
has  a deep  interest  in  public  affairs  of  a practical 
nature  and  has  served  his  municipality  as  an  alderman. 
He  is,  however,  a home  man,  caring  but  little  for  out- 
side diversions.  He  is  one  of  F'ort  Benton’s  most 
highly  esteemed  citizens  and  ranks  high  among  the 
successful  and  respected  ranch  owners  of  Montana. 

Albert  J.  Ingr.vh.vm,  after  an  e.xperience  of  about 
ten  years  in  the  West  devoted  to  various  lines  of  work, 
principally  mining,  gave  up  the  life  to  devote  himself 
to  farming  in  the  Flathead  valley.  That  his  efforts 
were  crowned  with  a pleasing  measure  of  success  can 
not  be  doubted,  judging  from  the  appearance  of  his 
farm,  located  eight  miles  from  Kalispell,  in  one  of  the 
most  fertile  spots  in  the  valley.  He  has  found  his 
farm  amply  sufficient  to  occupy  the  best  part  of  his 
time  and  attention,  and  lives  in  the  prosperous  content 
of  the  successful  husbandman. 

Mr.  Ingraham  was  born  in  Will  county,  Illinois,  on 
April  10,  i860,  the  son  of  Nathan  and  Ruth  (Good- 
man) Ingraham.  The  father  was  a native  Ohioan 
who  migrated  to  Illinois  in  1846,  and  shared  in  the 
pioneer  development  of  that  great  state.  He  was  a 
civil  engineer  by  profession,  and  was  for  years  occu- 
pied as  assistant  chief  engineer  on  the  canal  from 
Chicago  on  the  Illinois  river.  He  was  a Civil  war 
veteran  and  served  in  the  Nineteenth  Illinois  Regi- 
ment attached  to  the  staff  of  General  Thomas  in  the 
engineering  department.  He  died  at  his  home  in  Will 
county,  Illinois,  at  the  age  of  eighty-seven  years.  The 
wife  and  mother,  who  was  also  a native  of  Ohio,  died 
in  Illinois.  They  were  the  parents  of  three  children, 
Albert  J.  being  the  youngest  of  the  family. 

Up  to  the  age  of  thirteen  Albert  J.  Ingraham  at- 
tended the  country  schools  in  Will  county,  but  when 
he  reached  that  age  left  home  and  from  then  until  he 
was  fifteen  was  a student  in  the  schools  of  Cherokee 
county.  In  1875  he  removed  from  Kansas  to  Colorado, 
and  his  first  occupation  there  was  driving  a mule 
team.  He  later  worked  in  the  mines,  doing  such  work 
as  a boy  of  his  age  might  find,  and  thus  continued  for 
a number  of  years  at  one  occupation  and  another.  In 
1883  he  settled  at  Miles  City,  Montana,  but  remained 
there  only  a short  time,  removing  to  northern  Idaho, 
where  he  engaged  in  placer  mining  on  his  own  re- 
sponsibility. It  was  in  the  spring  of  1884  that  he 
determined  to  give  his  attention  to  agriculture.  He 
accordingly  took  steps  toward  the  securing  of  a home- 
stead in  the  Flathead  valley,  and  located  on  a tract  of 
land  eight  miles  from  Kalispell,  where  he  has  developed 
one  of  the  fine  agricultural  properties  of  the  valley. 

Mr.  Ingraham  is  a veteran  of  the  Spanish-American 
war,  having  served  in  Company  H,  of  the  First  Mon- 
tana Regiment  in  the  Philippines.  He  was  a sergeant 
and  participated  in  twenty-three  engagements.  Fie  was 
honorably  discharged  from  the  service  on  October  4, 
1889.  Ingraham  has  taken  a prominent  part  in 

the  public  life  of  his  county  for  years,  and  in  Novem- 
ber, 1910,  was  elected  to  the  office  of  sheriff,  which  he 
still  holds.  He  is  a Democrat  and  has  always  taken 
active  participation  in  the  affairs  of  the  party  in 
county,  state  and  national  politics,  being  a man  of  con- 
siderable weight  and  influence  in  the  public  life  of  his 
district.  At  present,  Mr.  Ingraham  is  president  of 
the  board  of  managers  of  the  Soldiers’  Home,  and  has 
been  a member  of  the  board  for  eleven  years.  He 
has  also  filled  the  office  of  school  trustee  for  about 
four  years.  Fraternally,  Mr.  Ingraham  is  a member 
of  the  Odd  Fellows,  the  Elks  and  the  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America,  and  has  passed  through  all  chairs  in. 


1270 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


tlie  Odd  Fellows.  He  is  a member  of  the  Kalispell 
Clul),  also. 

Mr.  Ingraham  was  married  in  Kalispell  on  March 
30,  1889,  to  Miss  Carrie  Ditty,  the  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam Ditty.  They  have  one  "child, — Philip  Ingraham, 
born  May  30,  tSgo.  The  home  of  the  family  is  main- 
tained at  Kalispell. 

John  R.  B.\kT.\  and  William  F.  Barta.  Especially 
worthy  of  note  among  the  enterprising  and  popular 
residents  of  Butte  are  the  Barta  Brothers,  leading  repre- 
sentatives of  the  younger  members  of  the  legal  pro- 
fession of  the  city,  who  are  now  in  the  full  vigor  of 
manhood's  prime,  and  may  well  look  forward  to  a long 
future  career  of  usefulness,  both  in  the  sphere  of  pro- 
fessional activity  and  in  the  public  and  social  affairs  of 
life.  John  R.  Barta  is  a native-born  citizen,  his  birth 
having  occurred  in  Butte,  May  27,  1883,  while  William 
Barta  was  born  July  31,  1885,  in  Kansas. 

Their  father,  John  A.  Barta,  was  born  and  reared 
in  Bohemia,  his  birth  occurring  April  20,  1846.  The 
only  member  of  his  family  to  leave  the  Fatherland,  he 
immigrated  to  America  in  1866,  a stalwart  youth  of 
twenty  years,  locating  first  in  Iowa.  In  1869,  he 
journeyed  to  the  wilds  of  Montana,  a territory  rich  in 
mineral  fields  awaiting  development,  becoming  a pio- 
neer settler  of  this  part  of  the  Union.  He  was  here 
for  many  years  variously  employed,  keeping  a hotel, 
jjrospecting  or  mining,  in  either  line  of  industry  keep- 
ing in  close  touch  with  the  more  prominent  men  of  the 
state,  with  many  of  whom  he  had  an  intimate  acquaint- 
ance. He  was  for  a number  of  years  identified  with 
the  mining  operations  of  Montana,  and  instituted  one  of 
the  first  mining  suits  brought  into  the  courts.  He  moved 
from  Helena  to  California,  locating  at  Los  Angeles, 
where  his  death  occurred  June  i,  1911.  He  married 
Nettie  Nagues,  who  survived  him,  and  is  now  living 
in  Helena,  Montana.  Fler  great-grandfather  on  her 
mother’s  side,  John  Rule,  emigrated  from  England  to 
Wisconsin,  and  in  the  development  of  the  mining  in- 
terests of  that  state  took  a prominent  part,  being  one 
of  the  leaders  in  that  line  of  industry.  Several  of  her 
uncles  served  as  soldiers  during  the  Civil  war,  and 
one  of  them  being  captured  by  the  enemy  on  the  battle- 
field was  for  a time  confined  in  Libby  prison.  Four 
children  were  born  of  the  union  of  John  A.  and  Nettie 
Barta,  namely:  John  R.  and  William,  the  subjects  of 
this  sketch ; Clyde  B.,  deceased,  who  was  born  in  Ana- 
conda, Montana:  and  Benjamin,  deceased,  whose  birth 
occurred  in  Boulder,  Montana. 

Thus  far  the  lives  of  John  R.  Barta  and  William  F. 
Barta  have  been  very  similar  in  many  respects.  Both 
obtained  their  elementary  education  in  the  schools  of 
Butte,  and  both  were  graduated  from  the  Helena,  Mon- 
tana, high  school,  John  R.  receiving  his  diploma  in 
1900,  and  William  the  following  year.  Roth  attended 
the  University  of  Michigan  one  year,  and  afterwards 
spent  three  years  at  the  Detroit  College  of  Law,  in 
IK'troit,  Michigan.  Returning  then  to  Montana,  the 
Barta  Brothers  opened  a law  office  in  Butte,  and  in 
the  practice  of  their  profession  have  met  with  well 
merited  success,  their  patronage  being  extensive  and 
lucrative.  They  were  for  a time  unfortunate  in  busi- 
ness, losing  heavily  through  speculations  on  the  coast, 
but  since  returning  to  Butte  have  been  exceedingly 
prosperous  in  their  law  business  and  transactions. 

In  their  political  affiliations  the  Barta  Brothers  are 
both  stanch  Republicans,  active  in  party  affairs,  and 
as  forceful  and  effective  speakers  are  very  influential 
in  campaign  work,  stumping  the  state  in  favor  of  the 
party’s  candidate.  In  1909  Mr.  John  R.  Barta  was 
assistant  county  attorney,  and  candidate  for  district 
judge  on  the  Progressive  ticket  in  1912,  and  in  1908  was 
a candidate  on  the  Republican  ticket  for  county  attorney 
of  Broadwater  county,  and  in  Silver  Bow  county  in 
1912,  but  was  defeated  at  the  polls. 


John  R.  Barta  married  Mav  25,  1907,  in  Seattle, 
Washington,  Margaret  Schindler,  a daughter  of  John 
Schindler,  who  was  born  in  New  York  City,  and  during 
his  earlier  life  was  there  engaged  in  business  as  a hat 
manufacturer.  Mrs.  Barta  was  born  in  New  York  City, 
September-  28,  1885,  and  was  there  educated.  Mr! 
William  F.  Barta  has  not  yet  become  a benedict. 

Judge  Geo.  M.  Bourquin,  United  States  district 
judge  for  Montana,  appointed  thereto  by  President  Taft, 
executed  the  oath  and  assumed  the  duties  of  the  office 
on  the  9th  day  of  March,  1912.  Judge  Bourquin  was 
born  on  the  24th  day  of  June,  1863,  on  the  banks  of 
the  Allegheny  river,  near  Tidionte,  Warren  county, 
Pennsylvania.  _ He  is  of  French  ancestry,  his  father! 
Justin  Bourquin,  having  been  born  in  Switzerland,  and 
his  mother,  Celestine  Bourquin,  nee  Ducray,  born  in 
France.  In  their  youth  they  came  to  America,  met  and 
married  in  the  United  States  and  became  the  parents 
of  ten_  children  of  whom  George  was  the  ninth. 

Justin  Bourquin  was  by  vocation  a blacksmith  and 
farmer.  As  a boy  Judge  Bourquin  attended  the  country 
schools  of  Warren  and  Crawford  counties  in  Pennsyl- 
vania; at  the  age  of  seventeen  he  taught  therein,  and 
at  eighteen,  in  1881,  he  went  to  Aspen,  Colorado,  where 
several  of  his  brothers  had  already  located.  In  that 
vicinity  and  at  Leadville  he  was  alternately  engaged 
as  cowboy,  miner  and  smelterman,  until  in  June,  1884, 
he  came  to  Butte,  Montana.  He  first  worked  in  the 
silver  mills  at  Walkerville,  a suburb  of  Butte,  then 
was  employed  as  a hoisting  engineer  at  various  Butte 
mines.  Republican  in  politics,  in  1888  he  was  the  can- 
didate of  his  party  for  the  office  of  county  clerk  and 
recorder  of  Silver  Bow  county,  but  was  defeated, — 
his  first  essa}^  in  politics.  Active  in  the  state  campaign 
of  that  and  the  next  year,  in  June,  1890,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  President  Harrison  receiver  of  public  money 
in  the  United  States  land  office  at  Helena,  Montana. 
This  office  he  held  four  years. 

Flaving  commenced  the  study  of  law  in  1889,  in  1894 
he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Montana,  first  practic- 
ing in  Helena,  and  then,  after  1899,  in  Butte.  In  1904 
he  was  elected  judge  of  the  district  court  of  the  state 
for  Silver  Bow  county  and  served  therein  four  years, 
then  resumed  law  practice  in  Butte,  in  which  he  con- 
tinued until  his  appointment  to  the  Federal  bench,  as 
before  stated. 

In  1891  Judge  Bourquin  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
M.  Ratigan,  of  Butte.  Montana,  and  three  sons  have 
been  born  to  them  : George  R.,  Marion  M.  and  Justin 
J.,  all  of  whom  are  living.  They  reside  in  Butte,  which 
city  represents  the  official  residence  of  the  Judge.  Of 
fraternal  orders  the  Judge  is  a member  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  and  of  the  Woodmen  of  the  World. 

John  F.  Dersham.  One  of  the  modern  ranches  of 
eastern  Montana,  which  shows  the  adaptability  of  the 
section  for  the  raising  of  cattle  and  sheep,  is  the  Brock- 
ett  creek  ranch,  situated  twenty-two  miles  north  of 
Terrv,  in  Dawson  county,  the  qwner  of  which,  John  F. 
Dersham,  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  progressive  and 
enterprising  stock-raisers  and  sheepmen  of  that  part 
of  the  state.  Like  many  of  the  successful  men  of  the 
Treasure  state,  Mr.  Dersham  is  a native  of  Iowa,  hav- 
ing been  born  in  Hardin  county,  September  5,  1859,  a 
son  of  Henry  and  Barbara  (Rickel)  Dersham,  natives 
of  Pennsylvania. 

The  second  in  order  of  birth  of  a family  of  seven 
children.  John  F.  Dershan  grew  to  manhood  on  his 
father’s  farm,  and  received  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  vicinity.  He  was  twenty- 
five  years  of  age  when  he  migrated  to  Montana,  and 
for  the  next  seven  years  was  employed  in  bridge  con- 
struction work  and  as  brakesman  in  the  passenger  ser- 
vice of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad,  then  joining 
the  United  States  Government  surveyors  in  the  south- 


K riv:^ 


l/-‘l 


.'  ' ;'  V' : *■  v:- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANx\ 


1271 


ern  part  of  Montana  and  northern  Wyoming.  In  the 
fall  of  1886  he  located  on  Seven  Mile  creek,  in  Daw- 
son county,  being  for  three  years  engaged  in  ranching 
there,  and  then  went  to  Cedar  creek  and  continued  to 
follow  the  same  vocation.  Air.  Dersham  came  to  his 
present  property,  Brockett  creek  ranch,  twenty-two 
miles  north  of  lerry,  Montana,  homesteading  160  acres 
and  leasing  a large  additional  tract,  and  he  now  has 
large  numbers  of  cattle,  horses  and  sheep,  and  in  1912 
had  over  6,000  of  the  latter.  His  ventures  have  been 
uniforndy  successful,  industry,  perseverance  and  in- 
tegrity in  business  matters  having  gained  a just  re- 
ward, and  h;s  standing  among  his  business  associates 
and  the  public  at  large  is  high. 

Mr.  Dersham  was  married  at  Glendive,  Alontana,  June 
17,  1886,  to  Marian  Treat,  daughter  of  Robert  AI.  and 
Susan  (Pritchard)  Treat,  the  former  a native  of  Con- 
necticut and  the  latter  of  Alichigan.  Air.  1 reat  came 
to  Iowa  from  the  east  at  an  early  day,  and  there  en- 
listed in  the  Second  Iowa  Calvary  during  the  Civil 
war,  serving  gallantly  and  receiving  his  honorable  dis- 
charge when  hostilities  had  ended.  Following  his  mili- 
tary service,  he  returned  to  Iowa,  where  he  followed 
farming  until  1883,  and  in  that  year  came  with  his  fam- 
ily to  iVIontana  and  settled  at  Allard,  where  his  death 
occurred  in  1886.  In  1891  his  widow  married  C.  A. 
Haight  and  both  reside  at  Terry. 

Air.  and  Mrs.  R.  M.  Treat  had  a family  of  five  chil- 
dren: Fred  W.,  who  died  in  August,  1904;  Airs.  Der- 

sham; Elmer  E.,  a carpenter  of  Terry;  Robert  S.;  and 
Philip  P.,  who  has  a ranch  and  lives  in  Tallock  creek. 
Rose  Bud  county.  Air.  and  Mrs.  Dersham  have  had 
two  children:  Harold,  who  is  engaged  in  business 

with  his  father ; and  Kathleen,  who  married  N.  A. 
Cole. 

In  his  political  belief  Air.  Dersham  is  a Republican, 
although  he  has  never  sought  public  preferment,  his 
time  and  attention  having  always  been  demanded  by 
his  private  interests.  He  has  at  all  times  been  ready, 
however,  to  support  any  movement  which  has  promised 
to  benefit  his  community  or  its  people,  and  is  known 
as  a friend  of  morality,  education  and  good  citizenship. 
His  wife  is  a member  of  the  Christian  church  and  his 
daughter  (Mrs.  Cole)  of  the  Alethodist  church.  Airs. 
Dersham  also  belongs  to  Yellowstone  chapter.  Order 
of  the  Eastern  Star,  at  Glendive. 

George  Osborne  Freeman.  George  Osborne  Free- 
man, receiver  of  the  United  States  Land  Office  in 
Helena,  son  of  George  W.  Freeman,  was  born,  Febru- 
ary 10,  1866,  at  Battle  Creek,  Alichigan,  of  honored 
ancestry,  his  lineage  being  traced  in  a direct  line  back 
to  some  of  the  most  celebrated  of  the  original  colonists 
of  New  England.  Genealogical  records  extant  show 
that  he  is  a lineal  descendant  of  Captain  Aliles  Stand- 
ish,  whose  story  is  told  in  verse  by  another  of  his  de- 
scendants, Henry  Wadsw'orth  Longfellow.  The  im- 
migrant ancestor  of  the  Freeman  family  w'as  on  En- 
glish knight,  who  came  to  America  in  the  very  early 
part  of  the  seventeenth  century,  and  subsequently 
served  as  assistant  governor  of  the  colonies.  He  had 
many  illustrious  descendants,  the  family  being  now 
represented  in  almost  every  state  of  the  Union. 

George  W.  Freeman  was  born  and  reared  in  Alichi- 
gan. ^oon  after  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  w'ar  he  en- 
fisted  as  a soldier,  and  served  for  four  and  one-half 
years,  being  under  command  of  Generals  Berry  and 
Howard  and  accompanying  Sherman  on  his  march  to 
the  sea.  When  General  Berry  w'as  killed  by  a shot 
fired  from  ambush,  George  W.  Freeman  was  detailed 
to  convey  his  body  back  to  New'  York  for  burial,  and 
while  in  that  city  he  met  and  married  Aliss  Silence 
Isabel  Campbell,  and  with  his  bride  returned  to  his  regi- 
ment, where  they  spent  their  honeymoon  in  camp.  She 
soon  returned  to  her  home  in  Baldw'insville,  New  \ork, 
while  he  accompanied  his  command  toward  the  front. 


While  on  a foraging  expedition  with  some  of  his  com- 
panions, Air.  Freeman  secured  as  his  share  of  the  booty 
an  old  gray  horse,  which  afterwards  figured  prominently 
m army  affairs,  for,  the  Federals  being  surrounded  by 
the  enemy.  Air.  Freeman  was  sent  for  reinforcements. 
Alounting  the  old  gray  horse  and  pursued  by  the  enemy, 
he  rode  a distance  of  fourteen  miles  in  thirty-five  min- 
utes, secured  the  desired  help,  and  returned  to  the  regi- 
ment, his  speedy  ride  having  saved  the  day  for  the 
Federals.  At  the  close  of  the  w'ar  the  horse  w'as  taken 
to  New  York  by  the  regimental  surgeon  (Dr.  Hough- 
ton), pensioned,  and  subsequently  lived  to  the  age  of 
twenty-nine  t'ears. 

At  the  close  of  the  conflict.  Air.  Freeman,  in  associa- 

Ition  with  Alajor  Osborne,  for  whom  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  named,  secured  a position  wdth  the  Freed- 
man's Bureau  and  was  sent  to  Jacksonville,  Florida. 
Taking  up  a homestead  claim  on  the  Indian  river,  he 
started  an  orange  grove,  hoping  thereby  to  sometime 
amass  a fortune.  About  three  years  later,  becoming 
very  active  in  politics  and  supporting  the  Republican 
principles,  he  became  one  of  a party  to  protect  the 
; negro  vote  during  the  election  in  which  Alajor  Os- 
R)orne  w'as  a candidate  for  United  States  senator.  His 
campaign  w'ork,  called  down  upon  him  the  wrath  of 
the  members  of  the  opposing  element,  and  Air.  Free- 
man shortly  received  a visit  from  the  Kuklux  Klan, 
wdro  gave  himself  and  family  exactly  two  w'eeks  to 
leave  the  state.  Owing  to  the  entreaties  of  his  wife 
. and  children,  he  reluctantly  returned  to  Alichigan, 
leaving  his  home,  plantation  and  orange  grove  behind. 

Arriving  in  Alichigan,  Air.  Freeman  secured  a good 
position  as  a commercial  traveler,  and  on  leaving  for 
one  of  his  business  trips  assured  his  wife  that  he  should 
surely  be  at  home  to  spend  his  birthday,  on  the  fifth 
of  Alarch,  1874,  and  that  w'as  the  last  that  was  ever 
heard  from  him.  He  was  a Knight  Templar,  and  the 
Alasonic  Order  as  well  as  his  family,  sought  for  him 
in  vain,  no  trace  of  him  ever  being  found.  Airs.  Free- 
man, who  subsequently  passed  away  at  the  home  of  her 
son  George,  in  Helena,  Aloritana,  was  left  with  four 
children  to  care  for,  as  follows:  Eloise,  decea.sed; 

Fred  W. : Harry  C. : and  George  Osborne. 

Left  fatherless  at  the  age  of  eight  years,  George  Os- 
borne Freeman  received  no  educational  advantages.  Un- 
til eleven  years  old  he  was  the  main  support  of  the 
family  by  selling  papers,  blacking  boots,  and  running 
errands,  his  mother  in  the  meantime  devoting  her  lime 
to  learning  the  printer  trade  after  which  she  continued 
to  such  support.  His  first  position  of  importance  was 
as  messenger  in  the  treasury  department  of  the  state 
of  Alichigan,  at  Lansing,  with  which  he  was  connected 
for  six  years,  serving  under  treasurers  \A'm.  B.  AIc- 
Cready,  B.  D.  Pritchard,  and  E.  H.  Butler.  He  was 
promoted  during  the  time,  being  advanced  to  the  point 
where  he  practically  drew  lots  with  Charles  A.  Towne, 
who  later  represented  Alinnesota  in  the  Lhiited  States 
senate,  for  the  position  of  chief  clerk  of  the  treasury. 
Air.  Towne  being  of  age,  and  already  useful  in  politi- 
cal ranks,  and  Air.  Freeman  being  a youth  of  seventeen 
years,  with  no  political  influence.  Air.  Towne  drew  the 
coveted  prize. 

Air.  George  Osborne  Freeman,  however,  was  offered 
a position  with  Air.  Butler,  who  was  the  principal  owner 
and  officer  of  the  Alechanics  National  Bank  of  Detroit, 
but  being  imbued  with  the  western  spirit  prompted  by 
the  mineral  discoveries  in  the  Coeur  d'Alene  country, 
he  started  west  on  a second-class  ticket,  intending  to 
go  to  Spokane,  Washington.  Aleeting,  in  Chicago,  Hon. 
John  S.  Tooker,  secretary  of  the  territory  for  Alontana, 
whose  acquaintance  he  had  previously  enjoyed  in  Lan- 
sing, where  Air.  Tooker  was  then  mayor,  he  was  per- 
suaded b}'  him  to  locate  in  Alontana,  and  on  Alay  5, 
1884,  took  up  his  residence  in  Helena. 

Air.  Freeman's  first  employment  in  the  city  was  as 
clerk  in  the  Alerchants  Hotel,  where  he  remained  a 


1272 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


month.  The  ensuing-  six  months  he  was  bookkeeper 
for  the  Kleinschmidt  Brothers,  and  was  afterwards  for 
six  years  a clerk  in  the  law  office  of  Carter  & Clay- 
burg.  Going  then  to  Washington,  District  of  Columbia, 
Mr.  Freeman  served  for  a year  as  private  secretary  to 
Mr.  Thomas  BI.  Carter,  Commissioner  of  the  General 
Land  Office  in  that  city.  Being  then  called  home  to 
participate  in  the  litigation  undertaken  by  the  heirs  of 
his  father-in-law’s  estate  against  the  executor,  he  was 
detained  so  long  that  in  justice  to  Mr.  Carter,  who  was 
deprived  of  his  services  as  secretary,  Mr.  Freeman  re- 
signed his  position,  and  concluded  to  remain  in  Helena. 
In  1887  he  was  admitted  to  the  Montana  bar,  passing 
an  e.xamination  before  Wilbur  F.  Sanders  and  Cornelius 
Hedges,  and  was  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion in  Helena  for  a year. 

In  1888  Mr.  Freeman  became  private  secretary  to  E. 
D.  Edgerton,  who  was  then  vice-president  and  manager 
of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Helena,  and  had  full  con- 
trol of  his  private  affairs,  remaining  as  his  secretary 
until  the  suspension  of  the  bank  in  1896.  Mr.  Freeman 
was  subsequently  employed  with  the  receiver  of  the 
T'irst  National  Bank  and  the  Merchants  National  Bank 
of  Helena  for  a time,  later  becoming  attorney  for  the 
Baer  Gulch  Mining  Company  of  Jardine,  Montana.  In 
1909  he  received  at  the  hands  of  Senator  Thomas  H. 
Carter  the  appointment  of  receiver  of  the  United  States 
Land  Office  at  Helena,  and  the  fact  that  he  is  now 
serving  his  third  term  in  that  position  bears  evidence 
of  his  ability  and  fidelity  in  the  performance  of  the 
duties  devolving  upon  him  in  this  capacity. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Freeman  is  a member,  past  exalted 
ruler,  and  present  secretary,  of  Helena  Lodge,  No.  193, 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks ; and  is  a 
member,  and  senior  warden,  of  Morning  Star  Lodge, 
No.  5,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Order  of  Masons. 
He  is  also  secretary  of  the  Masonic  Home,  located  in 
Helena. 

Mr.  Freeman  married,  May  5,  1889,  in  Helena,  Alle 
May  Ricker,  a daughter  of  J.  C.  Ricker,  familiarly 
known  as  “Pony”  Ricker,  and  they  have  four  children, 
namely:  Ricker,  taking  a course  in  architecture,  decor- 
ating and  designing  at  the  Massachusetts  Institute  of 
Technology;  Marion  Margaret;  Gladys  June;  and 
Dorothy  Isabelle. 


Charles  H.  Br.\y.  As  secretary  and  general  mana- 
ger of  the  Western  Clay  Manufacturing  Company  at 
Ilelena,  one  of  the  most  important  industrial  enterprises 
in  the  state,  Mr.  Bray  is  recognized  as  a man  of  excep- 
tional talent  and  as  an  expert  in  the  industry  with  which 
he  is  identified  and  should  be  accorded  specific  mention 
as  one  of  the  progressive  men  of  Helena  and  the  state. 

Charles  H.  Bray  was  born  in  Tavistock,  Devonshire, 
England.  .A.ugust  8,  1864 — a town  noted  as  the  birth- 
place of  Sir  Francis  Drake  and  the  poet,  William 
Browne,  who  were  contemporaries  of  the  sixteenth  cen- 
tury. His  father,  John  Bray,  was  likewise  a native  of 
'I'avistock.  where  he  was  employed  in  brick  manufac- 
turing throughout  his  active  life.  Pie  married  Elizabeth 
Tucker,  also  of  that  town,  and  three  children  were  born 
to  them,  of  which  number  Charles  PL,  of  this  review,  is 
the  sole  survivor. 

As  a boy  Mr.  Bray  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Tavistock  until  1S77,  when  he  turned  his  attention  to 
brick  manufacturing.  After  a year  he  went  to  the  north 
of  Englan.d  :ind  there  made  a close  and  careful  study 
of  the  various  processes  employed  in  the  leading  brick 
and  clay  concerns  and  thoroughly  familiarized  himself 
with  all  the  details  of  the  processes,  so  that  he  came  to 
be  known  as  an  expert  brickmaker.  In  1880  he  came  to 
.\mcrica,  locating  in  Duluth,  Minnesota,  where  he  was 
associated  with  the  Duluth  Brick  & Tile  Company  until 
1882,  in  that  year  becoming  connected  with  J.  S.  Mon- 
roe, under  the  firm  name  of  Monroe  & Bray,  at  Mandan, 
North  Dakota,  the  new  firm  taking  a contract  to  manu- 


facture brick  for  the  P.  M.  Granbury  Brick  Works.  The 
partnership  was  dissolved  in  August  of  the  same  year, 
and  Mr.  Bray  went  to  Jamestown,  North  Dakota,  where 
he  manufactured  the  brick  for  the  courthouse  and  the 
First  National  Bank  building.  In  the  winter  of  1882-3 
he  went  to  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  and  was  employed  in 
the  survey  between  Superior  and  Ashland,  and  in  the 
following  spring  took  charge  of  the  brick  works  oper- 
ated by  a Minneapolis  syndicate  at  Mandan.  In  the 
spring  of  1884  Mr.  Bray  first  came  to  Helena,  and  his 
first  employment  was  in  the  manufacturing  of  brick  for 
C.  C.  Thurston.  During  the  winter  of  1884-85  he  was 
employed  in  the  Drum-Lummon  mine  at  Marysville  and 
in  the  spring  of  1885  he  entered  the  employ  of  Nicholas 
Kessler.  In  1886  Mr.  Kessler  purchased  the  Thurston 
Brick  Works  and  placed  Mr.  Bray  in  charge  of  the 
plant.  He  retained  the  position  of  manager  of  the  Kes- 
sler Brick  and  Sewer  Pipe  Works,  and  through  his  well 
directed  efforts  the  enterprise  expanded  to  magnificent 
proportions.  When  Mr.  Bray  assumed  charge  only 
common  brick  was  manufactured  and  horse  power  was 
utilized.  He  introduced  successively  a plant  for  manu- 
facturing pressed  brick,  facilities  for  the  production  of 
ornamental  brick  and  terra  cotta,  apparatus  for  making 
fire-proof  products,  a complete  equipment  for  the  manu- 
facture of  sewer  pipe,  then  for  the  production  of  fire 
brick  and  vitrified  brick  for  pavements  and  sidewalks, 
and,  finally,  excellent  facilities  for  manufacturing  flower 
pots,  lawn  vases,  etc.  Thus  the  plant  became  equipped 
to  manufacture  all  clay  products  except  pottery.  Each 
forward  movement  in  the  development  of  the  plant 
showed  the  progressive  spirit  of  the  manager  and  his 
capacity  for  successfully  handling  all  details  of  manu- 
facture. When  Mr.  Kessler  died  in  1908  Mr.  Bray  be- 
came a stockholder  in  the  new  corporation  which  was 
then  organized.  The  name  of  the  factory  was  changed 
to  the  Western  Clay  Manufacturing  Company,  and  _Mr. 
Bray  was  made  secretary  and  general  manager.  _ Since 
its  incorportion  the  plant  has  greatly  increased  its  ca- 
pacity, having  more  than  doubled  its  output.  At  present 
it  is  the  largest  concern  of  the  sort  in  the  state  and  its 
equipment  is  in  keeping  with  this  standing.  The  articles 
manufactured  by  the  Western  Clay  Company  include 
fire  brick,  paving  and  building  brick,  besides  sewer  pipe, 
tiling  and  fire-proofing.  The  output  of  brick  alone  is 
six  millions  annually.  No  institution  in  Plelena  stands 
higher  as  a commercial  asset  to  the  city,  and  the  mate- 
rial produced  grades  up  with  the  very  best  to  be  found 
anywhere.  • • , 

in  politics  Mr.  Bray  is  an  adherent  to  principles  and 
doctrines  of  the  Republican  party,  and  in  1^2  the  vot- 
ers of  Lewis  and  Clarke  county  elected  him  a repre- 
sentative in  the  lower  house  of  the  state  legislature.  He 
served  in  the  Third  general  assembly,  and  was  made 
chairman  of  the  committees  on  immigration  and  fedeial 
relations,  and  also  served  on  the  committee  on  railroads 
and  transportation.  He  proved  a dignified  and_  efficient 
representative  in  his  capacity  as  representative,  and 
again  in  1903  Mr.  Bray  served  as  representative  in  the 
Eighth  general  assembly.  While  a member  of  the  latter 
bocly  he  introduced  the  bill  that  resulted  in  the  law 
authorizing  the  organization  of  the  Montana  State  Pair, 
which  is  rapidly  taking  rank  as  one  of  the  most  success- 
ful institutions  of  its  kind  in  the  country.  _ 

Mr.  Bray  has  advanced  to  a high  degree  in  Masonry, 
his  membership  being  maintained  in  King  Solomon 
Lodcre  No  9 A F.  & A.  M„  while  he  has  attained  the 
thirty-second  ’ degree  in  the  Scottish  Rite,  having  been 
crowned  a sublime  prince  of  the  royal  secret  ; he  is  also 
a member  of  Algeria  Temple  of  the  Nobles_  of  the 
Mystic  Shrine,  and  his  further  fraternal  affiliations  are 
represented  bv  his  membership  in  the  A.  O.  U.  W„  Capi- 
tal Lodge,  No.  2;  Helena  Lodge,  No.  192,  B.  P.  O.  E.; 
and  Montana  Lodge,  No.  i,  I.  O.  O.  F.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  Rocky  Mountain  Encampment  of  this  order, 
and  has  served  as  noble  grand  of  the  lodge.  In  a busi- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1273 


ness  way  he  is  a member  of  the  National  Brick  Makers' 
Association.  He  is  a member  of  the  Protestant  Episco- 
pal church  and  attends  St.  Peter’s  church. 

Though  a thorough  American,  Mr.  Bray  retains  an 
affection  for  the  mother  country,  and  has  been  across 
the  water  five  times  to  visit  his  native  land.  On  one  of 
these  journeys  he  brought  back  his  bride,  Eliza  Fletcher 
Bray,  to  whom  he  was  wedded  on  February  i,  1887. 
Three  children  have  been  born  to  them, — two  sons  and 
one  daughter.  Archie  C.  Bray  is  assistant  manager  of 
his  father’s  brickyard,  becoming  connected  with  the  es- 
tablishment upon  his  graduation  from  the  Ohio  State 
University  in  1911.  Charles  Raymond  followed  his  high 
school  work  with  a course  in  'a  business  college  and  is 
engaged  in  the  business  with  his  father,  as  a bookkeeper. 
Adele  E.  is  attending  the  Helena  high  school. 

Simpson  Murry  Wills.  Known  during  the  past  fif- 
teen years  as  one  of  the  leading  owners  and  breeders 
of  standard-bred  horses  in  eastern  Montana,  and  as 
the  owner  of  the  famous  “Open-A-Y-Bar”  brand,  Simp- 
son Murry  Wills  holds  deserved  prestige  among  the 
stockmen  of  Dawson  county,  where  for  a long  period 
he  has  been  engaged  in  horse  and  cattle  raising.  Mr. 
Wills  is  a native  of  Clark  county,  Kentucky,  and  was 
born  December  25,  1847,  a son  of  Eli  B.  and  Mary 
(Piersall)  Wills.  Mr.  Wills’  father  was  born  in  1812 
in  the  same  locality,  and  there  spent  his  life  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits,  also  engaging  extensively  in  breeding 
fine  horses.  He  was  an  active  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity  for  many  years  and  a stanch  Democrat  in 
politics,  and  died  in  1887  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years. 
His  wife  passed  away  in  1871,  having  been  the  mother 
of  five  children,  of  whom  three  are  now  living:  Simp- 

son M. ; Melissa,  the  wife  of  Sidney  Moore,  living  in 
Texas;  and  John  T.,  a resident  of  Oklahoma. 

The  education  of  Simpson  M.  Wills  was  secured  in 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  county,  and  early  in 
boyhood  .gave  evidence  of  possessing  a true  Kentuckian’s 
love  for  fine  hores.  W'^henever  he  could  find  time  from 
the  duties  on  the  home  farm,  he  could  be  found  in  the 
company  of  one  or  more  of  his  equine  friends,  fond- 
ling them,  putting  them  through  their  paces,  exercising 
them,  and  breaking  young  colts,  and  his  father,  a great 
lover  of  animals  himself,  did  not  discourage  the  lad, 
but  taught  him  much  that  was  valuable.  When  the 
Civil  war  broke  out,  young  Wills  was  such  an  excel- 
lent judge  of  horseflesh  that  he  proved  a valuable  aid 
to  his  father,  who  was  engaged  in  buying  horses  for 
the  cavalry  of  the  Federal  army,  and  later  they  en- 
gaged in  purchasin.g  cattle  for  the  government.  When 
the  war  closed,  Mr.  Wills  took  up  farming  in  Bath 
county,  Kentucky,  but  always  kept  a number  of  valu- 
able horses  on  his  place.  On  givin.g  up  his  agricultural 
operations  he  became  manager  for  the  Bath  Iron  Com- 
pany, and  later  became  connected  with  the  Olympia 
Iron  Company,  a Kentucky  firm,  which  later  engaged  in 
the  cattle  business  in  Montana  under  the  name  of  the 
Beaver  Creek  Cattle  Company  of  Montana.  As  man- 
a.ger  of  this  business  Mr.  Wills  came  to  Montana  in 
1884,  and  later  the  business  was  extended  into  Custer 
county  and  the  brand  “Open-A-Y-Bar”  adopted,  which 
Mr.  Wills  still  uses  as  his  own,  although  since  1899  he 
has  been  engaged  in  the  horse  and  cattle  business  on 
his  own  account.  In  1904  he  purchased  5,000  acres  of 
land  in  Dawson  county,  some  of  which  he  has  since 
sold,  although  he  still  owns  3,500  acres,  a part  being 
located  near  Wibaux,  where  he  has  120  acres  under 
cultivation  and  in  alfalfa.  Since  1909  Mr.  Wills  has 
made  his  home  in  Wibaux,  but  he  has  never  lost  his 
love  for  horses  and  makes  frequent  trips  to  his  ranch, 
where  he  has  about  twenty  head  of  standard-bred 
horses.  In  addition,  he  has  six  horses  which  he  keeps 
in  constant  training,  exercising  them  dailv  with  his 
daughter,  Eva,  the  baby  of  the  family  and  an  excel- 
lent horse-woman,  who  has  frequently  defeated  her 


father  in  a lively  brush.  Another  daughter,  Mrs.  Pow- 
ers, when  a young  girl  often  rode  her  father’s  racing 
horses  to  victory  in  the  Dakota  and  Montana  circuits. 
Mr.  Wills  is  considered  one  of  the  most  successful 
breeders  of  high-grade  animals  in  eastern  Montana, 
and  his  advice  and  judgment  are  often  sought  in  mat- 
ters pertaining  to  this  subject.  In  1910  he  sold  an 
animal  to  Judge  C.  H.  Loud,  of  Miles  City,  Montana, 
a horse  with  a mark  better  than  2:20,  which  Judge 
Loud  considers  the  best  horse  in  Montana.  Mr.  Wills’ 
extensive  operations  have  given  him  a wide  acquaint- 
ance throughout  this  section  of  the  state,  and  he  is  very 
popular  among  the  citizens  of  his  county.  In  political 
matters  he  is  a Republican,  but  has  never  cared  to  hold 
puldic  office. 

On  August  24,  1869,  Mr.  Wills  was  married  to  Miss 
Sallie  P.  Warner,  who  was  born  in  Bath  county,  Ken- 
tucky, daughter  of  Allen  and  Vienna  (Clayton)  War- 
ner, natives  of  the  Blue  Grass  state.  Mr.  Warner,  who 
was  born  in  1812,  spent  his  days  in  farming  in  Ken- 
tucky, where  he  died  at  the  age  of  seventy  years,  while 
his  wife  passed  away  when  sixty-eight  years  old.  Of 
their  seven  children,  three  are  still  living:  Elizabeth, 
who  is  the  widow  of  John  Carpenter;  Travis:  and  Mrs. 
Wills.  Ten  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wills,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  while  the  others 
are : Cetious.  the  wife  of  William  A.  Orgam,  presi- 

dent of  the  William  A.  Orgain  Company,  the  lading 
mercantile  establishment  of  Wibau.x;  Lucy,  wife  of 
Joseph  S.  Bilyeu,  also  of  Wibaux ; Mollie,  the  widow 
of  Eugene  Randall,  living  in  Wibaux;  Vienna,  the  wife 
of  Ernest  Latham,  of  Baker,  Montana ; Samuel  J.,  who 
married  Maud  Banker  and  is  engaged  in  the  cattle  and 
horse  business ; Elizabeth,  the  widow  of  Roy  Skidmore, 
of  Custer  county,  Montana ; Parish,  the  wife  of  Michael 
Power,  of  Beach,  North  Dakota;  and  Eva,  who  lives 
with  her  parents.  Mr.  Wills  has  eight  grandchildren, 
of  whom  he  is  deservedly  proud.  The  family  is  one  of 
the  best  known  in  this  part  of  the  state,  vyhere  its  mem- 
bers have  been  unusually  popular  in  social  circles. 

Martin  Gleeson.  The  unusually  efficient  incumbent 
of  the  office  of  assessor  of  Powell  county,  Montana,  is 
Martin  Gleeson,  who  was  elected  assessor  in  the  fall 
of  1910  and  who  has  been  a prominent  and  influential 
resident  of  Deer  Lodge,  Montana,  since  18B4.  Mr. 
Gleeson  is  a man  of  remarkable  enterprise  and  initia- 
tive and  he  has  won  a fair  amount  of  success  in  the 
various  business  projects  to  which  he  has  devoted  his 
attention. 

In  the  city  of  Toronto,  province  of  Ontario,  Canada, 
May  16,  1864,  occurred  the  birth  of  Martin  Gleeson. 
who  is  a son  of  John  and  Bridget  Marian  (Heenan) 
Gleeson.  both  of  whom  were  born  and  reared  in  Ire- 
land, whence  they  immigrated  to  Canada.  John  Glee- 
son settled  in  the  vicinity  of  Toronto,  Canada,  where 
he  became  a farmer  and  stockman  of  note.  He  passed 
to  the  life  eternal  December  25,  1879,  and  his  cherished 
and  devoted  wife  died  June  5.  1^77.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Gleeson  became  the  parents  of  six  sons,  concerning 
whom  the  followin.g  brief  data  are  here  incorporated, 
— -Michael  is  a merchant  at  Greenroad,  Ontario,  where 
he  has  been  clerk  of  the  district  court  for  the  past 
twentv  years ; Patrick  is  engaged  in  the  general  mer- 
chandise business  at  Toronto,  Canada;  John  is  a miller 
in  Toronto;  Edward  is  a ranchman  and  stock-raiser  at 
Clairmont,  Ontario;  Cornelius  has  been  employed  in 
the  ”nai1  department  of  the  Canadian  Pacific  Railroad 
at  Winnipeg,  Canada,  for  the  past  twenty  years;  and 
Martin,  the  youngest  son,  is  the  immediate  subject  of 
this  review.- 

Martin  Gleeson  lost  his  parents  when  he  was  a lad 
of  but  fifteen  years  of  age.  He  attended  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  place  up  to  that  age  and  for  the 
ensuing  five  years  was  engaged  in  farm  work  and  along 
other  lines  of  employment  in  Canada.  In  1884,  having 


1274 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


saved  some  money,  he  came  to  the  United  States,  lo- 
cating in  the  city  of  Deer  Lodge,  where  he  was  hotel 
clerk  in  the  McBurney  House  for  the  following  three 
years.  In  1887  he  was  appointed  deputy  warden  and 
guard  at  the  State's  Prison  and  he  was  incumbent  of 
those  offices  for  a period  of  sixteen  years.  He  was  then 
employed  in  the  smelter  at  Anaconda  until  he  became 
clerk  and  warehouse  man  for  the  Bonner  Mercantile 
Company,  continuing  in  the  employ  of  that  concern  for 
one  year.  He  then  worked  in  the  smelters  for  an- 
other year  and  was  appointed  deputy  sheriff,  serving 
in  that  capacity  for  one  year.  In  the  fall  of  1910  he 
was  honored  by  his  fellow  citizens  with  election  to  the 
office  of  assessor  of  Powell  county,  on  the  Democratic 
ticket.  He  is  acquitting  himself  with  all  of  honor  and 
distinction  in  discharging  the  duties  of  his  office  and 
as  a citizen  his  sterling  integrity  of  character  com- 
mands to  him  the  unalloyed  confidence  and  esteem  of 
all  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact.  He  is  a good 
Democrat  and  devotes  his  energies  in  a quiet  way  to 
furthering  the  welfare  and  progress  of  that  party.  His 
career  represents  that  of  an  honest,  hard-working  man 
and  he  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  prominent  and  in- 
fluential citizens  of  Deer  Lodge  and  Powell  county, 
where  he  has  so  long  maintained  his  home. 

In  September,  1899,  Mr.  Gleeson  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Margaret  Henneberg,  a daughter  of  M. 
B.  Henneberg,  a prominent  rancher  and  stockman  who 
came  to  Montana  in  1853  and  settled  in  Ryan’s  Canyon. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gleeson  became  the  parents  of  four  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  are  deceased.  Those  living  are 
Leo  and  IMarian,  who  are  at  home  with  their  parents. 
The  Gleesons  have  a pleasant  home  on  the  corner  of 
Main  and  Pennsylvania  avenues  in  Deer  Lodge  and  in 
religious  matters  they  are  devout  communicants  of 
the  Catholic  church. 

Hugh  A.  McKinnon  was  born  in  Nova  Scotia  in  the 
year  1861.  His  father  had  gone  there  from  his  native 
Canada  when  only  a child,  as  his  parents  were  pioneers 
in  that  new  section  of  the  country.  The  new  locality 
was  apparently  a healthy  one,  and  conducive  to  lon- 
gevity, for  iMr.  McKinnon's  grandfather  lived  to  the 
age  of  ninety-six.  His  son,  too  rounded  out  a goodly 
number  of  years,  as  did  also  his  son's  wife,  who  lived  to 
the  a,ge  of  seventy-five.  Her  maiden  name  was  Sarah 
Campbell  and  she  was  born,  married  and  died  in  Canada. 
Both  Mr.  AIcKinnon’s  father  and  his  grandfather  were 
farmers,  but  he  did  not  ever  plan  to  follow  that  occupa- 
tion. After  a course  in  the  public  schools  of  Canada, 
he  entered  a machine  shop,  intending  to  learn  the  pro- 
fession of  mechanical  engineering.  He  did  not  carry  out 
this  plan  however,  as  at  the  age  of  eighteen  he  left  the 
shop  and  went  to  sea  in  a merchant  vessel.  During  the 
next  five  years,  he  visited  all  parts  of  the  globe  and  col- 
lected an  assortment  of  knowledge  and  experiences.  In 
1884.  he  decided  to  give  up  his  sea-faring  life  and  se- 
lected Montana  as  the  place  in  which  to  settle.  He  had 
decided  to  learn  the  tinner's  trade,  and  to  this  end,  he 
entered  the  employ  of  Mr.  F.  S.  Lang.  When  he  had 
mastered  the  details  of  this  business,  Mr.  McKinnon 
spent  five  years  working  for  wages  and  then  concluded 
to  make  the  venture  of  an  independent  business.  His 
beginning  was  modest,  but  he  soon  gained  a foothold, 
and  has  continued  to  enlarge  and  to  improve  his  plant 
until  now  he  owns  one  of  the  leading  establishments  of 
the  sort  in  Helena.  He  is  well  known  in  the  business 
circles  of  the  city,  and  counted  one  of  the  substantial 
merchants. 

Mr.  McKinnon  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  church.  Mr.  McKinnon  is  prominent 
in  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  and  is  also  affiliated  with 
the  Woodmen  of  the  World,  the  Fraternal  Order  of 
Ea.gles  and  the  Catholic  Knights  of  America. 

Mrs.  McKinnon  is  a native  of  New  York  City,  and  it 
was  in  the  same  city  that  her  marriage  to  Mr.  McKinnon 


took  place.  Fler  maiden  name  was  Sarah  Cronin  and  on 
January  22,  1890,  she  became  Sarah  Cronin  McKinnon. 
Five  sons  have  been  born  of  this  union,  all  in  the  city  of 
Helena.  Vincent  J.  McKinnon  was  born  on  January  5, 
1891,  and  he  is  now  learning  the  tinner’s  trade  in  his 
father’s  store.  Hugh,  born  in  January,  1893,  has  grad- 
uated from  St.  Charles’  College  and  is  now  attending 
business  college.  Francis  Lincoln,  born  in  January, 
1895,  is  also  attending  commercial  school.  Eugene 
Thomas,  who  was  born  on  February  22,  1898,  is  now 
in  the  eighth  grade  at  St.  Charles’  College.  Carroll 
Joseph  was  born  on  August  7,  1905. 

Mr.  McKinnon  retains  his  fondness  for  out-of-door 
pursuits,  and  his  devotion  to  base  ball  is  one  of  the 
marks  of  his  thorough  Americanization..  His  oolitical 
bias  is  toward  the  Democratic  party,  to  which  he  gives 
his  support,  although  he  is  not  in  any  sense  an  active 
politician. 

Elmar  S.  Herrick.  While  the  fundamental  prin- 
ciples of  success  in  any  undertaking  are  energy  and 
application,  a man  whose  environment  remains  closely 
restricted,  has  fewer  oportunities  and  accomplishes  less, 
everything  considered,  than  the  one  whose  mind  is 
broadened  by  travel  and  whose  faculties  are  aroused 
through  struggle  in  a wider  field  of  effort.  Thus,  it 
might  have  come  about  that  Elmar  S.  Herrick,  who  is 
now  one  of  Montana’s  men  of  large  possessions  and 
much  business  prominence,  might  have  passed  his  en- 
tire life  gaining  a competency  on  the  home  farm,  as  did 
his  honored  father,  but  would  have  missed  some  of  the 
broader  interests  of  life  and  the  rewards  that  awaited 
him  in  the  great  west,  to  which  he  came  in  1883.  Mr. 
Flerrick  was  born  near  Jamestown,  Chautauqua  county. 
New  York,  March  20,  1863,  and  is  a son  of  Anson  L. 
and  Elizabeth  (Devoe)  Herrick. 

Anson  L.  Herrick  was  born  also  in  Chautauqua  coun- 
ty, New  York,  and  died  there  after  a long  and  useful 
life  of  seventy-seven  years,  in  1909.  He  married  Eliza- 
beth Devoe,  who  was  born  in  Massachusetts  and  still 
survives,  being  now  in  her  seventy-second  year,  one  of 
the  highly  esteemed  residents  of  Jamestown,  to  which 
place  her  husband  retired  fifteen  years  before  his  de- 
cease. Three  sons  and  one  daughter  made  up  the 
family,  as  follows : Elmar  S. ; Hiram  V.  and  Charles 
W.,  both  of  whom  live  at  Jamestown;  and  Abbie,  who 
died  when  aged  sixteen  years.  The  father  was  a farmer 
and  fruit  grower,  for  many  years  giving  special  atten- 
tion to  producing  fine  apples.  In  his  political  views  he 
was  a Repuhlican. 

Elmar  S.  Herrick  obtained  his  education  in  the  James- 
town schools  and  had  early  agricultural  training  on 
the  home  farm.  In  1883  he  left  Chautauqua  county 
and  came  as  far  west  as  Casselton,  North  Dakota,  and 
for  about  eighteen  months  worked  on  the  Thompson 
farm,  coming  to  Glendivc,  Montana,  in  November,  1884. 
For  one  year  he  was  in  the  employ  of  the  Thompson- 
Ames  Cattle  Company  and  afterward  up  to  1887, 
was  engaged  in  the  sheep  business  on  shares,  with  John 
Shoub,  on  Cracker  Box  creek.  From  the  spring  of 
1887  until  the  fall  of  that  year,  he  was  en.firaged  in 
freighting  on  the  line  of  the  Great  Northern  Railroad, 
and  then  went  to  Washington  state,  where  he  was  in 
the  horse  business  until  he  returned  to  Montana  and 
enga.ged  in  the  same  business  in  partnershio  with  Mar- 
tin H.  Dickman  and  continued  until  ig02.  Prior  to  this, 
however,  in  1894,  he  became  additionally  interested  in 
sheep  and  in  1907  added  cattle  interests.  By  this  time 
Mr. Herrick  had  become  rccognized_  as  a man  of  capital 
and  astute  business  capacity,  and  in  1903.  was  invited 
to  become  vice  president  of  the  Exchange  Bank  of 
Glendive,  Montana.  In  July,  1911,  the  above  bank  was 
reorganized  as  the  Exchange  State  Bank  and  Mr.  Her- 
rick continued  to  fill  the  above  office  in  relation  to  its 
management  and  is  still  so  interested.  In  1907  he  also 
became  interested  in  the  banking  business  at  Wibaux, 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1275 


Montana,  and  in  1909,  in  association  with  other  capital- 
ists, organized  the  First  State  Bank  of  Wibaux  and  is 
one  of  its  board  of  directors. 

Mr.  Herrick  has  many  additional  business  interests 
including  the  following,  with  which  he  is  officially  con- 
nected : the  Herrick  & Sims  Livestock  Company,  of 
which  he  is  president;  the  Herrick-McMillen  Sheep 
Company,  of  which  he  is  president;  the  Judith  Basin 
Land  Company,  of  which  he  is  secretary  and  treasurer ; 
the  Herrick  & Duplisca  Land  and  Livestock  of  which 
he  is  president;  and  the  Eastern  Elevator  Company  in 
which  he  is  a stockholder  and  a member  of  its  board  of 
directors.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Mon- 
tana Eastern  Telephone  Company  and  served  as  its 
vice  president  until  the  company  sold  to  the  Bell  Tele- 
phone Company,  on  November  20,  1911.  In  all  these 
important  enterprises  Mr.  Herrick  discharges  his  mani- 
fold duties  with  credit  to  himself  and  satisfaction  to 
those  with  whom  he  is  associated. 

On  June  18,  1898,  Mr.  Flerrick  was  married  to  Miss 
Eloise  Goodspeed,  who  was  born  in  Massachusetts, 
and  they  have  four  children : Clifford  W.,  Mildred, 
Gertrude  and  Ruth.  They  are  being  given  many  ad- 
vantages and  will  be  well  equipped  to  creditably  fill  any 
position  in  life. 

In  political  preference.  Mr.  Herrick  is  a Republican. 
He  is  serving  in  the  office  of  public  administrator  and 
is  also  in  his  second  term  as  alderman  from  the  Second 
ward  of  Glendive,  his  usefulness  in  the  city  council  be- 
ing emphasized  by  his  excellent  business  judgment.  In 
the  spring  of  1911  he  was  appointed  state  sheep  com- 
missioner of  this  district.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  belonging  to  Glendive  • Lodge.  No. 
"51,  A.  F.  & A.  iVI.,  and  Yellowstone  Chapter,  No.  5, 
R.  A.  M. 

Nels  Nelson  is  one  of  the  successful  ranchers  in 
Beaverhead  county.  Montana,  although  he  has  retired 
to  a large  extent  from  the  business  which  has  brought 
him  prosperity.  Mr.  Nelson  was  born  in  Denmark  in 
1862,  on  the  22d  of  January.  His  parents  were  Nels 
and  Ellen  (Sorenson)  Nelson,  both  of  whom  .were 
natives  of  Denmark.  They  spent  their  whole  lives  in 
their  native  country,  the  mother  dying  there  in  1902. 
and  the  father  in  1908.  The  father  was  a farmer  and 
merchant  and  his  son  received  a very  good  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  Denmark.  He  came  to  America 
in  1882,  and  for  eighteen  months  lived  in  Omaha,  Ne- 
braska. In  1884  he  came  out  to  Montana,  his  first 
year  in  the  state  bein.g  spent  in  the  employ  of  the 
company  that  was  building  the  Montana  Central  Rail- 
road. He  then  went  to  Deer  Lodge,  but  only  remained 
there  a short  time. 

Upon  leaving  Deer  Lodge  he  came  to  Beaverhead 
county  and  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  the  Big 
Hole  Basin.  Here  he  took  up  homestead  and  pre- 
emption claims,  and  a short  time  later  engaged  in  the 
cattle  business  in  a modest  way.  He  was  successful 
in  the  venture  and  after  a time  was  able  to  buy  the 
ranch  then  known  as  the  John  W.  Morton  lanch  in  the 
Basin,  increasing  his  operations  in  the  cattle  business. 

In  1896,  Mr.  Nelson  was  married  to  IMiss  Ingrid 
Peterson,  who  was  born  in  Sweden,  February  25,  1870. 
They  remained  in  the  Big  Hole  Basin  until  1898,  when 
they  sold  out  their  holdings  and  made  a journey  back 
to  Denmark  and  Sweden  to  visit  their  parents  and  rela- 
tives in  their  old  homes.  LTpon  their  return  in  1899, 
they  bought  the  A.  F.  Greater  ranch  on  Horse  Prairie, 
Beaverhead  county,  consisting  of  two  thousand  four 
hundred  acres  of  land,  and  then  went  into  cattle  and 
horses  on  a more  extensive  scale  than  heretofore.  In 
1905  Mr.  Nelson  went  into  the  sheep  business  in  addi- 
tion to  that  of  cattle  and  horses,  and  also  commenced 
farrning.  In  1906  he  removed  to  Dillon  with  his 
family,  where  the  parents  bought  a home  that  their 
children  might  have  better  educational  advantages. 


They  have  now  seven  children  of  whom  six  are  living, 
namely : Eddy,  Ellen,  Ralph,  Albert,  Evelyn  and  Edith. 

In  1909  he  bought  an  interest  in  the  Olmstead  Ste- 
venson Company,  a wholesale  and  retail  grocery  and 
hardware  and  implement  establishment  of  Dillon,  Mon- 
tana, and  was  elected  vice-president  of  the  same.  In  1912 
he  sold  out  his  cattle  business  and  part  of  the  ranch, 
but  he  continues  to  interest  himself  in  the  handling  of 
sheep,  a branch  of  his  business  which  he  conducted 
for  a number  of  years ; but  he  has  now  removed  with 
his  family  to  California  spending  the  winter  months 
in  the  sunny  climate  of  that  state. 

^Ir.  Nelson  is  a Republican  in  his  political  views. 

John  F.  Charles.  Montana  has  many  striking 
examples  of  the  self-made  man.  There  seems  to  be 
something  in  the  very  atmosphere  that  encourages  one 
to  succeed,  and  the  number  of  successful  men  who 
have  started  out  as  poor  boys,  without  friendly  influence 
or  financial  aid,  and  won  a place  through  their  own 
efforts  among  the  foremost  men  of  their  communities,  is 
startling.  One  of  these,  a man  who  is  prominently 
identified  with  one  of  the  large  and  growing  business 
enterprises  of  Butte,  is  John  F.  Charles,  president  of  the 
Tivoli  Brewing  Company,  who  has  been  the  architect 
of  his  own  fortunes  to  a marked  degree.  Mr.  Charles 
was  born  in  Baltimore,  Maryland,  February  16,  1863, 
and  is  a son  of  David  J.  and  Mary  (Jenkins)  Charles. 
David  J.  Charles  identified  himself  early  in  life  with  the 
copper  smelting  business,  and  came  to  Baltimore,  Mary- 
land, in  1855,  remaining  as  a resident  of  that  city  until 
1868.  In  1884  he  came  to  Butte  and  continued  to  reside 
in  this  city  until  his  death,  August  9,  1898,  when  he  was 
sixty-one  years  of  age.  He  served  in  the  United  States 
navy  during  the  Civil  war.  Mr.  Charles  married  Mary 
Jenkins,  who  came  to  the  United  States  with  her  parents 
when  she  was  fifteen  years  of  age.  John  F.  was  the 
third  in  order  of  birth  of  their  nine  children,  and  Mrs. 
Charles  died  in  Utah,  during  November,  1884. 

The  early  education  of  John  F.  Charles  was  secured 
in  the  public  schools  of  Baltimore,  but  when  he  was 
eleven  years  of  age  his  studies  were  interrupted  by  his 
parents’  removal  to  the  west.  On  his  arrival  in  Butte, 
his  first  employment  was  with  Patrick  Kane,  foreman 
of  the  Big  Butte  mine,  and  until  1884  he  continued  to 
be  engaged  in  mining  in  Utah.  In  that  year  he  engaged 
in  the  retail  liquor  business  on  East  Park  street,  where 
he  continued  successfully  for  two  years,  and  he  then 
became  associated  wdth  his  brother  in  the  same  line,  at 
the  corner  of  Utah  and  Front  streets.  This  business  he 
has  conducted  alone  since  1898,  in  which  year  he  pur- 
chased his  brother’s  interests.  In  1905,  when  the  Tivoli 
Brewing  Company  was  organized,  Mr.  Charles  was  made 
president  thereof,  a position  which  he  has  held  to  the 
present  tirne,  and  he  is  also  a director  in  the  Blue  Vein 
Copper  Mining  Company.  A man  of  upright  character 
and  sterling  business  integrity,  he  bears  a high  reputa- 
tion among  his  associates  and  holds  their  esteem  and 
confidence  in  every  way.  Politically,  he  is  a Republican, 
but  his  time  and  attention  have  been  devoted  to  his  busi- 
ness interests  and  he  has  never  entered  the  political 
field.  Fraternally,  he  is  connected  with  I.  O.  O.  F., 
Enterprise  No.  40,  and  the  B.  P.  O.  E.  His  residence  is 
situated  at  No.  1040  Utah  avenue.  Such  are  the  events 
in  the  career  of  a man  who,  through  business  sagacity 
and  acumen,  has  risen  to  a high  position  in  this  locality’s 
financial  and  industrial  circles.  He  is  a man  universally 
liked  by  all  who  are  acquainted  wdth  him,  is  one  of 
Butte's  public-spirited  citizens,  and  no  movement  for 
the  real  advancement  of  his  section  is  launched  that  does 
not  receive  his  active  and  hearty  co-operation,  and  where 
the  project  is  one  that  requires  financial  support,  his 
gift  is  always  a liberal  one.  He  is  preeminently  an 
organizer  .and  an  executive,  and  a man  possessed  of 
much  more  than  the  ordinary  business  talent. 


Il'70 


PliSTORY  OF  MONTANA 


Albert  A.  Morris.  After  being  a prominent  figure 
in  commercial  and  .social  circles  in  Billings,  Montana, 
for  many  years,  Mr.  Albert  A.  Morris,  county  treasurer 
and  president  of  the  First  National  Baidc,  is  now  a resi- 
dent of  Roundup,  Montana.  Full  of  energy  and  ambi- 
tion, with  that  vital  interest  in  all  the  activities  around 
him  which  always  distinguishes  the  man  destined  for 
success,  Mr.  Morris,  although  already  holding  an  en- 
viable position  in  his  community,  will  probably  forge 
much  farther  ahead  before  he  or  his  neighbors  decide 
that  he  has  fulfilled  all  the  possibilities  latent  in  him. 

.Mr.  Morris’  father,  Dr.  Dempsey  C.  Morris,  is  now 
retired  from  active  practice  as  a physician,  and  is  living 
at  his  home  in  New  Sharon,  Iowa.  He  was  born  in 
Indiana.  Mrs.  Morris  was  Miss  Mary  Painter  before  her 
marriage,  and  was  born  in  Ohio.  She  is  also  still  living, 
residing  at  the  old  home  in  New  Sharon.  Mr.  Albert 
-\.  Morris,  who  was  the  third  in  a family  of  six  children, 
was  born  in  Hesper,  Iowa,  February  28,  1865,  but  it 
was  only  a few  months  after  his  birth  that  the  family 
moved  to  New  Sharon.  He  attended  the  public  schools 
in  the  Iowa  town  until  he  was  sixteen  years  old,  when 
he  went  to  South  Dakota.  For  three  years  he  remained 
in  Ashton,  of  that  state,  following  mercantile  lines,  until 
in  1884,  when  he  came  to  Montana.  Ever  since  then, 
with  the  exception  of  one  year  in  Alaska  and  one  year  in 
Washington,  he  has  lived  in  Montana.  And  as  a result 
of  his  long  familiarity  with  his  adopted  state  he  says 
of  it:  “Montana  has  the  finest  climate,  the  most  hos- 
pitable people,  and  offers  more  and  better  opportunities 
than  any  other  western  state.” 

iMr.  Morris  etirned  his  first  money  as  a boy  in  help- 
ing a surveying  party,  for  which  he  received  the  salary 
of  forty  dollars  a month,  and  it  was  a surveying  and 
civil  engineer  that  he  started  his  work  in  Montana.  Fie 
remained  in  Billings,  where  he  first  settled,  until  1908, 
when  he  removed  to  Roundup.  He  first  entered  the 
mining  business  here,  but  later  bought  into  the  First 
National  Bank,  which  had  then  been  running  a year, 
and  was  immediately  made  president  of  it.  He  soon 
after  dropped  all  his  other  business  interests  and  de- 
voted all  his  time  to  the  bank.  As  stated  earlier,  he  is 
also  now  the  county  treasurer  of  Musselshell  county. 

Mr.  Morris  has  many  other  interests  outside  of  his 
business.  He  enjoys  church  work,  and  although  he  has 
no  objection  to  any  denomination,  he  favors  the  old 
Quaker  church.  He  also  takes  an  active  part  in  politics 
as  a member  of  the  Republican  party,  especially  in  any 
issues  which  have  to  do  with  the  development  of  the 
state.  This  interest  has  been  strengthened  by  a many 
years’  association  with  a certain  type  of  state  work 
through  his  position  during  most  of  his  residence  in 
Billings  as  city  engineer  and  county  surveyor  of  Yellow- 
stone county,  and  particularly  because  of  the  insight  he 
gained  into  local  affairs  through  serving  one  term  in 
the  state  legislature.  He  is  a member  of  the  Roundup 
Commercial  Club,  and  the  Roundup  Pioneer  Club,  and 
was  at  one  time  president  of  the  latter  organization. 
FIc  also  belongs  to  the  Montana  Society  of  Civil  Engi- 
neers. 

Although  Mr.  Morris  owns  an  automobile,  and  uses 
that  on  most  occasions  as  his  conveyance,  he  is  still 
fond  of  riding  and  driving,  and  has  a large  number 
of  blooded  horses  on  his  ranch  near  Fluntley.  He  thinks 
baseball  an  excellent  sport,  and  occasionally  plays  him- 
self. Fishing  and  hunting  belong  in  his  list  of  amuse- 
ments, as  they  do  in  that  of  most  westerners.  Mr.  Mor- 
ris was  married  June  8,  1909,  at  Chicago,  Illinois,  to 
Louise  Rickly,  of  Ottawa,  Illinois. 

Harlan  J.  Thompson.  One  of  the  large  and  pros- 
perous business  firms  of  Billings,  Montana,  is  that  of 
the  Billings  Lumber  Company,  the  founder  and  presi- 
dent of  which,  Harlan  J.  Thompson,  holds  rank  among 
the  leading  business  men  of  the  city.  For  more  than  a 
decade  he  has  been  closely  identified  with  the  industrial 


and  civic  interests  of  Billings,  and  during  this  time  has 
established  himself  firmly  in  the  confidence  of  his  busi- 
ness associates  and  the  public  at  large.  Mr.  Thompson 
is  a product  of  Washington  county,  Wisconsin,  and  was 
born  July  13,  i860,  a son  of  James  Sanders  and  Lenora 
(Williams)  Thompson. 

James  Sanders  Thompson  was  .born  in  Pittsfield, 
Massachusetts,  in  1823,  and  during  the  early  ’forties 
located  in  the  territory  of  Wisconsin,  where  he  took 
up  a claim  in  the  wild,  uncultivated  country,  and  after 
experiencing  all  the  trials  and  hardships  incidental  to 
pioneer  life  succeeded  in  hewing  a home  from  the 
wilderness.  Subsequently  he  embarked  in  the  saw-mill 
business,  in  which  he  was  engaged  practically  all  of 
his  life,  and  he  also  had  large  lumber  interests  in  Fond 
du  Lac  county,  where  his  death  occurred  in  1906.  In 
political  matters  he  was  a Whig  until  1856,  in  which 
year  he  transferred  his  allegiance  to  the  Republican 
party,  and  was  elected  to  various  public  offices.  Fie  was 
married  in  Wisconsin  to  Miss  Lenora  Williams,  who 
was  born  in  Cattaraugus  county.  New  York,  in  1803,- 
and  she  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years,  having 
been  the  mother  of  five  children,  Harlan  J.  being  the 
third  in  order  of  birth. 

ITarlan  J.  Thompson  received  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  Fond  du  Lac  county,  Wisconsin,  whence  his 
parents  had  removed  when  he  was  a child,  and  he 
remained  under  the  parental  roof  until  he  had  attained- 
his  majority.  At  that  time  he  engaged  in  school  teach- 
ing, a vocation  that  occupied  his  attention  until  1884, 
which  year  saw  his  advent  in  Montana.  His  first 
location  was  in  Beaverhead  county,  but  after  spending 
three  years  at  various  pursuits  he  engaged  in  a lumber 
business  at  Dillon,  where  he  continued  until  1901.  At 
that  time  Mr.  Thompson  came  to  Billings  to  widen 
the  scope  of  his  operations,  and  here  organized  the 
Billings  Lumber  Company,  of  which  he  is  president. 
This  concern,  doing  business  all  over  the  state,  deals 
in  lumber,  sash,  doors,  shingles,  lime,  cement  and 
building  materials,  a large  stock  of  the  finest  grade  of 
goods  always  being  on  hand.  A man  of  more  than 
ordinary  business  ability,  Mr.  Thompson  gives  his  per- 
sonal' attention  to  all  the  minutiae  of  his  enterprise,  and 
under  his  supervision  the  venture  has  grown  steadily. 
His  career  has  been  eminently  successful,  and  his  many 
friends  will  cheerfully  testify  to  the  high  estimate  in 
which  he  is  held.  Like  his  father,  he  is  an  ardent 
Republican,  and  his  services  to  his  party  were  rewarded 
in  1909,  when  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  mayor 
of  Billings.  The  sound  and  sane  business  administra- 
tion that  he  gave  Billings  during  his  term  only  strength- 
ened him  in  the  popular  esteem  and  proved  that  he  is 
admirably  qualified  for  public  preferment.  Under  his 
administration  the  cit>'  was  freed  from  debt,  the  busi- 
ness section  paved  and  many  modern  improvements 
inaugurated  which  caused  the  town  to  assume  the  ap- 
pearance of  an  up-to-date  city.  With  this  exception 
he  has  never  held  office,  but  was  the  Progressive  can- 
didate for  the  office  of  state  treasurer  in  1912.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  executive  committee  of  the  Young 
Men’s  Christian  Association,  and  is  fraternally  affiliated 
with  Ashlar  Lodge,  No.  29,  A.  F.  & A.  M.,  and  Bil- 
lings Lodge,  No.  394,  B.  P.  O.  E. 

On  May  17,  1S93,  Mr.  Thompson  was  married  to 
Miss  Mabel  W.  Coffin,  who  was  born  in  Minnesota, 
daughter  of  Edward  Coffin.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ihompson 
have  two  children : Harlan  Steel  and  Miriam. 

Sydney  L.  Foster.  The  postmaster  is  a man  whose 
responsibilities  are  beavier  than  most  people  realize, 
and  the  care  with  which  Uncle  Sam  selects  the 
men  who  are  to  occupy  this  post  is  sufficient  evidence 
of  the  importance  which  it  has  in  the  eyes  of  the 
government.  The  old  dignity  which  clustered  about  the 
brow  of  the  old  time  postmaster  often  remains  with  the 
new,  but  this  is  only  when  he  is  a man  of  force  and 


/ 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


T277 


influence  in  the  community,  otherwise  he  is  only  too 
liable  to  be  regarded  by  the  people  as  a convenient 
personage,  too  firmly  bound  up  in  “red  tape,”  how- 
ever, to  suit  them.  With  Sydney  L.  Foster,  the  post- 
master of  Sheridan,  Montana,  the  old  feeling  of  admira- 
tion and  respect  still  holds  good,  for  though  he  is  a 
young  man,  yet  he  has  established  himself  firmly  in  the 
regard  of  the  people  of  Sheridan  and  they  would  con- 
sider it  a black  day  for  Sheridan  were  he  ever  to 
resign  his  office.  Conscientious,  thoroughly  capable, 
and  able  to  handle  men,  Mr.  Foster  is  a valuable 
servant  to  his  government. 

A native  of  Sheridan,  Montana,  Sydney  L.  Foster 
was  born  on  the  i8th  of  May,  1884,  and  has  lived 
here  all  of  his  life.  Fie  was  educated  in  the  Sheridan 
schools,  attending  the  public  schools  and  the  high 
school.  When  he  was  about  sixteen  he  was  eager  to  go 
to  work,  so  his  father  permitted  him  to  do  so  and 
his  first  employment  was  driving  a team  for  his 
brothers.  Fie  soon  advanced  to  the  dignity  of  work- 
ing for  himself,  and  invested  the  small  sum  that  he 
had  managed  to  save  in  a livery  and  dra}"  business. 
He  followed  this  occupation  for  about  two  years,  and 
then  sold  out  and  accepted  the  appointment  as  deputy 
county  clerk  and  recorder.  He  was  very  successful 
in  this  office,  and  served  in  the  position  for  about  two 
_vears,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  was  appointed 
postmaster.  This  appointment  was  in  1909,  and  he  is 
the  present  incumbent  of  the  office. 

The  father  of  Sydney  L.  Foster  is  Thomas  A. 
Foster,  who  was  born  in  England  and  was  brought 
by  his  parents  to  the  United  States  as  a child  of  four 
years.  In  1880  he  came  to  Montana  and  settled  in 
Madison  county.  He  was  a machinist  and  engineer  by 
trade  and  during  the  years  that  he  has  lived  in  Montana 
he  has  occasionally  turned  to  his  old  trade  for  a short 
time,  but  for  the  most  part  he  has  been  engaged  in 
ranching.  As  a ranchman  he  has  been  very  successful 
and  during  his  long  residence  in  this  section  of  the 
state  his  popularity  has  grown  with  the  years.  He  now 
resides  on  his  ranch  near  Sheridan,  and  is,  as  he  has 
always  been,  a prominent  and  leading  member  of  the 
district.  He  is  very  active  in  Masonry  and  has  filled 
many  important  offices  in  this  ancient  order.  His 
loyalty  to  his  adopted  country  was  tried  and  proven 
during  the  Civil  war,  when  he  served  for  over  four 
years  as  a soldier  in  the  Union  army,  taking  part  in 
many  of  the  fiercest  battles  of  that  fearful  conflict.  He 
was  married  in  Illinois  to  Virginia  Taylor,  who  was  a 
native  of  that  state.  Mrs.  Foster  is  likewise  living  on 
the  ranch.  Of  the  eight  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Thomas  A.  Foster,  Sydney  L.  Foster  is  the  youngest. 
The  eldest  of  these,  Mabel,  married  Charles  R.  Glasser 
and  resides  at  Council,  Idaho ; William  H.  is  married 
and  lives  on  the  ranch  with  his  father;  John  H.  is  also 
married  and  lives  in  Ruby,  Montana ; Leonard  R. 
resides  in  Sheridan  with  his  wife  and  family;  Leroy  is 
married  and  also  lives  in  Sheridan ; Gertie  N.  is  dead. 

Like  his  father,  Sydney  L.  Foster  takes  an  active 
interest  in  the  Masonic  order,  of  which  he  is  a mem- 
ber, his  wife  being  a loyal  member  of  the  Eastern 
Star.  In  politics  he  is  a Republican  and  a very  en- 
thusiastic and  useful  member  of  his  party,  for  his 
word  and  judgment  have  great  weight  with  his  many 
friends  and  admirers.  He  is  inclined  toward  the 
apostolical  faith  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church, 
but  is  a member  of  no  church  as  yet.  In  addition  to 
the  usual  recreations  of  the  average  healthy  man,  such 
as  hunting  and  fishing,  or  the  milder  sports  of  tennis 
and  baseball,  Mr.  Foster  is  a chicken  enthusiast,  and 
takes  great  pleasure  in  the  fine  fowls  that  he  raises 
every  year.  As  a member  of  the  local  dramatic  club 
and  as  the  possessor  of  a very  good  voice,  he  is  popu- 
lar as  an  entertainer,  and  is  fortunate  in  being  able  to 
add  to  the  pleasure  of  any  gathering,  as  well  as  to 
derive  the  enjoyment  that  comes  from  a cultivated 


taste  in  listening  to  the  performances  of  others.  Hav- 
ing a thorough  knowledge  of  the  state,  Mr.  Foster  is 
deeply  impressed  with  her  resources  and  says,  “Mon- 
tana can  very  successfully  take  care  of  a population 
three  times  the  size  of  the  present,  and  you  can’t  beat 
the  climate  anywhere.” 

The  marriage  of  Sydney  L.  Foster  to  Ethel  L.  Squire 
took  place  in  Sheridan,  Montana,  on  the  26th  of  June, 
1906.  Mrs.  Foster  is  the  daughter  of  Seth  H.  and 
Emma  L.  Squire,  and  is  a member  of  an  old  pioneer 
family  of  California.  She  is  as  active  in  the  social 
and  artistic  circles  of  the  town  as  her  husband,  and 
is  a representative  of  that  finest  type  of  the  modern 
American  woman  who  finds  the  time  in  the  midst  of 
her  -daily  household  duties  to  keep  up  with  affairs 
that  are  taking  place  in  the  great  world  around  her,  to 
take  an  active  part  in  local  activities  and  find  the  time 
to  keep  her  own  mind  fresh  and  keen.  Mrs.  Foster 
does  more  than  this,  for  she  is  gifted  with  a facile  pen, 
and  has  turned  this  talent  to  some  use.  She  was  at 
one  time  a valued  contributor  of  articles  to  the  news- 
papers and  at  the  time  of  the  death  of  Colonel  San- 
ders, she  wrote  an  editorial  for  the  Dillon  (Mont.) 
Tribune  that  attracted  much  attention  and  called  forth 
many  favorable  comments.  Being  a writer.  Mrs.  Fos- 
ter is  naturally  very  fond  of  reading,  and  is  a keen 
judge  of  the  merits  of  a book.  She  is  a communicant 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church,  and  is  one  of  the 
active  workers  in  the  church,  being  a member  of  the 
Ladies’  Guild.  She  is  well  acquainted  with  church 
conditions  throughout  the  state  and  considers  them  in 
excellent  shape  and  a credit  to  the  state  of  Montana. 
The  schools  also  have  come  in  for  a share  of  her 
interest,  and  she  says  that  the  educational  facilities 
are  far  above  the  average.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Foster  are 
the  parents  of  three  children,  John  S.,  Judith  V.  and 
Jane  M. 

S.^MUEL  B.arker.  The  substantial,  useful,  and  es- 
teemed citizens  of  Butte  have  no  finer  representative 
than  Samuel  Barker,  who,  as  mining  engineer,  is  actively 
identified  with  one  of  the  foremost  interests  of  Mon- 
tana, while  as  a man  of  public  spirit  and  intelligence  he 
is  prominent  in  the  civic  and  social  life  of  the  city.  He 
was  born  in  England,  May  17,  1869.  His  father,  Samuel 
Barker,  Sr.,  a life-long  resident  of  England,  met  a tragic 
death  in  1869,  while  he  was  yet  in  the  prime  of  a vigor- 
ous manhood.  He  married  Elizabeth  Oliver,  who  was 
born  in  England  and  was  a woman  of  much  force  of 
character,  and  excellent  judgment.  In  1874  she  came 
with  her_  only  child.  Samuel,  to  America,  and  for  ten 
years  resided  in  Virginia  City,  Nevada.  Removing  then 
to  Butte,  hlontana,  she  has  since  continued  a resident  of 
this  cit}',  where  she  has  a pleasant  home  and  enjoys 
all  the  comforts  of  modern  life. 

Acquiring  his  rudimentary  education  in  Virginia  City, 
Samuel  Barker  completed  his  studies  at  the  Butte  high 
school.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he  was  appren- 
ticed to  the  firm  of  Kronberg  & Hoff,  civil  and  mining 
engineers,  and  under  their  instructions  gained  his  first 
knowledge  of  the  profession  he  is  now  following.  He 
subsequently  served  another  apprenticeship  of  four  years 
with  Wilson  & Gillie,  after  which  he  entered  the  College 
of  Montana,  at  Deer  Lodge,  from  which  he  was  gradu- 
ated in  1895  with  the  degree  of  M.  E.  Returning  then 
to  Butte,  iMr.  Barker  was  in  the  employ  of  Wilson  & 
Gillie  for  six  months,  when,  in  December,  1895,  he  be- 
came associated  with  the  Anaconda  Mining  and  Copper 
Company  as  engineer,  a position  which  he  filled  most 
acceptably  until  August.  1897.  At  that  time  Mr.  Barker, 
in  partnership  with  W.  W.  Pennington,  acquired  the 
engineering  business  of  Wilson  & Gillie,  which  they 
have  since  conducted  abl\-  and  satisfactorily,  being 
widely  known  as  the  leading  mining  engineers  of  the 
state.  iMr.  Barker  has  also  mining  interests  of  his  own. 
the  investments  which  he  has  made  having  proved  of 


1278 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


much  value.  Me  is  prominent  in  mining  circles,  being 
a member  of  the  American  Institute  of  Mining  Engi- 
gineers ; and  a member,  and  the  treasurer,  of  the  Mon- 
tana Society  of  Engineers,  which  has  headquarters  in 
Hutte.  Me  is  also  a member  of  the  National  Geographic 
Society. 

Politically  Mr.  Barker  is  an  active  worker  in  the  Re- 
publican ranks,  and  is  now  serving  his  second  term  as 
alderman,  representing  the  Sixth  ward.  Fraternally,  he 
belongs  to  Mount  Mariah  Lodge,  No.  24,  is  a member 
of  Butte  Consistory  Scottish  Rite  Mason  and  Bagdad 
Temple  of  Shriners;  and  socially  he  is  a member  of  the 
Silver  Bow  Club.  Religiously  he  belongs  to  the  Pro- 
testant church. 

In  Helena,  Montana,  December  14,  1896,  Mr.  Barker 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Blanche  Stuart,  a daughter 
of  Samuel  D.  and  Amanda  J.  Stuart.  Mrs.  Barker  was 
born  in  Iowa,  February  2,  1875,  and  as  a girl  received 
excellent  educational  advantages.  Artistic  in  her  tastes, 
her  natural  talents  were  early  developed,  and  she  is  well 
known  throughout  the  state  as  an  artist  of  ability,  her 
paintings,  both  in  oils  and  in  water  colors,  being  much 
admired  and  in  demand  by  lovers  of  art  in  its  highest 
form.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barker  have  one  child,  Samuel 
Stuart  Barker,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Butte,  Montana, 
December  31,  1903. 

Beginning  life  with  limited  means,  Mr.  Barker  has 
steadily  and  surely  forged  his  way  upward,  climbing 
the  ladder  of  attainments  rung  by  rung,  with  scarce  a 
drawback.  And  now,  in  the  midst  of  his  prosperity, 
he  gives  credit  for  his  success  in  life  primarily  to  cor- 
rect home  influence,  his  mother's  loving  care  and  wise 
training,  while  as  a business  factor  he  is  indebted  for 
his  success  in  life  to  his  early  association  with  Messrs. 
Wilson  & Gillie,  who  were  honorable  and  upright  in 
all  of  their  dealings  and  in  whose  footsteps  he  has  fol- 
lowed as  nearly  as  possible.  Mr.  Barker  owns  and 
occupies  an  attractive  home  at  No.  845  West  Galena 
street,  a pleasant  part  of  the  city,  while  his  business 
office  is  at  No.  bo  East  Granite  street. 

Cu.'tRLES  A.  Smith.  As  the  mayor  of  Harlem  since 
1910  and  the  leading  merchant  of  the  city  since  its 
beginning,  Charles  A.  Smith  is  eminently  deserving 
of  mention  in  a biographical  and  historical  work  em- 
bracing this  section  of  the  country.  He  has  been  so 
closely  identified  with  the  growth  of  Harlem  and  its 
every  phase  of  development  that  to  recount  the  details 
of  the  history  of  the  city  would  be  almost  synonymous 
with  a recital  of  the  events  of  his  life  since  the  year 
1889,  in  the  autumn  of  which  year  he  first  saw  what  is 
now  the  thriving  and  prosperous  city  of  Harlem. 

Mr.  Smith  was  born  in  Xenia,  Greene  county,  Ohio, 
on  May  14,  1855.  He  is  the  son  of  Adam  L.  Smith 
and  his  wife,  Sarah  Gano.  The  father  was  a native  of 
Scotland,  and  it  is  entirely  probable  that  the  generous 
portion  of  Scottish  blood  that  courses  through  the 
veins  of  Charles  Smith  has  in  a great  measure  shaped 
his  destiny  and  which,  blended  with  the  blood  of  his 
American  ancestors,  has  given  him  that  sturdy  charac- 
ter and  directness  of  purpose  that  has  been  so  potent 
a factor  in  his  successful  business  life.  Adam  Smith 
came  to  America  from  Scotland  as  a young  man,  and 
from  first  to  last  was  a dominant  figure  in  the  com- 
munity in  which  he  made  his  home  for  so  many 
years,  and  where  he  finally  passed  away.  He  was  a 
prominent  factor  in  Democratic  politics  in  his  county, 
was  mayor  of  Xenia  at  one  time,  and  was  on  other 
occasions  sheriff  and  treasurer  of  his  county.  He  was 
a veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  having  served  in  the 
Seventy-fourth  Ohio  Regiment,  and  was  wounded  in 
action  at  the  battle  of  Lookout  mountain.  He  con- 
ducted a large  contracting  business  in  Xenia  for 
many  years,  and  his  death  occurred  there  in  1897. 

The  mother  is  also  deceased.  They  were  the  parents 
of  eight  sons  and  daughters : Samuel  G.,  Frank  P., 


Edward  M.  and  George  H.  are  all  residents  of  Xenia, 
Ohio,  where  they  were  born  and  reared;  Mary,  who 
was  the  wife  of  Frank  Method,  died  in  1^4  at  Xenia; 
,\nna  died  in  1909,  at  Xenia,  and  James  died  at  East 
St.  Louis  in  1900. 

Charles  A.,  who  was  the  fifth  born  of  the  eight 
children,  attended  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town 
until  he  was  thirteen  years  of  age.  He  remained  in 
the  parental  home  until  he  was  twenty  years  of  age,  and 
in  the  year  1875  left  home  to  see  the  west.  He 
first  located  in  Bismarck,  North  Dakota,  and  dur- 
ing that  winter  chopped  cord-wood  in  the  vicinity  of 
Bismarck.  In  the  spring  he  enlisted  in  the  govern- 
ment service  as  the  driver  of  a six  mule  team  going 
overland  to  Montana  with  the  Custer  expedition,  and 
he  was  engaged  in  Indian  fighting  from  then  until 
1881,  seeing  much  active  service  and  passing  through 
many  thrilling  experiences.  He  helped  to  build  Fort 
Keogh  and  Fort  Assiniboin,  and  in  the  autumn  of 
1881  he  left  the  service.  Going  to  Wilder’s  Landing 
on  the  Missouri  river,  Mr.  Smith  started  a trading 
post  doing  business  with  the  Indians,  and  there  he 
remained  until  the  summer  of  1884.  When  the  gold 
excitement  broke  out  he  went  to  Alder  Gulch,  Mon- 
tana, where  he  engaged  in  mining  until  the  latter  part 
of  1885,  after  which  he  came  to  Fort  Belknap  and 
was  there  employed  bv  Thomas  O’Hanlan  in  his  store. 
He  remained  thus  employed  until  the  spring  of  1888, 
returning  then  to  St.  Paul’s  Mission  where  he  worked 
on  a farm  until  late  in  1889.  His  next  move  took  him 
to  Harlem,  and  there  he  has  remained  continuously 
since  that  time.  He  began  doing  business  in  a wall 
tent,  on  a necessarily  small  scale,  but  with  the  ulti- 
mate growth  and  expansion  of  the  new  town,  he  en- 
larged his  stock  and  finally  built  a substantial  store. 
Today  the  establishment  which  Mr.  Smith  first  con- 
ducted in  a tent  in  the  primitive  village  has  grown  until 
it  is  the  largest  mercantile  house  in  the  busy  and 
prosperous  city  of  Harlem,  and  Mr.  Smith  is  known  for 
one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  the  city,  and  one 
of  its  most  prosperous  residents.  He  has  the  distinc- 
tion of  having  built  the  first  house  in  Harlem,  or  in 
Chouteau  county.  In  addition  to  the  splendid  business 
which  Mr.  Smith  owns  in  Harlem,  he  is  the  possessor 
of  a number  of  valuable  ranches  in  Montana,  and  some 
fine  citv  realty.  He  owns  a handsome  home  in  the 
city.  also.  In  September,  1910,  Mr.  Smith  was  elected 
mayor  of  Harlem,  and  in  1912  had  the  honor  of  being 
elected  to  succeed  himself  in  that  office.  He  has  proved 
himself  an  able  executive,  and  the  affairs  of  the  city 
have  been  capably  handled  throughout  his  administra- 
tion. 

Mr.  Smith  is  a Republican  in  his  political  faith  and 
an  active  and  influential  worker.  He  is  a member  of 
the  Benevolent  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 

Mr.  Smith  has  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife 
was  Hannah  Olsen,  a native  of  Sweden,  and  of  this 
union  three  children  were  born, — Hazel,  Estella  and 
Charles  A.,  Jr.  The  latter  is  now  a student  in  the 
Helena  high  school.  In  more  recent  years  Mr.  Smith 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Emma  Myers,  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania.  There  is  no  issue  of  this 
latter  union. 

Ted  E.  Collins.  One  of  Montana's  natif'e  citi- 
zens, it  has  been  the  lot  of  Mr.  Collins  to  find  his  place 
in  the  business  world  of  the  state  already  created  for 
him  by  the  enterprise  of  his  distinguished  father,  Jere- 
miah Collins.  However,  Mr.  Collins’  inheritance  was 
not  limited  to  material  possessions,  but  he  also  is  en- 
dowed with  a goodly  share  of  the  initiative  and  the 
intellectuality  of  his  progenitor,  and  he  is  one  of  the 
sons  of  eminent  men  who  are  not  spending  their  days 
in  the  borrowed  splendor  of  their  fathers’  prestige,  but 
are  rather  availing  themselves  of  their  increased  oppor- 
tunities to  accomplish  larger  results. 


/■ 


hi  ft  I 

ft-: 

;■ 


; . -H,,..  • 


••.  . 


.’■'.s  ■•' 


• * . -•- 


''  .'!  ..r^''  V’  ! " 


f 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1279 


Jeremiah  Collins  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1850.  When 
a mere  child,  he  was  brought  to  America  by  his  parents, 
who  settled  on  an  Indiana  farm  in  the  days  when  that 
was  “out  west".  At  twelve,  the  boy  was  left  without 
father  or  mother  and  at  once  began  to  shift  for  himself. 
He  secured  work  on  a neighboring  farm,  and  whenever 
he  could,  he  went  to  school.  It  is  said  that  “whither  a 
man  desireth  to  go,  thither  his  feet  will  carry  him”,  and 
Jeremiah  Collins  desired  to  go  to  school.  He  not  only 
managed  to  complete  the  work  of  the  public  schools, 
but  earned  enough  to  take  him  through  the  University 
of  Indiana,  from  which  he  received  his  degree  in  1873. 
After  leaving  school,  Mr.  Collins  went  into  journalism 
and  from  the  first  he  made  a brilliant  success  of  the 
nrofcssion.  After  some  time  spent  with  the  Wabash 
News,  Mr.  Collins  went  to  Lo^ansport  where  he  was 
employed  on  the  Courier.  Here  in  1878.  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Letta  E.  Fitzgerald,  and  together  they 
came  to  the  wild  state,  Montana,  up  the  Missouri  river  to 
Fort  Benton.  Here  Mr.  Collins  established  one  of  the 
first  successful  newspaper^  in  the  state,  the  Fort  Benton 
River  Press,  of  which  he  was  editor  until  1889.  By 
this  time,  other  towns  in  Montana  were  beginning  to 
become  places  of  consequence  and  of  promise.  The 
floating  population  bent  upon  making  a successful  strike 
in  the  mines,  was  giving  place  to  an  element  which  had 
come  to  stay  and  to  develop  the  country.  Mr.  Collins 
saw  an  opportunity  to  establish  a newspaper  at  Great 
Falls,  and  accordingly  the  Great  Falls  Tribune  came  into 
existence  through  his  enterprise,  and  he  continued  at 
the  head  of  it  until  1892.  At  this  date,  he  gave  up  his 
journalistic  work  to  engage  in  the  compiling  and  writ- 
ing of  a history  of  Montana.  This  was  one  of  the 
first  records  of  the  progress  of  this  commonwealth  from 
the  days  of  the  Louisiana  Purchase  to  the  end  of  the 
ninety  years  following  that  fortunate  investment.  Mr. 
Collins  spent  a year  upon  this  undertaking  and  when  it 
was  finished,  did  not  resume  his  newspaper  work,  as 
he  was  appointed  receiver  of  public  money  in  the  gen- 
eral land  office  under  Cleveland.  At  the  expiration  of 
his  term  in  this  office  in  1897,  Mr.  Collins  established 
the  Collins  Land  Company  of  Helena,  one  of  the  pio- 
neer land  companies  of  the  state,  as  well  as  one  of  the 
largest  concerns  of  the  sort  in  the  Treasure  state. 
At  the  present  time,  Mr.  Collins,  his  wife  and  daughter, 
Lena  Agnes  Collins,  are  residing  in  Washington,  D.  C. 
Mr.  Collins  is  engaged  in  managing  the  eastern  branch 
of  the  Collins  Land  Company,  of  which  he  is  president. 
Miss  Collins  is  a graduate  of  the  Helena  high  schciol, 
and  also  of  National  Park  Seminary,  one  of  the 
well-known  girls’  schools  of  the  national  capital. 

With  such  a record  before  him  to  live  up  to,  it  will 
be  readily  understood  that  Ted  E.  Collins’  task  of  mak- 
ing himself  known  in  the  business  world  apart  from 
being  his  father's  son,  was  not  of  the  easiest,  and  that 
he  has  achieved  it,  is  a sufficient  commentary  upon  his 
abilities.  Born  in  Fort  Benton  on  April  20,  1884,  he 
received  his  elementary  education  in  the  schools  of 
Great  Falls  and  Helena.  After  this,  he  spent  a year  in 
the  famous  Phillips  Exeter  Academy  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  the  following  three  years  in  the  New  York 
Military  Academy.  He  graduated  from  this  school  in 
1903,  and  then  went  to  the  George  Washington  Uni- 
versity to  take  up  the  study  of  law.  This  he  continued 
for  a time  in  the  University  of  Virginia,  but  finished  at 
the  George  Washington,  Mr.  Collins  did  not  begin  the 
practice  of  his  profession,  as  he  became  associated  with 
the  Helena  branch  of  the  Collins  Land  Company  and  its 
allied  companies.  In  this  organization  he  holds  the 
office  of  secretary  and  treasurer.  Another  concern  in 
which  he  is  financially  interested  is  the  Marysville  Gold 
Mining  Company,  and  in  this,  too,  he  is  secretary  and 
treasurer. 

On  Tune  2,  1909,  Mr.  Collins  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Frances  Austin  Parker.  The  wedding  took 
place  at  Seattle,  Washington.  One  daughter,  Helen 


Fitzgerald  Collins,  was  born  to  this  union,  on  July  25, 
1910. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Collins  is  Democratic.  He  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  Montana  Club,  and  both  he  and  Mrs.  Collins 
are  of  the  number  of  the  best-known  and  most  popular 
of  Helena’s  social  circle.  Mr.  Collins’  acquaintance  with 
men  of  influence  and  distinction  of  the  time,  is  not  con- 
fined to  his  native  state,  but  extends  over  a large  part 
of  the  country.  Though  not  yet  thirty,  he  has  taken  his 
place  with  the  citizens  who  make  the  city. 

Jacob  Albright,  who  is  proprietor  of  a clothing 
store  in  Virginia  City,  Montana,  is  a citizen  of  unusual 
prominence  and  influence  in  this  section  of  the  state. 
He  has  served  his  home  community  in  a number  of 
important  official  positions,  among  them  being  treas- 
urer of  Madison  county  and  state  senator. 

A native  of  the  fine  old  Empire  state  of  the  Union, 
Jacob  Albright  was  born  in  New  Salem,  Albany  county, 
New  York,  July  17,  i86b,  and  he  is  a son  of  Isaac  and 
Plannah  E.  (Bradt)  Albright,  both  of  whom  were  born 
and  reared  in  New  York  state,  where  the  former  is 
still  living  in  1912,  nearing  the  age  of  eighty  years,  and 
where  the  latter  died  in  1911,  aged  seventy-seven  years. 
The  father  was  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  during 
the  major  portion  of  his  active  career  and,  he  is  now 
living  in  virtual  retirement  in  New  Salem,  enjoying 
to  the  full  the  fruits  of  his  former  years  of  earnest  toil 
and  endeavor.  He  was  formerly  a prominent  politician 
and  holds  a high  place  in  the  time-honored  Masonic 
order  in  his  home  community. 

The  second  in  order  of  birth  in  a family  of  seven 
children,  Jacob  Albright  was  reared  to  adult  age  in 
his  native  place,  where  he  attended  the  public  schools 
and  resided  until  he  had  reached  his  twenty-fourth 
year.  He  then,  in  1884,  came  to  Montana  and  located  in 
Virginia  City.  During  the  first  ten  years  of  his  resi- 
dence here  he  worked  for  a clothing  house  on  a salary, 
but  in  1895  he  purchased  the  stock  of  his  employers 
and  he  now  has  the  only  exclusive  men’s  clothing  and 
furnishing  store  in  Madison  county.  In  politics  he  is  a 
stalwart  Republican  and  he  is  an  active  worker  in 
behalf  of  the  party.  In  1894  he  was  elected  treasurer 
of  Madison  county  and  he  served  as  such  for  a period 
of  four  years.  In  1902  he  was  further  honored  by 
his  fellow  citizens  with  election  to  representation  in 
the  state  senate,  of  which  august  body  he  was.  a member 
for  eight  years.  During  that  period  he  was  responsible 
for  the  passage  of  the  present  mining  laws  of  Montana, 
which  have  been  so  satisfactory  that  they  have  never 
been  amended  or  changed.  He  was  the  father  of  the 
bill  creating  an  additional  judge  for  the  fifth  judicial 
district.  He  has  also  served  with  efficiency  as  a member 
of  the  Virginia  City  school  board. 

In  Virginia  City,  June  26,  1889,  Mr.  Albright  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Frances  E.  Gilbert,  a daugh- 
ter of  Henry  S.  and  Margaret  Gilbert,  an  old  pioneer 
family  in  Montana  formerl}'  of  Germantown,  Penn- 
sylvania. Si.x  children,  three  boys  and  three  girls, 
have  been  born  to  this  union,  as  follows, — Richard  H., 
who  was  graduated  in  the  Butte  high  school  as  vale- 
dictorian of  the  class  of  1911,  is  now  a student  in 
Cornell  University;  Helen  M.,  a graduate  in  the  public 
schools  of  Virginia  City,  is  now  teaching  school  at 
Home  Park ; Florence  J.  was  graduated  in  the  Virginia 
City  high  school  as  valedictorian  of  the  class  of  1912 ; 
and  Henry  G.,  Aileen  and  Clifford  W.  are  all 'attending 
the  graded  schools  in  this  city.  In  religious  matters 
Mr.  Albright  is  a member  of  the  Dutch  Reformed 
church  and  the  remaining  members  of  the  family  are 
Episcopalians. 

In  a fraternal  way  Mr.  Albright  is  a prominent  Mason, 
having  passed  through  the  circle  of  the  York  Rite 
branch  and  being  past  master  of  blue  lodge,  high  priest 
of  Virginia  Chapter,  No.  i,  and  eminent  commander 
of  Virginia  Commandery,  No.  i.  He  is  likewise  a 


1280 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


member  of  I’.agdad  Temple,  Ancient  Arabic  Order  of 
the  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine  at  Butte,  and  is  con- 
nected witli  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
Elks,  in  which  he  is  past  exalted  ruler.  He  is  very 
fond  of  walking  and  of  athletic  sports,  having  been 
formerly  a member  of  a local  baseball  club.  He  enjoys 
a good  lecture  and  is  exceedingly  fond  of  theatricals, 
music  and  singing.  He  is  a booster  for  Montana  and 
says : “Montana  is  large  and  progressive.  Her  electric 
and  water  power  will  in  time  make  an  opening  for  the 
varied  industries  and  her  ranch  interests  will  develop 
into  one  of  the  strongest  features  of  the  entire  state.” 
He  has  i)erformed  his  full  share  in  developing  the 
interests  of  Montana  and  Madison  county. 

Martin  J.  Hiugins  is  a native  of  Nova  Scotia,  as 
both  his  parents  were  before  him,  likewise  the  twelve 
brothers  and  sisters,  who  made  up  the  rest  of  the 
household.  John  Higgins,  was  a farmer,  who  lived  to 
the  age  of  eighty-three,  passing  from  this  life  on  New 
Years  day  of  the  year  igio.  His  wife,  Eliza  Hay  Hig- 
gins, daughter  of  William  Hay,  died  in  Nova  Scotia. 

Martin  is  the  fifth  of  the  Higgins  family  in  point  of 
age,  and  was  born  on  January  12,  1861.  He  lived  on  his 
father’s  farm  and  attended  country  school  until  he  was 
fifteen  years  of  age,  and  then  he  was  apprenticed  to 
learn  the  trade  of  horse-shoeing.  Four  years  were 
consumed  in  this  training,  and  at  the  age  of  nine- 
teen, he  set  out  as  a journeyman  horse-shoer,  and 
worked  as  a subordinate  for  a period  of  five  years,  and 
then  came  to  Montana.  He  reached  Helena  in  1884, 
and  at  once  resumed  work  at  his  trade  and  later  went 
into  business  on  his  own  account  in  which  he  was 
e.xperienced  and  his  enterprise  throve.  Soon  after  his 
arrival  Mr.  Higgins  began  to  enter  into  the  activities 
of  the  Republican  party  and  as  his  acquaintance  in  the 
city  progressed,  he  became  a man  of  influence  in  the 
local  organization.  Politics  had  always  appealed  to 
him,  and  now  his  established  place  in  his  business  en- 
abled him  to  give  some  time  to  this  absorbing  avoca- 
tion. For  four  years,  he  was  a member  of  the  city 
council,  and  in  1908  was  elected  sheriff  of  Lewis  and 
Clark  county  for  a term  of  two  years  and  was  re- 
elected in  igio. 

Mr.  Higgins  has  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife 
was  Maria,  the  daughter  of  James  Little,  a native  of 
Nova  Scotia,  but  a resident  of  Helena  at  the  time 
of  her  marriage.  Her  two  children.  Jack  and  Mar- 
geurite  Higgins,  were  both  born  in  Helena,  one  in  Au- 
gust, 1891,  and  the  other  in  1894.  In  March,  1898,  at 
Truro,  Canada,  Mr.  Higgins  was  united  to  Miss  May 
Frazier,  the  daughter  of  James  Frazier  of  that  town. 
Two  children  have  been  born  of  this  marriage,  William, 
in  1901,  and  Raymond  in  1910. 

Mr.  Higgins  is  a member  of  the  Presbyterian  church, 
following  the  faith  of  his  mother’s  people,  who  were 
of  Scotch  extraction,  Mr.  Higgins’  maternal  grand- 
father William  Hay  coming  from  Scotland  to  Can- 
ada. His  father's  father,  George  Higgins,  was  an  Eng- 
lishman born,  and  became  the  founder  of  the  Amer- 
ican branch  of  the  family'. 

In  lodge  circles,  Mr.  Higgins  has  an  extensive  ac- 
quaintance, as  well  as  a wide  popularity.  He  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  of  the 
Eagles,  the  Woodmen  of  the  World,  and  of  the  Elks. 

As  a public  officer,  Mr.  Higgins  exhibits  the  quali- 
ties which  one  has  a right  to  expect  of  one  who  has 
successfully  met  the  world  and  made  his  own  way  in  it 
sin,gle-handed._  He  discharges  the  duties  incident  to 
the  position  with  the  business-like  system  and  thorough- 
ness that  have  achieved  his  success  in  commercial  pur- 
suits. 

John  Hersey  Fairfield,  M.  D.  Distinguished  not 
only  as  the  first  physician  to  locate  permanently  at 
Great  Falls,  but  as  one  of  the  leading  members  of 


the  medical  profession  of  Cascade  county,  John  Her- 
sey Fairfield,  jM.  D.,  is  eminently  deserving  of  special 
mention  m a work  of  this  character.  Coming  from 
sturdy'  New  England  stock,  he  was  born,  August  17, 
1856,  in  Saco,  Alaine.  He  is  of  English  lineage,  being 
a lineal  descendant  many  generations  removed  of 
Stephen  W.  Fairfield,  who  emigrated  from  England  to 
America  in  colonial  days. 

His  father,  the  late  Capt.  John  W.  Fairfield,  was 
a native  of  Maine,  and  during  his  active  life  sailed 
the  seas,  being  master  of  his  vessel.  He  died  in  1861, 
aged  forty  years.  His  widow,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Mary  Hersey',  was  born  in  Bangor,  Maine,  in 
1821.  The  year  following  her  husband’s  death, ’she 
moved  with  her  family  to  Minneapolis,  Minnesota, 
and  died,  at  Minneapolis,  in  1894,  aged  seventy-three 
years.  Of  her  four  children,  one  died  in  infancy,  one 
at  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  and  two  grew  to  years-  of 
maturity. 

John  Hersey  Fairfield  was  educated  principally  in 
Minneapolis,  attending  first  the  public  schools,  and 
later  the  University  of  Minnesota.  Taking  up  the 
study  of  medicine,  he  went  to  Philadelphia,  and  in 
1880  was  graduated  from  the  medical  department  of 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania  with  the  degree  of 
M.  D.  The  ensuing  two  years  Dr.  Fairfield  was  resid- 
ent physician  at  the  Philadelphia  Hospital,  there  gain- 
ing an  experience  that  proved  of  inestimable  value  to 
him  in  after  years.  Returning  to  Minneapolis  in  1882, 
the  doctor  continued  his  practice  in  that  city  three 
years,  and  in  1884  settled  as  a physician  at  Fort  Ben- 
ton, Montana.  In  1885  he  located  at  Great  Falls,  being 
the  pioneer  physician  and  surgeon  of  this  part  of  Cas- 
cade county,  and  has  remained  here  ever  since,  having 
through  his  industry,  natural  talents  and  skill  built 
up^  a large  and  most  satisfactory  general  practice,  his 
office  being  in  the  Ford  block,  while  his  residence  is 
at  715  Fourth  avenue.  North.  The  doctor  is  a mem- 
ber of  various  medical  organizations,  including  the 
Cascade  County,  the  State,  and  the  American  Medical 
Associations.  Fie  is  a man  of  excellent  business  abil- 
ity and  judgment,  and  has  acquired  title  to  large  tracts 
of  real_  estate  lying  in  and  near  Great  Falls. 

Politically  Dr.  Fairfield  is  an  active  worker  in  the 
Republican  ranks,  and  was  one  of  the  organizers  of 
the  Republican  party  of  Cascade  county.  He  served 
as  the  second  mayor  of  Great  Falls,  giving  the  city  a 
clean  administration.  He  was  county  coroner  a num- 
ber of  terms ; was  secretary  of  the  County  Board  of 
Health  in  1909  and  1910;  and  is  now  serving  as  sec- 
retary of  the  City  Board  of  Health.  Socially  he  is 
a member  of  the  Electric  City  Club.  Broad  and  liberal 
in  his  religious  views,  the  doctor  is  a Unitarian  in 
belief  and  practice. 

At  Aj'lmer,  Ontario,  Canada,  February  20,  1894,  Dr. 
Fairfield  married  Kate  Arkell,  a daughter  of  John 
Arkell,  of  that  place,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  two 
children,  namely:  Isabelle  Wood  Fairfield,  born  at 
Great  Falls,  September  18,  1898;  and  Jack  W,  Fair- 
field,  born  at  Great  Falls,  October  19,  1900, 

1) 

Wellington  D.  Rankin.  Among  the  more  suc- 
cessful of  the  younger  members  of  the  legal  profession 
in  Montana  may  be  numbered  Wellington  D.  Rankin, 
of  Helena.  Though  not  yet  thirty,  he  has  a large  and 
growing  practice.  Mr.  Rankin  is  a son  of  a Montana 
pioneer,  his  father,  John  Rankin,  who  was  born  in 
Canada,  on  the  23d  of  October,  1848,  having  come  to 
Montana  in  1863.  He  first  located  at  Fort  Benton 
and  then  came  across  the  plains  and  settled  in  the 
Bitter  Root  Valley.  He  was  engaged  in  the  lumber 
business  in  Missoula  and  was  well  known  throughout 
this  part  of  the  state,  as  he  was  a bridge  contractor, 
and  the  bridges  he  built  across  many  of  the  streams  are 
still  standing.  He  served  in  the  numerous  Indian  wars 
which  harassed  the  early  settlers,  and  his  death  at  the 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1281 


comparatively  early  age  of  sixty-three,  in  1904,  deprived 
Montana  and  Missoula  of  one  of  their  representative 
men.  He  married  Miss  Olive  Pickering, -a  native  of 
Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire,  born  December  .12,  1854. 
Her  family  came  from  England  in  1635  and  settled  in 
New  Hampshire,  from  where  they  have  sent  many 
distinguished  soldiers  and  scholars  into  various  parts 
of  the  country.  Mrs.  Rankin  is  still  living  in  Missoula. 
Six  daughters  and  one  son  were  born  to  her  and 
her  husband,  all  living  e.xcept  the  second  daughter,  who 
was  born  in  1883  and  lived  but  nine  years.  The  girls 
were  all  educated  at  the  Montana  State  University, 
and  then  they  were  sent  east  to  finish  their  studies  at 
Wellesley,  and  so  reap  the  benefit  of  the  older  environ- 
ment of  which  their  mother  is  a native.  Harriet  Rankin 
is  the  wife  of  Oscar  Stedman,  but  the  other  daughters 
live  with  their  mother.  Edna  Rankin  will  graduate 
from  Wellesley  in  1913.  The  names  of  the  others  are 
Jeanette,  Mary  and  Grace. 

Wellington  D.  Rankin  was  born  in  Missoula  on  Sep- 
tember 16,  ,1884.  He  received  his  elementary  instruc- 
tion in  the  Missoula  schools,  and  upon  graduation 
from  the  high  school  entered  the  Montana  State  Uni- 
versity. In  1903  he  graduated  with  the  degree  of  B.  S. 
He,  too,  was  sent  to  the  eastern  states  to  take  further 
training,  and  spent  two  years  in  Harvard  University, 
from  which  he  received  his  A.  B.  in  1905.  After  this 
he  had  a year  in  the  University  of  Oxford,  and  received 
further  training  in  literature  and  philosophy.  Mr. 
Rankin  entered  the  Harvard  Law  School  on  his  return 
from  England  and  took  a three  years’  course  in  that 
institution,  graduating  in  1909. 

He  then  returned  to  Montana  as  his  eastern  sojourn 
had  not  impaired  his  fondness  for  his  native  place 
but  had  rather  made  him  more  appreciative  of  its 
unusual  opportunities.  For  two  years  he  worked  for 
the  law  firm  of  Walsh  and  Nolan,  but  on  April  i, 
1911,  he  began  to  practice  independently  in  Helena,  and 
took  a suite  of  offices  in  the  Gold  Block.  From  the 
first  he  has  been  remarkably  successful.  During  his 
second  year  in  the  law  school  he  was  admitted  to  prac- 
tice in  all  courts  by  taking  the  bar  examination  of 
Massachusetts.  He  is  a member  of  the  county  and  state 
bar  associations,  besides  belonging  to  the  national  or- 
ganization. In  his  political  views  he  is  a Progressive 
and  in  the  campaign  of  1912  was  chairman  of  the  county 
committee.  He  is  not  a member  of  any  secret  orders, 
but  he  does  belong  to  the  Montana  Club.  He  is  inter- 
ested in  mining  and  owns  several  mines,  both  coal  and 
gold  producing. 

On  March  2,  1910,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Rankin  and  Miss  Elizabeth  Wallace,  the  daughter 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Wallace  of  Helena. 

Frederick  Bubser.  Prominent  among  the  Broad- 
water county  officials  who  have  won  a record  for  long, 
faithful  and  efficient  public  service  is  Frederick  Bubser, 
of  Townsend,  for  the  oast  fourteen  years  clerk  of  the 
district  TOurt  of  the  ninth  judicial  district,  and  again 
elected  in  1912.  A native  of  Illinois,  he  was  born, 
December  25,  1863.  in  Rockford,  Winnebago  county, 
coming  on  both  sides  of  the  house  of  German  ances- 
try. 

His  father,  the  late  Christian  Bubser.  was  born  and 
educated  in  Germany,  immigrating  to  the  United  States 
as  a young  man,  he  chose  Illinois  as  his  place  ot  loca- 
tion, and  was  there  a resident  until  his  death,  in  1901. 
He  married  Fernandina  Albert,  who  was  born  in  Ger- 
manjf  and  died  in  Rockford,  Illinois.  Eleven  children 
were  born  to  them,  as  follows : Albert,  of  Chicago,  Illi- 
nois; Elizabeth,  wife  of  Simon  Ploegher,  of  Rockford, 
Illinois Louis  B.,  a plumber  in  Rockford;  Frederick,  the 
subject  of  this  brief  biographical  sketch;  Joseph,  who 
died  at  Anaconda,  Montana,  in  1901 ; Lillian,  wife  of 
Frank  Schicker,  of  Beloit,  Wisconsin;  Caroline,  deceased 
tvife  of  John  Enderle,  of  Rockford,  Illinois ; Edward  C., 


a carriage  manufacturer  in  Rockford,  Illinois;  George 
J.,  a plumber  in  Rockford,  Illinois,  and  owner  of  the 
Rockford  baseball  team  of  the  Illinois  and  Wisconsin 
League ; Frank  C.,  a bookkeeper  and  accountant  at  Be- 
loit, Wisconsin;  and  Mary,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Completing  his  early  education  in  the  Rockford,  Illi- 
nois high  school,  Frederick  Bubser  worked  with  his  fa- 
ther for  four  years,  obtaining  a practical  knowledge  of 
the  lumber  trade.  On  attaining  his  majority,  he  left 
home,  and  having  formed  a favorable  opinion  of  the 
future  development  of  Montana  came  directly  to  this 
state  in  search  of  a business  opening.  Locating  at 
White  Sulphur  Springs,  he  was  there  employed  as  a clerk 
until  the  spring  of  18^.  Transferring  his  residence  in 
that  year  to  Townsend,  Broadwater  count}^  Mr.  Bubser 
continued  here  as  a clerk  for  five  years,  when,  in  1893, 
he  launched  into  business  on  his  own  account,  becom- 
ing proprietor  of  the  Commercial  Hotel.  He  managed 
it  successfully  until  the  coming  of  the  panic,  when  he 
closed  out,  and  accepted  a position  as  a hotel  clerk.  In 
1898  Mr.  Bubser  was  elected,  on  the  Democratic  ticket, 
as  clerk  of  the  district  court  of  the  ninth  judicial  dis- 
trict of  Broadwater  county,  an  office  which  he  has  since 
filled  continuously,  having  been  re-elected  each  term 
by  a good  majority  of  the  votes  polled.  Fraternally  he 
is  an  active  member  of  the  Woodmen  of  the  World, 
in  which  he  has  held  all  the  offices. 

Mr.  Bubser  is  a baseball  enthusiast,  and  is  fond  of 
fishing  and  hunting.  He  is  a member  of  the  Anglers 
Club,  which  has  for  its  principal  object  the  stocking 
of  the  streams  of  Broadwater  county,  and  the  preserv- 
ing of  game  fish,  the  club  in  its  first  year  having  placed 
one  hundred  thousand  fish  in  the  streams  and  lakes. 

Charles  H.  Marsh  was  born  in  Gallatin  county, 
Kentucky,  on  the  twenty-seventh  day  of  February, 
1861.  He  is  the  son  of  William  B.  Marsh,  who  was 
born  and  bred  in  Kentucky  although  in  his  veins  ran 
the  best  blood  of  old  Virginia.  The  breeding  of  the 
Virginian  together  with  the  determination  of  the  Ken- 
tuckian gave  to  him  and  his  descendants  a legacy  that 
nothing  can  take  from  them  and  that  keeps  them  for- 
ever^ moving  onward.  Money  he  never  had,  but  he  left 
to  his  son  something  much  more  worth  while,  the  abil- 
ity to  win  both  vvealth  and  prominence  for  himself. 
The  parents  of  William  Marsh  had  moved  from  Vir- 
ginia to  Kentucky  in  the  pioneer  days  of  that  fair  state. 
When  his  son  was  eleven  years  of  age  he  moved  his 
own  little  family  to  Missouri.  At  that  time,  railroads 
were  scarce  and  money  scarcer  so  they  made  the  jour- 
ney by  wagon  leaving  m the  mind  of  the  growing  boy 
a realistic  memory  or  the  prairie  schooner  and  the 
long  rocky  trail.  They  settled  at  Independence  w-here 
the^  father  procured  a farm  which  he  tended  in  person 
until  he  reached  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-two.  His 
wife  was  to  him,  always,  a perfect  helpmate — an  ideal 
pioneer  mother.  She  was  Miss  Maria  Hilton  of  Litch- 
field. Illinois.  When  a small  child,  her  parents  took  her 
to  St.  Louis.  The  next  year  there  broke  out  that  most 
dread  epidemic,  cholera.  It  carried  away  both  parents 
leaving  the  little  girl  helpless  and  penniless.  An  uncle 
in  Kentucky  took  her  and  reared  her  as  his  own.  It 
was  here  that  she  met  and  married  her  husband.  From 
the  first  the  pioneer  life  was  to  her  liking.  She  lived 
to  be  eighty-two,  passing  away  in  1908,  six  years  after 
the  death  of  her  husband. 

_The  son,  Charles  H.,  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Kentucky  and  Missouri  and  later  the  Kansas  City 
Commercial  College  of  Kansas  City,  Missouri.  In 
1884,  he  left  home  for  the  first  time,  going  to  Helena. 
Montana.  He  started  out  to  do  for  himself,  having 
neither  money,  e.xperience  nor  prospects  but  the  west 
was  on  the  lookout  for  ambitious  young  men.  He 
accepted  gladly,_  the  first  work  offered  him — on  the 
ranch  in  the  Prickly  Pear  valley.  A few  months  later 
he  beard:  of  great  prospects  about  fhe  placer  mines  and 


1282 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


moved  on  to  Jefferson  county.  Here  he  drove  a four 
horse  team  hauling  charcoal,  but  work  meant  money 
and  money  life.  He  was  not  above  putting  his  hand 
to  any  respectable  labor  that  offered  itself.  In  1884, 
he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railway. 
At  first  he  was  engine  watcher.  He  remained  with  the 
company  for  fifteen  years  during  which  tiine  he  became 
fireman  and  then  engineer,  running  an  engine  for  twelve 
years.  Even  now  he  retains  his  membership  in  the 
P>rotlierhood  of  Locomotive  Engineers. 

In  February  of  1911,  after  he  had  been  running  an 
engine  for  several  years  and  had  found  that  he  might 
make  for  himself  a home,  he  returned  to  Missouri  and 
married  the  girl  for  whom  he  had  gone  forth  to  make 
good.  This  young  lady  was  May  Douglas  of  Buckner, 
the  daughter  of  James  Douglas,  one  of  the  best  known 
citizens  of  those  parts.  Mr.  Douglas  was  a soldier  of 
the  Confederacy  during  the  late  war,  and  was,  at  one 
time,  severely  wounded.  He  had  joined  in  the  rush 
for  gold  in  forty-nine,  like  most  of  the  rest,  reaching 
the  far  west  a trifle  too  late.  On  his  return  he  had 
married  Plenrietta  Dickson  of  Virginia,  who  became 
the  mother  of  May  Douglas. 

Mr.  Marsh  took  his  young  bride  back  to  Missoula 
where,  during  several  years,  he  had  been  boarding 
when  off  the  road.  Here  they  made  for  themselves  a 
permanent  home.  In  November  of  the  same  year 
there  was  born  to  them:  a daughter  whom  they  called 
Hilda  Frances.  In  '93  came  the  son,  Walton,  named 
for  a brother  of  Mr.  Marsh,  and  in  January,  1910,  was 
born  their  youngest  boy,  Douglas,  who  bears  his 
mother’s  maiden  name. 

With  the  coming  of  the  little  ones  the  father's  desire 
to  leave  the  road  increased.  He  longed  to  be  so 
situated  that  more  of  his  time  might  be  devoted  to  his 
family.  In  1899  he  had  purchased  a half  interest  in  the 
business  of  Flays  & Haverfield,  livery  and  under- 
taking. In  September  of  1901  he  purchased  the  re- 
maining half,  owned  at  that  time  by  Mr.  Hays,  and 
took  into  partnership  with  him,  his  brother,  Mr.  Wal- 
ton Marsh.  In  1903,  he  purchased  his  brother’s  interest 
in  the  business  and  managed  it  alone  until  the  son 
became  of  sufficient  age  to  aid  him.  In  1908,  he  sold 
the  livery  business  and  has  since  devoted  himself  en- 
tirely to  the  undertaking  department.  At  present,  he 
operates  the  largest  business  of  tliis  nature  in  the  city 
of  Missoula. 

In  1904,  he  was  elected  coroner  for  his  county  and 
is  now  serving  his  fourth  term.  Although  an  active  Re- 
publican in  his  political  persuasion  he  has  seemed  to  all 
parties  the  most  fitting  person  for  this  position. 

He  is  an  active  Mason  and  a member  of  the  Shrine, 
a member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
and  of  the  Benevolent  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  F. 
O.  E.,  and  Royal  Highlanders. 

A little  more  than  a quarter  of  a century  ago,  Charles 
II.  Marsh  came  to  Montana,  alone,  without  influence  and 
penniless.  At  the  present  time,  he  is  at  the  head  of  one 
of  the  thriving  business  concerns  of  the  city,  is  popular 
in  political  and  lodge  circles  and  is  in  a position  to  give 
to  his  children  most  of  those  opportunities  that  he  so 
longed  for  during  his  own  youth.  Opportunity  knocked 
at  his  door,  perhaps,  but  she  did  not  knock  loudly  nor 
more  than  once.  Even  so  he  must  have  heard. 

Albert  F.  Furstnow.  Probably  no  business  man 
in  Miles  City  has  brought  the  name  of  that  city  before 
a greater  number  of  people  than  has  Albert  F.  Furst- 
now, more  intimately  known,  perhaps,  as  “Al,”  whose 
saddles  and  horse  furnishings  are  well  known  all  over 
the  world,  he  having  been  engaged  to  fit  out  expedi- 
tions of  various  kinds,  and  in  every  instance  demon- 
strating the  superior  quality  of  his  product.  Mr. 
Furstnow  is  one  of  the  most  progressive  and  enter- 
prising citizens  of  Miles  City,  one  who  has  prospered 


in  business  and  has  earned  success  by  his  natural  abil- 
ity, sagacity  and  well-established  reputation  for  in- 
tegrity and  .honorable  dealing.  He  was  born  in  Fond 
du  Lac,  Fond  du  Lac  county,  Wisconsin,  February  22, 
1862,  and  is  a son  of  Charles  A.  and  Albertine  L. 
(Colby)  Furstnow,  whose  father  held  a prominent  of- 
ficial position  in  Germany  for  many  years. 

Charles  A.  Furstnow  was  born  in  the  province  of 
Brandenburg,  Germany,  on  February  28,  1826,  and  in 
his  native  country  was  a close  friend  and  neighbor  of 
Carl  Schurz.  After  the  latter  had  participated  in  the 
the  revolutionary  movements  in  the  Palatinate  and  at 
Baden,  in  the  early  part  of  1849  and  had  been  forced 
to  flee  to  Switzerland  to  escape  arrest,  Mr.  Furstnow 
accompanied  him  and  came  to  the  United  States  in 
1852.  Mr.  Schurz  locating  at  Madison,  Wisconsin, 
while  Mr.  Furstnow  settled  at  Fond  du  Lac,  being 
there  engaged  in  the  saddlery  business,  a trade  which 
he  had  learned  in  his  native  country.  He  continued  to 
be  so  engaged  until  1896,  when  he  formed  a partner- 
ship with  his  son,  August  FL,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Charles  A.  Furstnow  & Son,  and  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  jewelry,  in  which  he  continued  until 
his  death,  on  November  28,  1910.  Fie  was  a member 
of  the  Evangelical  church,  was  a prominent  Odd  Fel- 
low and  had  other  fraternal  connections,  and  in  his 
political  inclinations  was  a Democrat  until  the  elec- 
tion of  President  Cleveland,  when  he  became  a Re- 
publican. He  was  married  to  Albertine  L.  Colby, 
who  was  born  in  the  city  of  Berlin,  Germany,  on  De- 
cember 24,  1837,  and  she  passed  away  December  24, 
1906,  having  been  the  mother  of  five  children,  as  fol- 
lows : Cltarles  A.,  born  in  1853,  who  lost  his  life  in 
a railroad  accident  on  June  26,  1870;  Emma,  the  wife 
of  Charles  Lucke,  of  Chicago;  Albert  F.,  of  this  re- 
view; August  H.,  engaged  in  the  jewelry  business  at 
F'ond  du  Lac ; and  Herman,  president  of  the  Furstnow 
Ring  Company,  manufacturing  jewelers  of  that  city. 

Albert  F.  Furstnow  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Fond  du  Lac,  Wisconsin,  and  there  learned 
the  trade  of  a saddler  with  his  father,  with  whom  he 
continued  until  1887.  In  that  year  he  went  to  St.  Paul, 
Minnesota,  where  he  continued  to  work  at  his  trade 
for  about  a year,  and  then  traveled  on  to  Cheyenne, 
Wyoming,  where  he  entered  the  employ  of  G.  H.  and 
J.  S.  Collins  and  was  eventually  promoted  to  the  posi- 
tion of  foreman  of  their  business  establishment. 

In  1884  he  first  came  to  Miles  City,  Montana,  to 
enter  the  employ  of  E.  Gottlich,  with  whom  he  con- 
tinued for  some  time,  and  here  he  made  the  first  fine 
flower-stamped  saddle  manufactured  in  Miles  City, 
for  Lord  Sidney  Padgett  and  Leight  Remington,  of 
the  Remington  Arms  Company.  Discontinuing  his 
connection  with  the  Gottlich  establishment,  Mr.  Furst- 
now re-entered  the  service  of  G.  H.  and  J.  S.  Collins, 
becoming  foreman  of  their  shops  at  Omaha,  Nebraska, 
and  while  in  their  employ  outfitted  Buffalo  Bill’s  Wild 
West  Show  for  the  Paris  Exposition.  After  spending 
another  year  at  Cheyenne,  Mr.  Furstnow  went  to 
San  F'rancisco,  but  in  1892  returned  to  Miles  City,  and 
until  1894  was  connected  with  the  Robbins  & Lenoir 
Saddle  Company.  That  year  marked  his  venturing 
into  busines  on  his  own  responsibility,  in  which  he 
has  since  continued.  He  is  the  designer  and  manu- 
facturer of  the  original  Al  Furstnow  Saddles,  which 
are  known  for  their  excellence  and  beauty  in  this  and 
other  countries.  He  has  stock  saddles  to  order  and 
carries  a full  line  of  up-to-date  horse  furnishings  of 
every  varietv.  Flis  large  and  perfectly  equipped  es- 
tablishment is  located  in  his  own  building  at  No.  506-08 
Main  street.  This  fine  two-story  double  brick  build- 
ing he  built  for  his  own  use  in  the  business.  It  is  one 
of  the  fine  buildings  of  the  city,  and  has  a solid  plate 
glass  front  for  show  purposes,  and  in  his  windows  is 
displayed  the  finest  exhibition  of  saddlery,  harness  and 
leather  trappings  that  will  be  found  in  the  state  of 


"L 


1 

i 


•t 


AL.  FURSTNOW’S  SADDLERY. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1283 


Montana.  His  products,  especially  the  A1  Furstnow 
saddles,  are  used  throughout  the  civilized  world,  es- 
pecially in  the  western  states  and  in  old  Mexico,  and 
many  shipments  go  to  foreign  countries,  their  export 
trade  being  particularly  heavy.  Mr.  Furstnow  also 
carries  a complete  stock  of  imported  bags  of  all  kinds, 
and  in  his  stock  may  be  found  the  latest  designs  in 
wardrobe  trunks.  No  city  in  the  United  States  has 
a better  or  more  costly  assortment  of  leather  goods 
of  every  description,  and  his  display  of  these  goods 
would  do  credit  to  any  establishment  of  the  kind  in 
the  country.  The  building  is  equipped  with  the  latest 
machinery  and  appurtenances  known  to  the  trade,  and 
they  are  in  every  way  prepared  to  turn  out  the  finest 
of  work.  Mr.  Furstnow  employs  none  but  the  most 
skilled  artisans,  and  this  fact,  combined  with  the  ex- 
cellence of  the  raw  material  used  in  his  shops,  assures 
the  purchasers  of  the  best  possible  products. 

Mr.  Furstnow  is  a Republican,  and  his  fraternal  re- 
lations are  represented  by  his  membership  in  the  Miles 
City  Lodge,  No.  537,  B.  P.  O.  E.,  and  Crusader  Lodge, 
No.  7,  Knights  of  Pythias,  in  both  of  which  he  is 
prominent  and  popular. 

On  December  20,  1885,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Jda  J.  Sexmith,  who  was  born  in  Belle- 
ville, Ontario,  daughter  of  John  and  Susan  (Valou) 
Sexmith.  The  father,  who  was  a lumber  merchant 
in  Fond  du  Lac  for  many  years,  died  at  the  age  of 
eighty-two  years,  while  the  latter  passed  away  at  the 
age  of  sixty-five.  They  had  twelve  children,  of  which 
number  Mrs.  Furstnow  was  the  youngest.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Furstnow  three  children  have  been  born : 
Edna,  Alta  and  Charles.  The  second  daughter,  Alta, 
is  deceased,  having  passed  away  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
three  years. 

CoL.  James  A.  McGowan.  iMany  men  have  had 
the  m^emory  of  their  lives  and  work  perpetuated  in 
monuments  of  stone  or  bronze,  and  these  will  endure 
for  many  years,  but  think  of  the  glory  of  leaving 
behind  one  a monument  that  one  has  himself  erected, 
a monument  that  has  been  one’s  life  work,  and  one 
which  will  result  in  the  happiness'  of  many  people  for 
many  generations.  No,  this  is  not  a great  university, 
or  a church,  or  a library,  but  a town.  Such  is  the 
monument  that  stands  to  the  memory  of  Col.  James 
A.  McGowan,  the  founder  and  developer  of  the  town 
of  Plains,  Montana.  This  thriving  town  owes  its 
very  existence  to  him,  and  every  progressive  step  that 
has  been  taken  in  the  life  of  the  town  has  been  taken 
at  the  behest  of  Colonel  McGowan.  He  was  ambi- 
tious, a shrewd  business  man,  far-seeing,  confident  of 
the  future  of  the  country,  the  very  spirit  of  progress, 
and  since  his  motto  was  “Every  dollar  that  I make  here 
I will  reinvest  in  Plains,”  the  growth  and  development 
of  the  town  is  not  to  be  wondered  at.  In  all  of  his 
business  dealings,  perhaps  his  most  striking  character- 
istic, was  not  his  keen  insight  into  the  hearts  of  the 
men  with  whom  he  was  negotiating,  or  the  magnitude 
of  the  plans  which  evolved  themselves  in  his  brain, 
but  his  honorable  and  honest  methods.  The  very 
presence  of  such  a man  in  the  business  world  is  a 
benediction.  The  object  lesson  which  he  offered,  of 
an  honest  man  steadily  gaining  in  wealth  and  power, 
was  of  inestimable  benefit,  not  only  in  encouraging 
young  men  just  starting  out  in  life,  to  turn  aside 
from  the  tempting  places  that  would  lead  them  out  of 
the  straight  path  of  honor,  but  also  in  giving  to  those 
men  who  were  successful,  but  who  had  won  their 
success  by  wandering  from  the  straight  and  narrow 
path,  an  impulse  to  turn  away  from  the  pleasant 
places  and  try  again  the  road  that  had  seemed  so 
hard  to  their  weak  feet.  To  accomplish  such  a work 
as  this  is  enough  for  any  man,  but  the  good  that  he 
did  can  not  be  described  in  detail  and  in  the  snace  of 
this  brief  sketch,  it  is  impossible  to  pav  him  the  trib- 

voi.  n— 2 s 


ute  which  he  deserves  without  being  suspected  of 
adulation. 

James  Alexander  McGowan  was  born  in  Malone, 
Eranklin  county.  New  York,  on  the  5th  of  March, 
1852.  He  was  a son  of  a farmer,  James  McGowan, 
who  like  so  many  others  was  not  permitted  to  die  in 
peace  on  the  farm,  but  met  his  death  on  the  battle- 
field, fighting  for  the  preservation  of  the  Union.  He 
served  throughout  the  greater  part  of  the  war,  being 
killed  at  Port  Blakely,  on  the  5th  of  April,  1865.  His 
wife’s  maiden  name  was  Mary  Annie  Rogers,  and  she 
survived  her  husband  many  years,  dying  in  1898. 
Colonel  IMcGowan's  elementary  education  was  ob- 
tained in  the  public  schools  of  New  York  State,  and 
his  higher  education  was  had  in  the  Wesleyan  Semi- 
nary at  Eau  Claire,  Wisconsin,  from  which  institu- 
tion he  was  graduated  in  1868.  Upon  leaving  school 
he  entered  a lumber  office,  and  inside  of  three  years 
had  acquired  a pretty  general  knowledge  of  the  ways 
of  the  business  world.  He  then  determined  to  start 
out  for  himself. 

He  saw  that  the  contracting  business  not  only  offered 
opportunities  in  itself,  but  that  it  offered  a chance  to 
see  the  great  west,  which  he  had  come  to  believe  held 
vast  possibilities.  He  therefore  came  west  with  the 
building  of  the  Northern  Pacific  railway.  It  was 
while  he  was  a contractor  that  he  first  came  to  Mon- 
tana, having  in  hand  a large  contract  through  the 
extreme  western  part  of  the  state.  He  was  success- 
ful in  this  task,  but  when  the  road  was  built  across 
the  state,  he  had  become  so  interested  in  the  future 
of  the  country,  and  so  infatuated  with  its  possibilities, 
that  he  decided  to  remain,  and  therefore  settled_  at 
Plains,  Montana.  This  little  town  was  at  that  time 
what  S.  M.  Fox  would  call  “deliciously  frantic,”  for 
it  was  the  outfitting  center  for  the  Coeur  d’Alene 
mining  district,  and  was  one  of  the  booming  towns  of 
the  west.  IMr.  McGowan,  however  did  not  care  for 
Thompson.  He  did  not  settle  at  Thompson  Falls,  but 
at  Plains.  He  did,  however,  buy  some  property  at 
Thompson  Falls,  and  in  1884  he  moved  to  “Wild 
Horse  Plains”  valley.  Here  he  opened  up  a tiny 
store,  one  of  the  first  in  the  section.  This  modest 
establishment  was  on  the  site  of  the  handsome  brick 
structure  that  houses  the  big  department  store  of 
the  IMcGowan  Commercial  Company,  which  is  one  of 
the  finest  stores  of  its  kind  in  the  west.  When  he 
first  became  a merchant,  his  stock  of  goods  could  be 
placed  in  one  wagon ; now  the  ribbons  and  laces 
alone  would  make  a good  sized  load.  Colonel  Mc- 
Gowan had  only  been  there  a short  time,  when  the 
advantages  of  the  place  for  a town  site  became  plain 
to  him.  He  now  had  one  thought  in  his  mind — to 
make  a real  town  of  Plains.  His  love  for  the  place 
grew  daily  and  his  enthusiasm  was  so  great  that  he 
influenced  others  with  considerable  ease  to  settle  in 
the  valley.  He  was  not  only  interested  in  developing 
his  business,  but  in  developing  the  surrounding  coun- 
try. He  could  now  think  of  no  other  place  where  he 
would  prefer  to  live,  and  from  this  time  forth  every- 
thing in  which  he  had  a hand  was  done  with  the 
expectation  that  in  the  future  Plains  would  be  a real 
town.  No  slipshod  structures;  everything  was  per- 
manent. He  was  the  first  man  to  turn  a sod  in  the 
valley,  and  the  first  to  raise  a crop.  He  imported  the 
first  self-binder  and  threshing  machine,  and  often 
remarked  in  later  years ; “The  proudest  moment  of 
mv  life  was  on  the  day  that  I cut  the  first  swath 
around  my  grain  field  with  the  self-binder.  I was 
as  proud  as  a king  and  much  happier.”  His  e.xam- 
ple  inspired  others  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  soon 
Colonel  hIcGowan  had  a large  colony  gathered  around 
him.  With  one  idea,  the  future  of  Plains,  he  worked 
and  toiled,  facing  defeat,  opposition,  and  actual 
enmity,  and  triumphed  over  all.  As  the  Plainsman 
says  in  this , connection ; “He  was  altogether  respon- 


1284 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


sible  for  its  beginning;  was  the  inspiration  back  of 
the  development  of  its  surrounding  valleys,  and  in 
late  years  always  did  more  than  any  other  one  man 
for  every  legitimate  undertaking  that  was  for  the 
town’s  benefit.” 

In  politics  Colonel  McGowan  was  a Republican,  and 
when  the  progressive  movement  came  into  being  he 
l)ccanie  very  prominent  in  his  advocacy  of  the  move- 
ment. He  was  an  enthusiastic  supporter  of  the  direct 
primary  and  of  the  tiirect  election  of  senators.  Al- 
though very  active  in  politics,  he  did  not  care  for  the 
emoluments  of  office.  The  only  public  office  that  he 
ever  held  in  Plains  was  that  of  justice  of  the  peace, 
to  which  he  was  elected  as  the  first . magistrate  of 
the  town.  He  only  held  the  office  a short  time,  and 
refused  to  consider  such  honors  afterwards.  He  was 
the  leader  in  the  effort  to  obtain  the  segregation  of 
the  western  end  of  Missoula  county,  and  the  forma- 
tion of  a new  county.  He  fought  for  this  measure 
through  two  sessions  of  the  legislature,  and  finally 
won.  There  followed  a contest  for  county  seat,  be- 
tween Plains  and 'Thompson.  'I'he  older  towm  secured 
the  honor,  and  the  Colonel  McGowan  showed  his  broad- 
ness of  mind  by  never  ceasing  in  his  efforts  to  advance 
the  good  of  the  county,  as  a whole,  in  spite  of  the  fact, 
that  he  had  just  been  in  a furious  struggle  with  a 
large  nuntber  of  people  whom  he  was  now  seeking  to 
benefit. 

His  generosity  and  charitableness  w^ere  well  known. 
He  was  not  only  willing  to  give  to  every  individual 
who  asked,  but  he  gave  liberally  towards  the  erection 
of  every  church  that  has  been  built  in  Plains.  Colonel 
McGowan  married  Delia  Farmer,  a daughter  of 
James  and  Sarah  Farmer.  Her  parents  lived  formerly 
in  Ohio,  moving  to  Wisconsin  in  pioneer  days.  Her 
father  was  a farmer,  and  was  known  throughout  the 
country,  for  his  ability  as  a walker.  He  thought 
nothing  of  walking  to  town,  a distance  of  miles  sev- 
eral times  a day,  much  preferring  this  to  riding.  He 
served  throughout  the  Civil  war,  fighting  for  the 
Stars  and  Stripes,  and  after  the  war  returned  home 
to  spend  fourteen  years  in  peaceful  pursuit  of  his 
agricultural  life,  dying  there  in  1879,  at  the  age  of 
si.xty-seven.  1 he  mother  died  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
seven.  and  they  lie  side  by  side  in  the  old  Wisconsin 
graveyard. 

Colonel  McGowan  died  in  Los  Angeles,  where  he 
had  "one  -in  search  of  health,  on  the  ist  of  April, 
1911.  His  funeral,  on  the  6th  of  April,  was  under  the 
charge  of  the  Masonic  order.  He  was  a charter  mem- 
ber of  the  Eastern  Star.  The  Masonic  hall  was  too 
sinall  to  hold  tjie  people,  and  it  was  the  most  impres- 
sive and  imposing  funeral  procession  that  the  city  of 
Plains  had  ever  seen.  The  big  store  and  the  First 
National  Rank  were  closed  all  dav,  and  every  other 
place  of  business,  including  even  'the  saloons,  which 
usually  require  nothing  less  than  an  earthquake  to 
close  their  doors,  were  closed  from  noon  till  five 
o’clock.  How  great  was  the  loss  felt  by  the  com- 
munity, mav  be  .gathered  from  the  following,  clipped 
from  a paper  published  in  Missoula,  Montana;  "West- 
ern Missoula  mourns  this  morning  the  passing  of 
one  of  her  foremost  citizens.  The  sorrow  occasioned 
by  the  death  of  Colonel  McGowan  will  not  be  limited 
by  the  boundaries  of  Sanders  county;  it  will  extend 
to  all  parts  of  old  Missoula  county;  Ravalli,  Mis- 
soula. Flathead  and  Lincoln — all  these'  will  mourn  with 
Sanders._  The  MissouUan  voices  the  sentiment  of  all 
this  region  when  it  says  that  the  debt  which  western 
Montana  o\yes  to  J.  A.  McGowan  will  never  be  paid 
because  it  is  too  great.  Rut  the  communities  which 
received  the  benefit  of  the  life  work  of  this  man  can, 
and  alwa3'S  will,  retain  the  memory  of  his  friendship 
and  can,  and  always  will,  hold  him  as  a man  whose 
service  was  to  his  neighbors  and  to  the  community  in 
which  he  lived.” 


Colonel  A'IcGowan  was  interested  in  many  enter- 
prises at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  owned  the  pro- 
gressive paper,  published  in  Plains,  The  Plainsman, 
and  he  held  the  controlling  interest  in  the  McGowan 
Commercial  Company,  the  electric  light  and  heat- 
ing plant,  the  Plains  Water  Company,  and  he 
was  president  of  that  very  prosperous  financial  in- 
stitution, the  First  National  Bank  of  Plains.  In 
addition  to  these  interests,  he  was  the  owner  of 
large  real  estate  properties,  both  city  property  and 
farm  and  timber  land.  It  would  be  impossible  to  give 
a list  of  all  the  enterprises  in  which  Colonel  McGowan 
has  been  interested  and  no  doubt  were  he  alive  he 
could  scarcely  enumerate  them  himself. 

Perhaps  the  nearest  conception  of  the  real  greatness 
and  power  of  this  man,  may  be  obtained  from  the  fol- 
lowing words  of  H.  J.  Burleigh,  an  old  time  associ- 
ate of  Colonel  McGowan ; "Dominated  by  an  un- 
quenchable spirit  of  optimism,  endowed  with  a talent 
for  organization  and  administration  akin  to  genius, 
unswerving  in  his  faith  as  to  its  future,  shrewd,  enter- 
prising, broadminded  and  public  spirited  in  a high 
degree,  James  Alexander  McGowan  devoted  his  time, 
energies  and  talents  to  the  development  and  upbuild- 
ing of  this  community  and  western  Montana  during 
the  best  and  greater  portion  of  his  useful  life.  The 
growing  and  thriving  town  of  Plains  is  a splendid  and 
enduring  monument  to  his  genius  and  enterprise. 
Public  spirited  and  generous  to  a fault,  no  call  upon 
his  abilities  or  means,  looking  to  the  development, 
prosperity  and  welfare  of  the  community,  was  ever 
made  in  vain.  The  response  was  immediate  and  the 
contribution  generously  large. 

“He  was  the  originator  and  leading  spirit  in  exten- 
sive and  important  business  enterprises  in  which  he 
achieved  a marked  success  and  accumulated  a modest 
fortune.  All  he  made  and  all  he  had  was  gained  iii 
this  community,  and  it  is  but  simple  justice  to  his 
memory  to  say  that,  so  largely  was  he  identified  with 
and  so  great  was  his  love  for  this  community,  so 
enduring  and  unfaltering  his  faith  in  it,  its  future 
and  its  people,  that  no  part  of  his  accumulations  was 
or  is  invested  outside  of  it,  and  in  the  final  disposi- 
tion of  his  property,  his  investments  will  remain  as 
a valuable  and  important  asset  to  the  community  for 
years  to  come.  •« 

“He  was  pre-eminently  a builder;  time  and  the  future 
will  show  that  he  builded  on  a sound  and  enduring 
foundation  and  much  better  than  he  knew.  His  sound 
judgment  in  shaping  and  guiding  the  activities  and 
affairs  of  the  community,  will  be  .greatly  missed;  his 
untimelv  demise  leaves  a vacant  place  difficult  to  fill. 
In  his  death  Plains  has  sustained  the  loss  of  one  of  her 
most  loyal  citizens  and  the  best  of  friends.” 

So  passed  from  among  us  one  who  had  made  his  life 
count.  His  widow  lives  to  mourn  his  death,  making 
her  home  in  the  town  which  received  the  lifelong- 
effort  of  her  husband. 

William  H.  Smead.  Energetic,  enterprising  and 
progressive,  William  H.  Smead,  a prosperous  business 
man  of  Missoula,  possesses  to  a marked  degree  the 
public  spirit  and  force  of  character  that  renders  him 
an  important  factor  in  promoting  the  welfare  of  his 
community,  and  occupies  a place  of  prominence  among 
the  representative  men  of  the  city.  He  was  born. 
May  25,  1863,  in  Beetown,  Wisconsin,  and  there 
spent  his  childhood.  His  parents,  Asa  and  Eunice 
(Cap well)  Smead,  were  both  born  and  reared  in  Penn- 
sylvania, but  subsequently  settled  in  Wisconsin,  where 
the  death  of  the  mother  occurred  in  1871.  The  father 
survived  her  many  years,  passing  away  in  Blooming- 
ton, Wisconsin,  in  1O05,  aged  eighty-six  years. 

Receiving  his  preliminary  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Wisconsin  and  Illinois,  W.  H.  Smead  sub- 
sequently completed  the  literary  and  scientific  courses 


..  *5’  •* 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1285 


at  the  University  of  Illinois.  Going  then  to  Rock- 
ford, Illinois,  he  was  employed  with  the  People’s 
Bank  until  1884,  when  he  started  westward  in  search 
of  a favorable  opening.  Locating  at  Dillon,  Montana, 
he  worked  for  John  W.  Lowell  Company  for  a year, 
and  then  embarked  in  business  on  his  own  account, 
organizing  the  Dillon  Lumber  & Grain  Company,  with 
which  he  was  associated  until  1891.  Coming  in  that 
year  to  Missoula,  Mr.  Smead  organized  the  State 
Lumber  Company,  which  operated  mills  in  the  west- 
ern part  of  the  state.  At  the  same  time  he  became 
associated  with  the  develooment  of  the  lum’oer  manu- 
facturing business  at  Kalispell,  IMontana,'  and  with 
the  mining  operations  of  Spring  Gulch.  Disposing  of 
his  interests  in  those  industries  in  the  spring  of  1894, 
Mr.  Smead  was  elected  state  senator,  and  served  ably 
and  satisfactorily  in  the  fourth  and  fifth  sessions  of 
the  state  senate.  Being  then  appointed  United  States 
Indian  agent  at  the  Flathead  reservation,  Mr.  Smead 
filled  the  important  and  responsible  position  for  seven 
years,  performing  the  duties  devolving  upon  him 
faithfully  and  efficiently.  Returning  then  to  Missoula, 
he  has  since  been_  actively  and  successfully  engaged  in 
the  real  estate,  insurance  and  loan  business,  being 
one  of  the  best  known  men  in  his  line  in  the  county. 

Mr.  Smead  married,  in  1886,  Antoinette  C.  Car- 
michael, of  Rockford,  Illinois,  and  into  their  house- 
hold two  children  have  been  born,  namely : Helen  A., 
w'ho  was  graduated  from  the  University  of  Montana; 
and  William  Burton,  engaged  in  business  in  Missoula. 
Mr.  Smead  is  a member  of  the  Missoula  Chamber  of 
Commerce,  and  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Or- 
der of  Elks.  At  the  present  lime  he  is  not  holding  any 
public  office,  but  several  years  since  he  served  ac- 
ceptably on  the  Missoula  board  of  education. 

Gerald  Maitl.ind  Kirwan.  Man}^  of  the  finest 
ranches  of  Custer  county  are  located  on  the  banks  of 
the  Tongue  river,  where  exceptional  advantages  are 
offered  those  engaged  in  the  cattle  and  sheep  business, 
and  among  these  may  be  found  the  well-irrigated  prop- 
erty of  Gerald  Maitland  Kirwan,  a cattleman  of 
nearly  thirty  years  experience.  Mr  Kirwan  came  to 
this  locality  when  the  land  was  practically  in  its  infancy, 
and  during  his  long  residence  here  has  identified  him- 
self with  the  movements  that  have  served  to  develop 
the  natural  resources  of  the  county.  Mr.  Kirwan  is 
a native  of  Scotland,  w^as  born  January  i,  1861,  a son  of 
Charles  and  Matilda  (Maitland)  Kirwan,  both  of 
whom  are  deceased.  Mr.  Kirwan  was  a native  of 
County  _Mayp,  Ireland,  where  he  owned  a large  estate, 
while  his  wife  was  born  in  Scotland.  They  w'ere  the 
parents  of  nine  childreji,  of  whom  seven  are  living, 
Gerald  M.  being  the  youngest. 

Gerald  M._  Kirw'an  was  given  good  educational  ad- 
vantages, being  sent  to  England  to  school,  and  when 
twenty  years  of  age  turned  his  face  to  the  New  World 
and  came  to  the  United  States.  First  locating  in 
Plymouth  county,  Iowa,  he  was  there  successfull}’-  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  stock  raising  until  1884,  which 
year  saw  his  advent  in  Montana.  He  settled  in  Custer 
county  on  the  Tongue  river,  where  he  soon  built  uo  an 
excellent  business,  and  from  1896  until  the  fall  of  1911 
carried  on  operations  on  the  open  range.  At  that  time, 
however,  he  returned  to  his  Tongue  river  property, 
where  he  now  resides.  Mr.  Kirwan  belongs  to  that 
class  of  citizens  who,  coming  to  a new  country,  readily 
adapt  themselves  to  its  habits  and  customs  and  make 
for  the  best  type  of  citizenship.  He  has  been  successful 
in  his  ventures,  due  to  a persistence  of  effort,  and  the 
exercise  of  honorable  business  methods  in  all  his 
dealings  that  have  won  the  confidence  of  those  with 
whom  he  has  come  in  contact.  During  his  residence 
in  Custer  county  he  has  made  numerous  friends. 

On  December  18,  1894,  Mr.  Kirwan  was  married  to 


Miss  Charlotte  Allerton,  a native  of  New  York  City, 
and  they  have  one  son : Gerald. 

WiLLi.wi  D.  Fenner.  It  is  entirely  within  the 
province  of  true  history  to  commemorate  and  perpet- 
uate the  lives  and  character,  the  achievements  and 
honor  of  the  illustrious  citizens  of  the  state.  High  on 
the_  roll  of  those  whose  efforts  have  made  the  history 
of  insurance  in  southwestern  Montana  a work  of  sub- 
stantiality appears  the  name  of  William  D.  Fenner, 
who  is  district  manager  for  the  Equitable  Life  Insur- 
ance Company,  with  headquarters  at  Butte,  Montana. 
Mr.  Fenner  is  strictly  a self-made  man,  his  education 
and  success  in  life  having  been  obtained  through  his 
own  well  directed  efforts.  He  is  an  active  participant 
in  public  affairs  at  Butte,  his  intrinsic  loyalty  to  all 
matters  affecting  the  good  of  the  general  welfare  hav- 
ing ever  been  of  the  most  insistent  order. 

William  Dryden  Fenner  was  born  at  Hillsboro, 
Highland  county,  Ohio,  July  31,  1861.  The  Fenner 
family  is  an  old  settled  one  in  Pennsylvania.  He  is  a 
son  of  John  Dryden  and  Henrietta  (Rhoades)  Fenner, 
both  of  whom  passed  to  the  life  eternal  at  Los  Angeles, 
California,  the  mother  in  i8gi  and  the  father  in  1908, 
whither  they  went  to  spend  the  declining  years  of  their 
lives.  John  D.  Fenner  was  a native  of  Pennsylvania 
and  was  a pioneer  settler  in  Highland  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  followed  farming  and  became  prominent  dur- 
ing the  greater  part  of  his  active  career  and  for  several 
terms  was  the  popular  and  efficient  incumbent  of  the 
office  of  county  assessor  of  Highland  county.  The 
mother  of  John  DrjMen  Fenner  was  a Dryden  of 
Scotch  descent  and  a member  of  one  of  the  leading 
families  of  Virginia.  The  maternal  great-grandmother 
of  William  D.  Fenner  was  a resident  of  Virginia,  and 
a relative  of  Gen.  Arthur  St.  Clair  and  he  a relative 
of  the  Duke  of  Roslyn,  who  possessed,  a large  estate  in 
England.  Thomas  H.  Rhoades,  the  father  of  Henrietta 
Rhoades  and  maternal  grandfather  of  William  D.  Fen- 
ner, came  from  England  of  a family  of  traders  and 
vessel  owners,  and  settled  near  Culpepper  Court  House, 
Virginia,  and  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  Later 
he  removed  to  Hillsboro,  Highland  county,  Ohio,  where 
he  resided  the  rest  of  his  life.  He  and  his  wife  be- 
came the  parents  of  ten  children,  of  whom  William  D. 
was  the  sixth  in  order  of  birth  and  five  of  whom  are 
living  in  igi2. 

To  the  public  schools  of  his  native  place  _ Mr.  Fen- 
ner, of  this  notice,  is  indebted  for  his  preliminary  edu- 
cational training  and  subsequently  he  pursued  a com- 
mercial course  in  the  Nelson  Business  College,  at  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio,  being  graduated  in  the  latter  institution 
in  1876.  He  paid  his  business  college  expenses  with 
money  he  had  earned  himself,  and  after  his  graduation 
accepted  a position  in  the  large  dry  goods  store  _ of 
Rhoades  & Hubbs,  at  Paducah,  Kentucky,  remaining 
with  that  concern ' until  1880.  In  the  latter  year  he 
went  to  Kansas  City,  where  he  secured  a position  in 
the  dry  goods  store  of  Bulline,  Moore  & Emery,  being 
department  manager  for  that  firm  for  the  ensuing  four 
years,  at  the  expiration  of  which  he'came  to  Butte  as 
buyer  for  the  firm  of  Sands  & Boyce.  When  the  Hen- 
nessy  Mercantile  Company  was  founded  in  Butte,  in 
18 — , Mr.  Fenner  succeeded  Sam  Courtney  as  cloak  and 
suit  buyer  for  the  M.  J.  Connell  Company  establishment. 
Subsequently  he  became  general  buyer  for  the  M.  J.  Con- 
nell Company,  retaining  the  latter  position  for  a num- 
ber of  years. 

In  1898  Mr.  Fenner  was  offered  the  position  of  dis- 
trict manager  for  the  Equitable  Life  Insurance  Com- 
pany, his  territory  to  cover  southwestern  Montana  and 
his  headquarters  to  be  at  Butte.  He  accepted  that 
offer,  and  for  the  past  fourteen  years  has  acquitted 
himself  wuth  honor  and  distinction  in  that  capacity. 
Positive  proof  of  his  ability  to  handle  the  business 
entrusted  to  his  care  is  shown  when  it  is  stated  that 


128(5 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


he  has  always  been  a representative  to  the  National 
Insurance  Convention,  that  honor  being  awarded  only 
to  those  agency  managers  and  directors  who  have  se- 
cured the  greatest  amount  of  business.  The  conven- 
tion is  one  of  international  importance  in  the  life  in- 
surance field. 

Mr.  Fenner  has  also  been  a leading  factor  in  many 
positions  of  trust  politically.  He  was  elected  as  aider- 
man  to  represent  the  Fourth  ward  in  Butte,  that  being 
one  of  the  largest  ta.x  paying  districts  in  the  city,  and 
as  the  incumbent  of  that  position  he  fought  honestly, 
conscientiously  and  vigorously  for  the  rights  and  in- 
terests of  his  constituents.  In  1910  he  was  nominated, 
on  the  Republican  ticket,  for  the  office  of  county  treas- 
urer, and  met  defeat  at  the  polls  by  but  seventeen  votes. 
He  has  also  been  requested  to  make  the  run  for  the 
office  of  mayor  of  Butte,  but  has  constantly  refused 
to  do  so.  He  is  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  Republican 
party  in  this  section  of  the  state  and  has  served  as 
chairman  of  the  city  Republican  central  committee. 
There  are  but  few  men  in  Butte  who  are  so  popular 
with  their  fellow  citizens  as  is  Mr.  Fenner.  He  is 
loyal  and  public  spirited  to  an  unusual  degree,  and  no 
matter  projected  for  the  good  of  the  general  welfare 
ever  fails  of  his  heartiest  support. 

For  a number  of  years  Mr.  Fenner  was  a member 
of  the  Clerks’  Union  at  Butte,  but  in  1901  was  obliged 
to  give  up  his  work  connected  with  that  organization 
on  account  of  the  increased  demands  upon  his  time  in 
the  insurance  field.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Woodmen 
of  the  World  and  the  Silver  Bow  Club.  His  favorite 
recreation  is  hunting  for  “big”  game  in  the  mountains, 
and  in  this  connection  he  has  met  with  unusual  success. 

At  Butte,  December  10,  1884,  Mr.  Fenner  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Lulu  C.  Gilbert,  who  was  born  at  Weston, 
Missouri,  July  i,  1863.  Mrs.  Fenner  is  a daughter  of 
William  H.  and  Elizabeth  Jane  Gilbert,  formerly  resi- 
dents of  Leavenworth,  Kansas,  where  their  respective 
deaths  occurred.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fenner  have  one 
daughter,  Willie  Louise  Fenner,  born  April  20,  1893. 
and  graduated  in  the  classical  course  of  the  Butte  high 
school  in  1912. 

Ihua)  F.  Buck  is  one  of  the  younger  enthusiasts  who 
believe  in  the  unlimited  resources  of  the  great  state 
of  Montana,  and  he  has  thus  far  in  his  life  devoted 
himself  to  a field  of  Jabor  which  gives  him  opportunity 
to  assist  in  the  development  and  settling  of  the  Treas- 
ure state.  As  a boy  of  fifteen  he  chose  engineering  for 
his  life  work,  and  though  he  has  not  yet  reached  his 
thirtieth  year,  he  has  placed  to  his  credit  worthy  ac- 
complishments in  his  profession,  and  is  at  present  hold- 
ing the  highly  responsible  position  of  city  engineer  of 
Missoula. 

A native  product  of  the  state,  Mr.  Buck  was  born  in 
Stcvensville,  R.ivalli  county,  Montana,  on  March  i, 
1^4.  Fie  is  the  son  of  Henry  and  Clara  (Elliott)  Buck. 
The  father  was  Iiorn  in  Michigan  and  came  to  Montana 
in  i868.  where  he  has  been  identified  with  the  growth 
and  progress  of  the  state  since  that  time.  He  is  rec- 
ognized as  one  of  the  substantial  pioneers  of  the  state 
and  enjoys  an  honorable  reputation  wherever  he  is 
known.  He  first  settled  in  the  Bitter  Root  valley  and 
for  a number  of  years  followed  various  lines  of  in- 
dustry,— mining,  freighting,  ranching,  etc.  Later  he 
became  interested  in  the  mercantile  business  and  lo- 
cated at  Stevensville.  where  he  continued  until  1911. 
enjoying  a pleasing  degree  of  prosperity.  In  that  year 
he  withdrew  from  the  business,  although  he  still  re- 
tains an  interest  in  it,  and  he  is  now  engaged  in  the 
orchard  business.  His  wife,  who  was  the  daughter  of 
a pioneer  family  of  the  state,  died  in  1879  at  the  age 
of  tliirty-nine  years.  She  left  two  children, — Fred  E. 
of  this  review  ; Clarence,  who  is  a deputy  in  the  office 
of  his  brother,  city  engineer  of  Missoula. 

Lffitil  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age,  Mr.  Buck  attended 


the  public  schools  of  Stevensville,  after  which  he  came 
to  Missoula  and  entered  the  State  University.  He  took 
a three  year  preparatory  course,  which  he  followed 
with  a four  year  collegiate  course,  and  in  1906  he  was 
graduated  from  that  institution,  receiving  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Science  in  Mechanical  Engineering.  For 
one  year  after  his  graduation  he  remained  in  the  uni- 
versity as  instructor  in  the  engineering  department, 
after  which  he  was  sent  out  on  the  Black  Feet  Indian 
Reservation  as  United  States  Deputy  Land  Surveyor, 
which  work  he  continued  in  for  almost  a year.  He  was 
then  transferred  for  a year  to  the  Flat  Head  Indian 
Reservation  as  surveyor  for  the  appraising  commission. 
When  this  work  was  completed  Mr.  Buck  decided  to 
take  a post  graduate  course  in  engineering,  and  he  ac- 
cordingly spent  one  year  in  the  University  of  California 
in  study.  When  he  returned  to  Missoula  he  became 
connected  with  the  W.  FI.  Smead  Locating  Company 
and  was  occupied  in  gathering  information  with  refer- 
ence to  the  Flat  Head  Indian  reservation.  He  con- 
tinued with  the  work  for  about  eighteen  months,  and  in 
June,  1910,  was  appointed  city  engineer  of  Missoula, 
which  office  he  has  held  since  that  time  and  is  still  its 
incumbent.  During  the  time  that  Mr.  Buck  has  been 
acting  in  this  capacity,  many  and  important  are  the  re- 
forms he  has  brought  about  in  the  department.  Previ- 
ous to  his  incumbency  the  office  had  been  conducted 
along  the  line  of  least  resistance,  and  its  duties  dis- 
charged in  a most  perfunctory  manner ; but  the  elec- 
tion of  Mr.  Buck  meant  changes  of  a radical  nature. 
Not  only  has  he  improved  the  work  for  the  city,  but 
he  has  made  a record  for  himself  as  an  engineer  of  abil- 
ity and  as  a safe  man  to  handle  the  affairs  of  the  city 
in  his  line  of  business.  Mr.  Buck  has  introduced  a new 
system  of  street  grades,  and  has  kept  a complete  rec- 
ord of  all  works  performed  since  he  has  been  in  office, 
— a fact  worthy  of  mention  in  the  light  of  the  circum- 
stance that  no  records  were  kept  in  the  office  previous 
to  his  election  to  it.  He  has  compiled  a complete  rec- 
ord of  sidewalk  curbs,  house  numbers,  etc.,  and  he  has 
introduced  a new  system  for  keeping  the  records  of  all 
sewer  cbnnection,  as  well  as  numerous  other  reforms 
of  a similar  nature.  On  the  whole,  his  tenure  of  office 
thus  far  has  been  of  a nature  most  satisfactory  to  the 
citv  and  of  the  greatest  credit  to  himself. 

In  connection  with  his  work  in  the  university,  Mr. 
Buck  has  had  some  interesting  experiences  while  on 
surveying  trips  in  the  northern  part  of  the  state.  On 
one  occasion  he  surveyed  the  battlefield  where  the  Nez 
Perce  Indians  were  captured  by  General  Miles  after 
the  Big  Hole  battle. 

Mr.  Buck  is  of  a particularly  energetic  and  ambitious 
nature,  and  he  has  never  been  an  idler.  As  a small 
boy  he  had  a hobby  for  gardening,  and  in  conjunction 
with  his  school  work  did  a good  deal  of  gardening  in  his 
home  town.  He  gave  his  particular  attention  to  ber- 
ries, and  his  labors  were  so  successful  that  he  was  able 
to  supply  a regular  trade  with  his  berries,  and  he 
earned  considerable  money  in  that  way  up  to  the  time 
of  his  leaving  home  to  attend  the  university. 

Mr.  Buck  is  a stanch  Progressive  and  is  always  ac- 
tive in  the  interests  of  that  party.  He  is  recognized  as 
one  of  the  strong  forces  of  Progressivism  in  his 
district  and  is  known  as  a fighter  of  wit  and  resource 
in  matters  of  a political  nature.  He  is  an  ardent 
sportsman,  and  there  is  no  form  of  sport  that  does 
not  appeal  to  him.  He  loves  horses, — he  rides,  drives, 
shoots  and  fishes.  He  is  a tennis  enthusiast  of  no  small 
ability.  Music,  theatricals,  literature. — all  find  an  ardent 
support  in  him.  He  is  particularly  addicted  to  the 
study  of  scientific  literature  and  has  a splendid  library 
devoted  in  a great  measure  to  scientific  works.  He  is 
a member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  being  associated 
with  the  blue  lod.ge  and  chapter,  and  is  a member  of 
the  Si.ffma  Chi.  his  college  fraternity,  and  the  Silent 
Sentinel,  a local  fraternity. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1287 


Roy  H.  Fuller.  One  of  the  youngest,  if  not  indeed 
the  youngest,  man  Montana  ever  elected  to  fill  the  office 
of  county  treasurer,  Roy  H.  Fuller,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
eight,  has  attained  a certain  distinction  in  a political 
way  and  is  undeniably  one  of  the  most  popular  and 
promising  young  men  of  the  state.  Born  on  October 
31,  1884,  in  Deer  Lodge  Valley,  Montana,  Roy  H.  Fuller 
is  the  son  of  Charles  W.  and  Nellie  B.  (Miller)  Fuller, 
the  father  born  in  Pitkin,  Colorado,  and  the  mother  in 
New  York  City. 

Charles  W.  Fuller  was  a civil  engineer  and  a miner, 
and  he  has  the  distinction  of  having  brought  in  the 
first  steam  sawmill  ever  introduced  into  Montana.  Fie 
has  led  a busy  life  in  the  west,  but  is  now  retired  from 
active  business  pursuits  and  with  his  wife  resides  at 
Cleary,  Alaska. 

When  Roy  H.  Fuller  was  six  years  of  age  he  began 
to  attend  the  Butte  schools  and  he  continued  there  until 
he  was  sixteen  years  of  age,  when  he  was  graduated 
from  the  grammar  school  of  the  city.  He  then  entered 
high  school  at  Sheridan,  Montana,  and  was  nineteen 
years  old  when  he  was  graduated  from  that  school. 
He  then  spent  four  years  in  the  state  college  at  Boze- 
man, Montana,  graduating  in  due  season,  and  work- 
ing his  way  through  college  by  working  Saturdays  and 
Sundays,  and  other  odd  moments,  in  a Bozeman  drug 
store.  When  he  arrived  in  Bozeman  preparatory  to  en- 
tering college,  he  was  equipped  with  fifteen  dollars  in 
cash,  which  represented  his  only  tangible  assets,  but 
the  fund  of  courage  and  determination  which  he  pos- 
sessed, in  conjunction  with  his  splendid  physical  strength 
and  his  alert  and  comprehensive  mind,  made  it  pos- 
sible for  him  to  get  through  his  course  there  in  the 
prescribed  time,  earning  his  own  way  through,  and 
finding  time  for  some  of  the  pleasures  incident  to  col- 
lege life  at  the  same  time.  The  spirit  which  character- 
ized his  college  career  has  been  manifest  in  his  in- 
dependent life  since  then,  and  it  is  safe  to  predict  that 
the  future  of  this  sturdy  young  westerner  holds  many 
surprises  for  those  who  will  watch  his  subsequent 
career. 

Following  his  graduation,  Mr.  Fuller  continued  with 
the  Gallatin  Drug  Company  in  Bozeman  until  1906, 
then  came  to  Havre,  arriving  here  in  April,  and  en- 
tered the  employ  of  the  Havre  Drug  Company.  He  re- 
mained thus  for  four  years  and  in  1910  established  a 
drug  business  in  this  city  on  his  own  responsibility,  and 
has  since  continued  successfully  in  the  enterprise,  which 
is  in  a state  of  constant  development  along  solid  and 
substantial  lines. 

On  November  5,  1912,  Mr.  Fuller  was  elected  county- 
treasurer  of  Hill  county,  and  is  its  first  treasurer,  as 
well  as  the  youngest  man  ever  elected  to  a county 
treasurership  in  the  state  of  Montana. 

On  June  16,  1908,  Mr.  Fuller  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Leona  A.  McClaskey,  the  daughter  of  John 
J.  and  Nora  McClaskey,  of  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  in 
which  city  Mrs.  Fuller  was  reared  and  educated.  She 
followed  her  academic  education  by  a course  of  train- 
ing in  Columbus  Hospital  in  Great  Falls,  Montana,  and 
is  a competent  nurse.  On  January  31,  1910,  a daughter 
was  born  to  i\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Fuller,  named  Catherine 
Margaret. 

Mr.  Fuller  has  a sister  and  brother,  the  former,  Mina 
C,  is  the  wife  of  John  J.  Waylen,  of  Oakland,  Califor- 
nia, and  the  brother.  Dr.  Frank  J.,  resides  in  Long 
Beach,  California. 

The  fraternal  relations  of  Mr.  Fuller  are  represented 
by  his  membership  in  the  Benevolent  Protective  Order 
of  Elks,  lodge  No.  1201,  of  which  he  was  first  sec- 
retary. In  1908  he  was  admitted  to  the  ^Montana  State 
Board  of  Pharmacy  with  the  degree  of  Ph.  C. 

Daniel  McH.  McKay,  M.  D.  Notwithstanding  the 
long  strides  that  have  been  made  in  the  practice  of  the 
healing  art  within  the  past  half  century,  the  discoveries 


of  medical  properties  in  hundreds  of  vegetable  and 
mineral  substances  that  not  many  years  ago  were  not 
included  in  materia  medica  as  remedies  and  barely 
mentioned  in  the  pharmacopeia,  or  laid  dormant  as  far 
as  the  dispensary  is  concerned;  notwithstanding  the 
charlatancy  practiced  by  adventurers  in  the  legitimate 
practice  of  the  art  and  the  quacks  that  claimed  particular 
attention  and  special  gifts  in  the  treatment  of  human 
ills ; and  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  legislatures  have 
found  it  necessary  to  regulate  the  general  practice  by 
the  e.xpulsion  of  diplomaless  pretenders  and  the  regis- 
tration of  legitimate  and  truly  scientific  physicians,  there 
are  some  of  the  latter  who  have  risen  to  eminence 
within  the  field  of  their  actual  labors  and  among  them 
is  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  whose  career  has  been 
that  of  a true  and  conscientious  worker  in  the  sphere 
to  which  he  has  devoted  his  life  and  energy  and  who 
possesses  a profound  knowledge  of  medicine  and  sur- 
gery. 

Dr.  Daniel  McH.  McKay  was  born  in  Marysville, 
Nodaway  countyq  Missouri,  the  date  of  his  nativity 
being  November  24,  1875.  He  resided  in  that  place 
until  about  nine  years  of  age,  when  his  parents  came 
to  Montana,  arriving  on  March  4,  1884,  and  locating 
in  Meagher  county,  where  they  were  to  make  their 
permanent  residence. 

Dr.  McKay  finished  his  public  school  education  in 
the  high  school  of  White  Sulphur  Springs  and  then 
set  out  for  St.  Louis,  where  he  attended  the  jMarion 
Sims  Medical  College,  and  continued  as  a student  there 
for  four  years.  He  graduated  there  in  1897  and  re- 
ceived his  degree.  When  it  came  to  the  point  of  begin- 
ning his  career  in  the  profession  of  his  choice.  Dr. 
McKay  returned  to  Montana  and  located  in  Carbon 
county,  where  he  practiced  for  thirteen  years.  In 
1910,  he  came  to  White  Sulphur  Springs  and  has  taken 
his  place  among  the  representative  citizens.  He  enjoys 
the  confidence  of  the  entire  community;  acute  in  his 
perceptions,  widely  read  in  his  profession,  and  skilful 
in  applying  his  acquirements  to  practical  use,  his  value 
as  a physician  and  surgeon  is  of  the  highest  char- 
acter. He  is  by  no  means  of  the  type  which  is  content 
to  let  well  enough  alone  and  since  leaving  college  has 
taken  a number  of  post-graduate  courses,  which  have 
materially  widened  his  abilities. 

Dr.  McKay  earned  his  first  money  as  a boy  of  about 
the  age  of  sixteen,  working  on  various  Montana  ranches 
during  summer  vacations.  In  identifying  himself  with 
his  present  profession  he  is  following  in  the  paternal 
footsteps,  his  father.  Dr.  D.  McH.  McKay,  Sr.,  having 
practiced  in  Montana  for  many  years.  He  was  born 
in  Halifax,  Nova  Scotia  and  is  a graduate  of  the  Col- 
lege of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  of  Keokuk,  Iowa.  He 
resides  at  present  at  White  Sulphur  Springs.  He  mar- 
ried Hester  Thoroughman  in  Missouri  and  the  demise 
of  this  admirable  lady  occurred  March  19,  1902,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-eight.  There  were  but  two  children  in 
the  elder  McKay  family.  The  subject's  elder  brother, 
Edgar  T.,  resides  in  White  Sulphur  Springs  and  enjoys 
the  esteem  in  w'hich  all  the  members  of  the  familv  are 
held. 

Dr.  McKay  is  a Democrat,  having  paid  allegiance  to 
the  party  of  Jefferson,  Jackson  and  Bryan,  since  his 
earliest  voting  days.  His  professional  duties,  how^ever, 
consumes  so  much  of  his  time  and  strength,  that  the 
honors  and  emoluments  of  office  have  never  appealed 
to  him.  He  is  a disciple  of  Izaak  Walton  and  likes  the 
kitidred  sport  of  hunting,  but  quite  as  highly  esteems  a 
quiet  hour  in  his  library  in  companj-  with  his  favorite 
authors.  Aside  from  his  professional  reference  books, 
he  has  an  excellent  general  library.  He'  feels  for  the 
state  which  has  so  long  been  the  scene  of  his  activities 
a remarkable  loyalty  and  will  admit  no  drawbacks,  his 
enthusiasm  being  of  purer  ray  serene  than  that  of  the 
Englishman  who  sings. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


“With  all  thy  faults  I love  thee  still, 

My  country.” 

Dr.  McKay  was  married  in  Carbon  county,  Montana, 
February  21,  igoo,  his  chosen  lady  being  Lucy  J.  Holt, 
daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  O.  Holt,  of  Boulder,  among 
the  pioneers.  They  share  their  attractive  household 
with  a quartet  of  interesting  children,  as  follows : Hester 
A.,  Daniel  McH.,  Jr.,  both  at  school;  and  Emmet  H. 
and  Marion  C.,  who  are  not  yet  of  years  sufficient  to 
attend  school. 

Charles  H.  Connor  has  been  actively  identilied  with 
the  blacksmith  and  wagon  making  business  since  his 
boyhood,  and  for  the  most  of  the  time  has  been  en- 
gaged in  independent  business  ventures  in  the  line  of 
his  trade.  He  has  been  a resident  of  Montana  since 
1884,  and  of  Choteau  since  1893,  in  all  of  that  time 
having  conducted  a thriving  business  in  the  carriage 
and  wagon  industry. 

Mr.  Connor  was  born  in  Morgan,  Orleans  county, 
Vermont,  on  February  ig,  1852,  and  he  is  the  son  of 
Charles  Chase  Connor,  native  of  New  Hampshire.  He 
also  was  a blacksmith  and  carriage  maker  as  well  as 
being  a wheelwright,  and  he  moved  to  Illinois  in  1857, 
settling  in  Mount  Pleasant,  Brown  county.  He  was  an 
active  Republican  and  in  his  religious  views  was  a First 
Day  Adventist,  t'or  four  years  he  was  postmaster  of 
the  Mount  Pleasant  office,  and  was  in  every  way  a prom- 
inent and  highly  respected  citizen  of  his  community.  Pie 
died  at  his  home  in  that  place  when  he  was  sixty-nine 
years  old.  The  mother  was  Electa  (Bean)  Connor,  a 
Vermonter  by  birth.  She  died  in  September,  1884,  aged 
fifty-two.  She  was  the  mother  of  six  children,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  review  being  the  first  born.  Two  of  the 
six  died  in  infancy. 

Until  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age  Charles  Connor  at- 
tended the  public  schools  of  Mount  Pleasant,  but  his 
education  did  not  cease  with  that  schooling,  as  he  gave 
much  time  to  evening  study  for  a number  of  years  there- 
after, and  in  various  other  ways  continued  his  education. 
On  leaving  school  his  father  taught  him  the  wagon-mak- 
ing and  wheelwright  business,  and  after  several  years  of 
work,  ^was  taken  into  the  business  as  his  father’s  part- 
ner. The  establishment  was  then  located  at  Clayton, 
Illinois,  and  was  one  of  the  largest  concerns  of  its  kind 
in  that  section  of  the  country.  He  continued  with  his 
father  in  the  business  there  for  ten  years,  then  sold  his 
interest  and  removed  to  Bloomfield,  Iowa,  where  he 
worked  for  Wallise  & Langenstein  for  three  years.  He 
m.oved  on  to  Montana,  arriving  in  Helena  on  September 
4,  1884.  He  made  his  home  in  Helena  for  nine  years, 
seven  years  of  that  time  being  in  the  employ  of  the 
Weisenheim  Carriage  Company  and  two  years  with 
other  concerns.  He  then  moved  to  Choteau,  his  iden- 
tification with  this  place  beginning  on  April  12,  1893, 
where  after  a space  of  six  weeks  in  the  employ  of  J.  E. 
Webb,  the  pioneer  wagon-maker  of  the  place,  Mr.  Con- 
nor traded  his  Helena  property  for  the  business  of  Mr. 
Webb.  It  was  a small  one-story  shop,  20x34  Net,  and 
since  he  became  the  owner  he  has  enlarged  it  consider- 
ably, the  present  shop  being  50x120  in  size,  and  a two- 
story  structure.  In  addition  to  his  smithing  business,  Mr. 
Connor  engaged  in  the  undertaking  business  in  Cho- 
teau, in  which  he  has  been  especially  successful.  He 
has  established  a branch  of  the  business  at  Conrad, 
where  he  has  a fine,  up-to-date  place,  thriving  under 
the  efficient  management  of  R.  A.  Eahrart. 

Mr.  Connor  is  serving  his  sixth  year  as  coroner  of 
the  county,  being  last  elected  by  a majority  of  320.  Pie 
is  a Republican  and  takes  an  active  part  in  the  political 
affairs  of  the  city  and  county.  In  addition  to  his  other 
property  holdings,  Mr.  Connor  is  the  owner  of  a fine 
homestead  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  where  he 
raises  horses  to  some  extent. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Connor  is  a member  of  the  Independ- 


ent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  being  affiliated  with  the 
order  since  1872,  and  secretary  of  his  lodge  for  nine 
consecutive  years.  He  was  a member  of  the  Illinois 
State  Guards  for  a year  and  a half  before  moving  to 
Iowa.  ; In  his  religious  belief  he  is  a member  of  the 
Christian  church. 

On  May  5,  1889,  Mr.  Connor  was  united  in  marriage 
at  Bozeman,  Montana,  to  Miss  Mary  J.  West,  the  daugh- 
ter of  John  West,  a native  of  Tennessee.  Two  sons 
have  been  born  to  their  union,  Alden  R.,  born  in 
Helena  on  December  31,  1891,  and  Vivian  S,,  born  in 
Choteau,  October  19,  1893. 

John  R.  Toole. 

“His  life  was  gentle;  and  the  elements 

So  mixed  in  him,  that  Nature  might  stand  up 

And  say  to  all  the  world,  ‘This  was  a man!’” 

When  he  was  35  years  old  John  R.  Toole  became  a 
citizen  of  Montana.  He  was  born  July  3,  1849,  in 
Aroostook  county,  Maine.  The  years  of  his  boyhood 
and  youth  were  passed  in  Madison,  Wis.  There  he 
was  educated  and,  at  the  age  of  25,  he  started  west- 
ward. In  Utah  he  engaged  in  mining  operations  and, 
five  years  later,  Idaho  attracted  him.  He  won  an 
excellent  name  in  the  management  of  mining  proper- 
ties and  his  association  with  men  then  engaged  in 
large  operations  in  Butte  resulted  in  the  transfer  of 
his  residence  to  Montana,  and  in  1884  Anaconda  be- 
came his  home.  At  once  he  assumed  charge  there  of 
important  interests  connected  with  the  operations  of 
the  Anaconda  Copper  Mining  Company.  During  sev- 
eral years  he  was  a trusted  specialist  in  the  exploration 
of  mining  properties  in  Montana  and  elsewhere. 

Mr.  Toole’s  ability  in  an  executive  way  firmly  estab- 
lished him  m the  good  will  of  those  with  whom  he 
sustained  business  relations.  He  enjoyed  the  warm 
esteem  and  the  complete  confidence  of  Marcus  Daly, 
then  the  central  figure  in  Montana’s  mining  operations. 
He  rapidly  took  a place  of  influence  in  Anaconda  and 
shared  generously  in  the  promotion  of  its  municipal 
and  civic  affairs.  He  displayed  tact  and  good  judg- 
ment and  a willingness  to  help  every  useful  work;  he 
served  unselfishly  in  every  good  cause.  His  genial 
traits  commended  him  to  the  good  will  of  his  towns- 
men. They  placed  the  utmost  confidence  in  his  integ- 
rity, they  listened  cheerfully  to  his  counsel ; his  per- 
sonal worth  won  their  respect. 

Mr.  Toole  took,  during  several  years,  an  active  share 
in  politics.  He  served  two  terms  in  the  territorial 
legislature;  he  was  an  influential  member  in  the  con- 
vention that  framed  the  constitution  of  Montana.  Un- 
der statehood  he  was  a leader  in  three  legislative  ses- 
sions. During  the  excitement  that  marked  Montana’s 
early  career  in  statehood  Mr.  Toole  was  conspicuously 
prominent  in  political  and  public  affairs.  He  was  recog- 
nized as  an  adroit  organizer;  he  was  an  intrepid 
fighter;  he  put  the  courage  of  his  convictions  into 
every  struggle,  and  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  scoring 
an  unusual  number  of  successes.  His  singular  good 
fortune  is  that,  when  the  trouble  ceased  and  Montana 
was  at  peace,  there  was  cordial  recognition,  by  those 
with  whom  he  had  clashed,  of  honorable  methods  and 
fair  fighting.  First  and  last,  through  it  all,  Mr.  Toole 
had,  in  fact,  no  relish  for  politics  or  liking  whatever 
for  publicity  or  controversy.  He  was  glad  to  escape 
from  the  arena  of  contention. 

Several  years  ago  Mr.  Toole  assumed  the  office  and 
duties  of  president  of  the  Big  Blackfoot  Milling  Com- 
pany, which  has  vast  business  in  connection  with  the 
operations  of  the  Anaconda  Copper  Mining  Company, 
centered  at  Missoula.  During  ten  years  he  was  presi- 
dent of  the  Daly  Bank  & Trust  Company  at  Anaconda. 
He  gave  up  the  responsibilities  of  that  office,  but  he 
continued  to  be  an  officer  and  stockholder  in  that  bank. 
In  recent  years  Mr.  Toole  also  has  engaged  in  rail- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1289 


road  construction  and  has  completed  several  large 
contracts. 

Spite  of  the  routine  of  large  responsibilities,  Mr.  Toole 
finds  in  recent  years  more  or  less  of  leisure  for  the 
things  that  are  most  congenial  for  a man  of  his  men- 
tal turn.  Life’s  higher  and  better  pursuits  have  an 
unfailing  attraction  for  him.  He  is  an  industrious  and 
a discerning  student  of  the  subjects  that  tend  toward 
intellectual  and  spiritual  uplift.  Mentally  of  reflec- 
tive bent,  he  has  a keen  appreciation  of  that  which  is 
helpful  and  a fondness,  in  reading  and  study,  for  the 
things  that  mean  infinitely  more  than  mdre  material 
well-being.  He  is  blessed  with  the  temperament  of 
an  optimist;  he  can  take  a broad  view  of  matters  relat- 
ing to  mankind’s  good;  he  is  willingly  helpful;  he  is 
a delightful  companion,  a sturdy  advocate  of  that 
which  he  believes  to  be  right,  a loyal  friend,  an  upright, 
high-minded  citizen,  a genial  gentleman  whose  impulses 
are  right.  In  his  beautiful  home  in  Missoula  are  cen- 
tered his  affections ; in  Montana  is  not  found  a more 
attractive  fireside  than  his. 

In  1882  Mr.  Toole  married  Miss  Anne  Hardenbrook, 
a daughter  of  Dr.  Allen  Hardenbrook,  long  a high- 
ranking  physician  and  one  of  Montana’s  pioneers,  whose 
declining  days  are  spent  at  his  daughter’s  home.  The 
family  circle  includes  six  children ; Nora,  the  eldest 
of  the  number,  is  the  wife  of  J.  M.  Clifton  of  Missoula; 
Thula  is  the  wife  of  George  Weisel,  of  Missoula; 
Allen  H.  is  a railroad  contractor  in  Idaho ; John  How- 
ard is  a student  in  the  University  of  Virginia;  .Brice 
attends  the  Missoula  high  school,  and  John  R.,  Jr.,  is 
a member  of  the  parental  household. 

Maxmilian  Lauterbach.  Montana,  like  many  of  her 
sister  states,  claims  innumerable  men  who  have  achieved 
honorable  distinction  in  their  chosen  field  of  activity, 
carving  out  their  fortunes  with  no  other  assets  at  their 
disposal  than  the  splendid  courage,  determination  and 
energy  that  was  inherent  within  them.  The  case  of 
Maxmilian  Lauterbach  is  not,  therefore,  cited  as  an 
exceptional  one,  but  as  another  pre-eminently  \vorthy 
of  mention  among  that  long  list  of  conquerors  in  the 
industrial  and  financial  world.  Such  as  he  have  made 
possible  the  phenomenal  development  which  Montana 
and  other  western  states  have  experienced  in  the  past 
twenty  years,  and  it  is  highly  consistent  with  the  spirit 
and  purpose  of  this  publication  that  specific  tribute  be 
paid  to  him  in  this  work.  From  the  day  laborer  Max 
Lauterbach  has  risen  to  the  position  of  one  of  Mon- 
tana’s leading  stockmen,  and  his  accomplishments  along 
industrial  and  financial  lines  could  not  be  recited  with 
a minimum  of  words. 

Maxmilian  Lauterbach,  familiarly  known  as  “Max,” 
was  born  in  Bavaria  on  May  16,  1859,  and  is  a son  of 
Michael  and  Katherine  (Grimm)  Lauterbach.  Up  to 
the  age  of  thirteen  years  the  boy  attended  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  country,  the  last  two  years  of  that 
time  being  spent  in  the  home  of  relatives  who  took 
charge  of  him  and  sent  him  to  school.  When  he  was 
thirteen  he  was  apprenticed  to  the  baker’s  trade,  and 
having  completed  the  term  of  his  apprenticeship  worked 
for  some  time  at  the  trade.  He  was  employed  in  vari- 
ous German  cities,  in  Munich  among  others,  and  his 
work  in  the  bakery  business  occupied  his  attention  un- 
til he  was  about  twenty  years  old.  It  was  then  that  the 
stirrings  of  ambition  within  him  began  to  make  them- 
selves felt,  and  the  clarion  call  of  opportunity  wh'ch 
America  has  sent  out  to  ambitious  men  since  she  has 
existed  as  a nation  was  all-sufficient  to  cause  him  to 
leave  his  home  and  native  land,  abandon  the  work  he 
had  continued  in  for  years,  and  seek  a better  chance 
in  America.  Thus  it  was  that  Max  Lauterbach  found 
himself  in  the  city  of  New  York  in  1870,  on  the  24th 
day  of  August,  with  the  sum  of  three  silver  dollars  in 
his  pockets.  He  was  a stranger.  No  words  could  am- 
plify that  statement  for  one  who  has  experienced  the 


weight  of  depression  that  attends  the  advent  of  the  lone 
person  into  a new  country,  without  a knowledge  of  the 
jirevailing  tongue,  and  without  money — that  open  sesame 
to  every  door.  But  Max  Lauterbach  was  not  one  to 
stand  idly  about  in  his  discomfiture.  His  German  blood 
and  training  came  readily  to  the  surface  and  he  philosoph- 
ically set  about  making  a living  in  his  new  surround- 
ings. In  December,  1879,  he  enlisted  for  service  in  the 
United  States  military  department  of  the  regular  army, 
and  in  the  following  spring  was  sent  with  his  regi- 
ment to  the  Bad  Lands  of  North  Dakota,  thence  to 
Colorado,  and  still  later  to  Idaho  and  Utah.  While  he 
was  stationed  at  Idaho  he  was  sent  to  a military  school 
at  Omaha,  Nebraska,  for  seven  months.  Mr.  Lauter- 
bach saw  some  service  in  North  Dakota  and  Colorado, 
and  when  his  term  of  enlistment  expired,  he  was  dis- 
charged from  the  regular  service  on  December  7,  1884, 
coming  to  Montana  in  the  same  year  and  locating  at 
Dillon  in  1885. 

After  settling  in  Dillon,  Mr.  Lauterbach  worked  for 
the  Oregon  Short  Line  Railroad  for  some  little  time, 
for  a wage  of  two  dollars  a day,  and  after  a little  was 
able  to  engage  in  the  sheep  and  stock  business  in  a 
small  way,  his  savings  from  his  military  and  railroad 
service  making  the  venture  possible.  From  then  on  his 
success  was  assured.  His  undertakings  met  with  the 
most  pronounced  success,  and  he  added  to  his  holdings 
from  time  to  time  until  at  one  period  in  his  career  he 
was  the  owner  of  as  high  as  8,300  acres  of  ranch  land 
in  Madison  county,  with  flocks  accordingly.  He  did  not 
retain  this  acreage,  however,  and  today  his  land  hold- 
ings do  not  exceed  2.500  acres,  but  sufficient  for  his 
purpose.  His  principal  ranches  were,  and  are  yet,  lo- 
cated in  Madison  county.  He  has  real  estate  inter- 
ests in  many  places  in  Madison  and  other  counties, 
and  altogether  his  property  accumulations  place  him 
among  the  wealthy  men  of  the  county.  All  this  has 
been  accomplished  since  1885,  when  he  was  working  at  a 
daily  wage  in  Dillon. 

Mr.  Lauterbach  early  embraced  the  cause  of  the  Re- 
publican party  and  has  always  been  an  ardent  supporter 
of  its  principles  until  the  campaign  of  1912,  when  he 
gave  his  aid  to  the  Progressive  party,  a fact  which  may 
be  partly  accounted  for  by  reason  of  his  great  admira- 
tion for  Theodore  Roosevelt. 

In  1884  Mr.  Lauterbach  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Mrs.  Josephine  (Gunderson)  Fritz,  a native  daughter 
of  Christiania,  Norway.  Mr.  Lauterbach  is  a member 
of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the 
Benevolent  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  but  has  no  fra- 
ternal affiliations  beyond  those  orders.  He  maintains 
a high  place  socially  and  in  a business  way  in  and  about 
Dillon,  and  is  everywhere  regarded  as  one  of  the  live 
and  progressive  men  of  the  county,  who  has  demon- 
strated the  high  order  of  his  citizenship  in  manifold 
ways. 

Harry  W.  Millard.  The  late  Harry  W.  Millard,  for 
many  years  identified  with  the  coal  mining  business  of 
Montana,  was  a native  of  England.  He  came  to 
America  in  his  young  manhood,  locating  in  Montana, 
and  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  Belt.  As  a young 
man  in  England  he  had  worked  in  the  mines,  and  in 
Montana  he  saw  an  opportunity  to  become  an  inde- 
pendent miner.  He  accordingly  preempted  a forty-acre 
tract  of  coal  land  from  the  government,  for  which  he 
paid  the  sum  of  twenty  dollars  per  acre,  and  engaged 
in  mining  in  a small  way.  His  operations  increased 
with  the  passing  years,  however.  The  present  output 
of  the  property  is  about  thirty-five  tons  daily.  Mr. 
Millard  died  in  1911,  leaving  the  management  of  his 
property  to  his  sons.  He  was  one  of  the  prominent 
men  of  this  section  of  the  country,  and  in  addition  to 
his  mining  interests  was  engaged  in  the  ranch  busi- 
ness, his  ranch  at  one  time  being  represented  by  what 
is  now  the  town  site  of  Belt.  He  was  a member  of 


1290 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


the  Belt  school  board  for  years,  and  was  m every  way 
an  estimable  and  valued  citizen,  his  death  proving  a 
distinct  loss  to  the  community  which  had  represented 
his  home  and  the  center  of  his  business  activities  for 
so  many  vears.  . r ^ , 

Mr  Millard  married  Margaret  Atkinson,  of  Coal 
Valley,  Rock  Island  county,  Illinois,  and  they  became 
the  parents  of  eleven  children,  all  of  whom  are  living. 

Henry  VV.  Millard,  the  fifth  born  of  that  number, 
has  been  the  manager  of  the  business  since  1900.  He 
was  born  in  Belt,  Montana,  on  September  20,  1884, 
and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  this  town. 
His  education  was  of  a rather  meagre  order,  however, 
,is  he  left  school  in  his  si.xteenth  year,  when  he  was  a 
ninth-grade  student.  He  immediately  entered  the  busi- 
ness which  his  father  had  been  engaged  in  for  so 
many  years,  and  soon  became  so  proficient  in  his_ 
knowledge  of-  details  that  he  was  made  manager  of 
the  works,  a position  in  which  he  has  continued  since 
then.  Mr.  Millard  is  identified  fraternally  with  a num- 
ber of  societies,  among  them  being  the  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America.  He  is  a member  of  the  Belt  Com- 
mercial Club  and  of  the  Episcopal  church.  He  is  a 
Republican,  but  takes  no  active  part  in  the  political 
affairs  of  the  county. 

Mr.  Millard  was  married  in  Great  Falls,  Montana, 
to  Miss  Helen  McHardie,  the  daughter  of  W.  A.  Mc- 
Hardie.  Three  children  have  been  born  to  them : Ralph 
Leroy,  Fern  Minnie  and  Harry  William. 

Mr.  Millard  occupies  a place  of  confidence  and 
esteem  in  the  community  which  represents  the  town  of 
his  nativity,  and  is  a citizen  of  a high  order,  assuming 
at  all  times  his  share  of  the  civic  burdens,  and  proving 
himself  in  all  things  the  worthy  son  of  a worthy  father. 

Dr.  Edward  A.  Long  is  a westerner  by  birth  as  he 
began  his  course  in  this  sphere  of  existence  at  Benton, 
California,  on  February  17,  1874.  He  resided  there 
until  he  was  eight  years  of  age  when  his  parents  decided 
to  go  back  to  the  east.  A two-year  stay  across  the  range 
convinced  the  elder  Longs  that  they  had  the  western 
habit  and  so  they  came  to  Montana  in  1884  and  have 
since  that  date  made  their  home  in  the  Treasure  state. 

Jacob  S.  Long  was  a Canadian,  born  in  Hamilton, 
Ontario.  lie  immigrated  to  the  states  when  a young 
man  and  in  La  Salle,  Illinois,  met  the  young  lady  who 
became  his  wife.  This  was  Miss  Elizabeth  Miles,  known 
to  the  citizens  of  Lewistown,  and  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Long, 
as  she  has  made  her  home  with  the  doctor  since  the 
death  of  her  husband  in  1892.  The  only  other  member 
of  the  Long  family  is  Arthur,  now  acting  as  assistant 
to  Dr.  Edward  Long.  The  father  settled  in  Butte  City 
when  he  came  to  Montana  and  there  engaged  in  mining 
until  his  death  at  the  age  of  forty-five. 

Edward  Long  received  the  most  of  his  education  in 
Butte.  He  secured  his  first  salaried  job  there  too. 
This  was  distributing  papers  for  the  Anaconda  Standard, 
for  which  he  was  paid  two  and  a half  dollars  a week. 
When  he  finished  the  public  school  work,  Mr.  Long 
began  the  study  of  dentistry  and  later  set  up  an  office 
of  his  own  in  Butte.  After  a few  years  there  Doctor 
Long  went  to  Neihart  and  began  a tentative  practice 
there.  He  decided  that  he  did  not  care  to  locate  there 
permanently  and  so  came  to  Lewistown,  where  he  has 
been  for  fourteen  years.  In  this  time  he  has  built  up 
one  of  the  largest  practices  in  this  district  and  has  es- 
tablished a reputation  for  expert  work  which  is  a just 
measure  of  his  professional  ability.  He  is  counted 
one  of  the  leading  practitioners  in  the  county  and  both 
as  a citizen  and  a doctor  stands  in  the  company  of  the 
foremost. 

In  i8q9  Doctor  Long  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
klabel  Lathrop  of  Lewistown.  She  is  the  daughter  of 
Edward  and  Anna  Lathrop  of  this  city  and  a young 
woman  fitted  in  all  respects  to  preside  over  the  doctor’s 
home.  Their  only  child.  Miss  Retha  Long,  is  going  to 


school  in  Lewistown.  Mrs.  Long  shares  her  husband’s 
fondness  for  music  at  the  theater  as  well  as  for  reading 
A fine  library  is  one  of  the  attractive  features  of  their 
home,  and  the  books  are  not  merely  articles  of  furni- 
ture, but  bear  evidence  of  frequent  usage.  Doctor  Long 
particularly  enjoys  a base  ball  game  although  there  is 
no  sport  of  which  he  is  not  fond. 

In  church  matters,  both  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Long  prefer 
the  Catholic  faith,  although  they  are  not  members  of 
that  communion.  The  doctor  belongs  to  the  Elks  and 
to  the  Red  Men.  He  is  not  at  all  interested  in  politics 
for  his  profession  is  not  one  which  invites  participation 
in  that  interesting  game,  and  his  work  is  the  main 
consideration  with  Doctor  Long.  His  success  has  been 
M his  own  building  and  he  worked  without  assistance. 
He  has  acquired  a competence  and  attained  eminence  in 
his  chosen  calling  and  this  while  still  in  the  ranks  of 
the  young  men. 

WiLLi.-^M  Walsh.  Born  in  Jo  Daviess  county,  Illinois 
a region  of  mines,  the  State  Mine  Inspector  of  Mon- 
tana has  literally  spent  his  entire  life  in  and  around 
mines.  His  father,  also  William  Walsh,  was  a native 
of  Ireland,  who  came  to  America  before  his  marriage 
and  settled  in  Boston.  From  there  he  went  to  Illinois, 
and  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life  at  mining  opera- 
tions, working  in  Illinois  and  Michigan,  and  also  in 
the  coal  mines  of  Iowa.  His  religion  was  the  Roman 
Catholic  faith,  in  which  his  seven  children  were  also 
brought  up.  He  was  a man  who  was  interested  in 
politics  and  public  affairs.  While  living  in  Jo  Daviess 
county  he  acted  as  county  commissioner,  was  school 
trustee,  and  held  a number  of  minor  public  offices.  His 
politics  were  Democratic  and  he  worked  ardently  for  the 
success  of  his  organization.  At  the  age  of  seventy- 
seven  he  passed  away  at  Maquoketa,  Iowa,  in  the  year 
1879.  His  wife  was  Julia,  daughter  of  James  O’Brien, 
a native  of  Ireland,  who  came  with  her  parents  to 
America  when  she  was  sixteen  years  old.  Her  marriage 
to  Mr.  Walsh  took  place  in  Boston  and  she  survived 
her  husband  eleven  years.  At  the  time  of  her  death 
she  was  living  in  Butte  with  her  son,  William  Walsh, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

The  date  of  William,  Junior’s,  birth  was  June  22, 
1859.  There  were  four  in  the  family  older  than  he 
and  two  were  born  later.  He  went  to  school  in  Galena, 
Illinois,  completing  both  the  common  school  course 
and  that  of  the  high  school,  graduating  in  the  class 
of  1876.  Flis  first  position  as  a wage  earner  was  in 
the  coal  mines  of  La  Salle,  Illinois,  and  he  began  as  a 
driver.  He  did  not  remain  in  the  coal  mines  for  a 
long  time,  but  went  into  the  lead  district  in  northern 
Illinois.  For  thirty-five  years  he  was  a practical  miner 
and  in  that  period  he  acquired  experience  in  every 
branch  of  work  “in  the  ground.”  From  Illinois  with 
her  coal  and  lead  veins,  he  went  to  Michigan  and  there 
worked  in  the  copper  mines.  Then  he  learned  the  ways 
of  the  iron  mines  of  Wisconsin.  Coming  to  the  west, 
he  worked  in  the  silver  mines  of  Colorado,  and  also  in 
the  lead  mines  in  that  state,  then  to  Utah,  another 
silver  state.  In  Montana  he  worked  in  both  the  silver 
and  the  copper  mines,  while  his  experience  as  a gold 
miner  was  gained  in  Colorado,  Idaho  and  Montana. 

The  positions  which  Mr.  Walsh  has  filled  are  as  all- 
including  as  the  districts  in  which  he  has  operated.  He 
has  been  everything  from  shaft  boss  to  superintendent 
of  the  largest  mines  in  the  west.  There  is  no  phase 
of  mine  work  with  which  he  is  not  familiar,  and  no 
hazard  in  that  vicissitudinous  occupation  which  he  has 
not  taken.  Not  only  has  Mr.  Walsh  been  employed  in 
every  capacity  as  a mine  worker,  but  he  has  owned  and 
operated  his  own  mines,  and  so  knows  the  beginning 
and  the  ending  of  the  matter.  Since  1885  he 
has  made  his  home  in  Butte.  Since  1904  his  office  has 
been  at  the  capital  building  in  Helena,  for  in  that  year 
he  was  appointed  state  mine  inspector  under  Governor 


1'^ 


.V 


' «■ 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1291 


Toole,  and  he  has  filled  the  office  ever  since,  being  re- 
appointed under  Governor  Norris.  During  his  incum- 
bency Mr.  Walsh  has  labored  unceasingly  for  legisla- 
tion requiring  ventilation  and  proper  sanitation  in  the 
quartz  mines,  and  his  efforts  have  been  crowned  with 
gratifying  results.  His  complete  knowledge  of  the 
matter  of  which  he  is  in  charge  makes  his  work  of  the 
highest  value  to  all  concerned,  and  his  heart  is  all  in 
the  betterment  of  conditions  in  this  great  industry  of 
the  Treasure  state. 

Mr.  Walsh  has  been  secretary  of  the  Western  Fed- 
eration of  Miners,  and  held  the  same  office  in  the 
National  Association.  For  two  terms  he  was  a mem- 
ber of  the  executive  board  of  the  national  body,  whose 
headquarters  are  at  Denver,  Colorado.  For  three  terms 
he  was  president  of  the  Butte  Miners’  Union.  He  is 
like  his  father  in  his  political  views,  and,  also  like  him, 
he  is  a worker  in  the  party. 

In  amusements  Mr.  Walsh  confesses  to  having  no 
favorite  ways  of  employing  his  rather  abbreviated 
leisure.  Such  as  is  vouchsafed  to  him  he  prefers  to 
spend  at  home  with  his  family.  Mrs.  Walsh  is  a native 
of  Illinois  and  was  married  there  in  the  city  of  Galena. 
Her  maiden  name  was  Mary  McGuire,  and  she  is  the 
daughter  of  Hugh  McGuire  of  Jo  Daviess  countjq 
Illinois.  There  are  five  children  in  the  Walsh  family, 
all  of  whom  are  living  in  Montana.  William  the  eldest, 
was  born  at  Galena  and  is  a machinist  by  profession. 
Nellie,  the  only  daughter,  is  married,  her  husband 
being  Paul  O’Gorman,  of  Butte.  Roy  Walsh  is  learning 
the  trade  of  a boiler  maker,  Frank,  that  of  a blacksmith, 
and  Vincent,  the  youngest,  is  now  a high  school  student. 
He  is  preparing  to  do  scientific  or  mechanical  work,  and 
to  this  end  is  pursuing  a scientific  course  in  school.  Mr. 
Walsh  intends  that  his  sons  shall  grow  up  to  be  useful 
members  of  a busy  community,  able  to  use  both  their 
hands  and  their  heads.  He  has  made  each  work  for  his 
own  advancement,  and  as  they  have  been  his  sole 
helpers  in  achieving  his  success  and  placing  him  in  his 
honored  and  responsible  position,  it  is  inevitable  that 
he  should  have  all  confidence  in  their  value. 

James  C.  Brooks.  Probably  no  better  example  of  the 
opportunities  held  out  to  the  youth  of  our  land  in  the 
growing  west  could  be  found  than  the  career  of  James 
C.  Brooks,  ranchman  and  highly  esteemed  citizen  of 
Thirteen  Mile  creek,  who  has  experienced  all  the  dif- 
ficulties attendant  upon  the  early  settlement  of  a local- 
ity since  become  populous  and  prosperous.  Mr.  Brooks 
is  another  energetic  and  enterprising  citizen  given  to 
Montana  by  the  state  of  Iowa,  having  been  born  on  his 
father’s  farm  in  Fayette  county,  August  28,  1857,  a son 
of  Chauncy  and  Hannah  (Casebeer)  Brooks.  His  father 
migrated  from  the  east  to  Iowa  about  the  year  1847, 
settling  in  Linn  county  as  a pioneer,  and  subsequently 
removing  to  Fayette  county,  where  he  continued  to  en- 
gage in  agricultural  pursuits  throughout  his  life,  dying 
at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-three  years.  The  mother 
passed  away  when  forty-five  years  of  age,  having  had 
three  sons  and  six  daughters. 

James  C.  Brooks,  who  was  the  sixth  of  his  parents’ 
nine  children,  divided  his  youth  between  the  common' 
schools  of  Fayette  county  and  his  father’s  farm,  like 
most  youths  of  his  day  and  locality  receiving  his  mental 
training  while  his  bodily  needs  were  being  attended  to, 
and  thus  being  fitted  mentally  and  physically  to  follow 
the  vocation  of  agriculturist.  He  remained  on  the  home 
farm  assisting  his  father  until  1880,  and  in  1885  came 
to  Montana  and  settled  in  Dawson  countv.  For  some 
time  he  worked  out  on  ranches,  and  was  in  the  employ 
of  Douglas  Mead,  of  Glendive,  for  one  and  one-half 
years,  then  taking  up  a homestead  of  160  acres  on 
Thirteen  Mile  creek,  tw'enty-two  miles  northeast  of 
Glendive,  where  he  now  owns  two  sections  of  land. 
His  start  was  an  unpretentious  one.  but  industry,  per- 
severance and  inherent  ability  have  made  Mr.  Brooks 


one  of  the  leading  horse  raisers  of  'his  part  of  the 
county,  and  his  ranch  is  a modern  one  in  every  re- 
spect, having  a handsome  residence  and  good  improve- 
ments of  every  kind.  An  alert,  far-seeing  business  man, 
he  has  been  at  all  times  ready  to  grasp  favorable  op- 
portunities, but  his  dealings  have  been  of  a strictly 
legitimate  nature,  and  he  has  thus  gained  and  retained 
the  confidence  of  all  who  have  come  into  contact  with 
him  in  a business  way.  During  his  more  than  a quarter 
of  century  of  residence  in  Dawson  county  he  has  built 
up  a wide  acquaintance,  among  which  he  numbers 
numerous  w'arm  friends. 

Prior  to  coming  to  the  west  i\Ir.  Brooks  was  married 
in  1880,  in  Iowa,  to  IMiss  Sallie  E.  Brooks,  who,  while 
bearing  the  same  name,  was  not  related  to  him,  she 
being  a daughter  of  David  and  Lucretia  (Hendrick- 
son) Brooks,  early  settlers  of  the  Hawkeye  state.  Mrs. 
Brooks  died  September  17,  1910,  having  been  the  mother 
of  one  daughter,  Olive,  who  is  being  educated  in  the 
schools  of  Cedar  Falls,  Iowa.  Mrs.  Brooks  was  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  while 
Mr.  Brooks  holds  membership  in  no  particular  denomi- 
nation, he  is  a liberal  supporter  of  religious  and  charit- 
able movements.  Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  the 
Ancient  Order  of  LTnited  Workmen.  He  is  a sup- 
porter of  Republican  principles  and  candidates,  but  has 
taken  no  active  part  in  political  matters,  having  been  to& 
busily  engaged  with  his  business  affairs.  His  post- 
office  address  is  at  the  town  of  Intake. 

JoHisr  D.  IMcLeod,  a canny  Scotchman  of  Canadian 
birth,  bears  a name,  of  recent  years  made  famous  by 
one  of  his  lamented  clansmen ; one  who  is  blessed  not 
only  with  the  gift  of  expression,  but  whose  heart 
responds  to  the  beauty  of  the  Scotch  heath  and  whose- 
great  human  insight  permits  him  to  read  the  soul,  even 
of  the  cautious  and  noncommittal  Scot.  Like  the  great 
literateur,  the  subject  of  our  sketch  has  lived  most 
of  his  life  in  the  open  where  no  mood  of  nature  es- 
capes his  notice.  His  love  of  literature  finds  expression, 
not  in  its  creation  but  in  its  consumption  if  such  an 
expression  be  permissible;  surely  in  its  appreciation, 
for  John  D.  McLeod  is  an  intelligent  and  constant 
reader. 

Mr.  McLeod  was  born  on  Prince  Edwards  Island  on 
the  eighteenth  day  of  June,  i860,  his  father,  Donald  N. 
McLeod  having  been  brought  thither  from  Scotland 
when  only  eight  years  of  age.  Here  on  this  small 
Canadian  island  he  lived  on  his  father’s  farm  until 
time  to  own  and  cultivate  a homestead  of  his  own. 
His  was  shared  by  Miss  Janet  McLean,  also  of  Scotch 
origin,  whom  he  married  in  1859.  Nine  children  were 
born  to  these  wholesome,  nature  loving  people,  con- 
tented in  their  northern  island  home,  of  whom  John  D. 
is  the  oldest.  Next  came  three  brothers,  William,  Nor- 
man and  Malcolm,  followed  by  three  sisters,  Isabella, 
Mary  Ann  and  Christine.  Of  the  nine,  who  are  all 
living  clean  and  useful  lives.  Alexander  and  John  are 
the  youngest.  Malcom  and  Alexander,  reside  at  Man- 
hattan, Montana;  Christine  resides  in  Helena  and  Wil- 
liam at  Goldfield,  Nevada,  while  the  remainder  with 
the  exception  of  the  oldest  brother,  are  still  British 
subjects  living  in  Canadian  territory.  The  father  passed 
away  in  December,  1911,  having  lived  to  a good  old 
age  in  the  useful  sphere  where  he  seemed  meant  to 
demonstrate  the  example  of  the  simple  life  well  lived. 
His  good  wife  survived  him  only  two  months,  passing 
away  in  February,  1912. 

John  D.  McLeod,  the  first  born  of  the  family,  lived 
with  his  parents  and  attended  the  grade  schools  and 
the  high  school  on  the  island  until  his  seventeenth  year, 
when  he  began  to  earn  his  own  expenses  by  fishing  dur- 
ing the  summer  months  that  he  might  continue  his  stud- 
ies in  the  winter.  He  chose  to  spend  much  of  the  four 
years  of  advanced  study  in  fitting  himself  for  a civil 
engineer.  At  the  age  of  twenty-three,  he  became  an 


1:^92 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


expert  surveyor,  laying  out  many  towns  in  the  Dakotas 
and  afterward  aiding  with  the  railroad  survey  through- 
out Montana  and  Washington.  In  1888,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Luella  Shoquist,  of  Taylor  Falls,  Minne- 
sota, their  union  occurring  at  Bismarck,  North  Dakota, 
where  Miss  Shoquist  was  at  the  time  making  her 
home.  Of  this  union  two  children  were  born.  Bea- 
trice, the  daughter,  is  now  Mrs.  Rose  E.  Allen  of 
Helena,  Montana,  while  the  son,  Blaine,  makes  his  home 
with  his  father,  the  mother  having  passed  away  in 
June  of  1899,  less  than  ten  years  after  her  marriage. 

-Mr.  McLeod  is  a member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons  and  of  the  Woodmen  of  the 
World.  Being  a man  of  quiet  and  home-loving  tastes, 
inherited  frem  his  good  old  Scotch  father,  he  felt  most 
keenly  the  loss  of  his  wife  and  the  breaking  of  the  home 
ties.  During  the  time  in  which  he  was  surveying  in 
the  states  of  Montana  and  Washington  he  met  Miss 
Mattie  Farquhar,  an  attractive  eastern  woman  who  in 
August,  1902,  became  Mrs.  John  McLeod.  She  is  the 
mother  of  three  charming  children.  Margery,  aged 
eight,  and  Donald,  two  years  younger,  are  attending 
the  public  schools  of  Helena,  while  Miriam  is  now  four 
years  of  age. 

In  1908  Mr.  McLeod  was  appointed  county  surveyor 
of  Lewis  and  Clark  county,  which  position  he  still  fills 
with  much  ability.  In  political  sympathies  he  is  a Pro- 
gressive Republican. 

P.fTRicK  Joseph  Manning.  In  all  the  length  and 
breadth  of  Jefferson  county,  Montana,  it  is  safe  to  say 
that  there  is  no  one  more  loyal  to  her  interests  and  her 
institutions  or  hopeful  for  her  prosperity  than  Patrick 
Joseph  Manning.  For  many  years  he  has  been  inter- 
ested in  mining  and  he  probably  has  no  peer  in  his 
knowledge  of  this  industry.  An  honored,  trusted  and 
generally  liked  citizen,  he  has  been  recognized  as 
of  the  proper  material  for  public  office  and  is  now  serv- 
ing his  third  term  as  sheriff  of  Jefferson  county. 

Mr.  Manning  is  an  Irishman  by  birth.  County 
Tipperary  having  been  the  scene  of  his  nativity  and  its 
date  March  15,  1865.  When  he  was  a little  lad  about 
five  years  of  age  his  parents  bade  farewell  to  the 
country  of  their  ancestors  and  crossed  the  Atlantic  in 
quest  of  the  broader  opportunity  which  they  believed  to 
be  awaiting  them  on  this  side.  They  located  in  St. 
Lawrence  county.  New  York,  near  Canton,  the  county 
seat,  but  the  father’s  life  in  the  new  country  was  sadly 
brief,  his  death  occurring  when  Mr.  Manning  was  only 
six  years  of  age,  or  scarcely  a twelvemonth  after  their 
arrival.  The  little  family  lived  in  various  parts  of 
the  state  of  New  York,  making  their  living  as  best  they 
could,  until  1885,  when  the  subject  removed  to  Jeffer- 
son county,  Montana.  His  coming  here  was  an  im- 
portant step,  for  in  the  ensuing  quarter  century  he  has 
ever  since  made  his  home  here. 

Nearly  all  Mr.  Manning’s  experiences  in  making  a 
livelihood  have  been  as  a miner,  and  he  earned  his  first 
dollar  in  the  capacity  of  signal  boy  in  the  iron  mines  of 
New  York.  He  now  owns  valuable  mining  interests  in 
Montana  and  much  of  his  time  and  attention  is  de- 
voted to  that  field.  He  has  in  truth  contributed  in  very- 
definite  manner  to  the  development  and  prosperity  of 
this  section  of  the  country.  Mr.  Manning  was  elected 
sheriff  of  Jefferson  county  in  the  fall  of  1906,  and  took 
the  oath  of  office  in  January,  1907,  now  serving  upon 
his  third  term.  He  has  proved  indefatigable  in  his 
enforcement  of  the  law  and  is  indeed  unpopular  with 
those  whose  business  takes  them  out  of  the  straight 
and  narrow  path.  In  his  political  allegiance  he  is  a 
Democrat  and  has  ever  given  hand  and  heart  to  the  men 
and  measures  of  the  partv  which  produced  Jefferson. 
Jackson  and  Cleveland.  But  although  he  gives  to  all 
public  matters  the  interest  of  the  intelligent  voter,  he 
is  by  no  means  a professional  politician. 

On  September  5.  1900,  Mr.  Manning  was  happily 


married  m Helena,  Montana,  to  Mary  Fleming,  dau<rh- 
ter  of  William  and  Annie  Fleming,  and  they  share  their 
pleasant  home  with  a son,  William  Joseph,  born  Janu- 
ary 9,  1905.  William  Fleming,  who  like  his  son-in- 
law,  was  a miner,  passed  away  in  1886:  his  wife  died 
m 1871. 

In  glancing  at  the  early  life  of  Patrick  Joseph  Man- 
mng  we  find  that  he  received  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools.  His^  father,  whose  name  was  Joseph  Man- 
ning, was  a native  of  County  Tipperary,  Ireland,  and 
at  the  age  of  thirty-four  years  came  with  his  family  to 
America.  FIis  untimely  demise  has  been  previously  re- 
ferred  ^ to.  In  his  early  youth  he  was  engaged  in 
^eighting.  The  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Julia 
Cotter,  was  born  in  Ireland  and  died  in  New  York 
There  were  seven  children  in  the  family,  three  being 
boys  and  four  girls,  and  the  subject  being  next  to  the 
youngest  in  order  of  birth. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Manning  are  communicants  of  the- 
Catholic  church  and  are  ever  ready  to  lend  a hand 
to  its  good  works.  When  asked  concerning  his  favorite 
diversions,  Mr.  Manning  always  returns  that  his  favor- 
ite is  mining  and  all  his  spare  time  is  given  to  looking 
after  his  interests  and  investments.  He  is  a useful 
citizen,  of  the  type  which  has  brought  about  the  high 
standing  of  this  part  of  the  west. 

L.  M.  Schott.  The  real  estate  and  insurance  business 
at  Butte,  Montana,  has  an  aWe  reresentative  in  L.  M. 
Schott,  v/ho  was  born  in  Michigan,  on  the  ist  of  Oc- 
tober, 1870.  He  is  a son  of  Max  and  Augusta  (Lich- 
tenburg)  Schott,  both  of  whom  were  born  and  reared 
in  Germany,  whence  the  immigrated  to  the  United 
States  in  their  youth.  Max  Schott  located  in  Michigan 
and  there  was  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  for 
a number  of  years.  He  came  to  Montana  in  18S4.  and 
after  devoting  his  attention  to  a number  of  different 
business  enterprises  he  became  a partner  with  his  son  in 
t’ne  real  estate  and  insurance  business  at  Butte.  He  is 
highly  respected  in  business  and  social  circles  of  Butte. 

L.  M.  Schott  was  educated  in  the  public  and  high 
schools  of  Saginaw,  Michigan.  He  accompanied  his 
parents  to  Montana,  in  i88u,  and  for  the  .ensuing  ten 
years  was  a resident  of  Livingston,  where  he  was  for 
some  time  employed  as  a bookkeeper.  In  1894  he  re- 
moved to  Great  Falls  and  there  devoted  his  attention 
to  the  wholesale  liouor  business  for  a period  of  two 
years,  at  the  expiration  of  which  he  came  to  Butte,  here 
entering  the  employ  of  the  Oppenheimer  Company,  con- 
tinuing as  bookkeeper  for  that  concern  for  six  years. 
In  1902  he  became  a traveling  salesman  for  an  eastern 
house  and  he  continued  as  such  until  1906,  when  he 
launched  into  the  business  world  on  his  own  account 
as  a real  estate  and  insurance  man.  His  father  is  asso- 
ciated with  him  in  the  above  business,  controlling  a 
general  real  estate  business,  in  addition  to  which  it  also 
represents  a number  of  good  life  and  fire  insurance 
companies,  among  them  being  the  Northwestern  of 
Milwaukee,  and  the  Nassau  of  Brooklyn. 

In  politics  Mr.  Schott  and  his  father  are  both  stanch 
advocates  of  the  principles  and  policies  for  which  the 
party  stands  sponsor.  They  do  not  take  an  active  part 
in  local  politics,  but  are  on  the  alert  and  enthusiastic- 
ally in  sympathy  with  all  measures  and  enterprises  ad- 
vanced for  the  good  of  the  general  welfare.  They  are 
affiliated  with  a number  of  representative  fraternal  or- 
ganizations. They  are  numbered  among  the  most  loyal 
and  public-spirited  citizens  of  Butte  and  are  men  of 
mark  in  all  the  relations  of  life. 

In  the  city  of  Chicago,  in  1894,  Mr.  Schott  was  mar- 
ried. His  wife,  being  a native  of  Frankfort.  Germany, 
where  she  was  reared  and  educated,  and  whence  she 
immigrated  to  the  United  States.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schott 
have  one  daughter,  Edith. 


4 


J. 


f . 


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Ur 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1293 


Charles  Steele.  The  real  estate  dealers  of  Butte 
are  among  its  most  progressive  citizens,  and  to  them 
perhaps  more  than  to  any  other  single  class  of  people 
is  due  the  development  of  the  city  and  its  environs  on 
the  high  plane  that  exists  today.  Among  the  well 
known  operators  in  realty  circles  at  the  present  time 
is  Charles  Steele,  whose  business  is  extensive,  embrac- 
ing transactions  in  both  real  estate  in  the  city  and  min- 
ing properties  in  the  surrounding  sections.  He  has  been 
at  different  times  connected  with  important  interests 
and  filled  positions  of  responsibility  in  railway  and 
banking  circles  previous  to  entering  the  real  estate 
field  in  Butte. 

Mr.  Steele  was  married  in  Portland,  Oregon,  Novem- 
ber 3,  1891,  to  Flora  Belle  Flarkins,  and  they  are  the 
parents  of  two  sons,  Chester  H.  and  Ralph  G.  Mr. 
Steele  is  an  independent  thinker  who  discharges  his 
duties  as  a citizen  and  voter  without  respect  to  parties. 
He  is  a member  of  the  Masonic  order. 


Madam  Libbie  S.  Robinson.  One  of  the  questions 
-of  the  day  is  the  economic  position  of  woman,  and  there 
is  scarcely  a more  important  one  before  society.  Equal 
opportunity  in  education  has  disclosed  the  fact  that 
woman  can  also  take  her  place  in  the 'Commercial  world, 
and  that  in  itself  is  a revolutionar}^  idea.  There  are 
those  who  see  in  the  ambition  of  woman  to  hold  such 
a place  the  disintegration  of  the  whole  fabric  of  our 
civilization,  with  the  destruction  of  our  home  life,  and 
so  the  woman  who  successfully  rears  a family  ' and  at 
the  same  time  makes  a success  of  a business  venture 
confers  a benefit  on  the  race  at  large  by  furnishing 
an  unanswerable  argument  as  to  the  economic  fitness 
of  the  wife  and  mother.  Madam  Robinson  is  a notable 
example  of  this  class. 

Born  in  Philadelphia,  Libbie  Stevenson  Robinson 
■came  to  Montana  in  i^S  and  has.  resided  in  Butte 
ever  since.  Both  of  her  parents,  William  and  Annie 
Stevenson,  were  born  in  Ireland,  but  immigrated  to 
America  shortly  after  their  marriage.  Mr.  Stevenson 
was  a cotton  manufacturer  in  the  Quaker  city,  where 
he  lived  to  the  age  of  sixty-eight.  His  wife  died  when 
but  sixtv  years  old  and  they  are  buried  side  by  side 
in  the  old  churchyard  of  Philadelphia.  Madam  Rob- 
inson attended  school  in  the  city  of  her  birth,  and  in 
1878  was  married  to  John  Robinson,  also  a Phila- 
delphian by  birth.  His  hobby  was  dancing  and  for 
seventy-five  years  he  was  a dancing  master,  first  in 
Philadelphia  and  later  in  Butte.  Professor  Robinson, 
as  he  was  always  known,  was  a man  of  very  domestic 
tastes  and  spent  all  his  leisure  with  his  family,  his 
wife  and  two  children,  to  whom  he  was  devoted.  He 
was  a member  of  the  Episcopal  church  and  also  of  the 
Masonic  order.  The  latter  organization  had  charge 
of  his  funeral  service  when  he  passed  away  in  February, 
1910,  and  was  buried  in  the  city  which  had  been  his 
home  for  nearly  thirty  years. 

Not  long  after  coming  to  Butte,  Madam  Robinson 
started  in  the  costuming  business,  and  her  establish- 
ment has  kept  pace  with  the  growing  city.  She  is 
especially  well  adapted  for  this  trade,  as  she  has  all 
the  qualifications  of  a good  buyer  besides  that  of  taste 
and  originality.  Her  shop  is  the  leading  costumer’s 
establishment  in  the  state,  and  her  business  is  not  con- 
fined to  this  city,  but  she  has  customers  throughout  the 
state,  and  even  outside  its  borders.  Hers  is  the  only 
exclusive  costuming  house  in  Montana,  and  she  is 
prepared  to  supply  outfits  for  any  and  all  occasions.  Her 
stock  includes  masquerade  costumes,  wigs,  masks  and 
ladies’  fine  Japanese  goods,  besides  the  regular  line  of 
costumes  for  ordinary  exigencies.  The  large  and  fully 
equipped  concern  does  a lucrative  business  and  its 
patrons  are  drawn  from  the  most  discriminating  people 


in  Butte.  Madam  Robinson  has  been  the  sole  head 
and  manager  of  the  store  and  its  prosperity  is  due 
entirely  to  her  own  policy  in  conducting  it. 

Business  has  not  prevented  Mrs.  Robinson  from 
rearing  her  son  and  daughter  most  carefully.  Both  re- 
ceived excellent  educations,  their  elementary  training  be- 
ing received  in  Philadelphia,  where  both  were  born. 
The  daughter.  Belle  Stevenson  Robinson,  now  resides  in 
New  York  City.  Joseph  Stevenson  Robinson,  the  son, 
is  married  and  resides  in  Butte.  He  served  in  the 
Spanish-American  war,  and  as  he  was  less  than  eighteen 
at  the  time  he  was  obliged  to  get  his  mother’s  permis- 
sion before  enlisting.  Although  he  was  her  only  son. 
Madam  Robinson  felt  that  as  he  was  actuated  by  motives 
of  the  truest  patriotism  she  could  not  withhold  her 
consent.  The  son  went  to  the  war,  and  lost  two  toes 
in  the  service.  For  eight  years  he  was  custodian  in  the 
Butte  public  library,  and  he  shares  in  the  high  regard 
in  which  the  community  holds  his  mother  and  all  the 
family.  In  the  lodges  of  the  city  he  belongs  to  the 
Masons  and  the  Eagles,  besides  being  a member  of  the 
Spanish-American  War  Veterans’  Association.  Like 
his  mother,  he  is  a member  of  St.  John’s  Episcopal 
church.  Mrs.  Robinson  is  one  of  the  earnest  workers 
in  the  church,  for  here  as  in  her  business,  she  brings 
to  the  matter  in  hand  all  the  resources  of  executive 
ability  and  an  usual  personality. 

Lyman  Hakes  Bennett,  who  is  now  filling  the  of- 
fice of  city  attorney  of  Dillon,  was  born  at  Virginia 
City,  Moritana,  February  15,  1885.  He  resided  in  that 
place  until  he  had  arrived  at  twenty-three  years  of 
age,  and  then  he  went  to  Butte,  where  he  remained 
about  one  year.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  came  to 
Dillon,  Montana,  reaching  here  in  April,  1909.  Here 
he  has  won  high  standing  and  many  friends  who  be- 
lieves he  has  a great  future. 

The  early  education  of  Mr.  Bennett  was  obtained  in 
the  pulalic  schools  of  Virginia  City.  He  then  spent  two 
years  in  the  Montana  State  College  at  Bozeman.  At  the 
end  of  that  time,  he  became  a student  at  Leland  Stan- 
ford, Junior,  University,  California,  where  he  was  grad- 
uated and  received  his  degree.  He  began  the  practice 
of  the  law  in  Butte,  and  later  took  up  his  professional 
work  in  Dillon.  Here  he  was  appointed  city  attorney 
of  Dillon  in  April,  1911,  and  is  now  filling  this  office. 

Mr.  Bennett  is  a young  man  of  marked  ability,  and 
stands  very  high  in  the  community.  He  is  an  active 
member  of  the  Episcopal  church.  He  is  a Republican 
and  takes  an  active  interest  in  politics.  In  fraternal 
matters  he  is  an  Elk.  Baseball  has  a foremost  place  in 
his  enthusiasms  and  he  ranks  among  the  fans.  He  is 
fond  of  athletics  and  takes  a personal  part  in  athletic 
sports.  His  active  mind  delights  in  good  reading. 

Previous  to  the  period  when  Mr.  Bennett  took  up 
his  professional  life,  he  worked  at  the  printing  trade, 
and  he  earned  his  first  money  as  a boy  serving  an  ap- 
prenticeship in  the  office  of  the  Madisonian  at  Virginia 
City,  one  of  the  oldest  newspapers  in  the  state.  His 
salary  at  that  time  was  two  dollars  per  month. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Bennett  took  place  in  Dillon, 
Montana,  April  17,  1911,  the  bride  being  Miss  Kathryn 
M.  Leonard.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Simon  P.  and 
Elizabeth  B.  Leonard,  both  of  whom  are  now  deceased. 

Mr.  Bennett’s  father,  Alden  J.  Bennett,  was  born  in 
Franklin  county.  New  York.  He  came  to  Montana 
in  1869  and  is  an  honoi'ary  member  of  the  Montana 
Pioneers.  He  settled  in  Virginia  City  and  still  re- 
sides there,  where  he  has  been  in  the  banking  busi- 
ness for  many  years.  He  has  always  taken  an  active 
part  in  politics  and  has  held  several  offices. 

The  mother,  Mary  P.  Bennett,  was  born  in  North 
Carolina.  She  came  west  with  her  parents  and  was 
married  to  Mr.  Alden  Bennett  at  Virginia  City.  In 
the  elder  Bennett’s  family  there  are  three  children, 
two  sons  and  a daughter,  the  subject  of  this  sketch 


1294 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


being  tlie  youngest  child.  One  member  of  this  house- 
hold, Henry  P.  Bennett,  is  in  the  banking  business  in 
BiUt’c.  The  daughter,  Hiss  Mina,  resides  at  home  with 
her  parents. 

.•\bk.mi.\m  Louis  Stone  was  born  in  Auburn,  Shaw- 
nee county,  Kansas,  October  i6,  i860.  When  he  was 
about  two  years  of  age  his  parents  removed  to  Fulton, 
Whiteside  county,  Illinois,  where  they  lived  until  he 
was  about  six  years  of  age.  Then  they  made  their 
home  on  a farm'  in  Leavenworth  county,  Kansas,  until 
he  was  about  twenty-five  years  of  age.  In  1885  he  left 
home  and  came  to  Butte,  Montana,  where  he  remained 
until  1888,  and  then  came  to  Dillon,  Montana,  where 
he  has  made  his  home  since. 

His  early  education  was  received  in  the  public 
schools  of  Leavenworth  county,  Kansas.  He  also 
studied  at  home  and  received  a regular  high  school 
course.  He  earned  his  first  money  as  a boy  at  the  age 
of  ten,  by  running  a rake  in  the  field  and  gathering  up 
scatterings.  Then  for  a while  he  worked  on  the  farm 
as  a rcgtilar  hand.  For  six  years  he  taught  school  in 
Leavenworth  county,  Kansas,  and  while  thus  engaged 
was  interested  in  tlie  mercantile  business  in  the  same 
county.  Pie  sold  out  on  account  of  ill  health  and  came 
west.  I-Iis  first  position  in  Montana  was  in  Butte, 
where  he  made  a connection  with  McMillen  and  Cluett 
in  a clerical  capacity.  He  later  came  to  Dillon  and 
accepted  a position  with  the  Dillon  ^ Implement  Com- 
pany. His  rise  and  success  were  rapid,  for  within  one 
year  he  had  become  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  com- 
pany. In  1809  ii6  drew  out  of  this  firm  and  organized 
the  State  Bank  of  Dillon  and  was  its  cashier  and  man- 
ager until  September  24,  1912,  at  which  time  he  was 
n^ade  the  president.  Under  his  management  the  bank 
has  grown  in  both  total  assets  and  surplus  until  it  is 
known  as  one  of  the  strong  institutions  of  the  state. 
Liberal,  but  just,  careful  and  conservative— these  are 
among  the  chief  assets  under  the  guidance  of  Mr. 
Stone,  and  those  principles  that  are  found  in  connec- 
tion with  safe  and  conservative  banking  prevail  in 
relation  to  the  State  Bank  of  Dillon. 

He  inclines  toward  the  Episcopal  church.  His  wife 
belongs  to  various  church  societies  and  takes  an  active 
interest  in  the  work.  Fie  is  a member  of  the  Elks  and 
is  a member  of  the  Beaverhead  Club,  of  which  latter 
he  is  now  one  of  the  trustees.  He  is  a Democrat  and 
takes  an  active  interest  in  politics.  He  was  county 
superintendent  of  the  schools  of  Beaverhead  county, 
18S9-1892,  inclusive,  and  has  twice  been  a member  of 
the  city  council. 

He  is  fond  of  the  bicycle  and  uses  one  for  pleasure 
and  exercise.  He  is  a devoted  fan  in  the  baseball  realm. 
Fie  is  fond  of  good  reading  and  of  music  and  will  go  out 
of  his  way  at  any  time  to  attend  a good  opera.  Fie 
has  made  his  own  way  entirely  by  his  own  efforts.  ^ 

He  is  a member  of  the  Montana  Bankers'  Association 
and  was  chairman  of  the  executive  committe.e  in  1909- 
1910  and  vice-president  for  igio-1911-1912-1913.  He 
made  in  address  at  the  Bankers’  Convention  in  Missoula 
in  August,  1909,  upon  the  "Resources  of  Montana,'’ 
which  was  considered  of  such  value  that  the  associa- 
tion published  five  thousand  copies  of  it  for  distribution. 

Mr.  Stone  was  married  in  San  Francisco,  California, 
.April  8,  1896,  to  Miss  Albina  Smith,  daughter  of  Eden 
Smith,  of  Oblong,  Illinois.  There  are  five  children  in 
the  family;  Irma  was  born  April  18,  1897,  and  is  now 
attending  the  State  Normal  College  at  Dillon.  She 
spent  one  year  in  Germany  iti  the  study  of  languages, 
and  speaks  German  and  French  fluently.  All  the 
children  speak  Spanish.  Robert  Malcolm  was  born 
May  23,  1901,  and  is  now  attending  the  public  school. 
Martha  was  born  October  8,  1902,  and  is  now  in 
school.  Donald  Stuart  was  born  August  22,  1904,  and 
is  also  in  school.  Henry  Lee,  the  baby,  was  born  May 
30,  1906. 


Mr.  Stone’s  father,  Lewis  Anson  Stone,  was  born 
in  Royalton,  state  of  New  York,  in  1825.  In  1837  he 
came  west  with  his  parents  and  settled  in  Eaton  county 
Michigan,  having  been  one  of  the  pioneers  of  that 
state.  Fie  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Olivet 
then  took  a course  in  the  academy  and  next  went  to 
Oberlin  College,  Ohio,  where  he  was  graduated  and 
received  a masters  degree  in  the  classical  course  Fie 
followed  teaching  in  schools  and  academies  for  twenty- 
five  years.  _ In  his  later  years  he  retired  to  a farm.  Fie 
married  Miss  Martha  A.  Hotchkiss  of  Marshall,  Mich- 
igan, in  i8;57-  She  was  the  daughter  of  Freeman 
Hotchkiss,  a prominent  farmer,  contractor  and  builder 
She  was  a graduate  of  the  Leroy,  New  York,  Col- 
legiate Institute  and  assisted  Mr.  Stone  in  his  school  and 
college  work.  The  father  died  in  Leavenworth  county, 
Kansas,  in  1904,  at  the  age  of  seventy  nine.  The 
mother  died  at  the  same  place  in  1872,  aged  forty-one 
Ihere  were  two  children  in  the  elder  Stone  family, 
one  boy  and  one  girl.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
the_  older.  The  sister  is  married  to  J.  M.  Gilman  and 
resides  on  the  old  homestead  in  Leavenworth  county 
Kansas.  ’ 

Ihomas  V.  Luxton  is  one  of  a number  of  men  of 
sterling  worth  that  our  great  northern  neighbor  Canada 
has  contributed  to  the  ranks  of  Montana’s  citizens,  and 
during  the  eighteen  years  that  he  has  been  a resident  of 
Anaconda,  Montana,  he  has  achieved  success  and  high 
reputation  as  a busine.?s  man  and  has  gained  a strong 
place  in  popular  confidence  and  respect.  It  has  been  as 
a merchant  tailor  that  Mr.  Luxton  has  found  business 
opportunity  in  Anaconda  and  has  improved  it. 

He  was  born  in  London,  Ontario,  Canada,  on  Decem- 
ber 23,  1865,  and  lived  there  until  about  nineteen  years 
of  age,  securing  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  city.  When  about  sixteen  years  old  he  began 
learning  the  tailor's  trade,  and  during  his  apprenticeship 
he  saved  of  his  earnings  until  at  its  close  he  had  twenty- 
five  dollars  in  the  bank.  With  this  sum  he  left  home  in 
1885  ami  started  out  to  make  his  own  way  in  life.  He 
first  located  at  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  but  shortly  left 
there  for  Butte,  Montana,  where  he  worked  on  a salary 
for  eight  or  nine  years.  About  1894  he  came  to  Ana- 
conda and  started  in  business  for  himself  as  a merchant 
tailor.  His  establishment  is  the  oldest  and  the  leading 
one  in  its  line  in  Anaconda  and  is  also  one  of  the  oldest 
in  the  state.  He  caters  to  a representative  and  discrimi- 
native patrona.ge  that  has  been  drawn  not  only  from  the 
city  of  Anaconda  and  its  adjoining  territory,  but  has 
come  from  all  parts  of  the  state.  His  thorough  knowl- 
edge of  the  tailoring  business  and  his  recognized  integ- 
rity as  a business  man  have  been  the  foundation  of  his 
success  and  prosperity. 

Mr.  Luxton  is  a son  of  Richard  and  Mary  (Vodden) 
Luxton,  who  were  married  in  Canada  and  became  the 
parents  of  seven  children,  Thomas  V.  being  third  in 
order  of  birth.  The  father  was  born  in  England  and 
when  a young  man  came  to  Canada,  where  for  a number 
of  years  he  followed  farming  and  was  also  engaged  in 
the  meat  business.  Later  he  came  to  Montana  and  set- 
tled at  Butte,  where  he  died  in  1892,  when  about  fifty- 
five  years  of  age,  and  where  he  is  interred.  He  had 
attained  a prominent  place  in  the  Masonic  order.  The 
mother  is  still  living  and  now  resides  in  Anaconda.  Mr 
Luxton  has  one  brother  in  Montana,  Charles  H.,  who  is 
married,  resides  at  Anaconda,  and  is  associated  with  the 
Copper  City  Commercial  Company  there. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Luxton  took  place  at  London, 
Ontario,  on  May  20,  1891,  and  united  him  to  Miss  Susan 
Baldwin,  a daughter  of  Maurice  and  Mary  Baldwin,  of 
that  city.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Luxton  have  three  daughters 
living,  namely:  Gladys  and  JVIabel,  now  students  in  the 

Anaconda  high  school,  and  Dorothy,  who  is  not  yet  of 
school  age.  The  family  are  communicants  of  the  Episco- 
pal church,  in  the  work  of  which  Mrs.  Luxton  takes  an 


■/v 


.X 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1295 


active  interest.  Mr.  Luxton  is  a member  of  the  Benevo- 
lent and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and  is  trustee  of  his 
lodge,  and  is  also  affiliated  with  the  Order  of  Eagles 
and  the  Fraternal  Union  of  America.  His  political  alle- 
giance is  given  to  the  Republican  party,  in  the  local 
affairs  of  which  he  formerly  took  a very  active  part, 
and  he  has  served  as  an  alderman  of  Anaconda.  The 
sports  of  fishing  and  hunting  are  his  chief  diversion  and 
he  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Anglers  Club  at 
Anaconda  and  became  one  of  its  first  officers.  Mr.  Lux- 
ton  has  been  a resident  of  Montana  now  more  than  a 
quarter  of  a century,  and  that  by  choice.  What  he 
thinks  of  the  state  and  its  future  after  this  long  expe- 
rience is  expressed  in  the  following  reply  to  an  inquirer ; 
“Come  to  Montana,  look  it  over,  and  you  will  at  once 
decide  it  is  the  place  to  settle  and  live.  It  is  a practical 
state  in  every  way,  full  of  wealth  and  unlimited  re- 
sources, and  will  stand  for  any  test." 

Allison  Davis.  In  the  grand  young  state  of  Mon- 
tana there  are  those  who,  as  in  other  sections,  excuse 
their  poverty  and  unimportant  station  in  life,  attributing 
a want  of  opportunity,  a plea  which  certainly  must  ap- 
pear puervile  in  the  extreme  to  successful  men  like  Al- 
lison Davis,  vice  president  of  the  Dennis  Elevator  Com- 
pany and  of  the  First  State  Bank,  of  Wilbaux,  Montana, 
and  identified  with  other  important  concerns ; for  Mr. 
Davis  belongs  to  that  class  of  virile  men  who  make  op- 
portunity. He  was  born  on  his  father’s  pioneer  farm, 
near  Milford,  Iroquois  countj',  Illinois,  November  26, 
1858,  a son  of  William  N.  and  Nancy  (Tucker)  Davis. 

William  N.  Davis  was  born  in  1820,  at  Pittsburg, 
Pennsylvania,  and  died  in  1883,  in  Te.xas,  in  the  sixty- 
third  year  of  his  age.  He  married  Nancy  Tucker,  who 
died  in  1861.  at  Milford,  Illinois,  her  birth  having  taken 
place  in  New  York.  Of  their  seven  children  but  two 
survive,  Allison  and  Rachel ; the  latter  being  the  wife 
of  W.  M.  Marston,  residing  at  Hoopeston,  Illinois.  At 
the  age  of  fifteen  years,  William  N.  Davis  accompanied 
his  parents  to  Ohio  and  came  westward  as  a drover 
with  a flock  of  sheep,  destined  for  Indiana,  and  still 
later  pushed  farther  west  and  located  at  Milford,  in 
Iroquois  county,  Illinois.  There  he  engaged  in  the  saw 
mill  business  and  also  teaming,  and  was  one  of  the 
early  freight  haulers  from  that  section  to  Chicago,  Illi- 
nois. In  1873  he  went  to  Texas  and  there  embarked  in 
the  stock  business ; also  was  a farmer,  and  remained  in 
that  state  until  the  close  of  his  life.  He  was  never  a 
political  aspirant  but  believed  in  the  principles  of  the 
Democratic  partr^  and  voted  accordingly. 

Allison  Davis  attended  the  district  schools  of  Iroquois 
county  in  boyhood  and  early  learned  to  be  useful.  He 
accompanied  his  father  to  Texas  and  during  the  latter’s 
life  assisted  him  in  his  enterprises,  afterward  engaging 
in  the  same  industries  for  himself  until  1885.  when  he 
sold  his  possessions  in  Texas  and  came  to  Custer  county, 
Montana.  Here  he  embarked  in  a general  stock  and 
cattle  business,  in  1892  buying  9,600  acres  of  land  from 
the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad.  pa3'ing  one  dollar  an 
acre  for  this  railroad  land.  Through  his  foresight  he 
was  able  to  more  than  double  his  investment  in  three 
years,  disposing  of  it  in  that  short  period -for  six  dollars 
an  acre.  At  one  time  he  had  on  his  ranch  as  high  as 
15,000  sheep.  300  horses  and  500  cattle.  After  closing 
out  his  stock  business  he  located  at  Wibaux,  Montana, 
acquiring  a homestead  of  160  acres.  There  he  has  re- 
sided ever  since,  devoting  himself  to  the  development 
of  his  various  interests  and  thereby  adding  to  the  im- 
portance and  wealth  of  this  section.  He  erected  an 
elevator  in  Wibaux  at  a cost  of  $5,000  and  is  vice  presi- 
dent of  the  Dennis  Elevator  Company,  vice  president 
of  the  Farmers'  Elevator  Company,  at  Wibaux,  presi- 
dent of  the  WTbaux  Improvement  Company,  president 
of  the  Whbaux  Telephone  Company,  and  vice  president 
of  the  First  State  Bank,  also  at  that  place,  which 
operates  with  a capital  and  surplus  of  $52,000.  He  is 


a live  factor  in  the  town’s  most  important  enterprises 
and  along  every  line  is  a reliable  and  dependable  citizen. 

On  Januar\-  i,  1893,  Mr.  Davis  was  married  to  Miss 
Regina  May  Parker,  who  was  born  at  Erie,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  died  in  Montana,  iMarch  27,  1910.  Her  par- 
ents were  Daniel  and  Martha  (Hoil)  Parker,  natives 
of  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Parker  died  in  1908,  but  his 
widow  and  three  of  their  children  survive,  Mrs.  Davis 
having  been  the  eldest  of  the  family.  Three  children 
were  born  to  Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  Davis : Esther  R.,  Alice 

and  iMarjorie. 

In  his  political  views,  jMr.  Davis  is  a Republican.  He 
is  identified  fraternally  with  the  M.  W.  of  A.  He  is 
a self-made  man,  in  that  he  has  succeeded  through  his 
own  initiative  and  with  few  of  the  advantages  that  now 
smooth  the  pathway  of  ambitious  young  men. 

Arthur  C.  Tompkins.  Although  business  success 
is  very  apt  to  follow  persistent  effort,  it  undoubtedly 
is  true  that  men  and  women  are  better  fitted  by  nature 
for  some  lines  than  others,  but  in  all  of  them,  those 
possessing  a strong,  well-balanced  character  to  give 
foresight  and  judgment  will  achieve  the  best  results. 
Perhaps  no  business  requires  these  qualities  more  than 
does  the  growing  of  sheep  on  a large  scale.  One  of  the 
satisfied  and  prosperous  men  in  this  line  in  Carbon 
county,  Montana,  is  Arthur  C.  Tompkins,  whose  ranch 
of  320  acres  is  devoted  to  this  industrj-.  IMr.  Tompkins 
was  born  December  27,  1856,  in  Cooper  county,  IMis- 
souri,  and  he  is  a son  of  Beniamin  and  Susan  (Clark) 
Tompkins. 

On  both  sides  Mr.  Tompkins  comes  of  distinguished 
ancestry,  including  Revolutionary  patriots,  this  line  be- 
ing so  directly  traced  that  the  sister  of  Mr.  Tompkins 
had  no  difficulty  in  proving  her  eh'gibiliti'  when  she 
applied  for  membership  in  the  Daughters  of  the  Ameri- 
can Revolution.  On  the  paternal  side  an  ancestor  is 
traced  to  the  founding  of  Jamestown,  Virginia,  and  a 
record  has  been  preserved  that  proves  he  was  the  first 
sheriff  of  the  place.  On  the  maternal  side  the  grand- 
father was  governor  of  Kentucky  at  the  time  of  his 
death. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Tompkins  were  both  born  in 
Kentucky,  the  father  near  Lexington,  in  1816,  and  the 
mother  near  Winchester.  The  latter  survives  and  re- 
sides at  Kirkwood,  iMissouri,  but  the  father  died  in 
1900,  his  age  being  eighty-four  years.  Of  their  six 
children  there  are  three  living : Arthur  C. ; William, 
who  is  a resident  of  St.  Louis,  IMissouri;  and  May, 
who  is  the  widow  of  Campbell  V.  Shaw,  resides  at 
Kirkwood.  In  1847  Benjamin  Tompkins,  after  gradu- 
ating in  law  from  Transylvania  College,  Kentuck}-,  lo- 
cated at  Boonville,  IMissouri,  where  he  became  a man- 
of  state  prominence.  He  served  in  numerous  impor- 
tant public  positions,  as  clerk  of  the  county  court,  as 
district  judge  for  several  terms  and  also  a member 
of  the  Missouri  legislature  for  some  years.  In  his  early 
political  life  he  was  a Whig  but  later  became  thoroughh' 
identified  with  the  Democratic  parW 

Arthur  C.  Tompkins  secured  his  educational  train- 
ing in  the  schools  of  Boonville  and  afterwards  went 
to  St.  Louis,  where  he  learned  the  hardware  business. 
In  1885  he  came  to  Montana  and  at  Billings  went  into 
the  mercantile  business  with  J.  H.  Conrad  & Company, 
of  which  he  was  the  manager.  ^ In  1887  he  turned  his 
attention  to  sheep  growing  in  Yellowstone  county,  and 
at  the  present  time  operates  his  large  ranch  in  Carbon 
county  and  is  extensively  engaged  in  bujdng  and  selling 
sheep,  which  he  ships  to  the  Chicago  market.  He 
thoroughly  understands  all  the  complexities  and  the 
laws  pertaining  to  this  business  and  has  prospered  in  it 
exceedingly. 

On  December  19,  1888,  l\Ir.  Tompkins  was  married  to 
Dliss  Janet  Fraser,  who  was  born  in  iSova  Scotia,  and 
is  a daughter  of  Alexander  and  Agnes  (Ogilvie)  Fraser, 
The  father  of  Mrs.  Tompkins  was  born  in  Keith,  Banff 


1296 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


shire,  Scotland,  July  15.  1842,  and  died  at  Billings, 
Montana,  IMarch  27,  1907.  He  went  to  Nova  Scotia  as 
a civil  engineer  in  young  manhood  and  in  1881  came 
to  Montana  with  H.  Clark  & Company,  contractors  in 
building  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad.  He  was  pay- 
master for  the  above  company  and  later  for  the  same 
firm  was  bookkeeper  in  their  mercantile  store  at  Billings. 
Later  he  was  appointed  a United  States  court  com- 
missioner and  afterward,  until  the  time  of  his  death, 
served  in  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace.  He  was  a 
very  prominent  man  in  Masonry,  in  1898  being  master 
of  Ashley  Lodge,  No.  29,  A.  F.  & A.  M. ; in  1897  being 
high  priest  of  Billings  Chapter,  No.  6,  R.  A.  M. ; and 
a member  of  Aldemar  Commandery.  He  married 
Agnes  Ogilvie,  who  was  born  at  Crail,  in  Fifeshire, 
Scotland,  November  15,  1844,  and  died  July  19,  1892. 
-Mrs.  Tonijikins  was  the  first  born  in  their  family  of 
children.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tompkins  have  two  children: 
Benjamin  Alexander  and  William  M.  They  are  among 
the  privileged  younger  generation  in  the  new  state, 
upon  the  shoulders  of  whom  will  rest  its  future  great- 
ness, and  in  looking  back  over  their  ancestry  there  is 
every  reason  to  believe  that  they  will  never  be  found 
lacking  in  any  element  of  American  citizenship. 

George  F.  Ingersoll.  Although  the  irrigating  of 
western  lands  and  the  growing  of  cattle  are  matters  of 
such  vital  importance,  how  few,  comparatively  speak- 
ing, of  the  people  of  the  United  States  have  any  con- 
ccj)tion  of  the  difficulties  which  face  those  who  are 
successfully  engaging  in  these  industries.  Fortunately, 
for  the  masses,  there  are  those  who  have  courageously 
faced  many  hard  conditions  in  the  past  and  who  now 
deserve  the  prosperity  which  shines  upon  them  as  they 
have  earned  success,  and,  through  them,  the  country 
wide  is  benefited  along  lines  that  they  could  never  have 
won  for  themselves  in  the  older  sections.  Custer  coun- 
ty, Montana,  offers  many  examples  of  eastern  men  who 
have  made  homes  and  fortunes  in  the  west  long  before 
they  have  reached  middle  age.  George  F.  Ingersoll, 
whose  beautiful,  irrigated  farm  lies  within  six  miles 
of  Miles  City,  Montana,  and  w'ho  probably  owns  more 
cattle  than  he  can  count,  came  to  this  state  in  1885, 
and  probably  no  man  in  this  part  of  the  country  is 
better  qualified  to  give  an  opinion  on  cattle  raising 
than  he.  He  was  born  at  Lee,  in  Berkshire  county, 
Massachusetts,  December  20,  1858,  and  is  a son  of 
John  and  Lucy  (Cheney)  Ingersoll. 

John  Ingersoll  the  father,  was  born  in  Cuyahoga 
county  Ohio,  not  far  from  the  city  of  Cleveland,  in 
1829,  and  his  death  occurred  at  Derryville,  Arkansas, 
in  1887,  at  the  age  of  fifty-eight  years.  His  wife  be- 
longed to  a noted  old  New  England  family  that  lived 
and  died  for  generations  in  Berkshire  county,  Massa- 
chusetts. She  lived  to  be  fifty-four  years  of  age  and 
was  the  mother  of  six  children,  the  four  survivors 
being:  James  B.,  wdio  lives  in  Boone  county,  Iowa; 
George  F. ; and  Charles  A.  and  Ruben  R.,  both  of 
whom  live  in  Boone  county.  John  Ingersoll  went  to 
Berkshire  county  when  a young  man  and  followed 
farming  and  butchering  until  the  early  ’sixties,  when 
he  removed  to  Boone,  Boone  county,  Iowa.  There  he 
engaged  in  farming,  stock  raising  and  milling.  He 
maintained  his  home  at  Boone  although  after  1877  he 
carried  on  busines.s  in  other  sections.  In  that  year, 
accompanied  by  his  son  George  F.,  he  visited  the 
Black  Hills,  Dakota,  and  from  there  went  to  Texas, 
where  he  embarked  in  the  cattle  business.  From  Texas 
he  went  to  Arkansas,  and  in  that  state  invested  in  land, 
but  his  death  followed  before  he  was  able  to  develop 
it.  He  was  a highly  regarded  citizen  while  living  at 
Boone,  serving  several  terms  as  a city  alderman  and 
as  school  trustee.  He  was  identified  there,  also,  with 
the  Odd  Fellow's. 

George  F.  Ingersoll  completed  his  education  at  Cor- 
nell College,  at  Mt.  Vernon,  low’a.  It  was  during 


the  excitement  over  the  discovery  of  gold  in  the  Black 
Hills,  in  1877,  that  he  and  his  father  made  the  over- 
land trip  to  that  part  of  the  country,  from  which  he 
soon  returned  but  later  accompanied  his  father  to  Fort 
Worth,  Texas.  There  he  was  associated  with  his  father 
in  the  cattle  business  in  the  Texas  Panhandle,  and  con- 
tinued riding  the  range  until  the  spring  of  1885.  He  then 
became  foreman  for  the  Lee  Scott  Cattle  Company  and 
canie  overland  with  cattle  to  Montana  and  was  with 
this  Miles  City  company  until  the  spring  of  1888,  when 
he  became  manager  of  the  Rea  Cattle  Company  and 
for  the  Atlantic  Livestock  Companv.  At  the  present 
time  he  is  manager  for  the  Atlantic  Cattle  Companv 
and  at  the  same  time  manages  his  own  cattle  and  horse 
business  on  his  ranch  in  Dawson  county,  where  he  has 
fourteen  head  of  blooded  stallions.  Quite  recently  he 
has  sold  a one-quarter  section  of  his  land  in  Custer 
county  tO'  Judge  C.  H.  Lond,  but  still  owns  many  acres 
of  irrigated  land  on  wdtich  he  is  successfully  producing 
corn,  small  grain  and  alfalfa. 

On  June  25,  1900,  Mr.  Ingersoll  was  married  to 
Miss  Rose  E.  Collins,  w'ho  was  born  at  Grand  Meadow, 
Minnesota  and  five  children  have  been  born  to  them : 
Linn  R.,  who  is  associated  with  his  father  in  the 
livestock  business  and  is  superintendent  of  the  Daw- 
son county  ranch ; Dixie,  who  is  a student  at  the  Mon- 
tana Agricultural  College,  Bozeman,  Montana;  George 
F.,  who  is  attending  school  at  iMiles  City;  and  two 
who  died  in  infancy. 

In  his  political  sentiments  Mr.  Ingersoll,  like  his  late 
father,  is  a Republican  and  in  1898  he  was  elected 
state  representative  and  served  one  term  at  Helena. 
He  occupies  other  positions  of  responsibility,  being  a 
member  of  the  board  of  commissioners  of  the  Tongue 
and  Yellowstone  Rivers  Irrigation  Ditch;  is  one  of 
the  trustees  of  the  Custer  county  high  school ; and  is 
a director  in  the  Commercial  State  Bank.  For  three 
years  Mr.  Ingersoll  served  as  president  of  the  Montana 
Stock  Growers  Association  and  continues  his  active 
interest  in  everything  pertaining  to  this  great  industry. 
He  is  a member  of  Miles  City  Lodge,  No.  537,  Benevo- 
lent and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and  belongs  also 
to  the  Miles  City  Club.  Like  other  big  men  of  Mon- 
tana, Mr.  Ingersoll  is  of  a kind  and  benevolent  dis- 
position, but  his  gifts  to  charity  are  never  made  public 
property. 

Charles  V.  Franzman.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born  in  the  celebrated  town  of  Bingen-on-the- 
Rhine  on  April  20,  1867.  He  did  not  grow  up  in  this 
picturesque  spot,  however,  as  his  parents  came  to 
America  when  he  was  but  three  years  of  age  and  set- 
tled in  Quincy,  Illinois.  The  town  was  then  rather 
new,  and  Mr.  Karl  Franzman  was  one  of  the  early 
German  settlers  of  the  place.  He  opened  a mercantile 
business  there  and  became  one  of  the  leading  mer- 
chants of  the  place.  Before  his  son  had  finished  his 
schooling  the  family  moved  to  St.  Paul.  In  Quincy, 
Charles  had  attended  the  public  school  and  also  a 
private  German  school,  as  his  father  was  anxious  that 
his  son  should  not  forget  his  Fatherland  in  the  new 
country,  and  that  he  should  grow  up  to  know  the  lan- 
guage of  his  ancestors.  When  the  family  moved  to 
St.  Paul  the  boy  continued  to  go  to  public  school  and 
also  to-  attend  German  school  at  night. 

When  Charles  Franzman  left  school  he  went  to  work 
for  a paper  hanger  to  learn  the  trade,  serving  an 
apprenticeship  in  the  fashion  of  the  lads  of  the  Father- 
land.  When  he  had  learned  it  he  continued  to  work 
in  St.  Paul  until  1885,  when  he  came  to  Montana.  He 
first  located  in  New  Chicago,  being  induced  to  settle 
there  because  his  brother,  Jacob  Franzman.  was  living 
there.  The  brother  had  a thriving  blacksmith  and 
wagon  works  shop  in  the  town,  but  Charles  did 
not  think  it  the  best  place  for  one  of  his  trade  to  adopt 
as  a permanent  residence,  so  he  stayed  only  from 


I,;  ■: 


-5  -•  ■ 


V> 


Sfr.  ’ 

•i*  ■- 

“ s * 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


1297 


August,  1885,  until  March  of  the  following  year,  and 
then  came  to  Butte.  When  he  first  came  to  this  city 
Mr.  Franzman  worked  at  his  profession  for  different 
firms  of  Butte.  He  was  first  employed  by  Mr.  Rogers, 
and  then  went  into  the  establishment  of  Carter  Broth- 
ers, with  whom  he  remained  for  quite  a long  period. 
By  November,  1897,  Itlr.  Franzman  had  accumulated 
enough  capital  to  go  into  business  for  himself.  His 
first  store  was  only  a small  one,  situated  at  No.  65 
West  Park  street.  Here  he  remained  for  four  years, 
acquiring  an  ever-increasing  trade  among  the  most 
desirable  patrons  of  the  city.  63-  this  time  his  busi- 
ness had  grown  so  much  that  he  was  obliged  to  find 
larger  quarters,  and  so  he  moved  to  115  West  Park 
street,  where  he  has  been  ever  since  that  time.  His 
trade  has  continued  to  grow,  and  in  busy  seasons  he 
is  sometimes  obliged  to  employ  fifteen  experienced  paper 
hangers  to  handle  his  orders.  His  stock  includes  not 
only  paints  and  wall  paper,  but  pyrography  materials, 
pictures,  and  everything  that  pertains  to  house  decora- 
tion. The  line  which  he  handles  is  first  class  in  every 
particular,  and  he  is  a person  who  understands  the  work 
he  contracts  to  do,  and  who  is  prepared  to  furnish 
expert  service. 

Mr.  Franzman’s  father  retired  from  business  in 
1890  and  came  to  Montana,  making  his  home  in  Philips- 
burg.  He  died  in  that  citv  in  1893,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
seven.  His  wife,  Sophie  Rhineman  Franzman,  survived 
him  four  years  and  died  in  Butte  on  November  25, 
1897.  She  was  sixt>--two  years  of  age  at  the  tirne  of 
her  death. 

On  June  25,  1891,  Mr.  Charles  Franzman  and  Miss 
Emma  Armbruster  were  united  in  marriage  at  St.  Paul, 
Minnesota.  Mrs.  Franzman  is  the  daughter  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Joseph  Armbruster,  early  settlers  of  St.  Paul. 
Mr.  Armbruster  is  a merchant  of  St.  Paul,  who  settled 
there  in  1857. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Franzman  have  three  children;  Ruth, 
Helen  and  Charles  V.,  Jr.  The  first  named  young 
lady  graduated  from  the  high  school  of  Butte  in  1911. 
She  was  born  in  St.  Paul,  May  17,  1892.  Helen,  five 
years  younger,  is  a student  in  high  school,  while  Charles, 
who  was  born  November  30,  1903,  is  attending  Mc- 
Kinley school. 

Mr.  Franzman  is  a member  of  the  Modern  Wood- 
men’s lodge  and  is  active  in  the  Merchants’  Association. 
His  politics  are  Republican,  but  he  is  a business  man 
and  not  a politician.  He  is  president  of  the  Butte  and 
Highland  Gold  Mining  Company,  among  his  other 
interests.  Socially  he  has  a wide  acquaintance  among 
the  representative  people  of  Butte,  and  his  tempera- 
ment is  such  that  it  renders  him  very  popular  among 
his  associates.  Motoring,  hunting  and  fishing  are  his 
favorite  methods  of  amusement.  He  is  not  affiliated 
with  anv  church,  but  attends  the  Presbyterian,  of 
which  Mrs.  Franzman  is  a member. 

Frank  M.  Grady  is  a noble  illustration  of  what 
independence,  self-faith  and  persistency  can  accomplish 
in  America.  He  is  a self-made  man  in  the  most 
significant  sense  of  the  word,  for  no  one  helped  him 
in  a financial  way  and  he  is  self-educated.  As  a 
young  man  he  was_  strong,  vigorous  and  self-reliant. 
He  trusted  in  his  own  ability  and  did  things 
single-handed  and  alone.  To-day  he  stands  supreme  as 
a successful  business  man  and  a loyal  and  public- 
spirited  citizen.  He  was  the  pioneer  carriage  manu- 
facturer in  Butte,  but  in  recent  years  he  has  devoted 
his  attention  to  a wholesale  and  jobbing  business,  his 
line  being  vehicles,  carriages,  hardware,  etc. 

In  the  province  of  Ontario,  Canada,  on  the  8th  of 
August,  1863,  occurred  the  birth  of  Frank  M.  Grady, 
who  is  a son  of  James  and  Mary  (Brennan)  Grady,  the 
former  of  whom  was  born  in  County  Mayo,  Ireland, 
and  the  latter  of  whom  claimed  Vermont  as  the  place 
of  her  nativity.  The  father  came  to  America  in  the 


year  1847  and  located  in  Ontario,  wffiere  he  was  a pros- 
perous farmer  until  the  time  of  his  demise,  in  1894. 
Mrs.  Grady  was  called  to  eternal  rest  in  1896,  and  she 
and  her  husband  were  the  parents  of  eleven  children, 
of  whom  the  subject  of  this  review  was  the  sixth  in 
order  of  birth  and  five  of  whom  are  living,  in  1912. 

Frank  M.  Grady  is  indebted  to  the  public  schools  of 
Ontario  for  his  early  educational  discipline,  and  at 
the  age  of  sixteen  years  he  entered  upon  an  appren- 
ticeship at  the  trades  of  carriage  maker  and  black- 
smith. Subsequently  he  w'as  a journeyman  blacksmith 
in  New  York,  Massachusetts  and  Chicago,  and  on  the 
iith  of  Ma}',  1885,  he  came  to  Butte,  where,  for  several 
months,  he  W'as  in  the  emplo}-  of  the  Butte  Carriage 
Company.  In  January,  1886,  he  established  the  Butte 
Carriage  Works,  having  as  a partner  in  the  enterprise, 
John  G.  Gay,  wdth  whom  he  continued  to  be  associated 
until  1893.  In  1896  Mr.  Grady  launched  out  into  the 
carriage  business  on  his  own  account,  his  establishment 
being  located  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Silver  streets. 
His  business  is  known  under  the  name  of  the  Standard 
Carriage  Works,  and  in  Januar3',  1911,  the  plant  was  re- 
moved to  No.  520  Dakota  street,  where  ample  store  room 
and  splendid  offices  are  maintained.  Up  to  a few  years 
ago,  Mr.  Grady  was  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
carriages,  but  since  then  he  has  devoted  his  entire  time 
and  attention  to  an  extensive  wholesale  and  jobbing 
business.  He  deals  in  vehicles,  carriages,  hardware, 
wood  stock  and  rubber  tires,  carrying  a complete  line 
of  each.  He  holds  the  distinction  of  being  the  only 
exclusive  dealer  in  the  above  line  in  Butte.  Mr.  Grad\- 
has  been  untiring  in  his  efforts  to  build  up  a splendid 
business  and  his  success  has  been  on  a parity  with  his 
well  directed  endeavors.  He  is  fair  and  straightfor- 
ward in  all  his  business  dealings,  and  as  a citizen  com- 
mands the  unalloyed  confidence  and  esteem  of  his 
fellow  men. 

At  Helena,  Montana,  on  the  loth  day  of  July,  1909, 
was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  iMr.  Grady  to  Miss 
Eva  Gates,  a daughter  of  George  and  Mary  (Robison) 
Gates.  Her  parents  were  born  and  reared  in  Ohio, 
and  her  father  died  at  Loudonville,  Ohio.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Grady  have  no  children. 

In  politics  Mr.  Grad3'  maintains  an  independent  at- 
titude, preferring  to  give  his  support  to  men  and  meas- 
ures meeting  with  the  approval  of  his  judgment  rather 
than  to  vote  along  strictly  partisan  lines.  In  religious 
matters,  he  and  his  wife  are  devout  members  of  the 
Catholic  Church,  to  whose  good  works  they  are  liberal 
contributors  of  their  time  and  means,  and  socially  he 
is  a member  of  the  Butte  Gentlemen’s  Driving  Club, 
of  which  he  is  treasurer.  He  is  a great  lover  of  live 
stock  and  owns  some  thoroughbred  trotters  of  consid- 
erable value. 

Allie  B.  Stockwell,  D.  O.  Engaged  in  the  success- 
ful practice  of  her  profession  in  the  city  of  Butte,  Dr. 
Stockwell  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  representative 
osteopathic  physicians  of  her  native  state  and  is  a 
member  of  one  of  Montana’s  well-known  and  highly- 
honored  nioneer  families. 

Dr.  Allie  Bell  Stockwell  was  born  at  Pony,  Madison 
county,  Montana,  on  the  29th  of  June,  1885,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Frank  and  Katherine  (Noble)  Bell,  who 
still  reside  on  their  fine  ranch  near  Pou3a  Frank  Bell 
was  t)orn  in  Ohio,  on  the  24th  of  March,  1854,  and  was 
reared  and  educated  in  his  native  state,  where  he  con- 
tinued to  maintain  his  home  until  he  had  attained  to 
his  legal  majority.  He  then  indulged  his  spirit  of  ad- 
venture and  his  desire  to  find  for  himself  opportunities 
for  gaining  success  through  personal  endeavor.  In  1875 
he  came  to  Montana,  a young  man  of  energy,  ambition 
and  vigorous  purpose,  and  he  numbered  himself  among 
the  early  settlers  of  Madison  county.  He  first  estab- 
lished his  home  at  Ennis,  but  soon  afterward  removed 
to  Pony,  that  county,  where  he  turned  his  attention 


1298 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


to  the  raising-  of  cattle  and  where  he  eventually  gained 
prestige  as  one  of  the  prominent  and  extensive  stock- 
growers  of  that  section  of  the  state.  He  acquired  a 
large  landed  estate  and  has  made  the  same  one  of  the 
valuable  properties  of  Madison  county,  all  the  while 
he  has  been  inlluential  in  connection  with  the  civic 
and  industrial  development  and  upbuilding  of  this  fine 
commonwealth,  to  which  his  loyalty  and  allegiance  have 
ever  been  of  the  staunchest  type.  On  his  fine  ranch 
property  he  is  now  living  virtually  retired,  enjoying 
the  gracious  rewartls  of  former  years  of  earnest  toil 
and  endeavor  and  secure  in  the  high  esteem  of  all  who 
know  him.  His  wife  is  likewise  a native  of  the  fine 
old  Buckeye  state.  She  was  born  at  Salina,  Athens 
county,  Ohio,  on  the  2d  of  January,  i860,  and  as  a 
girl  she  came  with  her  parents  to  Montana,  her  father 
becoming  one  of  the  early  settlers  in  the  vicinity  of 
Pony,  Madison  county,  where  he  became  a citizen  of 
prominence  and  inlluence  and  where  both  he  and  his 
wife  passed  the  residue  of  their  lives.  The  marriage 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bell  was  solemnized  in  1882,  and  of 
their  four  children  three  are  living, — Clarence  N.,  who 
is  a representative  farmer  and  stockgrower  near  Pony, 
Madison  county;  Allie  E.,  who  is  the  immediate  subject 
of  this  review ; and  Frankie  M.,  attending  high  school 
at  Butte. 

The  public  schools  of  the  village  of  Pony  afforded 
Dr.  Stockwell  her  early  educational  advantages,  and 
in  1901  she  was  graduated  in  the  high  school  at  Pony, 
and  later  attended  the  Montana  Agricultural  College 
at  Bozeman.  In  Pony  she  formed  the  acquaintance  of 
William  1.  Stockwell,  to  whom  her  marriage  was  sol- 
emnized in  1908,  no  children  having  been  born  of  this 
union.  Reared  to  the  free  and  invigorating  discipline 
of  the  ranch.  Dr.  Stockwell  represents  the  best  type  of 
Montana  womanhood,  and  she  is  known  as  an  expert 
horsewoman  and  rifle  shot  and  as  one  who  is  especially 
fond  of  all  those  outdoor  sports,  recreations  and  ad- 
vantages which  make  for  mental  and  physical  vigor. 
Her  deep  appreciation  of  the  great  value  of  mens  Sana 
in  cort’orc  sano  undoubtedly  had  definite  influence  in 
her  adoption  of  a profession  which  teaches  nature’s 
laws  and  is  based  on  their  observance.  Impressed  with 
the  distinctive  legitimacy  and  effectiveness  of  the  science 
of  osteop.'ithy,  she  finallv  entered  the  mother  institu- 


tion of  the  profession,  the  American  School  of  Osteop- 
athy, at  Kirksville,  Missouri,  in  which  she  completed 
the  prescribed  curriculum  and  was  graduated  as  a mem- 
ber of  the  class  of  1906,  receiving  from  this  admirable 
institution  her  coveted  and  well-earned  degree  of  Doc- 
tor of  Osteopathy. 

Dr.  Stockwell  initiated  the  practice  of  her  profession 
at  Pony,  her  native  town,  and  her  success  has  been 
of  unequivocal  order.  She  removed  to  the  city  of 
Butte  in  1908  and  here  she  has  built  up  a large  and 
representative  practice,  the  extent  and  personnel  of 
which  gives  her  precedence  as  one  of  the  leading  repre- 
sentatives of  the  science  of  osteopathy  in  her  home 
state.  For  some  time  after  her  removal  to  Butte  Dr. 
Stockwell  was  associated  in  practice  with  Hugh  Thomas 
Ashlock  and  they  maintained  a splendid  suite  of  offices 
in  the  Owsley  building.  Since  the  removal  of  Dr. 
Ashlock  from  Butte,  Dr.  Stockwell  has  continued  an 
individual  practice,  with  a fine  suite  of  apartments  in 
the  Napton  building,  one  of  the  exclusive  apartment 
buildings  of  the  city.  She  is  devoted  to  her  chosen  work 
and  in  the  same  her  success  offers  the  best  voucher 
for  her  ability  and  personal  popularity.  She  holds 
membership  in  the  American  Osteopathic  Association 
and  is  prominently  identified  with  the  Woman’s  Club 
of  Butte,  the  while  she  is  a popular  factor  in  the  repre- 
sentative social  activities  of  the  metropolis  of  her  native 
state.  She  is  a member  of  the  Episcopal  church. 

Frank  and  Laura  Bell,  paternal  grandparents  of  Dr. 
Stockwell,  were  both  natives  of  Maryland  and  were 
early  settlers  in  Ohio,  where  the  former  continued  to 
reside  until  his  death,  his  wife  having  passed  the  clos- 
ing days  of  her  life  in  Butte,  Montana,  where  she  died 
in  1908,  at  the  venerable  age  of  eighty-nine  years. 
The  maternal  grandparents  of  the  doctor  were  Joshua 
and  Eleanor  Noble  and,  as  already  intimated,  they 
were  numbered  among  the  pioneers  of  Madison  county, 
Montana,  where  they  continued  to  reside  until  their 
death.  The  father  of  Dr.  Stockwell  found  in  Mon- 
tana ample  opportunities  for  effective  effort  along  nor- 
mal lines  of  industrial  enterprise,  and  he  is  now  one 
of  the  honored  and  wealthy  retired  ranchmen  of 
Madison  county,  where  he  has  ever  held  secure  vantage 
ground  in  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  commun- 
ity. 


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